Some people travel for beaches. Others travel for food. But there’s a growing group of travellers chasing something a little more…rooted. Around the world, certain trees have become full-blown destinations—twisted, towering, brightly coloured, or so surreal they barely look real. Equal parts natural wonder and visual spectacle, these are the places to visit if you like your landscapes slightly strange.
If you’re craving a trip that feels unexpected, otherworldly, and wildly photogenic, start here.
Joshua Tree National Park
Dr. Seuss-like and instantly recognizable, Joshua trees are the unofficial mascots of weird-tree travel. With spiky arms that twist in every direction, these desert dwellers feel more sci-fi than botanical. Best seen at sunrise or sunset, the park’s namesake trees turn golden against the Mojave sky—especially magical when paired with stargazing at night.
Socotra Island
Home to the legendary Dragon Blood Tree, Socotra looks like another planet entirely. The umbrella-shaped trees ooze a deep red sap once used in dyes and medicine, adding to their mythical reputation. Over a third of the island’s plant life exists nowhere else on Earth, making this one of the most biologically bizarre destinations you can visit.
Avenue of the Baobabs
Towering like ancient guardians, baobab trees can live for thousands of years—and they look it. With massive trunks and sparse branches, Madagascar’s famous avenue feels cinematic and slightly eerie, especially at dusk. Locals often call them “upside-down trees,” thanks to their root-like silhouettes.
Crooked Forest
Just outside the town of Gryfino lies one of Europe’s strangest natural mysteries. Hundreds of pine trees curve sharply at their base before growing straight upward, forming a forest of synchronized bends. No one knows exactly why they grew this way, which only adds to the intrigue.
Rainbow Eucalyptus
If trees could be tie-dyed, this would be it. The Rainbow Eucalyptus sheds its bark in strips, revealing streaks of green, blue, purple, orange, and maroon underneath. Found in tropical climates like Hawaii, these trees look painted rather than grown—and photos barely do them justice.
Wollemi National Park
Often described as a “living fossil,” the Wollemi pine was thought to be extinct until it was rediscovered in 1994. With textured bark that resembles bubbling chocolate and a prehistoric presence, this rare tree species feels like a time traveller hiding in plain sight.
Big Sur Redwoods
Towering, misty, and quietly mind-blowing, the coastal redwoods of Big Sur feel less weird at first glance—until you realize how massive they are. These ancient giants soar hundreds of feet into the air, creating cathedral-like forests that make you feel impossibly small. Add coastal fog and filtered light, and the experience becomes almost surreal.
Seeing strange trees in the wild has a way of shifting perspective. They remind us that nature doesn’t aim for symmetry or predictability—it thrives on oddity. Whether you’re wandering a desert, hiking a tropical forest, or stumbling upon a scientific mystery, these trees prove that sometimes the weirdest sights are the most unforgettable.
Because travel doesn’t always have to be polished. Sometimes, it just has to be a little twisted. —Noa Nichol
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