Some trips stay with you because the scenery feels unlike anything you see at home. You might watch a geyser erupt, walk across an old lava field or spot a sloth among rainforest branches. When the landscape becomes part of the adventure, choosing the right destination can transform your whole experience.

Iceland’s dramatic landscapes

Iceland packs an unusual variety of scenery into a relatively compact country. You can spend one morning beside a waterfall and later cross black sand beaches or soak in warm geothermal water surrounded by a stark volcanic landscape.

The Golden Circle makes a practical starting point, particularly if you have limited time. This popular route takes you to Gullfoss waterfall, the regularly erupting Strokkur geyser and Thingvellir National Park. If you stay longer, add the south coast to your itinerary for glaciers and stretches of dark volcanic sand.

Lanzarote’s volcanic terrain

The Canary Islands attract visitors with their mild climate and sunshine, but Lanzarote offers much more than a beach escape. Past eruptions shaped large areas of the island, leaving lava fields and rocky terrain that can feel surprisingly remote despite the island’s manageable size.

If you’re comparing Lanzarote holidays, consider staying somewhere that gives you easy access to Timanfaya National Park. Here, you can travel through an extraordinary volcanic landscape and see demonstrations of the geothermal heat that remains beneath the ground.

Pairing a morning in Timanfaya with an afternoon on the coast also lets you experience two very different sides of the island in one day.

Canada’s mountain parks

Banff and Jasper National Parks put you among the peaks, forests and glacial lakes of the Canadian Rockies. Roads through the region make impressive scenery accessible even when you don’t want to tackle long hikes.

Lake Louise and Moraine Lake draw visitors for their striking blue-green water, while the wider national parks offer chances to see wildlife and explore walking trails. Plan your visit carefully because access to popular locations can require advance arrangements, particularly during the busy summer season.

New Zealand’s South Island

Few journeys change character as quickly as a road trip across New Zealand’s South Island. Snow-capped mountains give way to rainforest and rugged coastlines, so driving between destinations becomes part of the experience rather than simply a way to get around.

Fiordland National Park deserves time in your itinerary. A cruise through Milford Sound brings you close to steep cliffs and waterfalls, while elsewhere you can hike in the Southern Alps or spend a quieter day beside one of the island’s clear lakes.

Costa Rica’s wildlife-rich forests

Costa Rica will suit you particularly well if wildlife matters as much as scenery. Its rainforests, cloud forests and coastal habitats support animals ranging from sloths and monkeys to colourful toucans.

It’s worth having a few different bases in the same trip rather than trying to see everything from one resort. Arenal offers volcanic scenery and forest trails. Monteverde takes you into misty cloud forest. Tortuguero combines waterways and dense vegetation with abundant wildlife. It’s this variety that gives you a richer sense of the country while making each stage of your journey feel distinct.