These 100% Real Destinations Look Like Dreams

Computer Graphics are getting so real, sometimes it’s difficult to decipher if an image is real or fake. My first thought when I say many of these pictures was, “that has to be fake.” Crazy as it sounds, these places are actually real and look like figments of my imagination. Visiting these bizarre destinations must feel like walking on an alien planet or intense descriptions of people’s dreams.

I did some research and they are all 100% real and you can visit all of them and I recommend you do. If you are an adventurer like me, you thrive on experiencing new things and seeing incredible sights. This list contains the most peculiar and fantastical locations on planet earth. If you wish to feel like you are in a dream or exploring the far reaches of the universe, these landscapes are for you.

Deadvlei, Namibia

Deadvlei is a desolate stretch of desert filled with dead trees and has an ominous feel. Picture a Star Trek episode where Captain Kirk and crew are exploring an alien land, that’s what this place feels like. Locals call this place ‘Dead Marsh,” which fits the description perfectly. The rust colored dunes make this place look like Mars and you will feel like it if you ever visit Namibia.

Zhangye Danxia National Geopark, China

Rainbow mountains is what I first thought of when I saw pictures of this incredible landscape. These hills in Northern China are actually layers of sandstone deposited over millions of years. The different nutrients in the soil changed over years so the colors changes, leaving multicolored stripes. The pictures you take here will be the craziest you’ve ever shot. Imaginations don’t have this kind of enchantment. If you find yourself in China, you would be remised to not see these in person.

Pamukkale, Turkey

The famous travertine hot springs of Turkey look like photoshopped images, but I can confirm, they are real. Meaning Cotton Castle in Turkish, these multi-tiered hot springs do resemble floating cotton pools of bright blue waters. The hot springs are a very popular tourist destination and one of the most peculiar looking landscapes I’ve ever laid my eyes on.

Underwater Waterfall, Mauritius

The greatest optical illusion on Earth, the underwater waterfall of the coast of Mauritius looks incredible. Located in the Indian Ocean, the tides drag sand from a high shelf down to a deep coastal basin, giving off the o=impression of an underwater waterfall. The landscape looks better from a helicopter, but views from the beach are pretty impressive as well.

Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

An enormous salt flat, the biggest on earth, creates an optical illusion where the sky melts into the ground. When the salt flats flood a bizarre mirror effect happens on the ground, creating a surreal results. Many car commercials are shot here since the background is better than any Hollywood CGI. One of the coolest looking places on Earth; the Salar de Uyuni looks like a creation of Hollywood, not Mother Earth.

Coyote Buttes, Arizona

The incredible Wave found in the desert of Arizona is a geological formation formed by winds and rain. Looking like a sandstone wave, the Coyote Buttes is a difficult location to reach and you must first get a permit just to visit it. After a long arduous hike, you will be rewarded with one of the most unique sites on the planet.

When you check these locations out, make sure you bring your camera, because your friends won’t believe the tall tales you tell of your outer worldly travels.

Photos courtesy of Feel The Planet, Pinterest, Outdoors, EarthPorn, Huffington, TravelVista,