Atlas Obscura - Curious and Wondrous Travel Destinations
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It’s finally here! Download our iOS app and discover the world’s hidden wonders on the go! LAUNCH PARTNER
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The definitive guide to the world’s hidden wonders.

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Happening This Week
Join these experiences from your computer or phone.
Online Course

Podcasting & the Art of the Interview With Hrishikesh Hirway of Song Exploder

Starts Sun, Dec 5
3 Sessions
$95 per person
Online Course

Making Scents: Experimental Perfumery With Saskia Wilson-Brown

Starts Mon, Dec 6
3 Sessions
$215 per person
+ 3 other dates
Online Course

Making Music With Nature: Composing Across Species With David Rothenberg

Starts Tue, Dec 7
4 Sessions
$220 per person
Online Course

Feather, Bone, Skin: Taxidermy for Art & Design With Allis Markham

Starts Tue, Dec 7
3 Sessions
$65 per person
Online Experience

Atlas Obscura Trivia Night

Wed, Dec 8
$10 per device
Gather your team and compete in a weekly contest of wits and educated-guessing.
+ 1 other date
Online Course

China's Regional Cuisines: Culture Through Food With Xiaokun Song

Starts Wed, Dec 8
5 Sessions
$235 per person
Online Course

Cheese: History, Tasting, and Pairing With Erika Kubick

Starts Wed, Dec 8
4 Sessions
$75 per person
Online Experience

Art & Evolution w/ Megan McGrath: Drawing Octopus & Squid

Thu, Dec 9
$15 per device
Online Course

Stories in the Stones: How to Read a Gravestone With Dr. Elise M. Ciregna

Starts Sat, Dec 11
4 Sessions
$265 per person
In this four-part course, learn how to decode the stories in gravestones and deepen your understanding of America’s cemeteries.
+ 2 other dates
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Featured Trips
Our newest and most incredible trips.
history

Turkmenistan and the Gates of Hell

Turkmenistan
Mar 18–27, 2022
From $3,475 USD
On this sweeping, eclectic adventure through Turkmenistan, marvel at the towering white-marble structures of Ashgabat, roam through barren deserts and a world-class canyon, and spend the night camped out beside the flaming Gates of Hell.
+ 2 other dates
history

Pyramids and Petroglyphs of Sudan

Sudan
Mar 22–Apr 1, 2022
From $5,680 USD
Journey along the Nile, across the Sudanese desert, and discover the pyramids and archaeological treasures of ancient civilizations.
+ 1 other date
food & drink

The Culinary Crossroads of Marseille

France
Jun 6–12, 2022
From $5,130 USD
wildlife & nature

Rewilding: Tracking Wolves in the Forests of Sweden

Sweden
Jul 4–9, 2022
From $3,450 USD
Explore Sweden’s boreal forests by day and hear the howling of wild wolves by night.
+ 2 other dates
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More Stories
abandoned

Podcast: Abandoned Chacaltaya Ski Resort

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
The Podcast Team December 1, 2021
islands

Excavating the Hawaiian History of Kaua‘i’s ‘Russian’ Fort

A rich local history has long been overshadowed by a few months under a Russian flag.
Sarah Durn November 30, 2021
food

The Hidden, Magnificent History of Chop Suey

Discrimination and mistranslation have long obscured the dish's true origins.
Miranda Brown November 30, 2021
museums

Podcast: Micropia

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
The Podcast Team November 30, 2021
holidays

Our Favorite Gadgets, Cookbooks, and Snacks for the Holidays

A very Gastro Obscura gift guide.
Anne Ewbank November 29, 2021
science

These Truffle-Eating Marsupials in Australia Are 'Ecosystem Engineers'

There are far fewer northern bettongs than previously thought, but work is underway to save the species.
Lisa Cox November 29, 2021
science

Podcast: Tree of 40 Fruits

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
The Podcast Team November 29, 2021
nature

The Case for Pigeon-Watching

A new book is part ornithology guide, part ode to the misunderstood urban birds.
Jessica Leigh Hester November 29, 2021
science

How Old Is Zimbabwe’s Famed ‘Big Tree’?

The majestic African baobab has seen several growth spurts over its 1,200 or so years.
Jonathan Moens November 26, 2021
List

14 Places to Celebrate Native American Heritage Day

Visit one of these historic locations to honor the day.
Jonathan Carey November 25, 2021
food

Podcast: Looking for Pawpaws

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
The Podcast Team November 25, 2021
islands

The Surprising Resilience of the Hog Island Fig

Virginia's Eastern Shore has rallied around a sweet, centuries-old local delicacy.
Rachel Kester November 24, 2021
Read All Stories