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 UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, has named more than 1,000 World Heritage Sites around the globe. In this two-part series, we’ve selected some of our absolute favourites! Check out the first eight here. Each World Heritage Site is unique and valuable in its own right, but those included in our list are absolute must-sees (in no particular order!). Some may be familiar to you, but others could motivate you to add new destinations to your bucket list. How many of the below sites have you visited? What World Heritage Site have you always wanted to see? Don’t forget to take our poll at the end of this article, or share your thoughts by shooting us an email at bestway@bestway.com
The majestic complex of Memphis in Egypt is on most world must-see lists for a reason. The towering Pyramids of Giza are the last remaining wonder of the ancient world, and have captured imaginations for the past 4,500 years. The precise geometry and sheer size of these world-famous structures only add to their mystique. The Great Pyramid of Giza alone was built using 2.3 million stone blocks, each weighing between 2.5 and 15 tons. Common agreement holds the Pyramids were constructed by tens of thousands of workers over the course of 20 years, but some think only angels or aliens could have created such magnificent monuments! See them for yourself with our popular Egypt: Cradle of the Nile tour
The unique ancient ruins of Petra date back to fourth century B.C., and are absolutely stunning in their scale. Using an early form of the rock-cut architecture technique, some buildings here were literally carved out of the surrounding stone. At its peak, this ancient city supported more than 20,000 inhabitants. After the eighth century, Petra was abandoned as a trading center and “lost” to the shifting sands of the desert. Little is now known of the nomadic Nabateans who used to inhabit the city, but the mystical vistas and sophisticated engineering of these enchanting ruins earned them the title of a “New Wonder of the World” in 2000. Explore this incomparable ancient city with our Jordan: Where It All Began tour
In the world of safaris, there are a few magical places that stand a cut above the rest. Ngorongoro Conservation Area is one such place. Here, the largest inactive and intact volcanic caldera in the world provides the perfect setting for more than 30,000 large mammals to make their home, including four of the Big Five game. Ngorongoro’s spectacular scenery and massive wildlife population have earned it the moniker of Africa’s “Garden of Eden”. It is home to one of the densest known populations of Masai lion, and is one of the best places to spy critically endangered species such as black rhino and wild dog. In our opinion, Ngorongoro is a must-see – you may never experience a safari like this anywhere else. Check out our Wild Game Safari, one of our most popular African adventures, to see you how can experience Ngorongoro for yourself
Bulgaria’s hidden gem, Rila Monastery, offers an eye-catching contrast of colours set against the Balkans’ highest mountains. The beautiful complex was founded in the 10th century by hermit St. Ivan of Rila. St. Ivan himself actually lived in a cave with no material possessions. It was his students who built the monastery when they came to the mountains to learn. Since that time, the monastery has served as a massive influence in the region. During its 400 years under Ottoman rule, it shaped the development of arts and culture across the Ottoman Empire. Today, UNESCO names it a “masterpiece of creative genius”. Explore this colourful site for yourself with our Heritage of Bulgaria and Romania tour
Since the time of Marco Polo, travellers have long been attracted to the mystique of the legendary Silk Road, the world’s oldest and longest trade route. Possibly no city represents this mystique better than beguiling Samarkand, which seems as if it stepped right off the pages of Arabian Nights. Ancient Samarkand has served as a crossroad of world cultures for more than 2,500 years, and its monuments reflect this majestic history. From the ruins of Afrosiab, founded in seventh century B.C. and destroyed by Genghis Khan in the 13th century, to the epic structures of world-famous conqueror Timor dating from the 14th and 15th centuries, Samarkand’s architecture is an unmatched jewel along the Silk Route. See Samarkand’s mighty monuments for yourself with our Route of the Caravans: The Silk Road journey
Incredible Angkor stands as perhaps the most important archaeological site in Southeast Asia. The true span and scale of this ancient complex is difficult to comprehend. Spread over 400 kilometers squared are the remains of different capitals of the Khmer Empire from the ninth to the 15th century. More than 1,000 temples make their home here, ranging from piles of rubble to unparalleled artistic masterpieces. One could spend days, if not weeks, exploring all this site has to offer, from Ta Prohm, the temple famously featured in the Tomb Raider film, to legendary Angkor Wat, the world’s largest religious monument. Explore this incredible religious complex with our World Heritage Sites of Indochina tour
Thundering and majestic, Victoria Falls is named by UNESCO as the “world’s greatest sheet of falling water”. The name is well-earned. Here, the river is more than two kilometers wide, and up to 500 million liters of water pour down every minute. What’s more, the mist from the falls can be seen from more than 20 kilometers away! It’s for this reason that locals call the falls Mosi-oa-Tunya – the smoke that thunders. On top of that, it’s also possible to see elephant, lion, cheetah, leopard, rhino and more in the area close to the falls—an unmissable African experience! See this majestic water feature for yourself with our Discover Botswana Wildlife Safari with Victoria Falls
The Roman ruins of Ephesus are one of the world’s greatest outdoor museums. Here, we can not only see, but wander through the best preserved classical city in the Eastern Mediterranean, sweeping us back in time to the era when the Romans ruled. Ephesus was founded in fourth century B. C. by Lysimachos, one of the 12 generals of Alexander the Great. It eventually became a major center of the Roman Empire. When Asia Minor became part of the empire in 133 B.C., Ephesus was named its capital. Over the centuries, the city saw many great monuments and men. Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar visited here, while St. John, St. Paul, and the Virgin Mary called Ephesus home. The Temple of Artemis, one of the seven ancient wonders of the world, as well as the Celsus library, the third largest library of antiquity, were built here. Suffice to say, wandering through these well-preserved ruins is a trip back in time unlike any other! Wander the streets of Ephesus with our Classical Türkiye journey What other sites should be included in this article? Is there a World Heritage Site you have always wanted to see? We encourage you to share your thoughts by taking the poll below or shooting us an email at bestway@bestway.com for an opportunity to be featured in our future content!
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Posted by Kierra Jones