Himeji-jo Castle, Japan Like something out of a fairytale, this ancient and beautiful fortress is nicknamed White Heron castle because of its resemblance to the white bird taking flight. This is the most visited castle in Japan as well as the largest - an ornate complex built back in the 14th Century, you cannot help fall in love with its history and heritage. Now a world heritage site, it is currently undergoing extension renovations to give it back its full shiny lustre. Kathmandu Valley, Nepal Brimming with ancient temples, this valley includes a staggering seven listed UNESCO world heritage sites. Someones been very busy indeed! As the most developed part of Nepal, it is a mecca for tourists because of the distinctive culture and architectural style. All man-made marvels, they include the Buddhist stupas of Swayambhu (better known as the monkey temple), the Durbar Squares of Hanuman Dhoka (Kathmandu) and the Hindu temples of Pashupati and Changu Narayan. Dont rush - make sure you plan in enough time to see them all, two to three days is recommended. Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park, Australia If you have never seen this world celebrated red rock in the middle of the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park, what are you waiting for? Ulura (Ayers Rock) is possibly the most incredible natural wonder you could ever lay eyes on. Standing 348 metres tall, it is a sacred place for the indigenous aboriginal people and seems almost alive, changing with the light from a brilliant red to black as the sun sets. Located in the red plained centre of Australia, in the Northern Territory, the national park also includes the fascinating Kata Tjuṯa (Mount Olga) rock formations. Just make sure you take a map in this vast wilderness! Moray, Peru These breathtaking Inca ruins are located very high up, approximately 50km from Cuzco, Peru. The circular terraces, reminiscent of an amphitheatre make it a rare site. It is thought that the Incas designed it this way to grow different crops, as a kind of ‘agricultural experiment’ because the temperature difference between the top and bottom can be up to 15 °C. This is a top tourist destination in Peru and if you want to see what remains of the ancient Inca civilisation, this is not to be missed. Just mind your step - it is about 150 metres down! Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia The legendary salt flats of Bolivia are known the world over – indeed Salar de Uyuni ranks as the largest in the world at 10,582 square kilometres and its mirrored surfaces are much photographed. Did you know that it also contains up to 70% of the earth’s lithium reserve and is a breeding ground for pink flamingos? Certainly a fascinating and remarkable place. You could almost fool someone that you were on the Moon, the landscape looks so similar. Angkor Wat temple, Cambodia Cambodia is extremely proud of its 12th Century treasure; it’s even on the countrys flag and is a top tourist attraction. The beautiful temple was built by the Khmer King Suryavarman II and is claimed to be the largest religious monument on the planet. It is not just a heritage site but is also a religious place, being first a Hindu and then Buddhist centre of worship. Come and marvel at this incredible architectural wonder. For any Tomb Raider fans it is also a must-see destination as it was filmed here! Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia Over 1.2 million people come and see these beautiful lakes inter-connected by many wonderful waterfalls, in the oldest national park in south-east Europe. It is easy to see why it is Croatia’s most popular tourist hotspot, which gained UNESCO world heritage status back in 1979. The water is a perfect blue colour but unfortunately to keep it looking so perfect you are not allowed to jump in for a swim! When you’ve enjoyed the lakes explore the rest of the 300 square km park with stunning woodland with wildlife such as bears, deer and even wolves - yes, watch out for those!
Posted on: Sat, 02 Nov 2013 02:24:46 +0000
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