5 Gorgeous Lakes to Visit Around the World

When it comes to planning vacations, the sea gets all the glory. But staying at a lake can also be a magical experience. For your consideration, here are 5 incredible lakes from around the world, all of which are definitely worth visiting.

 

Lake Como

 

While it’s not the largest lake in Italy, Lake Como has the most celebrity cachet. Madonna, Sylvester Stallone, Richard Branson and others all have luxurious villas along Lake Como’s shore. Aside from celebrity-watching, activities include sailing, windsurfing and kitesurfing. Poet Percy Bysshe Shellley once wrote that the lake “exceeds anything I ever beheld in beauty.”

 

Lake Baikal

 

If you’re hardy and persistent enough to make the trek out to Siberia, you can see the world’s oldest and deepest lake, Lake Baikal. The lake is so large that it is home to many species found nowhere else on earth, including the Lake Baikal seal or nerpa. There are a variety of resorts along the lake shore, and activities include boating, snorkeling, scuba diving and hiking in the surrounding wilderness.

 

Lake Nakuru

 

Located in central Kenya, Lake Nakuru is famous for the pink flamingos that congregate there in numbers ranging from the thousands to the millions. This incredible display is complemented by the large numbers of other African wildlife in the surrounding park, including rhinos, giraffes, lions, cheetahs and leopards.

 

Lake Atitlan

 

Located in Guatemala’s Mayan highlands, Lake Atitlan is an enormous volcanic lake formed from an old crater and surrounded by three active volcanoes. Snorkeling, kayaking, boating and hiking are all possibilities, and don’t forget to make time to visit some of the indigenous Mayan villages.

 

Lake Matheson

 

Lake Matheson in New Zealand is also known as Mirror Lake, and if you visit just after dawn, you’ll see why: the flawless, picture-perfect reflections of Mount Cook and Mount Tasman are absolutely breathtaking!

 

To visit any of these lakes, you’ll need a valid passport. Passport processing time takes about 6 weeks for regular processing and about 3 weeks for the Department of State’s expedited processing, so make sure you give yourself enough time. If you do need faster service, you can get your passport more quickly either by making an appointment to visit one of the 24 regional passport agency offices servicing the US or use a private expediter like RushMyPassport.

 

About the Author

Alison Kroulek is a freelance writer and blogger with a focus on the travel industry.

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