Nature, being the random and crazy force that it is, has created all sorts of geographical marvels across our planet. Many of these places are exactly the kind of spots that a hardcore nature lover can dig themselves into if they want a real adventure that stands outside the usual beach-side vacation in Cancun. Let's look at 6 places in our vast, blue world that are wild, beautiful, out of the way and at least sort of accessible.
Gulf Islands, British Columbia, Canada (Sailing)This chain of over a dozen large islands and hundreds of much smaller scattered green jewels lies just off the southern coast of mainland British Columbia, Canada. Wedged between Vancouver Island and the sprawling metropolis of Vancouver itself, these islands are covered in dense, dark green forests, surrounded by calm cool seas and some of the larger ones are spotted with small villages and scattered cabins.
There are few more beautiful and varied sailing adventures to be found than the one you'll have drifting amongst the Gulf Islands. Despite their close proximity to a city of nearly 3 million people, this chain islands is filled with truly isolated beaches, wooded getaways and remote, lovely cabins. You could spend weeks sailing and never stop finding new places to explore.
El Capitan, Yosemite National Park, California, U.S.A (Rock Climbing)El Cap, as it's also known, is located right in the midst of one of the most breathtaking national parks in the United States -Yosemite. This immense vertical cliff, reaching to more than 3,000 feet tall, makes for some of the finest hardcore rock climbing in the whole country. Route difficulties vary, and you can pick an easier run or go all out on some of the toughest climbing routes in the world.
Lenis Maranhenses National Park, Maranho State, Brazil (Off-roading)There are very few places in the entire world that can quite be compared to Lenis Maranhenses National Park. This otherworldly landscape of white sand, small turquoise pools of salt water and immense dunes stretches over 600 square miles. The park is wedged in between the Amazon Rainforest Basin and the northern coast of Brazil, and although it looks like a desert, it's actually a gigantic coastal dune system whose thousands of scattered warm water pools are home to numerous species of tropical fish.
There are no roads leading into the park and the wilderness is largely unspoiled. However, dune buggies and ATVs can be rented from select areas of the park for guided tours or winding solo trips that can take you so far into the dunes that getting lost becomes dangerously easy. The best time to visit is at the end of the rainy season in mid-Summer, when the many lakes are at their maximum size.
Kungsleden, Sweden (Hiking)Hiking a large trail that's located well beyond the Arctic Circle is about as far as you can get from the beaten path. With the Kings Trail (which is what Kungsleden means in Swedish) you can enjoy some extraordinarily wild nature trekking, beautiful vistas and long days of sunshine if you go during the late summer. In fact, late summer really is the best time for trying this 65 mile, four day hike due to the pervasive mosquito swarms that haunt the place during spring and early summer.The trail covers what may easily be considered one of the last true wilderness regions of Western Europe.
Kungsleden traverses landscapes that range from deep forests, open tundra, spectacular fractured glaciers and crosses the shoulder of Sweden's tallest mountain, 7,000 foot Mount Kebnekaise. Large wooden huts are located along intervals of a day's walk throughout the length of the trail, allowing guaranteed shelter during nighttime stops.
Mu KoAng Thong National Park, SuratThani Province, Thailand (Kayaking)The stunning jungle covered islands of southern Thailand sprout sharply from a deep blue/green coral filled tropical sea. The area along the southern coast of SuratThani Province is especially beautiful, even by the very high standards of the region. Many of these little islands are also home to small, isolated and delightfully empty beaches that are just perfect for a daily or overnight stop over. The best way to navigate all the different secrets of this natural paradise is by kayak.
Numerous tour operators in the area offer guided trips or kayak rentals for solo voyages and one of the densest concentrations of small islands can be found in Mu KoAng National Park itself.
Mountains of the Moon, UgandaThe legendary Mountains of the Moon, also known more modernly as the Ruwenzori Range and first chronicled by Ptolemy thousands of years ago, offer some of the most unusual mountaineering you're likely to find anywhere. This range of peaks runs along the Congolese/Ugandan border and contains mountains ranging in height from 14 to more than 16,000 feet.
What makes the Mountains of the Moon so unique is the sheer diversity of climates to be found in the region. Lowland jungles, alpine glaciers and cloud forest all coexist in the same extraordinary landscape. A visit to this wilderness is best done during the spring dry season and relatively cheap local guides should be hired to keep you from getting lost.
About the Author: Mike Zook spends most of his time writing for a company that creates environmental solutions ranging from collapsible storage systems to collapsible pillow tanks. When he’s not doing that, he’s almost always out travelling!
