The world is filled with some of the most breathtaking, extraordinary, and unbelievable sights.
You could spend every day of your life exploring and discovering new things that will leave you speechless.
Narrowing it down to a handful of “must-see” sights is near impossible.
But, if you had to make a bucket list with a few of the best ones, these ten monuments, buildings, natural creations, and phenomena should be on that list.
Petra, Jordan
Petra is one of the most challenging sights to reach, but also one that many say feels like an almost religious experience.
Found in Jordan, Petra is believed to have been built in 312 BC; it was also used as the capital city for native Jordanian tribes.
Petra is also more than the famous doorway you see in movies and on TV, as several buildings and living areas are found in the area, many carved into the mountain itself.
Great Pyramids of Giza, Egypt
The Great Pyramids of Giza are easily one of the most astonishing feats of human engineering in history.
Their sheer scale will blow your mind, and when you take in what they built for and what they stand for, the experience gets that much better.
Whether you fly over them in a private jet charter or tour the site, the Great Pyramids must be on every travel bucket list if you have yet to see them.
Great Wall of China
Another immense feat of human engineering is the Great Wall of China. With parts of it being built in the early parts of the 7th century BC, The Great Wall is one of the oldest structures in the world that is still standing and perfectly functional.
The wall stretches 7,300km from Shanhaiguan in Hebei Province and ends in Jiayuguan in Gansu Province.
Furthermore, it is not just a stretch of wall, as it includes horse tracks, watch towers, fortresses, and several buildings used for sleep.
Machu Picchu, Peru
While less old than some other structures on this list, Machu Picchu is among the most unique.
Built-in the 15th century, Machu Picchu is an ancient Incan citadel found in the Andes Mountains.
Machu Picchu is split almost down the middle into agricultural and urban sectors.
With the bustle of people inhabiting it for many years, it has a lively city feel, but you are also likely to meet one of the many adorable alpacas that call the area home.
The Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
While a cliche in many people’s eyes, visiting the City of Love and having a picnic or drink in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower is a romance movie and honeymoon trope for a reason.
It is hard to describe the magic you feel until you are there and experiencing it yourself.
Not to mention that Paris is one of the most beautiful and exciting cities to visit; it is filled with delicious food and wine, tons of history, more culture than you know what to do with, and dozens of other stunning landmarks to visit.
The temples of Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Cambodia is one of those countries still on the fringe of being a tourist hub. However, it is home to the biggest and arguably most incredible religious site on the planet, Angkor Wat.
This Buddhist temple complex is over 400km² and includes several buildings, temples, and the remains of the different capitals of the Khmer Empire.
It is widely regarded as one of, if not the most important archaeological sites in South-East Asia.
The Wailing Wall
If Angkor Wat is one of Asia’s most important religious sites, the Wailing Wall is possibly the most important religious site in the world.
Found in the Holy City of Jerusalem, the Wailing Wall makes up part of the retaining wall of the hill known as Temple Mount.
The Wailing Wall is an important religious site for Christians, Jews, and Muslims, making it where the world’s three most prominent religions come together.
As mentioned, you can’t forget that the Wailing Wall is in the holiest city of them all.
You can also visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the site many Christians believe to be where Jesus was crucified and where you can find his empty tomb.
The Aurora Borealis
While there are several countries to visit that will give you a chance to see the Aurora Borealis, the biggest challenge is visiting them at the right time.
One of the biggest reasons the Aurora is so sought after is that there is a lot of luck involved in seeing it.
Iceland, Norway, Finland, and Canada all experience the Aurora, but you will be lucky to see it.
However, if you see it, you will understand why hundreds of thousands try every year.
The Temples of Bagan
A site that many people may have yet to hear of is the Temples of Bagan.
Located in the ancient country of Myanmar, Bagan was the capital of the Bagan Empire, and during its prime, it had over 10,000 Buddhist temples,
monasteries, and pagodas.
Today, over 2000 of these temples remain and can be explored on foot or by hot air balloon.
Spanning over 100km², Bagan is packed with history and ancient architecture.
Mount Everest
Finally, while climbing Mount Everest is something only a few people can or will do, you can still experience the mountain in all its glory.
Many operators offer walking tours to Everest base camp if you travel to Nepal.
You can sleep in tea houses and homes along the route before making it to the famous centre at the foot of the mountain.
While this is definitely more of an experience for those who love the outdoors, it is an incredibly unique adventure.
