Funky Trips For The Person Who's Seen Everything

If you're a dedicated globetrotter you may feel like you've already done it all when it comes to travel. Fortunately for you, we've come up with a list of the strangest vacation spots in the world that you absolutely don't want to miss. So here it is, the definitive list of funky trips for the person who's seen everything.

Sail to a Gigantic Coal Mine

By Wajira (Own work) [CC BY 3.0 (creativecommons.org], via Wikimedia Commons / Via commons.wikimedia.org

Industrial tourism is taking off in countries like Germany, and no wonder. Germany has always prided itself on both its industry and innovation, and this is a fantastically innovative way to revamp older industrial zones. The best pick: Essen’s striking Zeche Zollverein, once the world’s largest coal mine. Today is it a world cultural treasure listed by UNESCO that draws a million visitors a year. Essen is in coal-rich western Germany near the Dutch border, and there are some amazing river cruise tours that allow you to get there in style.

Tour a Nuclear Wasteland

By Shanomag (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org], via Wikimedia Commons / Via commons.wikimedia.org

The setting of several scary shows including Chernobyl Diaries, the abandoned city of Prypiat in Ukraine sits in the shadow of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. A trip here allows you to see exactly how the deadly disaster forced people to flee, leaving their lives interrupted forever. For a truly surreal and historically fascinating trip, visit the wasteland of Prypiat and tour Chernobyl.

Forget the Lizard King, Check Out the Rat Palace

By Fulvio Spada from Torino, Italy (Breakfast time! - Karni Mata Temple) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (creativecommons.org], via Wikimedia Commons / Via commons.wikimedia.org!_-_Karni_Mata_Temple_(8029422436).jpg

The Karni Mata Temple in the town of Deshnoke is one of the most interesting destinations in India, one of the world’s most fascinating countries. Situated in the state of Rajasthan, the temple is visited by thousands who are hoping to pay their respects to the goddess Durga and the 14th century mystic who supposedly hosted her spirit. This is just the basic information, however; the temple is also the sacred palace for around 20,000 rats. Locals in the area believe that these rats should never be harmed, so if you visit, remember that feeding them treats is in and shrieking and running is out.

Giraffe Manor, if Rats are Too Much

By Push the button (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (creativecommons.org or GFDL (gnu.org], via Wikimedia Commons / Via commons.wikimedia.org

If you really can't handle thousands of rats but you like the idea of sharing your breakfast with an animal visitor, a must see stop is Giraffe Manor in Kenya. Located in the suburbs of Nairobi, Giraffe Manor is a sanctuary for endangered giraffes. If you like the idea of a beautiful location and a cozy manor house—and a long neck poking through the window of your bedroom—this is your place.

Blood Falls, Antarctica

By National Science Foundation/Peter Rejcek [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons / Via commons.wikimedia.org

The title here really says enough, but there's a lot more to know about this fascinating and bizarre spot. Antarctica is an unusual destination on its own, but a stop at Blood Falls lets you take in the vision of a five-stories-high blood-hued falls on the side of the 35-mile-long Taylor Glacier. Scientists now know not only that the falls aren't actually blood, but that the hue is caused by sulfur-eating bacteria.

Elnur, stock image, Kozzi.com / Via kozzi.com

That's enough wonderfully weird vacation spots for now, but watch this space for more weirdest vacation spots and funky trips for the person who's seen everything!