10 Best Unique Travel Destinations

If you're looking for something different than popular tourist spots like France and Italy, consider these 10 best unique travel destinations. They may already be on your list of places to see at least once in your lifetime. If they’re not on your list, they should be. Many of them are United Nations “World Heritage Sites,” and all of them offer unique experiences that are out-of-the-ordinary.

1. Chichen Itza. Chichen Itza is a United Nations “World Heritage Site” located in the northern center of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. The impressive pre-Columbian archeological site consists of stone buildings and temples constructed by the ancient Mayan civilization. Although it’s a popular tourist site in Mexico, the rich history and culture make it a travel destination unlike any other.
2. Chocolate Hills. The Chocolate Hills is a matchless travel destination in Bohol, Philippines. The unusual geological formation consists of thousands of hills spread over a 20-square-mile area. It gets its name from the grass-covered hills that turn brown in the dry season. Various legends explain the formation of the Chocolate Hills, one of the most unique tourist attractions in the world.
3. Dinosaur Provincial Park. Another great tourist site is Canada’s Dinosaur Provincial Park in Calgary, Alberta. The park is another “World Heritage Site” known for its abundance of dinosaur fossils. Tourists can learn about dinosaurs, fossils, geology, and natural history. The park’s unique ecosystem includes prairie grasslands, badlands, and riverside cottonwoods.
4. Djoudj Sanctuary. Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary is situated on the southeast bank of the Senegal River in West Africa. The various wetland habitats are popular with migrating birds after crossing the Sahara desert. Other wildlife also inhabit the park, also designated a “World Heritage Site.”
5. Fan Si Pan Mountain. Fan Si Pan, or Fansipan, is the highest mountain in Indochina, rising to more than 10,300 feet. Called “the roof of Indochina,” it is one of the few ecotourism spots in Vietnam, located in the northwest region of the country. Most travelers book a three-day hike so they can fully explore and appreciate the hundreds of flora and fauna varieties on the mountain.
6. The Golden Temple. A unique spiritual site for international tourists, The Golden Temple is the informal name for Harmandir Sahib, or “the abode of God.” Located in the Punjabi city of Amritsar in northwest India, the temple is the holiest shrine in Sikhism. It was built in the late 1500s, and much of the exquisite gold and marble work dates to the early 1800s.
7. Pamukkale Springs. Pamukkale is a natural site in Denizli, a city in southwest Turkey. The name is Turkish for “cotton castle.” Located in Turkey’s Aegean region, the area contains an abundance of hot springs and limestone deposits. Along with Hierapolis, an ancient Greek city near Denizli, Pamukkale Springs is another United Nations “World Heritage Site.”
8. Salar de Uyuni. Salar de Uyuni is the world’s largest salt flat, located near the crest of the Andes Mountains in southwest Bolivia. It was formed from layers of salt and water. The Salar serves as a major breeding ground for pink flamingos. The salt flat is located far from all the major cities, so travelers stay in area hotels. Many of them are built and furnished with salt blocks cut from the Salar.
9. Salvation Mountain. Salvation Mountain is a unique art installation covering a small hill north of Calipatria in southern California. Leonard Knight created the colorful artwork from adobe, straw, and paint. Covered biblical quotes and inspirational sayings, Salvation Mountain exists to spread the message, “God is love.” This unusual travel destination is truly unique to the United States, and maybe to the entire world.
10. Uluru. Uluru is a large sandstone rock formation in the Northern Territory of central Australia. Also known as Ayers Rock, Uluru is sacred to the area’s aboriginal people. Another United Nations “World Heritage Site,” this unique tourist destination also features many springs, waterholes, rock caves, and cave paintings.