Travel destinations you should make an effort to see
The world is vast and with so many places to see it’s often difficult to choose which destinations to tick off the wish list. But there are some countries that are definitely worth traveling to, whether for their cultural significance, outstanding wildlife, or natural beauty.
Click through the gallery for a tour of where you need to go and what you must see.
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India
One of the most recognized buildings in the world, the Taj Mahal in Agra is an immense mausoleum of white marble constructed between 1631 and 1648.
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Chile
The nearly 900 monumental statues on Easter Island are called moai, created between the 13th and 16th centuries.
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Antarctica
The Earth’s southernmost continent is nearly twice the size of Australia.
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Egypt
The grand entrance of Luxor Temple, which dates back to approximately 1392 BCE.
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Saudi Arabia
Regarded as the birthplace of Islam, Mecca’s Masjid al-Haram Mosque is the destination of the annual Hajj pilgrimage.
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Spain
The Alhambra Palace in Grenada, Andalusia, was built in 889 CE over the ruins of earlier Roman fortifications.
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Australia
Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, is a colossal sandstone monolith sacred to indigenous Australians.
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Slovakia
Once part of Czechoslovakia, the Slovak Republic eventually became known as Slovakia. The capital, Bratislava, is distinguished by its impressive castle.
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Namibia
The Namib is reputably the world’s oldest desert. It stretches inland from the Atlantic Ocean and is home to an extraordinary array of endemic flora and fauna.
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Singapore
Originally founded as a British trading colony in 1819, the island city-state is one of Southeast Asia’s wealthiest destinations, and a so-called regional economic “tiger.”
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Argentina
The Iguazú Falls, or Iguaçu Falls, also border Brazil.
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Seychelles
An archipelago and sovereign state scattered across the Indian Ocean, the destination is a luxury tourism hot spot.
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Lebanon
It took three centuries to build the colossal Temple of Jupiter complex in Baalbek.
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Switzerland
The Matterhorn, with its near-symmetrical pyramidal peak and 4,478 m (14,692 ft) summit, is one of the most recognized mountains in the world.
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Malta
Valletta, the capital of this Mediterranean island, is currently the 2018 European Capital of Culture.
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USA
An endearing and definitive image of the American West, Monument Valley, a vast cluster of sandstone buttes, straddles the Arizona–Utah border.
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Scotland
Scotland‘s highlands and islands are among the most dramatic and picturesque in the United Kingdom.
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Tasmania
Tasmania’s lavender tourism industry is a big success story, with international essential oil producers looking to the state for increasing supplies.
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South Africa
South Africa, the southernmost country in Africa, is appreciated for its wines, wildlife, and cities like Cape Town (pictured), situated beneath the landmark Table Mountain.
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Ethiopia
The Fasil Ghebbi, or Royal Enclosure, was a fortress-like city founded in the 16th and 17th centuries as a residence for the emperor Fasilides.
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Sweden
Stockholm, the Swedish capital, is known for its colorfully decorated metro, often described as the longest art gallery in the world.
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Brazil
The Pantanal is the world’s biggest tropical wetland area.
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South Korea
The name “Korea” is derived from the word Goryeo, also spelled Koryŏ, a dynasty that ruled from the 10th to 14th centuries.
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Iran
The Nasir al-Mulk Mosque in Shiraz is known for its dazzling stained glass windows and painted ceiling tiles.
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Peru
Enjoying a spectacular location high up in the Andes Mountains, the ancient Inca city of Machu Picchu is one of South America’s best-known archaeological sites.
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Saint Kitts and Nevis
This is the smallest sovereign state in the Western Hemisphere. The capital, Basseterre, is located on St. Kitts.
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Borneo
The Borneo orangutan is a critically endangered species. The Danum Valley Conservation Area in Sabah is one of the most rewarding places to see these extraordinary creatures in the wild.
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England
Arguably the world’s most famous prehistoric monument, Stonehenge is believed to have been constructed from 3000 BCE to 2000 BCE.
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Serbia
The Tara National Park, in the Dinaric Alps, is blessed with verdant forested slopes, dramatic ravines, and crystal-clear waterways.
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Sudan
The famous and intriguing Meroë pyramids built in the Nubian style amaze visitors and historians alike.
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Iceland
The Hveravellir geothermal area is a unique nature reserve hidden away in the Icelandic highlands.
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Swaziland
One of the smallest countries in Africa, Swaziland is known for its homesteads, clusters of traditional beehive huts covered with dry grass.
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Italy
With its scented landscape, world-class art, and exemplary wine and gastronomy, Tuscany remains one of Europe’s most beguiling regions.
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Sri Lanka
An island nation anchored off the south of India in the Indian Ocean. Dambulla, in the middle of the country, is celebrated for its cave temple complex (pictured).
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China
One of the most impressive architectural feats in history, the Great Wall of China is so long it would cross the US east to west 4.9 times, according to China Highlights.
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Israel
One of the oldest cities in the world, Jerusalem’s many historic sites include the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and Temple Mount/Al Haram Ash Sharif.
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Sicily
The ancient theater of Taormina, which dates back to the 3rd century BCE, is an island landmark. Mount Etna looms large in the distance.
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Samoa
These Polynesian islands include Savai’i, one of the largest islands in the South Pacific.
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Bhutan
Tiger’s Nest Monastery is where the Guru Rinpoche or “Precious Master”—the so-called “second Buddha” of Bhutan—is said to have meditated.
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Solomon Islands
During World War II, Guadalcanal Island was the scene of the Guadalcanal Campaign, which saw fierce fighting between Japanese and US troops.
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Thailand
Lombok Island in Indonesia is celebrated for its largely deserted, white sand beaches.
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Japan
At 3,776 m (12,388 ft) climbing Mount Fuji, the country’s highest peak, is to also explore the sprawling Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park.
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Portugal
Port wine, one of the world’s most popular alcoholic beverages, is produced in the Douro Valley, the oldest demarcated wine region in the world.
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Senegal
Located on the west coast of Africa, this nation’s capital city is Dakar. The Great Mosque is a landmark of the country’s second city, Touba.
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France
La Petite France, the most picturesque district of Old Strasbourg, embraces a collection of magnificently decorated half-timbered medieval houses.
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Slovenia
The already picturesque Lake Bled is enhanced by a church located on an islet. The Julian Alps provide a suitable romantic backdrop.
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Russia
St Basil’s Cathedral in the heart of Moscow was built in 1555–1561 by order of Tsar Ivan the Terrible.
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Canada
Sunlight reflecting off silt created when rocks underneath the surface of the ice grind together is what gives Lake Moraine in the Rocky Mountains its spectacular turquoise blue color.
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Turkey
The geological oddity that is Cappadocia features a natural wonderland of cones, pinnacles, chimneys, and pillars under which humans have carved a network of tunnels and chambers.
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São Tomé and Príncipe
An African island nation, the islands are part of a volcanic chain located in the Gulf of Guinea. It’s known for its exceptional coffee blends.
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Panama
The 82 km (51 mile) Panama Canal connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean.
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Costa Rica
This tiny Central American country contains nearly 6% of the world’s biodiversity and is home to more than 500,000 species.
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Romania
Set well off the beaten track, the Neo-Renaissance Peleș Castle in Sinaia is one of Europe’s most picturesque castles.
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Morocco
Jemaa el-Fna Square is the colorful and vibrant beating heart of Marrakech. It’s overlooked by the Koutoubia Mosque.
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Mongolia
Mongolian eagle hunters riding to the annual Golden Eagle Festival, held in Bayan-Ölgii province.
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Tanzania
At a height of 5,895 m (19,340 ft), Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa.
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Suriname
The smallest country in South America has Dutch as its official language, although Sranan Tongo—English-based creole—is the lingua franca.
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