They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but there are some places on the planet where it doesn’t really matter who’s looking – they’re so outstanding that pretty much all of us can agree on their beauty.
At , we’ve compiled a list of these jaw-droppingly stunning spots, and it includes vast lake networks in Europe, a red rock-flanked amphitheatre in North America, ornate mosques in the Middle East and otherworldly desert expanses in Africa.
However, there was one place which knocked out all the competition and claimed first place for 2025 – Komodo National Park in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia.
From the Padar Island viewpoint you’ll be met with what Cheryl Sekkappan, Southeast Asia’s news and travel editor, describes as ‘one of the most unique sights in the world – three giant bays of white, black, and pink sand in one frame. Crested by rocky hills, it’s a scene straight out of Jurassic Park.’
It’s ‘one of the many spectacular sights in this UNESCO World Heritage Site, which has lovely pink beaches to sink your toes into, sandbars surrounded by gin-clear waters, and the iconic Komodo dragons themselves,’ she writes.
Sounds incredible, right? Snorkelling and diving here are absolute musts, with the reefs promising vibrant fish and technicolour corals, and Cheryl recommends joining a boat tour to properly explore the islands and marine park.
Did you see that the World Happiness Report published its full list of the cheeriest countries for 2025?
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