20 Wonders of the World. Are they really wonderful?

Great Pyramids, Egypt

Visit the Great Pyramid at Giza on the southern outskirts of Cairo, while tourism in Egypt is going through a period of decline. You can enjoy her beauty alone (and at the same time support the local economy). Do not forget that for almost four millennia this oldest of the seven wonders of the world was the tallest building in the world. Given the technology of the time, the pyramids are probably one of the main achievements in the history of mankind.

Petra, Jordan

All the rave reviews you've ever heard about Peter are 100% true. And it's not just about that magical moment when you come out of a narrow gorge and you see in front of you a pink mausoleum of El-Khazne, carved into the rock. Petra is a whole city, and it's unlikely that you can completely get around it in one day. Be sure to visit the monastery of El Deir - it is no less beautiful than El Hazna. In addition, there are much fewer tourists, because they are frightened off by a tiring climb up the mountain.

Great Wall of China, China

I visited the Badaling site, one of the most visited stretches of the Great Wall of China, which is not far from Beijing. The structure impresses with its monumentality, but crowds of tourists, many of whom necessarily wanted to be photographed with a foreigner, slightly spoiled the pleasure of the trip. If you are going to visit this wonder of the world, choose a less popular place and leave at dawn so that there are less people around you.

Mount Everest, Nepal

On the highest mountain of the world it is much better to look from afar - surrounded by other Himalayan peaks, and not try to conquer it. Once in Nepal, be sure to go camping, but enjoy the mountain scenery and hospitality of local residents at a height where you do not need oxygen devices and climbing cats.

Machu Picchu, Peru

You definitely will not be disappointed. Machu Picchu can be reached by train, but if you want to experience the whole range of sensations, go on a four-day hike along the Inca Trail. At the dawn of the last day you will find yourself at the Sun Gate, only sunrise, most likely, you will not see - as a rule, at this time of day everything is hidden in the fog.

Grand Canyon, USA

Spend in the Grand Canyon for at least a couple of days - first go hiking along its edge, and then raft the rafting of the Colorado River, flowing along the bottom of the canyon. You are guaranteed to get an unforgettable experience. You can stay overnight in one of the charming guest houses in this national park. And stay away from the touristy glass bridge Skywalk.

Yellowstone National Park, USA

Yellowstone is the world's first national park, which is also equal in area to half of Wales, but this does not make it a miracle of the world. Yes, there are impressive geysers, but Geysir in Iceland , which gave the name to all the other hot springs of the planet, is at least as good. The best national parks in the US are Zion and Yosemite.

Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

If you are going to the Galapagos, you will have a fascinating walk in the company of strange and amazing animals that do not react at all to the mouths of tourists and do not try to hide from their curious views. I was especially sinking into the soul of stupid blue-footed boobies, of an ominous sea iguanas and sluggish giant turtles. Do not be stingy, and go to the Galapagos Islands on a good cruise ship, and not on a cheap boat, then you will enjoy every minute spent in these places (usually a few days trip).

Stonehenge, United Kingdom

Almost everyone who travels from London to South-West England gets into a traffic jam near Stonehenge - because most drivers drop their speed and gaze at a pile of stones. I can not say that this spectacle fascinates me, but my friend from the county of Wiltshire assures me that cromlech in Avebury produces a much stronger impression (cromlech is an ancient structure representing several vertically stacked oblong stones forming one or more circles , Ed., Ed.).

Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Coral reef length of about 2.5 thousand kilometers, stretching along the east coast of Australia, is good because it is easy to reach it without any risk (both for yourself and for the reef). This miracle of the planet allows you to enjoy the richness of colors and the variety of forms of life that live here.

Taj Mahal, India

Just do not go there in January. At this time of year in Agra there are fogs, and my trip in a taxi was like a trip to the afterlife (the fog was such a thick veil that the cars were absolutely not visible). As a result, in the photo taken by me at dawn at the Taj Mahal, you can see only a huge gray patch, through which even the contour of the famous building did not come through. But even in such conditions I was hypnotized by its beauty, and on a sunny day such a spectacle should be simply magnificent

Antarctica

A trip to Antarctica is a trip to the end of the world. First you will need to get to Ushuaia in Argentina, the world's southernmost city, then transfer a two-day voyage to the eternally stormy strait of Drake (hygienic packages will be attached to the rails in the corridors of the ship). But it's worth it: you will see a world almost untouched by civilization. Grandiose landscapes of Antarctica as if drawn on a computer! However, loneliness does not threaten you: I saw there killer whales, humpback whales, huge colonies of penguins and sea lions. Finally, I visited the southernmost bar of the planet, which is located on the polar station "Academician Vernadsky".

Niagara Falls, USA / Canada

If you ever find yourself in those places, no doubt, you should get to the picturesque waterfall, in the middle of which there is a border between the USA and Canada. However, South American waterfalls, of which you have never heard, are much steeper than the three cascades of Niagara. Not to mention the fact that at night most of the water is taken by the power station, and the sight becomes even sadder.

Uluru, Australia

We admired the way the sun rises above the cult red rock, and ten minutes later my friend told me: "Okay, that was great." And I could not see enough how Uluru changes color at dawn, and memories of a two-hour walk around the mountain will stay with me forever.

Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Be sure to go there to meet the sunrise. The silhouette of the temple complex, reflected in the surrounding ponds, is an unforgettable sight. However, do not limit yourself to visiting Angkor Wat - besides him in the jungle of Cambodia, there are still many amazing temples covered with wonderful carvings. This is a great opportunity to turn into Indiana Jones for a few days and explore everything that is possible.

Coliseum, Italy

Since we are talking about incredible sensations - such as to catch your breath and your heart jumped out of your chest, then the Coliseum will have to be deleted from this list. Should I visit it when I'm in Rome? Of course. Will your life be lived in vain if you do not see it? Absolutely not.

Easter Island, Chile

A small island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean is a paradise for fans of extreme climbing, and for those who appreciate the serene way of life inherent in Hispanics. In addition, on the island of Easter there are eerie monuments left over from one of the strangest civilizations that existed on our planet.

Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

For my part, writing about Kilimanjaro is a bit of a scam, because at the moment I'm just heading for it. But everyone says that this is an incredible journey, especially when you are at the very top.

Iguazu Falls, Argentina / Brazil

You can admire waterfalls on both sides of the border, but I advise you to choose Argentina. From the walking trails laid through the rain forest, you will see the full power of the waterfalls stretching for 3 km. Alongside this mighty power of nature, you involuntarily feel like a grain of sand in a huge world.

Statue of Christ the Redeemer, Brazil

Rio de Janeiro is perhaps the most beautiful city in the world - and I do not mean only handsome men and beauties with bronze bodies that adorn the beaches of Copacabana. Surrounded on all sides by tropical mountains, jungles, beaches and sea, the city simply has no equal. A train ride on a narrow-gauge railway to the main attraction is a cherry on the cake, if only the weather will be favorable to you. Some of my friends were unlucky, as well as me at the Taj Mahal.