Viator Travel Blog

While white sand beaches with azure waters and billowing palms are nice, they’re far from unusual. For those looking for a truly unique coastal experience, the following beaches provide just that. Barking sand, star-shaped fossils and natural underground hot springs are just a few of the strange experiences you can have on the following weird beaches.

If you’ve ever wanted to swim with the fishes but felt nervous about your skill level and knowledge of the underwater world, the Oahu submarine scooter adventure is a great way to explore under the sea without any dive experience. I got the chance to go on a two hour adventure out in the beautiful Maunalua Bay, just off of Hawaii Kai, motoring around on an underwater submarine scooter in 30 feet of clear blue water.

For those who love experiencing beautiful landscapes, visiting waterfalls is one of the best ways to add some extra beauty to a day in the outdoors. Not all falls are created equal, however. If you want to view some of the world’s best cascades, here are our suggestions.

There’s so much to see and learn while snorkeling; snorkelers can swim among dolphins, turtles, and rays, discover thousands of different corals, and ambush shoals of jewel-colored fish as they dart around their domain. Here are some simply magical snorkeling destinations; dive in to their marine wonders.

Thailand is not the only country in southeast Asia with stunning beaches. Malaysia has dozens of tiny islands on both the east and west coasts that rival the beauty of southern Thailand. Plus, the best Malaysia beaches have the added advantage of being relatively unknown (read: cheaper, less crowded, more unspoilt).

From petting stingrays in Grand Cayman to riding elephants in Thailand, animal interactions sit high on the universal travel bucket list. On the Gulf Coast of Florida, just and hour and a half away from the tourism juggernaut that is Orlando (and yet another creature – a very famous little mouse!) lies another such animal encounter opportunity. The draw? Swim with manatees on the Crystal River.

With the tourist trail expanding across the key provinces of Cambodia, there is certainly a fair share of places from boutique hotels to high-end resorts for visitors to crash in, but it is perhaps the eco-conscious options that are drawing the most attention from travelers.

Have you ever visited a city, sat by the banks of the river and watched in envy as rowers glide past, cocooned in their serenity, far from the hustle and bustle of pedestrian life? I’ve often thought it must offer such a wonderful new perspective on a place. There’s time to take things in; to truly see what’s going on. And so it was with this in mind that I decided to discover more of my adopted hometown and booked the Melbourne Moonlight Kayak Tour. I’ve often thought it must offer such a wonderful new perspective on a place. There’s time to take things in; to truly see what’s going on. And so it was with this in mind that I decided to discover more of my adopted hometown and booked the Melbourne Moonlight Kayak Tour.

Of the eight major Hawaiian Islands, six are openly accessible to tourists. Only four, however, are regularly frequented by most Hawaii visitors. Whereas Maui, Kauai, Oahu, and Hawaii (commonly known as the “Big Island”) all see millions of visitors annually, the islands of Lanai and Molokai see only 50,000-75,000. Of the two inaccessible islands, Kaho’olawe—a former bombing range—is open only to volunteers, and Ni’ihau has been privately owned since 1864.

Although all the islands fall under the veil of “tropical paradise”, each island has its own unique set of quirks and qualities which makes it appealing to a certain type of visitor. If shopping is your priority, you’re better off heading to Oahu than Molokai. For empty beaches, reverse it.

Given the differences, the following is a rundown of which islands may be best for certain travelers, as well as the logistical info on how to plan the vacation.

Thailand is one of the best places in the world for scuba diving, drawing more divers than anywhere else in Southeast Asia — some 300,000 every year. The numerous islands that skirt the coastline offer an incredible range of marine life, with Reef Sharks, Leopard Sharks and turtles all being common encounters.