We travel for a variety of reasons. Be it for leisure, relaxation, as part of our work, for sightseeing purposes, or even for educational purposes, there are several reasons why we travel or would like to travel.
Some believe traveling can also be therapeutic, which is why they travel. Irrespective of the reason, traveling is a culture we should all embrace. Planning to travel is an essential part of the whole experience in itself.
However, you may have no bucket list to fulfill as part of your traveling experience. That is what I am here for – Below are the 10 best places to visit before you die.
10 Best Places to Visit Before You Die
1. The Great Wall Of China
Spanning a whopping 21,000 km, the Great Wall of China is today the longest-standing wall known to man. It was added to the list of World Heritage sites in 1987 by UNESCO. Said to have been built as far back as 2500 years ago, they eventually stopped working on it around the 17th century.
Currently, it cuts through 15 provinces, 97 prefectures, and 404 counties. To set a Guinness record on this wall, one must walk for 17 months. However, that shouldn’t deny you the beauty of this man-made wonder, as familiar travels to the wall only involve visiting a short section of it.
Walking along the Great Wall of China from Jinshanling to Simatai is the most beautiful part of the wall. It takes about 3-4 hours to complete this walk.
2. The Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Also known as the world’s largest coral reef, it stretches over 2300 kilometers and is composed of several hundreds of islands. You can go snorkeling in its expansive, natural range of ecological communities, which is home to several species of animals.
3. Angkor Wat, Cambodia
For travelers seeking an Indiana Jones-themed adventure, Angkor Wat is the perfect place. Built in the 12th century by King Suryavarman II (reigned 1113–c. 1150), the Angkor Wat is a temple complex in Cambodia.
It occupies 162.6 hectares (1,626,000 m2; 402 acres) and is the largest religious monument in the world. The Khmer Empire dedicated Angkor Wat to Vishnu, breaking with Shaiva tradition.
4. The Great Pyramid Of Giza
Also known as Khufu’s pyramids, archaeologists claim that this pyramid was the tallest structure in the world for over 3000 years. The pyramid is the oldest and largest of the world’s seven wonders, with over 481 feet.
The Egyptian people built it to house the tomb of the Fourth Dynasty pharaoh, Khufu.
5. Bora French Polynesia
A small South Pacific island in French Polynesia is one of the most enchanting sights a traveler can behold.
It is known for its stunning volcanic views, incredible turquoise lagoon, white-sand beaches, and luxury overwater resorts on islets providing views of the surrounding sea.
6. The Stonehenge
Stonehenge is considered a cultural icon, believed to have been constructed around 3000 BC to 2000 BC. It is a prehistoric edifice on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England.
Four stone towers form the outer ring, each 13 feet (4.0 m) high, 7 feet (2.1 m) wide, and weighing around 25 tons, with horizontal lintel stones connecting them.
7. Grand Canyon
Located in the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, Known as the Great Unconformity, the Grand Canyon is a prominent example of geological formations that lie back-to-back with 1.2 billion years old sediments.
The event that took place between those millions of years remains largely a mystery. To view this majestic natural work of art, you can look at the Mather Point, Lipan Point, and Yavapai observation station, among others.
8. Giant’s Causeway
It is located in Antrim County on the coast of Northern Ireland. It is known to the Irish as the 8th wonder of the world, and this magnificent structure came into being approximately 6 million years ago.
A flow of basaltic lava formed this jagged promontory of hexagonal basalt rocks. It has an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalts. This natural tower has been subject to several interpretations.
Some believe that the causeway was built by giants for them to fight. I am confident that when you visit this place, you will be able to conclude for yourself.
9. Meteora, Greece
This rock formation located in Greece is unique and known for its impressive rock formations. Furthermore, this rock formation hosts Eastern Orthodox monastic complexes, second only to Mount Athos in size and precipitous construction.
It also serves as a base for those who like to hike, paraglide, and even take beautiful shots of nature in its elegance.
10. Salar De Uyuni
This Salt Flat in Bolivia is one place you should add to your bucket list when planning locations to travel to. This is the biggest salt flat in the world and measures 10,582 km. Not only is this location known for its salt, but it is also regarded by some as the cemetery for trains – because a complete collection of mining trains from the 1940s can be found here.
Aside from this, when filled with water, this salt flat transforms into the most extensive natural mirror in the world.
Every traveler needs so many more exquisite locations on their bucket list. This list is not exhaustive in itself; therefore, in subsequent posts, I will be updating this list.
