Interactive Mythical Creatures Guides

Forget beach holidays, spa breaks and romantic getaways – if you’re looking for travel experiences with a bit more bite (perhaps even literally), Expedia’s quirky new mythical creatures map has got you covered.

'Mythical Creatures and Where To Find Them,' in its full interactive glory, lists some of the world’s top destinations to visit for those of you harbouring secret dreams of one day crossing paths with a fabled beast of lore. Featuring 15 amazing creatures, spread out across all seven continents, it’s a great little tool for both grizzled travellers wanting something different from their excursions and budding monster hunters hoping to be the first to utter those three magic words: "I found it!"

And who doesn’t want a bit of magic in their lives? It’s why we have tales of strange creatures in the first place. Folklore throughout history is littered with accounts of sightings of these unusual beasts. They appeal to our imagination, instil a sense of wonder and paint pictures of a world that may still be home to a mystery or two, just waiting to be uncovered... if you look hard enough.

So the next time you travel, keep an eye out for local monsters. Some are famous household names, like Nessie and Bigfoot. Others, like southern Africa’s "impundulu" (literally "lightning bird’), may not be as universally known but they’re just as intriguing. And then you have the downright terrifying: Australia’s Drop Bears for example, huge tree-dwelling koalas that are said to drop onto people’s heads before eating them alive -- maybe steer clear of that one.