Some experiences defy description – words alone cannot capture the overwhelming sense of awe that comes with witnessing Earth’s most extraordinary phenomena. The Northern Lights streaking across the Arctic sky, the fleeting darkness of a total solar eclipse, the thunderous migration of thousands of wildebeest; these moments must be felt to be truly understood. They command our attention, shift our perspective, and remind us of our place within something far greater than ourselves.

Why Major Natural Events Resonate Deeply

Psychologists, neuroscientists, and sociologists have studied awe, that feeling of being struck by something vast, powerful, or beautiful beyond comprehension. A 2018 study published in Emotion found that awe reduces self-focus and enhances our sense of belonging to something greater. Another study in Frontiers in Psychology suggests it can increase life satisfaction, reduce anxiety, and encourage a broader, more collective mindset.

Beyond its psychological effects, awe is often experienced in nature, which itself has measurable benefits. Research published in Nature Scientific Reports found that spending at least 120 minutes a week outdoors is associated with better health and greater resilience. When travel brings us into direct contact with the natural world’s grandest spectacles, it can foster powerful personal transformation.

Journeys to Witness the Extraordinary

At Journeys International, we believe that nature’s grandest spectacles are best experienced in a way that connects travelers not only with the moment but with the place, the people, and the deeper forces at play in the world. Our itineraries blend these awe-inspiring natural events with cultural immersion, scientific understanding, and meaningful adventure. Here are some of the world’s most remarkable phenomena and where you can experience them.

1. Total Solar Eclipses

A total solar eclipse is one of the rarest and most breathtaking celestial events. As daylight vanishes in an instant and the world is cast into an eerie twilight, everything around you quiets. Research tells us that shared experiences of awe, like witnessing totality with fellow travelers, create lasting emotional imprints and strengthen social bonds.

Journeys to See it for Yourself:

2. The Northern Lights

The aurora borealis is a breathtaking interplay of solar energy and Earth’s atmosphere, painting the night sky with vibrant, shifting colors. Throughout history, legends and myths have sought to explain the ethereal dance of green, pink, and violet light. Today, science can explain the solar particles that fuel this phenomenon, but standing beneath the glowing sky still feels like witnessing something magical and mysterious.

 Journeys to See it for Yourself:

3. Major Migrations & Wildlife Gatherings

Nature moves in cycles, and some of the planet’s most stunning spectacles involve the movement of vast numbers of animals in harmony with Earth’s rhythms. The Great Migration in Africa sees wildebeest and zebras navigating perilous landscapes in their search for food and water. The oceans, too, come alive with seasonal migrations – baleen whales, including blue whales, fin whales, and sei whales, travel through Arctic and Antarctic waters, their massive bodies breaking through the waves. In warmer waters, like near the Baja Peninsula in Mexico, groups of whales gather for calving, offering a rare glimpse into their maternal instincts and social structures.

In Costa Rica, Tortuguero National Park provides one of the most remarkable opportunities to witness sea turtle nesting and hatching. Between July and October, green sea turtles come ashore to lay their eggs under the cover of darkness, and visitors may have the chance to observe this ancient ritual on a guided night walk. Later in the season, tiny hatchlings emerge and make their way toward the ocean in a breathtaking display of instinct and survival. Leatherback turtles, the largest of all sea turtles, also nest here from March to April, with hatchlings emerging in May and June.

Journeys to See it for Yourself:

4. Volcanic Phenomena

Few natural forces command attention like an active volcano. Standing at the edge of a steaming crater, witnessing bubbling lava fields, or exploring landscapes shaped by past eruptions provides a visceral reminder of the Earth’s raw power. Volcanic landscapes are some of the most dynamic places on the planet, continually reshaped by fire and time. From the towering Cotopaxi in Ecuador’s Avenue of the Volcanoes to the ever-active Mount Etna in Sicily, these destinations offer a rare chance to witness the geology of our planet in motion. Iceland’s volcanic landscapes, with steaming fumaroles and dramatic lava fields, further illustrate the raw forces at work beneath the Earth’s surface.

Indonesia’s Mount Bromo offers an otherworldly experience, with its dramatic crater and surreal blue flames visible at nearby Kawah Ijen – a rare natural phenomenon caused by ignited sulfuric gases. These active volcanic sites provide a mesmerizing glimpse into the Earth’s raw power and geological forces at work.

Journeys to See it for Yourself:

5. Seasonal Blooms & Flowering Events

Some natural events are fleeting, their beauty made even more powerful by their impermanence. Every spring, cherry blossoms transform Japan and South Korea into pastel dreamscapes, their delicate petals celebrated in centuries-old traditions of hanami (flower viewing). Meanwhile, in Chile’s Atacama Desert, an event even more unpredictable unfolds—the desert bloom, where long-dormant seeds burst into flower after rare rainfall, usually occurring every 5-7 years following El Niño.

Journeys to See it for Yourself:

6. Glacial Calving

Few natural events demonstrate the raw power of Earth’s frozen landscapes like glacial calving. When immense chunks of ice break off from a glacier’s face and crash into the water below, the deep echoes of cracking ice reverberate like thunder, and towering icebergs are born before your eyes. This process is both visually stunning and a powerful reminder of the planet’s ever-changing climate and geology.

One of the most dramatic places to witness this is Perito Moreno Glacier in Argentina’s Los Glaciares National Park. Unlike most glaciers that are retreating, Perito Moreno continues to advance, leading to frequent, spectacular calving events. Visitors can stand on viewing platforms overlooking its towering ice wall, watching massive sections collapse into the waters of Lake Argentino, sending waves rippling across the surface.

In Antarctica, glacial calving takes on an even grander scale, with immense icebergs breaking free from continental ice sheets and drifting into the Southern Ocean. Traveling by expedition ship through these frozen frontiers offers a rare opportunity to witness the formation of colossal icebergs and to experience the sheer force of nature shaping the polar landscape.

Journeys to See it for Yourself:

7. Bioluminescent Waters & Caverns

Witnessing bioluminescence on a large scale is a rare and breathtaking experience. If you can see it in an ocean or lagoon, the water shimmers with ethereal light, sparked by microscopic organisms reacting to movement. Kayaking through glowing waters, watching fish leave radiant trails, or even walking along a beach where the waves sparkle underfoot is an unforgettable experience. This natural phenomenon can be found in various parts of the world, including Indonesia’s Java coast and the glowworm caves of New Zealand, where thousands of tiny bioluminescent creatures illuminate underground rivers and caverns with a ghostly blue-green light.

Related Trips:

Experience Awe with Journeys International

At Journeys International, we curate experiences that allow you to step into these extraordinary moment as a participant in something profound. Several of our adventures are designed to put you in the path of Earth’s most inspiring phenomena while immersing you in the cultures and landscapes that make each destination unique. Explore our itineraries, get in touch, and join us in experiencing the wonders that transform us.

Sources

  • Keltner, D., & Haidt, J. (2003). Approaching awe, a moral, spiritual, and aesthetic emotion. Cognition & Emotion, 17(2), 297-314.
  • Piff, P. K., et al. (2015). Awe, the small self, and prosocial behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 108(6), 883.
  • White, M. P., et al. (2019). Spending at least 120 minutes a week in nature is associated with good health and wellbeing. Nature Scientific Reports, 9(1), 7730.