7 Destinations That Look Like They’re from Another Planet

Discover Earth's most surreal destinations that look straight out of a sci-fi movie, from mirror-like salt flats to blood-red lakes and alien desert landscapes.

Alyana Aguja
March 18, 2025
3 min read

7 Destinations That Look Like They’re from Another Planet — Pietro De Grandi from Unsplash

The world is inhabited by stunning sceneries that look like they are pulled straight from the pages of science fiction. From Bolivia’s mirror-like salt flats to Ethiopia’s psychedelic sulfur springs, these places push the boundaries of the imagination and redefine what can be seen on Earth. Visit these alien-like wonders and discover the surreal scenery that makes our world resemble an alien world.

1. Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

Image from Posters

Following rain showers, the largest salt flat in the world turns into a giant mirror, showing the sky so perfectly that it becomes like walking on clouds. Its seemingly endless, dazzlingly white field stretches all the way to the horizon and creates an otherworldly, ethereal landscape. Salar de Uyuni’s dreamlike beauty and quietude make it one of the most surreal experiences on Earth.

2. Wadi Rum, Jordan

Image from Wikipedia

Dubbed the “Valley of the Moon,” Wadi Rum’s immense red deserts, sandstone pillars, and fossilized petroglyphs are reminiscent of Mars landscapes. It’s not surprising that it’s been a backdrop for films such as The Martian and Dune. Tourists can pitch tents under star-studded night skies as if they have arrived on an alien planet.

3. Socotra Island, Yemen

Image from Outlook Travel Magazine

With its strange dragon blood tree sporting an umbrella-like canopy, Socotra resembles an alien botanical garden. The island’s peculiar biodiversity boasts more than 700 endemic species that cannot be found anywhere else. Its otherworldly landscapes, ranging from giant limestone caves to dreamlike beaches, are ancient and extraterrestrial in nature.

4. Pamukkale, Turkey

Image from Wikipedia

Terraced, milk-white travertine pools cascade down the hillside, brimming with mineral-laden turquoise waters. Created over thousands of years by thermal spring deposits, Pamukkale’s radiant terraces resemble frozen waterfalls or a natural infinity pool in the clouds. It’s a natural phenomenon that resembles a fantasy world than reality.

5. Dallol, Ethiopia

Image from Wikipedia

At the center of the Danakil Depression is Dallol, one of the hottest and strangest places on the planet. Bright yellow sulfur springs, neon-green acid lakes, and sharp salt cliffs make for a psychedelic environment that appears hostile to living organisms. The extreme heat, hues, and bubbling landscape feel more Venusian than Earthian.

6. Lake Natron, Tanzania

Image from Tanzania Specialist

This lake’s blood-red color is due to salt-tolerant microorganisms that live in its alkaline waters. The lake is so corrosive that it calcifies animals, leaving them as ghostly sculptures on its shores. Even though it’s lethal, it’s an essential breeding ground for flamingos, giving a macabre beauty to the desolation.

7. Lençóis Maranhenses, Brazil

Image from Wikipedia

This desert is not as it appears. Each rainy season, rainwater fills the dunes, producing a network of crystal-clear lagoons between golden ridges. The juxtaposition of desert and water creates an otherworldly landscape that seems to be defying nature itself.