Travel Gems: The 7 New UNESCO World Heritage sites to visit in 2018

Travel Lust: 7 New UNESCO World Heritage sites to visit in 2018

Sarah Khan

14 Nov 2017

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#1 Ahmedabad, India
Ahmedabad is the 6th largest city in India and also its first UNESCO World Heritage city. It is the commercial hub of the Indian state of Gujarat. Though not as well-known for being a 'touristy' place, it certainly warrants a visit - especially considering the fact that Gujaratis are known for their hospitality.

The city boasts of a wealth of awe-inspiring architecture, from the centuries-old mosques and mausoleums to contemporary, cutting-edge designs. It's certainly the city for culture vultures: there's the fascinating old quarter in the city, stellar museums, a scrumptious selection of restaurants as well as a bustling street food scene. Ahmedabad is also home to the tranquil Sabarmati Ashram, which was Gandhi's former headquarters.
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#2 Aphrodisias, Turkey
Aphrodisias is one of the oldest sacred sites in Turkey, dedicated to the Greek Goddess of Love, Aphrodite. Thought to have been built since as early as 5,800 BC, it was home to the magnificent Temple of Aphrodite, which eventually became a Christian basilica.

Today, the partially-restored Temple of Aphrodite is well-preserved, allowing visitors a glimpse of the regal and splendour it once had. You'll also find the ruins of a massive theatre, a stadium, as well as an on-site museum exhibiting artifacts.
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#3 Asmara, Eritrea
Asmara is the capital of Eritrea, a reclusive and authoritarian nation. The city was awarded the title of UNESCO World Heritage Site with its numerous Art Deco buildings, which earned it the title of "Africa's Miami". Till today, the country still holds many well-preserved modernist buildings.

The city flourished when Eritrea was colonised by Italy from 1889 until World War II. Then, it became the architectural haven and testing ground for Italian architects who were able to try out their boldest design ideas there, freed of Europe's conservative cultural mores. Asmara is certainly one of the most enchanting cities in Africa, with streets lined with pastry shops, vintage cafes and pizza parlors reminiscent of a small Italian village.
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#4 Sambor Prei Kuk, Cambodia
Sambor Prei Kuk, which translates to "temple in the richness of the forest" in Khmer, is Cambodia's third UNESCO World Heritage Site. Spanning over an area of 25 square kilometres, the ancient temple site is home to numerous temples, ten of which are octagonal.

According to UNESCO, the area has been identified as Ishanapura, the capital of the ancient Chenla Empire, a Khmer civilisation that thrived in the late 6th and 7th centuries, before the Khmer Empire. Elements of the temples, like the "lintels, pediments and colonnades" are "true masterpieces", UNESCO shared on its official website. In fact, the art and architecture developed here lay the groundwork of the unique Khmer style of the Angkor period.
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#5 Sacred island of Okinoshima, Japan
Japan's Okinoshima island, an ancient religious site where women are banned, is home to the Okitsu shrine. It was built in the 17th century to pray for the safe return of sailors. The customs surrounding the sacred island is fascinating: for one, before setting foot on the island, men are required to strip off their clothes and perform a cleansing ritual.

This tiny, remote island is a treasure trove of 80,000 offerings to Shinto sea gods. For a long time, tourists were permitted to visit the island in limited numbers (200 in 2017) only on one day a year for an annual festival that lasts just two hours, where they must adhere to strict rules. Unfortunately, starting in 2018, visitors will no longer be allowed to set foot on the island.
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#6 Historic city of Yazd, Iran
The historic city of Yazd in central Iran is the country's 22nd world heritage sites, but the only UNESCO-listed Iranian city where people actually still reside in. Thought to also be the world's largest inhabited adobe city, it is home to the UNESCO-listed ancient Persian Qanats, the Dolat Abad Garden and is known for its adobe architecture, Zoroastrian fire temples and tall structures known as badgirs.
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#7 Swabian Jura, Germany
When modern humans first set foot in Europe some 43,000 years ago during the last ice age, one of the areas they resided in was the Swabian Jura in southern Germany. The caves excavated here reveal items dating as far back then and include fascinating Ice Age Art, carved figurines of animals (which include mammoths and cave lions) - even musical instruments and personal adornments. Other figurines fascinatingly depict half-animal, half-human creatures. This archaeological site has some of the oldest figurative art in the world, and brings to light the origins of human artistic development.

Hit by a bout of #wanderlust yet?

Travel is changing in 2017. It seems that travelers are increasingly seeking offbeat travels, that may run the gamut of ‘swimming with whale sharks in Mexico’ to ‘riding a jeep in an African safari’, rather than a ‘luxury resort stay on a tropical island’. No doubt, there is definitely a hunger for enriching experiences, rich culture and being able to immerse in raw, brute nature.

If you’re looking for new hidden gem destinations to visit in 2018, mapping your travels according to the UNESCO World Heritage List is a great start. Reappraised to include new sites every year, the list is the travel equivalent of the Oscars’, curating important sites of cultural significance or natural landmarks around the globe.

The 2017 UNESCO World Heritage List was released earlier in July with 21 new sites inscribed as a World Heritage Site. These include the ancient ruins of Sambor Prei Kuk in Cambodia, which now sit alongside the likes of iconic landmarks like the Taj Mahal, Grand Canyon and Great Wall of China.

From the alluring historic Iranian city of Yazd to the fascinating Ice Age art in Germany’s Swabian Jura, browse the gallery above for our top picks of the newly-listed UNESCO World Heritage Sites to visit in 2018!

Sarah Khan

Photos: Getty Images

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