Six Great Selfie Spots Around the World

Selfies are the new standard when it comes to travel photos. It’s how we share our travel experiences with friends and loved ones and usually they involve a certain level of good-natured bragging. There are some iconic and well-documented places to take selfies: Walking across Abbey Road, standing in front of the Colosseum in Rome or underneath the Eiffel Tower. The following list, however, is a collection of my favorite off-the-beaten path, physically demanding, or downright scary travel trophies that you can capture in some of the most photogenic locations around the world.

Six locations that will make the top spot on your Instagram account:

Best kept secret

Antelope Slot Canyon, Arizona: At certain parts of the day, the sun finds a way to peek through the crevices at the surface and bounce off the sandstone canyon walls of the isolated Antelope Canyon. Orange, yellow and red blend in a living, underground art gallery; the amazing lighting effect is perfect for creating selfie opportunities that transform you into a nomadic rock-star. The potential for flash floods during the rainy season adds an element of danger to the two canyons, known locally as The Crack and The Corkscrew.

Best underwater selfie

Mo’orea, French Polynesia: Gorgeous does not begin to adequately describe the crystal blue waters surrounding this island formed by a volcano. Bring your underwater camera or best waterproof case for one-on-one swimming with lemon sharks and rays on the northwest side of the lagoon.

Summit Selfie

Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania: What better way to immortalize the effort of a hike to the highest peak in Africa than with a summit selfie. Kili is not a technical ascent, making it a good choice for those without a climbing background; however, temperatures drop drastically on the trek to the 19,341-foot summit, where even the most seasoned hikers report having altitude sickness.

Scariest (Runner-up)

Devil’s Pool, Zimbabwe: Teetering at the absolute edge of a 355’ waterfall with water rushing past may not seem like the ideal location to reach for your camera. However, leaning over the largest curtain waterfall in the world during the rainy season makes for an iconic shot of Victoria Falls, known locally as The Smoke that Thunders.

Scariest

Trolltunga, Odda, Norway: Trolltunga is a single file rock (named as such due to a national love of trolls and the odd fashion in which it juts out from the surrounding rock formations) - so exercise patience, especially given that there are no safety barriers between you and the ground 2,300 feet below. This, however, should not be your only Norwegian selfie-stop: Norway is home to some seriously scenic locations, such as Kjeragbolten and Priekstolen.

Most awe-inspiring

Petra, Jordan: The history here will leave you breathless as you wander down the winding, somewhat claustrophobic pathways, which open up to the awe-inspiring, oft-filmed Treasury building. You cannot help but ponder the complexity of this civilization that pre-dates the Roman Empire by centuries, and how they built their wondrous structures high in the wall face.

Selfies are not only trophies to share online, but are also a reminder of the time you spent traveling to exotic locations or spending time with friends. Spice up your selfies – let the world know you came, saw, and conquered with the best picture yet on your board. If you plan to travel soon, include travel insurance as part of your pre-trip preparation.

Note: Available plans and coverages may have changed since this blog was published.