20 seriously weird places around the world

4. Pamukkale, Turkey

A remarkable UNESCO World Heritage Site in southwest Turkey, a visit to Pamukkale (Cotton Palace) also takes in the ancient ruins of Hierapolis, the once great city that was built around it. Water cascades from natural springs and down the white travertine terraces and forms stunning thermal pools perfect for a quick dip.

We recommend joining a small group tour to have a guide with you. If this is the first you’ve heard of Pamukkale, you may also want to find out more facts about Turkey.

Pamukkale’s striking terraces are certainly a weird place to visit © Shutterstock

5. Lake Hillier, Western Australia

This remarkable lake is on the largest of the islands in Western Australia’s Recherche Archipelago. The lake keeps its deep pink colour year-round, which some scientists say is down to high salinity combined with the presence of a salt-loving algae species known as Dunaliella salina and pink bacteria known as halobacteria.

To really take in this spectacle, consider a scenic flight (1:40h) from Esperance airport. If you’re travelling around this part of Australia, discover the must-see sights in our stunning gallery of Western Australia’s remote northwest.

Badab-e Surt at sunrise © Jakob Fischer/Shutterstock

7. The Tianzi mountains, China

Found in the northwest of Hunan Province in China, these staggering limestone pinnacles are covered in lush greenery and often shrouded in mist. A cable car goes as far as Huangshi village and from here there are plenty of trails to take in the breathtaking views of Tianzi (‘son of heaven’). Unsurprisingly, they are the inspiration for the floating mountains in the blockbuster movie Avatar.

If you’re looking to explore more of what the country has to offer, discover things not to miss in China.

The Condor © Robert CHG/Shutterstock

9. The Bermuda Triangle, North Atlantic Ocean

Long shrouded in myth and mystery, the infamous 500,000 square miles also dubbed the Devil’s Triangle is roughly the area between Bermuda, Florida and Puerto Rico.

Although the US Coastguard disputes any such area exists, conspiracy theories thrive on stories about unusual magnetic readings and ships, planes and people who have disappeared here without a trace.

Endemic dragon trees of Socotra Island © Michail Vorobyev/Shutterstock

11. The Hand in the Desert, Chile

Chilean sculptor Mario Irarrázabal is responsible for this very weird work of art rising out of the sand in the middle of Chile’s Atacama desert, 46 miles south of the city of Antofagasta. Irarrázabal is known for his works associated with human suffering and this huge unnerving sculpture captures a feeling of loneliness, exacerbated by its desolate and secluded location.

If you’re a creative type, check out our selection of artwork around the world, you won’t have to travel far for some of these.

The famous Chocolate Hills on Bohol Island in the Philippines are one of the most interesting places in the world © Pelikh Alexey/Shutterstock

13. Red Beach, Panjin, China

Very cool and very weird, this beach is covered in a type of seaweed called Sueda, which turns bright red in autumn. Thirty kilometres southwest of Panjin in China, these tidal wetlands are an important nature reserve for migrating birds. Only a small section of the beach is open to the public, but it can be explored via a wooden walkway that stretches out to sea.

Red Beach may just be one of China’s best secret beaches. Head here quick, along with these other secret beaches around the world before the crowds arrive.

Plain of Jars © Dmitry Chulov/Shutterstock

15. Goblin Valley State Park, Utah, USA

No, this is not Mars but an uninhabited valley 216 miles southeast of Salt Lake City in Utah in the USA. Soft sandstone has, for many years, been eroded by wind and water to form strange pinnacles or hoodoos that some think resemble goblins. The eerie landscape is only about a mile across and two miles long and it’s well worth exploring the marked trails to get up close to the bizarre formations.

Also relatively unknown is the fact that you can go on a spectacular canyoneering adventure in the Valley of Goblins. Looking for more outdoor adventures in Utah? Why not stargaze in Antelope Island State Park?

Whale Bone Alley © Shutterstock

17. Glass Beach, California, USA

This glittering sea glass beach in California is a remarkable side effect of years of rubbish being dumped on the beach. It wasn’t until the 1960s that this was stopped and by then the sea was full of everything from electrical appliances to bottles and cans.

Over time, the waves broke everything down into colourful pebbles and the beach became a major tourist attraction – now ironically under threat because visitors are taking home the glass. It’s not all glass on the beaches in the state! Here are the best 10 beaches in California if you’re looking for sun, sea and sand.

Les Catacombes de Paris © I. Casavechia/Shutterstock

19. Fly Geyser, Nevada, USA

This otherworldly geyser is on private land on the edge of Black Rock Desert in Nevada. Created accidentally in 1964 after an energy company drilled down into geothermal waters, today a scalding fountain erupts up to five feet high and the resulting mineral build up means the cone is growing by several inches each year.

The brilliant hues of red and green are down to thermophilic algae. Interested in more beauties in this part of America? Read more about the most spectacular sights in Southwest USA.

Cat island’s feline inhabitants © SakSa/Shutterstock

For more inspiration, explore the most beautiful countries in the world — as voted by you. Or, if it’s weird you’re after, discover weird foods of the world.

Top image: Endemic dragon trees of Socotra Island © Michail Vorobyev/Shutterstock

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