Southern Province

The most iconic of Mexico’s mystical pre-Hispanic Mayan ruins, whose oldest structures date back to the 5th century. See the Castillo pyramid, the Temple of a Thousand Warriors, and exquisitely carved palaces.

The last survivor of the seven ancient wonders of the world: the remarkable 147m-high tomb of Pharaoh Khufu dates from 2,500 BC. The Sphinx sits alongside.

Snaking along China’s 5,000-mile-long northern boundary, this ancient defensive wall traverses the stupendous mountain scenery of northern China, with numerous sections that can be hiked.

The Incas’ magnificent 15th-century mountaintop citadel sprawls across ten hectares of Peruvian cloud forest. Wayna Picchu, the cone-shaped mountain, rises imperiously behind.

A once-in-a-lifetime, 4- to 5-day hike through the Andes, retracing ancient trails, combines mountain vistas, cloud forest and subtropical jungle. The finale is incredible – the lost Inca city of Machu Picchu, rising from the misty mountains.

Built by Emperor Vespasian in the 1st Century AD, Rome’s magnificent and iconic Colosseum, steeped in gory gladiatorial history is a must-see. Let the games begin!

Arguably the world’s greatest hot-air balloon flight, over Cappadocia‘s spellbinding moonscape-esque landscape of arches, honeycombed hills, striking spires and eye-popping, giant protuberances resembling gigantic mushrooms.

The world’s biggest party – a stadium parade with fabulous floats, music and sequinned samba dancers, and dozens of street parties and balls.

The world’s greatest diving and snorkelling on one of the seven wonders of the natural world – a global biodiversity hotspot teeming with colourful marine life.

Rising up from the silent, otherwise flat desert floor, this 600 million-year-old gargantuan, ochre-hued monolith is both ethereal and mesmerising – its colour changes depending on the season and time of day.