Yep, there’s no doubt about it: The home of tacos, tequila, and tamales is one of the best surf destinations on the globe. It’s got epic point breaks, monstrous XXL waves, peeling cruisers, and everything in between, just as this guide to the eight best surf spots in Mexico reveals.

I’ve been on the mother of all surf trips through Mexico. It took me to the fabled beach breaks of Puerto Escondido and the palm-fringed surf bays of Sayulita alike. I still consider this one of the best places on the planet to wax the board and paddle out. Here’s my pick of the eight best surf spots in Mexico…

1. Sayulita

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All hail Sayulita. There’s surely no more famous a surf spot in Mexico than this. The town – the fun-brimming, cantina-filled town – is one of the country’s fabled Pueblo Mágicos, a ‘Magic Village’ noted for its unique charms and pretty looks. It sits on a hook-shaped bend of golden sand that’s kissed by two very regular surf breaks…

The first is the Sayulita Sandbar. Once upon a time, someone, somewhere noticed that this mellow little number was just about perfect for starting surfing. It’s mellow, soft, has powder underfoot, and makes bailing as comfy as bailing can be. Just up the playa from that is the Sayulita Right, which pops up where the river enters the ocean and offers shorter, sharper, but still cruisy longboard trimmers; it’s great for when you progress.

The upshot? What you’ve got in Sayulita is just about the perfect cocktail of learner spots. There’s a place to begin at, and another to graduate to later on. Even later again, you can venture to the wealth of wedges that await around the Punta Mita headland, from the fat A-frames of La Lancha to the punchy shore breaks of San Pancho.

Accordingly, Sayulita has emerged as the hub of surf camps in Mexico and its got the moxie to show for it. Margaritas are the order of the day at the beachfront cantinas, there are oodles of great hotels brushing the shore, and there are parties that go on all night long if you want them.

2. Todos Santos

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The Bahia de Todos Santos is the huge, gaping cleft in the northern Baja Peninsula that plays host to the beach town of Ensenada. Welcome to one of the original surfer escapes for Cali exiles. Sat just 1.5 hour’s drive south of the international border with the USA, it’s been, for some decades now, a go-to for Americana board riders keen to leave behind the busy spots of San Diego.

Now, if you thought that close proximity to the legendary cobblestone point breaks of Southern California means that this has something similar, then you’d be right. The highlights of the Bahia are the peeling right handers of Salsipuedes, which mimics Lower Trestles on its good days, and San Miguel, a glassy set of take offs that’s credited with kick-starting the sport of surfing in Mexico back in the day.

There’s also the sleeping giant of the Isla Todos Santos to contend with here. And only the most serious daredevils will do that contending. It rises, Nazare-esque, off the side of a rock out in the open Pacific, hitting heights of 30 feet or more on storm days. Yikes!

3. Cabo San Lucas

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Crack open the tequila, sizzle up the fish tacos, and squirt the sunscreen, Cabo – as it’s known to the huge cohorts of loyal followers – is the R&R mecca of the Baja Peninsula. Perched just shy of Land’s End at the very tip of said peninsula, it’s been drawing spring breakers, party lovers, and A-list celebs for decades.

But, when the summer swells from the south start kicking around May time, it’s also a haven for surfers. The main reason for that is the whole run of shoreline that spreads east from town, up onto the doorstep of the Sea of Cortez.

As waves push headlong into those from the roaring 40s and the winds switch east and north, things can look very pretty. Very pretty indeed. I’m talking long, peeling right walls at Costa Azul that host elegant longboarders on the nose. I’m talking lippy wedges at Bahia Chileno and all the whitewash a total novice could want along the sands of Cerritos Beach.

Cabo certainly favors regular-footed riders because of the abundance of right-hand point breaks. Staying somewhere in the Hotel Corridor (the strip of resorts to the east of the center) is the best way to go since that gets you closer to the waves.

4. Puerto Escondido

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No list of the most iconic surf spots in Mexico could possibly be complete without a nod to Puerto Escondido. Known as the Mexican Pipeline, the main playa at Zicatela is a factory for one of the gnarliest beach tubes on the planet. When huge summer south swells start rumbling, it churns out 40-footer walls that demand daring drop ins straight into a backdoor pit. It lasts seconds but will be the ride of your life.

Of course, most folks wouldn’t even consider trying that. Most only get as close as the sands, where crowds gather with cold cerveza and lime to watch the pros doing their thing. Thankfully, there are beaches for all levels in Puerto Escondido. There’s La Punta, a point break with nice right shoulders for intermediates. There’s Carrizalillo, a well-sheltered beginner bay that works good in the low season.

One of the things I consider the best about Puerto Escondido is that it’s the gateway to the whole of the Oaxaca coast. That’s got to be some of the most unchartered surf territory in the land of tacos and tequila. Some say there are strings of epic right points that go off like clockwork in May, June, and July down there. But shh!

5. San Pancho

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For a real Mexicana experience, San Pancho is a top choice. This sleepy little surf town is the sort of place where cowboys trot down the street in the morning and mariachi bands strike up tunes in the taquerias. It’s got cobbled streets crisscrossing each other this way and that, cafes that spill onto the sidewalks, and just an all-round great vibe.

The surf happens along the main beachfront – Playa San Pancho. It’s not exactly the best array of peaks around but it is consistent. You’ll get short left and right rides off of punchy walls that pop up on the reef beds. They only work on certain sections of the beach, though the south end is generally more reliable in my opinion.

San Pancho stands out because it’s a chilled version of Sayulita with a foot in the very same epic surf region: The Riviera Nayarit. The surf schools on the main street – Tercer Mundo Avenue – offer trips out to La Lancha and Punta Mita that include board rental and lessons. Choose those when San Pancho itself is flat or blown out.

6. Mazatlan

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Mazatlán is the premier beach resort of the State of Sinaloa. Yep, that’s the same Sinaloa that gave the world El Chapo et al, but don’t worry too much because the designated tourist zones of the Malecón and the recently renovated old town (more on that below) are generally considered safe for visitors in 2023.

A whopping 21 kilometers of shoreline stretches up the western half of town. It encompasses long runs of golden sand and rocky bays alike. Each hosts their own unique sort of break. The main acts I’d consider are Rucos, where the crowds spread along multiple peaks that are good for all levels, and Playa Bruja, a left-right frame with very fun shortboard rides in the offing.

Now, let’s return to that aforementioned old town. The Centro area of Mazatlán has just completed 10 years of meticulous restoration. It’s got a sort of Havana feel to it, which some have dubbed “tropical Neoclassicism”. There’s no denying it’s a moody place, with colorful buildings lining tree-sprouting alleys, gilded balconies jutting overhead, and pretty plazas shaded by jacarandas.

7. Troncones

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If you’re the sort that likes to stray off the beaten path to beaches unknown and waves unsurfed, then Troncones could be the place for you. It’s one of the sole surf towns in the state of Guerrero, which I still think is strange considering just how much exposure this land has to all those consistent southerly swell channels in the Pacific.

Anyway, Troncones sort of creeps out of the jungles between the sturdy rows of coconut palms some 30 minutes’ drive north of Zihuatanejo. It’s got a main playa that’s peak after peak of all-level surfing, though it can get big and beefy on solid summer swells. North of that is La Salidita, which is the rising star of the region…

Yep, La Salidita is a trim-fest of a river mouth wave. It begins where some water snakes into the sea from a small creek to the south of the hamlet (and it really is a hamlet) of the same name, proceeding to lap around a cobblestone headland and into a wide bay. It tends to stay nice and small thanks to a shallow shelf of silt and mud at the estuary, making it perfecto for longboarders no matter the season.

8. Punta Mita

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Punta Mita has cut its teeth on luxury vacationing at the bottom end of the Riviera Nayarit. The name of both a headland and a town, which juts out along the Bahia de Banderas north of Puerto Vallarta, it’s packed with five-star hotels and lux resorts with views of the frothing Pacific Ocean.

There are two coasts to play with here. The first faces west. That picks up decent winter swells and mimics the likes of Sayulita and San Pancho with a series of beach breaks that can be okay, can be epic – it all depends on how the sandbanks align.

Then there’s the south side of Punta Mita. It’s where the goldeen spots awaits, in the form of some well-protected beachfronts and points that love those summer SW pulses. I’m talking the likes of La Lancha, arguably the most enjoyable A-frame beachy in the country, and Stinky’s, a top-to-bottom wave with long rides close to the main harbor.

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Then there are the surf spots in Sri Lanka: Sheer quality; sheer fun. They fringe two main coastlines – the east (mainly at Arugam Bay, which we’ll chat about later) and the west (the most famous surf region of the two), and are generally among the most accessible and forgiving of waves in Asia.

There’s always something in season because the two coasts work at opposing times of the year. Plus, the atmosphere here is downright fantastic. You’ll dine on taste-bud-tingling dals and have morning swims with sea turtles on the coral reefs. Lovely.

Sri Lanka is one of the areas I specialize in as a surf-travel writer. I only discovered the stunning Teardrop of India back in 2018 but it was love at first sight. I’ve since lived for a whole month in Hiriketiya – if you ask me, the coolest surf town in Asia – and traveled extensively throughout the southwest coast region for surfing and chilling and sunset beers.

1. Hiriketiya

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A U-shaped bay on the far south coast of Sri Lanka that’s tucked away from the maddening crowds of Matara and Colombo, Hiriketiya is for hammock swinging and surfing from morning until night. There are two waves here, both on the same beach but at opposite sides.

The first is the Hiriketiya beach break, on the western side of the bay. It’s a plump and cruisy little number that has about two or three take off points, depending on the size. You can ride short rights into the reef that lies in the middle. Or you can peel off to the left and surf gently into the rows of palm trees, which usually host groups of onlooking macaques.

The second break is for intermediates and up. It’s a pure point break reef that works on the eastern edge of the bay, close to where the waters join up with the open ocean. You’ll need some moxie to make the sucky take off, which pulls back on shallow rocks festooned with urchins. Manage that and you’ll be straight onto a long, open left shoulder.

Hiriketiya was once a best-kept secret of southern Lanka. These days, it’s well known but the vibe remains tropical to the T. Seek out the hidden surf villas back from the main beach road to sleep in the company of chirping birds of paradise and naughty monkeys.

2. Ahangama

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Uber-cool Ahangama is the new kid on the block when it comes to surf spots in Sri Lanka. Spreading across 2.5 miles of shoreline between Midigama and Koggala, it’s an accessible run of beaches and coves and reefs, all of which have surfable waves.

There are a few spots that stand out from the crowd. First up, there’s Marshmallows, a deep reef that’s great for minimal riders and folks looking to graduate from beach breaks to their first corals underfoot. Next, there’s Sticks, a cluster of peaks that are steep and wedgy over shallow rocks, though a latent degree of localism makes it a bit sketchy at times.

Those are just the named breaks. One of the joys of Ahangama is that you can seek out unbusy spots pretty much everywhere. Navigate between the coast hotels and shacks on the shoreline and you can almost guarantee that there will be a wave waiting to be tried.

On top of that, Ahangama is the hipster hub of Sri Lanka’s surf scene right now. Edgy cafes serving up avo on sourdough mingle with artisan pizza joints and chichi cocktail venues with sunset shows that are to die for.

3. Hikkaduwa

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Hikkaduwa was one of the original surf-chill meccas of the southwestern zone on the island. Much closer to the airport and Colombo than the other towns mentioned here, it tends to get busy with both locals and holidaymakers. There’s also a whiff of overdevelopment about it all, what with colossal hotels crowding the golden sands and more curry shacks than you can shake your stack of chapatis at.

If you can look past all that, then you get the gorgeous surf run of Narigama Beach. It’s the perfect place to learn; a factory for knee-high cruisers that are rarely too powerful. Up the coast a touch from that is Benny’s, a point break that pushes fat and rippable left waves over a jagged reef. That’s better for experienced riders and only really works when there are BIG swells in the offing.

I see Hikkaduwa as a great first stop option on a surf trip around the southwest coast of Sri Lanka. It’s welcoming and easy, has an abundance of affordable coastal hotels (some of which are downright luxury), and – crucially – is on the way down from the big airport in Negombo.

4. Kabalana

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Like Hiriketiya before it, Kabalana is a tale of two breaks. There’s the easy-mode beach break, which is the reason that so many of the local Ahangama surf schools track up this way with their learner classes. Then there’s the real star of the show: The Rock.

The Rock is a wedge of an A-frame wave that draws in loads of power from the Indian Ocean through channels cut in the coral reefs below. When there’s 5-9 foot in the forecast it transforms into a world-class left and right, with fast drop ins straight to pitching faces. The right is the better of the two ways to go, as it cruises and bends and bowls neatly on a tapering line, finishing with some loose sections where you can hotdog to your heart’s content.

Kabalana itself doesn’t really have a town center per se. It’s more like a steady string of camps and lodges, curry houses and board shops that clings the Matara Road.

5. Arugam Bay

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Arugam Bay whisks us over to the eastern side of Sri Lanka. It’s a whole world away from all of the other places on this list; a land of long, wiggly, white-sand beaches that face straight east towards Southeast Asia.

The location is actually key, because Arugam Bay gets its best surf conditions at the total opposite time of the year as the west coast. The swells get regular and the monsoon rains drop away around  the middle of spring, ushering in a summer of offshore winds and glassy water. It’s the place to surf if you’re hitting Sri Lanka between May and September.

The Main Point is the money-shot wave. As the water pulses in there, it hits a headland of salty boulders and starts spurting out long, 100-meter lines that oscillate between semi-hollow faces and even barrel sections if it’s big enough.

Arugam Bay sits smack dab in the middle of a coastline of around 50 miles that’s riddled with breaks. Some – like the super-fun, all-level spot at Peanut Farm – are well known, but can be tricky to reach. Others remain complete secrets, hidden behind rows of coconut palms and cow-spotted farm fields.

6. Weligama

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Weligama is sandwiched right in the heart of the southwestern surf zone. You’ve got Mirissa to the southeast and Midigama to the north, so there’s no shortage of breaks for those willing to hop in a tuk-tuk and do some exploring.

But Weligama isn’t really for the exploring surfer. It’s 100% dedicated to total beginners and is now, simply, the very best place to learn to surf on the whole island.

The main reason for that is down to the geography of the bay. It measures a whopping five miles in all, curving from a coconut-strewn headland on one side to a cluster of reefs on the other. Meanwhile, the opening to the ocean is two miles across, enough to push in regular swells that then refract and loose power before they caress the beachfront with easy, leg-high waves and whitewash.

If I had to focus on a downside of Weligama, it’s the looks. The town is a ramshackle mass of concrete hotels that straddles a very busy seaside motorway. It’s loud and you’ll spend your walks to the waves dodging traffic.

7. Midigama

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As you move north from Weligama, the town of Midigama picks up the baton. It also cranks up the quality of the surf a whole notch because the nooks and crannies of this bending and curving shoreline are just about perfect for creating point breaks and reef breaks of all shapes and sizes.

There’s a real Sri Lankan smorgasbord to get through but, if you’re tight on time, consider heading straight for Coconuts. It’s a fun, punchy right hander that runs off the side of a manmade breakwater. The reef is deep when the tide is high, so there’s not too much risk of meeting an urchin. Plus, the beach itself is a stunner – think daffodil sands and the odd palm tree ducking low for shade.

The more famous breaks of Midigama Left and Midigama Right couldn’t be more different. The latter is a quick, zippy number that’s for shortboard hotdoggers. The former is a sleepy gurgle of water that’s better for those bringing eight foot or more to the party.

These days, Midigama has some of the finest surf stays on the island. They run the gamut from bohemian lodges with polished-concrete suites to bargain hostel stays that have in-house surf instructors.

8. Mirissa

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Little Mirissa is a party town at heart. It throngs a seriously lovely beach to the east of Weligama, spilling out onto the sands in a montage of bamboo-built bars and ginger-scented curry houses. As evening approaches, the happy hours kick in and Mirissa becomes a hedonistic cocktail of beer drinkers and dancers; a little touch of Koh Phangan in Sri Lanka.

There’s decent surf here for those who can dodge a hangover. The best spot is the right-hand reef that works at the northwestern edge of Mirissa Beach. Hit that at high tide because low will make it so shallow you’ll scratch toes (your own) and nose (the board’s) without a doubt.

If that’s too busy or too daunting, there’s always the option of hailing a tuk-tuk and making the 20-minute drive around to central Weligama. In fact, lots of folks do that because Mirissa has more good vibes and better nightlife than its next-door neighbor, plus it’s a whole load prettier. So, surf in one, stay in the other. Sorted.

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You can come here to score peeling beachies that curl into the golden sands of the sunny Algarve. Or you can come to pit yourself against the mighty beasts of Nazare, the home of the largest waves on the planet!

And it’s not just the fantastic surf conditions and variety of breaks that this land at the end of Iberia has up its sleeve. It’s also riddled with charming surf villages, fringed with breathtaking runs of coastline that’s threaded with pine forest and dune meadows, and blessed with tasty cooking and great wine – salt-cod broth and a Douro red, anyone?

I’ve been surfing and traveling Portugal for nearly 12 years in all. Some of my first waves outside of the UK were caught on the beginner beaches of northern Peniche. Since then, I’ve returned for month-long surf sojourns in the Algarve and surf camps in Porto. Here are my 10 top picks for the best surf spots in Portugal…

1. Peniche

Of all the surf spots in Portugal, it’s Peniche that gets the plaudits time and time again for its sheer quality and diversity of breaks. The town occupies a tombola of land about 1.5 hours’ drive north of Lisbon, with sands that face north, south, and west straight into the Atlantic.

The upshot? Just about any swell direction and wind direction will offer surfable conditions in these parts. When it’s summer and you need to squeeze every drop of action out of the ocean, hit up Praia da Consolação to catch ankle breakers under the centuries-old Fortaleza there. In winter, if it’s huge, retreat to Baleal, to surf protected sets on Praia das Pedras Muitas, the beginner hub of the town.

If there’s one wave that stands out, it’s surely Supertubos. A frothing beast of a barrel that sucks the shores dry to form curling tubes on the beach just south of downtown Peniche, it’s the site of major annual WSL competitions. Great for spectating. Risky if you don’t know what you’re doing.

See related: Best Things to do in Peniche

2. Sagres

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Sagres caps off the wave-lashed southwestern edge of Portugal. Seriously – go any further and you’ll be splashing around in the Atlantic Ocean. It’s the surf capital of the Algarve these days, and comes with all the top-quality schools and surf lodges that the title warrants.

The main focal point of the wave riding is on Tonel Beach. It dashes beneath the high cliffs on the western side of the center, with the cannon-holed bulwarks of the mighty Fortaleza de Sagres – a fortress that once did battle with Mediterranean pirates – rising high above.

But Tonel isn’t the only spot you get to enjoy here. Because Sagres has equally good access to the southern side of the Algarve as the western side, it’s also great for beginners who don’t necessarily want the most ferocious of swells.

Head eastwards to beaches such as Praia do Barranco and Praia da Luz to find mellow waves, not to mention a more all-round vacationer vibe – think sunbeds on the shoreline and ice-cream parlors dotting the promenades behind.  

3. Ericeira

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Ericeira was the first official World Surfing Reserve in Central Portugal. It’s easy to see why. The town is the hub of a long run of west-facing Atlantic shoreline that is essentially never, ever flat. The northern side of the center is where the pros go. The southern side is for learners and casual surfers.

Let’s start with the latter. There, long, sandy bays like Foz do Lizandro and Praia do Sul are a haven for crumbly, chest-high waves in the summer. Soft boarders and groms aplenty have caught their first rides in these parts, all under the gaze of the honey-hued cliffs of Portugal’s sunny central coast.

Venture up to beaches like Coxos and the Ribeira D’Ilhas and the whole scene changes. The rocky bays north of town are beset by a riffraff of reefs and high headlands that spill straight into the ocean. When strong winter storms start kicking around November, they suck in big swells and create spinning barrel rides. It’s a fantastic sight. And a fantastic ride; if you’re brave enough.

4. Nazare

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Let’s get one thing straight – us mere mortals will probably never, ever surf the monsters of Nazare. The town’s name is nothing short of legendary on the global surf circuit because it’s known to have the biggest surfable waves of anywhere on the planet. Yep, the whole planet.

The record for the mightiest wall of water ever tamed in the history of surfing was set here back in 2020 by Sebastian Steudtner. He dropped in on a colossal 86-foot (26-meter) behemoth and didn’t bail. Woo!

Truth be told, surf trips to Nazare aren’t for the average Joe. They’re largely spectator visits, which is fine. Come by around October time to be in with a chance of sighting the biggest swells in the calendar. Everyone will gather to watch at the clifftop lighthouse by North Beach.

The good news is that Nazare town is a real charmer, too. It’s a bona fide Portuguese coast village, with a maze-like downtown knitted together by cobblestone streets, all hemmed in by cozy cottages and tavernas painted cloud-white from tip to toe.

5. Arrifana

Arrifana is known as one of the finest learner spots in the southern Algarve region. Steeped in sun (almost 300 days of the good stuff each year, in fact) and caressed by endless swells from the north and central Atlantic, the bay is hemmed in by a phalanx of soaring cliffs and whitewashed coast cottages.

The walk down to the beach is sheer drama. You’ll zigzag past surf cafes and board rental spots and then hop a timber ladder onto the sands. Check out the toppling rock stacks that are visible to the south, usually plumed in ocean mists as the waves whack the shore.

Beginner and intermediate surfers here will want to stick to the main beach break. It’s not one wave but 20, all peaking and wedging along 700 meters of glistening sand.

There’s a more advanced tubular right that’s fast and sketchy to be had in front of the harbor when the tide peels back, too, though you need swells higher than eight foot to get that working at its best.

6. Carcavelos

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Carcavelos is the most iconic surf break on the Estoril Coast that spans westwards from the big, buzzy capital of Lisbon. For that reason, it’s always busy. But it’s also super consistent and works from December to December, offering waves for all levels depending on the season.

To get to the beach, simply hop on the tram at the Cais do Sodré station in the heart of Lisbon and cruise the rails for about 35 minutes. They’ll take you to a stop only a block back from the waves. There are board rentals and accomplished surf schools right on the shoreline, offering lessons for as little as $35 a pop.

The shorebreak wave here is what draws the crowds. It’s actually a powerful little number, curling against the beachfront with punchy closeouts and the occasional line to the left or the right.

Outside the bay, on the reefs to the west, is the Carcavelos reefy, a barreling right that’s the stomping ground of local rippers. Don’t be tempted to go there.

Further reading: Best beaches in Portugal

7. Espinho

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Chilled Espinho is a hip little beach town just to the south of Porto. A 30-minute ride on the train from the big city and you can emerge onto a golden strip of sand that’s laced with a palm-sprouting promenade and more sunset bars than you can shake your cold Sagres beer at. It’s a good-vibes sort of place to be.

The waves hit a zenith in the autumn and winter months as the strongest NW swells come in. Then, you can come to watch as shortboard maestros score barreling rights off the big concrete breakwater at the north end of the beach.

But that’s not really why Espinho reigns as one of the best surf spots in Portugal. That’s down to the fact that the town has mellower beach breaks with sand underfoot during the summer months. Plus, there are now excellent surf schools with cheap lessons in abundance. It’s destination number one for learners out of Porto.

8. Azurara

Hidden away up on the so-called Green Coast of northern Portugal, Azurara is but a sleepy fishing village with a smattering of unbusy coast hotels. A couple of salt-washed boardwalks lead over a sea of oat-bristling dunes to the Atlantic, revealing a scythe of a bay that’s got waves for all levels.

The spring and summer months here see the onshore winds dip. That paves the way for bending sets of nice longboard and shortboard waves. The best of them curl nearly off the breakwater on the north side of Praia da Azurara, sucking a full tide into lovely wedges and peeling shoulders that are great for trimming up and down.

Azurara remains a bit of a secret on the surf scene of north PT; a fine place for escaping the booming crowds of Espinho and Matosinhos closer to the heart of Porto. The downside? The angle of the beach means that you really need some southerly element to the swell. If that fails to happen, it will be flatter than a Portuguese saltcod.

9. Jardim do Mar

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Completely exposed to the ferocious winter westerly swells that cruise across the middle of the Atlantic from November to March, Jardim do Mar is a beast of a break that’s really only for the pro riders out there.

It curls around the southwestern edge of Madeira, Portugal’s sub-tropical wonderworld out in the ocean. Beneath cliffs tufted with lush palms and fern trees, and before a town topped with terracotta roofs, the wave starts with an unforgiving drop straight onto a thick slab of Atlantic H2O.

If you make the bottom turn – and it has to be a fast one – then you’ll be greeted by an overhead wall of water on the right had side. It moves fast, and you’ll need to carve top and bottom to make it through the harder sections and escape the oncoming cobblestone beachfronts.

Sadly, Jardim do Mar is officially listed as a wave at risk. The site was badly impacted by the construction of a jetty some years ago. That took away just a touch of the power and finesse. It also means that the spot can now only be surfed around complete low tide.

10. Costa da Caparica

The beautiful Costa da Caparica skirts the central coast for a whopping 8.5 miles. It’s basically an uninterrupted length of cinnamon-tinted sand within easy reach – think less than 30 minutes’ driving – of the capital. That makes it the perfect option for city breakers wanting to see the sights of Lisbon and hit the surf, all in the same 72 hours.

There are multiple named spots up and down this whole area. However, the real joy is in walking and wandering to find a peak to call your own for the day. The top end of the beach tends to have slightly smaller swells. South of Praia do Castelo, roughly the middle of the costa, things get a foot or so larger.

The waves here are all reliant on sandbanks. Those are underwater blocks of silt and sand that have built up and settled. Sometimes they are good; other times they’re non-existent. Westerly winds can turn things messy, but rare wintertime easterlies can turn Caparica to smooth glass.

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The result? A wonderworld of barrelling point breaks, glassy beach breaks, and just about everything else in between. You’ll find surf havens that have been mainstays since the times of Endless Summer – Bali, Lombok. But you’ll also find unchartered surf frontiers, from the palm-threaded isles of the Ments in the west to the undiscovered reefs of Sumba further east.

Below, I’ve used my in-depth knowledge of the Indonesian islands to help pinpoint the crème-de-la-crème of surf breaks in the region. You’re in good hands, because I’ve been traveling back and forth to these islands with my board in tow since 2013, with my latest outing to Lombok and Bali coming in early 2023.

1. Uluwatu

Uluwatu – or Ulu’s, as the locals call it – is among the finest left-hand point breaks on Earth. Pros ripping here have been printed on the covers of surf mags since the days of the very first surf mags.

One glance at the beefy walls of water that run off the Uluwatu headland from the top of the cliffs and it’s easy to see why…The wave is a stunner! It starts with a heavy take-off into a section known as Outside Corner, a run of carve-worthy water that invites shortboarders to go from top to bottom and back again over and over.

As the sets peel in closer to the cliffs, they get shallower and shallower on the volcanic reefs. That adds a bit of speed and jeopardy, which is what the final section, appropriately known as Racetracks, is all about.

Uluwatu is very much a spot for upper intermediates and advanced surfers, so if you’re just finding your water feet it’s best to stick to the cliffside bars and watch the show.

2. G-Land

Source: Will Day / shutterstock

No list of the best surf spots in Indonesia could be possibly be complete without a mention of G-Land. The jewel of East Java, it was hidden until at least the early 70s, when wandering surfers found their way through the primeval jungles here on the search for breaks away from the growing crowds of Bali.

What they found did not disappoint: A curling wealth of world-class left handers that bends around the end of wide Grajagan Bay (hence the name, G-Land).

These days, the sections are well known. There’s Money Trees, a ridiculously consistent barrel that finishes with a fun, bowly section. Then there’s Launching Pads, for daredevil pit seekers willing to shoot through the backdoor.

In all, there’s something like eight named breaks on the G-Land line-up. On the very best days – maybe once or twice each year – they’ll connect up to offer thigh-burning rides.

This is also the home of the original surf camp. Called G-Land Bobby’s Surf Camp, it’s been going for 40 years and offers bungalow stays a stone’s throw from the waves.

3. Batu Karas

Source: Bastian AS / shutterstock

Batu Karas’s star is rising. In the last 10 years, it’s emerged as Java’s best answer to the beginner-friendly waves of south Bali (more on those below).

That’s almost solely down to the main point break that works at the western end of the beach. It’s well-sheltered from the huge summer SW swells that fire up through the Indian Ocean. Peeling right and curving into the main beach, it’s got mainly sand below the water and is tailored for longer boards and learning surfers.

More advanced surfers, meanwhile, can hit the lippy A-frame break that works on the Batu Karas reef. Or there are the endless peaks of Pangandaran further to the east.

The vibes here are a bit like Bali 20 years ago. There are chilled surf houses with jungle-shrouded pools hiding between pockets of coconut trees right by the shore. The waves aren’t as busy as over in the Isle of the Gods and you’ll still encounter cows wandering the beaches.

4. Desert Point

Source: Carl Watkins / shutterstock

Cross your fingers and commit – that’s how most surfers, even the most accomplished pros, make it through the spinning barrels of Desert Point. Forming on the westernmost reefs of southern Lombok, the island just over from Bali, this wave is hugely fickle. But when it works, it really, really works…

Oncoming SW swells will suck almost all the water off the jagged rock reef to form rifling tubes that go for 200 meters around the edge of a thick peninsula. It’s a quick drop down a steep face of water and straight into the action. At that stage, spectators can watch as surfers disappear behind a slab of water, only to be shot out at the far end 20 seconds down the line.

Desert Point isn’t for learners and is a bit tricky to get to – you’ll need a 4X4 and some good driving skills to navigate the rough-and-tumble roads of western Lombok.

Further reading: 25 Amazing Things to Do in Lombok

5. Kuta Bali

Ask 10 surfers where they’d recommend learning in Asia and Kuta is likely to be mentioned multiple times. Stringing its way up the southwest coast of the mystical Isle of the Gods, the town is the original starter location in Bali.

These days, it gets mixed reviews because the town has grown into a gaudy party hub for Aussie backpackers. And because there are regular reports of pollution in the water.

Nevertheless, Kuta Bali continues to reign as one of the finest surf spots in Indonesia simply because it’s home to stacks and stacks of surf schools. Some line the beach, others are tucked into the narrow streets just behind. $15 is the going rate for a two-hour lesson.

You may also like: Best Beaches in Bali

6. Gerupuk

Gerupuk is a big bay that chops a wedge out of the south side of the island of Lombok. It’s got not one, not two, but three individual breaks up its sleeve, each of which caters to a slightly different type of surfer and a whole range of different skill levels. It’s not for nothing that it’s considered one of Indo’s most versatile spots.

The best wave of the bunch has to be Inside Gerupuk. It’s an A-frame with a soft and forgiving take off into a longer right and a short, sharp left. The right works better for beginners because it drags you straight into a paddle channel to get back out to the line-up.

Further out towards where Gerupuk Bay meets the open Indian Ocean, there’s Outside. This one’s a funky wave that always looks bigger than it really is, breaking in a series of lips over ever-shallowing reefs. Then there’s Don Don, a cruisy, super-soft left that doesn’t work all that often but loves a longboarder.

If I had to pick a downside to Gerupuk it would be the crowds. All three of the spots listed above get busy when the tides and swells are right. The best thing to counter that is to stay locally and surf early.

7. Sumba

Source: trubavin / shutterstock

The bean-shaped island of Sumba has been touted as the next big thing on the Indo surf scene. There are a couple of reasons for that…

One: It’s angled perfectly into the SW swell channel, so gets loads of clean waves during the summer high season. Two: It has a similar topography to Bali, oscillating between high cliffs and volcanic reef shelfs. Three: It’s gorgeous and undeveloped – get ready for long sweeps of sugar-soft sand that filter into thickets of coconut jungle.

Breaks along the southwest coast are slowly being discovered but one really stands out from the crowd. It’s known as Occy’s Left, or God’s Left. They say it’s such a perfect lefty barrel that the almighty himself must have designed it. (Sadly, the only way to surf the spot is to book into the $2k-per-night hotel that’s on the nearby beachfront!)

8. Nias

Source: HASIHOLAN SIAHAAN / shutterstock

Nias, like G-Land and the Ments before it, only came into the spotlight thanks to the intrepid Aussie explorers of the 1970s. They did the legwork so that the surf-travelers of today can enjoy some of the finest and most consistent barrelling point breaks in Asia.

It’s all down to a western shoreline that’s exquisitely angled into the breadth of the Indian Ocean, ever so slightly southwest to hoover up swell after swell during the dry-season months (May to August).

There are waves of serious quality here, especially around the opening of Lagundri Bay in the south of Nias. That’s a peeling, perfect right with barrel sections that go off like clockwork. Track north some and you’ll find Robinson Crusoe beaches with breaks that have not a single soul riding them.

9. Padang Padang

Perhaps the only left in Bali that can rival Uluwatu, Padang Padang is only a whisker up the coastline from its great compadre. It’s another of the famous surf spots that adorns the Bukit Peninsula in the far south of the island, and it’s sheer perfection when dry-season swells match up nicely with the right tides.

The main spot is the left hander that rises and peels off the south side of the bay. It’s barrel 90% of the way, eventually opening into a pitching face where you can carve big S-bend turns before lipping out.

During the low season and when the swell is small, there’s also another break on offer here: The Padang Padang Right. That’s another barrel of fish (no pun intended). Soft and cruisy, it offers sliding rides for longboarders and lower-intermediates.  

10. The Mentawais

Source: naomi adbib bannoudi / shutterstock

Last but most certainly not least on our list of the finest surf breaks in Indonesia, the Mentawais blaze a trail with their trio of main islands. Together, the three combine to offer arguably the greatest theme park of breaks on the globe.

Let’s start in the north. There, the island of Siberut gets things rolling with Playgrounds, a grouping of 25 individual spots that includes the epic lefts of E-Bay and the almond-barrel rights of Bank Vaults. Go south a touch and you’ll come to Sipura, an isle mostly famed for the swell-sucking sets of Telescopes.

The Ments are finished off by Pagai, the most remote island of the chain. The surf camps there offer a real getaway-from-it-all vibe. You’ll live like Tom Hanks in Castaway as you hop from your beach bungalow to deserted reef breaks that never seem to go flat.

The post 10 Best Surf Spots in Indonesia appeared first on The Crazy Tourist.

Here, we take a look at 15 of the top spots that every traveler heading to this hearty corner of Western Europe should have on the menu.

Lets explore our list of the best places to visit in Ireland:

1. Cliffs of Moher

Source: flickr

One of the most visited natural attractions in all of Ireland, the Cliffs of Moher rise up from the swells of the great Atlantic Ocean like petrified bulwarks of stone.

On top, they are covered with the island’s trademark meadows of verdant green grass, while the waters of Galway Bay crash and froth against the stone below.

At a whopping 120 meters in height, these great cliffs offer dramatic views of the coastline and the Aran Islands out at sea, while an all-new visitors’ center makes it easy for travelers to uncover the hundreds of millions of years of geological history that helped form the stratas of sandstone and shale.

2. Sligo

Source: flickr

While the small and welcoming town of Sligo packs a punch with its charming medieval core, arched stone bridges, lichen-spotted abbey and wealth of pretty 19th-century townhouses, it’s the backcountry of this one that really hits the mark.

Imbued with all the romance you’d expect of the place that helped form the legendary W B Yeats, this area of outstanding natural beauty rises to peaks with the mighty monolith of Knocknarea Mountain (the mythic resting place of Queen Maedbh), comes peppered with moss-clad, centuries-old cairn stones and makes for some truly breathtaking views over the pebble beaches and salt-sprayed towns of Sligo Bay.

3. Killarney National Park

Source: flickr

Nestled amidst the other much-vaunted natural treasures of County Kerry, the indelibly wild and untouched reaches of the Killarney National Park are surely worth a mention in their own right.

Attested by UNESCO and trodden by herds of majestic red deer, the area hosts great swathes of primeval oak, yew and ash forest.

These come interspersed with the beautiful Lakes of Killarney, which sit mirror-like under the curiously-hued tops of the Purple Mountains.

The whole place is a veritable mecca for walkers and wildlife lovers, who can weave between peat bogs, moss-caked forests and more, all in the company of swifts, kingfishers and ospreys.

4. Boyne Valley

Source: flickr

Stretching for around 110 miles from the verdant heartlands of County Kildare to the Irish Sea, the Boyne Valley is Ireland’s answer to the Loire of France or Meuse of Belgium.

Strikingly beautiful and green to the hilt, this land really lives up to the moniker of the Emerald Isle.

Between its borders, travelers can see wonders like the Newgrange monument (which is thought to date back more than five millennia) and the crumbling walls and gatehouses of Trim Castle – once the stronghold of Norman rule in Meath.

Easily accessible from the capital at Dublin, the valley also makes for a fine natural escape from city life, with oodles of marked trails weaving around its riparian banks.

5. The Rock of Cashel

Source: flickr

Oozing a certain gothic mystery and eerie charm from every one of its Game of Thrones-style turrets and keeps, crumbling walls and crenulated gatehouses, the so-called Rock of Cashel clings like an ancient limpet to the green hills of County Tipperary in the south.

The site was the fortress of the Munster kings way back in the Early Middle Ages, and still hosts builds like the Round Tower and Cormac’s Chapel from that period – many of which stood up to English invaders in later years.

There are also beautifully haunting graveyards of Celtic stones to see, not to mention sweeping views of the beautiful Munster backcountry.

6. Dublin

Source: flickr

Rowdy, raucous Dublin surely needs no introduction! A town of folksy, Guinness-fuelled pubs and elegant Georgian architecture, this capital city continues to draw travelers from far and wide with its cocktail of culture and heritage, class and hedonism.

Set midway down the beautiful coast of the Irish Sea, the town boasts the colossal St Patrick’s Cathedral (the largest of its kind in Ireland) and the acclaimed Dublin Writers Museum, where travelers can unravel the lives of Joyce, Yeats et al.

The Guinness Storehouse also draws tasters with its brooding ales, while whiskey distilleries are never too far away and Temple Bar Square is famed for its foodie delights, killer restaurants and drinking joints.

7. Dingle

Source: philhaberphotography

The capital of its own eponymous peninsula, found jutting out into the Atlantic swells, Dingle sits sandwiched between the beaches and cliffs of County Kerry and the ridges of the revered pilgrimage spot of Mount Brandon.

Steeped in Irish charm, the town is beset by bobbing fishing boats and comes with a distinct, salt-washed seafaring character.

Irish is the language of operation here too, while whiskey from the local distillery seems to be the tipple of choice.

Aside from wallowing in the backwater vibe here, travelers can opt to explore the beautiful panoramas offered by the Conor Pass, go dolphin spotting, and weave between the boutiques and pubs on central Quay Street.

8. Galway City

Source: cityofgalway

Crowned by the colossal Gothicism of St Nicholas’ Church, Galway City once boomed as Ireland’s foremost medieval trading port with connections to the Med.

Sights like Lynch’s Castle belie the rich history of the city’s merchant mayors from this period, while the real character of Galway lies in its boho, quirky side, which bubbles up along the old town’s streets with performers and magicians on the weekend, bursts out of the cafes on the Promenade of Salthill, becomes palpable during the city’s art festival in July, and is never far away between the pubs of Cross Street and the center.

9. Blarney Castle

Source: flickr

Forever drawing day trippers out of the center of Cork, this partly ruined set of keeps and battlements dating from as far back as the 1200s is high on the list of Ireland’s bucket-list sights.

Today, some areas of the site have been reconstructed, while the neo-gothic Blarney House stands tall on the side of the castle, and various nature walks showcase the rugged rock formations that pepper the grounds.

The real piece de resistance though? Well, that has to be the mythic Blarney Stone, which is said to imbue any that kiss it (easier said than done!) with the gift of the Irish gab!

10. Limerick

Source: flickr

Spread over the banks of the River Shannon as it widens to meet the Atlantic on Ireland’s western haunch, the city of Limerick is often overlooked by travellers in favour of the natural draws that have made the region of Munster so famous.

However, those who linger here a while will discover a town that’s firmly on the up, reinvigorated after near bankruptcy and ready to showcase its rowdy Guinness pubs and fervent love for the game of rugby.

What’s more, the place is still wallowing in the prestige of having been Ireland’s National City of Culture, with spots like the Belltable Arts Centre bursting with new productions and plays, the University of Limerick echoing with plain chant and the city gallery of art hosting events like the EVA International festival.

11. Cork

Source: flickr

120,000-strong Cork remains Ireland’s second largest city.

It can be found perched out on the coastlines of its eponymous county, cut through by the winding River Lee as it makes its way towards the rollers of the Celtic Sea.

Lively, fun-loving, a tad laid-back and proudly divergent to Dublin, the locals here enjoy flitting between their town’s curious coffee shops and traditional pubs, all of which hide in tight-knit streets spouting off the central vein of St Patrick’s.

The spires of St Fin Barre’s Cathedral overlook the town in glorious Gothicism, while the Cork City Gaol is a prime attraction on the outskirts – if a little gruesome to boot!

12. Glendalough

Source: flickr

Nestled between the undulating hills of County Wicklow on the east side of Ireland, the beautiful valley of Glendalough draws visitors with its mix of history and natural wonders.

The ancient abbey in the very heart of the site dates from sometime in the early 6th century, was founded by the revered Saint Kevin of Glendalough, and showcases some of the best-preserved early medieval religious architecture in the country.

All around this crumbling cloister, travelers can delve into a woodland of oak and fern, hazel and mountain ash, where warblers flit between the canopies and the marked trails pierce into the Wicklow Mountains National Park.

13. The Aran Islands

Source: flickr

Found lingering out in the Bay of Galway, where the icy rollers of the Atlantic Ocean buffet the seaweed-covered coastal rocks, the Aran Island are a remote and off-the-beaten-track option for anyone interested in seeking out some of Ireland’s more wild and untouched areas.

Spread over three islands – Inishmore, Inisheer and the large Inishmaan – the archipelago offers up beautiful karst plains cut through by creeks and canyons, all peppered with blooms of red clover and Arctic flowers emerging from the grykes (fissures in the rocky ground). However, natural beauties aside, the Arans are also famed for their deep and traditional heritage.

Most of the locals speak Irish day-to-day, the towns come complete with hearty pubs and islander famers’ markets and the clochans (stone houses) and ruins of spots like Dun Aengus belie a past going back all the way to the Bronze Age!

14. County Kerry

Source: flickr

Famed as the home of the so-called Ring of Kerry scenic drive, this southern county of the Republic really is one to write home about.

Between its borders, this land in the very heart of Munster hosts the likes of the soaring, 1,000-meter-high Macgillycuddy’s Reeks (home to Ireland’s highest peak, Carrauntoohil) and the church-dotted, cairn-peppered mystery of the Slieve Mish, while out at sea rise the formidable daggers of the Skelligs – Michael with its UNESCO monasteries and Little Skellig with its craggy outcrops.

The various mountain lakes are another highlight – sparkling valley-bottomed waters that come surrounded by grassy farmlands at Muckross and shrouded by peaks in Mangerton and Torc.

15. Burren National Park

Source: flickr

Sweeping for a whopping 15 square kilometers through County Clare, the Burren National Park (or just The Burren for short) represents surely one of Ireland’s most striking and unforgettable landscapes.

Chiselled and chipped from the karst rocks that form the beds of the hills north of Limerick, the area is awash with crevices and grykes that burst with rare flowers and plants.

Add to that the monolith tombs of ancient Gaelic tribes, and it’s easy to see why hikers, history buffs, botanists and bird watchers alike all flock to The Burren each year!

The post 15 Best Places to Visit in Ireland appeared first on The Crazy Tourist.

It’s a nation distinctly divided in two.

On the western side sits built-up Malaya; the old stronghold of British colonial power that’s now buzzing with electric Kuala Lumpur and multicultural UNESCO towns in Penang.

On the eastern side is wild and mist-topped Borneo.

Here, orangutans swing in the primeval forests, ancient volcanic domes loom overhead, beaches are trodden by turtles instead of sunbathers, and rustic fishing towns spill into the South China Sea.

Just a glance at this magical country is enough to see why so many opt to travel here, whether they come for the verdant reaches of the tea-scented Cameron Highlands, the pearly waters of Sipadan, the raucous markets of the capital, the historic relics of Malacca – the list goes on…

Lets explore the best places to visit in Malaysia:

1. Kuala Lumpur

Source: flickr

Kuala Lumpur comes spiked at the center by the two great spires of the Petronas Towers, packed with markets and heady hawker bazaars down Petaling Street, throbbing with the energy of Bukit Bintang – the entertainment city – and awash with the scents of everything from frying Chinese chow mien to sizzling Portuguese fish barbeques.

It’s one of the world’s great multicultural metropolises, with lantern-lit Chinatown butting up to districts of Nepalese curry houses and Indian thali kitchens.

Apart from the breathtaking views of the cityscape from the countless sky bars, you can visit the mysterious Batu Caves and some acclaimed Islamic art institutions.

2. Malacca

Source: flickr

The red-hued churches and colonial frontispieces that fringe the tight-knit lanes of enchanting Malacca remain unquestionably one of Malaysia’s great draws.

Created over decades of colonial rule by the Portuguese, the Dutch, and then the British, the city seen today was once a mighty trading powerhouse on the edge of the Malay Peninsula.

With control of the Malacca Strait, it saw everything from silk transports to spice convoys to military contingents pass through its ports.

Today, there are immersive maritime museums to help unravel this past, along with one pandemonius night market down Jonker Walk – one of the best in the country!

3. Penang

Source: flickr

Penang is oft hailed as Southeast Asia writ small.

It’s easy to see why.

In the city of George Town, clicking rickshaws weave past smoky Cantonese kitchens, blue-hued mansions from the 19th century, and the aged remnants of a vainglorious British past – it’s no wonder the whole place comes under UNESCO World Heritage designation.

You can expect one awesome medley of food to try too, including Indian curries and Chinese pancakes.

And then there are the beaches, which glisten in deep blues and golden yellows at Batu Feringghi, and come lined with lanky coconut palms on the edge of Jerejak Island.

4. Gunung Mulu National Park

Source: flickr

The weathered hoodoos and ancient ridges of Gunung Mulu National Park rarely fail to capture the imagination.

The park itself (another UNESCO site) represents one of those last enclaves of untrodden land, and is one of the hardest reserves to get to in all of Borneo – you have to take a heart-thumping plane ride down to the asphalt of tiny Mulu Airport, or a 12-hour riverboat between snake-infested jungles.

The prize? Mossy rainforests where helmeted hornbills issue their cries; deep and dank cave systems riddled with rare bats; trekking over swinging canopy bridges; the mighty grykes and caverns of Mount Api – the list goes on.

5. Langkawi

Source: flickr

Straddling the border with Thailand where the Andaman Sea becomes the Malaccan Straits in the extreme north of the country, Langkawi is a laid-back, lazy place that offers a real dose of the tropics.

Riddled with iconic beaches, like the watersports haven of Pantai Cenang, or the secluded, boulder-dotted sands of Pantai Kok, it’s established itself as the place to come for sun, sea, sand, SCUBA, and some pampering.

For the last, you can head to the 5-star all-inclusive resorts that hide in the coconut groves of Datai Bay.

And for adventure, you can pull on the boots and trek to the gushing Seven Wells, or hit the panoramic SkyBridge atop the jungles.

6. Taman Negara National Park

Source: flickr

Taman Negara is the sprawling green jewel that sits at the heart of the Malay Peninsula.

Covering a whopping 4,300 square kilometers, it ranges across primeval rainforest (some of the oldest established woodland in the world, some say) and winding rivers where elephants can be spotted basking on the muddy banks.

Today, Taman Negara is being raised to Malaysia’s ecotourism mecca, and travelers come from far and wide to walk the swinging rope bridges, hike the tree-shrouded trails and seek out the likes of the elusive Malayan tiger, cheeky wild macaques, Indian elephants, galumphing guars – the list goes on!

7. Cameron Highlands

Source: flickr

Soaring at a height of over 1,000 meters above the lower reaches of the Malay Peninsula, the hill station known as the Cameron Highlands rarely fails to take the breath away.

It sweeps across the plateaus of the mighty Main Range, midway between Penang and KL, rolling out in verdant pockets of rainforest and emerald-green tea fields as it goes.

The unique microclimate and cool temperatures that dominate on the highlands make the region the perfect incubator for interesting plant and animal life, while oodles of worn hiking routes promise awesome vistas of Batu Brinchang and the ramshackle tea villages, and even cultural encounters with the local Orang Asli aborigines.

8. Perhentian Islands

Source: flickr

The Perhentian Islands have all the good looks and sun-kissed beauties you’d expect of an archipelago set at the entrance to the Thai Gulf.

Encompassed by sparkling dashes of coral reef, they are usually accessed by boat from Kuala Besut.

The location on the east coast of Malaya keeps them void of the same booming crowds that descend on Penang, which is great if you’re after long and lazy days kicking-back between Turtle Beach and Coral Bay.

But that’s not it.

There’s SCUBA diving aplenty, with famous sites like Pinnacle and Sugar Wreck offering great visibility.

There’s jungle hiking paths, where you’ll keep the company of oversized lizards and snakes.

And there are some great fish fries in the evening to boot!

9. Semenggoh Nature Reserve

Source: flickr

Semenggoh continues to reign as one of the fabled natural jewels of Borneo.

Located just on the fringes of Kuching city, it spills into the virgin rainforests that rise with the great inland peaks of Sarawak.

Between its borders are towering teak trees and swinging jungle vines, all peppered with blooming papayas and banana trees.

Those are munched on by the resident pack of 25 orangutans, which are the main reason so many thousands of people flock this way each year! (There’s a famous reserve on the grounds of Semenggoh that allows some of the most up-close-and-personal encounters with these fascinating simians.)

10. Bako National Park

Source: flickr

Jutting its way out into the pearly waters of the South China Sea on the other side of Kuching from Semenggoh, Bako National Park is also worth a visit – especially if you’ve come to Malaysia for the wild jungles and beautiful backcountry.

The landscapes here can change dramatically from the coast to the inland, with chiseled rock stacks and sheer-cut cliffs by the ocean, and dense forests with mossy undergrowth dominating the backcountry.

That makes for one awesome array of fauna, including formidable monitor lizards and elusive proboscis monkeys.

Walking trails cover the whole park, weaving past the woods, the mangroves and the coastal coves alike.

11. Kuching

Source: flickr

For many travelers, Kuching will be that first taste of eastern Malaysia and Borneo.

And where better to start? This 200-year-old city is the capital of Sarawak state, and comes with a backstory of British colonialism and sultanate rule.

You can see that in buildings like the whitewashed Astana, and in the bustling worshipping halls of the Jamek Mosque.

Kuching is also known for its diversity – Chinese markets throb with five spice here; Indian kitchens churn out paneer fries and bhajis there.

Oh, and that’s not even mentioning the town’s enticing proximity to wonders like Bako National Park and the Semenggoh orangutan reserve!

12. Sipadan

Source: flickr

You’ll have to venture far into the east to discover the legendary tropical treasures of Sipadan: Malaysia’s sole oceanic island, and a veritable picture-perfect diving destination that’s just waiting for the travel brochure photographers to pass through.

Cotton-white sands greet the few boaters that make the trip from Borneo’s mainland, while craggy hills of jungle-dressed rock top the isle itself.

However, the real treats here lie under the water.

There, with oxygen tanks strapped on, you’ll be able to find hammerhead sharks and endangered hawksbill turtles, shimmering coral gardens and kaleidoscopic parrotfish!

13. Lambir Hills National Park

Source: flickr

Sat just a stone’s throw from the border with Brunei, the Lambir Hills National Park is one of the smallest in Malaysia.

However, size doesn’t seem to matter here, because visitors still flock to wonder at the gushing waterfalls and old-growth rainforest that are packed into the nooks and crevices of the valleys.

Wooden bridges, winding staircases cut into the rock, and maintained boardwalks, all make it a great place to pull on the walking boots.

Deep inside the reserve are families of rare primates and the paradisiacal cataracts of the Lambir Hills Waterfall – just wait until that one reveals itself!

14. Johor Bahru

Source: flickr

Johor Bahru sits on the very edge of Singapore, right at the tip of the Malay Peninsula.

Over the decades, it’s garnered a rep as just an administrative visa town, which is far too simple a moniker for a city that’s riddled with cultural attractions and great shopping.

Check out the Old Chinese Temple that stands, Zen-like, in the midst of the downtown, and don’t miss the elegant colonial-style towers of the Sultan Abu Bakar State Mosque.

For shoppers, there are huge malls and marketplaces to get through, like Tebrau City and KSL. However, it’s the rides and arcades of Legoland Malaysia that draw the biggest crowds of locals – not to mention oodles from across the border in Singapore too.

15. Taiping

Source: flickr

Super-wet Taiping sits in the rain shadow of the Perak hills, not far from the sunny beaches and multicultural streets of George Town and Penang.

Like Penang, this city has been influenced greatly by settlers from China over the centuries, and the spot was once the focus of a mass exodus of Cantonese and San folk, who came in the tin rush to mine the nearby ridges.

Today, it’s got some pretty urban gardens and parklands to explore – don’t miss relaxing Maxwell Hill, the mirror-like waters of Taiping Lake Gardens, or the sobering Taiping War Cemetery.

Meanwhile, the town center displays a medley of colonial-era facades and timber Asian builds, all of which hide local cookhouses and emporiums.

The post 15 Best Places to Visit in Malaysia appeared first on The Crazy Tourist.

Up here, high on the plateaus that sweep out from the glacial Altai Mountains, the mighty Mongolian Steppe has played host to hordes of riders and footmen, all commanded by that now-mythic figure: Genghis Khan.

However, the prophetic Turkic empire from the east wasn’t to be.

As the hordes fragmented and returned to their respective sectors of Asia, this wild and barren world on the roof the continent returned to its old ways.

Nomads roamed the hills; yurts appeared on the banks of mountain lakes with the coming and goings of the seasons; eagle hunters patrolled the plains; snow leopards stalked, and forever the sand dunes of the Gobi shifted and shifted.

Today, Mongolia is once more meeting the world, only this time the world is going there.

Going there to feel the energy of bustling Ulaanbaatar. Going there to trace fabled Xanadu. Going there to experience the cold of the passes and meet the hardy folk of the rolling wilds.

Lets explore the best places to visit in Mongolia:

1. Karakorum

Source: flickr

Set deep between the undulating green hills and stony ridges of the Orkhon Valley, the fabled ancient city of Karakorum is now the stuff of myth and legend.

But follow the sporadic cobbled lanes that weave around the mountains in the very heart of Mongolia, and you’ll discover that it did certainly exist.

Ruined grain silos and stone turtles, kiln smelting houses and crumbling ancient stupas still spot the ground; an aging testimony to the former might of this Mongol capital on the steppe.

Today, it’s the place to come to walk in the footsteps of totemic figures like Genghis Khan, and to see interesting Buddhist monasteries next to gorgeous Yuan Dynasty temple shrines.

2. Terelj National Park

Source: flickr

The rising peaks and ochre-hued ridges of the Gorkhi-Terelj National Park shoulder their way above the horizon just north of Ulaanbaatar’s concrete sprawl.

The reserve represents one of the most accessible examples of Mongolia’s backcountry (thanks to the proximity to the capital), with pine-studded mountain valleys and sculpted rock formations all peppering the vistas.

The southern portion of the park is well-suited to visitors.

There, you’ll discover nomad camps and camel farms.

Meanwhile, the north includes the alpine Khagiin Khar Lake and a series of bubbling hot springs to boot.

3. Lake Khovsgol

Source: flickr

A great dash of blue that hides between the shale peaks and rocky foothills of the Sayan Mountains, Lake Khovsgol is the second-largest body of water in all of Mongolia.

It filters down from the Russian border in a streak of deep blue, its grassy banks rising and falling, peppered with the occasional wind-blasted pine tree, and sometimes giving way to pebble coves where locals relax in the summer.

The whole site is now encompassed by a national park, which was instituted to protect the waters here.

And what waters they are! It’s said that Lake Khovsgol is filled with drinkable water that needs no treatment, and the geological history of the spot goes back a whopping two million years.

4. Altai Tavan Bogd National Park

Source: flickr

The mighty Altai Tavan Bogd National Park rises like a bulwark against the tristate join of China, Russia, and Kazakhstan.

It bars the way to Siberia and snow-dusted Xinjiang with a series of more than five rugged peaks that rise to a whopping 4,000 meters above sea level or more.

Hardy creatures make their home here, in the form of hoofed ibexes and Tuvan nomad tribespeople.

The latter’s yurts pepper the banks of pretty Dayan Nuur by summertime, and it’s possible to watch the legendary eagle hunters do their thing in the low-lying plains.

The reserve is also known for its ancient petroglyphs and mysterious Turkic sculptures.

5. Orkhon Valley

Source: flickr

Once the home of the great Khans and the epicenter of power that fueled the onslaught of the Mongol Horde across Asia and Europe, the Orkhon Valley has been trodden by totemic names like Genghis and Kublai.

Today, this rich history is honored with a UNESCO World Heritage Tag, which also celebrates the deeper traditions of nomad living; still seen today, when white-fabric yurts pop up between the gallery pines.

Of course, Orkhon is now a major attraction, and travelers flock to see the ruins of legendary Karakorum, seek the fabled palaces of Xanadu, wonder at frozen waterfalls, and find serenity in the rustic Buddhist monasteries.

6. Khustain Nuruu National Park

Source: flickr

If you’re lucky, you should just be able to spot some of the uber-rare Dzungarian horses galloping over the grassy knolls and rock-ribbed ridges of the Khustain Nuruu National Park.

These are one of the most iconic creatures of the steppe, and are only known to reside below the rising peaks close to Ulaanbaatar (even if they have had to be reintroduced to the area by conservationists). Once you’ve paid the meagre entrance fee, be sure to hit the managed walking routes, or opt for a heart-thumping 4X4 ride over the hilly peaks and troughs.

Yurt accommodation is available for those who want to do multi-day walks.

7. Ulaanbaatar

Source: flickr

With its sterile concrete sprawl and reflective glass skyscrapers, endless neighborhoods of Soviet-style blocks and constant need for expansion, Ulaanbaatar is pretty much everything you expect Mongolia not to be.

It’s brash, bold, big and loud, and comes packed with designer outlets and all-new shopping malls.

But there’s a certain crude charm to be found below the bright lights too, whether that’s in the 19th-century palace of Bogd Khaan, built by the Mongolian masters, the fascinating National Museum of Mongolia, the wide squares where locals chatter, or in the shadow of Genghis Kahn’s great monument.

8. Olgii

Source: eng.genco-tour

Olgii is overshadowed by the hulking and sinewy massifs of the great Altai.

They dominate the horizon all around the town, and loom as if to demand the attention of any who pass this way.

It’s only once you’ve managed to get over the breathtaking and haunting panoramas that you can begin to properly enjoy this provincial capital of Bayan-Olgii.

And what treats there are to enjoy! Wander around and discover the mysterious Turkic Standing Stones (thought to be a whopping 12,000 years old), seek out ancient petroglyphs, or gasp at the feats of eagle hunters in the yearly Altai Kazakh Eagle Festival (in September).

9. Khorgo Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur National Park

Source: flickr

Dominating the wild reaches of the Mongolian north-west, this beautiful swathe of protected land has plenty of awesome sights in its arsenal.

Look up and you’ll see the splintered caldera of Khorgo Volcano: an extinct mountain that once ravaged the surrounding valleys with its pyroclastic flows and ash plumes.

Today, climbing the 2,240-meter-high peak is possible, and it reveals wonderful panoramas of the volcanic ridges and lakes that spread out all around.

And talking of lakes, this is the home of Lake Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur, where marsh deer and chitals wander between the rock-built yurts of nomad herders.

10. Khangai Nuruu National Park

Source: trover

Not to be confused with its similarly-named brother to the west – the Khustain Nuruu National Park – this huge area of land in the depths of the Orkhon Valley is one of the largest in the nation (even if it hardly comes close to the vastness of the Gobi, but more on that later). It’s quintessential steppe from beginning to end.

You’ll see the sweeping grasslands rise and fall as they roll out into the distance.

You’ll wonder as streams break through the bluffs and crash as waterfalls into ice-cold plunge pools.

You’ll ride horses with nomads, and sleep in traditional yurt villages as the fire crackles nearby.

Talk about experiencing the real Mongolia!

11. Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park

Source: flickr

The point where the snow-dusted steppe crashes into the sand sea of the sweeping Gobi Desert is a place unlike anywhere else on earth.

It can be found in the southern depths of Mongolia, hemmed in by an amphitheater of ice-caked peaks.

Inhospitable and bitterly cold, hardly any humans make their home here.

Those that do come dressed in tough cashmere-hair jerkins, and spend their days wandering the plains with ger tents in tow.

Travelers who brave the wilderness of Gobi Gurvansaikhan will get to see natural wonders like the singing dunes of Khongoryn Els, and the chiseled gorges of the Yolyn Am.

So, saddle up the camel and explore…

12. Erdenet

Source: flickr

You might have heard of the legendary archers of Erdenet, who are famous throughout the steppe for their quick aim and accuracy.

What you might not know is that their home is one of the few built-up, urban spots in Mongolia, and, with 75,000 people, the second-largest town overall.

In fact, Erdenet started life as a mining service center; its raison d’être the great open-faced copper quarries nearby.

Today, it’s clean and developed, has central gardens, some good museums (dedicated to mining, of course), and access to the mysterious Buddhist shrines of Amarbayasgalant Monastery to the north-east.

13. Moron

Source: flickr

It’s easy to write Moron off as just the gateway to Lake Khovsgol and the popular summertime pastures of the northern steppe.

And while it’s true that this provincial city certainly deals with its fair share of passing tourists on their way to those attractions, it’s also got a decent scene of its own.

There are schools and pretty parks; a clutch of good Mongolian eateries, and a medley of Buddha statues and eye-wateringly beautiful architecture at the nearby Danzadardscha Khiid Monastery.

What’s more, Moron remains one of the few domestic cities accessible on direct flight routes from Ulaanbaatar.

14. Khovd

Source: flickr

You’ll find Khovd clutching the roadways as they weave north-westward to Olgii and the windswept, snow-doused heart of the Altai Mountains.

It’s a charming place with all the amenities you could need as a traveler: hospitals; shops; earthy guesthouses that won’t break the bank.

But it’s more than that too – it’s also the gateway to the great waters of Khar Us Lake.

These spread out under the snowy peaks of Jargalant Mountain, offering trails for horse riders and marshlands laden with gulls.

You can also go and find petroglyphs marking the caves of Baatar Khairhan, or sip healing waters from the local mineral springs in the hills.

15. Tsetserleg

Source: flickr

Tsetserleg has an enviable location between a duo of rocky bluffs, right in the middle of Mongolia as a whole.

Sleepy, quiet, and slow, the town is a provincial capital that’s known for its pretty neighborhoods of low-rise cottages.

These can be seen sweeping down a single hillside; a mosaic of colorful timber facades that glints in the sun of the steppe.

Most will come here as a stepping stone to the unmissable Khangai Nuruu National Park to the south.

Others will linger and enjoy the Mongolian cookhouses, the wool emporiums and the clutches of local yurt villages.

The post 15 Best Places to Visit in Mongolia appeared first on The Crazy Tourist.

Ranging from the powdered beaches of the northern atolls to the earthy sea shacks and fishing hamlets of the southern isles, the whole nation can be found strewn across the turquoise waters some way from the Indian subcontinent.

Most visitors will land in the throbbing, pulsing city of Male, packed onto its own pinprick of an isle and boasting spice-scented markets and great mosques.

Most also don’t linger long before they hit the seaplanes or boats and make for the shimmering private bays of their chosen resort, where infinity pools and over-water cabanas are the norm.

More recently, new local guesthouses and the discovery of rolling waves have begun transforming the Maldives from honeymoon hotspot to surfing, adventure and backpacking destination – paradise is now open to all, it seems.

Lets explore the best places to visit in the Maldives:

1. Male

Source: flickr

Thrumming with scooters and cars and Indian bazaars stacked with coconuts and spice, the city of Male – the capital of the Maldives atolls – has the frenetic feel of a place crammed into a slot that’s too small for it.

And that’s because it is.

Although rarely visited (most travelers bypass the city on seaplanes heading straight for their resort), the town is crammed onto a pint-sized islet in the North Male Atoll.

It manages to fit some fascinating sights between its streets though, like the 17th-century Friday Mosque and the gold-tipped Islamic Centre.

Male Market is another must – just be sure get your haggling skills up to scratch.

2. Hulhumale Island

Source: elegantgates

Sat just across the sparkling waters from the capital of Male, the island of Hulhumale is forever growing and growing as more and more land is reclaimed to house the sprawling urban tendrils of the city.

It’s also the home of the Velana International Airport, which is the main gateway to these paradisiacal islands for most.

However, don’t be put off by how all that sounds – Hulhumale is actually a charming place.

It’s got a gorgeous – if artificial – beach on its eastern haunch, a clutch of leafy neighborhoods, a glass-topped mosque, and planned promenade walkways above the Indian Ocean.

3. Maafushi

Source: flickr

Maafushi might not have the sprawling luxury resorts and opulent 5-star hotels that many of its nearby brothers do, but it’s got plenty of charm.

Sadly ravaged in the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, the place has been busy rebuilding its salt-washed fishing jetties and industrious sailor huts in the last decade.

Something that’s helped is the opening up of rights to local guesthouses, which is transforming Maafushi into one of the top off-beat island getaways for budget travelers.

Of course, you can expect gorgeous beaches backed with palms, lapping waves, and a clutch of homey little coffee shops on the shore.

4. Utheemu

Source: fredolsencruises

Sat on the far northern reaches of the Haa Alif Atoll, itself the northernmost of all the Maldivian island chains, the beautiful site of Utheemu holds a special place in the history of this archipelago nation.

That’s because it was once the home of the revered Sultan Mohamed Thakurufaanu – the leader who’s credited with driving out Portuguese invaders from the isles in the late 16th century.

Of course, there are the usual sparkling white sands and lapping Indian Ocean waves, but these are punctuated by heritage sites like the Utheemu Ganduvaru, which is the gorgeous timber-built palace where the respected leader grew up.

5. Feydhoo

Source: mapio

Feydhoo’s story is a curious one.

In the 19th century, the people now living between the leafy streets and tight-knit housing blocks here were the inhabitants of nearby Gan island (more on that one later). When the British came in the run up to WWII, Gan was transformed into an airbase, and the locals were shipped out to live on the next island along in the Seenu Atoll.

That was Feydhoo, which is today a pretty picture of lived-in Maldivian life.

Come and stroll the winding walkways and sample seafood curries with the locals – the welcome is always warm.

6. Maradhoo

Source: flickr

Joined at the hip to aforementioned Feydhoo by a seaside causeway that runs just above the coral-fringed shores of the Seenu Atoll, Maradhoo is a major link in the island chain that starts with Gan to the east.

Long and thin, it juts out into the Indian Ocean like a finger fringed with narrow beachfronts and swaying groves of coconut palms.

As in Feydhoo, the locals are laid-back and lovely, and the cuisine is spicy and rich in seafood.

Be sure to take a walk down Link Road and flit between the coffee shops and sandwich vendors that meet between the palm trees there.

7. Veligandu Island

Source: flickr

Romantic sunsets glow red and yellow over the lapping waters of the Indian Ocean; cocktails clink in the resort’s luxurious bar; sea kayaks bob on the turquoise shoreline, and crystal-clear waves roll in softly from the inland lagoon.

Welcome to uber-beautiful Veligandu Island, which has long been championed as one of the top destinations in the Maldives for couples.

Honeymooners and newly-weds are a common site on this long, thin finger of land on the western edge of the North Ari Atoll, and there are plenty of opulent seaside villas and suites to match.

8. Banana Reef

Source: expedia

Many travelers heading to the islands of the Maldives will be coming for one thing and one thing only: diving.

And there’s hardly a single better place to don the SCUBA gear and wetsuits in the country than at the Banana Reef.

This fruit-shaped dash of multi-colored corals and seaweed-clad sandbanks lies underwater between the isles of the North Male Atoll.

It’s served by countless outfitters, who lead excursions to uncover the striped snappers and bulbous sponges, the reef sharks and the barracudas that all coalesce here.

9. Thulusdhoo Island

Source: flickr

It’s the spirit of the salt-washed Caribbean that seems to drive Thulusdhoo Island.

Largely undiscovered, this speck in the Male Atolls is ringed by wide spaces of sand from which bulbous coconut trunks sprout by the hundred.

The beaches are – naturally – great, and the locals love to draw in their fading fishing boats to flint up a good sizzling seafood barbeque now and then.

That all fits perfectly with the other pastime of travelers on Thulusdhoo: surfing.

Look for the fun left-hand rollers that turn into barrels off of Villingilimathi Huraa close by.

10. Fuvahmulah

Source: flickr

Fuvahmulah promises something a little different to the rest of the Maldivian atolls.

For starters, this speck on the map of the Indian Ocean doesn’t really have any near neighbors, and it occupies an atoll all of its own.

It’s also peppered with the occasional inland lake, which is a rare sight to see in this flat-lying country.

Meanwhile the sandbanks that ring popular Banging Beach make for some crashing rollers and refreshing salt-spray (a break from the usual relaxing lapping lagoons), and the proximity to the Earth’s equator means steamy weather throughout the year.

11. Alimatha Island

Source: flickr

Perched on the eastern edge of the Maldives, in the famous Felidhe Atoll, Alimatha is a great tourist island that offers luxury cabanas, untouched stretches of pristine sandy beach, and – most importantly – some of the most celebrated SCUBA diving spots around.

The resort that covers the island can often be seen packed with eager divers, who all come to seek out the pretty coral groves and sea walls that surround the shores.

These are packed with jackfish, morays and eels, and are known for their high visibility and popular night diving packages.

12. Hithadhoo

Source: flickr

Large (at least for a Maldivian island) and highly-populated (again, at least for a Maldivian island), this sub-section of Addu City in the old Seenu Atoll can be reached on the same causeways that connect Gan to Maradhoo.

On its southern edge, the place is given away to mangroves and marshes and shrub land, while the north side of the island is packed with cafes and bakeries and the occasional set of looming minarets that rise from the local mosques.

More than anything, Hithadhoo oozes a charming lived-in vibe; one that’s difficult to discover elsewhere in the resort-heavy country.

13. Kuredu

Source: kuredu

Kuredu is the self-proclaimed jewel of the Lhaviyani Atoll, which makes its home in the central-north reaches of the Maldivian archipelago.

A boomerang-shaped isle, it’s entirely covered by a single resort, which offers rustic bamboo shacks and rows of those ubiquitous over-water bungalows with verandahs above the waves.

The whole place is completely surrounded by its own private fringing of powdery sand, and is considered one of the most advanced SCUBA and snorkeling destinations in the country – strong currents and high waves often make it difficult to see the manta rays and tropical schools.

Unusually, Kuredu also plays host to a full 9-hole golf course.

14. Gan

Source: cruisemapper

Gan is primarily known for its airport, which is the second-largest airport in the entire Maldives and a famous former airbase for the British Royal Air Force during WWII. Today, the island has shed its old military importance in favor of tourism, and it’s slowly rising to become one of the most popular spots in the Addu Atoll.

It’s not just the accessibility (thanks to the airport) that draws the crowds either, because Gan has earthy little fishing restaurants and small stretches of shimmering sand that are usually totally empty of visitors. Nice.

15. Kunfunadhoo Island

Source: exploresimply

If you’re after the fabled luxury and romance of the Maldives, then it’s likely that the opulent resort on Kunfunadhoo Island won’t disappoint – it’s continually hailed as the most indulgent place to stay in the country.

Visitors enter through a thatched timber great hall that hides between groves of coconut palms.

From there, it’s onto the cocktail decks that soar on stilts above the jungle, or out to the beaches where candles flicker in the sultry sea breeze.

Add in a couple of infinity pools, swim-up bars, and the chance to dine on a private little sandbank with only the Indian Ocean waves as a backing track, and it’s easy to see why this one’s so popular!

The post 15 Best Places to Visit in Maldives appeared first on The Crazy Tourist.

Some spots are perfect places to indulge those weird and wonderful interests in the otherworldly, others will have you jumping out of your skin. Some are just awesome places to travel to, while everything here promises mystery by the bucket load.

Enjoy our list of the most mysterious places in the world:

1. The Bermuda Triangle, Atlantic Ocean

Source: pinterest

Tales of lost mariners and disappeared ships, crashed aircraft and even vanishing humans, have been emerging from the waters of the Bermuda Triangle for centuries.

The vast area of more than half a million square miles is also known as the Devil’s Triangle, and theories as to why so many travelers fall foul of its clutches abound.

Some say there are magnetic anomalies that throw compasses off course, others that tropical cyclones are to blame, and some say there’s simply no mystery at all! Today, visiting the area can be much more pleasant than you might think, with the sun-splashed islands of Turks and Caicos beckoning in the south and the coves of Bermuda in the north.

You may actually want to never be seen again!

2. The Banff Springs Hotel, Canada

Source: flickr

With overtures of the Timberline Lodge of Stephen King and Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining fame, the Banff Springs Hotel of Canada is said to be the home of a plethora of ghost stories and mysterious happenings.

Locals tell tales of an entire family that was murdered in cold-blood in room 873. Others talk of reappearing doormen who vanish into thin air.

But if you think you can deal with the supernatural rep, then you’re in for a real treat here.

The handsome hotel oozes Scottish Baronial styles, is shrouded by the fir-dressed peaks of the Canadian Rockies, and offers access to the iconic ski fields of Jasper and Banff.

Worth the risk? We think so!

3. Transylvania, Romania

Source: flickr

Sylvan hills and mist-topped mountains, the clanging echo of church bells and the stone-built medieval steeples of towns like Sibiu, Brasov and Cluj, all add to the eerie atmosphere of this vast region at the very heart of Romania.

But it’s one place that really brings the chills and gets the spine a-tingling: Bran Castle.

This turret-topped citadel soars from the forests on the edge of Wallachia in a medley of Gothic towers and gargoyle-peppered roofs.

Over the years it’s been associated with a number of less-than-savoury, uber-mysterious figures: Vlad the Impaler, the most bloodthirsty of the Wallachian kings, and – of course – Count Dracula, the archetype of the nail-biting Nosferatu.

4. Crooked Forest, Poland

Source: feel-planet

Just south of the unpronounceable city of Szczecin on Poland’s extreme eastern haunch, a stone’s throw west of the border with Germany, a small clutch of just over 400 pine trees has been garnering the attention of Atlas Obscura types and off-the-beaten-track travelers for years.

The entire forest appears to be bent over almost 90 degrees at the trunk, before twisting back straight again and growing vertically into the Slavic sky.

Debate has raged as to what caused the unusual wood to come to look like it has, with theories as wide ranging as torrential snowstorms and lumberjack growing techniques.

Weird.

5. Bhangarh Fort, India

Source: flickr

Enfolded by the rises of the Aravali Hills and baked by the Rajasthani sun, the old bulwarks of the Bhangarh Fort are said to echo with the ethereal presence of one cursed princess and her would-be captor, the wizard Sinhai.

It’s said that Sinhai tried to ensnare the young royal by offering her a love potion.

The plan backfired, the wizard ended up dead, but not before he could lay his hex on all the inhabitants of Bhangarh.

Today, the Mughlai complex once trodden by Madho Singh I is considered one of the most haunted spots in India.

No one is allowed to enter after dark, and locals have even reported deaths as a result of the continued curse!

6. The Skirrid Mountain Inn, Wales

Source: visitwales

Set between the rising fells and lichen-spotted stone villages on the eastern edge of the beautiful Brecon Beacons National Park (Wales’ lesser-known, southern mountain range), The Skirrid Mountain Inn oozes with tales and stories of the Gaelic nation’s past.

Some say it was the gathering point of rebel fighters under the banner of Owain Glyndŵr, the hero of Welsh resistance against Henry IV. Others claim that it was once a courthouse where criminals were not only condemned to death but also hung, all under the command of the infamous so-called Hanging Judge, George Jeffreys.

There’s even a swinging noose still dangling from the rafters inside, and oodles of ghost stories to hear over your cawl (traditional Welsh soup)!

7. The Tower of London, England

Source: flickr

The beheading of kings, the incarceration of state enemies, the plotting of political machinations from the Tudors to the Elizabethans; all manner of dark and shady deeds has gone down between the crenulations of London’s old fortress on the north bank.

Stories of hauntings and mysterious happenings began with the sighting of Thomas Becket (a martyred saint), who is said to have stymied construction of the palace’s extension from the grave.

However, it’s the apparition of one Queen Anne Boleyn that causes the biggest stir – her headless body is seen lurking by the spot where she was killed at the behest of Henry VII back in the 1530s!

8. Eternal Flame Falls, United States

Source: flickr

Delve into the winding walking trails that crisscross the Chestnut Ridge Park and discover the hidden wonder of Shale Creek.

Called, appropriately, Eternal Flame Falls, this curious natural phenomenon is a real mystery to behold.

Why? Well, because it manages to fuse two of the earth’s most elemental forces in one single spot – that’s why! You’ll first see the gorgeous falls themselves, cascading down over layers of chiselled granite rock.

Then comes the flame, which can be seen flickering behind the cataracts.

It never goes out, and scientists say the conflagration is created by the presence of natural gas seeping from the subterrane.

9. Richat Structure, Mauritania

Source: flickr

Seemingly swirling and spinning and twisting like a cyclone through the heart of the mighty Sahara Desert, the great Richat Structure in the depths of Mauritania is something truly mysterious (although you’ll certainly have to take to the skies to see it!). Scientists have puzzled for years as to how the perfect circular set of concentric rings got there.

Some think it was an asteroid impact in centuries gone by.

Others say it was the simple process of natural geological attrition and erosion.

And then – of course – there are some who think it was the creation of extra-terrestrials, who passed this way and marked a landing point for future visits to earth.

Hmm, maybe!

10. The Nazca Lines, Peru

Source: flickr

Scarring their way across the dusty desert landscapes of southern Peru, the Nazca Lines are amongst the most mysterious and awesome prehistoric remains in all of South America.

And while they typically take a backseat to the country’s other major tourist draws – Machu Picchu, The Sacred Valley, Cuzco – they do draw in their fair share of visitors.

Most opt to do flyovers and see the great wonders from above, which is when the curious geoglyphs depicting spiders and monkeys come into full view.

Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, no one really knows why they were made by the ancient Nazca people.

Perhaps they were an offering to the gods? Perhaps they were a cultist symbol? It’s still a mystery.

11. Highgate Cemetery, England

Source: flickr

If you choose to navigate the crawling vines and ivy shoots, the looming oak trees and the lichen-spotted tombstones of London’s Highgate Cemetery, then beware: this is considered by many to be the single most haunted place in the United Kingdom (Tower of London omitted, of course). The setting is certainly enough to curdle the blood, with age-old angelic figures hiding amidst the shadow growth, gargoyles laughing from the crevices, and endless rows of tombs running into the distance.

Some ghost watchers say they’ve seen apparitions flitting between the Gothic carvings.

Others report vampires lurk in the shadows there.

12. Area 51, United States

Source: flickr

A magnet for conspiracy theorists like no other place on this list, Area 51 has inspired UFO hunters and extra-terrestrial buffs for years – it even featured in Roland Emmerich’s alien-rich masterpiece Independence Day back in 1996! Located smack bang in the midst of the Nevadan desert, the site has been kept top secret by the United States government since it began developing reconnaissance and spy planes back in the 50s.

Today, speculators think it could be anything from a public surveillance hub to a weather control station to a time travel station.

Don’t expect a visitor’s center or anything, but then Vegas is just down the road!

13. Easter Island, Polynesia

Source: flickr

It was just at the turn of the first millennium AD that the Rapa Nui peoples of eastern Polynesia landed and began surveying the wind-blasted shores of Easter Island.

Of course, it wasn’t called Easter Island then – the name is a later European addition courtesy of the Dutchman Jacob Roggeveen, who happened upon the land in 1722. What he discovered would have surely wowed him: countless carved effigies of colossal heads, chiselled and chipped from the black rock boulders of the land.

In fact, there are over more than 880 of the so-called moai heads here, which are each thought to represent the final member of one of the tribal family clans.

14. Stonehenge, England

Source: flickr

Set deep in the middle of the verdant lowlands of south-central England, where Salisbury Plain emerges in peaks and troughs of heath from the oak forests, Stonehenge has long oozed mystery and magic.

Created an estimated 5,000 years ago, this circular conglomeration of huge megalith stones is thought to have been made with unique bluestone material that could only have been quarried from the Preseli Hills in Pembrokeshire, some 200 miles away in Wales.

Mystery surrounds both how the Neolithic people managed to transport such huge rocks all that way, and as to the purpose of the building.

Today, it’s wrapped up in Arthurian legends and attracts Pagans for the summer solstice.

15. Uluru, Australia

Source: flickr

Uluru is the mighty pillar at the middle of the Australian Outback.

It shoulders its way high above the flatlands that encompass it; a gargantuan block of sandstone rock that looks like the carapace of a petrified animal.

A truly breathtaking place to behold, it attracts everyone from hikers to history buffs (who come mainly for the pre-historic petroglyphs that mark the caves nearby). However, Ayers Rock, as the site is also called, also figures as a focal point for the old traditions of the Australian Aborigines.

They believe it’s one of the last remaining homes of the creator beings who forged the earth.

Meanwhile, other folk come here to energise themselves at the fluvial channels that run underneath the rock – whatever that means!

The post 15 Most Mysterious Places in the World appeared first on The Crazy Tourist.

That said, things are seemingly back on track here, and there’s certainly no denying the utter beauty to be found along the shimmering golden stretches of Atlantic coast, at the roaring surf spots and between the dense, chimp-peppered jungles of the inland!

Let’s explore the best places to visit in Liberia:

1. Monrovia

Source: flickr

Hectic, frenetic, smooth and sophisticated (at least in its own, very West African way), Monrovia is home to more than one million Liberians.

The largest city in the country, it is a place of great energy.

Rumbling bush taxis float over the pot-holed roads around the center, while the bustling boulevard of Broad Street, nestled between the meanders of the Mesurado River and the Atlantic Ocean, is a picture of life.

Here, you can expect throbbing beer bars and the fading remains of old 19th-century townhouses; you can tour the fascinating National Museum and trace the history of Liberia’s coups and counter coups, civil wars and political trails at the eerily abandoned Ducor Hotel.

2. Sapo National Park

Source: gapyear

Unquestionably the most famous of Liberia’s duo of national parks comes in the form of the Sapo National Park.

This 1,804 square kilometer territory of the Upper Guinean Rainforest is said to have one of the highest mammal biodiversity counts of anywhere in the world.

And boy does it show! Intrepid folk who opt to delve into the old growth woods will get to spy out pygmy hippopotami and white-crested Diana monkeys, crocodiles, leopards, speckle-throated otters and chimpanzees.

There’s also an interesting history to unravel, with dark episodes having unfolded here during Liberia’s civil wars and even a fully-fledged gold rush having taken place in the early noughties.

3. Robertsport

Source: flickr

The king of all Liberia’s surfing spots (and there are quite a few), Robertsport has positioned itself firmly on the forefront of the country’s new tourism drive.

Long-haired wave riders with board wax in hand now flock to join the surfing troupes and hit the rolling Atlantic swells that buffet the likes of Fisherman’s Point, Cotton Trees and Cassava.

Surf schools are also popping up to get beginner travelers out and onto the waves, while  others will just come to hike the coastal stretches to see the pretty reaches of Cape Mount Bay, and see the trademark timber and stone churches that pepper the shore.

4. Buchanan

Source: flickr

Located around just three hours by rumbling bush taxi south out of the capital at Monrovia, the seaside city of Buchanan is a fine introduction to the coastal character of this part of West Africa.

The beaches are all undeveloped to the T, with swaying palm trees and groups of local children playing in the shallows.

Many opt to camp here, while others will hit the city itself, seeking out one of the few guesthouses that lurk between the frenetic markets and streets.

There is also a stretch of beach bars to enjoy, found nestled between the crumbling bamboo shacks along the shore.

5. Gbarnga

Source: flickr

Gbarnga might seem just another of the sprawling ramshackle towns that sprout from the sweeping mud plains and forests of inland Liberia, but this regional capital of Bong County has just a little more history and heritage up its sleeve than most.

For one, it was the place where the infamous political and rebel leader Charles Taylor coordinated actions of various civil wars across the area during the 1980s and 90s.

The town is also the home of the more than 100-year-old Cuttington University; one of the most prestigious in the country.

Add in a couple of dramatic waterfalls and earthy guesthouses, and Gbarnga becomes and exciting place to visit away from the more popular coastal destinations.

6. Harbel

Source: flickr

Visitors will find the industrial outpost of Harbel straddling the meanders of the Farmington River, just a stone’s throw back from the Atlantic coast, where Marshall and the monkey-dotted beaches of the resort towns south out of Monrovia make their home.

Famed primarily as the home of the largest rubber plantation in the world, Harbel is engulfed by swathes of rubber tree forests, many of which bear the familiar corporate name of Bridgestone tyres.

The town is also known as the site of the Roberts International Airport – the main access point to the north-west of the nation.

7. Gola National Forest

Source: golarainforest

The Gola National Forest is the new name for the Lofa-Mano National Park: a great dash of primeval rainforest that sprawls out along the northern border of the country with Sierra Leone.

One of the densest remaining tracts of Upper Guinean woodland in the region, the area has everything you’d expect of a real West African wilderness.

Yep, you can expect verdant canopies and seemingly endless stretches of colossal tree trunks and boughs, hidden fern fields where exotic dragonflies flit between the flowers, swinging chimpanzees, rare pygmy hippopotamus – the list goes on!

8. Bushrod Island

Source: flickr

The island of Bushrod gets its name from one of the few American politicians that actually advocated the resettlement of slaves on the continent back in the 1800s.

But that’s about as deep as the erstwhile politician, Bushrod Washington’s, influence runs in this mangrove-fringed port town on the edge of the Atlantic.

Today, streets of tooting vehicles run in and out of the jetties and docks, the ramshackle slums of New Kru Town sprawl close to the shoreline, and there’s an indelible energy of life throughout.

It’s not the most comfortable place to visit, granted, but it is an interesting glimpse at working, modern Liberia nonetheless.

9. Marshall

Source: flickr

Tourists will really only make a beeline for the ocean-side reaches of laid-back Marshall for two reasons.

The first is its smattering of empty beaches, each backed by verdant pockets of palm forest and mangrove swamps, and perfect for enjoying some truly intrepid camping on the Liberian coast.

The second is the small archipelago appropriately named Monkey Island.

Here, a troupe of feisty chimps inhabit the jungles.

They were rescued from research labs during the civil war, and now are particularly fond of swinging in the boughs, teasing tourists and catapulting fresh fruit from their branches at passing boats – you’ve been warned!

10. Zwedru

Source: commons.wikimedia

With just 23,000 people making Zwedru their home, and a whopping seven-hour drive separating the spot from the country’s capital on the coast, this far-flung county seat might not seem like the best place to add to that Liberia itinerary.

However, Zwedru has a number of interesting features that you simply won’t find in the more trodden reaches of the west.

For starters, it still retains something of an earthy, industrial vibe, thanks to its fledging logging enterprises.

And then there’s that unrivalled access to the dense Upper Guinean jungles, complete with multi-coloured tropical hummingbirds and uber-rare plant species aplenty.

11. Kakata

Source: wikipedia

The end-point on the relatively well-functioning Monrovia-Kakata Highway that departs the capital and delves in the western wilds of Liberia, this small regional hub of Margibi County is where the bucolic heartlands of West Africa finally take over the landscapes.

They do so in the form of seemingly endless rubber plantations, and Kakata has made its name (and modest fortune) as one of the rubber trading and transporting outposts of the nation.

Come to see the dust-caked community churches and delve into the lively local marketplaces that erupt ad hoc on the streets throughout the week.

12. Greenville

Source: flickr

One of the favoured gateways to the aforementioned Sapo National Park (which can be found lurking between the dense forests just a little to the east of town), Greenville is no stranger to tourists.

However, while most who arrive simply stock up and head out to see the chimps and exotic rainforests of the reserve, those who linger will get to see an intriguing remnant of Liberia’s resettlement era – the town does still bear the moniker of its namesake in Mississippi after all! There are also some interesting villages to explore up the courses of the Sinoe River, along with some truly unspoilt beaches along the coast to the west.

13. Harper

Source: commons.wikimedia

Situated in the extreme south of Liberia, where the turns of the African panhandle give way to the beaches of the Ivory Coast, the city of Harper has its fair share of both natural and human attractions.

For starters, the shores to the north-west and south of town are fringed with gorgeous Robinson Crusoe sands, with swaying coconut palms bristling against the Atlantic breezes at their back.

And then there are the remnants of Liberia’s old slave settlers, who are thought to have first begun crafting the modern state on the lands of Cape Palmas where Harper now stands.

You’ll see this legacy in the age-stained colonial frontispieces and arcaded plantation-style homes.

14. Voinjama

Source: commons.wikimedia.

Set deep amidst the sun-scorched jungles of Liberia’s extreme north-eastern edge, the small regional hub of Voinjama offers a picture of rustic West African life.

The roads are caked in mud and the houses topped with thatch or sheets of hardwearing zinc to keep out the sporadic torrents of rain.

The humidity can get unbearable, but if you’re feeling adventurous (and we mean really adventurous), a trek out to the surrounding timber villages might just be worth it.

You’ll cross swinging monkey bridges and meet communities all but cut-off from modern life.

15. Sanniquellie

Source: flickr

Sanniquellie is a small town that sits close to the international tristate border with Ivory Coast and Guinea in the extreme west of the country.

A bustling little market dominates the center of the place, with rows of colourful fruits and vegetables plucked straight from the fields making up the bulk of the produce sold.

After haggling your way through this, you can settle in one of the earthy local beer bars, or opt to wax up the walking boots and make a beeline for the East Nimba Nature Reserve.

This breathtaking end of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Strict Nimba boasts rare highland savannahs, lowland rainforests and rare animals like the West African lion to boot!

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