The allure of the world’s most pristine natural wonders is now more accessible than ever, thanks to a new study focusing on the favorite destinations of Instagrammers.
Conducted by Inghams, a leader in walking holidays, this research analyzed over 104,000 Instagram posts across various countries, identifying those regions most often celebrated for their untouched, natural beauty.
Top 20 Countries for Instagrammers
Leading the list of the world’s top 20 natural wonders, as chosen by Instagrammers, is Iceland, with an impressive rate of 13.15 in posts celebrating its untouched landscapes. Renowned for its glacial beauty, Iceland offers a spectacular array of ice glaciers, hot spring lagoons, and the awe-inspiring aurora borealis, best viewed under the clear, starry skies far from the city lights.
Close behind, in second place, is Australia, with a rate of 10.90. This diverse country boasts everything from stark desert cliffs and expansive national parks to serene sandy beaches and vibrant turquoise seas, catering to all kinds of nature enthusiasts.
Completing the top five are Ireland, known for its dramatic stormy seas and lush, green hills; Cyprus, famous for its serene salt lakes and sun-kissed golden beaches; and Costa Rica, a paradise of untouched waterfalls and crystal-clear lagoons.
European countries make a significant showing in the top 20, with 11 entries from the continent. Greece, in ninth place, captures hearts with images of tranquil turquoise coves and peaceful island scenes. Romania, sitting at sixteenth, offers breathtaking views of the famous Transfăgărășan mountain road and the picturesque Cheile Nerei-Beușnița National Park.
Rank | Country | #Unspoilt Post Rate |
1 | Iceland | 13.15 |
2 | Australia | 10.90 |
3 | Ireland | 8.60 |
4 | Cyprus | 5.42 |
5 | Costa Rica | 4.19 |
6 | Tanzania, United Republic of | 4.16 |
7 | New Zealand | 3.58 |
8 | Peru | 3.54 |
9 | Greece | 3.19 |
10 | Georgia | 3.08 |
11 | Nepal | 2.98 |
12 | South Africa | 2.96 |
13 | Croatia | 2.86 |
14 | Albania | 2.77 |
15 | Kenya | 2.62 |
16 | Romania | 2.48 |
17 | Tunisia | 2.38 |
18 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 2.26 |
19 | Norway | 2.23 |
20 | Portugal | 1.95 |
To keep some of the world’s best landscapes as unspoiled as possible, there are a few things you can do while exploring:
Leave No Trace. The one rule to remember is to try and leave no trace when visiting natural trails or environments – this means taking everything you bring in back out with you, including food, wrappers, bottles, and other waste.
Stay On Designated Trails. To minimize soil erosion and damage to the environment surrounding trails, ensure you stick to established trails and paths – and avoid creating shortcuts or new trails.
Don’t Take Souvenirs From Your Walk. To maintain environments and ecosystems as much as possible, never take souvenirs – including plants, flowers, berries, shells, rocks, or animal parts. If you believe you’ve come across something of significance, leave it where you found it and report it to the local authorities.
Avoid Crowded Areas. While it can sometimes be tempting to visit popular walking trails or natural points of interest, why not consider visiting less-traveled terrain? There are plenty of undiscovered walking trails and natural landscapes where you’ll be less likely to encounter people traffic – and more able to get that perfect, unspoiled view.
Methodology: To find out the most frequently posted about unspoilt locations, Inghams analysed 54,000 Instagram posts which include the hashtags #unspoilt, #unspoiled and #offthebeatenpath. This was compared to a control set of 50,000 Instagram posts to reveal an #Unspoilt Post Rate. The places with the highest #Unspoilt Post Rate are the places that are posted about as being #unspoilt more than they are posted about in any other context. The analysis looked at countries as well as counties, districts, cities and USA states. The analysis uses Instagram data and is correct as of October 2023.
