Fans of Avatar have reason to celebrate: Avatar 2, James Cameron’s epic 190-minute sequel is finally set to hit movie theaters. This means we’ll be seeing more of beautiful Pandora, the fictional moon being mined by humans for unobtanium. Avatar introduced us to Pandora’s beautiful sights and Avatar 2 looks even more spectacular. 

Was Avatar inspired by real places? What about traveling to Pandora yourself? Space travel can’t take us that far yet (and it is a fictional place after all!), but there’s an easier option. How about celebrating Avatar 2’s release by visiting one of the real places that look like Pandora? 

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, China 

Located in the Hunan province of China, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is a stunning 11,900-acre park made up of dense forest, deep ravines, and canyons. It is full of caves and pillar-like rock formations. Sound familiar? Zhangjiajie’s pillar rocks actually inspired designers on the film; the only difference being that in they’re floating in the films, while in Zhangjiajie they emerge from the ground. One of the pillars is over 3,500 feet tall and was officially renamed to “Avatar Hallelujah Mountain”. So, coming to Zhangjiajie is, in fact, like visiting a part of Pandora. 

Another impressive site is the Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge which is a skywalk overpass above the scenic Wulingyuan area. The bridge is 1,410 feet long and towers 980 feet above ground connecting two mountain cliffs in the park. As its name implies, the bridge is made of glass and has a transparent bottom. You need to see it in person to truly experience the breathtaking view. While in the area, you should also make a stop the Charming Xiangxi Theatre and see their visually pleasing performance. 

With direct flights from Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, Zhangjiajie is a great stop to add to your vacation in China. Our expert travel agents can always help to arrange great offers for your trip to and within China, so don’t hesitate and ask them about all the available ticket options. 

Things to do: 

  • Visit Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and see “Avatar Hallelujah Mountain” for yourself 
  • Walk the Glass Bridge 
  • Enjoy the show at Charming Xiangxi Theatre 

Discounted flights to China available with up to 50%* OFF.

Huangshan Mountains, China 

Another spectacular Chinese destination are the Huangshan Mountains in Ahnui province. Everyone in China knows and loves them for their surreal granite formations, hot springs and the views of the clouds. Being an amazing natural habitat, the mountains boast 24 fish species, 38 amphibian species, 170 bird species and 300 vertebrate species on its territory. So, it’s no wonder that the Huangshan Mountains are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which could not go unnoticed by James Cameron. The director cited the mountain as inspiration for the world of Avatar. 

Tunxi, the city next to Huangshan, is rather small but is worth a stop to visit its Ancient Street which is over 630 years old. The street also has delicious restaurants with local cuisine – so it’s a great dinner location if you’re planning a daytrip. 

Huangshan is one of China’s better known tourist destinations so finding a suitable flight won’t be a problem: many direct flights are available, including ones from Beijing, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou. Obviously, Huangshan is more popular in the summer, with some areas being closed off for the winter, but that shouldn’t stop you from traveling: you will save on entry fees (which are cheaper in the winter) and will avoid the crowds.  

You can also save on flight tickets, which are usually cheaper in the winter months. However, no matter when you plan to travel, ask the agents at ASAP Tickets for a free quote: we have unpublished deals which the airlines provide directly to us and will be able to offer discounts not available elsewhere. 

Things to do: 

  • You can get accommodation right in Tunxi, but we suggest finding a hotel in Feitsui Valley – the views there are also Pandoresque 
  • Visit the Tunxi Ancient Street, which is the best-preserved old street in China 
  • Take in the beauty that the Huangshan Mountains offer! 

Discounted flights to China available with up to 50%* OFF.

Mount Roraima, Venezuela 

The majority of Mount Roraima is in Venezuela (with Brazil and Guyana accounting for 15% of its area). The Venezuelan part of the mountain is also the part with easy access to it. Like all the locations in this article, Mount Roraima offers unique and spell-bounding views. Explore its cliffs and take in its prehistoric ecology: there are plants and animals which are only found on the mountain and nowhere else. Well, perhaps they do exist somewhere on Pandora. 

Towering a spectacular 9,200 feet above ground, the mountain is often surrounded by clouds making it appear so much like the views in Avatar. With the filmmakers having time to imagine new landscapes for Avatar 2, Mount Roraima’s views just may have inspired them!  

The easiest way of getting to Mount Roraima is by taking a flight to Santa Elena de Uairen. There are many travel agencies in the city which offer Mount Roraima visits and different transfer options, so you’ll have plenty of ways of getting to the mountain. The other option is going San Francisco de Yurani, which is the town closest to Mount Roraima, but it is located 13 miles away and doesn’t have as many reliable transportation options or travel agents there. 

One thing to keep in mind is that to appreciate all that Mount Roraima has to offer you need to plan to spend at least 4 days trekking on the mountain. However, a 9-day trek is more comfortable and will give you more time to rest and simply take in the nature and the views. Some of the popular trails clock in at around 40 miles, which converts to 25 hours of active trekking. 

Things to do: 

  • Make a stop in the Valley of Crystals (Valle de Quarzo), which is exactly what it sounds like: a valley full of all sorts of amazing quartz crystals. Could some of these crystals be unobtainium? 
  • On your trek, make sure to stop by Roraima’s own waterfall which is 2,000 feet high 
  • Climb ‘Maverick Rock’ which is the highest point on the mountain and offers a mesmerizing view 

Luminous Lagoon, Jamaica 

The beaches in Jamaica are amazing, the climate is warm, and the locals are friendly. The waters in Jamaica’s north coast have an added Pandora-like bonus: when they are disturbed, they emit a bioluminescent glow! So, whether you go for a late-night swim or take a boat ride, the waters will glow an ethereal blue. Luminous Lagoon is one of only four locations in the world that has this phenomenon, but it’s the brightest of the four because the climate is most stable here. The Lagoon stretches along the marshlands of Trelawny, from the small community of Rock all the way to the town of Falmouth. 

With so many direct flights from the US to Montego Bay, visiting the Luminous Lagoon has never been easier. From Montego Bay, Luminous Lagoon is just a short drive away to Falmouth, where hotels are easy to find.  

If you’re looking to experience something special, this is a perfect vacation destination with all the accommodation options in and around Falmouth. There’s a lot to enjoy here such as seeing Jamaica’s unique landscape on a bamboo raft, going horseback riding and enjoying some of the local spas.  

Things to do: 

  • Go bamboo rafting – not only is it an unusual way of taking a boat ride, it’s also an environmentally-friendly way of doing so. 
  • Take a late-night boat tour or go swimming and pretend you’re on Pandora 
  • Visit the local shops in Falmouth 
  • Taste Jamaican cuisine at the great restaurants in Falmouth. We recommend Club Nazz, but you can’t go wrong with any of the local restaurants! 

Discounted flights to Jamaica available from as low as $207* for a round-trip.

Waitomo Glowworm Caves, New Zealand 

A list of global Pandora-like locations wouldn’t be complete without having New Zealand on the list. The country’s beauty is otherworldly and filmmakers love filming it: The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit and The Chronicles of Narnia were all filmed in New Zealand. More pertinent for us is the fact that many parts of Avatar, Avatar 2 and even Avatar 3 were filmed in the country! So, it’s must-visit country for any Avatar fan. 

One particularly magical area is the Waitomo Glowworm Caves. They started forming millions of years ago with limestone cracking and buckling following geological and volcanic activity. The limestone has created many amazing shapes in the caves which are a sight to marvel at. What makes them even more stunning and Pandora-like are the worm larvae which are stuck to the caves’ ceilings and shine like a starlit sky. You can either walk the caves or take a boat ride (or do both and more on an extended tour) What you’ll see is bound to make you think of scenes from James Cameron’s film with glowworms literally emitting bioluminescence, just like most Pandoran animals do. 

The caves are located 120 miles away from Auckland, so they’re only a 2.5-hour drive from New Zealand’s largest city. The caves are worth a visit as there is no other place like it in the world. You should also take the Ruakuri Loop Walk to see natural sculpted cliffs, low limestone arches and the area’s natural forest. If you go at night, you’ll also meet glowworms that will illuminate the banks of the path. The best part is that the Ruakuri Walk is free! It takes about 45 minutes to complete, so kids and seniors alike will enjoy it without getting tired. 

Another great activity in Waitomo is the Zipline park, which includes 10 ziplines for a total length of 919 feet and speeds up to 50 mph. Feel the thrill of flying through the beautiful New Zealand scenery as if you were a great leonopteryx or a Toruk Makto riding one! 

Things to do: 

  • If you have the time, take an extended 5-hour boat tour – you’ll get to see places that you simply don’t have access to by foot, they include rafting, going on ziplines and tubing. So, make sure to bring along a swimsuit – ds you won’t be staying dry for long 
  • Take the Ruakuri Walk 
  • Enjoy the ziplines in the zipline park 

Discounted flights to New Zealand available from as low as $707* for a round-trip.

To Sum Up

Visiting these transcendental locations will be a thrill for all travelers; fans of Avatar will surely appreciate seeing true natural beauty that looks like Pandora. The great news is that they’re all easily accessible and it’s possible to find great flights to get there, be it China, Venezuela, Jamaica or New Zealand. Give our agents a call at 844-300-7983 or have them get back to you. If you provide your travel dates, they will find several options of affordable airfare. We work 24/7 for you.

Remember, if you plan ahead, you can save even more, so start planning your Pandora vacation now! Who knows, the sights may inspire you to create your own Avatar-like world! 

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