7 extraordinary ways to see the world come alive at sunrise

By the time most travelers wake, the world is already in motion. Valleys have filled with low-lying clouds, copper vats have steamed with milk, salt has bloomed across pink marshes, and fishermen have hauled the first catch ashore. Sunrise isn’t just the first light of the morning, but it’s also a glimpse at the hidden history of a place, the life that disappears once streets fill and cafés open.

These seven early-morning experiences—from cloud seas in Vietnam to salt marshes in France to wheels of cheese born in Italy—offer more than a sunrise view. They show how much of the world wakes before we do. So go early to see how other people around the world start their day.

1. Vietnam: Hunt clouds in Da Lat

In the highlands of central Vietnam, mornings belong to the clouds. Before sunrise, trekkers climb ridges 4,921 feet above sea level in Da Lat to watch valleys flood with mist, the peaks adrift like islands in a white sea. People who live here call it “cloud hunting,” a pastime that blends science with scenery.

“Da Lat’s clouds are especially beautiful in the cold morning air,” says Ahn Dinh Van Don, owner of Happy Day Travel. The spectacle is fleeting—formed when cool night air traps fog in the valleys, only to be burned away by mid-morning sun. For an hour, the Earth feels suspended between heaven and ground, a vision as ephemeral as the clouds themselves.

Once a local secret, cloud hunting has become a national pastime and a must for travelers. The advice is simple: go. “It’s stunning…majestic scenery and vast tea fields. It cannot be described in words,” said Van Don.

(Looking for adventure? Try this hill-tribe trek in Vietnam)

2. Ethiopia: Walk into fire in the Danakil Depression

In Ethiopia’s Danakil Depression, dawn is both a matter of survival and a splendor. Daytime temperatures here can soar past 104°F (40°C), so tours leave at night, reaching Erta Ale volcano just as the sun rises. “The molten rock glows against the dark sky, then the volcanic landscape slowly emerges in soft light,” says Isaac Kahsay of Great Ethiopian Tours and Travel.

On the wide-open salt flats of Lake Asale (492 feet below sea level), nothing blocks the horizon. “It’s one of the clearest, most breathtaking sunrises in the world,” explains Melese Beza of Ethio Wildlife Tours. At the rim, travelers feel otherworldly heat and sound, a “spiritual moment” as molten rock churns beneath their feet.

This area is also the Afar homeland, where camel caravans still haul salt across the desert, a living culture situated atop the Afar Triple Junction, where three tectonic plates converge. Tours are small, local, and respectful, practicing the principles of “leave no trace,” honoring local traditions, traveling with licensed guides, and preparing for extremes, according to Beza.

By mid-morning, the heat becomes punishing, but for a fleeting window, the Danakil offers one of Earth’s rarest dawns.

3. Peru: Learn the looms with Quechua weavers

In the Andean highlands of Peru, looms awaken with the morning dew while women spin and dye alpaca wool, hands repeating patterns passed down for centuries. The light is best at dawn, and work begins early. The sound of wooden looms echoes through stone courtyards before tourist buses arrive in Cusco, Peru. Here, weaving is a matter of survival, story, and identity, each thread tying the past to the present.

“It is a pride for Peruvians, the textile heritage inherited from many pre-Inca civilizations, the Inca, and the colonial period,” says Nilda Callañaupa Alvarez, director of the Centro de Textiles Tradicionales del Cusco (CTTC). She explains that weaving is not just a craft but continuity: each pattern a record of history, each garment a declaration of cultural identity.

In their workshops, travelers can witness, learn, and support artisans directly, ensuring the practice endures in a modern world of cheap imitations. Alvarez says, “Tourism is vital; it is the main buyer. It encourages weavers to continue.” She encourages travelers to visit cooperatives, learn about their meanings, and, when moved, purchase the work. “We hope they take a unique, educational, cultural experience and support continuity for the projects,” she says.

(A practical guide to exploring Peru)

4. Italy: Witness the craft of creating Parmigiano Reggiano

Cheesemaking in Italy‘s Emilia-Romagna region doesn’t wait for daylight. Parmigiano Reggiano begins at dawn because it must; the fresh milk is “alive” and cannot wait. By sunrise, copper vats are already steaming, and curds broken by hand, the air pungent with milk and brine.

“It is during these morning stages that the cheesemaker’s craftsmanship becomes an art,” explains Benedetto Colli, Press Director of the Consorzio del Formaggio Parmigiano Reggiano. A visit to the Caseifici Aperti offers travelers the rare opportunity to participate and immerse themselves in the birth of a wheel of Parmigiano Reggiano in one of the 51 dairies throughout Parma, Modena, Reggio Emilia, and Bologna. “It’s an environment both industrious and meditative. The cheesemakers speak little, understanding each other with a glance. It’s a collective ritual that requires absolute concentration and respect for a living material,” says Colli.

Visitors who slip into a caseificio, the dairies where cheese is formed, at first light are taken on a sensory and cultural journey, witnessing the production process and tasting Parmigiano Reggiano directly in the aging rooms —an experience that no other similar product can offer. “We want them to feel they have touched a collective heritage, built on patience, precision, and passion. An experience that teaches the value of time and tradition,” Colli adds.

(A two-wheeled culinary adventure through Emilia-Romagna, Italy)

5. France: Morning in the Guérande salt marshes

At dawn in Brittany, France, the salt marshes of Guérande glow with light and water. The morning is the most authentic time to see the marshes, when the paludiers (salt workers) begin their day. “Dawn is beautiful here,” explains Vítor Reis, founder and guide from Les Garçons des Marais. “The light reflects off the water, wildlife is very present, and the marsh feels almost untouched.”

On their tours, visitors can follow the path of the tide through the basins, learn how salt is extracted from seawater, and sample both Celtic salt and delicate fleur de sel. Depending on the season, they may even sample wild edible plants sprouting along the ponds.

Guérande salt is more than a product. It shapes the landscape, sustains families, and anchors regional identity. Paludiers still use centuries-old techniques—no machines, no chemicals, just carefully guiding water through canals in a process that also protects a thriving ecosystem of birds and plants.

Tours follow guided paths to minimize disturbance to workers and wildlife, raising awareness of just how fragile and unique this environment is. As Reis explains, “we want travelers to see the care that goes into producing salt, respect the environment, and take home memories of a place where humans and nature still work in harmony.”

6. Portugal: Traditional fishing at sunrise in the Azores

In the Portugal fishing village of Rabo de Peixe, mornings begin before the sun. Generations have lived here by the harbor, learning the rhythms of the sea from their parents and grandparents. Traditional fishing is more than a livelihood; it’s an identity, a heritage, and a means of survival.

At dawn, small wooden boats push into the Atlantic. Fishermen prepare the lines and hooks the afternoon before. “Early morning is vital,” explains Luís Cabral, manager of AG Expeditions. “It gives fishermen more time at sea, and it’s when the ocean is most favorable.” Travelers who join them climb aboard 12-foot vessels built for the craft, learning history as the fishermen tell stories of storms, saints, and daily challenges.

The experience is intimate: hauling lines, feeling the tug of a first catch, and sharing the pride of work tied entirely to nature. Some mornings bring abundance, others only empty nets. For visitors, it feels less like a tour and more like being welcomed into a way of life.

This work faces pressures from unpredictable weather and industrial fleets, but tourism provides support. Travelers bring recognition and income, while fishermen gain pride in sharing their knowledge and history. The methods remain small-scale and sustainable, with no overfishing, no bycatch, and just the natural rhythm of sea and tide. What lingers is not only the catch but the connection. As Cabral noted, “When visitors reel in their first fish, their eyes light up—that moment stays with them long after the tour ends.”

7. India: Morning ragas on the Ganges in Varanasi

In Varanasi, dawn belongs to the river. The Ganges flows uniquely south to north here, with the city rising on the western bank. As the sun lifts, its first light strikes the ghats and temples, bathing them in gold. For Hindus, it is the most auspicious hour for prayers, bathing, and meditation. Music, the sound of morning ragas, is layered into the serene atmosphere.

“Morning ragas carry the freshness and hope of dawn,” explains Indrajeet Kumar of Varanasi Day Tours. Rooted in the Indian classical tradition, ragas are tied to the time of day and designed to evoke specific moods in harmony with nature. On the river, the soft notes of flute or sitar mingle with conch shells, temple bells, chanting priests, and the lap of water against wooden boats.

Most travelers experience this on a sunrise boat ride, some accompanied by live musicians performing on board. “At sunrise, you feel immersed in the rhythm of the city’s spiritual heartbeat,” says Kumar. Later in the day, the ghats bustle with pilgrims in the markets; evenings bring the grand spectacle of Ganga Aarti. But at dawn, the experience is intimate, contemplative, and deeply spiritual.

Kumar advises visitors to approach with humility, observe quietly, resist intrusive photography, and let the moment unfold. “I recommend travelers keep an open heart and observe quietly, allowing themselves to blend into the sacred rhythm of the city.”

Lauren Paige Richeson is an author and writer exploring the intersection of food, culture, and history, with a passion for stories hiding in plain sight and destinations that deserve a second look. Follow her on Instagram.