Where to See the World's Most Amazing Natural Phenomena
Where to see the world's most stunning natural wonders this year
Aurora Borealis, Iceland
The Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, are the most-coveted natural phenomenon in the world, and Iceland is typically considered prime location for viewing, with minimal light pollution and stunning open landscapes. This year is set to be one of the very best for a while. To see the lights, it’s best to get away from the city – Thingvellir National Park is just an hour from Reykjavik, forming part of the famous Golden Circle, with several scenic viewpoints from which to view the lights. Around two hours from the city is Snæfellsjökull National Park, home to crystalline glaciers, rushing waterfalls and the much-photographed Kirkjufell mountain.
When to Visit
Visit when the nights are darkest – between late September and early April. The best viewing times are typically between 9pm and 2am; the late night is guaranteed to be worth it if the lights decide to display their dancing colours.
Where to Stay
Reykjavik is Iceland’s capital, a colourful, buzzy city with the promise of a Northern Lights sighting right on the doorstep. The Reykjavik Edition has 253 guest rooms and 27 suites all designed by Ian Schrager and stocked with custom Le Labo toiletries. The spa here has its own bar for pre-treatment cocktails, to be enjoyed in the plunge pool, and features a hammam, steam room and sauna. Enjoy Nordic cuisine at hotel restaurant Tides and, from the rooftop, guests can enjoy panoramic views as well as possible Northern Lights sightings.
101 Hotel’s stylishly curated rooms make it one of the most aesthetic places to stay in the city. Modern art from the owner’s private collection is dotted around the hotel, yet the rooms remain sleekly minimal and totally on-trend. The hotel’s restaurant, Kastrup, is around the corner serving Scandi-style dishes, and the spa has the option to book in-room treatments.
The Retreat at Blue Lagoon is the ideal place for ticking off another bucket-list Icelandic wonder – the Blue Lagoon. The 60 modern suites here are inspired by the volcanic vistas beyond, and wellness is top of the agenda. Guests can start their day with yoga and Icelandic coffee before taking a dip in the famous Blue Lagoon. Surrounded by the mineral-rich, healing cerulean waters, The Retreat even offers a private lagoon for guests, as well as a subterranean spa which harnesses the power of geothermal sea water and offers in-lagoon treatments. Their Michelin-starred restaurant Moss offer a seasonal seven-course menu, complemented by wine from the lava rock-lined walls of the volcanic cellar.
Where to Eat
Reykjavik’s foodie scene is just as exciting as its natural wonders and hotels. Have breakfast at Deig, where the bagels are made in-house alongside their pastries, including the popular crème brûlée doughnut. For seasonal small plates and sharers in a buzzy, welcoming venue, visit Mat Bar. When it comes to authentic Icelandic cuisine made cool, Skál are undoubtedly the best, accompanying their dishes with a selection of natural wines. Perfect for fussy groups, Pósthús Mathöll is an elegant, new-age take on the food hall, with an eclectic mix of vendors that ensure everyone will find something they enjoy. Dill’s fine-dining fare is inspired by the rugged Icelandic landscape, and they operate a no-waste policy, making sure to use ingredients in their entirety.
Wildebeest Migration, Tanzania and Kenya
Another phenomenon set to trend in 2025 is rare animal sightings, and the wildebeest migration in Tanzania is one of the most spectacular of all. The largest overground migration in the world, almost two million wildebeest, accompanied by zebras and gazelles, move across the arid plains in search of food and water. The result is a natural spectacle and the best place to see the phenomenon is the Masai Mara in Kenya, or Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, depending on the time of year you visit.
When to Visit
The wildebeest migration can be seen year-round, as the migration is circular and ongoing. From July to October, stay in Masai Mara National Reserve, north of the Serengeti. If you’re staying from January to March, more southernly stays in the Serengeti National Park are best.
Where to Stay
Both national parks have a selection of lodges and campsites that’ll ensure a comfortable and relaxed stay. Elewana Sand River Masai Mara is an exclusive camp in the heart of the Masai Mara reserve, inspired by permanent tented camps of the 1920s. With 16 tented accommodations divided into two adjoining camp sites, each with its own dining area, the camp has an opulent and private feel that allows guests to step back in time into the hey-day of safari. Here, guests can watch the migration from the comfort of their veranda or take a tour in a 4x4 vehicle. There’s a swimming pool, and bush meals and sunset drinks are served each evening.
In the Serengeti, Lemala Kuria Hills Lodge provide five-star accommodation in the remote Wogakuria Hills, close to the Mara River where the wildebeest migrate. Guests can stay in one of 15 glass-fronted tented accommodations, complete with ensuite facilities and plunge pools. The main swimming pool has a luxurious sundeck and adjoins the bar, for sunset cocktails with spectacular views. The lodge offer game drives in 4x4 vehicles, so guests can enjoy the migration without the crowds. Three-course meals are served at the Lodge and out in the bush, afternoon tea is served before game drives, and massages and manicures can be enjoyed at The Melengali Spa.
Where to Eat
Restaurants are few and far between in the remote national parks – travellers on safari will have meals provided by their camp, or can opt to purchase food to prepare at a campsite from one of the park’s stores. But if fine dining is key to your stay, Four Seasons Safari Lodge in the Serengeti have multiple restaurants, including Boma Grill, with its authentic barbecue around the fire pit accompanied by traditional dance from the Masai tribe. At the Lodge’s Maji Bar and Terrace, homemade pizzas and refreshing cocktails are served by the infinity pool, leading directly onto an active watering hole where elephants drink.
Bioluminescence, Puerto Rico
Bioluminescence, defined as the production of light by a living organism, is one of the most other-worldly phenomena you will see. Often caused by plankton, bioluminescence can be seen as an ethereal neon blue glow in the ocean when a high concentration of the organisms are disturbed by boats or swimmers.
The best place to see the phenomenon is undoubtedly Puerto Rico, home to three of around 20 bioluminescent bays worldwide. Each bay has its individual merits. Laguna Grande is the closest to San Juan, drivable in just over an hour, making it the most accessible and easiest to visit. Here, visitors can kayak a winding canal, enclosed by trees, to reach the glowing lagoon. However, it’s the most popular with tourists, so if you’re looking for a more intimate trip, you may want to opt for one of the other two bays. Mosquito Bay has been recognised by Guinness World Records as the world’s brightest bioluminescent bay, and is accessible via a 25-minute flight from Isla Grande Airport in San Juan. La Parguera is the only bay where swimming is permitted, ideal for getting Insta-worthy snaps. It’s also the only bay that allows motorboats, meaning visitors can take glass-bottom boat tours to marvel at the blue hues. It takes just over two hours to reach from San Juan, and some tour companies offer full-day tours with transport.
When to Visit
All three of the bays glow year-round, but bioluminescence is best seen in the dry season from December to April, as heavy rainfall can cloud the water. The darker it is, the more visible the phenomenon will be, so it’s best to visit during a new moon rather than when it’s full.
Where to Stay
The capital San Juan makes a great base for all three of the bays, and the polished neighbourhood of Condado has long been a favourite amongst stylish tourists, with its Art-Deco architecture and trendy dining, shopping and nightlife on the glitzy main street, Ashford Avenue. O:LV Fifty Five is a slick adults-only boutique hotel, with 26 guest suites offering views over the Condado Lagoon. Their Caribbean-Asian restaurant Raya is the passion project of chef Mario Pagan – enjoy the bright, flavourful menu and allow expert mixologists to create your perfect sip before heading up to the hotel’s crowning jewel, ARYA Rooftop, for yuzu palomas and late-night beats from the ’77 Rolls Royce which has been converted into a DJ booth. Rent one of their floating decks to experience Champagne brunch on the lagoon.
The Condado Vanderbilt is more than 100 years old, and is as luxurious as resorts come. They’re home to the fine-dining 1919 restaurant and the only spa on the island with Turkish baths. Here, guests can indulge in a full hammam ritual. The resort features two pools, with pool butlers and tanning and hydration specialists on-hand to ensure you’ll want for nothing.
For something nearer to the airport, Fairmont El San Juan is conveniently close, yet feels miles away with four palm-fringed pools that lead seamlessly down to the beach and sea beyond. The sparkling chandelier in the lobby is the third largest of its kind in the world, and the luxury continues throughout. With four restaurants and five bars, enjoy omakase-style sushi and sake at Sushi by Bou, or authentic Puerto Rican cuisine at Caña, before celebrating the island’s national spirit at The Rum Bar and indulging in late-night dancing at BRAVA.
Where to Eat
Tropical steakhouse La Central by Mario Pagán in Distrito T-Mobile celebrates the Puerto Rican produce sugarcane, including it in most dishes alongside a rum-heavy cocktail menu. SUR Barra Nikkei serve a Japanese-Peruvian fusion menu from their San Juan restaurant, with a raw bar where locally-sourced ceviche and tiradito are expertly crafted. Marmalade’s innovative plates and impressive wine cellar make them one of Old San Juan’s most exciting culinary offerings, merging European and Caribbean cuisine. If it’s fine dining you seek in the capital, slide onto Epicuro’s intimate 12-seater chef’s table counter with chef Antonio Perez. The five-course tasting menu changes monthly, and is theme-driven with influences from around the world. For those with a sweet tooth, Chocobar Cortés incorporate chocolate into almost every dish, from their award-winning peanut butter & jelly frozen chocolate cocktail to their Rico chocolate cake, and have two branches in San Juan.
