10 UNESCO World Heritage Sites you can explore on tour

Published on Jun 30, 2026Updated on Sep 23, 2026
5 min read
Ancient geoglyphs etched in sand, unique marine habitats, and unrivalled natural wonders — see our top designated sites to visit next
10 UNESCO World Heritage Sites you can explore on tour

Across the globe, there are now 1,248 sites (as of July 2025) recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) for their outstanding value to humanity. Receiving World Heritage Site status means a place is considered culturally and/or naturally significant enough to deserve protection for future generations.

It’s therefore a natural starting point when searching for adventures that showcase exceptional beauty, remarkable human achievement, or fascinating insights into our shared history on Earth. To get you started, we’ve gathered just 10 of our favourites that you can see or experience for yourself on tour. So, without further ado, here they are:

1: in

![unesco pic 1](//media-gadventures.global.ssl.fastly.net/media-server/dynamic/blogs/posts/G-Adventures/2021/11/Unesco_GalapagosBoobie700.png Blue-footed boobies captivate island visitors with their mating dances)

Giant tortoises! Marine iguanas! Blue-footed boobies! Three ocean currents, extreme isolation and volcanic activity created a melting pot of unusual land and marine species.

See it for yourself on: Galápagos Adventure: Snorkelling & Sea Lions


2: Þingvellir National Park in

![unesco pic 2](//media-gadventures.global.ssl.fastly.net/media-server/dynamic/blogs/posts/G-Adventures/2021/11/Unesco_ThingvellirCanyon700.png The most important cultural site in Iceland is also a natural beauty)

Imagine passing laws and settling disputes below the high cliffs of a major rift valley. Turf and stone fragments remain of the open air assembly (Alþing) that met from 930 to 1798.

See it for yourself on: Best of Iceland


3: Nazca Lines in

![unesco pic 3](//media-gadventures.global.ssl.fastly.net/media-server/dynamic/blogs/posts/G-Adventures/2021/11/Unesco_NazcaBirdlines700.png You can opt to observe the mysterious lines from a flight above )

Etched from 500 BC to 500 AD, gigantic lines depicting animals, insects, plants and imaginary creatures remain an archaeological enigma on the coastal plains of Peru.

See it for yourself on: Absolute Peru


4: Yosemite National Park in the

![unesco pic 4](//media-gadventures.global.ssl.fastly.net/media-server/dynamic/blogs/posts/G-Adventures/2021/11/Unesco_YosemiteHalfDome700.png Granite marvels like Half Dome and El Capitan will rock your world)

Five of the world’s highest waterfalls! Granite domes! Giant sequoia groves! Yosemite ticks both natural and cultural boxes as an ancestral homeland for some American Indian tribes.

See it for yourself on: Hiking Sequoia, Kings Canyon, and Yosemite


5: Chitwan National Park in

![unesco pic 5](//media-gadventures.global.ssl.fastly.net/media-server/dynamic/blogs/posts/G-Adventures/2021/11/Unesco_ChitwanRhino700.png Significant sections of habitat are preserved for endangered rhinos and tigers)

Set at the foot of the Himalayas, Chitwan is home to one of the last single-horned rhino populations and the Bengal tiger. You can search for both on a guided 4x4 wildlife safari!

See it for yourself on: Nepal Adventure


6: Wadi Rum Protected Area in

![unesco pic 6](//media-gadventures.global.ssl.fastly.net/media-server/dynamic/blogs/posts/G-Adventures/2021/11/Unesco_WadiJeep700.png Hop on a 4x4 and head deep into this culture-rich desert)

Both Petra and Wadi Rum top the list of Jordan’s must-see preserved sites. Petroglyphs and rock arches speak to 12,000+ years of humans interacting with their natural surroundings.

See it for yourself on: Highlights of Jordan


7: Hiroshima Peace Memorial in

![unesco pic 7](//media-gadventures.global.ssl.fastly.net/media-server/dynamic/blogs/posts/G-Adventures/2021/11/Unesco_HiroshimaDome700.png See Genbaku Dome preserved exactly as it was in the bombing’s aftermath)

As the only structure left standing when the first atomic bomb hit, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial and Genbaku Dome is a living memorial to the tens of thousands killed in 1945.

See it for yourself on: Japan Express: Osaka to Tokyo


8: Mount Etna in

![unesco pic 8](//media-gadventures.global.ssl.fastly.net/media-server/dynamic/blogs/posts/G-Adventures/2021/11/Unesco_SmokyEtna700.png Opt for a guided tour of lava fields and end with wine tasting)

Powerful enough to dominate any list, Mount Etna is the world's most active stratovolcano. It has spit lava for 500,000 years and continues to teach us about volcanic landforms.

See it for yourself on: Northern Sicily: Islands & Volcanoes


9: Medina of Fes in

![unesco pic 9](//media-gadventures.global.ssl.fastly.net/media-server/dynamic/blogs/posts/G-Adventures/2021/11/Unesco_MedinaEntrance700.png Find quieter moments in amongst the daily hustle and bustle)

Follow a local guide through any great gate to explore one of the world’s largest medinas made up of 9000+ winding streets and buildings dating back to the 9th century.

See it for yourself on: Highlights of Morocco


10: Old Town of Corfu in

![unesco pic 10](//media-gadventures.global.ssl.fastly.net/media-server/dynamic/blogs/posts/G-Adventures/2021/11/Unesco_OldCorfuFort700.png Still standing after plenty of sieges, hordes of visitors and reconstruction)

Far more than a beach destination, the cobbled alleyways, squares and enduring fortresses speak to Old Town’s storied past and mix of Venetian, French and British influences.

See it for yourself on: Tirana to Santorini: The Albanian Riviera & Iconic Greek Islands