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The New 7 Wonders of the World
Taking the lead from the 7 Ancient Wonders of the World, Swiss philanthropist Bernard Weber believed that it might be time for a new list. (After all, the 7 ancient wonders was compiled in the 2nd Century BCE!) So he set up the New Seven Wonders Foundation which created a campaign to invite the public to vote on what they thought should be in the list for the New Seven Wonders of the World. 100 million people took part, but do you agree with the results? Some believe that this list is even more wondrous than the original - we’ll leave that up to you to decide. But it does seem to inspire a longer lasting awe when we can actually see the sites with our very own eyes! All of these places have long held top spots as best bucket list destinations, so if you ever find yourself in one of these countries, be sure to check them out.
1. Petra, Jordan
The ancient city of Petra is shrouded in mystery and legend. A very important biblical location, it is supposedly one of the places where Moses struck a rock to allow water to flow to the Israelites. One of the most mysterious things about Petra is that we have only discovered around 15% of the ancient city - the rest still remains untouched, somewhere underground...
At around 312 BCE, a secretive Arab tribe, the Nabataeans, settled in Petra to carve out an extraordinary city in a 3 - 6 meter crack of the delicate sandstone rock. Why carve out such an extraordinary city, extravagant monuments and incredible temples where no one can see them? One of life’s great mysteries! During this time the city flourished. The Nabataeans built a water system to service the elaborate gardens and farms making Petra a key stop on the spice trade route.
Tours to Jordan
Journey to Jordan
This 8 day tour takes you through modern cities, desert landscapes & UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Best of Jordan and Israel
Journey through the Holy Lands on an 11 day adventure including the rose city of Petra and the Biblical Bethlehem.
Egypt, Jordan and Israel
An incredible 19 day journey through ancient temples, Egyptian pyramids and the historical Jordan & Israel.
2. The Great Wall of China
The iconic symbol of the country, the great wall of China, is definitely the wonder which takes up the most space! You can try and walk it if you like but being over 5,500 miles long, it may take a while! The wall runs across 9 provinces from western China to the China / North Korea border, however most people tend to visit sections just outside of Beijing.
Construction began in the 7th century BCE and continued for nearly 1800 years! Great is the size, great it the determination to finish it, but the word great doesn’t quite fit when it comes to effectiveness. The intention of building the wall was to prevent attacks and invasions, however it failed to provide any actual safety to China.
3. Colosseum, Italy
Built over 1,900 years ago, the Colosseum in Rome is one of the most visited landmarks in the world and the largest amphitheatre ever built. This huge amphitheatre measures 620 by 513 feet (about the height of a 12 storey building!) and has a staggering capacity of 50,000.
Back in its heyday, the Colosseum was used for various events from theatre productions to exquisite displays of exotic animals. However, it is mostly remembered for the brutal gladiator fights. It is said that an estimate of 500,000 people died there and around 10,000 animals were often killed in a single day! This impressive structure took around 8 years and over 50,000 slaves to build. Even though only about a third of the original building remains, it still ignites a rich sense of awe to anyone who visits the ‘Eternal City’.
4. Chichen Itza, Mexico
The Mayans are one of the most intriguing, advanced civilisations our world has seen, with the Chichen Itza being one of their most well-preserved ruins. Situated in the Yacatán peninsula, this collection of ‘time temples’ shows the extraordinary, astronomical understanding the Mayans had.
Many of the temples were built purely to record astronomical events and the positioning of the sun. The Chichen Itza temple for example, aligns with the position of the sun during the summer and winter equinoxes and also marks the northern point of Venus. Their structures were so well built that when the sun hits the right point in the sky, it casts a shadow across the stairs of the pyramid ‘El Castillo’ - giving the shape of a snake, slithering towards the temple at the top.
Tours to Mexico
Mexico, Belize and Guatemala
From the buzzing Mexico City to the jungle of San Ignacio, join this 15 day tour to see the highlights of Central America.
Highlights of Mexico
From buzzing city vibes to sugar-white beaches, join this 13 day tour to see the best highlights of Mexico.
Mayans & Beaches
Take a 9 day tailor-made tour to Mexico to discover an ancient civilisation and see the best of the Mayan ruins.
5. Machu Picchu, Peru
Machu Picchu has long taken a high spot on many bucket lists, and for good reason! This high-altitude hike explores the ‘Lost City of the Incas’, one of the few settlements that remains intact. Built around the 15th century, it is thought that the settlement was constructed as a royal retreat for the Incan Empire. The engineering of the site still baffles archeologists today. The incredible Incan Empire somehow managed to construct their buildings using no mortar at all. The stones were cut and sandwiched together so tightly that when an earthquake occurs (which they do quite a lot in Peru!), the stones simply bounce, then fall back into place. Genius!
To reach Machu Picchu, many people take on the famous Inca Trail 7 day trek, or hop on a train for one of the most beautiful journeys in the world. Once you reach the site you can see the remains of the sacred sun-dial, the circular tower, the main plaza and the royal quarters.
Tours to Peru
Inca Highlights
Join an 11 day tour to Cusco, Lima, journey through the depths of the Amazon, visit the Sacred Valley and tick off Machu Picchu.
Peru in 2 Weeks
Spend 2 weeks visiting the Sacred Valley & Lake Titicaca, hiking the Inca Trail & spending a few nights in the Amazon.
Complete Peru
The ultimate in-depth tour of Peru, spread over 19 days. Machu Picchu, Colca Canyon, Uros Island and much more...
6. Taj Mahal, India
The Taj Mahal in Agra is one of the most beautiful structures in the world and an icon which has become synonymous with India. This labour of love took 22 years, 20,000 people and about 1,000 elephants to build, finally being completed in 1653. The Emperor Shah Jahan commissioned the build to honour his beloved wife who unfortunately died after giving birth to their 14th child!
The Taj Mahal is possibly the best and most astounding example of Mughal architecture on earth. Made of ivory marble, with embedded semi-precious stones, the four sides of the mausoleum have a near-perfect symmetry which is reflected in the long stretch of pond leading towards the entrance. If you want to see the Taj Mahal in all its glory, it’s best to visit at sunrise or sunset and sit in the tranquil gardens watching as the sun perfectly illuminates the ivory white of the building.
Tours to India
India In-depth
Discover India in this in-depth 22 day tour. Visit the Taj Mahal, float along the Ganges and camel trek through the desert.
Spiritual India
A 14 day tour to explore the culture and religion of India. Visit Delhi, the Taj Mahal, the lakes of Orchha and the city of Jaipur.
Rajasthan Explorer
Exotic, vibrant and unique, India is a place like no other. Explore the beautiful state of Rajasthan on this 15 day tour.
7. Christ the Redeemer, Brazil
Now a national symbol of Brazil, the Christ the Redeemer statue stands at an astonishing 2,300 feet tall - the largest Art Deco sculpture in the world. It’s so tall in fact that it gets struck by lightning about 5 times a year! Perched high on Mount Corcovado in Rio de Janeiro, the view upon reaching Christ the Redeemer is simply out of this world.
Amazingly, the entire build of the statue was funded by donations received from Brazilian Catholics after World War One, when the people of Brazil became concerned about crime and sin in the area. The statue is so large that it took nearly 6 million tiles to cover it, which were applied by devout women, many of whom wrote messages, names and prayers on the back of each tile. It took 5 years to build and was completed by 1926, making it the most recent of the New 7 Wonders of the World.
Tours to Brazil
South America Highlights
This month long adventure stops the most famous sites and popular destinations to give you a true taste of South America.
Buenos Aires to Rio Express
Discover 2 of South America's most vibrant cities in this spectacular 6 day tour including a trip to the Igauzi Falls.
Rio Carnival Beach Experience
Take on the world's greatest party, Rio Carnival with our amazing beach package and stay right by the Copacabana Beach.
10 Things you should know before visiting Machu Picchu
Decided to take on the epic trek of Machu Picchu? Well, like all good things in life it doesn’t come easy! One of the most incredible (and popular!) adventures on the planet, definitely requires a little preparation. So, you’ve got your permit? Check. Hiking gear? Check. Passport? Check! Now, what else…There’s always a few things which don’t cross your mind when taking on a quest as big as this so we’ve put together ten handy tips you should know before you set off on your big adventure in Peru!
Sights of Asia: The Great Wall of China
An exciting day ahead, one of the highlights on my list, and the only thing my son, Tom asked when I was going to get there. With lots of snow everywhere and knowing the great wall is built through mountains, I am taking no risk on getting cold today. I have put all my thermals on so I can stay at the wall to my hearts content. The drive was about two hours, pretty uninteresting when you can’t see more than a few hundred metres, and once we arrive, the site at Jinshangling is virtually abandoned. Most unusual apparently, to be able to see and walk on the Great Wall without hordes of other tourists.
