Places to Visit Before They Disappear: There are so many beautiful places around the world, but too many of them will be lost to climate change, rising sea levels, deforestation, and human interaction. Over centuries-old places we have looked to for permanence—Venice, the Taj Mahal, Machu Picchu—are fighting difficulties that threaten to transform them, potentially, for good. In addition to these natural wonders such as the Great Barrier Reef, the Amazon Rainforest and Antarctica are all at risk, ecosystems are degrading at an ever-increasing rate.
Places To Visit Before They Disappear
From 30 places to see before they are gone, they are both an inspiration and a call to action. The list highlights destinations likely to be changed forever in the next generation of travelers, inspiring them to visit these places sooner rather than later — and to do so in a way that preserves them for future generations. These petite and beautiful locations embody the family between nature, history, and the human trip from historical culture landmarks to ecological endangered biotope to disappearing glacier sites.
Visiting these locations is more than just crossing names off a bucket list — it’s about witnessing their beauty, learning about their issues, and supporting sustainable practices that could help preserve them. From an ancient city to an at-risk island to a disappearing glacier, each of these destinations has a new tale to tell — of strength and vulnerability that we should witness now.
1. Iconic Natural Wonders
- Great Barrier Reef, Australia
- Dead Sea, Israel/Jordan
- Maldives Islands
- Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
- Amazon Rainforest, South America
2. Historic and Cultural Treasures
- Venice, Italy
- Machu Picchu, Peru
- Pyramids of Giza, Egypt
- Easter Island Statues, Chile
- Chichen Itza, Mexico
3. Fragile Ecosystems
- Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
- Glacier National Park, USA
- Sundarbans Mangroves, India/Bangladesh
- Seychelles
- Everglades, Florida, USA
4. Endangered Heritage Sites
- Taj Mahal, India
- Petra, Jordan
- Angkor Wat, Cambodia
- Bagan Temples, Myanmar
- Old Havana, Cuba
5. Islands and Coastal Retreats
- Tuvalu, Pacific Ocean
- Solomon Islands
- French Polynesia
- Key West, Florida, USA
- Seychelles’ Aldabra Atoll
6. Glaciers and Polar Regions
- Antarctica
- Greenland Ice Sheet
- Patagonia Glaciers, Argentina/Chile
- Swiss Alps Glaciers
- Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska
This planet of ours is full of wonders unlike any others, but many of them have no longer much time left. With everything from fragile ecosystems to historic landmarks blending into one, these places showcase just how important sustainable travel and preservation are. Going to them is not just a list of destinations to check off — it is an immersion in their beauty as they suffer and an engagement in their defense. Travelers make an impact when they choose wisely and practice sustainability and conservation efforts. These 30 destinations are not mere places to visit, they are reminders of the fragile balance of humanity, nature and history, and why we all should treasure the now.
