10 Travel destinations for adventure-seekers

10 Destinations every adventure-seeker should visit in their lifetime

Amanda Lim

19 Nov 2015

updated the 23 November 2015 à 16:50

1/10
Petra, Jordan
Petra was once the capital of the ancient Nabataean Kingdom that flourished as a wealthy trading centre before being discovered in 1812 by Swiss explorer Johann Burckhardt. The city reveals itself to you as you walk through a narrow gorge to enter it and trust us, you’ll need to remind yourself to breath once you get a glimpse of Petra. Did we mention it was featured in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade?
2/10
Machu Picchu
A living monument of the Incas, the famous Machu Pichu draws one million visitors a year. You can reach Machu Pichy by taking a train ride or hiking over a high ridge just like the Incas did. The monument is so popular, the authorities are looking to limit visitations as to help the preservation of the ancient site.
3/10
Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Angkor Wat was actually discovered 150 years ago by French explorer Henri Mouhot. Once part of the ancient Khmer Empire, Angkor Wat is a vast area part of Angkor Archaeological Park littered with temples, and massive stone heads.
4/10
Troy, Turkey
Made famous by Homer in his epic tale of The Illiad. Though a story of Gods and heroes, Troy is very much a real city. It was discovered in Turkey in the late 19^th century and was believed to be the legendary city. Visitors can hope to see the ruins of the city walls as well as a replica of the Trojan Horse that is 30 feet tall.
5/10
Chichén Itzá, Mexico
The ruins of Chichén Itzá show that a vibrant city once existed before the Columbus landed on American soil. The most recognisable structure on the grounds is the Temple of Kukulkan, also known as El Castillo. The steep pyramid has 365 steps, one for every day of the year, making it an ancient calendar used by Mayans. The people were so astronomically advanced, they had an observatory that still remains on the site today.
6/10
The Pyramids of Giza
Synonymous with Egypt, the Pyramids of Giza date back 4,500 years ago. The massive monumnets are still a mystery. Why were they built and how did they build them? The intrigue behind these Pyramids are probably what attracts some four million visitors every year.
7/10
Pompeii, Italy
A walk through the ruins of the famous lost city is haunting. The coastal town disappeared under the ashes of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Bodies encased in ash used to lie in this town before they disintegrated. However, plaster casts have been put in their place to remind visitors that actual human beings inhabited it once upon a time.
8/10
Delphi, Greece
Delphi was a place of importance to the ancient Greeks. It is said to be the navel of mother earth and was also a sacred stronghold of Apollo. The sun god spoke to his people through his chosen Oracle, who people would consult for personal issues and political affairs. Delphi was also the site for the Phythian Games, the prelude to today’s modern Olympics.
9/10
Terracotta Army, China
Probabl the most well known part of the collossal mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shi Huang is the pit of Teraccotta warriors. 700 life-sized terracotta statues of soldiers as well as 400 horses and 100 chariots are in the collection. They are said to be placed there to protect the Qin Emperor in his afterlife. What is amazing is the detailling of these figures. Every single soldier has its own distinct features, making no two statues alike
10/10
Knossos, Crete, Greece
Knossos is considered the oldest city in Europe and the largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete. It is also said Knossos is Plato’s Atlantis. Similarly it was also destroyed in a natural disaster – a massive explosion from the volcano.

Who’s up for creating some travel plans that will make you feel like you’re Indiana Jones?

The last vestiges of an ancient civilisation are endlessly fascinating. Once, such mysterious places were only accessible to explorers and archeologists. Today, these places are protected national monuments that draw millions of tourists annually.

In March early this year, the legendary La Ciudad Bianca (The White City) was found in Honduras in the La Mosquitia rainforest. The lost city’s exact location has yet been released to the public so as to not disturb the site.

You may not be able to unearth a lost city, but there are other famous ruins that will be able to quench your thirst for exploration. From dense rainforests to barren desserts, there are historic and dreamlike places waiting to give you a glimpse into the past.

If you’re looking to indulge your inner Dr. Jones, check out our gallery for a list of 10 ancient sites you should visit at least once in your life.

Amanda Lim

Photos: Getty Images

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10 Destinations every adventure-seeker should visit in their lifetime

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