There’s no better way of capturing the magic of your once-in-a-lifetime bucket list adventure than through a camera lens, and there’s nothing more rewarding than returning home to friends and family with incredible, self-made mementos from some of the best nature photography destinations in the world.

Whether it’s vast deserts, dramatic mountains, rushing waterfalls or the otherworldly northern lights in Finland, the world is full of so many natural wonders to capture that the main challenge is knowing where to start.

To help get you inspired for your next photography holiday, or your next exploration to a far-flung corner to the planet, we’ve come up with some of the best nature photography destinations in the world so that you can forget about the research and planning, and simply sit back and drink in the views.

Most Photographed Places in the World

To kick us off, let’s start with the obvious choices. After all, there is a reason the most photographed places in the world hold that accolade. If you’re looking to capture the most spectacular natural wonders, this is not a bad place to start.

1.      Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

The chances are you’ve seen this incredible bay of limestone karsts bursting from an azure sea blue plenty of times. Often, there’ll be the figure of a smug kayaker in the foreground. But there’s a reason so many visitors from around the world flock to this incredible bay, a maze of islands dotted with floating villages, beautiful beaches and magical views around every corner.

Bring your camera and join the many hundreds who’ve taken incredible pictures of the natural beauty here, on a tour that also gets you off the beaten track in Vietnam and away from the crowds.

2.      Reine, Norway

The Lofoten Islands off the north coast of Norway feel like the very ends of the earth. Once there, you couldn’t feel more immersed in the dramatic scenery, whether it’s in one of the quaint fishing villages hunkered under brooding coastal mountains, or on one of the jaw-dropping peaks with an endless view along the spiny ridge of the archipelago.

Reine is one of the most photographed places in Lofoten, and it’s easy to see why. On this incredible tour of the Lofoten Islands, we’d certainly recommend waiting for the perfect shot when you come to the stunningly situated village.

3.      Grand Canyon, USA

Probably one of the most famous natural features on earth and certainly one of the most iconic landscape photography locations, the Grand Canyon in Arizona and Nevada has its place as one of the most photographed places in the world for good reason. With almost 6 million visitors per year, and almost all of them getting a picture of the stunning natural wonder, that’s a decent amount of images floating around in the ether.

You can escape these crowds though. Visit locations like Roosevelt Point, The Rim Trail or the Desert View Watchtower to imagine you have all this magnificent beauty to yourself.

4.      Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

For all those who want to play with perspective in their shots, there’s nowhere better than this vast, otherworldly salt flat in southern Bolivia, left behind by evaporated, prehistoric lakes. The size of Jamaica, there are times when the entire horizon can be one, endless, uninterrupted expanse of salt – perfect for anyone who wants to get a bit creative with their camera.

If you’re lucky and arrive at the right time of year, you could even be treated to the sight of Salar de Uyuni turned into a huge, natural mirror – there’s little wonder this is one of the most commonly photographed sites on earth.

5.      Gullfoss, Iceland

Quite possibly Iceland’s most spectacular waterfalls (although there is certainly some pretty stiff competition for this honour), the ‘Golden Waterfall’ is a breathtaking sight. You can walk right up to the massive two-tiered falls, and literally feel the pounding of the cascading water as mist throws up rainbows into the deep gorge below.

Making up part of Iceland’s essential Golden Circle, it’s a place that if captured properly, can really get across the power of nature in a photograph. Of course, as we’ve already mentioned, there are plenty more waterfalls in Iceland to discover, including a few iconic ones along the south coast. When searching for nature photography destinations, it’s hard to top the land of fire and ice, particularly if you happen to catch the northern lights overhead.