Nestled in the foothills of the Phu Pasak mountain range of southern Laos, the ancient ruins of Wat Phou, a UNESCO-listed World Heritage site, have a special atmosphere to them, inspiring serenity and bliss in those who walk the sacred grounds. In addition to the site’s clear historical appeal, a trip to the ruins is essential for anyone with spiritual inclinations: the calm surroundings, the inherent mysticism and few visitors make it a great place to meditate.

Deep in the South Pacific, in the Solomon Islands, is an atoll called Rennell Island. Like so many other natural World Heritage Sites that have gained UNESCO recognition for their unique biogeography, Rennell faces a dilemma: It wants to realise its high potential for ecotourism, but this can only happen if the infrastructure remains basic and little or no development is imposed on the area’s natural and cultural attractions. Can this precarious balance be achieved?

As the Great Wall of China stretches across most of a massive country, its justifiable fame and beauty make it one of the best known of all UNESCO World Heritage sites. The wall, however, is not the same in all places. From the seas of the east to the western deserts of the Hexi corridor, the Great Wall changes and so does the experience of a visit to this massive defensive bulwark. Each part nevertheless provides a new vista of and new justification for its 1987 inclusion on UNESCO’s vaunted list.

Counted individually, the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Ghana are more plentiful than in any other country in Africa. They consist of 32 historic forts and castles and 13 traditional Ashanti buildings. There remains one Ghanaian asset of immense cultural and scientific value that needs inclusion on the UNESCO list to save it from destruction: Lake Bosomtwe.

THIS ARTICLE IS AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH AND PORTUGUESE. Nestled into the southeastern coast of Brazil, the island of Vitória promises visitors immersion in the quiet beauty of the Atlantic coastline while simultaneously experiencing the electrifying buzz of contemporary and cosmopolitan Brazil.