These unexpected landscapes reveal how different factors help vegetation survive in harsh, arid climates.

Certain landscapes around the world challenge what we think we know about deserts. These regions receive very little rainfall yet look surprisingly lush at first glance. Their greenery can come from unique ecosystems, climate shifts or even human intervention. Despite their fresh, vibrant appearance, they still fall under the strict scientific definition of a desert. This contrast makes them fascinating to explore, showing how nature adapts in unexpected ways. Such places remind us that deserts are far more varied than the familiar image of endless dunes.

Green Deserts: Regions That Look Lush But Are Still Arid

1. Thar Desert, India

The Thar Desert has seen a remarkable transformation over the last two decades, with a 38 percent rise in green cover due to increased monsoon rainfall and expanding agriculture. Despite being one of the world’s most densely populated deserts, it now shows patches of farmland, vegetation and settlements. Its greening is striking because it remains a dryland area with low water availability, yet human activity and climate shifts are altering its appearance.

2. The Sahel Region, Africa

The Sahel, bordering the Sahara, is classified as a dryland with low rainfall, but many parts have become greener in recent years due to increasing CO2 levels that enhance plant growth even in arid zones. Countries from Chad to Niger are witnessing more vegetation cover, giving the landscape a surprisingly green look during certain months. Although greener, the region still faces water scarcity and fragile soils typical of desert environments.

3. Negev Desert, Israel

The Negev is technically a desert receiving very little precipitation, yet vast areas now appear green thanks to advanced micro-irrigation techniques that support agriculture in the region. Farms, orchards and even vineyards thrive here through careful water management. From a distance, sections of the Negev resemble fertile farmland rather than a desert, even though its climate remains hyper-arid.

4. Oregon’s High Desert, United States

Oregon’s High Desert receives less than 10 inches of rainfall annually, qualifying it as a desert, but its landscape is dominated by juniper flats, sagebrush forests and winter snowfall instead of sand dunes. These hardy plants give the region a surprisingly green and rugged appearance for much of the year. Although it looks more like a mountain country, it remains a true desert based on its precipitation levels.

5. Atacama Fog Oases (Lomas), Chile & Peru

The Atacama Desert is one of the driest places on Earth, yet its Pacific-facing hills contain surprising green patches called fog oases or lomas. These areas flourish because dense coastal fog drifts inland and condenses on vegetation, supplying moisture without rainfall. Research shows these green zones form “islands” of plant life within an otherwise barren desert, and some flourish only once every decade depending on fog cycles.

So, the next time you picture a desert, remember that some of them are far greener than you might think.

Travel and fitness often feel like two strong personalities trying to coexist. One wants indulgence, spontaneity, and “just one more dessert.” The other thrives on discipline, structure, and long-term thinking. When balanced well, they promote longevity. When mismanaged, they become a red flag situationship.

As a coach, one of the most common questions I get is this: “How do I maintain my fitness regime while travelling?”

Whether it’s work trips, family holidays, or spontaneous getaways, most people fear coming back feeling heavier, sluggish, and off track. After all, who doesn’t want to post those droolworthy food pictures without guilt?

So, what’s the secret? How do you enjoy a digital detox, eat multiple plates of momos and Maggie in the hills, and still respect the science of food?

Personally, maintaining my routine while travelling has never been a concern. As much as I enjoy exploring new places, my health habits are deeply engraved in my mind and soul. After years of grinding, experimenting, and learning, I’ve cracked a simple system. Here are the five rules that have consistently helped me stay on track during and after travel.

Rule 1: Build consistency with mental resilience

Fitness has to be a lifestyle. You don’t need to be a bodybuilder to commit to it. A bare minimum of 3–4 days of strength training, some cardio, moderate-to-high daily activity, and mindful tracking of calories and protein is not unrealistic in today’s world. You need to serve your body back. Because if your health declines, those travel plans won’t last long anyway.

If you’ve been consistent through the year, celebrate that victory. You deserve flexibility. There should be no ethical crisis in your mind while enjoying a trip. Fitness is contagious and once it becomes part of you, mindful travel happens naturally. But if you derail every few weeks, be honest with yourself. Build discipline first. Plan travel after 3–4 months of consistent effort, not as an escape from it.

Rule 2: Smart planning

It’s always good to travel smart and know your essentials. One of the most important things that we miss while traveling is protein. It’s not always easy to find clean, protein-rich meals, especially in remote places. And if you’re vegetarian, it gets even trickier. Carry whey sachets or protein bars. They’re simple insurance against unnecessary snacking on calorie-dense foods.

Resistance bands are another underrated essential. They take no space yet can give you a workout that feels close to a gym session. And if there’s a gym nearby, even better. Hit a full-body routine with what’s available. Keep the intensity moderate, rest intervals shorter, and add some cardio. This is not the time to prove your ego with PR lifts. Travel workouts are about movement and recovery, not records.

Rule 3: Normalise movement as a part of travel

Wouldn’t it be boring if you came back from a trip without exploring the places and culture around? The idea of enjoying your luxurious suite might be tempting, but getting over that comfort and walking outdoors would ensure you learn something new and stay fit.

Step out. Walk. Explore. Take morning beach walks. Go for a trail. Climb those hills. Choose exploration over comfort. Trust me you will fall in love with that vibe. Not only will you look good, but also feel good, flush with happy hormones.

Rule 4: Intermittent Fasting (IF) – A special tool

Intermittent fasting can be a powerful tool while travelling. Delaying your first meal allows you to enjoy dinner without waking up anxious about the scale. However, this needs to be coupled with Rule 3, so you need to be active enough to maintain that balance of intake and expenditure.

Rule 5: Drink more water, prioritise protein

Having more water and looking for protein-rich food will always help you stay full and energetic enough to move around. After all, you don’t want to be that lazy bug in the group. So, always start your day with some protein. Prefer eggs, chicken or paneer cooked with lesser oil in each of the meals, over calorie dense fried food, and if you run short of these, go back to Rule 2.

Final Verdict

There is no big secret to staying fit while traveling. It’s about planning, awareness, and consistency throughout the year. If your foundation is strong, you can afford flexibility while travelling. Sync your basics as much as possible with sleep, protein intake, movement, and hydration.

It’s not about being perfect. It’s about doing your best in the situation you’re in.

And remember, maintaining progress is also progress in itself.

Easy day trips for peak spring colors

While cherry blossoms may steal the spotlight in spring, the Greater Tokyo area offers a diverse range of equally stunning floral displays. From vibrant fields of tulips to the cascading beauty of wisteria and roses, these flower fields invite you to experience spring in a new light. Perfect for an easy day trip, the gardens and parks below not only provide incredible photo opportunities but also a peaceful escape from the urban hustle.

Bloom timing shifts with the weather, and some locations host seasonal festivals, so checking official updates before you go is essential. Weekday visits are recommended where possible.

Canola Flowers at Soleil Hill in Yokosuka, Kanagawa

Spring arrives in a sweep of yellow at Soleil Hill, where approximately 100,000 canola flowers blanket the park’s open fields. On clear days, you can catch a glimpse of Mount Fuji floating on a sea of yellow against the wide skies of the Miura Peninsula. According to official updates, the blooms are expected to last through late March, making this one of the earliest large-scale spring displays in the Shonan area.

When: From now until late March

Where: Soleil Hill Park

Tulips at Akebonoyama Agricultural Park in Kashiwa, Chiba

Around 160,000 tulips bloom each spring at Akebonoyama Agricultural Park, spreading across a 1.2-hectare flower field in front of the park’s Dutch-style windmill. The tulips typically peak from early to late April, creating a vibrant, postcard-perfect landscape. With free admission and parking, the park makes for an easy and photogenic spring outing.

When: Late March to late April

Canola Flowers from a Steam Locomotive in Nikko, Tochigi

Each spring, a bright yellow flower field frames the passing steam locomotive, the SL Taiju. Revived in 2017 after a 50-year hiatus, it runs between Shimo-Imaichi and Kinugawa-Onsen stations, traveling through open countryside with the Nikko mountain range rising in the distance and rivers flowing alongside the tracks. The Kuragasaki SL Flower Garden, cultivated by locals, lies between Daiyamuko and Okuwa stations. Watch the yellow blur past your window, or stand among the flowers as the steam rolls by.

All seats are reserved — ¥1,000 in addition to the boarding fare — so booking online in advance is recommended.

When: Early to late April

Where: Kuragasaki SL Flower Garden

Azaleas at Shiofune Kannonji Temple in Ome, Tokyo

Every spring, the hills behind Shiofune Kannonji Temple in Ome transform into a bowl of pink, crimson and white. Around 20,000 azalea bushes blanket the circular slope, wrapping the temple grounds in spring colors.

In 2010, a towering Peace Kannon statue was enshrined at the summit, creating a striking composition: flowers below, Kannon above and visitors walking in between.

When: Early April to early May

Where: Shiofune Kannonji Temple

Wisteria at Gyokyoji Temple in Iwata, Shizuoka

Curtains of violet bloom at Gyokoji Temple in Iwata, home to the 850-year-old Kumano Nagafuji, a nationally designated natural monument. The wisteria here are rare, known for their unusually long flower clusters that cascade downward in dramatic purple strands.

Five additional trees are also recognized as natural monuments of Shizuoka Prefecture.

When: Mid- to late April

Where: Gyokyoji Temple

Lupine Flowers at Komorebi Flower Field in Namegawa, Saitama

From around late April, approximately 40,000 lupines bloom at Komorebi Flower Field in Saitama’s Musashi Kyuryo National Government Park. Often called “reverse wisteria” for their upright, tower-like blooms, the purple, pink and white flowers bask beneath canopies of trees. Komorebi describes sunlight filtering softly through leaves and here, that hazy light gives this 2,000-square-meter field a fairy-tale feel. Bloom timing varies slightly each year, so checking updates before visiting is recommended.

When: Late April to mid-May

Where: Musashi Kyuryo National Government Park

Roses at Acao Forest in Atami, Shizuoka

From late April, around 4,000 rose bushes spanning 600 varieties burst into bloom at Acao Forest in Atami, transforming the hillside gardens into vivid corridors of color. Spilling over arches and trellises, the roses create a fantastical landscape set against the sparkling sea. The 660,000-square-meter park features 13 themed gardens, Coeda House, designed by Kengo Kuma, and seasonal workshops offering rose-inspired treats.

When: Late April to June

Where: Acao Forest

From towering mountains that pierce the sky to colossal waterfalls, ancient monoliths, and vast canyons carved over millions of years, these landmarks draw travellers from across the world. While the famous feature may be the star attraction, the surrounding national park often protects an entire ecosystem of forests, wildlife, rivers, and geological wonders. Here are some national parks around the world that are home to globally recognised natural landmarks.

Grand Prismatic Spring — Yellowstone National Park, United States

One of the most visually striking natural features on Earth, the Grand Prismatic Spring is the largest hot spring in the United States and the third largest in the world. Located in Yellowstone National Park’s Midway Geyser Basin, the spring is famous for its extraordinary rainbow-like colours, deep blue at the centre, surrounded by rings of green, yellow, orange, and red created by heat-loving microorganisms. It measures around 112 metres across and more than 30 metres deep. It has become one of Yellowstone’s most photographed attractions.

Grand Canyon — Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, United States

Few landscapes on Earth are as instantly recognisable as the Grand Canyon. This is a gorge carved over millions of years by the Colorado River, stretching over 446 kilometers in length and over 1,800 meters deep at its deepest points. The canyon is contained within the Grand Canyon National Park, and the multicolored rock strata show geological history stretching back nearly two billion years. The viewpoints from the South Rim and North Rim offer some of the most spectacular scenery in North America.

Mount Everest, Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal

The highest mountain in the world is located in the Himalayas, in the Sagarmatha National Park in Nepal. Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world, stands tall at a height of 8,848.86 metres. The park is also home to glaciers, deep valleys, and villages of the Sherpa people, apart from the majestic mountain. Trekking enthusiasts visit the park to visit the Everest Base Camp and see the majestic mountain.

Uluru, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Australia

Located in the heart of the Australian desert, Uluru is one of the most famous landmarks in the Southern Hemisphere. This massive sandstone rock structure is about 348 metres tall and has a circumference of about 9 kilometres at its base. This majestic landmark is situated within the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, which is a significant religious site for the indigenous Anangu people of the region.

Victoria Falls – Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, Zambia / Victoria Falls National Park, Zimbabwe

Victoria Falls is one of the largest waterfalls in the world, situated at the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe. This magnificent waterfall is also called ‘Mosi-oa-Tunya,’ which means ‘The Smoke That Thunders.’ This waterfall site stretches to a distance of more than 1.7 kilometers, with a drop of more than 100 meters into a spectacular gorge.

Half Dome – Yosemite National Park, California, United States

Half Dome is one of the most famous rock formations in the world, and one of the most famous features of the park. Rising 1,500 metres above the valley, the granite dome looks like the half of the mountain has been sliced off. It has become a symbol of American wilderness and attracts thousands of hikers every year who attempt the famous cable-assisted climb to its summit.

Angel Falls — Canaima National Park, Venezuela

Hidden within the dramatic table-top mountains of Canaima National Park, Angel Falls is the tallest waterfall on Earth. Water plunges from a height of about 979 metres from the summit of the Auyán-tepui plateau. The isolated jungle surroundings and the cliffs that surround the waterfalls make the waterfalls seem like a mythical place, and they are one of the most spectacular landmarks in South America.

Mount Kilimanjaro – Kilimanjaro National Park, Tanzania

Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa, rising 5,895 meters above the plains of Tanzania. Situated in the heart of the Kilimanjaro National Park, the mountain is a dormant volcano with snow-capped peaks rising high into the tropical plains. Its unique zones of rainforests, alpine meadows, and desert are some of the most spectacular trekking routes in the world.