Ten of the world ' s most mind - blowing landscapes 14 October 2013 Gazing at a remarkable view for the first time is one of travel ’ s greatest thrills - and these 10 landscapes are among the most mind - blowing we ’ ve ever seen . Straight from our brand - new hardback Lonely Planet ' s Beautiful World , these landscapes are almost too extraordinary to be real . Aurora borealis , Kiruna , SwedenImage by Antony Spencer / Getty ImagesThis surreal spectacle is one of the most coveted bucket list experiences out there . The mesmerising display appears when charged particles , which flow from the sun at 1 . 4 million km / h , hit the Earth ’ s magnetic field at the planet ’ s poles . The effect of these curtains of light is heightened by solar storms . There ' s never been a better time to view the mysterious aurora borealis - the current period of solar maximum activity is at its height - so hunt them out between November and March in northern Scandinavia , Alaska , Canada and even Scotland . Yellowstone National Park , Wyoming , USAImage by Noppawat / Getty Images . Yellowstone National Park has an embarrassment of astonishing sights , from the thundering waterfalls of the Grand Canyon to the infamous ' Old Faithful ' geyser . But it would be hard to top the dazzling colours of the Grand Prismatic Spring , the largest hot spring in the USA . The spectrum of shades from aqua to rust derives from different types of bacteria , each of which thrive in a particular water temperature . Plateau de Valensole , Alpes de Haute - Provence , FranceImage by Altrendo Nature / Getty Images . Paris might be for lovers , but one of France ' s most romantic sights is the rolling plains of Provence blushing purple in summer . Lavender from the fields of the Plateau de Valensole is made into lavender oil , honey , soap and scented sachets . The fragrant fields usually bloom in July . Strokkur geyser , IcelandImage by ABG / Getty ImagesAt the seam between two tectonic plates , Iceland is one of the world ' s most geologically active regions , a huge draw for travellers with a thirst for adventure . In such an unpredictable landscape , the Strokkur geyser manages to remain surprisingly punctual : it erupts every four to eight minutes , blasting water up to 40 m into the air . The word ‘ geyser ’ itself comes from the Icelandic , ‘ geysa ’, which means ‘ to gush ’. The Wave , Coyote Buttes , Arizona – Utah , USAImage by Crisma / Getty ImagesThis sandstone marvel on the Arizona - Utah border is a coveted sight , not only for its remarkable shape but also the painstaking hike to reach it . The undulating pattern originates in the laying down of sediment under long - gone seas , and the wearing down of rock by the elements . Nideck waterfall , Alsace , FranceImage by Philippe Sainte - Laudy / Getty Images . This waterfall at Nideck is set in a forest , beneath a ruined castle - which , according to a fairytale by the Brothers Grimm , was inhabited by a family of giants . The falls are at their most magical in winter , when they freeze into a cascade of icicles . Nabiyotum volcano , KenyaImage by Nigel Pavitt / Getty Images . The circular crater of Nabiyotum stands in northern Kenya ' s Lake Turkana , the world ' s largest alkaline lake . The Rift Valley is home to a number of craters as well as still - active volcanoes . The region is remote and can be difficult to explore , but the rewards are many : as well as the otherworldly geological sights , the lake is home to more than 150 species of birds , as well as giraffes , zebras and buffalo . Plitvice Lakes National Park , CroatiaImage by Kelly Cheng / Getty Images . This Unesco World Heritage - listed park is made up of interlinked and cascading lakes , caves and forest . Travellers can explore this watery wonderland via a series of linked wooden trails around the mineral - rich lakes . The walkways can get crowded in summer , but it ' s worth it to see rainbows glimmering out from the waterfalls and butterflies hovering around the aquamarine pools . Waterfall at Mýrdalsjökull glacier , IcelandImage by Thorsten Henn / Getty Images . Iceland has a remarkable array of impressive waterfalls , from curvaceous Goðafoss to thundering Dettifoss . The falls at Mýrdalsjökull are especially impressive : the glacier covers an active volcano , and the run - off creates a seriously powerful cascade . Rice terraces at Yuanyuang , Yúnnán , ChinaImage by Panorama Media / Getty Images . Yúnnán in southwestern China is a grab bag of amazing scenery , including tropical rainforests and snow - kissed peaks . This unreal patchwork is a fertile plateau of rice paddies in the region ' s agricultural heartland . Journey to the world ' s most magnificent places with Lonely Planet ' s Beautiful World .