X

15 Star Trek planets you need to visit this year (pictures)

Can't wait for the upcoming Star Trek flick? Maybe you should make plans for which planets you'll visit during your gap year after graduating from Starfleet.

Jessica Roy
st-ch3.jpg
1 of 24 Paramount

Risa

"Star Trek Beyond," the next installment in the series of reboot films, sees the Enterprise crew trapped on a mysterious planet. The movie is set to be released July 22 in the US and UK and July 21 in Australia.

If that planet is anything like these classic Trek worlds, we absolutely cannot wait.

Let's start with Risa: tropical luxury resorts, miles of pristine beaches, steam pools and subterranean gardens, and more than 200 very, very accommodating Nuvian masseuses...

Risa
2 of 24 CBS

Risa: Yeah, there are beaches too

And no weapons allowed. Risa gets the nickname "The Pleasure Planet" for good reason. (Editors' note: The "Star Trek" TV series is a property of CBS, which also owns CNET.)

screen-shot-2016-02-24-at-3-42-12-pm.png
3 of 24 Paramount

Vulcan

Depending on which timeline you're in, Vulcan may have been destroyed, or may be about to be destroyed. If at all possible, we recommend seeing it while you still can.

Vulcan
4 of 24 CBS

Vulcan: Get it while it's hot

Make sure to check out the lava pools, active volcanos, religious buildings, and the iconic Fire Plains. Oh, and pack light clothing: They don't say things are "hot as Vulcan" for nothing.

screen-shot-2016-02-24-at-4-15-17-pm.png
5 of 24 CBS

Trill

If you're feeling a little lonely, look no further than Trill, a planet where there are two beings for every one person. We're talking about some mighty welcoming symbiotes, but the pluses don't end there...

Trill
6 of 24 CBS

Trill: Look familiar?

Yes, the oceans are purple, but if you squint, it looks remarkably like Earth. (If you squint very hard, you may notice a passing resemblance to the Huntington gardens in Pasadena, California.) Plan a visit to the Caves of Mak'ala and a hike through the ice cliffs of Tenaran.

star-trek-insurrectiona0af24b1.jpg
7 of 24 Paramount Pictures

Ba'ku

Ba'ku is a lush planet with rolling hills, sparkling lakes, and exciting local wildlife. But its most important feature is one that's not on the surface...

Ba'ku
8 of 24 Paramount Pictures

Ba'ku

... Metaphasic rings that regenerate health and give inhabitants eternal life and inexplicable sexiness. The veins of kelbonite in the mountains make transporting off-world difficult, so be sure to snag a ticket for the ferry.

Pollux IV
9 of 24 CBS

Pollux IV

Architecture buffs will get a kick out of Pollux IV, where the Greek gods retreated after the people of Earth stopped worshipping them. Their species died out after an encounter with Captain Kirk, but they left their stunning buildings behind for tourists to enjoy.

Meridian
10 of 24 CBS

Meridian

Plan the timing of your visit to Meridian very, very carefully. Every 60 years, Meridian undergoes a quantum energy shift that transforms inhabitants from physical beings to incorporeal consciousnesses. You really don't want to be there when they're shifting back into energy...

screen-shot-2016-02-24-at-3-54-24-pm.png
11 of 24 CBS

Meridian: Fabulous food

However, visitors shouldn't miss the chance to participate in the "First Meal" and "Last Meal" celebrations the locals use to mark their return to corporeal forms.

Andoria
12 of 24 CBS

Andoria

Andoria is just a short trip from Vulcan. Unfortunately, you'll need to pack an entirely new wardrobe: It's an ice moon. If you visit in the summer, temperatures should hover around a pleasant -22 degrees Fahrenheit...

shras.jpg
13 of 24 Paramout

Andoria: True blue natives

Pack your skis for some unforgettable trips down the mountain on the surface, and cozy up with your first mate (or your favorite blue-skinned native) in some of the romantic underground caves that are popular with honeymooners.

kahless.jpg
14 of 24 CBS

Boreth

The sacred Klingon planet is the location of the Boreth monastery, where according to Klingon tradition, the warrior Kahless (or just his "Next Generation" clone) would return to lead the people.

Boreth
15 of 24 CBS

Boreth: Don't miss the temples

When you're done touring the temples, pay a visit to the lava caves.

screen-shot-2016-02-24-at-4-42-47-pm.png
16 of 24 CBS

Omicron Ceti III

On this planet, you'll find complete happiness and contentment, thanks to a native species of spore. The spores also protect inhabitants from Berthold rays, which once killed everyone and everything on the planet.

Omicron Ceti III
17 of 24 CBS

Omicron Ceti III: You'll never want to leave!

Make sure you have a friend who's willing to pull you out if you get a little too content.

Eden
18 of 24 CBS

Eden

Another tropical paradise floating through space, Eden is an incredibly peaceful planet. That's largely because it has no native animal species, including humans. The local trees, grasses, and other flora are stunning to look at, but be warned: Everything is acidic and causes severe burns. Look, don't touch, on this one.

Ceti Alpha VI
19 of 24 Paramount Pictures

Ceti Alpha VI

Not to be confused with Ceti Alpha V, Ceti Alpha VI is home to an important piece of Starfleet technological history. It is the Genesis Planet, where terraforming technology was deployed to make it inhabitable once again. Admittedly, that only happened after a minor incident with a man named...

star-trek-the-wrath-of-khan5c3cb942.jpg
20 of 24 Paramount Pictures

Ceti Alpha VI: You've got one guy to thank

...Khan.

Argelius II
21 of 24 CBS

Argelius II

Sick leave is no joke in Starfleet. If you're lucky, you may get assigned to recover on Argelius II. Its government is based entirely on love, which has led to some bureaucratic inefficiencies, but makes it ideal for a relaxing trip. Don't miss the dancing girls in the local cafes. The local prefect assures us that the murderous incorporeal entity that once plagued the planet has definitely moved on!

Sigma Iotia II
22 of 24 CBS

Sigma Iotia II

Get your zoot suit dry cleaned and your tommy gun oiled: Sigma Iotia II is best known as the "gangster planet." The native Iotians, who are not yet warp-capable, accidentally got their hands on an Earth textbook called "Chicago Mobs of the Twenties." Today, the entire planet is a replica of Prohibition-era Chicago. Make sure to ask the locals to show you how to play Fizzbin.

vaskan-kyri
23 of 24 CBS

Vaskan-Kyrian

If you happen to get your hands on a Bajoran time cube, be sure to pay a visit to the Vaskan-Kyrian homeworld 700 years from now. The planet is home to the Kyrian Heritage Museum, where you can retrace the steps of the original Voyager mission to broker peace between the Vaskans and Kyrians. Thanks to The Doctor's input, it has been updated to more accurately reflect the exact sequence of events.

Dakala
24 of 24 CBS

Dakala

A planet eternally plunged into darkness may not sound like a vacation hot spot, but Dakala is home to a wide variety of bioluminescent plants and animals. Pack your night-vision goggles and enjoy the hot gases that vent from the planet's core.

More Galleries

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera
A houseplant

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera

20 Photos
Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra
magic-v2-2024-foldable-1383

Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra

10 Photos
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum
Samsung Galaxy S24

The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum

23 Photos
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
The Galaxy S24 Ultra in multiple colors

Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design

23 Photos
I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites
img-0368.jpg

I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites

34 Photos
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About
Invitation for the Apple September iPhone 15 event

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About

18 Photos
AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?
img-1599-2.jpg

AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?

17 Photos