A stunning sunrise can make a morning person out of even the most determined night owl. From a chilly Arctic sunrise to a fiery desert sunrise in Jordan, we’ve put together our top 18 destinations for viewing the most beautiful sunrises in the world.
Set the alarm clock, get up early, and seize the first rays of the day.
Taveuni Island, Fiji
Be the first to see the sunrise in Fiji before the rest of the world
Smack-dab on the 180-degree longitude line, Fiji is one of the first spots in the world to see the sun rise every day. The pristine Taveuni Island (aka Garden Island) sets the perfect backdrop for a sunrise, with rainforests and desert beaches hidden from civilisation. As the red hues of the sun disappear into daylight, dive under water to see the palette of red, orange, and pink soft coral splashed along the reefs.
Bryce Canyon, Utah, USA
Capturing the first rays before an epic Bryce Canyon descent, perhaps?
Featuring the world’s largest collection of hoodoos – wind-eroded sandstone formations – Bryce Canyon resembles a series of rocky skyscrapers from afar. Take in the new day with the vantage points offered by the Rim Trail, or head to the aptly named Sunrise Point for striking views of the entire canyon. It’ll be busy, but there’s enough room that you won’t have to jostle for space – just try to find a spot with a view over the western side of the canyon.
Find a flight to nearby Salt Lake City
Tulum, Mexico
The City of Dawn greets the morning in Tulum
In this case, no need to set an alarm in Tulum, just follow the sun worshippers that gather at the shoreline daily to watch the sun rise. The coastal oasis of Tulum draws spiritual travellers year-round to watch the sun break past the horizon in front of the cliff-side Mayan ruins of Zama, the City of Dawn. Take a second to rip your eyes away from the ocean sunrise to see, behind you, the morning light paint El Castillo temple’s ruins in light orange hues.
Find a flight to nearby Cancún
Stonehenge, United Kingdom
Druids and pagans celebrating the Summer solstice at Stonehenge
What better place to view a sunrise than a monument widely thought to have been built to celebrate the sun? Book ahead if you want to be able to walk within the perimeter of this ancient stone circle – and get there as early as possible to take in the changing light. Every sunrise at Stonehenge is breathtaking (if the weather allows), but there’s nothing like the sunrises of the solstices, when the sun lines up perfectly with the massive stone trilithon.
Find a flight to nearby London
Wadi Rum, Jordan
Experience Wadi Rum and it’s fiery desert sunrise
All red sand and rock formations, Wadi Rum resembles Mars so closely that a film where Matt Damon goes on a mission to the Red Planet was filmed here. Explore the sandstone and granite valley in a four-wheel drive or on camel-back, and watch the sands and looming rock formations turn pink and purple as the sunrise paints the sky. If early morning travel isn’t your thing, consider bivouacking for the night – the stars-cape over the desert is otherworldly.
Machu Picchu, Peru
Bird’s eye view of Machu Picchu at sunrise
A sunrise here is like no other, but you’ll have to cross your fingers that the sun creeps out from behind the clouds. Overcast mornings are common, so be patient and wait for the grey skies to dissipate: seeing the sun’s rays slowly reveal this historic stone city and its surrounding snow-capped mountains is part of the joy.
Inca Trail hikers – and let’s face it, most visitors here are – will generally reach the Sun Gate of Machu Picchu and its famed views on the fourth day of their trip, but you can also venture pretty close up by bus from the nearby town of Aguas Calientes.
Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Wake up with Africa’s highest sunrise view on Mount Kilimanjaro
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is an enormous undertaking that comes with a chance to see one of the most enchanting sunrises in the world. At Barafu Camp, your ascencion starting in the middle of the night, you’ll hike towards the summit to the rhythm of the rising sun. Soak in the panoramic view of endless clouds of pink and purple, interrupted only by the jagged landscape below.
From Kili’s summit – 5,895 metres above sea level, about 7 times taller than Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the tallest building in the world – dedicated souls can reflect on their ascent amidst an unparalleled sight.
Catch a connecting flight from Nairobi or Dar es Salaam, the closest international airports.
Svalbard, Norway
Neither sunrise nor sunset during the eternal summer days in Svalbard
Although not quite a sunrise, nor a sunset, there’s no sun like a midnight sun. Between May and August, Svalbard experiences a perpetual dawn, with the sun hovering darkly at the edge of the world. Yellows and reds are in abundance, and you’ll find that the colours around you are heightened – and shadows dramatically stretch and loom.
The sky changes dramatically as light reflects off the cloud coverage, making a midnight swim or glacier trek a truly memorable occasion.
Catch a connecting flight from Oslo, the closest international airport.
Vermilion Lakes, Alberta, Canada
The mirror-like sunrise over the Vermilion Lakes
For a jewel-like sunrise, head to the Vermilion Lakes. Perfectly clear and pristine, they reflect the rising sun in perfect mirror image – and all against a stunning snow-capped Mount Rundle backdrop. On a good morning the sky bursts with vivid oranges, reds, and pinks – and so do the icy patches beneath. It’s definitely one of the most beautiful sunrises in the world.
Joshua Tree National Park, California, USA
Joshua trees embracing the sunrise at Joshua Tree National Park © Joshua Tree National Park
Characterised by the strange-looking greenery that gives this Californian desert destination its name, Joshua Tree National Park is a must-visit for photographers. Its rock formations and bizarre trees give it an alien sensation – and the desert sunrise only adds to it. The dawning sun casts the Joshua trees into memorable silhouettes that make for gasp-inducing snapshots, so find a strategic spot for your tripod and let the show begin. Other morning wonders in the park include the Cholla Cactus Garden and Arch Rock – which is also striking beneath the star-studded night sky.
Find a flight to nearby Los Angeles
Mount Batur, Bali, Indonesia
Barely peeking : Mount Batur through the morning clouds
Never climbed an active volcano in the chilly pre-dawn? Here’s your chance. Bali’s Mount Batur is a shrub-smothered volcanic beauty in the shadow of the massive Mount Agung. A trek to its summit is worth it for the yellow-swathed dawn views of the surrounding caldera and the lake at its foot. Group hikes are the way to go, and you’ll need a reasonable level of fitness and patience, as it takes a couple of hours to get to the top. Visit during the dry season of April-October.
Find a flight to nearby Denpasar
Cappadocia, Turkey
Start the day with a hot air balloon ride over Cappadocia © Moyan_Brenn
Arid and rocky, Cappadocia is a startling moonscape in Turkey’s Göreme region. It might be best known for its dozens of ancient villages carved into the local bedrock, but the area’s passion for early morning hot air ballooning makes sunrise here a colourful excursion.
Wake up in one of Cappadocia’s cave hotels, grab a thick Turkish coffee, head up the town’s winding streets to the viewing area, and watch the balloons climb into the sky with the dawn sun. Better yet, book a balloon flight and enjoy a sunrise from above, the chimney rock formations below.
Book a connecting flight from Istanbul, the closest international airport.
Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Away from the crowd, admire Angkor Wat bathed in the sun’s first rays
The largest religious monument in the world, Cambodia’s magnificent Angkor Wat is a sight to behold. And the crowds agree: they gather by the thousands for a sunrise at Angkor Wat. Bypass the throngs of tourists with a daybreak visit to this iconic site, and marvel at the intricately carved temples and shrines – there are more than 100 – as the sunrise casts them in pastel light.
Even at dawn there’ll be crowds, so head to the east side of the complex for more serene viewing.
Read more: 14 of the world’s best historical sites
Lake Atitlán, Guatemala
Wake up to the rays shining over Lake Atitlan in Guatemala © indii.org/Lawrence Murray
Grab your hiking boots and trek the almost 3-kilometre mountain face, which leads to a rocky outcrop dubbed the Indian’s Nose. It’s a site sacred to the Ancient Mayans, and when the pastel notes of sunrise spill over the horizon, you can see why. A flat mesa at the top features benches and a viewing platform perfect for snapping shots of the cloud-smothered Lake Atitlán, while the nearby San Pedro volcano provides a majestic backdrop for any selfie.
Find a flight to nearby Guatemala City
Haleakala National Park, Hawaii, USA
The perfect view before a bike ride down from the Haleakala crater (weatherproof gear mandatory!)
For the glory of this sunrise, the alarm-clock acknowledgement is worth it. Awaken slowly as you watch the sun peak out from above the clouds, on the top of the Haleakala volcano. Although Haleakala means ‘house of the sun’, the temperatures near the crater can reach below 0°C with a bone-rattling wind chill, thus the necessity for astronaut-like weatherproof gear.
Various van tours offer the trip through Haleakala National Park in Maui, dropping them off to see the event from the summit around 5am. Skip the coffee and get your adrenaline fix biking the 40-kilometres down the mountain, back to sea level.
The Antarctic Sound, Antarctica
Just you, the floating glaciers, and the most silent sunrise across the Antarctic Sound
Barren and frigid, Antarctica is like no other – and the same is true of its hard-earned sunrises. As summer breaks, months of wintry darkness finally give way to a January sunrise that paints the craggy glaciers and slick ice in striking reddish-pink pastel hues. You may even get to enjoy a relatively warm day of -20°C or so.
Find a flight to Teniente R Marsh
The Great Wall, China
A view of the morning mist revealing the Jiankou portion of the Great Wall near Mutianyu
There’s no better time to snap a shot of the Great Wall than in the early morning during sunrise. The light is at its best, and the crowds are at their thinnest. From a good vantage point you’ll be able to pick out the wall winding through the countryside among the tree-smothered mountains. Certain areas are better than others – try the quieter Mutianyu or rugged Simatai spots rather than the reconstructed, tourist-friendly Badaling area.
Find a flight to nearby Beijing
Ha Long Bay, Vietnam
Shadows playing hide-and-seek in Ha Long Bay © brianfagan
About a 4-hour drive east of Hanoi, Ha Long Bay is a maze of oddly shaped limestone karsts reaching up from the water. Tiny floating villages emerge from the fog that hugs the water’s surface, while the rainforest-topped islets make for striking silhouettes. Sea kayak tours and multi-night junk boat excursions abound, making it easy to capture the glow of the morning sun while sitting on the bay’s emerald waters. For a fog-free northern Vietnam sunrise experience, visit in November.
