Bagan, located on the banks of the Ayeyarwady River, is home to the largest and densest concentration of Buddhist temples, pagodas, stupas and ruins in the world with many dating from the 11th and 12th centuries. The shape and construction of each building are highly significant in Buddhism with each component part taking on spiritual […]
Yangon, formerly Rangoon, was the capital of Myanmar until it was superseded by Naypyidaw in November 2005. Today, with a population of over 5 million people, it remains the largest city and main economic hub of Myanmar. Although Yangon’s infrastructure is undeveloped compared to those of other major cities in Southeast Asia, it has the […]
Macau (also spelt Macao) is a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China and one of the world’s most densely populated spots. Located across the Pearl River estuary from Hong Kong, until 1999 Macau was an overseas territory of Portugal. Macau is best known as a major destination for gambling. This goes back to colonial times when […]
As one of the best-preserved parts of the Great Wall, the Great Wall Mutianyu section of the used to serve as the northern barrier defending the capital and the imperial tombs. First built in the mid-6th century during the Northern Qi, Mutianyu Great Wall is older than the Badaling section of the Great Wall. In […]
Beijing history dates back to three millennia. The city is renowned for its opulent palaces, temples, parks and gardens, tombs, walls and gates, and its art treasures and universities have made it a centre of culture and art in China. Beijing has seven UNESCO World Heritage – the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, […]
The fabled “rose-red city, half as old as time”, Petra is the well known ancient Nabataean city in the south of Jordan, recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985. Chosen in July 2007 as one of the New Seven Wonders and what may be one of the most expensive admissions to any archaeological site […]
Founded in 1989 in the area in and around the Dana village and Wadi Dana, the Dana Biosphere Reserve is Jordan‘s largest nature reserve. The village itself is a sight of sorts, being constructed mostly from traditional stone and mud houses. It is very small, however. Mostly rubble and fallen, but there were little signs of renewal in what […]
Jerash, a city in northern Jordan, famous for its Roman ruins. The archaeological site is popular for tourists, second only to Petra. Located some 48 km (30 miles) north of the capital Amman, Jerash is known for the ruins of the Greco-Roman city of Gerasa. It is sometimes misleadingly referred to as the “Pompeii of […]
Dubrovnik is among the 10 best medieval walled cities in the world. The city is completely pedestrianised and easily small enough to get around on foot, with some of the streets are a little steep and many stairs to climb. Dubrovnik was heavily bombed during the Croatian War of Independence from 1991 to 1995, but almost all […]
Dubrovnik is an old city on the Adriatic Sea coast in the south of Croatia, nicknamed “Pearl of the Adriatic” and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. Dubrovnik is among the 10 best medieval walled cities in the world. The city is completely pedestrianised and easily small enough to get around […]
Jemaa el-Fnaa, the open square in the middle of the medina of Marrakech features dancers, storytellers, teeth pullers and snake charmers, and other entertainers in what really is an outdoor circus of weirdness. An awkward feeling of amazement and disgust, theatre and strange acts, and some very uncomfortable animal handling. Children, as young as 8 […]
Prague is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe with over 1000 years of history. The district of Praha 1 is the oldest part of the city and has the densest number of attractions. Situated on the Vltava River in central Bohemia, since 1992 the historic centre of Prague has been included in the UNESCO […]
Machu Picchu is a 15th-century Inca site located 2,430 metres (7,970 ft) above sea level. Most archaeologists believe that Machu Picchu was built as an estate for the Inca emperor. Often referred to as the “City of the Incas“, it is perhaps the most familiar icon of Inca civilization. The Incas built the estate around […]
Visitor numbers to Machu Picchu are restricted to 2500 people per day, even less if you want to explore Huayna Picchu or Machu Mountain with only 400 per day. Planning ahead and booking tickets to Machu Picchu is a complicated process as the official tickets are issued by the Peru Ministry of Culture only. The official […]
At 3,400 m above sea level, Cuzco (also “Cusco“, or “Qosqo” in Quechua), was the capital of the Inca Empire. Cuzco is a Unesco World Heritage Site and is one of Peru‘s most visited cities as it is the largest and most comfortable city from which tourists can begin visits to Machu Picchu, the Sacred […]
Valparaíso is a city on the Pacific coast of Central Chile approximately 120km west of the capital, Santiago de Chile. Widely known for its bohemian culture, brightly coloured houses, and beautiful seaside views it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003. Visiting Valparaiso has less to do with touring specific sites than it […]