Whether you’re planning the perfect summer road trip or looking to hike in an exotic destination, there’s no path more worth taking than one that leads to a waterfall. Located in the world’s most pristine natural landscapes, waterfalls often provide shallow pools at their base, perfect for a refreshing summertime dip. In the more mountainous regions, you can fly high above the ridges to scope an aerial view of the cascading water below. No matter your mode of choice, there’s no wrong way to relax amid the rushing sounds of falling water.
From the world’s biggest and most beautiful to multi-colored cascading rushes, read on to discover eight waterfalls worth travelling for.
Iguazu Falls, Brazil & Argentina
Located on the border of Argentina and Brazil, Iguazu Falls is twice as wide as Niagara Falls, spanning nearly 1.7 miles and comprising over 275 combined waterfalls. If you want to get close to the waterfall, start on the Argentinian side, where you can walk into the heart of the falls at the Devil’s Throat. If you want a stunning landscape view, see the falls from the Brazilian side for a picture-perfect panorama.
Photo: Richard Isaac/REX/Shutterstock.
McWay Falls, Big Sur, California
With Yosemite in its backyard, California is a known haven for beautiful waterfalls; but one of the state’s sweetest flies largely under the radar. A drive along Highway 1 and a quick hike along the trail in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park leads to McWay Falls, a quaint, 80-foot waterfall that spills beautifully along a steep granite cliff into the Pacific Ocean below. The fresh waterfall flows all year round, making it the perfect pit stop on your next California road trip.
Photo: C. Dani I. Jes/REX/Shutterstock.
Victoria Falls, Zambia & Zimbabwe
Located in Southern Africa on the Zambezi River, Victoria Falls forms the natural border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, creating one of the world’s biggest and most beautiful waterfalls. Even before arriving to the falls, a mist can be seen from miles away, lending to its local name Mosi-oa-Tunya, meaning the smoke that thunders. It's one of the largest continuous curtains of water in the world, and you can either raft, canoe, or fly over the 5,600-foot-wide expanse.
Photo: JTB Photo/UIG/REX/Shutterstock.
Kuang Si Falls, Luang Prabang, Laos
Just 18 miles south of Luang Prabang is Kuang Si Falls, a three-tiered cascade that coasts 160 feet down the hillside, forming ethereal pool beds that gently flow over limestone ledges. The top of the falls forms large lagoons with hanging vines, which bold travellers use to swing into the water. Shallow enough for swimming, the pools at the base are a bright turquoise blue and are easily accessible via a short tuk tuk ride through rice fields.
Photo: S. Vannini/REX/Shutterstock.
Gullfoss Waterfall, Iceland
Located on the Hvítá river on Iceland’s Golden Circle route, Gullfoss waterfall is a successive cascade with two distinct drops, each spanning the entire width of the river. Translating to "Golden Falls," Gullfoss is one of Iceland’s most visited attractions. See it on a road trip through the country or do a hike that will take you past the 200-foot-tall Skógafoss — the last, and most dramatic, of the nearly 40 waterfalls fed by the Eyjafjalla Glacier.
Photo: Getty Images.
Sutherland Falls, Milford Sound, New Zealand
Along New Zealand’s Arthur River is Sutherland Falls, an immense expanse of high glacial basins melded into the pristine mountainside of Fiordland National Park. Consisting of three drops of falls, Sutherland Falls is at its highest at 1,904 feet, cascading into two more waterfalls for a successive effect that appears like one long drop down the mountain. To see Sutherland, one of the highest waterfalls in New Zealand, hike the Milford Track or take a scenic flight for an aerial view.
Photo: Getty Images.
Calf Creek Falls, Utah
Located in one of the most beautiful areas of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Calf Creek Falls is a multi-coloured oasis amid a vast desert landscape. The waterfall soars over 126 feet high, converging to a shallow pool that rests beneath. The waters are crystal clear, making it the perfect spot for an afternoon dip. To get to Calf Creek Falls, take the popular 5.5-mile round-trip hike that begins at the Calf Creek campground, located just off of Scenic Byway 12 between Escalante and Boulder.
Photo: Bob Gibbons/REX/Shutterstock.
Southern Rockhole Waterfall , Northern Territory , Australia
Katherine Gorge in Australia’s Northern Territory is a natural formation of ancient sandstone mountains carved by the Katherine River. Located in the heart of Nitmiluk National Park, there are over 13 gorges total, where an abundant landscape of swimming holes and waterfalls rest. Be sure to incorporate a visit to the first gorge, home to the Northern Territory’s best kept secret, Southern Rockhole Waterfall.
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