The world's most wondrous sights and sites manmade and natural, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe! In other words, to paraphrase the bestseller, more than 900 places to see before you die (better get hopping!).
And by the way, UNESCO World Heritage status is granted to not just places but also cultural traditions, crafts, and more - a veritable universe of experiences!
cover photo: Hans Reniers/Unsplash
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Cultural/Historical:
Cambodian Memorial Sites (Cambodia) – Genocide-era sites now recognised for remembrance and peace.
Maratha Military Landscapes (India) – Twelve forts exemplifying indigenous military architecture.
Royal Palaces of Ludwig II (Germany) – Castles that epitomise 19th-century European romanticism.
Xixia Imperial Tombs (China) – Mausoleums of the Western Xia dynasty in Ningxia.
Megaliths of Carnac and Morbihan (France) – Prehistoric standing stones and alignments.
Sardis and Lydian Tumuli (Turkey) – Archaeological remains of the Lydian capital and royal tombs.
Khorramabad Valley (Iran) – Prehistoric and protohistoric sites in western Iran.
Wixárika Route to Wirikuta (Mexico) – Sacred pilgrimage route of the Wixárika Indigenous people.
Petroglyphs of Bangucheon Stream (Republic of Korea) – Rock art dating back over 7,000 years.
Colonial Transisthmian Route (Panama) – A historic path linking the Caribbean and Pacific coasts.
Port Royal Archaeological Ensemble (Jamaica) – Remains of a sunken colonial city.
Diy‑Gid‑Biy Cultural Landscape (Cameroon) – Terraced settlements and ritual sites in the Mandara Mountains.
Forest Research Institute (Malaysia) – A colonial-era forestry campus and conservation area.
Faya Paleolandscape (Chad) – A desert site showing early human adaptation.
Shulgan-Tash Cave (Russian Federation) – Cave featuring Paleolithic rock paintings and ancient rituals.
Mount Mulanje Cultural Landscape (Malawi) – Afro-montane area with spiritual and environmental significance.
Natural and mixed sites reinforce environmental heritage
In addition to cultural landmarks, the committee recognised four new natural sites and one mixed site for their outstanding ecological, geological, and cultural importance.
Natural:
Murujuga/Burrup Peninsula (Australia) – A major Aboriginal rock art region with thousands of engravings.
Peruaçu River Canyon (Brazil) – A biodiversity-rich canyon system with ancient cave art.
Møns Klint (Denmark) – Dramatic white chalk cliffs formed during the Ice Age.
Bijagós Archipelago (Guinea-Bissau) – A coastal and marine ecosystem vital for endangered species.
Mixed:
Mount Kumgang (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) – A sacred mountain with cultural and natural significance.
More info: https://www.unesco.org/en/world-heritage/committee-2025
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