1 The Pyramids

It’s hard to know where to start when it comes to describing just how magnificent and awe-inspiring the Pyramids of Giza in Cairo are, but one fact that garners the most respect is that it is the only surviving member of the original seven wonders of the world list compiled by Greek writer Antipater of Sidon in 2BC. One of the great – if not greatest – man-made architectural wonders in the world, it consists of three main pyramids: the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the Pyramid of Khefre and the smaller Pyramid of Menkaura. Standing guard over the tombs is the Sphinx or ‘Father of Terror’, which is actually carved from one single block of stone.

Built as tombs for the Pharoahs, the shape of a pyramid was used because Egyptians once believed it to be the shape of the primeval mound from which all life sprang, while the size denoted the power and strength of the ruler. The Pyramids of Giza were built just off the west bank of the Nile, so that the Pharoahs could make their way to the afterlife. Khufu’s pyramid is the greatest of them all and is created from approximately two million blocks of stone, each weighing more than two tons. It took over 20 years to build by 20,000 workers and it is still unclear as to how the blocks were put in place. Until the 19th century, it was the tallest manmade structure in the world, but it still puts any other building to shame.

Getting around Negotiating the pyramids is easy enough – you can walk, take a camel ride or a horse and buggy.

Remember to always bargain if you are hiring transportation. You can go inside the pyramids, but the climbs are steep and tickets to enter are limited to 300 people per day so it’s best to get there early.

Getting there Egyptian Experience, a bespoke tour company, arranges for tours to the Pyramids, taking in the other sights of Cairo. All flights are with Egypt Air and it offers a seven-day Pyramids and Nile Experience package. Visit www.egyptianexperience.co.uk or call 01280 705 700. Flights to Cairo start from £289 flying with BA. Visit www.ba.com

We Went There

‘It was amazing to see the site where the pyramids had been built…’

Randeep Judge and Takdees Sheikh had a trip of a lifetime when they visited the pyramids…

‘We chose to visit the pyramids in Egypt as they are one of the great wonders of the world, and something we had been fascinated with since learning about the ancient Egyptians at school!

‘From Cairo, we took a 30 minute taxi ride to Giza, and then for the final part of the journey we came along a dusty path on horse back, well, arriving by taxi just felt wrong!

‘It was amazing to see the site where the pyramids had been built and you immediately begin to appreciate the scale and just how forward-thinking the design and engineering was, despite the primitive tools and transportation available 4000 years ago. And just to think, all without Microsoft!

‘There are many excellent museums in Cairo exhibiting artefacts from these times, the main one being the Egyptian Museum where the treasures of Tutankhamun’s tomb are on exhibit. Watch out for touts trying to get you to visit Papyrus and perfume museums as they really are tourist traps.

‘Another thing, be prepared to barter for everything, and also prepare yourself for the very hot and dry climate.

‘Despite the tourist pitfalls, this trip is definitely worth doing.’

2 The Taj Mahal

A universal work of art, the Taj Mahal’s bittersweet symbolism of death interwined with a neverending love strikes a chord in all who view its beauty firsthand. No postcard can do it justice; 17th century Emperor Shahjahan may have built it as a mausoleum for his beloved wife, Mumtaz, but there is nothing morose about this stunning monument. Even more poignant are the tales that surround it, such as the cruelty of Shahjahan, who ordered all the workers’ hands to be cut off after the building’s completion in 1653 – so nothing so beautiful could be built again.

Architecturally, it is flawlessly proportionate and built entirely out of white marble, while the tomb of the couple themselves is inlaid with gems and rests on red sandstone.

It’s hard to pinpoint which aspect of the Taj Mahal is more delightful; the black and white chequered floor, the main dome itself or that it changes colour – from pink in the morning, milky white in the evening or golden when underneath moonlight.

Located in Agra, your nearest airport is likely to be New Delhi, which is host to the Red Fort – where Shahjahan spent his last days imprisoned by his son.

Getting around The Taj Mahal has many tour guides willing to offer their services, but your hotel may suggest a reputable one it has worked with before. Alternatively, a reputable tour operator like Trans Indus – winners of an award for outstanding service in 2006 – can arrange your entire itinerary and include some other sights along the way.

Getting there Trans Indus does a range of tailor-made journeys, group tours or independent tours, depending on your preference. An escorted group tour to Agra, which includes other stop offs to Jaipur and Ranthambore, costs from £1,098 per person. Visit www.transindus.co.uk or call 020 8566 2729.

Flights to Delhi flying with Virgin Atlantic start from £380.

Visit www.virgin-atlantic.com

3 The Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon, located in Arizona, may not be the deepest in the world, but it silences all who make the journey to see the true extent of just how powerful nature is. Carved out by the Colorado river, its sheer size and intricate landscape is humbling. It is 277 miles long and is divided into the North and South Rim.

Perhaps what is so amazing is that it is created from many different types of rock, which alter the shape of the Canyon itself according to the different rates of erosion and can be coloured anything from reds, yellows to greens. In fact, it contains such a wide contrast of plant and animal life within its depths, that it would take two days to journey to the bottom of the Rim and back. Mountain lions, bobcats, turtles, hundreds of birds and Ponderosa pines all call the canyon home, as do several groups of American Indians. Hopi Indians for instance, believe that they emerged from the canyon and that their spirits rest there. 5 million people visit the Grand Canyon each year, either for exploration or with luxury tour groups.

Getting around The South Rim is open all year round and has two entrances, while the North Rim is open from mid-May to the beginning of November and is more remote. The entrance to the park is $10 for pedestrians and $20 for vehicles, but it’s advisable to pre-book a tour. A Rim-to-Rim bus operates from May to November, and takes roughly five hours.

Getting there Grand Canyon Hotels and Tours offers a brilliant three-in-one package for $329. It includes an air tour, a helicopter tour to the bottom and a motorcoach tour along Grand Canyon West. Visit www.grandcanyon.com. The nearest airport is Phoenix, with a return ticket costing £291 – visit www.airline-network.co.uk

4 The Great Wall of China

Visible from space and extending a staggering 1,500 miles in length, the Great Wall of China is one of the most accessible wonders of the world, just a mere one hour drive from Beijing. It’s not a continuous wall as most people think, but rather a series of short walls, that were originally built around 221BC, continuing construction until the 17th century. When the wall was being used for defence in ancient times, its borders were peppered with forts and garrisons that used to send messages via smoke signals which could travel hundreds of miles in a matter of hours.

The first dynasty to build the wall was the Qin dynasty, the last was the Ming dynasty – whose walls represent the ones we’re familiar with – and as it has been listed as a World Heritages site, will continue to be preserved. Certain sections of the wall are allowed to be visited by tourists.

Getting around Well preserved sections include Badaling, Simatai and Jiankou. Make sure you decide what type of scenery you would like to view before booking your trip, as it varies according to different parts of the wall. Badaling is the most popular because it overlooks the Juyonguan Pass, while Huanghuacheng is more popular with adventure travellers and hikers.

Getting there Booking your entire trip with a tour guide such as Emperor Tours means you can leave the small details to them – they can organise all your travel, whether it’s by boat, coach or flight. While it specialises in bespoke trips, Emperor Tours also offers budget packages. Visit www.emperor-tours.co.uk or call 020 8306 7790. Flying with Cathay Pacific, return flights start from £502. Visit www.cathaypacific.com

5 Niagara Falls

People have tried to capture the beauty of Niagara Falls on film, but few things compare with the real experience of staring into the heart of North America’s most powerful waterfall, while the thunder of rushing water seems to envelope your entire world. No wonder some people choose to get married here – hovering in a hot air balloon over the swirling waters is one of the biggest adrenaline rushes. It has several falls under its name, one of which is the Horseshoe Falls that is in Canada, and the American and Bridal Veil falls in America.

Thought to be the result of a glacier, it plunges 170ft in Canada with 150,000 gallons falling per second. There is a long tradition amongst adrenaline-junkies of jumping into the falls – but it is illegal and potentially fatal. Mostly, it is viewed as a hot spot for lovers with over 20 million visitors per year, but romance or not, it is definitely worth a visit.

Getting around One of the most popular ways to discover the Falls is the Maid of the Mist boat, that floats along the bottom of the falls, other ways include helicopter or balloon rides. Visit www.maidofthemist.com for more details – tickets are only £6. Niagara Falls Heli Tours charges £70 for a 20 minute ride and is equally stunning. Visit www.nationalhelicopters.com for more information.

Getting there Barrhead Travel offers a six-night package deal flying from any airport in the UK to Toronto, with a two-night stop at Niagara Falls. Skyline Inn is only a five minute walk from the Falls. Costs start from £589 per person. Visit www.barrheadtravel.co.uk or call 0871 226 0474.

6 The Great Barrier Reef

Its breathtaking beauty aside, the Great Barrier Reef’s size alone qualifies it as one of the wonders of the world.

Parallel to the coast of Queensland in Australia, it is almost 2,000km long and is the largest reef in the world. The conditions ideal to grow a reef are temperatures above 180C and where the water is extremely clear. The Great Barrier Reef is perfect for magnificent snorkelling and scuba diving opportunities. View the vast species of fish – 1,500 to be precise – including butterfly fish, anemones, shrimps and sturgeon. In fact, a new species of fish is found in the Great Barrier Reef every year. The level of underwater wildlife co-existing near the reef is unparalleled – with 2,000 species of birds, 30 species of whales, porpoises and dolphins. The main places to visit are Cairns and Port Douglas, which offer many ways to enjoy the beauty of the reef, from paragliding over the reef to exploring it underwater.

Getting around One of the most popular ways to enjoy the reef is by snorkelling, which is offered by all reef operators, and is a pleasant option because of the warm waters. In Cairns, diving is easily accessible, as most schools provide diving courses in various languages. But if you don’t want to get wet, the ultimate luxury is to be pampered in a five star sail boat or a reef pontoon with underwater glass observatories and glass bottoms.

Getting there Flights to Cairns flying with British Airways start from £694. Visit www.ba.com

7 The Himalayas

The Himalayas mountain range separates the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau. It’s the planet's highest mountain system and home to the world's highest peaks: the eight-thousanders – including Mount Everest (8,848m high). Stretched across six nations: Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Afghanistan, it is the source of three of the world's major river systems, An estimated 750 million people live in the watershed area of the Himalayan rivers, which also includes Bangladesh. More than just mountains dusted with ice, they eevn affect the weather by preventing Arctic winds from blowing south.

Getting around Xplore Himalaya offers adventure holidays that are slightly off the beaten track, with a range of different ways to discover the mountains – including mountain biking, climbing and trekking holidays. They have treks at different grades, ranging from an eight-day trek to Mount Everest which is fairly easy, to more challenging treks For further details, visit www.explore-himalaya.com

Getting there Most treks depart from Kathmandu, so to book a flight visit www.opodo.co.uk, which is offering return flights for £516 with Qatar Airways.

Whicker Says
‘The Grand Canyon is best seen from the sky – and you can arrange this quite easily with flights from Las Vegas. The Taj Mahal is probably the most beautiful building in the world. It’s perfect from every angle. They keep saying local industrial smog is turning it green but it still looks perfect to me!’