Sunday, June 2, 2013

The Top 100 Places in the World (ranked by AbsoluteVisit.com)

AbsoluteVisit.com compiled a list of the top 100 places to visit in the world. Here are the winners:

1. Great Wall of China (Beijing, China)

1. Great Wall of China (Beijing, China)
Great Wall of China (Beijing, China) - Even with 20/20 vision - you'll never see the end of it.
Not only does it seem to go on and on forever, but if you decide to embark on its 4000+ mile journey, The Great Wall of China's sensuous dragon-like shape will take you places you've never seen before Since 221 BC, millions of workers have given their lives for this magnificent work of architecture. While the myth that claims that there are human bones keeping the wall together might not be true, this destination is definitely worthy of our #1.

2. Pyramids of Giza (Cairo, Egypt)

2. Pyramids of Giza (Cairo, Egypt)
2. Pyramids of Giza (Cairo, Egypt) - They are proof that someone was paying attention in geometry class.
You'll have to take our word for it; the Pyramids are a true work of genius. Once you get over the magnitude of these humongous structures, the mathematical precision and thought that went into making the Great Pyramid of Giza, and other pyramids, will make your brain hurt. It's no surprise that it's one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and a tomb fit for a King like the Pharaoh Khufu. An impressive 20,000 to 30,000 workers helped build them over a period of 80 years and now they sit under 5,000 years of sand and dust for you to visit as our #2.

3. Machu Picchu (Cuzco, Peru)

3. Machu Picchu (Cuzco, Peru)
3. Machu Picchu (Cuzco, Peru) - You'll want to get lost in its mystery.
They call it "The Lost City of The Inca," but a lot of visitors have been finding their way to this historic site since its glory days in 1450 when the city was built for the Inca emperor Pachacuti at the height of his empire. You'll feel like you're on top of the world once you reach the apex of the Urubamba Valley in Peru because you'll be 7,875 feet above sea level. After the initial high, the mystery and beauty of the abandoned city will settle in and the magnitude of its history will make you realize why we had to put Machu Picchu as our #3.

4. Serengeti Migration (Nairobi, Kenya)

4. Serengeti Migration (Nairobi, Kenya)
4. Serengeti Migration (Nairobi, Kenya) - It's an incredible journey to see, almost impossible to do.
You'll be tired, hungry and thirsty... but luckily you're not a wildebeest. Around October 2nd, a million mammals begin their migration from the northern hill of Tanzania to the southern plains of Kenya crossing the Mara River, a journey that spans across 12,000 sq. miles. It's no surprise that the name literally means "endless plains." This is the largest mammal migration in the world and many meet their deaths because of the harsh conditions. There's nothing quite like it anywhere else in the world and it's a #4 AbsoluteVisit.

5. Galapagos Islands (Galapagos, Ecuador)

5. Galapagos Islands (Galapagos, Ecuador)
5. Galapagos Islands (Galapagos, Ecuador) - Lonesome George could use some company.
If you don't know who Lonesome George is let us introduce you to the rarest animal in the world. Weighing in at 595 lbs and 90 years old, he's the only surviving giant Pinta Tortoise in the world. But he won't be the only impressive animal you'll see here. Because of the convergence of three major oceanic currents, the Galapagos Islands are home to the abundant wildlife and unique species that you won't find anywhere else. Charles Darwin noticed this when he made his journey in 1835 and recorded his findings in his book "The Origin of Species." If he went there, so should you.

6. Grand Canyon (Las Vegas, USA)

6. Grand Canyon (Las Vegas, USA)
6. Grand Canyon (Las Vegas, USA) - You'll get over your fear of heights pretty quickly.
Just the feeling of standing 6,000 ft. above the roaring Colorado River will make you want to ground your feet in the dust to stabilize yourself. The Grand Canyon is our #6 AbsoluteVisit because of its impressive size and features. It's over 277 miles long and 18 miles wide. The colors and textures of the mountains are something you won't find anywhere else, mostly because they took between 3 and 6 million years to form and continue to do so even today. You should check it out for yourself.

7. Angkor Temples (Siem Reap, Cambodia)

7. Angkor Temples (Siem Reap, Cambodia)
7. Angkor Temples (Siem Reap, Cambodia) - The entire collection of temples commonly referred to as Angkor Wat.
Angkor contains the remains of several capitals of the Khmer Empire of the 9th to the 15th centuries, including the largest pre-industrial city in the world. The 400km2 area in Cambodia contains the well known temple of Angkor Wat as well as the remains of many other magnificent temples. The entire collection of temples is commonly referred to as Angkor Wat. Angkor is home to the largest religious building in the world - Angkor Wat. Additionally the area is littered with a collection of jaw-dropping temples. The vast size of the temples, the incredible stone carvings found on each, the diversity between the buildings and their close proximity to each other easily make the Angkor Temples one of the top 10 places to visit in the world.

8. Antarctica Cruise (Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica)

8. Antarctica Cruise (Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica)
8. Antarctica Cruise (Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica) - You have to see it before you freeze your a** off.
You won't find this location on many travel sites, but it made our #8 spot because it is truly like nothing else you'll ever experience. In this case, it's not just the destination that is breathtaking, but the whole journey to arrive there. The chilling -56° F literally makes it the coldest place on earth. The southernmost continent, which is home to the South Pole, stretches for 5.4 million sq. miles, 98% of which is ice. You'll see a lot of penguins, whales, seals and krill but very few people. Just think - you'll be one of the few who can say s/he visited Antarctica - and no one can disagree with you.

9. Taj Mahal (Delhi, India)

9. Taj Mahal (Delhi, India)
9. Taj Mahal (Delhi, India) - You'll think you died and went to heaven.
Then you'll realize it's just a mirage. The true beauty of the Taj Mahal shines especially when the sun hits the glistening white marble. Built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan for his wife, the mausoleum is romantically referred to as a symbol of eternal love, but it's that and much more. It combines the best of Persian, Islamic and Indian architecture and embodies everything that makes it an AbsoluteVisit.

10. Iguazu Falls (Iguazu, Argentina)

10. Iguazu Falls (Iguazu, Argentina)
10. Iguazu Falls (Iguazu, Argentina) - Being in the middle of the Devil's Throat is actually a good thing.
Imagine standing 82 meters above a waterfall measuring 150 m wide and 700 m long. That's the Devil's Throat and it forms a natural boarder between Brazil and Argentina. In whichever country you're standing, it's impressive and beautiful. You're surrounded by natural forests and exotic animals – a tropical paradise background for all of the 275 waterfalls that stretch over 3 km of land. Be ready to get wet, but we don't suggest you go for a swim in these waters.

11. Amazon Rain Forest (Manaus, Brazil)

11. Amazon Rain Forest (Manaus, Brazil)
11. Amazon Rain Forest (Manaus, Brazil) - You'll want to take it all in with one breath.
Take in more than 20% of the earth's oxygen – that is. The 1.7 billion acres of rain forest stretching over nine nations is the world's largest natural resource of exotic plants and animals. It's pretty easy to lose count with 40 thousand different plants, 1,300 birds, 427 mammals and 378 reptiles. Charge your camera and be ready to see the Amazon, the most spectacular representation of untamed nature there is and our #11.

12. Great Barrier Reef (Cairns, Australia)

12. Great Barrier Reef (Cairns, Australia)
12. Great Barrier Reef (Cairns, Australia) - It's a hidden treasure under the sea.
The coral reef is built by tiny living organisms known as coral polyps. They might be the hardest working creatures under the sea since there are 2,900 individual reefs. It is the largest reef system in the world with 900 islands spanning across 1,600 miles in the Coral Sea. This beautiful work of nature might not be so hidden after all since it can be seen from outer space, but you should go see it up close. That's why it's our #12 AbsoluteVisit.

13. Bora Bora (Bora Bora, French Polynesia)

13. Bora Bora (Bora Bora, French Polynesia)
13. Bora Bora (Bora Bora, French Polynesia) - It's no bore.
This little island is a happy accident of volcanic nature. It literally sprang up in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and still shows off its extinct volcano roots with two peaks: Mount Pahia and Mount Otemanu. Surrounded by a lagoon and its own barrier reef, the French Polynesia Island is a great destination for water lovers. Be on the lookout for sharks and rays. You don't get to see those everyday, unless of course you visit our #13.

14. Victoria Falls (Livingstone, Zambia)

14. Victoria Falls (Livingstone, Zambia)
14. Victoria Falls (Livingstone, Zambia) - It will make your jaw fall off the face of the earth.
That is what it looks like when you stand in front of the world's largest waterfall. The earth seems to slip into an abyss. Standing 360 ft. tall and 5,600 ft. wide, it's nicknamed "The Smoke that Thunders" and one can see why. In 1958 it reached its record flow of more than 700,000 cubic meters of water per minute. The fall sits on the Zambezi River between Zambia and Zimbabwe, where you can cool off from the hot African sun when you are visiting our #14.

15. Bagan (Mandalay, Myanmar)

15. Bagan (Mandalay, Myanmar)
15. Bagan (Mandalay, Myanmar) - Unlike other tourist destinations, it's not hard to find on a map.
It is a cluster of over 2000 Pagodas and Temples scattered across 16 square miles of land, all of which were built between the 11th and 13th centuries. It is notable for its expanse of sacred geography. Bagan has many nicknames, including: The City of The Enemy Crusher, The Land of Copper and the Parched Land. It was capital of several ancient kingdoms in Myanmar, Burma. Call it what you wish, it's spectacular to see even though it has changed over the years, marrying many types of architecture styles together to rank #15 on our list.

16. Petra (Petra, Jordan)

16. Petra (Petra, Jordan)
16. Petra (Petra, Jordan) - Its beauty will make you blush.
Or it might just be residual dust from the red sandstone left on your cheeks, but the hidden city in layers of mountains is truly beautiful to look at and explore. "Petra" literally means rock, which makes sense since the city is an architectural wonderland carved in sandstone. The explorer Johann discovered it in 1812, but the city dates back to the 12th century BC. Nicely tucked between the Dead Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba (Jordan and Israel), go on a treasure hunt and visit our #16.

17. Potala Palace (Lhasa, Tibet)

17. Potala Palace (Lhasa, Tibet)
17. Potala Palace (Lhasa, Tibet) - You can make yourself right at home here.
It was the Dalai Lama main residence after all. The Great Fifth Dalai Lama started the construction in 1645 and today it functions as a museum that draws tourists and followers from all over the world. It's no wonder that it ranks #17 on our AbsoluteVisit list. You could almost touch the clouds from the top of the 400 ft. Red Hill on which it's built. Potala means "The Sacred Place of Buddhism" and the palace is blessed with beautiful architectural details and precious relics.

18. Karnak (Egypt)

18. Karnak (Egypt)
18. Karnak (Egypt) - It's the only museum that's not busy on rainy days.
That's because it is a massive open-air temple - a museum without a roof! It's also the biggest ancient religious site in the world, twice the size of the surrounding village. Construction started during the 16th century BC and passed on from pharaoh to pharaoh for 30 generations. Each one brought their own flair to the temple and you can follow its how it evolved in the different architectural styles. It's definitely an AbsoluteVisit on a sunny day.

19. Mt. Everest (Kathmandu, Nepal)

19. Mt. Everest (Kathmandu, Nepal)
19. Mt. Everest (Kathmandu, Nepal) - It's the best brain freeze you'll ever have.
It's no surprise this made #19 on our list; Mt. Everest is the tallest mountain in the world, standing almost 30,000 ft. high. Or imagine 20 Empire State Buildings stacked on top of each other. Over 4,000 people have attempted to climb the mountain, but only a few have been successful. It's the journey of a lifetime, the Tibetans call it" Mother Goddess of the Earth" and we can see why. We wonder what people call it on their climb up?

20. Cappadocia (Cappadocia, Turkey)

20. Cappadocia (Cappadocia, Turkey)
20. Cappadocia (Cappadocia, Turkey) - If Alexander the Great thought it was worth the trip, then you should check it out.
After the end of the Persian Empire, Alexander the Great tried to rule the area. What's left now are almost 1,000 cave churches, 40 underground cities, but there could be many more since they keep on uncovering new archeological treasures. It's as popular destination now as it was back in the day. Part of the Silk Road, today it's our #20.

21. St. Peters Basilica (Rome, Italy)

21. St. Peters Basilica (Rome, Italy)

 

22. Fjords of Norway (Oslo, Norway)

22. Fjords of Norway (Oslo, Norway)

 

23. Jerusalem Old City (Jerusalem, Israel)

23. Jerusalem Old City (Jerusalem, Israel)

 

24. Burj Khalifa (Dubai, U.A.E.)

24. Burj Khalifa (Dubai, U.A.E.)

 

25. Borobudur (Yogyakarta, Indonesia)

25. Borobudur (Yogyakarta, Indonesia)

 

26. Forbidden City (Beijing, China)

26. Forbidden City (Beijing, China)

 

27. Kashmir Valley (Srinigar, India)

27. Kashmir Valley (Srinigar, India)

 

28. Li River Cruise (Hong Kong, China)

28. Li River Cruise (Hong Kong, China)

 

29. Ladakh (Srinagar, India)

29. Ladakh (Srinagar, India)

 

30. Alhambra (Granada, Spain)

30. Alhambra (Granada, Spain)

 

31. Louvre Museum (Paris, France)

31. Louvre Museum (Paris, France)

 

32. Perito Moreno Glacier (El Calafate, Argentina)

32. Perito Moreno Glacier (El Calafate, Argentina)

 

33. Banaue Terraces (Manila, Philippines)

33. Banaue Terraces (Manila, Philippines)

 

34. Colosseum of Rome (Rome, Italy)

34. Colosseum of Rome (Rome, Italy)

 

35. Easter Island (Chile)

35. Easter Island (Chile)

 

36. Venice Canals/Alleys (Venice, Italy)

36. Venice Canals/Alleys (Venice, Italy)

 

37. Kathmandu Valley (Kathmandu, Nepal)

37. Kathmandu Valley (Kathmandu, Nepal)

 

38. Wat Phra Kaew (Bangkok, Thailand)

38. Wat Phra Kaew (Bangkok, Thailand)

 

39. Yellowstone National Park (Jackson Hole, USA)

39. Yellowstone National Park (Jackson Hole, USA)

 

40. Pompeii (Italy)

40. Pompeii (Italy)

 

41. Rio Panoramic View (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)

41. Rio Panoramic View (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)

 

42. Palace of Versailles (Paris, France)

42. Palace of Versailles (Paris, France)

 

43. Dubrovnik (Dubrovnik, Croatia)

43. Dubrovnik (Dubrovnik, Croatia)

 

44. Golden Temple (Amritsar, India)

44. Golden Temple (Amritsar, India)

 

45. St. Basils Cathedral (Moscow, Russia)

45. St. Basils Cathedral (Moscow, Russia)

 

46. Vatican Museum (Rome, Italy)

46. Vatican Museum (Rome, Italy)

 

47. Florence Cityscape (Florence, Italy)

47. Florence Cityscape (Florence, Italy)

 

48. Acropolis (Athens, Greece)

48. Acropolis (Athens, Greece)

 

49. Amalfi Coast Drive (Italy)

49. Amalfi Coast Drive (Italy)

 

50. Moscow Kremlin (Moscow, Russia)

50. Moscow Kremlin (Moscow, Russia)

 

51. Hong Kong View (Hong Kong, China)

51. Hong Kong View (Hong Kong, China)

 

52. TerraCotta Warriors (Xian, China)

52. TerraCotta Warriors (Xian, China)

 

53. Mezquita Cordoba (Cordoba, Spain)

53. Mezquita Cordoba (Cordoba, Spain)

 

54. Chichen Itza (Cancun, Mexico)

54. Chichen Itza (Cancun, Mexico)

 

55. Damascus Old City (Damascus, Syria)

55. Damascus Old City (Damascus, Syria)

 

56. Shwedagon Stupa (Yangon, Myanmar)

56. Shwedagon Stupa (Yangon, Myanmar)

 

57. Sahara Desert (Africa)

57. Sahara Desert (Africa)

 

58. Mont St. Michel (France)

58. Mont St. Michel (France)

 

59. St. Marks Square (Venice, Italy)

59. St. Marks Square (Venice, Italy)

 

60. Egyptian Museum (Cairo, Egypt)

60. Egyptian Museum (Cairo, Egypt)

 

61. Hagia Sophia (Istanbul, Turkey)

61. Hagia Sophia (Istanbul, Turkey)

 

62. Angel Falls (Ciudad Bolivar, Venezuela)

62. Angel Falls (Ciudad Bolivar, Venezuela)

 

63. Delphi (Athens, Greece)

63. Delphi (Athens, Greece)

 

64. Teotihuacan (Mexico City, Mexico)

64. Teotihuacan (Mexico City, Mexico)

 

65. Baalbek (Beirut, Lebanon)

65. Baalbek (Beirut, Lebanon)

 

66. Banff National Park (Calgary, Canada)

66. Banff National Park (Calgary, Canada)

 

67. Santorini (Greece)

67. Santorini (Greece)

 

68. Matterhorn (Zermatt, Switzerland)

68. Matterhorn (Zermatt, Switzerland)

 

69. New York Skyline (New York City, USA)

69. New York Skyline (New York City, USA)

 

70. Neuschwanstein (Munich, Germany)

70. Neuschwanstein (Munich, Germany)

 

71. Chartres Cathedral (Paris, France)

71. Chartres Cathedral (Paris, France)

 

72. British Museum (London, United Kingdom)

72. British Museum (London, United Kingdom)

 

73. Prague Old Town (Prague, Czech Republic)

73. Prague Old Town (Prague, Czech Republic)

 

74. Burj Al Arab (Dubai, U.A.E.)

74. Burj Al Arab (Dubai, U.A.E.)

 

75. Yangtze River Cruise (Shanghai, China)

75. Yangtze River Cruise (Shanghai, China)

 

76. Yosemite National Park (San Francisco, USA)

76. Yosemite National Park (San Francisco, USA)

 

77. Hermitage Museum (St. Petersburg, Russia)

77. Hermitage Museum (St. Petersburg, Russia)

 

78. Torres del Paine (El Calafate, Chile)

78. Torres del Paine (El Calafate, Chile)

 

79. Chambord Chateau (France)

79. Chambord Chateau (France)

 

80. Lijiang (Lijiang, China)

80. Lijiang (Lijiang, China)

 

81. Portofino (Italy)

81. Portofino (Italy)

 

82. Great Ocean Road (Melbourne, Australia)

82. Great Ocean Road (Melbourne, Australia)

 

83. Tongariro Alpine (Taupo, New Zealand)

83. Tongariro Alpine (Taupo, New Zealand)

 

84. Las Vegas Strip (Las Vegas, USA)

84. Las Vegas Strip (Las Vegas, USA)

 

85. Tikal (Flores, Guatemala)

85. Tikal (Flores, Guatemala)

 

86. Topkapi Palace (Istanbul, Turkey)

86. Topkapi Palace (Istanbul, Turkey)

 

87. Sydney Opera House (Sydney, Australia)

87. Sydney Opera House (Sydney, Australia)

 

88. Eiffel Tower (Paris, France)

88. Eiffel Tower (Paris, France)

 

89. Luxor Temple (Egypt)

89. Luxor Temple (Egypt)

 

90. Kerala Backwaters (Kochi, India)

90. Kerala Backwaters (Kochi, India)

 

91. Golden Gate Bridge (San Francisco, USA)

91. Golden Gate Bridge (San Francisco, USA)

 

92. Cinque Terre (Italy)

92. Cinque Terre (Italy)

 

93. Metropolitan Museum (New York City, USA)

93. Metropolitan Museum (New York City, USA)

 

94. Uffizi Gallery (Florence, Italy)

94. Uffizi Gallery (Florence, Italy)

 

95. Ayers Rock (Yulara, Australia)

95. Ayers Rock (Yulara, Australia)

 

96. Cliffs of Moher (Dublin, Ireland)

96. Cliffs of Moher (Dublin, Ireland)

 

97. Pacific Coast Highway (San Francisco, USA)

97. Pacific Coast Highway (San Francisco, USA)

 

98. Shanghai Skyline (Shanghai, China)

98. Shanghai Skyline (Shanghai, China)

 

99. Glacier Bay National Park (Juneau, USA)

99. Glacier Bay National Park (Juneau, USA)

 

100. Wulingyuan (Zhangjiajie City, China)

100. Wulingyuan (Zhangjiajie City, China)

 


[Source]

0 comments:

Post a Comment

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

 
Pin It button on image hover