9 Real-World Locations That Look Straight Out Of A Video Game

OT Staff & Waquar Habib

Zhangjiajie, China

Zhangjiajie’s pillar-like sandstone peaks, famed as the ‘Avatar’ inspiration, rise through misty forests; glass bridges and walking trails offer vertiginous views for photographers and hikers seeking otherworldly scenery and adventure.

Zhangjiajie Mountains in China | long.explorer/instagram

Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

Salar de Uyuni’s vast salt crust transforms into a perfect mirror after rains; walking on infinite whiteness, visitors photograph surreal reflections and stargaze beneath unmatched high-altitude clarity and peaceful silence.

A cyclist at Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia | Unsplash

Antelope Canyon, USA

Antelope Canyon’s narrow sandstone ribbons refract sunlight into molten ribbons; guided Navajo tours reveal sculpted walls, dramatic light beams and intimate photographic moments within this sacred, wind-and-water-carved chasm and wonder.

A shot of Antelope Canyon, USA | Unsplash

Chongqing, China

Chongqing’s neon skyline, layered highways, and fog-covered hills give it a cyberpunk allure. Skyscrapers pierce the mist as LED-lit bridges and monorails evoke scenes straight out of a futuristic video game.

A shot of Chongqing, China | ichongqing.info/instagram

Seoul, South Korea

Seoul fuses ultramodern architecture, neon skylines, and tech-driven culture; from Dongdaemun Design Plaza’s curves to digital art parks, it embodies a futuristic, ever-evolving urban landscape.

A street in Seoul | southkorea.explores/instagram

Machu Picchu, Peru

Machu Picchu’s terraced citadel sits amid cloud-kissed Andean peaks; wandering Inca pathways, stone temples and panoramic viewpoints evoke timeless engineering and archaeological mystery for visitors and awe-inspiring sunrise hikes daily.

Machu Picchu | Depositphotos

Trolltunga, Norway

Trolltunga’s jutting rock shelf offers vertigo-inducing views above fjord waters; a demanding hike rewards daring photographers with dramatic panoramas and solitary moments in Norway’s raw wilderness bathed in midnight sun.

The view of Trolltunga and Ringedalsvatnet with glimpses of the Folgefonna glacier in the background | Unsplash

Socotra, Yemen

Socotra’s alien dragonblood trees silhouette limestone plateaux and white beaches; endemic flora and isolated archipelago landscapes feel extraterrestrial, rewarding adventurous travellers willing to navigate remote logistics for unique photographic experiences.

At Socotra, Yemen | burakesenbey/instagram

Chefchaouen, Morocco

Chefchaouen’s blue-washed medina climbs Rif foothills; narrow alleys, painted doorways and mountain views create a surreal, game-like palette ideal for slow exploration and colourful street photography amid fragrant local markets.

A view of Chefchaouen, Morocco | Unsplash

The Best Virtual Worlds To Explore In Video Games

Video Games Can Take You To Far Off Imaginative Lands. | Shutterstock
Read More