When it comes to many of the world’s wonders that weren’t on maps for a while—the citadel of Machu Picchu, the tombs of Luxor, the Delta Sky Club lounge at DFW—the secret is definitely out, and those landmarks have the crowds to prove it.
If travelers are going for that eureka moment that comes with encountering a long-hidden sublime sight—whether made by nature or human hands—they must now search for alternatives.
Fortunately, a bucket list addendum for such seekers has arrived in the form of Hidden Places (Amber Books Ltd), a wanderlust-sparking photo book that highlights off-the-beaten-track marvels in North and South America, Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Pacific.
Informative text by author Claudia Martin accompanies 180 color photographs showing off storybook woodlands, golden temples, towering desert dunes, prehistoric artwork, and unique natural phenomena from Arctic wastes to lush Amazon rainforests. Each awe-inspiring locale serves as a welcome reminder that the world still contains surprises.
Scroll on to see nine incredible places featured in the book, along with captions provided by the publisher.
Pictured above: British Columbia’s Bowen Island