Your top 5 views that made you go "wow"
Discussion
For me the following places have made me go "wow" at the view... Which views would you say are the most breath-taking you have seen?
feel free to post pictures, I will add some later!
In no particular order...
1. The Grand Canyon
2. the Caldera from the balcony of our room in the Regina Mare Hotel in Santorini
3. The top of the jungfraujoch
4. Yosemite
5. Top of Snowdon on a very clear day
feel free to post pictures, I will add some later!
In no particular order...
1. The Grand Canyon
2. the Caldera from the balcony of our room in the Regina Mare Hotel in Santorini
3. The top of the jungfraujoch
4. Yosemite
5. Top of Snowdon on a very clear day
Not travelled anywhere near as much as I'd like but:
1. View from Table mountain down over Cape Town (or out the other side into wilderness).
2. From the Osprey viewpoint in the Lakes over Bassenthwaite and Derwent water. But the Lake District basically looks stunning everywhere you go.
3. From the Shanghai Financial centre out over the bund/city.
4. Skiing in the alps - it all looks stunning at that height and covered in snow.
5. More locally - from the top of Cheddar Gorge, or Crook Peak (can see most of Somerset and lots of interesting features) or the very end of Sand Point looking back towards Clevedon (could be in remote Pembrokeshire, not a few miles from Weston). All beautiful places within 30 minutes drive
1. View from Table mountain down over Cape Town (or out the other side into wilderness).
2. From the Osprey viewpoint in the Lakes over Bassenthwaite and Derwent water. But the Lake District basically looks stunning everywhere you go.
3. From the Shanghai Financial centre out over the bund/city.
4. Skiing in the alps - it all looks stunning at that height and covered in snow.
5. More locally - from the top of Cheddar Gorge, or Crook Peak (can see most of Somerset and lots of interesting features) or the very end of Sand Point looking back towards Clevedon (could be in remote Pembrokeshire, not a few miles from Weston). All beautiful places within 30 minutes drive
Oh man, tricky one.
Interlaken, Switzerland
Driving across the alps as part of the Staples 2 Naples banger rally was relentlessly beautiful (see 2m23 in video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rp3rCYlaxkQ), but I think the most striking spot was overlooking Interlaken. Just astonishing.
Milford Sound road, New Zealand
Similarly, most of New Zealand's south island was stunning but I think the drive to Milford Sound was one of the most spectacular (although this isn't the greatest photo):
Oodnadatta Track, South Australia
I may be in a minority here but I found Australia's vast expanses of nothingness absolutely captivating. I don't know how hundreds of miles of absolutely nothing can be so impressive but it was to me. It was between this or Hawker, also in SA.
Victoria Falls
We went here just after 24 hours of travelling so I don't think we fully appreciated it at the time, but looking back at our photos and videos it was quite something:
Grand Canyon
I can be a bit snobby about big tourist spots but the Grand Canyon humbled me. Despite being so well known and having seen it on screen countless times, it was still breathtaking to see in reality.
Let's see more photos
Interlaken, Switzerland
Driving across the alps as part of the Staples 2 Naples banger rally was relentlessly beautiful (see 2m23 in video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rp3rCYlaxkQ), but I think the most striking spot was overlooking Interlaken. Just astonishing.
Milford Sound road, New Zealand
Similarly, most of New Zealand's south island was stunning but I think the drive to Milford Sound was one of the most spectacular (although this isn't the greatest photo
):Oodnadatta Track, South Australia
I may be in a minority here but I found Australia's vast expanses of nothingness absolutely captivating. I don't know how hundreds of miles of absolutely nothing can be so impressive but it was to me. It was between this or Hawker, also in SA.
Victoria Falls
We went here just after 24 hours of travelling so I don't think we fully appreciated it at the time, but looking back at our photos and videos it was quite something:
Grand Canyon
I can be a bit snobby about big tourist spots but the Grand Canyon humbled me. Despite being so well known and having seen it on screen countless times, it was still breathtaking to see in reality.
Let's see more photos
Interesting that both of you cite the Grand Canyon. Like many tourist sites I thought it was hugely underwhelming.
FOr my wife and I it was more of a "Oh."
I am far more awestruck by any random spot in the Scottish Highlands, for example
For me in no order
Colca Canyon in Peru. Set up in the Andes which are a bit wow themselves it is deeper than the grand canyon and you can sit there watching condors soaring below you. I
The Amazon.
Any Kenyan national park
Machu Pichu in Peru
FOr my wife and I it was more of a "Oh."
I am far more awestruck by any random spot in the Scottish Highlands, for example
For me in no order
Colca Canyon in Peru. Set up in the Andes which are a bit wow themselves it is deeper than the grand canyon and you can sit there watching condors soaring below you. I
The Amazon.
Any Kenyan national park
Machu Pichu in Peru
Can't do just 5, sorry.
Santorini
Caldera View, Santorini by jcross70, on Flickr
Death Valley, USA
Death Valley - Arizona, USA by jcross70, on Flickr
Nevada Chachani, Peru
Nevado Chachani by jcross70, on Flickr
Colca Canyon, Peru
201006177528.jpg by jcross70, on Flickr
Machi Picchu, Peru
Machu Picchu town and Huayna Picchu by jcross70, on Flickr
Sesriem, Namibia
Last of the day's sunlight... by jcross70, on Flickr
Manhattan Day and Night
Uptown from Empire State Building by jcross70, on Flickr
Manhattan panorama by jcross70, on Flickr
Kaikora, NZ
Kaikora, NZ by jcross70, on Flickr
Niedaerau, Austria
Niederau Panorama by jcross70, on Flickr
I really need another holiday...
Santorini
Caldera View, Santorini by jcross70, on Flickr
Death Valley, USA
Death Valley - Arizona, USA by jcross70, on Flickr
Nevada Chachani, Peru
Nevado Chachani by jcross70, on Flickr
Colca Canyon, Peru
201006177528.jpg by jcross70, on Flickr
Machi Picchu, Peru
Machu Picchu town and Huayna Picchu by jcross70, on Flickr
Sesriem, Namibia
Last of the day's sunlight... by jcross70, on Flickr
Manhattan Day and Night
Uptown from Empire State Building by jcross70, on Flickr
Manhattan panorama by jcross70, on Flickr
Kaikora, NZ
Kaikora, NZ by jcross70, on Flickr
Niedaerau, Austria
Niederau Panorama by jcross70, on Flickr
I really need another holiday...
Edited by toasty on Thursday 25th September 13:45
Asterix said:
Toasty - where exactly was that image in Santorini taken, and I mean down to the exact hotel room. 
It was Oia but not quite as idyllic as it looks as it's just off a main path and is overlooked by everyone walking by including us (We stayed in a cheap place in Perissa ). Two of the top of my head - both of which have already been mentioned!
1: Colca Canyon - Stunning view, just sitting there in absolute silence watching the Condors swoop on the thermals.
2: Standing at the Sun Gate at Machu Pichu at sunrise, just completed a three day hike, your dirty, sweaty, tired, you get to the top to see the famous view and its cloudy and you can see f
k all.
Then suddenly it starts to lift, the sun breaks through and the most amazing view is revealed below you. Spine tingling.
1: Colca Canyon - Stunning view, just sitting there in absolute silence watching the Condors swoop on the thermals.
2: Standing at the Sun Gate at Machu Pichu at sunrise, just completed a three day hike, your dirty, sweaty, tired, you get to the top to see the famous view and its cloudy and you can see f
k all. Then suddenly it starts to lift, the sun breaks through and the most amazing view is revealed below you. Spine tingling.
1. Sitting in a kayak in the middle of Moraine Lake, Canada. (I've never known peace/tranquility in my life like that - on my own surrounded by snow capped mountains on every side and listening to the water beneath the kayak was simply stunning and something i'll never forget).
2. Lake Louise, Canada.
3. The Las Vegas strip from a helicopter at night.
4. Vancouver from a helicopter.
5. The view from the top of Scafell in the Lakes on a clear day.
(6. The first time I ever saw a real life girl naked! )
2. Lake Louise, Canada.
3. The Las Vegas strip from a helicopter at night.
4. Vancouver from a helicopter.
5. The view from the top of Scafell in the Lakes on a clear day.
(6. The first time I ever saw a real life girl naked!
)1) Petra, Jordan: Nothing can quite prepare you for that sight when it becomes clear through the small and narrow path. Simply the most amazing thing I have ever seen.
2) Mount Aragats, Armenia: I had never climbed/trecked before last summer and the first time was up Mount Aragats in Armenia, and on the acclimatisation night at 2000m i looked up and had never seen so many stars in my life, and there it was the Milky Way - absolutely amazing (sure you can see this from other mountains and clear nights, but was new to me). Climbing above the clouds was kind of a wow situation for me as well, and then in the distance the imposing figure of Mt Ararat.
3) Maya Beach, Thailand: Waking up on Maya beach with only 10 other people was amazing, seeing the sun light up the bay slowly in the morning without 1000's of tourists was lovely.
4) Empire State, USA: The view from the viewing point is quite extraordinary...you don't realise just how high you really are!
5) Shard, London: I am a big fan of London, and the view from the shard at night is as good as I thought it would be. On the night I was there the moon was bright red, it was a very special sight.
2) Mount Aragats, Armenia: I had never climbed/trecked before last summer and the first time was up Mount Aragats in Armenia, and on the acclimatisation night at 2000m i looked up and had never seen so many stars in my life, and there it was the Milky Way - absolutely amazing (sure you can see this from other mountains and clear nights, but was new to me). Climbing above the clouds was kind of a wow situation for me as well, and then in the distance the imposing figure of Mt Ararat.
3) Maya Beach, Thailand: Waking up on Maya beach with only 10 other people was amazing, seeing the sun light up the bay slowly in the morning without 1000's of tourists was lovely.
4) Empire State, USA: The view from the viewing point is quite extraordinary...you don't realise just how high you really are!
5) Shard, London: I am a big fan of London, and the view from the shard at night is as good as I thought it would be. On the night I was there the moon was bright red, it was a very special sight.
Edited by Big Raff on Thursday 25th September 16:07
Edited by Big Raff on Thursday 25th September 16:08
Another vote for The Grand Canyon here. Think a lot depends on the weather at the time. If it's hazy it's probably rubbish.
We got it in good weather.
Others:
Monument Vallley. The sheer size of the pillars and stacks, and the abruptness with which they launch skywards from an otherwise flat desert is amazing.
Mount Etna. Was lucky enough to catch it at a more angry moment, chucking lava in to the night sky, booming away to whoever was listening.
South Georgia (from the air). Sea.....sea......sea......sea......sea.......sea.......sea.....Mountain!
And yeah, the Strip in Las Vegas. Not quite a helo trip, but the 70-something floor of the Cosmo.
We got it in good weather.
Others:
Monument Vallley. The sheer size of the pillars and stacks, and the abruptness with which they launch skywards from an otherwise flat desert is amazing.
Mount Etna. Was lucky enough to catch it at a more angry moment, chucking lava in to the night sky, booming away to whoever was listening.
South Georgia (from the air). Sea.....sea......sea......sea......sea.......sea.......sea.....Mountain!
And yeah, the Strip in Las Vegas. Not quite a helo trip, but the 70-something floor of the Cosmo.
Hong Kong - Kowloon looking across the harbour to HK island and looking out from Victoria Peak to Kowloon, day and night for both.
Scotland - Bealach na Ba peak, looking down the valley towards Loch Kishorn
Australia - Wilpena Pound @ Flinders Ranges, and another vote for the bleakness of the Oodnadatta track
Scotland - Bealach na Ba peak, looking down the valley towards Loch Kishorn
Australia - Wilpena Pound @ Flinders Ranges, and another vote for the bleakness of the Oodnadatta track
1) The first time I saw manhattan - I purposely did not want to acknowledge it as being that special as it is really a concrete jungle, but I could not help being unbelievably impressed.
2) 2 x places in Sydney. Sitting in the RSL overlooking bondi beach with a beer after walking from coogee. The blue mountains on a clear day seeing the blue haze over the trees.
3) Halong Bay in Vietnam. Most will have seen on Top Gear, and if you can get on a quiet area it is as stunning as it looks on TV.
4) Driving into the valley towards palm springs coming from Los Angeles
5) The first time I went to dubai in 1997. I had never seen anywhere so different at the time, as had not been out of Europe before. I am now living here and is still impressive - but in a completely different way.
2) 2 x places in Sydney. Sitting in the RSL overlooking bondi beach with a beer after walking from coogee. The blue mountains on a clear day seeing the blue haze over the trees.
3) Halong Bay in Vietnam. Most will have seen on Top Gear, and if you can get on a quiet area it is as stunning as it looks on TV.
4) Driving into the valley towards palm springs coming from Los Angeles
5) The first time I went to dubai in 1997. I had never seen anywhere so different at the time, as had not been out of Europe before. I am now living here and is still impressive - but in a completely different way.
1 - Grand Canyon, Last year what a trip
2 - Cook Islands, Standing in the water looking back on this amazing island
3 - Niagara Falls viewed from our hotel room on Canadian side a few weeks ago
4 - Pacific Coast Highway (all along road) also view from Pismo Beach hotel!
5 - Manhattan viewed from Top Of Rockefeller, looking up and seeing just how big central park is wow!
great thread, getting some good holiday ideas!
2 - Cook Islands, Standing in the water looking back on this amazing island
3 - Niagara Falls viewed from our hotel room on Canadian side a few weeks ago
4 - Pacific Coast Highway (all along road) also view from Pismo Beach hotel!
5 - Manhattan viewed from Top Of Rockefeller, looking up and seeing just how big central park is wow!
great thread, getting some good holiday ideas!
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