Secret Marvels of the World: Eyewitness Accounts from Seasoned Lonely Planet Explorers
With millions of travelers crisscrossing the globe today, it's easy to think every wonder has been uncovered. Yet, our planet still hides captivating, remote corners untouched by crowds.
In this excerpt from Lonely Planet’s Secret Marvels of the World, four experienced writers share firsthand encounters with these astonishing, lesser-known destinations.
Amy Balfour Explores Racetrack Playa, California
Amy Balfour's Jeep rattled over the washboard ruts of Racetrack Road in Death Valley National Park, her body jolted by the rough terrain. Miles of desolate desert stretched ahead, amplifying her sense of isolation—but that vulnerability was part of the adventure's thrill.
Living in Los Angeles and pursuing screenwriting, Amy sought challenging outdoor quests to fuel her determination. Her target: the enigmatic moving rocks of Racetrack Playa, a remote dry lakebed in the park's northern reaches.
The 20-mile unpaved road is a true test—park officials recommend 4WD vehicles and a spare tire. No cell service exists, and the area's history includes Charles Manson's hideout post-murders, underscoring its wild reputation.
Teakettle Junction, marked by kettles hung on a signpost, signaled the final six miles to the playa. Parking at the south end, Amy approached the cracked surface, where boulders up to 600 pounds had left long trails in the mud.
For decades, these rocks puzzled scientists—aliens? Magic? In 2013, researchers revealed the truth: Rare winter ice sheets form on the playa, cracking as winds push them into the rocks, sliding them across the slick surface until the ice evaporates.
Amy captured photos amid the surreal scene, then began the bumpy return journey invigorated. The site's stark beauty and rarity instill lasting wonder, even post-mystery solved.
Boulders cluster at the playa’s southern end. Avoid crossing when wet; never drive or cycle on it. The western park entrance is 370km from LA.
Joe Bindloss Discovers Haw Par Villa, Singapore
Entering Singapore's underworld is far simpler than Hercules' mythic quest—no wrestling monsters required. Joe Bindloss simply exited the MRT at Haw Par Villa station and crossed Pasir Panjang Road into a surreal realm.
This 3.2-hectare sculpture garden, created by Tiger Balm inventors Aw Boon Haw and Aw Boon Par, features over 1,000 vivid statues of Chinese and Buddhist demons and deities. Gruesome torture dioramas serve as moral warnings against evil.
Having seen bizarre afterlives elsewhere—like Bosch's visions in Madrid or Laos' Xieng Khuan—Joe was drawn by Haw Par Villa's psychedelic hues, evoking 1960s counterculture.
Beyond innocent gates lay hybrid horrors: crab-headed men, snail-bodied girls, souls crushed under grindstones or impaled amid red-painted gore, reminiscent of classic horror films.
The sparse crowds and minimal staff enhanced the otherworldly feel, as if stepping into a parallel universe.
Yet balance exists: Meditative Buddhas and massive dragons offer uplift. Ideal for mythology newcomers, its clear symbolism—evil deeds bring devilish punishment—transcends language barriers.
Open daily 9am–7pm. Frequent MRT service to Haw Par Villa station.
Gregor Clark Ascends Stromboli, Italy
Stromboli, the 'lighthouse of the Mediterranean,' has mesmerized observers for millennia with nonstop eruptions amid Italy's volcanic chain. Gregor Clark, a volcano enthusiast, arrived via boat on a clear May afternoon, full moon ahead.
His group hiked from San Vincenzo church at 4:30pm, ascending through broom and capers to treeline views of the white village and sea. Summit-bound hikers dotted the ashen slopes above.
Two hours later, at the crater rim under ruddy twilight, they witnessed steam hisses escalating to fiery jets, explosions, and glowing rocks tumbling down. Nightfall transformed eruptions into radiant orange fountains—each spectacularly unique.
Descending by headlamp over moonlit talus, sea twinkling below, Gregor returned repeatedly: boat views at dusk, pre-dawn at Sciara del Fuoco watching lava crash 900m into the Mediterranean. A decade on, the island's allure endures.
Reach via daily hydrofoil from Milazzo (Sicily) or biweekly ferry from Naples. Summit restricted to ages 7+.
Ray Bartlett Ventures to Hashima Island, Japan
As the boat departed Nagasaki for 'Ghost Island' Hashima—aka Battleship Island—Ray Bartlett scanned the horizon for its warship silhouette against the blue sea.
A bucket-list staple since his Japan days in the 1990s, Hashima gained fame as Skyfall's villain lair. Once Japan's densest-populated spot under coal company rule, it emptied in four months after 1974 mine closure, leaving a frozen-in-time ruin.
Vines reclaim rubble-strewn alleys; decayed buildings expose relics like dolls and appliances. Disembarking on walkways felt sci-fi: twisted rebar like claws, shafts like maws evoking ghostly miners.
Safely distanced from collapse risks, the hushed group pondered ancient abandonments like the Inca or Maya. Bleakly lifeless, it evoked future fates for modern cities, heightening life's fragility.
Guided tours only from Nagasaki port, 1–2 daily. See gunkanjima-concierge.com.
