We travellers cannot get enough of a good sunset. The array of beautiful, warm colours showcase whatever landscape we are seeing in is most beautiful light, and we will go to all manor of lengths to get the best sunset views.
So what makes a perfect sunset? The sun slowly lowering itself into the ocean is always an incredible sight with the reflections doubling the awesome colours. Hill and mountain sunsets are pretty special, as are city-scapes framed with the natural setting sun.
Let’s take a look at some of the best places to see the sunset on the planet earth.
Santorini, Greece
The sunsets of Santorini are some of the most beautiful in the world, something about the stunning white buildings against the calm evening ocean makes for one of the most amazing backdrops for a sunset.
There are countless sunset cruises you can take to enjoy the Santorini sunset, usually starting in the afternoon and including a few stops along the coast you’ll end with a vantage point of view by the volcanic islets. If you fancy dinner on-board and sundowner drinks then you’ll definitely find some companies that offer this.
Ammoudi Bay is another great place in Santorini to see the sunset, this tiny picturesque port lies at the foot of Oia and is connected by narrow steps. Enclosed by impressive red cliffs it is a beautiful spot at any time of the day.
The Maldives
The Maldives is a collection of atolls with stunning turquoise waters in the daytime and pristine beaches, and as the sun goes down this beauty becomes even more serene. The multi-hued intensity of the sunset in the Maldives creates a mesmerising experience.
One of the best ways to view a Maldives sunset is to take a cruise to an empty sandbank where you’ll have sundowners and watch the sun dip down into the ocean, just an incredible experience surrounded by the beautiful Indian Ocean.
The Grand Canyon
The majestic Gran Canyon draws in millions of visitors each year, but because of its vast size is it still possible to be here and to not feel overcrowded. The canyon itself is a breathtaking sight to see and coupled with a beautiful, burning orange sunset, the natural beauty is just incredible.
Yavapai Point and Geology Museum is a great spot to set yourself for sunset, once used for scientific research, the now modern day museum offers sweeping east to west views and a perfect view of the sunset.
Hopi Point is one of the most popular parts of the Grand Canyon to watch the sunset, 180 degree view from east to west you can take in all the changing colours of the sky.
Lipan Point is a great spot if you want to get away from other people. This location is more off the beaten track and here the Canyon opens up wide and the various layers of geology form a rainbow of colour which look incredible as the sun goes down and lights up the whole place.
Bora Bora
Bora Bora is a small South Pacific island northwest of Tahiti in French Polynesia. The island is surrounded by sand-fringed islets and boasts a turquoise lagoon protected by a coral reef. It is no surprise then that the sunsets on Bora Bora are some of the most incredible in the world.
There’s really no bad place to view the sunset in Bora Bora, but it’s pretty special watching the sun dip low into the crystal clear water from a hammock on the beach.
Kick back and take in the sunset over Mount Otemanu whilst watching black-tip reef sharks, unicorn fish, and peacock damselfish swim by, incredible right?
Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Watching the sun set in the famous Angkor Wat is high on the list for most travellers, and understandably so. The World Heritage-listed Angkor is home to the incredible, historic remains of the Khmer Empire which ruled Cambodia from the 9th to the 15th century.
With forests and temples stretching over 400-square-kilometres there are very few places on earth quite like here to watch the sunset.
The Pre Rup Temple, known as the ‘Pyramid Temple’, has three tiers – the uppermost of which has five lotus towers. Built entirely from brick and laterite, the warm tones of the temple are set off extremely well at sunset. The glow of the evening light produces reddish hues that contrast beautifully with the surrounding green jungle and with stunning views over the rice fields of the Eastern Baray, this is an awe-inspiring spot to see the sunset.
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