Time ceases to move at Angkor Wat as you step out of modern civilization into an early 12th-century temple complex in the central Cambodian jungle. In fact, the jungle is actually growing in the Angkor Wat Temples—literally! Tree roots and branches are growing through, on top and inside the temples, making for a scene of culture and nature intertwined. It's hard to explain a place that demands such attention based on its sheer size, and sustains your interest in a gripping search over the layers of detailed stone carvings. The Angkor Wat complex encompass over a hundred stone temples in total, and the Angkor Wat Temple is the largest and best preserved of these ruins. This enduring masterpiece was built initially for King Suryavarman II ...
Embark on the journey back in time down the Inca trail to the city of Machu Picchu. Built around 1450 and abandoned 100 years later, Machu Picchu lay forgotten until 1911 when Hiram Bingham brought attention to this treasure and it was soon thereafter declared a world heritage site. It recently received a title change to be included as one of the New 7 Wonders of the world. The Machu Picchu ruins are 7970ft above sea level on a ridge in the Umbra Valley in Peru, meaning that altitude sickness can be problematic for some. The buildings are constructed in dry stone wall, and are created so flawlessly that in some places the stones are so well constructed that not even a knife can pass ...
Step back into a time of lost cities and mystical pasts when you visit Petra. This surreal city is housed in southwestern Jordan, in a valley amongst mountains that run from the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Aqaba. Discovered in 1812 by a Swiss traveler, Johann Ludwig Burckhardt, Petra was later declared a World Heritage site in 1985. The history of Petra is somewhat ill-defined, passed from its original creators 6th century Nabataean Arabs , down through to Romans and later to Crusaders, it was eventually left to locals. The entry way to this amazing archeological site is a stretch of narrow gorge that is called a Siq, created by a natural geographical fault. This passage measures over a mile in length, towers over ...
Some of the most remarkable achievements in human history stand in preservation on the Plateau of Giza, by Cairo in Egypt. The Great Pyramids of Egypt, built over 4,500 years ago, continues to astound the amazement of all who visit. The Pyramids of Giza are the most famous of ancient Egyptian monuments. This series of necropolises served the elite Royal Egyptians during the 4th Dynasty, approximately late 3rd millennium BCE. The most famous of these tombs is the Pyramid of Khufu. It is also known as the Great Pyramid (or the Pyramid of Cheops) and is the largest of the bunch. The next most prominent Great Pyramid is the Pyramid of Khafre; then followed by the modest-sized Pyramid of Menkaure. Khufu Pyramid was built by ...
Erected by Neolithic peoples in Wiltshire, England, Stonehenge is believed to be built over the course 2300 years, and dates back to 2200BC. The entire area around Stonehenge is painstakingly stunning and contains many other sites from the Neolithic period and Bronze age, most notably Stonehenge Cursus, King Barrows Ridge, The Avenue, Woodhenge and Durrington Walls. In total this World Heritage Site is over 2000 hectares.Stonehenge is said to be one of the most impressive archeological sites in Britain, being just on the edge of the Salisbury plain it boasts expanses of beautiful rolling hills and soft valleys that make for excellent stress-free hikes. Stonehenge's original purpose when built was a calendar and center for religious rituals, to this day it is still visited by ...
The mysticism long associated with Mount Kilimanjaro can be attributed to some of the most breath taking views as its peaks drive up from lush green foothills of Tanzania, past the clouds, into the radiant and unparalleled equatorial sun. Only three degrees south of the equator, Mount Kilimanjaro is made up of three volcanic cones Mawensi, Shira, and Kibo. All of the volcanoes are extinct except for Kibo which is active dormant and still emits heavy smells of sulfur. Although Kilimanjaro does not have the highest elevation in the world, it claims the title of highest free standing mountain, reaching over 19,340 feet at its highest point Uhuru Peak on Kibo volcano. One of the other appealing aspects of conquering this climb is that to ...
Trunk to tail the procession of gentle giants mosey onward during the Elephant Round Up held in Surin Thailand, every third weekend of November. A relatively recent developed tradition, it originated from citizens training elephants as working animals, but later due the Civil War in Cambodia and the logging ban of 1989 that put thousands of elephants out of work, handlers turned to entertainment to earn a living. Each year over 200 Elephants gather together in this Eastern part of Thailand to entertain, charm, and astonish visitors with their feats of strength and skill during games such as tug of war and football. One of the more hands on events is the Elephant Breakfast held on the Friday morning. Chains of Elephants carrying dignitaries, tourists ...
In the town of Longsheng in Gaungxi Province, lies one of the most intricate and serene landscapes, where rice terraces scale the slopes of the winding hillsides. Known as the Dragon's Backbone Rice Terraces, it is home to four different ethnic minorities Miao, Yao, Dong and Zhuang which offer visitors the amazing opportunity to truly mingle with the local culture by exploring their traditions first hand.
A visual ecstasy on sunny days, the fresh waters of Erawan Falls pour over limestone rock and collects into 7 refreshing pools, begging visitors to stop and relax in its cool water. The falls are said to resemble the 3 headed Elephant Erawan from Hindu mythology and is also the name sake of this work of nature. A series of paths and footbridges lead you to the various 7 tiers of Erawan Falls and are quite the adventure in and of them self. If you are looking to go right to the top be prepared for some intense uphill sluggin’ and steep steps, but once near that last 200m to the top, the view is truly one of paradise. Erawan Falls are quite popular and ...
With only 700 left in the world, and none in any zoo the chance to see a Mountain Gorilla face to face is the experience of a lifetime. Tracking Gorillas is not easy, and there is no guarantee you’ll even get to see one. For me the opportunity of observing mountain gorillas in their natural habitat was something I’d always dreamed of doing. The hours spent hiking through the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest melted away as soon as I caught my first glimpse of black fur through the foliage. Before I knew it the guides had carefully cleared away the hanging vines and dense leaves and we were treated to a little over an hour long close encounter with some of the most intriguing animals in ...
