Fjordlands National Park, South Island, New Zealand

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The Lau Archipel... “Most people define beauty by sunsets. In this incredible group of islands, it’s the sunrises as well,” notes Greenberg of this remote collection of 50-plus atolls and islands located 200 miles from the mainland of Fiji. The region sees few tourists, but those who make it are rewarded with a mind-blowing array of marine life and a gentle, carefree vibe. “No phones, no Blackberries, no TVs—just the intoxicating sounds of a cappella harmonies sung by the islanders each morning and each evening,” Greenberg adds. “Great storytelling, and a never-ending feeling of community and love that lives with you forever.”

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The Lau Archipel... (Larry Dale Gordon/Getty Images)

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Fjordlands Natio... Says Patricia Schultz: “Think fjords, and one usually thinks Norway, or even Chile. But visit Milford Sound—one of the 15 fjords that make up New Zealand’s largest national park—and you’ll see why Rudyard Kipling claimed it as the Eighth Wonder of the World." Both North and South Islands stood in for Middle Earth during the filming of Tolkien’s Lord of the Ring series. Watch the movie and you'll find an impressive array of landscape ranging from snow-capped mountain ranges to vast marshes. The South Island is the less inhabited of the country’s two islands, meaning lots more open areas of astonishing beauty to yourself.

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Fjordlands Natio... (Scott E. Barbour/Getty Images)

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Petra, Jordan “With the rise of Palmyra in Syria and sea-trading routes, the death knell was sounded for Petra, ancient capital of the Nabateans,” say the Geographic Expeditions experts. “By the Arab invasion of the 7th century AD, Petra was a forgotten city and remained so until it was rediscovered in 1812 by the young Swiss explorer Johann Burckhardt.” Today the elegant site, which dates back to 1200 B.C., is known as the “Pink City” because of the rose-hued sandstone used to create the phenomenal palaces and tombs. It’s perhaps most stunning at dusk, when the ancient city is aglow with thousands of candles.

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Petra, Jordan (Petr Svarc/Getty Images)

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Rio de Janeiro, ... “Rio is possibly the most beautifully sited city on the globe,” Schultz says. “Head up to the statue of Christ the Redeemer at Corcovado for a take-your-breath-away view of la Cidade Maravilhosa (the Marvelous City). It is a unique city in many ways—where nature collides with a thrumming metropolis, the elegant with the seedy, and the rich with the poor.” The spot's proximity to the water makes for arresting views.

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Midway Island Located about halfway between the United States and Asia, this stunning atoll is a U.S. territory known for the Battle of Midway, which played a major role in World War II; today it’s home to massive albatross population, and is a designated National Wildlife Refuge. “History lives here,” says Greenberg. “The site of the most decisive naval battle in world history, Midway is where I go to think, to write without interruption. If you’re looking for footprints in the sand, just look behind you, because the only ones are the ones you made.”

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Midway Island (Paul & Paveena McKenzie/Getty Images)

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Prettiest Places To see the full list of the most beautiful places in the world,click here.

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