Looking for the top places to visit before they disappear? These are the places you should start.
There are so many places we haven’t been to and many places we want to revisit in our lifetime. We may even need two or three lifetimes to get through our list! One thing we want to start doing is prioritizing destinations that demand more urgency to visit. We realize many of them won’t completely disappear within our lifetime, but their landscapes change daily.
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Last Updated: July 16, 2024
25 Places to Visit Before They Disappear
1. Glacier National Park, Montana, USA →
There were 150 glaciers in Glacier National Park over 100 years ago, and only 27 were left in 2005. By 2030 they’re all expected to disappear, which will change the ecosystem for good. Montana, I see you!
See More: 9 Incredible Things to Do in Glacier National Park Montana
2. Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Climate change seems to be the general theme. The rising ocean temperatures, pollution, and increasing cyclones are destroying this beautiful reef. Half of the reef has died, and 89% of baby coral has declined from mass bleaching due to stress from environmental changes.
3. Saharan Africa
The Sahara in Africa, the world’s largest desert, is growing 0.5 miles per month! It’s partly due to climate change. Before we know it, it will cover Northern Africa, changing the entire continent.
4. Maldives
It’s the lowest-lying country in the world at an average of 1.5 meters above sea level. If sea levels continue to rise, it could easily be underwater in our lifetime.
5. Venice, Italy
Rising sea levels have made the threat of Venice sinking a reality. Every year the frequency of floods increases, making you wonder how much longer Venice can stay dry.
See More: Your Essential Guide to Cinque Terre Italy
6. Patagonia, Chile →
The glaciers that make their homes in Patagonia are retreating due to global warming, slowly altering its iconic landscapes. We’ve been to Torres del Paine National Park for the W Trek but want to return for Fitz del Roy.
See More: Ultimate Guide to Torres Del Paine National Park
7. Alaskan Tundra →
The Arctic heated twice as fast as the rest of the world due to global warming, which could destroy the Alaskan Tundra as we know it.
See More: 17 Unforgettable Things to Do in Denali National Park
8. South Australia
Freshwater is already hard to come by and is quickly drying up in South Australia. This results in more wildfires affecting the area’s wildlife, cities, and towns. Even from our most recent trip in 2019, we saw the terrible effects of the brushfires killing an estimated one billion animals and some animals going extinct.
See More: 25 Things to Do in Melbourne Australia for First Timers
9. The Alps
Because they are at a lower altitude than the Rocky Mountains, global warming affects the Alps more quickly. Some predictions say they will be gone by 2050.
10. The Dead Sea
We’ve both been to the Dead Sea separately but hope to return together. The Dead Sea has shrunk by a third in the last 40 years and continues to recede yearly. Though it will never disappear entirely, the environmental changes will leave it unrecognizable.
11. Seychelles
A tropical paradise, this island collection faces beach erosion and coral dying off. Experts say that Seychelles will be submerged in 50-100 years.
See More: 15 Best Things to Do in Mauritius Island for First Timers
12. Easter Island, Chile
Known for its huge statues, the local culture is fading, so in efforts to preserve its history, there have been efforts to limit tourism to the island significantly.
13. Antarctica
This unique continent is thawing! Although there is still time before it will be gone, efforts to minimize the environmental impact will limit how many cruises can sail there and where they can sail.
After our trip with Scenic it has easily become our favorite destination and we hope to visit again.
See More: 17 Things You Need to Know Before Visiting Antarctica Travel Tips
14. Magdalen Islands, Canada
The island’s coasts are continuously being hammered by heavy winds, which lead to erosion of up to 40 inches a year. The wall of sea ice that protects it is also melting… quickly. The ice may completely melt in the next 75 years, making the shores even more vulnerable.
15. Machu Picchu →
While we visited, we saw how crowded this ancient city gets, and that’s already with the current limitations of allowed visitors. To ensure this city stays around, they will continue to closely watch how tourism affects it and decrease the number of people allowed to go.
Pro Tip: To get a less crowded view of Inca ruins, do the 4-day hike.
See More: Your Ultimate Guide to Hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
16. Athabasca Glacier, Canada →
Athabasca Glacier and many other glaciers should be at the top of places to visit before they disappear. This glacier has been melting for the past 125 years, with some parts shrinking 9.8 feet yearly. As the most-visited glacier in North America, see it before it’s gone!
See More: Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting Athabasca Glacier
17. Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
The ice caps of this picturesque volcanic mountain are disappearing, and the rising climates aren’t helping. In addition, because the trek is becoming more popular, they may further limit the permits. This hike is definitely on our hiking bucket list.
See More: 25 Best Hikes in the World to Put On Your Bucket List
18. Taj Mahal, India
Air pollution, increasing population, and tourism have eroded the structure’s exterior. Many organizations and preservation groups are pushing to have India close this wonder of the world until it can be properly restored.
19. Tibet
Tucked away in the Himalayas, this country has been under Chinese control since 1950. Because of this, the language and many cultural traditions are disappearing. The Chinese government also randomly freezes permits for tourism, so depending on the current situation, you may not even be able to visit.
20. Death Valley, California, USA →
Already known for its stupidly high temperatures, it is predicted to rise over eight more degrees F in the next century. Even the slightest increase could lead to the extinction of some of Death Valley’s unique species, result in more powerful thunderstorms, or spark wildfires.
See More: First Timer’s Guide to Death Valley National Park California
21. Madagascar
Logging, burning, and poaching threaten the forests and inhabitants of this island, including the lemurs and unique trees you won’t see anywhere else in the world.
22. Michoacan, Mexico
Known for the massive Monarch butterfly migration each winter (we’re talking a billion butterflies), the number has declined for the past 20 years. Deforestation, pesticide use, and severe weather may lead these butterflies to find another home.
23. Everglades, Florida
These famous wetlands are threatened by pollution, invasive species, and human development. On top of that, we keep taking water from the Everglades, which has resulted in the fact that it’s half the size that it was in 1900.
24. Congo Basin, Africa
Home to the world’s second-largest rainforest, experts say that up to two-thirds of the rainforests could be gone by 2040. Mining, farming, illegal logging, and guerilla warfare are responsible for the almost 10 million acres of forest lost yearly.
25. Galapagos Islands →
As with any place that draws crowds of tourists, there is an equal battle to preserve what can only be found here. It is an ongoing conversation to limit the number of visitors to these islands. Even two years before our visit, one giant Galapagos tortoise species had already become extinct.
See More: 13 Amazing Things to Do in the Galapagos Islands
Map of the Places to Visit Before they Disappear
Planning Checklist
- Get comprehensive insurance for your trip.
- Download these helpful language apps.
- Arrange a rental car for your trip.
- Get airport lounge access.
- Buy a travel charger to keep your devices charged.
- Get a new backpack for your trip.
- Pack the appropriate shoes for your trip.
- Don’t forget your in-flight essentials.
Can you think of any more places to visit before they disappear? Are there any other landscapes that have forever changed since you first visited?
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“Discovery consists not of seeking new lands but in seeing with new eyes” – M. Proust
Esther + Jacob
Esther and Jacob are the founders of Local Adventurer, one of the top 5 travel blogs in the US. They believe that adventure can be found near and far and hope to inspire others to explore locally. They explore a new city in depth every year and currently base themselves in Las Vegas.
Follow on Instagram (E + J), YouTube, TikTok, and Pinterest.
