World heritage top 10

The world’s oldest cities are once-in-a-lifetime destinations, places that effortlessly inspire awe and put you in the shoes of a time traveler. To walk labyrinthine streets, marvel at crumbling fortress walls, or see kings’ tombs that have endured thousands of years is to experience a fleeting moment of what life was like for the first civilizations on Earth. Read on to be transported to 10 ancient cities to visit (without travel advisories) where you can take part in age-old rituals and learn about the legends that have been passed down for more generations than you can ever fathom. Luoyang, China First Inhabited: Around 2070 BCE Asia’s oldest continuously inhabited city, Luoyang was considered to be the geographical center and one of the four great ancient capitals of China. It lies on the north or sunny (yang) side of the Luo River where it converges with the Yi River. Stunning mountains surround the city, where Chinese Buddhist temples and monuments are carved … [Read more...] about 10 Timeless Cities Where the Past Comes to Life

Monday newsletters always feature top 10 travel lists to inspire. Today (October 14, 2019): Top 10 best things to see & do in Bhutan. Bhutan is the last remaining Kingdom in the world’s most breathtaking mountain chain, the Himalayas. The country is an insanely beautiful Shangri-La, offering a staggering variety of mountain scenery and natural landscapes. Mysterious and shrouded in myth, Bhutan also boasts an extraordinary cultural heritage, from the striking architecture of its mountain forts and monasteries to the images of Buddhist religious figures painted or carved onto the craggy cliffs. To help you plan your Bhutan holiday, I have compiled a list of 10 must see sights and must-do experiences in the Land of the Thunder Dragon. There is more information below the slideshow. Think I missed one? Leave a comment. This slideshow requires JavaScript.*** Follow me on Instagram, Youtube, Twitter or Facebook for a daily moment of … [Read more...] about Top 10 best things to see & do in Bhutan

CHERNIVTSI, Ukraine — Tucked in the southwest corner of Ukraine, Chernivtsi is a cheerful city that graciously marries the glories and sorrows of centuries past with vibrant Eastern European urban life today. It's at the heart of a geographical and historical region with a name that almost sounds whimsical: Bukovina. Fiercely proud Bukovina, whose name means beechwood in Romanian, spans Romania and Ukraine and straddles the Carpathian Mountains. Bukovina has witnessed a long succession of rulers and influences, including Huns, Ottomans sultans and Austro-Hungarian emperors. A flourishing Jewish population in Bukovina was uprooted and largely exterminated during World War II, but there are traces of it if you look. Early this summer, joined by my daughter, I spent 10 days in Chernivtsi. Every day I grew more charmed by the city. One of the oldest towns in Ukraine, Chernivtsi brims with young people, drawn by a renowned university with such impressive, 19th-century architecture … [Read more...] about Ukraine’s Chernivtsi a charming city of architectural gems

If you’ve traveled to Africa, you know how lifechanging the experience can be. But for those who haven’t been, it can be hard to understand what a trip is really like thanks to the many misconceptions about Africa. Our partners at Africa Inscribed have been designing itineraries for our clients for years, and they know the ins and outs of Africa travel. Below they dispel nine of the common myths about traveling to Africa. Myth 1: Africa is one big country. Once you’ve been once, you’ve seen it all. People often refer to Africa as a single country when it is in fact made up of 54 different countries. Each of these countries is diverse in culture, customs, language, natural environment, politics, history, and size as well as has their own currency, flag, national anthem, food and identity. There are some 1500 – 2000 languages spoken throughout Africa and many of those languages have varying dialects. Often the country’s official language in not the … [Read more...] about 9 Myths About Traveling to Africa

By Paul Campbell on Oct 09, 2019 in Africa, Regions, South Africa Kruger, Cape Town and the Garden Route are undeniably the most popular destinations for first-time visitors to South Africa, however the more adventurous traveller will find many wonderful places to explore in other parts of this vast country. Top of the list of less-visited gems is KwaZulu-Natal. Whilst South Africans from Jo’burg have long escaped to the mountains and beaches of KwaZulu-Natal, it is estimated that only 10% or so of overseas visitors travel to this fascinating province. There is something for everyone in KwaZulu-Natal: excellent Big 5 game viewing, stunning mountain scenery, a rich history and culture, and beautiful beaches lapped by the Indian Ocean.  Nowhere else in Southern Africa are so many outstanding tourist destinations to be found in such close proximity to one another, and everything can be easily reached by road as part of either a self-drive holiday or an organised tour. It is … [Read more...] about Discover South Africa’s amazing KwaZulu-Natal province