December 21, 2012, is the last day of the 13th baktun of the Mayan calendar, a day on which many believe that something big is going to happen. Rather than preparing for the apocalypse, why not plan a 2012 tour of the Mayan pyramids and prophesies in Guatemala? Explore the grand ruins of ancient Mayan civilisations. Meet a traditional living Mayan community of today and find out firsthand what they are thinking and doing as you take part in sacred rituals and ceremonies.

THIS ARTICLE IS AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH AND HINDI. India’s ancient and spiritual city of Varanasi, also known as Benares, is located at the heart of the Ganges Valley. Believed to have been founded by the Hindu deity Lord Shiva around 5,000 years ago (making it one of the oldest cities in the world), Varanasi is regarded as holy to Jains and Buddhists, and perhaps the most important pilgrimage site for Hindus, who visit it from all over the world. Now you can book Varanasi hotels and tours through whl.travel.

The annual Pasola festival is a hallmark of culture on Sumba, one of the Lesser Sunda Islands of Indonesia. Wrapped in legend and of uncertain origin, it is a raucous event that attracts huge crowds of locals and visitors, all drawn to its curious combination of wild celebration and rigid ceremony pulled straight from ancient Indonesian lore.

Renowned for its stunning Mediterranean islands and pristine whitewashed towns, Greece, unbeknownst to most people, is actually 80% picturesque mountainous terrain, much of it fertile farmland peppered with traditional villages. Some particularly entrancing and typically hilly areas can easily be visited a quick trip from Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city.