One of our favorite things to do when traveling is to explore the world’s historical sites. There are many people who will visit as many UNESCO World Heritage sites as possible and make this a theme of their trip. Checking off these famous sites is a great way to choose where to go on your next vacation. So we thought we’d help you plan a trip around some of our favorite historic places in the world that we’ve seen.
1. Pyramids of Giza, Egypt
The Pyramids of Giza is a historical site that is difficult to evaluate. If you go at the wrong time or join the wrong tour, it can be a painful experience as you drag your feet through the crowds dodging touts and tour buses.
We visited the Giza Pyramids four times, and enjoyed all three of them. Once on a camel, once on a private tour, once on a bicycle, and once on a tour bus. Needless to say, the crowded tour bus was our first visit and the least enjoyable.
2. The Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China is located just outside of Beijing and we have visited it twice. Each time we found it to be awe-inspiring. There are several different sections of the Great Wall to visit, with Badaling Great Wall and Mutianyu Great Wall being the most accessible. Each time was a very different experience, but both were incredible.
The Great Wall of China was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987
。
For us, the Great Wall of China lived up to the hype. Many would say otherwise, but between our two visits to the Great Wall, we were impressed and excited.
We visited Badaling and Mutianyu Great Wall of China, each of which was a different experience. Badaling attracts local tourists because it is the closest wall to Beijing and is very crowded with local visitors. However, that’s what makes it so exciting.
People are happy to meet you and by visiting the part of the wall that locals visit, we feel less like tourists and more like part of the family. Mutianyu is a bit far from downtown Beijing and has far fewer tourists visiting it. It is equally beautiful and impressive.
3. Petra, Jordan
We didn’t know what to expect until we visited Petra in Jordan, except that Petra was the setting for movies like Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Aladdin, Transformers and the Return of the Mummy.
As we walked the 1.3 kilometers along the Siq toward the large plaza where the vault is located, we were greeted by the high cliffs that line the narrow path. It is no wonder that this complex has remained unknown to the outside world for centuries.
It was amazing to see the facades of the Treasury and the monastery carved into the red sandstone. How did the ancient Nabataeans create such masterpieces more than 2,000 years ago?
Petra was founded in the 2nd century AD and is a 3 hour drive from the capital Amman. We hired a driver and spent the night in the city of Petra, which is walking distance from the old city.
Make sure you visit Petra in the evening, follow the beautiful candlelit path to the Ministry of Finance for a Bedouin show, and then arrive there early the next morning to avoid the rush of tour buses. This caravan city was a major trade route between the Red Sea and the Dead Sea and was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985.
4. Tikal, Guatemala
Our visit to the ruins of Tikal, Guatemala was like no other. What fascinated us about Tikal were all the pyramids that were occupied by the jungle. Piles of pyramids jutting out of the earth hinted at something wonderful underground. This jungle setting makes Tikal one of the world’s top historical sites. Howler monkeys cry in the distance and spider monkeys play in the trees overhead. Leaf-cutting ants walk through the jungle and you can climb its huge towers, where you can enjoy endless views of the rainforest. This ancient wonder should be at the top of your list when visiting Central America.
This ancient historical site is one of the main sites of the Mayan civilization, dating back to the 6th century BC. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.
5. Machu Picchu, Peru
Machu Picchu has been named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, and for good reason. How many ancient cities are there at 2,430 meters above sea level? This lost city of the Incas is perched on a high mountain in the Peruvian Andes.
A 3-hour train ride from the city of Cusco, it’s not the ruins themselves that impress Machu Picchu, but its setting. The terraced blocks of brick buildings plunge into the valley below.
It is possible to hike to Machu Picchu in four days along the ancient Inca Trail, creating a spiritual journey you will never forget. Although Peru is a tourist destination, visitors are limited and trekking can be a daunting challenge. Due to travel restrictions, 2022 may be the time to hike to Machu Picchu and get a taste of what it was like before mass tourism.
6. Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Angkor Wat is overcrowded, there’s no doubt about that, but that’s what makes it so popular. This ancient city in the Cambodian jungle was once the most powerful city in Southeast Asia, where the Khmer Empire reigned supreme. What makes this historic place so impressive is that it has been mostly reclaimed by the jungle.
The roots of the trees run through many buildings of the temples. Be sure to spend a few days exploring Angkor Wat. We rented a private tuk-tuk and set out early in the morning to stay one step ahead of the tour buses and crowds. By mid-afternoon, Angkor Wat is packed with tourists, so return to your hotel to relax and then continue the next morning from where you left off.
7. Cappadocia, Turkey
The fairytale chimneys of Cappadocia are a dream. Ever since we saw photos of hundreds of hot air balloons on top of stone spires, we wanted to see this magical land and it did not disappoint. Cappadocia’s top attraction is a hot air balloon ride at sunrise over the vast valleys with names like the Valley of Love, the Valley of Roses and the Red Valley.
Cappadocia is an ancient land formed by a series of volcanic eruptions in the central Anatolian region of Turkey. Throughout the ages, the formation of stone minarets scattered the valleys where early people built kilns on sandstone cliffs. Today, many of these caves have been transformed into luxury hotels.
