People travel the world to witness and experience a whole host of natural phenomena. Our interests span all four of the elements. We look to the skies to see sunrises, sunsets, comet showers, and (perhaps most famously) the Aurora Borealis. Those of us who are a little braver or perhaps just more fond of adrenaline skydive, bungee jump, and paraglide. When it comes to water, we seek out lagoons, geysers, waterfalls, and seas. We sail across its surfaces on cruise liners, ferries, sailing ships, and speedboats. For more direct contact with the water, we dive into it on paddle boards, surfboards, and to swim. Though we are a little more wary of fire, hundreds of thousands of us still travel seeking volcanos and landscapes filled with bubbling molten lava. Now, earth may well seem like the dullest of the elements. We’re in contact with it on a day to day basis while we’re at home. Surely ground is ground, and you don’t have to travel very far to see that.

But, you’re forgetting one key part of our planet formed of earth and rock that can provide us with profound experiences: mountains. While certain mountains hold more acclaim than others, there are hosts of them out there, and each provides its own experiences and stunning views. Here are some of our favorites that you might like to seek out on your next adventure.

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Mount Everest, Himalayas

Mount Everest is commonly acknowledged as the most famous mountain in the world and for good reason! It’s the highest mountain with its peak nearing 30,000 feet. It’s not surprising that it attracts some of the world’s most accomplished climbers. After all, if you want to prove your skill, there’s no better place to do it than here. Now, we wouldn’t recommend that anyone attempts to climb any portion of any mountain without being fully aware of the risks and the tasks that lie ahead of them.

But when it comes to Everest, over 290 people have died attempting to reach its peak and the last year when no fatalities were recorded was 1975. So, leave the climbing to the professionals and enjoy the scenery instead. Believe it or not, Everest is host to plenty of enjoyable opportunities for those who aren’t interested in long hikes. Why not book an Everest Flight which will take you over the mountains, allowing you to see the beauty of this natural landscape from the comfort of your plane seat? You could also visit the Shigatse valley at Everest’s base. This is filled with small villages where you can visit ancient ruins and wonderful markets.

Mount Bromo, Surabaya

Mount Bromo is a lot less well known than Everest, but this merely means that you won’t have to share it with quite so many other tourists. Located in East Java, it forms a part of the Tengerr Massif, and though it may not be the largest of the mountains in the area, it often proves the most popular. Technically speaking, it is an active volcano, but not to worry. Its activity is monitored, and warnings are issued if any potential dangers lie ahead. What is perhaps most unique about Mount Bromo is its unique location. It lies amongst vast plains! These are locally termed the “Sea of Sands”.

A great time to visit is during the Hindu Festival of Yadnya Kasada. On the fourteenth day of this celebration, the Tenggerese people of Probolinggo travel up Mount Bromo to make offerings of fruit, rice, vegetables, and flowers to the mountain gods. These wares are tossed into the volcano’s caldera.

Make your stay as comfortable as possible by immersing yourself in the local culture. Accommodation can be found at rumahdijual.com/surabaya/perumahan-murah. You can then try out local cuisine at nearby restaurants and take in the rest of beautiful Surabaya at ease.

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Mount Fuji, Tokyo

If you’re going to be spending any time in Japan in the near future, you have to make sure to spare sufficient time to spend at least one whole day at Mount Fuji. Located on Honshu Island, this is Japan’s grandest offering at over 10,000 feet high. Again, this mountain has an active volcano (this time a stratovolcano), but it was last recorded as erupting between 1707 and 1708. If you are staying in Tokyo, this mountain can actually be seen from the city on a clear day. It’s only around 100km out of town, so can easily be accessed by public transport. So, what can you do once you actually arrive there? Besides gazing in wonder at the wonderfully symmetrical mountain’s snow-topped cap, you can visit one of the 25 different UNESCO heritage sites of cultural interest.

Perhaps top of the list to visit is the Fujisan Sengen Shrine in Fujinomiya City. This lies in the Southwestern foothills of the mountain and has become the head shrine of over 1300 Sengen and Asama shrines that have been built nationwide. This is the traditional shrine from which climbers begin their ascent of Mount Fuji, so is an ideal place to pay homage, whether you intend to climb the mountain or not.

There are numerous forests, waterfalls, and lakes nearby, so natural beauty doesn’t stop with the mountain itself. If you fancy taking a step back and seeing the mountain from a distance, visit the Iwamotoyama Park. This spot is perfect for taking photos of the mountain at large while having a relaxing rest stop.

These are just three beautiful mountains that the world has to offer. Remember that there are at least 109 mountains out there with elevations greater than 23,000 feet. So the world is quite literally your oyster if you’re planning travel around seeing some of these great Earthly giants. Just remember to always do your research. If you’re not going to be climbing the mountains yourself, you still want to ensure that there are plenty of other activities around to engage with and alternative sights to see.