Truly epic forests and woodlands to visit around the world

If you are a wanderlust traveler who loves to surround yourself with the beauty of nature, you will feel right at home in the world's most beautiful forests. Bursting with incredible life and providing a serene space in which to get in touch with the planet, it doesn’t get much better than a woodland hike! Add these epic forests to your bucket list and let nature guide you through the world. 

The Takayna/Tarkine Forest

In Australia’s Tasmania, you can travel back in time in the Takayna/Tarkine woodlands to witness how the Earth looked 300 million years ago. This ancient land of ethereal forest consists  of waterfalls, rivers, caves and plenty of gorgeous tree species. See if you can spot the 3000-year-old Huon pines, the second oldest tree species on Earth!

Yakushima Forest

In Japan, Yakusugi trees rise tall and mighty from the moss-covered ground in the Yakushima forest. This is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful wooded areas in the world, making it a must for every nature lover to tread gently through. In fact, in the 17th century, it was considered so breathtaking that the royalty of the time recreated the landscape in their own garden on the mainland. Nothing, however, can quite emanate the fairy-tale landscape of the real thing.

The Amazon Rainforest

How can we talk about forests without mentioning the Amazon? With an awe-inspiring range of wildlife calling this humid, lush environment home, it is a hub of biodiversity. In fact, 10% of all the world’s species live here! Take in the tropics and come face to face with one of the planet’s most incredible natural wonders.

Avenue of the Baobabs

Go back hundreds of years, and the now ancient trees that stand in the Avenue of the Baobabs were part of an incredible tropical forest. Deforestation, unfortunately, has led to most of the trees now beening lost, and now only around twenty of the unique Baobab species remain here, standing proud and tall on the sides of the famous dirt road. 

Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest

Head up to the highlands of California to discover some of the oldest trees on Earth at the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest which is still teeming with life You can trace your hand along the bark of trees which have stood for thousands of years, watching an ever-changing world grow around them and now witnessing you, the wanderlust traveller. Be sure to look out for Methuselah, a 4,841-year-old tree that is protected within the woods!

Crooked Forest

In Poland is an incredible man-made forest that’s shrouded in mystery: the Crooked Forest. The woodlands are full of very strangely curved and crooked pine trees that remain a curiosity: no one knows why or how they were made! Some think they were planted purposefully like this to build ships, others wonder if they were crushed by tanks in the Second World War and have adapted to their new shape. Whatever the reason, it truly is a spectacle!

Learn More About Tree Species With EcoChoice

At EcoChoice, we love exploring beautiful forests and coming face to face with rare tree species. As sustainable timber experts, it is an activity from which we cannot tire! If you would like to know more about the trees you are seeing when you visit these incredible forests, be sure to check out our tree species guide on our website.

Images: dugdax, trabantos, Al To, worldclassphoto, Vaclav Sebek, Kris Wiktor / Shutterstock.com