When planning a holiday, we rarely think about sounds. We’re usually often preoccupied with the opposite: silence.

When I opened my eyes, three men were in front of me, attempting to sell me sheep testicles

But sounds can become our most treasured memories. They can’t be captured in photos. Each is impossible to perfectly replay or replicate; every ocean sounds different, each animal’s roar distinct and every street markets’ hum unique.

It’s these unforgettable, yet inimitable, soundtracks that we often recall when we lie with our eyes closed and think: “Wow… that was a special place.”

So, to help incorporate another sense into holiday planning, here is a guide to the unforgettable audio resonances of the world.

The crowded bazaar

Old women haggling, a solitary bell, 100 competing hawkers, the drifting hint of the call to prayer; the crowded bazaar takes an assortment of diverse sounds to create its harmony.

The bazaar’s high-domed ceilings enable noises to echo and float around open corridors. No individual noise is overpowering and the essence of the compilation’s beauty comes in its constantly organic development; with every footstep and passing second, a slightly different variation is heard.

Found in: Usually in Muslim countries, the most accessible and famous examples being in Istanbul and Marrakesh.

Classic travel story: “I was lost in amazement, ignoring my other senses to focus on what was coming through my ears. Voices were getting louder, then laughter, and more voices that began to drown out the rest. When I opened my eyes, three men were in front of me, attempting to sell me sheep testicles.”

The traditional instrument

Is it a water pipe? An offensive weapon? A piece of firewood?

No, it’s a peculiar instrument played by blowing in one end and tapping your fingers over hidden holes, a skill only mastered by the indigenous people of the Waka Waka tribe.

Forget the electric guitar and drums, and prepare to be amazed by an assortment of devices that could make Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody sound monotone. From the Australian didgeridoo to the Middle Eastern sitar and the Congolese frog flute, the unconventional noises these instruments emit seem to have a perfect congruence with their environment. Just don’t buy one as a souvenir; none of your neighbours are going to appreciate being woken by Amazonian tribal drums.

Found in: Best found in places where indigenous culture has survived, the locals’ music often being an instrument to resist oppression.

Classic travel story: “Deep in the jungle I saw a local man blow into a curious-looking pipe. Intrigued by the sound, I asked to try.

“Exhaling every spec of air from my lungs, I produced a long, inquisitive noise that reverberated through the trees. The man looked at me confused. Moments later, three half-naked women appeared by my side… I had somehow replicated the tribes’ unique mating call.”

The tropical storm

European rain is boring. It’s insipid, and hangs around unnecessarily. Sure, we’ve all heard thunder before, but the deafening roar of an intense tropical storm can convince anybody of their insignificance on this planet. Tropical thunder comes in two varieties. Above oceans and lakes, the ominous, flourishing rumble can easily trump bearded men who roar motorbikes around public places. The blistering crackle when lightening hits land is not a pleasant sound, but the sheer decibel will never be forgotten.

Found in: Erm, tropical places. Particularly destinations besides water with a defined wet and dry season, like Africa’s lakes, or the islands of southeast Asia.

Classic travel story: “Waking up startled, I was immediately desperate for the toilet. The crackle above me was loud, but I was only planning a dash to the bush. Opening the hut door I was greeted by Armageddon.”

The Buddhist temple

Silence. In our increasingly populated world, deep silence has become a rare speciality. Making the Buddhist temple so special is that only necessary and calculated sounds can be heard. Temple sounds float through the mountain air; a monk reciting a prayer, the roll of wooden prayer wheels, a soft convivial welcome given to a stranger.

Found in: Many parts of Asia, most famously in Tibet. The best examples are found in isolated mountain villages.

Classic travel story: “I thought monks were friendly people, but they were looking at me with an odd discontent. What had I done? Then I heard a sound from down the valley and realised how far sounds travel in the mountains. The walk up to the temple had not been the best place to practise for my upcoming boy-band auditions.”

The football crowd

A spoonful of aggression, a big dollop of passion, a goal… there are few sounds that can compete with the cacophony of 50,000 people chanting in unison. The ingenuity of the chants and unpredictability of the game give the football crowd a deserving place in this top five.

Found in: Best experienced at a local derby in one of the world’s famous football cities: Milan, Buenos Aires, London. Also expect fireworks in Istanbul and Munich.

Classic travel story: “The packed crowd was making my body tingle. I knew nothing about football but felt a kinship with the men around me. Straight from the kick-off, a goal, and I screamed like a maniac. But the crowd didn’t follow. They stared. I had thought my team were the ones in blue.”