The Most Popular UNESCO World Heritage Sites Around the World
If you’re planning your next vacation, why not organise it around a World Heritage Site? There are over 1,000 of them, so if you have a hard time choosing, check out our list of the most popular UNESCO World Heritage Sites around the world.
The Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. It was built from 7th century BC up to the 1878 in the Qing Dynasty. The Great Wall stretches approximately 13,170 miles across 15 provinces and it would take around 18 months to walk it, though most people only visit sections of it. You can get to the Mutianyu Great Wall by taking a tourist bus from Beijing or get the train from Beijing to Badaling Great Wall Railway Station and walk to the Great Wall from there. The Badaling Great Wall is the most visited section and will be busy with tourists. It’s possible to camp in a camping site next to the Great Wall if you want to take a multi-day trip. You’ll need to wear hiking boots and layers as it will be a taxing walk and the weather with change throughout the day.
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park became the world's first National Park in 1872 and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. It spans 3,472 square miles across Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho, and it has five entrances. It has more than 1,800 archaeological sites, including ones that feature pictographs and petroglyphs. It has many geothermal features, including hot springs, fumaroles, mudpots, and geysers, such as Old Faithful. Yellowstone has 300 species of bird, 67 species of mammals, and more. There are 900 miles of hiking trails, and visitors can stay at campsites, hotels, and lodges. Park passes can be bought online.
Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is an 15th century Incan citadel that was named a Peruvian Historical Sanctuary in 1981 and it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. The ruins were originally covered in vegetation until excavations began in 1912. You can travel to Machu Picchu by taking a train and a bus or you can hike the Inka trail or another trekking trail. To visit the site, you must purchase tickets in advance and follow the restrictions and rules. You must also follow a designated path. The top things to see at Machu Picchu are the Temple of the Sun, the Temple of the Condor, the Intihuatana, Temple of the Three Windows, and Hut of the Caretaker of the Funerary Rock. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for the llamas that roam the grounds.
Rapa Nui National Park
The Rapa Nui National Park became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. It covers 26 square miles, which is approximately 40% of Easter Island. The site encompasses 887 Moai (more commonly known as Easter Island Heads) that were built by the Rapa Nui people between the 13th and 16th centuries. There are 14 hiking trails and many people stop by the Rano Kau to get a good look at the dormant volcano. You cannot camp in the National Park, but you can stay on one of the designated camping sites on the Island. There are also hotels in Hanga Roa, Easter Islands main town. Visitors need a pass to enter the park, which can be bought at the airport. You can get to Easter Island via a five-hour flight from Santiago, Chile, which is run by a single airline.
Petra
The archaeological site of Petra became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985. While there is a lot to see in Petra, only 15% has been uncovered so far. The best way to get there is a four-hour bus ride from Amman. Tickets can be purchased at the visitor centre. If you buy a multiday ticket, you can stay at a nearby campsite or at a hotel in Wadi Musa. To enter Petra, you must pass through a narrow gorge called the Siq. The first thing you’ll see is the Al-Khazneh tomb, also known as “The Treasury”. Petra is home to over 600 tombs, including the Royal Tombs. There are several religious buildings there, such as the Great Temple, the Qasr al-Bint temple, the Temple of the Winged Lions, a Byzantine Church, and the Ad Deir monastery. If you wander the site, you’ll also find the Colonnaded Street, the theatre, and the Petra Pool and Garden Complex.
Serengeti National Park
Serengeti National Park became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981. To enter the park, you have to pay an entrance fee at the gate. Stop by the Seronera Visitor Information Centre for information about the park. Many people visit the park from January to March to see over 1 million wildebeest, followed by zebras, eland, and gazelles, at the Great Migration. You’ll see many animals in different parts of Serengeti National Park. There are hundreds of hippos at the Retina Hippo Pool; most of the black rhino population are at the Moru Kopjes; and lions, cheetahs, and leopards stay in Lobo Valley. If you stay near a waterhole, you may even get to see a few African elephants.
Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. This 17th century mausoleum was commissioned by Emperor Shah Jahan, and he and his wife are laid to rest there. Lots of tourists visit the Taj Mahal to admire the beautiful architecture. Many people will recognise the white marble mausoleum, but there is also a red sandstone mosque, the rest house, and gardens. Tickets can be bought online in advance or at a ticket booth at the East Gate, West Gate, or South Gate. There are certain things you can’t bring inside, but there are a limited number of lockers available for you to store your belongings. Cameras are allowed on the grounds, but you cannot take photographs inside the mausoleum. The site is closed to tourists on Fridays while the mosque is being used for worship.
Galápagos Islands
The Galápagos Islands make up the Galápagos National Park and the Galápagos Marine Reserve. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. The Galápagos Islands are home to a wide array of wildlife, the highlight being the Galápagos tortoise, which can be observed in El Chato Tortoise Reserve, Cerro Colorado Tortoise Reserve, and the Arnaldo Tupiza Tortoise Breeding Center. If you travel to the Galápagos Islands, expect to see orcas, white-tipped sharks, sea lions, and iguanas. Popular birds to spot include Galápagos penguins, boobies, Galápagos hawks, and Darwin's finches. There is as much to see beneath the water as there is on land, so consider going snorkelling for an enhanced experience. Must visits are the Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz Island and the Asilo de la Paz, the first human settlement on Floreana Island.
Travelling to see a UNESCO World Heritage Site can be an incredible experience. When you’re ready to book your trip, purchase your travel insurance straight away and read the policy documents carefully to make sure that all aspects of your trip are covered.
