The best locations around the world to chase rare wonders

All travel photos capture a unique moment, a time, a place and a feeling. But some moments are rarer than others; phenomena that only take place once a year – or even less – where you have to be in the right place at the right time to witness it. 

If you’re lucky enough to find yourself there (or clever enough to have planned it), you’re going to want to capture it. We’ve summarised some of our favourite ‘you had to be there’ photo opportunities to consider when scheduling your travels.

City ‘henges’ on both US coasts

In Manhattan, there are two windows of time in the year where the sun aligns perfectly between the city’s grid-system streets as it heads towards the horizon. The sunsets and sunrises each align twice a year, on dates evenly spaced around the summer and winter solstices. The sunset alignments occur around 28 May and 13 July. The sunrise alignments occur around 5 December and 8 January.

New York streets perfectly positioned to witness the phenomenon include: 14th, 23rd, 34th, 42nd and 57th Streets.

Over on the West Coast, a similar astronomical event occurs when the San Francisco sunset and sunrises align perfectly with the buildings along its skyline, framing the low-hanging sun. It happens only a few times a year, also around the spring and autumn equinoxes. 

It’s best viewed looking westwards down California Street, right at the top of Nob Hill.

Double sunsets

For a few short days per year, in some very specific locations, you might catch sight of the rare phenomenon of the double sunset, which – as the name suggests – is where the sun appears to set twice. 

Orasso, a small village near the Italy-Switzerland border, sees two sunrises and two sunsets during the winter because of Mount Riga. And in the town of Güímar in Tenerife, a double sunset has been observed in alignment with the local pyramids at summer solstice.

Experiment with your phone’s exposure settings to control the light levels and capture these celestial phenomena at their best and brightest.

To master photography at sunrise and sunset, read our guide on golden hour photography.

Cherry blossoms in Japan

For many Japanese people living away from home, cherry blossom season is what they miss most. This magical occurrence sees whole landscapes and cityscapes bloom pretty pink flowers – a dreamy sight for romantics and nature lovers alike. Cherry blossom season, or “sakura”, in Japan generally occurs between late March and early April, though it can start as early as January in the south, and last into May in the north. 

Take in the wonder of cherry blossoms in Kyoto with “Six iconic shots of Kyoto” by photographer Sam Hodenius.

The monarch butterfly migration in Mexico and California 

Imagine the magic of witnessing hundreds of butterflies fill the air as they move en masse. Visitors to certain parts of Mexico and California might catch sight of this if they plan their trips carefully. In Mexico this typically occurs between October and March, and in California the best viewing time is from October to February. 

Mexico’s Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve in the mountains, about 100km northwest of Mexico City, is home to millions of migrating butterflies that colour the trees orange. In California, coastal areas like Pismo Beach, Goleta and Pacific Grove, along with sanctuaries at Natural Bridges State Beach and Fiscalini Ranch Preserve, offer viewing opportunities. 

Starling murmurations

The spectacular sight of starling murmurations in the UK – the aerial displays of large groups swooping and swirling across the sky before roosting for the night – typically occurs during the autumn and winter months, from November to February. Although they don’t happen every day, the displays are most visible at dusk, and bird-watchers recommend getting to the location approximately 30 minutes before sunset. 

Known spots for this are coastal areas wetlands, woodlands and cliffs, and some nature reserves.

Mirrored sunsets in Bolivia

The Uyuni Salt Flats in Bolivia is home to one of the world’s most spectacular sunsets, where the vast, otherworldly landscape frames the fading light beneath a wide, open sky, setting the entire horizon ablaze. During the wet season (November to March) the effect is amplified when the landscape turns into a reflective mirror.

Bioluminescence in South Africa

The Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, located near Cape Town, South Africa, is known for its magical bioluminescent phytoplankton that create a glowing effect along the coastline. You can see this from the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, along with other coastal areas like Fish Hoek and Gordon’s Bay. 

Head out on moonless or cloudy nights to see them at their brightest. The phenomenon is most visible during the South African winter months, typically between July and September.

Celestial events 

Every so often, a rare celestial event unfolds – a solar or lunar eclipse, or a planetary alignment – that captivates skywatchers around the world. While specialised lenses can offer a telescopic view, capturing the human experience – people gathered, eyes shielded with safety glasses, sharing the moment – often tells a more compelling story. 

There’s a lunar eclipse coming up on September 7, 2025, which will be visible from Australia, Asia, Africa, and Europe. You can find out where exactly, and learn about other upcoming events on websites like Time and Date and the Royal Museum Greenwich’s eclipse guide.