After visiting every country in the World, I’ve become somewhat obsessed with rankings and lists. Maybe one of my all-time favorite rankings is the alternative Seven Wonders of the World. I wasn’t really happy with the official list that came out in 2007. In my humble opinion, it seemed a bit like a popularity contest, so I decided to gather my own list. It had only one pre-requisite, they must be off-the-beaten-path wonders. Thus, here’s my list of seven hidden gems that could easily be an alternative to the Seven Wonders of the World:
7. Meroe Pyramids, Sudan.
In fact, Sudan has more pyramids than Egypt and it’s a fascinating destination. I arrived in Khartoum, amidst the protests against the government, and embarked myself in an odyssey to organize an adventure that seemed impossible: sleeping in the pyramids of Meroe. Boy, was it thrilling! I slept right under this ancient city and couldn’t believe I was the only one there. During the day, only local Berbers roam around this impressive wonder on their camels. Meroe one of the few places in the World that are still both gorgeous and completely free to wander.
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THANK YOU ALL FOR THIS EPIC 2018!! ____________________________________ This Sudanese sunset behind the ancient Nubian city of Meroe was probably one of the best in 2018. It’s been a Year of achievements, visiting 39 new countries and repeating visits to another 7. That’s more than last Year, but hopefully less than the next. 2018 was the Year of my leap, when I quitted my job and pursued full-time my goal of being the youngest Spaniard to visit every country. Its also the Year Instagram became my #1 source of income and allowed to cover all my travel expenses. Something I couldn’t have imagined a while back. I owe that to all of you following along my journey and supporting with your likes & comments in my posts, day in & day out (even when I pick the wrong picture to post 😂). Hope you get all you set out to achieve next Year! One thing is certain: you will always have me in your corner!💪😎 ____________________________________ Join me, comment with your 2018 recap, and lets look back at what we’ve accomplished in this past Year, so that we can set our goals for 2019
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6. Mayan Ruins of Tikal, Guatemala.
With all due respect to the Mayan ruins in Chitzen Itza, they simply can’t compare to the wonders of Tikal. Watching the sunrise on Temple IV, 70 meters above the ground is simply unforgettable. The wild feel you experience in Tikal, surrounded by thick jungle and full of biodiversity, together with its vast ruined complex makes it unparalleled. In addition, Tikal only receives a fraction of the visitors than its more popular Mexican neighbor, so it’s really a no brainer! Then again, when it came down to the actual voting, I guess Guatemala isn’t as popular as Mexico.
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Watch your step
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5. Tiger’s Nest, Bhutan.
I am a big fan of the Himalayan region and Tibetan Buddhism temples and constructions since I traveled to Tibet at age 20 in 2009. Those characteristic bright red and white buildings with golden details are hard to forget. Impressive as they were in Tibet itself, in Bhutan, they took it to a whole new level, by building a monastery atop a sharp 900m cliff overlooking Paro valley. This unique view is the most rewarding prize after a strenuous hike up, and the whole experience is simply mindblowing.
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DISCLAIMER: Bhutan is a seriously wanderlust infusing destination. Be careful with the upcoming posts and dont hesitate to consult with your local travel agent in case you suffer from daydreaming and hallucinations. @wanderreds wont be held responsible if suddenly you decide to take off and leave.
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4. Rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, Ethiopia.
Imagine entire rock-hewn churches. Sculptures taken to the ultimate level. Now, let’s assume that those numerous religious temples are open to worshippers and hold ceremonies normally. Completely authentic, true to their purpose, and unaltered by tourism. No handrails, no screens or lines, just the unique raw works of spiritual art. That place exists, it’s called Lalibela, and it’s in Ethiopia. If you happen to visit, make sure to do it on a weekend, so you don’t miss out on Sunday Mass.
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Would you sit there with me? ____________________________________ One of the things I loved most about Ethiopia is that it’s so wild there are no boundaries or restrictions. As long as you are respectful with the surroundings, you can explore at will.
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3. Ancient Roman city of Leptis Magna, Libya.
Leptis Magna is arguably the best Roman ruins outside of Italy. Its state of preservation is simply exquisite due to the silt sediments deposited by the local rivers that form a Delta flowing into the Mediterranean. Under Italian colonization with Mussolini, efforts were made to unearth this legendary city, and it’s believed that 80% of it still hasn’t been discovered. Today, you can wander its broad avenues and paved streets and feast your eyes with Roman baths, fountains, plazas, ports, theaters, colosseum, circus, and markets. Due to the Libyan Civil War, not many foreign visitors actually explore Leptis, and it’s mostly local families strolling on weekends. Time your visit with the sunset, and make sure to sit at the top of the theater stands overlooking the Mediterranean.
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WELCOME TO LIBYA! 🇱🇾 COUNTRY 189! ____________________________________ 🇬🇧 This beautiful land is going through tough times, torn by a civil war where it’s leaders are more interested in claiming power and Libya’s wealthy oil reserves than really leading a prosperous change after the demise of 40 year long dictator, Gaddafi. After 2011, the country lost all of it’s flourishing Tourism Industry. To get in, we had to get really hard business visas (hence my dresscode in this picture). But Libya is so much more than war! It offers incredibly preserved Roman Ruins (swipe left to see Leptis Magna), a balmy Mediterranean coastline with its summer smells and tasty food, and the most welcoming and friendliest people you could think of! In this last day, over 80 Libyans have reposted my stories, resulting in over 2000 new people in our travel family. Welcome everyone! Hope we can all keep spreading positivity and show that there is more good than bad in the World. Here’s to Libya getting back on its fear again soon! ____________________________________ 🇪🇸 Libia es un bellísimo país atravesando uno de los peores momentos de su Historia. Desde la caída del dictador Gaddafi, han sufrido una cruda guerra civil con varios lideres pugnando por controlar el poder y las ricas reservas de crudo. Apenas queda turismo en Libia, cuando antes de 2011, presumían de un sector floreciente. Nosotros para poder entrar, tuvimos que sacarnos un visado de trabajo, como podéis ver por mi vestimenta. Sin embargo, no todo en Libia es caos y guerra. Tienen increíbles joyas culturales, como ñas ruinas de Leptis Magna que podéis ver en esta publicación, así como una costa mediterránea de ricos olores y aun más sabrosa comida. Pero lo mejor de Libia es, sin duda, su gente. Amable y acogedora como ninguna! Más de 80 personas han compartido mis historias de Libia en sus Stories, aumentando esta familia viajera en 2000 miembr@s. Bienvenid@s! Sigamos trabajando por mostrarle al Mundo entero que hay más bueno que malo. Y esperemos que Libia esté pronto dónde se merece.
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2. Mud skyscrapers of Shibam, Yemen.
I would recommend you hold off on visiting Libya and Yemen, at least until the civil wars are over and the turmoil is left in the past. However, add this place to your bucket list: Shibam. It’s a centuries-old city known for its eleven-story skyscrapers made out of mudbricks. Hence, it often received the monicker of “Manhattan of the Desert”. Yemen was my country 188 and in a recent trip on September 2019 I managed to sneak in this forgotten wonder. Listening to the call to prayer at sunset as I roamed its empty streets is one of the highlights of my travels. Due to the constant threat of Al Qaeda in Shibam, only a handful of foreigners had been lucky enough to witness its beauty, and I sure felt very fortunate to be one of them.
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THE WORLD WONDER YOU’VE NEVER HEARD OF. ____________________________________ 🇬🇧 Shibam! No, it’s not a hip word millennials are throwing around these days. It’s a 1700 year old town in the heart of Yemen, full of skyscrapers built out of mud. The oldest skyscrapers in the World, according to Guinness! These buildings originated in the 16th century trying to prevent Bedouin attacks. Why is it so unknown? The war in Yemen and being a target of Al Qaeda since 2009, are to blame. ____________________________________ 🇪🇸 La ciudad de Shibam es una maravilla del Mundo de la que probablemente nunca has oido hablar! Fundada hace 1700 años, se caracteriza por tener decenas de rascacielos del siglo XVI de hasta 11 pisos, construidos todos de adobe. Una joya que ha permanecido oculta por la guerra en Yemen y por ser un objetivo habitual de Al Qaeda.
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1. The Great Mosque of Djenné, Mali.
Witnessing that unreal sunset on the call to prayer from one of the most beautiful unknown mosques was mindblowing. Unknown recently, because 10 years ago, tourists flocked Mali. Nowadays, everyone that lived on that bustling Tourism Industry struggles to survive. Yet, they greet you with a special warmth, as if they were ignorant to the region’s current struggles, as if time had frozen and it were still 2009. They want you to feel at home. As it once was. Kids, young and old gather around you at the town’s square, in front of Djenné’s crown jewel. “You are the first tourists in 6 weeks!”, they say. Crazy, if you ask me.
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THE COLORFUL SIDE OF MALI ____________________________________ Forget about what the media says about this country, even if its just for one day. Lets for once focus on positive stories from Africa. ____________________________________ Like this unreal sunset on the call to prayer from one of the most beautiful unknown mosques. Unknown recently, because 10 years ago, tourists flocked this country. Nowadays, everyone that lived on that bustling Tourism Industry struggles to survive. Yet, they greet you with a special warmth, as if they were ignorant to the region’s current struggles, as if time had frozen and it were still 2009. They want you to feel at home. As it once was. Kids, young and old gather around you at the town’s square, in front of Djenné’s crown jewel. “You are the first tourists in 6 weeks!”, they say. Crazy, if you ask me. ____________________________________ Stories from Mali start tomorrow, so turn on notifications and stay tuned!
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As you can see, these are lesser-known wonders of our World. No hoards of tourists lining up to take a selfie, and open to exploring their true authenticity, unfiltered. Did you know any of this list? Do you have others you’d propose as an alternative to the New Seven World Wonders?
Maybe you know about them, maybe you don’t. I for one hadn’t heard of these countries before starting my quest to visit every country in the World. Let alone place them on a map! These are the seven spectacular countries you didn’t know about:
These are the World’s least visited countries. Far from renowned tourism powerhouses like France, Spain, and the USA, there are countries that only receive a handful of visitors every year. From remote islands to war-zones or visa nightmare destinations. Reasons vary, but tourists are still wary.
2 Responses
Yes! I would definitely add Easter Island, is amazing when you are in front of the Moais. Also, I was really dissapointed with not including Angkor Wat, I’ve never been there but looks beautiful and full of history.
I appreciate, result in I found just what I was having a look for.
You’ve ended my 4 day long hunt! God Bless you man. Have a
great day. Bye
Look at my page – blog3009
Comments are closed.
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2 Responses
Yes! I would definitely add Easter Island, is amazing when you are in front of the Moais. Also, I was really dissapointed with not including Angkor Wat, I’ve never been there but looks beautiful and full of history.
I appreciate, result in I found just what I was having a look for.
You’ve ended my 4 day long hunt! God Bless you man. Have a
great day. Bye
Look at my page – blog3009
Comments are closed.