7 Wonders of the World to Explore

Of the original 7 Wonders of the World, only the Great Pyramid of Giza survives, so in 2007 a Swiss foundation asked the public to choose new worthy wonders from a more modern world. The following were picked out of a list of 200 existing monuments – and the great news is they are easy to visit on one of our escorted tours or city breaks.

Explore incredible Wonders of the World including the Taj Mahal, Colosseum, Petra and the Great Wall of China on one of our worldwide escorted tours.

7 Wonders Of The World

Taj Mahal, Agra, India

One of India’s most iconic landmarks and a highlight of our Grand Journey from India's Golden Triangle to Shimla, this Wonder of the World is a stunningly beautiful and immense, ivory-white marble mausoleum. Built between 1631 and 1648 by order of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favourite wife, the Taj Mahal is an enduring monument, with a symmetrical design, that is much admired as the ultimate token of love. UNESCO considers it to be ‘the greatest architectural achievement in the whole range of Indo-Islamic architecture’. The best time to appreciate the serene memorial to escape the crowds and heat is at sunrise or as the sun sets, which bathes the mausoleum in incredible warm light.

Christ The Redeemer, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

Standing on top of the 710-metre-tall Corcovado mountain in Rio de Janeiro, Christ the Redeemer is the largest Art Deco statue in the world. Created by the French sculptor, Paul Landowski, for the Catholic Church and completed in 1931, the monument of Jesus measures almost 30 metres; its pedestal is an additional eight metres, and his outstretched arms span 28 metres. Unsurprisingly, the fingers have been struck by lightning many times. Our South America tours include a stay in the country’s former capital, and we travel to the statue of Christ the Redeemer, one of the new Wonders of the World, by a Swiss-built cog railway through the Tijuca Forest National Park.

View our tours to Brazil.

The Colosseum, Rome, Italy

Built around 80 CE as a huge entertainment arena, Rome’s Colosseum is one of the most well-known Roman buildings in the world. The arena, sometimes referred to as the Flavian Amphitheatre, was initiated by emperor Vespasian and completed during the reign of his successor and heir, Titus. Once complete, it was the site of gladiator fights, animal hunts, public executions and battle re-enactments. In its heyday, the Colosseum could accommodate more than 50,000 spectators – today, visitor numbers are around 7.4 million each year. Our Classic Italy tour with Rome includes a guided tour of the ancient stadium, where you can learn more about its fascinating history.

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Great Wall Of China, China

Our China tour includes a stay in Beijing and a trip to another Wonder of the World; the Great Wall of China. Continuously built from the 3rd century BCE to the 17th century CE, the military defence project stretches more than 20,000km (12,427 miles) and consists of walls, horse tracks, watchtowers, fortresses, and shelters. UNESCO claims it ‘embodies unparalleled significance as the national symbol for safeguarding the security of the country and its people’. The section visited on our escorted tours is at Mutianyu, a popular spot but much less visited by the masses, allowing you to experience the Great Wall at its best. The views of the surrounding wild landscape are spectacular.

Petra, Jordan

Book our Jordan & Petra tour and visit one of the world’s most famous archaeological sites – UNESCO listed and now recognised as one of the new Wonders of the World. Situated between the Red Sea and the Dead Sea, Petra is half-built, half-carved into rock and provides visitors with an impressive insight into an ancient civilisation, one that existed some 2,000 years ago. Temples, tombs, lavish houses, libraries, and other significant public buildings were all carved from blushing pink sandstone, earning Petra the nickname, the Rose City. Perhaps the most awe-inspiring is the Treasury, standing almost 40 metres high, which appears like a mirage through a slit in the rock. The perfection of its proportions is astounding.

Machu Picchu, Peru

Situated in an extraordinarily beautiful, natural setting on the eastern slope of the Andes Mountains, Machu Picchu was, ‘probably the most amazing urban creation of the Inca Empire at its height’, according to UNESCO. The pre-Columbian Incan settlement is thought to have been built as a royal retreat in the 15th century but was mysteriously abandoned sometime later and only ‘rediscovered’ by an American historian, Hiram Bingham, in 1911. Our Peru tours make it easy to visit Machu Picchu, a dream destination that never fails to wow anyone who travels to Peru. Our expert guide accompanies you around Inca gates, temples, and houses, and will explain the significance of the location in relation to the equinoxes.

Great Pyramid Of Giza, Greater Cairo, Egypt

To end our list of the Wonders of the World, it’s only right to include the Great Pyramid of Giza as the original Wonder of the World. Around 4,500 years old, this is the only remaining Wonder of the Ancient World. It once featured alongside the now-lost Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Statue of Zeus in Greece, the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, the Colossus of Rhodes, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, and the Lighthouse of Alexandria. Today, the pyramids are still an impressive visitor attraction and a highlight of our holidays to Egypt that also include a river cruise along the Nile.

Visit The Must-See 7 Wonders Of The World

India, Brazil, Italy, China, Jordan, Egypt and Peru – we travel to all the countries where you’ll find incredible Wonders of the World, so it’s easy to tick one or many of these magnificent, iconic sights off your bucket list. Book a holiday – it will be wonderful!

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.