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100 trips everyone should take in their lifetime, according to the world's top travel experts

No matter how many countries you've been to, there's always somewhere new to discover.

But with so many cultures, countries, and landscapes to explore, it's hard to prioritise one dream destination over another.

Business Insider UK asked 20 top travel bloggers and writers/editors from the likes of Lonely Planet, Suitcase, and Airbnb for the top five destinations they've ever visited — or the ones that are at the top of their bucket list.

Based on their advice, we've compiled a list of must-see places across the globe that everyone should visit in their lifetime.

From off-the-beaten-track hidden gems to well-recognised yet stunning locations, prepare to get hit with some serious travel envy as you scroll on to see the 100 destinations everyone should visit in their lifetime — along with why everyone should experience each trip.

Facebook/Clem & Agathe Over The World

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See mountain gorillas in Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo.

India Dowley, Digital Editor of Suitcase Magazine, told us this is the best place to see mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.

"Climb 3,470 metres to the summit of Mount Nyiragongo, an active volcano that last erupted in 2002 and spend the night in a shelter overlooking the world's largest crater lake," she said.

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Pretend you're on a desert island at Motu Tiapaa in Maupiti.

"This islet in the South Pacific archipelago is as close to a desert island as you're going to get," Dowley said. "Simultaneously wild and tranquil, volcanic black rock meets powder-white beaches, beyond which, between July and October, humpback whales glide past on their annual pilgrimage from Antarctica."

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Explore the sci-fi landscapes of Cappadocia, Turkey.

"Volcanic eruptions nearly four million years ago left the landscape dotted with rock structures known as fairies, leaving the region looking like something out of a Star Wars film," Dowley said. "Now scattered with underground cities and carved out cave dwellings, Cappadocia has only begun to attract visitors in recent years."

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Chill out in Levi, Finland.

Chill out in Levi, Finland.
The Ice Hotel, Finland.
Flickr/bjaglin

James Asquith, who holds the world record for being the youngest person to visit every country in the world, picked this as one of his hotspots.

"Located over 100 miles north of the Arctic circle, it gets seriously cold here," he said. "I was there when the Mercury dropped to -34 degrees centigrade, but once you acclimatise to having your breath taken away every morning, you can get busy with some truly unique activities. Ride snowmobiles and skid around on ice in go-karts, and be sure to check out the Ice Hotel."

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Have a star-gazing sleepover in Tuvalu.

"This Polynesian island nation is one of the smallest countries in the world," Asquith said.

"Only two flights a week depart from the island. After these go, the airport runway becomes a gigantic open air sleepover at night. What feels like the entire population of the country drag their mattresses out to the runway and sleep in the open as a cool nightly breeze runs across the flat land here."

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Try the nightlife scene in Accra, Ghana.

Try the nightlife scene in Accra, Ghana. Shutterstock/anton_ivanov

"Ghanaian people are super friendly in the cosmopolitan capital Accra," Asquith said. "The vibrant young population continue to pioneer what is cool in Africa, [and] bars set around swimming pools where waiters speed around on roller blades to serve drinks certainly make this a constantly evolving and happening city."

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Explore London's edgy urban scene.

Explore London's edgy urban scene.
Camden Market, London.
Shutterstock/littleny

"London's unique character of ancient pubs, edgy street art, eclectic food from around the world and, of course, Londoners themselves make London a place like no other," Houghton told Business Insider. "Hampstead Heath is a beautiful spot to take in the sheer size of the city."

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Take a road trip around Louisiana, USA.

As a travel writer and journalist, Inside The Travel Lab owner Abi King knows a thing or two about destinations. Of her first pick, she said: "Gators, grits, and gumbo. I loved the famous Southern hospitality, the heady jazz-fuelled life of New Orleans, and the silence over the beautiful landscape like the Creole Nature Trail."

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Be rendered speechless by Tsingy Rouge, Madagascar.

"Describing them as a natural rock formation barely does them justice — the rivers of sand that sparkle at their feet, the bold blue sky just visible overhead, the rocks themselves," King said. "The rock formation's rust red curves ripple like a concertina. It's indescribable."

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Cycle through the air in the cloud forests of Ecuador.

"From the earth, it is hard to see the sky; from the sky no-one can see the earth," King said. "But in the middle of those places, beneath a canopy of trees, visitors to eco-resort
Mashpi Lodge can cycle through the air, fully immersed in the impressive emerald beauty that lives beneath the treetops."

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Reach Norway's peaks, stopping off at Gjendesheim cabin.

Reach Norway's peaks, stopping off at Gjendesheim cabin. Alex Roddie

"The Jotunheimen National Park contains Norway's highest glaciated peaks," Roddie said. "On the edge of this wilderness, the DNT (Norwegian Trekking Association) cabin of Gjendesheim makes a comfortable base from which to explore the mountains or kayak along the magnificent Lake Gjende."

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Backpack through Lairig Ghru's sub-arctic plateau in Scotland.

Backpack through Lairig Ghru's sub-arctic plateau in Scotland. Alex Roddie

"The Cairngorms form one of Britain's highest and most remote mountain areas — a haven for rare plants and animals and a Mecca for mountain-lovers, Roddie said. "A classic multi-day walk links Braemar with Aviemore through this glen, and is a must-do for all Scottish backpackers."

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Be one with the animal kingdom in the GalÃĄpagos Islands.

"Never have I encountered wildlife so unafraid and curious of humans," Rich said. "The GalÃĄpagos National Park has taken incredible measures to protect all forms of nature and, in doing so, we can observe birds, reptiles and marine life more than anywhere else I've been in the world."

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Take in some magic — and food and wine — in South Africa.

Take in some magic — and food and wine — in South Africa.
Stellenbosch Vineyards, Stellenbosch.
Flickr/Dave Bezaire

"From the big-little-city of Cape Town to the delicious food and wine of the Stellenbosch Winelands [and] the game reserves helping to conserve and protect the Big Five [safari animals], South Africa is a magical place that everyone should experience," Rich said.

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Immerse yourself in the culture of Moscow, Russia.

Immerse yourself in the culture of Moscow, Russia.
A Christmas Market in Moscow, Russia.
Flickr/Danila Matveev

Airbnb's General Manager for Northern Europe James McClure said of Moscow: "I love the mix of history, art and architecture here — everything from 17th century townhouses to big Soviet blocks — combined with the energy of a massive and dynamic city. Next time I visit, I'm keen to try Airbnb's Local Georgian Food Experience which explores the tasty Georgian food you can discover in Moscow's food markets."

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Get to know the different sides of Hi Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

"When I lived in Singapore, I used to travel to Ho Chi Minh City every month," McClure said. "It's a city that rewards repeat visits once you get to know the local people there. The variety amongst the different districts is really stark, plus there's narrow lanes teeming with street vendors, river life, and fantastic food and nightlife."

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Grab a coffee in Sydney, Australia.

Grab a coffee in Sydney, Australia.
Bronte beach, Sydney
Flickr/Eddy Milfort

"Whether you're going for an early morning surf at Bronte beach, or drinking [what is] arguably [the] world's best coffee, Sydney is overall a stunning city with access to sporting heritage and national parks very close by," McClure said. "I couldn't recommend the lifestyle highly enough."

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Visit post-earthquake Kumamoto, Japan.

"The city of Kumamoto was hit with an unfortunate series of strong earthquakes in 2016 that left the city without water and damaged the precious Kumamoto Castle," Hie said. "I visited the place a few months after but it didn't stop us from taking a rental car and exploring around the beautiful mountain surrounding this region."

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Scuba dive in quiet northern Bali.

Srin Madipalli, CEO and Co-Founder of travel website Accomable which specialises in disabled travel, told Business Insider: "Before I started Accomable I was working as a City lawyer and took six months out to go travelling. One of the most exciting things I did was go diving in Bali."

"I have SMA (spinal muscular atrophy) which means I have very little muscle function and need a motorized wheelchair to get around. With the help of Bali's best accessible stay I was able to do some full-on open water dives in some of the quieter, less visited parts of the island.

"For the best sites, we drove north east across Bali to Tulamben, a small fishing village which stands out for its unusual black rocky beaches, verdant volcano views and incredible marine life."

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See the "Big Five" — black rhinoceros, cape buffalo, and African elephants, lions, and leopards — on a South African safari.

"Waking up before dawn to hear hyenas cackling before setting out into the bush and seeing families of elephants, great prides of lions and the occasional, elusive leopard in the early morning light is a one-of-a-kind experience," Madipalli said. "It's also something that's really fun to do in a group."

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Get lost in the tangled streets of Barceloneta, Spain.

Get lost in the tangled streets of Barceloneta, Spain. Shutterstock/anushreetravels

"Barcelona is hardly off the tourist trail but I absolutely love it there," Madipalli said. "The city, with all its grand architecture and atmospheric passageways, is surprisingly and brilliantly accessible. While most tourists make a beeline for the Gothic Quarter, I always head to Barceloneta, a little tangle of streets just behind the city beach, which has the best tapas bars and a great vibe for a cheeky, just-off-the-plane caÃąa (small beer)."

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Attend a whisky tasting in Mechelen, Belgium.

"With Accomable I'm lucky to be able to discover some unusual places for our customers in the name of work," Madipalli said. "One of my favourites was buzzy Mechelen in the north of Belgium, with its imposing cathedral and colourful townhouses. Being Belgium, they obviously had great beer, but this area is also known for its whisky distilleries."

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Fly over England's Wiltshire countryside like you're in 'Top Gun.'

"I've always thought that you don't have to travel far to do something that takes you out of your comfort zone," Madipalli said. "A few years ago I was able to prove it while sat in the cockpit of a Shadow glider cruising over the Wiltshire countryside."

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Explore local sites in Bamiyan, Afghanistan.

Sebaastian Rijntjes, Co-Founder of travel blog Lost With Purpose, told Business Insider that in Bamiyan, "crumbling Silk Road caravanserais and towering fortresses high in the Hindu Kush Mountain and hundreds of Buddhist monastic caves punctuate the surrounding sandstone cliffs. No need to worry about crowds of tourists here — it is in Afghanistan, after all."

Source -- http://www.thisisinsider.com/1...miyan-afghanistan-45

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Stuff yourself with street food in Lahore, Pakistan.

"Stands selling sizzling kebabs and frothy lassis lean against majestic Mughal-era buildings in Lahore's old city," Rijntjes said. "But unlike its Indian counterpart, Delhi, Lahore sees few tourists. Visitors are guaranteed to a warm welcome from the hospitable Punjabi population."

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Observe the wildlife in Chitwan National Park, Nepal.

"Most people think of Nepal and head straight to the Himalayas, but the country is so much more than this," said Lloyd and Yaya. "Head to the very southern border with India and explore the unspoilt beauty of Chitwan National Park. You'll find tigers [and] rhinos amongst many other endangered species that call this region home."

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Experience the warm hospitality of Muscat's locals in Oman.

Experience the warm hospitality of Muscat's locals in Oman.
Royal Opera House Muscat, Oman.
Flickr/Andrew Moore

"As you walk the streets, you can't help but notice the diversity of its residents," said Dan Clarke, another community member at Passion Passport. "With an ever-growing international community, the food, stores, and clothing shift from street to street. It feels safe and welcoming for a capital city. The smiles appear friendly, not forced."

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Visit the steaming mountain geysers of Kamchatka, Russia.

Visit the steaming mountain geysers of Kamchatka, Russia. Shutterstock/Vera KL82

Moscow-based photographer Murad Osmann is famous for his "Follow Me To" series on Instagram. He told Business Insider: "Kamchatka is a place where volcanoes sleep side by side with the vast Pacific Ocean. Go to Khalaktyrsky Beach to try your hand at surfing, rent a boat in Avacha Bay and sail to Cape Kekurny to look at the rockery of sea lions. Also be sure to hike to the famous volcanoes of Kamchatka."

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Tour the "true face" of Xingping, China.

Tour the
Li River at sunrise, Xingping, China.
Nataly Osmann

"We revisited China recently — we barely slept because we wanted to see the most unique hidden places and catch the best light which appears at sunrise," Osmann said. "Some days we didn't have any mobile or network connection. However, we had a great tour guide, who helped us to see the 'true face' of the country."

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Be transported back in time by Cuba's capital — Havana.

"The things you see with your eyes are completely different from what you see through the lens of the camera — thus Havana must be experienced to be understood, or even believed," Osmann said. "But national dances, narrow streets and retro cars, when experienced in the flesh, make this city feel like a magical myth transported from the 60s or 70s."

Source -- http://www.thisisinsider.com/1...as-capital-havana-64

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Dance around the evening bonfires in Lijiang, China.

"Lijiang is a quaint town which rests in the shadow of huge snow-capped mountains," McDermott said. "Take a stroll along the cobblestone streets before stopping in Sakura Kim for a drink. Don't miss the bonfires and dancing that take place in the center of town at dusk, and make sure you arrange a hike up Jade Dragon Snow Mountain before you leave."

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Watch the flames of "The Gates of Hell," Turkmenistan.

McDermott said: "Commonly referred to as 'The Gates of Hell' this massive crater near the village of Darvaza throws off an eery glow that can be seen from miles away. It's the result of a Soviet drilling accident which was later set alight, and the crater hasn't stopped burning since 1971."

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Sail to Pulau Lapang, Indonesia.

Sail to Pulau Lapang, Indonesia. Shutterstock/Dmitry Polonskiy

Stuart McDonald, Co-Founder of Australian company Travelfish, told Business Insider: "I hired a boat in Baranusa for the two hour trip out to the uninhabited island of Pulau Lapang. Within minutes of dropping over the edge into the fast-flowing crystal waters, I'd seen an Eagle Ray, turtle, and a fast school of tuna all above a healthy, vibrant coral reef. There probably wasn't another snorkeller within 30km of me."

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Take a dip in the clear waters in Sumba, Indonesia.

Take a dip in the clear waters in Sumba, Indonesia.
Mandorak beach, West Sumba, Indonesia
Shutterstock/leolintang

"Forgotten, lost and/or ignored, Sumba's rich and varied ancient culture and stunning landscapes will have you wondering why you've never heard of it," McDonald said. "Don't make the mistake of assuming it is all just fancy-pants digs and beaches — there is far more to it."

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Navigate the sunken pathways of Shwe Ba Taung's sandstone labyrinth in Myanmar.

Navigate the sunken pathways of Shwe Ba Taung's sandstone labyrinth in Myanmar. Shutterstock/anton_ivanov

"While Bagan gets all the attention, just a half day of travel away lies Shwe Ba Taung," McDonald said. "It was originally a flat sandstone outcrop, but deep, narrow pathways have been hacked out of the rock by hand. Some have taken to calling it Burma's Petra, but we think it is more of a Burmese take on Ethiopia's Lalibela."

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ake part a hot air balloon safari over a nature reserve in Tanzania.

Travel blogger JohnnyJet, who was recently named ones of Forbes' Top 10 Travel Influencers for 2017, told Business Insider: "You have to get up super early to be there for sunrise but it's well worth it. Within the first five minutes, we saw elephants, zebras, hippos, impalas, hyenas, and two lionesses with a fresh kill."

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Take a Robinson Crusoe-esque excursion to Tapuaetai in the Cook Islands.

"Tour operators take turns serving a fun and delicious lunch and then invite you to explore the small inhabited island," JohnnyJet said. "They even set up a post office to sell you postcards and stamps and will offer to put a huge barefoot stamp in your passport (I'm not sure that's legal for an island, not a nation, to do so I passed)."

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Stay in a designer cabin in Comporta, Portugal.

Pauline Egge, journalist, photographer, and owner of the travel blog Petite Passport, told Business Insider: "You're staying at old fishermen's huts transformed by one of the best architects from Lisbon into a designer place to stay. It's in the middle of nowhere and you look out onto the nature and lots and lots of birds."

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Visit a Thai architect's edgy cluster of designer warehouses in Bangkok, Thailand.

Egge said: "Duangrit Bunnag, one of Thailand's most famous architects, transformed old warehouses into a library, a shop, a coffee bar, and two restaurants. One of them is 'The Never Ending Summer' where you can try Thai food with modern influences."

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Shop in Het Industriegebouw in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

"Rotterdam is one of those cities you need to do a little bit of research before you go otherwise you'll end up in the main shopping streets and you miss the more hidden spots," Egge said. "Like Het Industriegebouw, a post-war building which now houses famous Dutch architect MVRDV and several restaurants and shops. Visit Groos if you want to shop for cool local design and art, and try By Jarmusch for all-day breakfast."

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Dine in the glass houses of Cape Town's wine estates.

Dine in the glass houses of Cape Town's wine estates. Petite Passport

"Cape Town is the place to be this year because of the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art that is set to open in September," Egge said. "If you want to escape The Waterfront go to Babylonstoren, a wine-estate with a few rooms, for a delicious lunch."

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Island hop on an expedition in Palawan, Philippines.

Island hop on an expedition in Palawan, Philippines.
Beach 91, Coron Island.
Flickr/Matt Kieffer

Award-winning food and travel blogger Anton Diaz of Our Awesome Planet told Business Insider: "The best islands are the undiscovered ones in between Coron and El Nido that you can only explore via an island hopping expedition. It's a back to basics, humbling encounter with nature."

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Indulge in pintxos plates on a bar-hopping evening in San Sebastian, Spain.

Indulge in pintxos plates on a bar-hopping evening in San Sebastian, Spain. Our Awesome Planet/Anton Diaz

"San Sebastian is known for its pintxos culture," Diaz said. "The best way to experience it is to go on a bar-hopping food trip with your foodie friends. It's also the town with the highest concentration of Michelin stars and home of a trio of three-star Michelin restaurants."

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Wander until you're lost in Istanbul's Grand Bazaar, Turkey.

Wander until you're lost in Istanbul's Grand Bazaar, Turkey.
Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Istanbul
Flickr/Pedro Szekely

"Istanbul is where Europe meets Asia, and is teeming with culture and experience thanks to its rich Ottoman history," Diaz said. "It's unforgettable going on your first cruise in the Bosphorus or experiencing authentic Turkish bath or getting lost in the Grand Bazaar."

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Hunt for pirate treasure in Providencia, Colombia.

Hunt for pirate treasure in Providencia, Colombia. Shutterstock/Jess Kraft

Sam Katterfield, Editor at travel search platform HolidayPirates, told Business Insider:

"Henry Morgan used Providencia as a base for raiding the Spanish and it's rumoured some of his treasure is still buried on the island — making this the perfect holiday for a true pirate!"

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Trek through Brazil's bed sheets in LençÃģis Maranhenses National Park.

"The vast white sand dunes of LençÃģis (bedsheets in Portuguese) lend an otherworldly quality to the landscape of this part of the Brazilian northeast," Katterfield said. "Make sure to visit between July and September, when the lagoons are at their most full."

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Explore Ireland's ancient history in the Aran Islands in Galway Bay.

Niam Walsh, senior editor at HolidayPirates, said: "The island of Inis MÃģr is home to miles of hand-built stone walls, a prehistoric hill fort, and knitted woolly jumpers. Each year, the Red Bull Cliff Diving festival takes place at Serpent's Lair; a perfectly rectangular, naturally created pool overlooking the Atlantic Ocean."

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Go for a cocktail in Yukon, Canada's ghost town — Dawson City.

Pauline Beneat, Senior Communications Manager at HolidayPirates, said: "This town used to be the epicentre of the gold rush, but now barely has 1,000 inhabitants. In the evening, go watch an old-school "Cancan show" at Diamond Tooth Gertie's Gambling Hall. If you're brave enough, head to the local saloon and order a Sourtoe cocktail — a notorious drink garnished with an amputated human toe!"

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Watch out for wombats in Cradle Mountain, Tazmania.

Michael Reay, Editor at HolidayPirates, said: "Tasmania's unspoilt wilderness, spectacular views, and incredible wildlife makes it a place that simply has to be on your bucket list. Keep your eyes peeled when driving as wombats and pademelons have a habit of wandering into the road at inopportune moments!"

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Stand under the bone chandeliers of Sedlec Ossuary, Czech Republic.

"Just a couple of hours on the train from Prague lies the town of Kutna Hora, whose star attraction is the slightly macabre Sedlec Ossuary," Reay said. "This Roman Catholic chapel is decorated with the bones of upwards of 40,000 people — a rather grisly but strangely compelling sight."

FM

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