25 Wonders of the World||Week 1
So here we are again with a brand new set of posts for April. You may remember my introduction post I wrote back in February outlining my aims for this new series. If you need catching up you can read it here. Just to recap this is week 1 out of 5, the start of the adventure. So now we are all caught up with the intro lets get down to the nitty gritty, starting with my first weeks worth of wonders! The photograph at the top should give it away already but if not the first five wonders I will be exploring today are The Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt, The Great Wall of China, Petra in Jordan, Christ the Redeemer Statue in Rio, Brazil and Machu Picchu in Peru.
To get things started I have prepared a short guide all about 'The Great Pyramid of Giza' in Eygpt enjoy.
Wonder of the World Number 1...
The Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt
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| Photo Credit: CN Traveller |
Facts...
The Great Pyramid of Giza can be found near Egypt's capital Cairo, on the Giza Plateau. It is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
It is one of the most ancient structures of the world (built between 2589 and 2504 BC) and arguably one of the most fascinating to visit. It is the largest Pyramid out of the three. The Pyramid to the right of the photograph is Cheaops, then you have Chephren next to it and finally the smallest out of the three Mycerinus. The Great Pyramid was originally 481 feet, 5 inches tall. (146.7 metres). The Pyramid's are one of Egypt's most famously visited attractions millions of tourists flock here every year.
Things to do/see
If you are lucky enough to be visiting Cairo any time soon you can find great tours and ways of visiting The Pyramid's on your trip. The website Viator.com offers loads of fantastic tour options pick one from the list here at Giza Pyramids from Viator.com.
As mentioned above there are quite a few different tours to choose from on the website, the one I would love to go to is the 'Private-Tour-Giza Pyramids,Sphinx,Egyptian Museum,Khan el Khalili,Bazaar'. I love the idea of having a private exclusive tour and for what you get it is very cheap. The tour is said to last approx 6-8 hours departing from central Cairo hotels, and you will be taken by a private Egytpologist guide round the main sights all from £50.33 pp. You also have the option to upgrade to enjoy lunch on tour. You will also receive free time on the tour to enter one of the pyramids (will occur an additional cost) should you wish. As well as free time to shop at the busy shopping hub 'Khan el Khalili Bazaar' where you can test out your bartering skills and will be sure to snap up a bargain.
Accommodation
If you are looking for accommodation near the Pyramids, or within easy reach I would star by looking at Trip Advisor, quite a few different options come up (depending on the budget) here's a few to get you started.
One I like the look of in particular is The 'Le Meridien Pyramids Hotel and Spa' this hotel is located on El Remaya Square, a mere 0.6 miles away from the Pyramids, you really can't get much closer. You can even see them from the hotel.(Some rooms offer Pyramid views, make sure you ask for one prior to arrival).
The rooms in the hotel are all bright and modern, they have floor- to ceiling windows with fantastic views. Satellite cable TV and a mini bar. Wi-fi is free for guests but not available in rooms (lobby only). One of the greatest things about this hotel is the swimming pool and sun lounge area (as seen above). The hotel also has a gym which is free for all guests and also a spa/ wellness centre which offers a hot tub, sauna and a variety of massage treatments.
There is two restaurants on site and the Citrus Bar where you can enjoy some drinks and snacks by the pool. The first restaurant is a 24 hour buffet style the second is a more formal a la carte menu style restaurant, both equally as excellent as each other.
There is also a little gift shop/convenience store on the property.
Prices are extremely cheap at around £44 per night for 2 people in a Deluxe Room with Pyramid Views. Or £90 per night half board included.
Restaurants, Bars and Cafes
There are plenty of places to catch a bite to eat near the pyramids, I would however do your research first before you go. One place I keep seeing which is attracting great reviews is a restaurant which over looks the Pyramid's and Sphinx called 'Abou Shakra'. From looking at the reviews on Trip Advisor (which is where I found the restaurant) it is very apparent that most people come here not only only the views but the great standard of food. The restaurant franchise itself opened in 1947 and it now has 9 restaurants in locations all over Egypt (mainly Cairo). The typical dishes served are Salads, traditional middle eastern sharing platters and mixed grills,Turkish Kofta and Kebab's, as well as delicious pasta dishes. You can find the full menu on their website here.
Wonder of the World Number 2...
The Great Wall of China is a monumental part of traditional Chinese culture. It dates back to 206 BC and measures an astounding 13,170.69 miles long (21,196.18 km). Once used as a war time defence mechanism, The wall starts from Hushan in the east of China and ends in Jiayuguan Pass in the west. There are many sections of the great wall including, 'Badaling, Mutianyu, Juyongguan, Simatai, Jinshanling, Huanghuacheng, Shanhaiguan, Yanmenguan, Jiayuguan and Yumenguan'. The famous wonder of the world was awarded UNESCO World Heritage site status in 1987 and attracts nearly 11 million visitors a year. It is ranked number 26 in the 'World's most visited tourist attraction' category according to the Travel and Leisure website.
How to Visit
Most people who come to visit The Great Wall often take day trips/ tours from other parts of China. It is located so near to Beijing that most come from here. Walking tours are very popular among tourists. I have found one in particular from the China Tour website which offers day tours as well as over night tours. The cheapest tour on their website is for a 1 day tour covering The Great Wall of China and the Ming Tombs. This is a private type of tour and usually takes on around 6-10 people. The tour lasts most of the day with a start time 7am/8am until 5pm/6pm in the evening. These tours run every day and it is approx 1.5 hour drive to the wall from downtown which is where you would get picked up from (usually at your hotel).
The price starts from $25 for the small coach tour sharing with 6-10 people. For more details about the tour and to see some recent reviews click here.
Accommodation
If day trips and travelling just isn't your thing you may want to think about booking accommodation which is nearer to the Great Wall. The best thing about this place is that you have quite a few options, you can either stay in the east- Badaling (where the wall starts) or in the west- Jiayuguan (where it finishes) I am here on hand to give you a fantastic luxury option which is conveniently located in Badaling.
'Badaling', The start of the wall.
The only accommodation I have found which is actually within a decent distance to the Great Wall of China in Badaling is a hotel called 'Commune by the Great Wall' it is located 6.2 miles away and is in a very convenient location (No.53 The Great Wall Exit). It is around 46 miles away from Beijing International Airport also so again very popular.
The rustic in style hotel itself offers 172 modern rooms each fitted with your usual luxury facilities including Wide screen TV's, mini bar and tea and coffee machine, Bathrobes, slippers and free toiletries are also provided. There is a hotel bar called 'Pink Bar' which serves drinks throughout the day and evening, and they also have two on site restaurants one called 'Shan Jing Restaurant' which serves western cuisine the other called 'Ting Yuan Restaurant' which offers traditional Chinese. Most rooms offer an outstanding view of The Great Wall of China. Prices start from £314.00 per night for a Superior Double/Twin room which includes breakfast.
Wonder of the World Number 3...
This is the wonder of the world I am least familiar with so when I read some of these facts I was very surprised. Petra is a half built, half carved (into rock) landmark which is a small desert valley covered by towering sandstone cliffs on the edge of the 'Wadi Araba' desert, it is often known as 'Rose City'. It was constructed around 312 BCE by 'The Nabataeans. For about 5 centuries it was unknown and often referred to as the 'Lost City'. It was later discovered again in 1812 by a Swiss explorer called Johann Ludwig Burckhardt.
One of the most extraordinary things about Petra is the way you have to enter it, you have to pass through a slim canyon of about 1 km. The site is bound by tall cliffs which measure 80 km in height called Al-Siq. Petra is an enormous city of tombs, monuments and sacred structures. It has around 800 carved tombs called 'Royal Tombs', because of its historic and religious importance it was given a UNESCO world heritage site status in 1985.
Accommodation
I have found just 2 5 star hotels which are in close proximity to Petra. The closet one to the landmark is called 'Marriott Petra Hotel' and it is located in Wadi Musa (1.4 miles away from Petra). It has loads of great facilities on offer including restaurant/ bar and an outdoor pool. There are also shops on site for your convenience.
At the hotel you will find 1 buffet and 1 a la carte restaurant on site which is open every day early till late for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. The hotel offers free Wi-fi access in all public areas.
The rooms are spacious, clean and come with their own private bathrooms with a shower. You will also have access to a flat screen cable TV, air conditioning and your very own mini bar.
Prices start at just £60.00 a day for just a standard room for 2 people. or pay an extra £10.00 to get breakfast included.
Wonder of the World Number 4...
You may remember recently that I wrote about Brazil in my A-Z Top 2 Countries||Brazil vs Belgium (you can catch up with that post here). Out of all of the 5 wonders of the world I written
about today this is the one I am desperate to see the most, there is something quite extraordinary about this statue especially what it represents. I hope to one day have my picture taken next to it, but for now I am going to share a few things about it which you may or may not already know, and how you can visit it yourself.
The Statue is located in Rio de Janeiro, on top of the Corcovado Mountain in the Tijuca Forest National Park in Brazil. The statue itself measures 32 metres in height, making it the tallest religious statue in the world!
Christ the Redeemer was designed by a Brazilian Engineer called Heitor de Silva Costa and it was later sculpted by French Sculptor Paul Landowski, believed to be constructed between the years of 1922 and 1931.
To reach the statue you will need to climb 220 steps (you may wish to take the more recent built escalators instead). The busiest time to visit the statue is during Easter and Christmas, as this is usually the times when Brazil has religious festivals.
Accommodation
Fancy visiting Rio? and getting up close and personal with The Christ the Redeemer well I am here to give you an example of one hotel located near which you may want to consider.
'Thermas Resort Walter World' which is an amazing 5 star hotel resort located within Pocos de Caldas' Walter World Theme Park. This is an especially great hotel to stay in if you have children holidaying with you, the theme park is right on your door step and makes for a great family day out, you don't even have to worry about transportation.
The hotel offers you stylish yet simple modern rooms, with flat screen tv's, air conditioning a mini bar and all the usual bathroom commodities you would expect from a 5 star hotel, you can even upgrade to a room with a spa bath if you wish. (subject to availability), There are a number of rooms available including standard Double/Twin rooms and Superior Suites.
Prices start from £120.00 for a double room.
Not only does the hotel offer a fantastic selection of comfortable rooms it also has an on site restaurant/bar which offers all-inclusive meals and drinks. They also have nightly entertainment for all the family. If you are here on business you may want to use the meeting facilities or lounge area, all public areas offer free wi-fi.
The hotel is around 2.5 miles from The Christ the Reedemer Statue. It is also only 2 miles from Paco das Aguas shopping mall and 4 miles from Cascata da Luz landmark, so there are plenty of other things to do near by as well.
Wonder of the World Number 5...
The Great Pyramid of Giza can be found near Egypt's capital Cairo, on the Giza Plateau. It is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
It is one of the most ancient structures of the world (built between 2589 and 2504 BC) and arguably one of the most fascinating to visit. It is the largest Pyramid out of the three. The Pyramid to the right of the photograph is Cheaops, then you have Chephren next to it and finally the smallest out of the three Mycerinus. The Great Pyramid was originally 481 feet, 5 inches tall. (146.7 metres). The Pyramid's are one of Egypt's most famously visited attractions millions of tourists flock here every year.
Things to do/see
If you are lucky enough to be visiting Cairo any time soon you can find great tours and ways of visiting The Pyramid's on your trip. The website Viator.com offers loads of fantastic tour options pick one from the list here at Giza Pyramids from Viator.com.
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| Photo Credit: (William C) Viator.com |
As mentioned above there are quite a few different tours to choose from on the website, the one I would love to go to is the 'Private-Tour-Giza Pyramids,Sphinx,Egyptian Museum,Khan el Khalili,Bazaar'. I love the idea of having a private exclusive tour and for what you get it is very cheap. The tour is said to last approx 6-8 hours departing from central Cairo hotels, and you will be taken by a private Egytpologist guide round the main sights all from £50.33 pp. You also have the option to upgrade to enjoy lunch on tour. You will also receive free time on the tour to enter one of the pyramids (will occur an additional cost) should you wish. As well as free time to shop at the busy shopping hub 'Khan el Khalili Bazaar' where you can test out your bartering skills and will be sure to snap up a bargain.
Accommodation
If you are looking for accommodation near the Pyramids, or within easy reach I would star by looking at Trip Advisor, quite a few different options come up (depending on the budget) here's a few to get you started.
One I like the look of in particular is The 'Le Meridien Pyramids Hotel and Spa' this hotel is located on El Remaya Square, a mere 0.6 miles away from the Pyramids, you really can't get much closer. You can even see them from the hotel.(Some rooms offer Pyramid views, make sure you ask for one prior to arrival).
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| Photo Credit: sunshine |
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| Photo Credit: kuoni |
There is also a little gift shop/convenience store on the property.
Prices are extremely cheap at around £44 per night for 2 people in a Deluxe Room with Pyramid Views. Or £90 per night half board included.
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| Photo Credit: holiday-designers |
There are plenty of places to catch a bite to eat near the pyramids, I would however do your research first before you go. One place I keep seeing which is attracting great reviews is a restaurant which over looks the Pyramid's and Sphinx called 'Abou Shakra'. From looking at the reviews on Trip Advisor (which is where I found the restaurant) it is very apparent that most people come here not only only the views but the great standard of food. The restaurant franchise itself opened in 1947 and it now has 9 restaurants in locations all over Egypt (mainly Cairo). The typical dishes served are Salads, traditional middle eastern sharing platters and mixed grills,Turkish Kofta and Kebab's, as well as delicious pasta dishes. You can find the full menu on their website here.
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| Photo Credit: Trip Advisor |
Wonder of the World Number 2...
The Great Wall of China, China
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| Photo Credit: History.com |
The Great Wall of China is a monumental part of traditional Chinese culture. It dates back to 206 BC and measures an astounding 13,170.69 miles long (21,196.18 km). Once used as a war time defence mechanism, The wall starts from Hushan in the east of China and ends in Jiayuguan Pass in the west. There are many sections of the great wall including, 'Badaling, Mutianyu, Juyongguan, Simatai, Jinshanling, Huanghuacheng, Shanhaiguan, Yanmenguan, Jiayuguan and Yumenguan'. The famous wonder of the world was awarded UNESCO World Heritage site status in 1987 and attracts nearly 11 million visitors a year. It is ranked number 26 in the 'World's most visited tourist attraction' category according to the Travel and Leisure website.
How to Visit
Most people who come to visit The Great Wall often take day trips/ tours from other parts of China. It is located so near to Beijing that most come from here. Walking tours are very popular among tourists. I have found one in particular from the China Tour website which offers day tours as well as over night tours. The cheapest tour on their website is for a 1 day tour covering The Great Wall of China and the Ming Tombs. This is a private type of tour and usually takes on around 6-10 people. The tour lasts most of the day with a start time 7am/8am until 5pm/6pm in the evening. These tours run every day and it is approx 1.5 hour drive to the wall from downtown which is where you would get picked up from (usually at your hotel).
The price starts from $25 for the small coach tour sharing with 6-10 people. For more details about the tour and to see some recent reviews click here.
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| Photo Credit: china-family-adventure |
If day trips and travelling just isn't your thing you may want to think about booking accommodation which is nearer to the Great Wall. The best thing about this place is that you have quite a few options, you can either stay in the east- Badaling (where the wall starts) or in the west- Jiayuguan (where it finishes) I am here on hand to give you a fantastic luxury option which is conveniently located in Badaling.
'Badaling', The start of the wall.
The only accommodation I have found which is actually within a decent distance to the Great Wall of China in Badaling is a hotel called 'Commune by the Great Wall' it is located 6.2 miles away and is in a very convenient location (No.53 The Great Wall Exit). It is around 46 miles away from Beijing International Airport also so again very popular.
The rustic in style hotel itself offers 172 modern rooms each fitted with your usual luxury facilities including Wide screen TV's, mini bar and tea and coffee machine, Bathrobes, slippers and free toiletries are also provided. There is a hotel bar called 'Pink Bar' which serves drinks throughout the day and evening, and they also have two on site restaurants one called 'Shan Jing Restaurant' which serves western cuisine the other called 'Ting Yuan Restaurant' which offers traditional Chinese. Most rooms offer an outstanding view of The Great Wall of China. Prices start from £314.00 per night for a Superior Double/Twin room which includes breakfast.
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| Photo Credit: kiwicollection |
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| Photo Credit: Pinterest |
Wonder of the World Number 3...
Petra, Jordan
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| Photo Credit: hostelblog |
One of the most extraordinary things about Petra is the way you have to enter it, you have to pass through a slim canyon of about 1 km. The site is bound by tall cliffs which measure 80 km in height called Al-Siq. Petra is an enormous city of tombs, monuments and sacred structures. It has around 800 carved tombs called 'Royal Tombs', because of its historic and religious importance it was given a UNESCO world heritage site status in 1985.
Accommodation
I have found just 2 5 star hotels which are in close proximity to Petra. The closet one to the landmark is called 'Marriott Petra Hotel' and it is located in Wadi Musa (1.4 miles away from Petra). It has loads of great facilities on offer including restaurant/ bar and an outdoor pool. There are also shops on site for your convenience.
At the hotel you will find 1 buffet and 1 a la carte restaurant on site which is open every day early till late for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. The hotel offers free Wi-fi access in all public areas.
The rooms are spacious, clean and come with their own private bathrooms with a shower. You will also have access to a flat screen cable TV, air conditioning and your very own mini bar.
Prices start at just £60.00 a day for just a standard room for 2 people. or pay an extra £10.00 to get breakfast included.
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| Photo Credit: Trip Advisor |
Wonder of the World Number 4...
Christ the Redeemer Statue, Brazil, Rio
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| Photo Credit: ancientworldwidewonders |
about today this is the one I am desperate to see the most, there is something quite extraordinary about this statue especially what it represents. I hope to one day have my picture taken next to it, but for now I am going to share a few things about it which you may or may not already know, and how you can visit it yourself.
The Statue is located in Rio de Janeiro, on top of the Corcovado Mountain in the Tijuca Forest National Park in Brazil. The statue itself measures 32 metres in height, making it the tallest religious statue in the world!
Christ the Redeemer was designed by a Brazilian Engineer called Heitor de Silva Costa and it was later sculpted by French Sculptor Paul Landowski, believed to be constructed between the years of 1922 and 1931.
To reach the statue you will need to climb 220 steps (you may wish to take the more recent built escalators instead). The busiest time to visit the statue is during Easter and Christmas, as this is usually the times when Brazil has religious festivals.
Accommodation
Fancy visiting Rio? and getting up close and personal with The Christ the Redeemer well I am here to give you an example of one hotel located near which you may want to consider.
'Thermas Resort Walter World' which is an amazing 5 star hotel resort located within Pocos de Caldas' Walter World Theme Park. This is an especially great hotel to stay in if you have children holidaying with you, the theme park is right on your door step and makes for a great family day out, you don't even have to worry about transportation.
The hotel offers you stylish yet simple modern rooms, with flat screen tv's, air conditioning a mini bar and all the usual bathroom commodities you would expect from a 5 star hotel, you can even upgrade to a room with a spa bath if you wish. (subject to availability), There are a number of rooms available including standard Double/Twin rooms and Superior Suites.
Prices start from £120.00 for a double room.
Not only does the hotel offer a fantastic selection of comfortable rooms it also has an on site restaurant/bar which offers all-inclusive meals and drinks. They also have nightly entertainment for all the family. If you are here on business you may want to use the meeting facilities or lounge area, all public areas offer free wi-fi.
The hotel is around 2.5 miles from The Christ the Reedemer Statue. It is also only 2 miles from Paco das Aguas shopping mall and 4 miles from Cascata da Luz landmark, so there are plenty of other things to do near by as well.
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| Photo Credit: Trip Advisor |
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| Photo Credit: nacionalinn |
Wonder of the World Number 5...
Machu Picchu, Peru
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| Photo Credit: Wiki |
Accommodation
You may be wondering where the best hotels are to stay in when visiting the Machu Picchu, I have scoured the internet for you to hopefully make your job a bit easier. The nearest luxury 5 star hotel to the Machu Picchu I could find is called 'Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel' which according to booking.com is located in Machu Picchu town and a mere 0.2 miles from the site, approx 20 minutes away (I am expecting some amazing views here then). The site tells me this hotel is 'one of their top picks' guests have rated the hotel a 9.2 which is very high indeed.
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| Photo Credit: hotels.com |
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| Photo Credit: Worldspree |
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| Photo Credit: Galapagos holiday adventure |
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| Photo Credit: ecoluxury |
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| Photo Credit: agoda |
Room rates start at £308.00 per night for a Deluxe Double with half board. Other room options are available when booking.
Food and Drink
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| Photo Credit: theonlyperuguide |
One of my favourite things about this place is not just the amazing décor but they also offer cooking lessons as well. So if like me you are a real foodie you should definitely invest in a few lessons to learn how to make real authentic Peruvian dishes to wow your friends with back home. Price starts from $95.00 for 2 people. lessons are held 7 days a week 10am-2pm, and pick up is conveniently arranged from your hotel, you also get to go on an hour long Market tour of San Pedro- Mercado, where you will pick up your ingredients for your cooking lesson.
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| Photo Credit: theonlyperuguide |
Ensalada Verde (Organic lettuce, avacado, palm hearts, parmesan cheese, cherry tomatoes, Served with toasted focaccia and a coca mayonnaise and balsamic vinigarette)
Thai Chicken (Crispy breaded chicken, wok sauteed vegetables in a sweet & sour sauce with Peruvian style rice)
Pie De Maracuya (Creamy passion fruit pie)
For more info on opening times and to book your reservation please see their website here.
So we are now at the end of my week 1, 25 Wonders of the world. Hope you have enjoyed reading about the first 5 on my list. If you have visited any of these yourself I would love to know what it was like. Drop me a comment below.
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