6 World Heritage Sites You Cannot Forget

If it’s an ancient, extraordinary, and astounding place, it’s likely a World Heritage site. The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) protects 936 special spots across the globe that, according to the World Heritage Committee, constitute a significant part of our cultural and natural heritage. These range from natural wonders like Australia’s Great Barrier Reef to man-made sites such as the Cathedral of Notre Dame. There are even a few cities (Cairo, Bordeaux, and Rhodes, for example) on the list, along with national parks, bodies of water, temples, tombs, caves, islands, and more.

Visiting every destination on UNESCO’s queue of 900-plus places is a commendable pursuit that, alas, could take a lifetime. So with the help of a few of our well-traveled friends, we put together a more attainable World Heritage bucket list. Here are 6 favorite World Heritage destinations picked by the experts: seasoned travel writers, bloggers, and photographers who have been around the world and, for the most part, seen it all.

# Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

The sight of molten lava oozing into the sea is one you won't soon forget. Steam vents, giant lava tubes, [and] former roads that disappear under fields of fresh black lava, with fern pioneers taking root as soon as the land has barely had a chance to cool—I've seen the landscape described as 'otherworldly,' but I think 'primeval' captures it better. It's a front-row seat to watch land formation in action, and you're never more than 45 minutes from a beach and a mai tai.

# Sacred City Of Kandy

I'm often asked for my most exotic trip, and over the years I've developed a stock answer that seems to satisfy everyone (and which also happens to be true): the Temple of the Sacred Tooth of Buddha in the religious capital of Kandy in the central highlands of Sri Lanka—an answer which I think covers at least two or three World Heritage sites. Plus, you take a mountain steam train to get there.

# Itsukushima Shinto Shrine

My favorite World Heritage site has to be the Itsukushima Shrine in Miyajima, Japan. Built on a tiny island near Hiroshima, the shrine is known for its floating tori a bright orange gate that appears to magically float in the water at high tide.

# Goreme National Park And The Rock Sites Of Cappadocia

If I had to urge people to see one World Heritage site, it would have to be Turkey's Cappadocia. When Mount Erciyes poured lava over this region thousands of years ago, the volcanic ash formed a surreal, lunar-like landscape consisting of cone-shaped monoliths and layers of soft volcanic rock called tufa.

# Masada

One of my favorite World Heritage sites that I've visited in recent years is Masada, in Israel. The story of the stronghold, where Jewish Zealots took their own lives rather than suffer slavery to the Romans, is compelling. And the ruins of the fortress itself, built by Herod the Great between 37 and 31 [BCE], are fascinating, no matter what your heritage may be. With such a history, it's no wonder that Masada stands as symbol of Jewish pride. Israel Defense Forces graduate there, shouting 'Masada shall not fall again!' It's also become a popular spot for bar and bat mitzvahs in recent years.

# City Of Potosi

I think the city of Potosi in Bolivia is the best World Heritage site I've been to—an incredible city full of intriguing people and wonderful cultures. While I was there, miners were protesting in the main square, throwing sticks of dynamite up into the air. You can also buy the dynamite in local shops where it's neatly arranged on the shelves along with sweets, chocolate, and tins of fruit.