These places are now part of the World Heritage

UNESCO has once again added 26 outstanding cultural and natural sites to the World Heritage List.

Among them: impressive rock carvings in Korea, ancient cave paintings in the Ural Mountains, lost kingdoms in Africa – and several fascinating destinations that are drawing increasing interest from long-haul travellers.

Vietnam & Laos: Natural Wonders Beneath the Earth

Vietnam’s Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park has been a World Heritage Site since 2003 – and has now been joined by the neighbouring Hin Nam No National Park in Laos. Together, they form one of the largest karst and cave systems in the world: underground rivers, bizarre limestone formations and an exceptionally rich wildlife, including the rare Laotian giant spider.

United Arab Emirates: Traces of Early Human History

Just an hour’s drive from Dubai lies the paleolandscape of Faya. Archaeological findings show that humans lived here as early as 200,000 years ago – one of the earliest continuous settlements on the Arabian Peninsula. A destination for those who want to connect cultural depth with modern desert architecture.

Brazil: Caves, Light and Legends

The Cavernas do Peruaçu National Park in northeastern Brazil is known for its massive karst caves – especially the Janelão cave, whose ceiling openings are so large that plants grow inside. A landscape full of contrasts, where geology, biodiversity and indigenous myths come together.

India: Fortresses of the Marathas

Twelve monumental fortresses in Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu – along coastlines, in mountains and on high plateaus – bear witness to the military and cultural influence of the Marathas in the 17th and 18th centuries. With this recognition, UNESCO honours not only their architectural significance but also the strategic integration of these structures into the natural landscape.

Many of these newly designated sites can be seamlessly integrated into tailor-made tours – our Travel Designers will be happy to advise you.