Mysteries and intrigue – some people chase them, while others put most of their effort into trying to unravel them. For those who love to visit new places, places like golden coastlines and striking natural parks aren’t likely to be high on their must-see lists. However, to give you some locations to ponder over, we’ve put together this list of holiday destinations that feature their own legends, myths and intriguing mysteries.

Crooked Forest, Poland

One of the tamer mysteries of the world, the Crooked Forest in Poland almost looks like a naturally grown ballroom, with over 400 mature pine trees ‘bending a knee’ in dance. Tales tell of a new planting technique and an unusual storm as some of the origins of the bending trees, however, no one truly knows what the caused the entire forest to grow this way and we may never uncover the truth.

Whitechapel, London

Foggy nights, the distant tap of shoes on the cobblestone paving and through the still night air – a lady’s scream. Whitechapel was once the home to the elusive serial killer; Jack the Ripper. Although the Ripper is long gone, experts known as Ripperologists are still trying to solve this hundred-year-old mystery and uncover the true identity of the killer. Was it the editor, Francis Craig? The odd Dr Francis Tumblety or even someone of the royal family, Prince Albert Victor?

Island of Dolls, Mexico

This unusual isle lies close to Mexico City and is a sight that many never wish to come across. The island is covered in children’s dolls that have been strung up and hung or tied to trees and were left by the previous owner of the island to ward off the spirit of a woman that drowned in the surrounding waters. Although the previous owner of the island himself drowned some years ago, people still come to the area today to leave dolls and toys as an offering to restless spirits.

Kuldhara Village, India

What would make you and your neighbours pack up all your belongings and family and leave your home overnight, never to return? The mystery of the townspeople of Kuldhara Village remains just that, a mystery to why an entire village of families simply got up and left in the middle of the night, leaving nothing but empty homes, dusty streets and crumbling temples. The land and anyone who tries to set-up home there is said to be cursed so while it’s a popular area for tourists, many do not choose to stay long.

Eternal Flame Falls, New York, USA

Can a flame keep burning under a waterfall? At the Eternal Flame Falls, it can and it does. Located in western New York, away from the never-ending twinkling of the city lights you’ll find the Eternal Flame Falls and at its base, a flame that burns all year round, regardless of the season, the wind or the amount of rain that falls. Although the flame has been attributed to leaking natural gas, it is still an unusual sight to see such a phenomenon as a fire burning beneath a raging waterfall.

The Nazca Lines, Peru

Although it’s difficult to see them from the ground, the Nazca Lines in Peru are certainly a mystery that we may never know the answer to. What was it that encouraged the ancient civilisations of Peru to carve such dramatic images into their countrysides? From geometric patterns to animals and plants, these incredible, expansive carvings still stand today although some have been lost to time. The best way of experiencing the Nazca Lines for yourself is by flyover with an expert who can point out the individual designs below.

Are you a chaser of mysteries or someone that simply enjoys the intrigue of a good story? There are hundreds of thousands of myths and legends to chase the world over and the above are just a few that will continue to be told through time and regaled through the memories of the tourists who step foot in these places.