In this post, this post spans the globe to highlight the world's most famous and lesser known places. we share our picks for 5 of the world’s most beautiful landscapes, along with helpful information for travellers who want to see them for themselves.

1. Cordillera del Paine, Chile

Glacial forces have sculpted a beautiful landscape in the Cordillera, dominated by the Torres Del Paine, whose mountains are separated by small valleys. Its massive summits are gigantic granite monoliths and UNESCO biosphere reserves. In 2013 the Torres del Paine National Park was named the fifth most beautiful place in the world by National Geographic. Best time to go. The park is open year-round; however, the best season to visit is from October to April. Get inspired. Watch the ice floes of the Grey Glacier, trek through incredibly diverse scenery through the mountains, visit the best of cosmopolitan Santiago.

2. Elephant Island, Antarctica

Most famous as the desolate refuge of Ernest Shackleton and his crew in 1916, Elephant Island is an ice-covered mountainous island off the coast of Antarctica in the outer reaches of the South Shetland Islands in the Southern Ocean. The island was the desolate refuge of Ernest Shackleton and his crew in 1916. Following the loss of their ship in Weddell Sea ice, 28 exhausted men reached the island after a harrowing ordeal on drifting ice floes. Best time to go. It’s only accessible during the austral summer, usually from late October through late March. Get inspired. Come face-to-face with amazing polar wildlife, marvel at immense icebergs, spend time on deck spotting whales and watching soaring albatross.

3. Dettifoss, Iceland

Reputed to be the most powerful in all of Europe, Dettifoss is the largest waterfall in Northeast Iceland. Set within stark, rocky surrounds with bone-shatteringly sheer drops on either side, there couldn´t be a more fitting backdrop for its untethered power. Dettifoss is reputed to be the most powerful falls in Europe, having a flow estimated at between 200–500 cubic metres of water per second, depending on the summer ice melt. Best time to go. June to September—roads are not in service from January until the beginning of April. Get inspired. Sleep in a local guesthouse in the eastern fjords region, marvel at the largest ice cap in Europe, photograph black-sand beaches and gushing waterfalls around this island nation.

4. Scottish Highlands, Scotland

A beautiful and inspiring region of ancient landscapes with a fascinating history, the Scottish Highlands is a culturally distinct region influenced by a turbulent history, and magnificent nature and geography. The highest point in Scotland is the mountain peak of Ben Nevis—it's actually the highest peak in the UK at 1,346 metres (4,418 ft). Best time to go. Autumn is generally one of the best times to visit. It’s a little colder and rainier; however, the shoulder season has fewer visitors and offers a slower pace.

5. Grand Canyon, USA

One of the world's seven natural wonders, the Grand Canyon attains a depth of over a mile. Cutting its way through layer after layer of rock, the Colorado River and its tributaries have laid bare nearly two billion years of Earth's geological history. At its narrowest, the canyon is only 54 metres (60 yards) across; alternatively, at its widest, the canyon spans 28 km (18 miles). Best time to go. March through May and September through November, when daytime temperatures begin to cool and the crowds begin to thin.