8 world wonders to experience in 2024
Meet locals, discover ancient wonders and seek adventure in comfort with Wendy Wu Tours.
| THIS ARTICLE WAS CREATED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH Wendy Wu Tours |
The world is a wondrous place, filled with landscapes shaped by natural phenomena, age-old civilisations and awe-inspiring human creations. And while the world-renowned Seven Wonders will always be on our list, there are a multitude of under-the-radar marvels to get excited about.
Cruise along rivers that snake their way for thousands of kilometres through changing landscapes and cultures, wander through ancient cities that have been carved out of rock and immerse yourself in tribal cultures that have stood the tumultuous test of time. Follow the footsteps of great explorers with Wendy Wu Tours to see these eight world wonders in 2024.
Discover the wonders of Bukhara.
1. Cruise the mighty Mekong
Beginning high up in the Tibetan Plateau, the mighty Mekong River winds 4800 kilometres through China, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam before spilling out into the South China Sea. The lifeblood of Southeast Asia, millions of people live along the riverbanks, fishing and farming rice and fruit as a livelihood. A cruise along this legendary waterway is beauty in motion; it’s a rolling clip of changing landscapes, encompassing verdant mountains and rice paddies to hodgepodge villages crammed with traditional stilt houses.
Cruise the lifeblood of Southeast Asia.
Meander through the most enchanting stretch of this river onboard the Victoria Mekong as part of Wendy Wu Tours’ 21-day Mekong Explorer. The four-night cruise begins in Can Tho, known as the beating heart of the Mekong Delta, and cruises upstream to Phnom Penh. Along the way, you’ll stop at Tiger Island, where you’ll visit local craftspeople (such as net weavers and incense makers), travel to a colourful Cao Dai temple and silk village by rickshaw in Tan Chau, and witness traditional performances, including a Cambodian Apsara performed by local children.
Gain a deeper understanding of life along the Mekong as you cruise in style on the boutique and contemporary Victoria Mekong, which boasts an infinity pool, spa, restaurant, bar and library – and even mini golf, too.
Ride down the mighty Mekong River.
2. Follow the Silk Road
For more than 1500 years, the Silk Road connected the East and West through a vast network of trading routes. These roads not only allowed for the trading of commodities but an exchange of knowledge, culture and beliefs that forever changed the history of Eurasia.
Follow in the footsteps of these intrepid travellers as you journey along one of the world’s most famous trading routes on Wendy Wu Tours’ 28-day Silk Road Explorer. This epic tour begins in the ancient capital of Xian and travels west through China to the fascinating and far-flung outpost of Kashgar.
Follow in the footsteps of these intrepid travellers.
On this journey, you’ll witness Zhangye’s captivating Rainbow Mountains, see the cultural crossroads of Dunhuang (known as City of Sands), visit Crescent Moon Spring, and experience the famous Singing Sand Dunes, a phenomenon produced by the wind blowing through grains of sand. You’ll also have the chance to get lost in Central Asia’s largest bazaar, a flurry of activity where stallholders tout spices, fabrics, carpets and more.
Witness Zhangye’s captivating Rainbow Mountains.
3. Witness Japan in colour
As the heat of summer dissipates and the air begins to cool, the season of koyo transforms Japan into a painterly scene. Translating to ‘red leaves’, koyo sees Japan’s forests, parks and temple gardens morph into deep shades of orange, yellow and red. Maple trees turn a fiery red, ginkgo trees become a sunshine yellow, and chrysanthemum, spider lily and cosmos flowers bloom.
For Japanese people, koyo is not only a visual feast but is also a time for quiet contemplation. Immerse yourself in this season on Wendy Wu Tours’ 18-day Japan Uncovered tour. Appreciate one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan and the newly coloured leaves at Kenroku-en, visit the playful macaques in the Japanese Alps, take a languid cruise on Lake Ashi, and soak up iconic views of Mt Fuji framed by an autumnal landscape.
See koyo transform Japan.
4. Explore Kerala’s Backwaters
Southern India is a stark contrast to the intoxicating frenzy of the northern regions: down here you’ll find a tropical, laidback, untouched wilderness. The southern state of Kerala boasts some 600 kilometres of coastline along the Arabian Sea, while inland the rolling hills are blanketed in tea plantations. Nestled between them you’ll find the enigmatic Kerala Backwaters.
This colossal web of lakes, lagoons, canals and rivers is fringed with dense hyper-green foliage and palm trees. These waterways are navigated by kettuvallams (houseboats); traditionally used to transport goods, these charming boats are now frequented by travellers escaping the mega cities of the north for a slower pace.
Starting in Chennai, Wendy Wu Tours’ 18-day Kerala and the Southern Highlights tour traces the western coast, where you’ll explore the cool climes of the Western Ghats, take a heritage train through mountainous scenery, and pay a visit to the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, which protects elephants and the elusive Bengal tiger. You’ll also spend a night cruising the tranquil backwaters onboard a kettuvallam.
Find the enigmatic Kerala Backwaters.
5. Travel to the ancient city of Petra
The ancient city of Petra was built in the third century by the Nabataeans who carved temples, palaces and tombs out of blush-hued sandstone. Located between the Dead Sea and the Red Sea, this famous archaeological site, also dubbed ‘Rose City’, was once an important crossroads of the Silk Road, where Arabian incense, Chinese silks and Indian spices were traded.
Wander this enthralling UNESCO World Heritage-listed site on Wendy Wu Tours’ 20-day Egypt & Jordan Adventure. You’ll spend two nights in the city of Petra, allowing you to also see this marvel at night, when you’ll be escorted through the narrow Siq Canyon to the Treasury, an elaborate temple that’s illuminated by thousands of candles after dark.
Other bucket list wonders are also visited on this extensive Arabian discovery, including the Great Sphinx and Pyramids of Giza, a cruise along the legendary Nile River, and a trip to Wadi Rum Desert Camp, where you’ll follow in the footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia. You’ll then end this exotic journey with a float in the Dead Sea.
Travel to the ancient city of Petra.
6. Go hiking in Vietnam’s remote hills
In the north-west corner of Vietnam, the remote hill station of Sapa is a misty mountainous landscape, sculpted with rice terraces and home to diverse ethnic tribes. The best way to explore this remote part of Vietnam is on a hike through the lush paddies, soaking up panoramic views and stopping by the minority villages, where the locals live in traditional houses, dress in vibrantly coloured outfits and practise age-old handicrafts.
See the incredible Sapa.
Wendy Wu Tours’ 16-day Vietnam Trails tour spends three glorious nights in Sapa, during which travellers can walk the valleys and villages and spend time with the H’mong people. This in-depth tour of Vietnam also includes time in the bustling metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City, the beguiling riverside town of Hoi An and the country’s capital, Hanoi. You’ll also experience an overnight cruise on the emerald waters and ethereal karst landscape of Halong Bay.
Meet the locals in Sapa.
7. Explore the world’s largest salt flat
Imagine staying on the edge of the world’s largest salt flat in a hotel carved almost entirely out of salt. Stretching for more than 10,400 square kilometres in south-west Bolivia, the dazzling white landscape of Salar de Uyuni is made up of a polygonal pattern of thick salt crust, a remnant of a prehistoric lake. When nearby lakes overflow, a few inches of water can form a mirror-like surface that vividly reflects the sky, adding to the drama.
Watch elegant flamingos in their natural home.
The salt flat experience is a highlight on Wendy Wu Tours’ 29-day Ultimate South America itinerary, which includes a night at one of Salar de Uyuni’s salt hotels; you’ll enjoy an unforgettable picnic on the salt flats and visit a salt museum, too. Guests can also take an excursion to the dormant Tunupu volcano to see the archaeological remains of the Coquesa mummies in a cave. Starting in Peru, the tour also visits legendary Machu Picchu and travels through Bolivia, Chile and Argentina before ending in Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro.
Experience Bolivia’s salt flats.
8. Journey through the five ’Stans
Remote, raw and breathtaking, the five ’Stans of Central Asia – Kyrgyzstan, Tajikstan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan – are steeped in history, well-preserved and intricate architecture, sprawling untainted landscapes, and authentic cultural experiences.
Venture to these beguiling nations with Wendy Wu Tours on the 28-day Journey Through Central Asia itinerary. You’ll visit fabled locales, such as the Persian city of Bukhara in Uzbekistan, as well as Samarkand, one of the most illustrious cities on the Silk Road, where striking, blue-domed mosques have stood the test of time. Journeying through unforgettable landscapes, travellers will see the fiery glow of the Darvaza gas crater in Turkmenistan and spend time at the turquoise-hued Iskanderkul Lake. You’ll also experience millennia-old traditions and cultures, such as eagle hunting in Kochkor and sleeping in a traditional yurt like a Kyrgyz nomad.
Journey through central Asia with Wendy Wu Tours.
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