Nine of the ‘secret’ Wonders of the World from bright turquoise pools to rainbow mountains
We all know the classic Seven Wonders of the World, but Lonely Planet has now revealed its most ‘Secret Wonders of the World’.
From bright thermal spas to haunting bell towers and oddly-named villages, these are nine of the most incredible spots either natural and manmade.
Pamukkale-Hierapolis, Turkey
When it comes to natural wonders, one of those highlighted by Lonely Planet is Pamukkale-Hierapolis in southwestern Turkey.
The striking thermal springs have white rocks with bright turquoise water and waterfalls.
Visitors can actually swim in part of Pamukkale in the man-made Cleopatra Pool.
In some parts you can walk through or even wade through the water.
Zhangye Danxia National Geopark, China
Another colourful spot is Zhangye Danxia National Geopark in Gansu, China.
The mountainous site is full of bright colours from green to pink and orange that has formed over millions of years.
Around the geopark are dedicated paths and platforms so you can see the mountains in all their glory.
One of the best times to visit is during the wet season between May and September – the combination of rain and the sunrise or sunset make the colours more vivid.
Beehive Huts, Ireland
One secret wonder is much closer to the UK as it’s found on the south-west coast of Ireland.
Beehive Huts, or clochán, date back to the 8th century, thought to once be used to store grain or shelter against storms.
Lots are easy to visit with many on the Dingle Peninsula with views across the coastline.
Some of the most easily accessible are the Fahan Beehive Huts which cost around €3 (£2.56) to enter.
Campanile de Curon, Italy
Another is Campanile de Curon, a bell tower in the middle of a lake in Italy.
It’s actually on the site of a sunken village which was flooded when three lakes merged into one.
It submerged the village of Curon Venosta leaving only the bell tower to be seen.
In the winter when the lake freezes over, it’s possible to walk over to it.
Chiricahua National Monument, USA
The Chiricahua National Monument is an enormous site made up of towers of balanced rocks.
Across 12,000 acres, the protected area in Arizona is known as a ‘wonderland of rocks’.
The area is open to visitors who want to explore its creeks, volcanic formations, and grottoes.
Most head to see Big Balanced Rock which, as the name suggest, s is a large rock that is perched on a narrow pedestal in a way that doesn’t look possible.
Chicken, Alaska
Found deep in Alaska is a former gold rush village called Chicken – and it even has a huge chicken Mr. Eggee as the mascot.
The village got its name back in the 1900s when workers could not agree on the spelling of ptarmigan, a bird found in the local area.
Instead, they settled on chicken, and now the village even holds a Chickenstock music festival with live folk music and plenty do the chicken dance.
The village is accessible between April and September as in winter its connecting highway closes due to extreme weather like heavy snow.
Völklinger Hütte, Germany
Some of the man-made secret wonders include the Völklinger Ironworks, in Germany, which looks more like something from a steampunk film.
Found in the south-west of the country, these are the world’s only fully preserved ironworks from what was considered the “Golden Age” of the iron and steel industry.
It’s no longer in use and is actually a museum and gallery space with entry from €17 (£14.52).
There are regular exhibitions and tours of the ironworks too.
Quinta da Regaleira Wells, Portugal
Just a few hours away from the UK in Sintra, Portugal is Quinta da Regaleira Wells.
The well is made up of two staircases across nine levels, they are found beneath the UNESCO-protected Quinta da Regaleira.
Unlike traditional wells, these don’t hold any water but were rather used for secret Masonic ceremonies.
For anyone heading to Lisbon, it’s a 35-minute drive away – you need to buy a ticket and can either do a guided or self-guided tour of the site.
Moray, Peru
Another man-made secret wonder is Moray in Peru which are deep carved circles with steps – essentially like an amphitheatre.
It’s in the Sacred Valley region around 11,500 feet above sea level.
It was built by the Inca Empire between the 15th and early 16th centuries believed to be used to experiment with agriculture at the time.
For those who want to visit, you have to buy a tourist ticket which covers 16 historical sites across Cusco and the Sacred Valley.
For the full 385 Secret Wonders of the World check out the book at shop.lonelyplanet.com.
