Incredible Images of the Most Beautiful Places on Earth

With a name like Fairy Pools, the expectation should be nothing less than magic. Just south of Scotland's Isle of Skye is Glen Brittle where people come to see the little waterfalls (or 'fairy pools') that weave through the mountains. 

Called "The Five Lands", these rugged little coastal towns on the Italian Riviera are painted in muted pastels that contrast brilliantly against the vibrant blue of the sea and sky. 

Since the days of Darwin this archipelago of volcanic islands off the coast of Ecuador has been attracting visitors with its unique ecosystem and colourful locals.

No details have been left to chance in the shockingly elaborate Nasīr al-Mulk Mosque or 'Pink Mosque'. Located in Iran, visitors are mesmerised by the colours that dance along the brightly tiled walls from the rainbow of stained glass windows. 

Called Big Island because it is the largest of Hawaii's volcanic cluster of islands, no sunrise or sunset will fail to take your breath away during your stay. 

Proof that sometimes good things come from bad, California's Glass Beach is one of the coolest beaches you will stroll along. Here,  weathered glass stands in for sand as the beach was once a major dumping ground for garbage.  

French Polynesia has some of the most spectacular beaches in the world. In Rangiroa, a circle of coral surrounds a turquoise and jade lagoon popular with divers. 

Even if you're just making a stopover in Iceland, it is imperative that you visit the Blue Lagoon. The geothermal spa is the most visited destination in Iceland with milky blue waters that are naturally warm and filled with rich minerals like silica and sulphur.  

The massive national park that spans through Wyoming, Idaho and Montana is packed with hundreds of species of birds and animals but it's the rugged landscape that really impresses with massive waterfalls, mountains and an active volcano. 

Easily on the list of places you need to see before you die, the rose-coloured city of Petra is the most visited tourist attraction in Jordan. Aside from it's biblical relevance, your mind will be blown by the magnificent buildings which are literally carved into the stone. 

Rising out of the turquoise water like two jade spears are the marvelous pitons which make St. Lucia a tropical paradise like no other.  

Black sand, blue waters and white-washed buildings make the cliffy island of Santorini a delightful mix of contrasts. Rejoice in getting lost wandering the picturesque streets. 

The raw beauty of the red stones in Zion National Park has captivated photographers for years. The name is meant to evoke something 'holy' which is certainly understood once you arrive.

Plucked right out of a medieval fairytale, Ludwig II of Bavaria built this nineteenth-century Romanesque Revival castle on a hill in the tiny town of Hohenschwangau in homage to the famous German composer, Richard Wagner.

Terraces of travertine spill over with boiling pools of light blue calcite-laden waters at Turkey's 'cotton castle'. One of the first 'natural' spas in the world, you'll have a hard time dragging yourself away from this place.

One of the most unusual places built by humans, the floating city of Venice will confuse and confound you but mostly it will capture you with it's unique beauty.