If you’re an avid landscape photographer looking for new destinations to explore, the options are almost endless. From striking seascapes to rolling hills and towering mountain ranges, you’ll find stunning vistas just waiting to be captured.
Discover our top ten recommendations for where to shoot nature at its finest, whether you’re using your mobile phone or a DSLR:
- Pai, Thailand
Only three hours away from Thailand’s largest northern city of Chiang Mai rests this peaceful, easygoing town that’s famous for its idyllic scenery. The entire region is swathed in greenery that thrives in its equatorial climate, making this destination ideal for landscape photographers who love verdant vistas.
Pai has an endless supply of rolling hills and mountains, many of which house towering statues and shrines that stand tribute to Buddhism. The town that contrasts with the natural landscape is equally as charming. When both are framed together, the magic of Pai is revealed.
- Cape Town, South Africa
On the southernmost point of Africa is the stunning city of Cape Town, which has no short supply of resplendent vistas. From wine farms to stretches of beaches to rolling farmlands, there’s something for every landscape photographer to capture here.
No matter where you set foot in Cape Town, you will always be flanked by its towering mountain ranges, whose hiking paths offer jaw-dropping sights for landscape photographers from base to summit.
Cape Town's suburbs and central business district also feature a vast sprawl of landscapes shaped by the city's native African cultures and its colonial past.
- Tuscany, Italy
Located in central Italy, Tuscany is a land out of a fairytale, and photographers flock to shoot La Foce Gardens, the most famous landscape in the region. Every year between June and July, the gently rolling hills of Tuscany give birth to a sea of springtime flowers. However, this isn't the only time of year that beautiful landscapes abound. Tuscany turns white most winters when it’s blanketed in snow, and its endless hills offer endless opportunities for great shots.
Between glasses of wine and visits to farmhouses, landscape photographers can easily snap some wide shots worthy of being put on a postcard.
- Kamchatka, Russia
Kamchatka is a photographer’s dream when it comes to unusual landscapes. It’s got everything on a different scale. You’ve got volcanic topography, dead forests, and fertile valleys surrounded by snow-capped volcanoes, ice caves, gorgeous fumaroles, and spectacular waterfalls.
This region has nearly 70 active volcanoes, including an arc called the Ring of Fire, which features a string of volcanoes that skirt the Pacific Ocean. Its many different attributes provide plenty of opportunities for landscape photographers looking for something different from the norm.
- Siem Reap, Cambodia
Home to Angkor Wat, the oldest temple in the world, Siem Reap is a Cambodian city well worth visiting for photographers wishing to document landscapes whose manmade structures are as old as the nation itself.
This very lively and touristic town features the rich and lush greenery of a tropical climate and architecture from the era of antiquity. When combined, the opportunities to create culturally rich landscape images are endless.
- Scottish Highlands, Scotland
A trip to the Scottish Highlands will transport you to a fantasy world. As if painted by the mind of Tolkien, the Scottish landscape is peppered with landslips, jagged mountains, gushing waterfalls, and medieval castles. It's gorgeous in summer, and in the cooler months, it’s often shrouded in thick mist, making for some incredible moody shots.
Housing all these spectacles of interest is a land whose geology is truly a sight to behold. Scotland is undoubtedly one of the best places in the world for landscape photography.
- The Village of Gordes, France
Gordes is an ancient town situated on a small hill right near the popular Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque and Roussillon. Part of the Plus Beaux Villages de France association, it offers a classical view over the town from a small panorama platform that’s right alongside the road going to Sénanque.
Try to get your camera and tripod set up for sunset as the houses get lit up by the last rays of the sun, creating a truly breathtaking vista.
- Mt. Fuji, Japan
One of Japan’s most famous and extraordinary landscapes is Mt. Fuji, which soars up into the air for just over 12,000 feet. This snow-capped volcano’s conical shape is Japan’s sacred symbol. Shrines and temples are located on and around Mt. Fuji, and it’s a sight that is truly awe-inspiring.
Despite the fact that there’s a city fairly close to its base and that it’s such a major tourist attraction, the sheer size of Mt. Fuji means you can always find a spot to be alone and capture the incredible landscapes.
- El Chalten, Patagonia
The area around El Chalten is home to two of the most recognizable peaks in Patagonia, Cerro Torre, and Mount Fitz Roy. Among the best hikes in the country originate in El Chalten, with Laguna de Los Tres and Laguna Torre both offering excellent starting points for photographers keen on capturing the incredible surroundings.
For avid photographers, the enormous Southern Patagonian Ice Field lies just nearby. There are also many glaciers, lakes, waterfalls, and rivers within easy reach, all of which are ideal for landscape photographers building up their portfolios.
- Guilin, China
Guilin in China should be at the top of every landscape photographer’s bucket list. Along with its one-of-a-kind karst landforms and the eminently photographable Li River cormorant fishermen, Guilin is a popular spot for anyone with a camera and a desire to record landscapes for prosperity.
You can photograph hundreds of karst mountain peaks at sunrise and sunset or capture buffalo farmers on bridges and in fields, and the rice terraces offer serene photo ops that are unique to this part of the world.
Capture The World With Your Camera
If you’re a landscape photographer, traveling opens the doors to so many new and wonderful opportunities. This list of top ten destinations is just the start. There are so many opportunities to capture impressive vistas worldwide, either from up close or using a telephoto lens. All that limits you is your imagination!
