Most Famous and Historically Significant Tombs in the World

A tomb is a place for the burial of the dead. Some people consider tombs or burial sites scary for they believe that the place is a dwelling place for ghost. On the other hand, many people consider them amazing and fascinating. Here are the 10 most interesting and historically important tombs in the world.

Mausoleum at Halicarnassus: Turkey

One single tomb that can be considered famous and significant is the Tomb of Mausolus. It is called Mausoleum of Mausolus or Mausoleum at Halicarnassus. It was a tomb built between 353 and 350 BC at Halicarnassus (present Bodrum, Turkey) for Mausolus, a satrap (governor) in the Persian Empire, and Artemisia II of Caria, his wife and sister. The structure was designed by the Greek architects Satyrus and Pythius. It stood approximately 45 meters (135 ft) in height, and each of the four sides was adorned with sculptural relief created by each one of four Greek sculptors – Leochares, Bryaxis, Scopas of Paros and Timotheus. The Mausoleum stood relatively intact until 1522 A.D., when it was ordered destroyed as an example of Pagan art.

The finished structure was considered to be such an aesthetic triumph that Antipater of Sidon identified it as one of his 7 Wonders of the Ancient World.

Hadrian’s Tomb: Rome, Italy

Another famous tomb is the Mausoleum of Hadrian, usually known as the Castel Sant’Angelo. It is a towering cylindrical building in Rome, initially commissioned by the Roman Emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum for himself and his family. The building was later used as a fortress and castle, and is now a museum. The tomb of the Roman emperor Hadrian was erected on the right bank of the Tiber, between 135 and 139. Originally the mausoleum was a decorated cylinder, with a garden top and golden quadriga. Hadrian’s ashes were placed here a year after his death in 138, together with those of his wife Sabina, and his first adopted son, Lucius Aelius, who also died in 138. Following this, the remains of succeeding emperors were also placed here, the last recorded deposition being Caracalla in 217.

Lenin’s Tomb: Red Square – Moscow, Russia

A tomb that is significantly famous especially among the Russians is Lenin’s Mausoleum. It is also known as Lenin’s Tomb situated in Red Square in Moscow. This mausoleum is popular because the embalmed body of Lenin has been on public display there since the year he died in 1924 (with rare exceptions in wartime). It is the mausoleum that serves as the current resting place of Vladimir Lenin. Aleksey Schusev’s diminutive but monumental granite structure incorporates some elements from ancient mausoleums, such as the Step Pyramid and the Tomb of Cyrus the Great.

Taj Mahal: Agra, India

Undoubtedly, Taj Mahal is one of the most famous tombs worldwide. It is a mausoleum located in Agra, India, that was built under Mogul Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. In 1983, the Taj Mahal became a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was cited as “the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world’s heritage.”

Grant’s Tomb: New York, USA

A tomb with great importance most especially among the Americans is General Grant National Memorial better known as Grant’s Tomb. It is a mausoleum containing the bodies of Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885), an American Civil War General and the 18th President of the United States, and his wife, Julia Dent Grant (1826-1902). The tomb complex is a US Presidential Memorial in the Morning Heights neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City. The structure is situated in a prominent location in Riverside Park overlooking the Hudson River.

Pantheon: Rome, Italy

Another important and with historical significance tomb is the Pantheon which was originally built for the all gods. Literally means “Temple of all the gods” is a building in Rome. It was rebuilt circa 125 AD during Hadrian’s reign. The intended degree of inclusiveness of this dedication is debated. The generic term pantheon is now applied to a monument in which illustrious dead are buried. Pantheon is the best preserved of all Roman buildings, and perhaps the best preserved building of its age in the world. It has been in continuous use throughout its history.

Since the Renaissance the Pantheon has been used as a tomb. Among those buried there are the painter Raphael and Annibale Carracci, the composer Arcangelo Corelli, and the architect Baldassare Peruzzi. Also buried there are two kings of Italy: Vittorio Emmanuelle II and Umberto I, as well as Umberto’s Queen, Margherita.

7 Westminster Abbey: London, UK

Looking at this structure, there is no way you will think that it’s a burial place. The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, which is almost always referred to by its original name of Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in Westminster, London, just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English and later British monarchs.

Aristocrats were buried inside chapels and monks and people associated with the Abbey were buried in the Cloisters and other areas. One of these was Geoffrey Chaucer, who was buried here as he had apartments in the Abbey where he was employed as master of the Kings Works. Other poets were buried around Chaucer in what became known as Poet’s Corner. These include John Milton, William Wordsworth, Thomas Gray, John Keats, Percy Bysshe, Robert Burns, William Blake, T.S. Elliot and Gerard Manley Hopkins and many others.

St. Peter’s Basilica: Vatican City

In Catholic tradition, it is the burial site of its namesake Saint Peter, who was one of the 12 apostles of Jesus and, according to tradition, was the first Bishop of Antioch, and later first and therefore first in the line of the papal succession. St. Peter’ is the most famous of Rome’s any churches.

There are over 100 tombs within St. Peter’s Basilica, many located in the Vatican grotto, beneath the Basilica. These include 91 popes, St. Ignatius of Antioch, Holy Roman Emperor Otto II, and the composer Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina. Exiled Catholic British royalty James Francis Edward Stuart and his two sons, Charles Edward Stuart and Henry Benedict Stuart, are buried here, having been granted asylum by Pope Clement XI. Also buried here are Maria Clementina Sobieska, wife of Charles Edward Stuart, and Queen Christina of Sweden, who abdicated her throne in order to convert to Catholicism. The most recent interment was Pope John Paul II, on April 8, 2005.

Tomb of Cyrus the Great: Iran

This ancient tomb excavated in Pasargadae, a city in ancient Persia, is believed to be the tomb of one of the most notable king of Persia – King Cyrus the Great. It is today an archeological site and one of only five of Iran’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites. According to the Elamite cuneiform of the Persepolis fortification tablets the name was rendered as Batrakatas and the name in current usage derives from a Greek transliteration of an Old Persian Pathragada toponym of still-uncertain meaning.

Great Pyramid of Giza: Egypt

The Great Pyramid of Giza is the only remaining member of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World. It is also called Khufu’s Pyramid or the Pyramid of Khufu, and Pyramid of Cheops. This tomb with great popularity and historical significance is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids in the Giza Necropolis. It is believed the pyramid was built as a tomb for 4th Egyptian pharaoh Khufu (Cheops in Greek) and constructed over a 20 year period concluding around 2560 BC. The Great Pyramid was the tallest man-made structure in the world for over 3,800 years.

The Tomb of Jesus Christ is not included on the list because it is still a subject of much controversy and scrutiny. Once it is proven that it was indeed the Tomb of Christ, it will surely be considered the tomb with the greatest significance and will surely escalate to the highest and unsurpassable degree of popularity.

One of the basic reasons why some of these magnificent tombs were built is because of people’s belief on life after death. Given the chance to choose before you pass away, where on these burial sites would you like to be buried?

Inhabited Oldest Cities in the World

In some cases, the older a thing is the more precious it becomes. And places of antiquity arguably do not either fall short of this fact. Here are some of oldest inhabited regions in the world bearing a variety of precious imprints of the thousand dead years.

Byblos Lebanon

Believed to have been founded in 5000 B.C., Byblos, Lebanon is generally considered by historians as the oldest inhabited city in the world. It held a couple of names, and was once known as Gibelet during the crusade; today it is known in Arabic name as the city of Jbeil. A Mediterranean city of the Mount Lebanon Governorate of the preset day Lebanon, a biblical region itself, Byblos existence dates back to the biblical era as it is mentioned in the Holy Bible in 1 Kings 5:18. The verse refers to the nationality of the builders of the temple of Solomon. Ezekiel 27:9 also made mention of this city, referring to the riches of Tyre.

Cadiz, Spain

Characterized by the antiquity of its quarters, among them El Popula, La Vina, and Santa Maria, historians considered Cadiz as the oldest continuously – inhabited city in the Iberian Peninsula if not of all Southwestern Europe. It has been one of the principal home ports of the Spanish Navy since the accession of the Spanish Bourbon in the 18th century. Over time, Cadiz has evolved into becoming a city of modern standard, but it still holds a host of one of the richest, well-preserved historical remnants in the world that are gathered in designated region called the Old City. Notwithstanding, the modern city hosts numerous parks bearing kinds of exotic plants whose arrival in Spain is believed to be brought by Columbus.

Kavala, Greece

Time flashbacked many centuries, Kavala was founded by the early settlers from Thasos in the 16th century. This ancient city was for once a base of Brutus and Casius in 42 BC for it became a base of the Roman civita is 164 BC. On his first voyage to Europe, the apostle Paul had landed in Kavala. Subsequently, in the Byzantine era, the city was called Christoupolis by the Greeks and Morunets by the Bulgarians, and because of its maritime location, the region flourished but was captured and burned during the 1185 Norman raid of Macedonia. A couple of centuries later, the Ottoman took over and under the leadership of Sultan Bayesid I, the city was completely destroyed, forcing the inhabitants to flee. Rebuilt was only started at the beginning of the 15th century, and during which time the city started to be known as Karvala. Historical remnants of the Ottoman reconstruction have become landmarks of modern Karvala, the largest city in modern Greece and the principal seaport of eastern Macedonia.

Zurich, Switzerland

Zurich as we might all know is one of the most famous cities in modern day Europe. It is the cultural and commercial capital of Switzerland, Bern being the political capital of the country. Historically, the magnificent Zurich ranks among the oldest and still inhabited cities in the world; Turicum was the name it was known in the earliest times as evidenced by a tombstone that dates back to the 2nd century AD. Lake dwellers were believed to be the first inhabitants of the future site of Zurich and this lake side settlement dates back to the Neolithic period.

Damascus, Syria

Damascus is the capital and largest city of Syria. Archeological excavations at the outskirts of the city at the Tell Ramad have shown that Damascus have been inhabited as far as 8,000 B.C. to 10,000 B.C., qualifying Damascus as one of the oldest continuously-inhabited cities in the world. It was not as important with the rest of the old cities in the world however, until the advent of the nomadic tribe from Mesopotamia – the Arameans. They were known to build canals and tunnels to maximize the efficiency of the Barada River. This network of engineering structures was subsequently improved by the Romans and the Umayyads whose water system still forms the basis of the old part of Damascus today. Damascus, an antiquarian city as it is, is mentioned in Genesis 14 as existing during the war of the kings.

Jerusalem, Israel

Jerusalem is the capital and largest city of the relatively young state of Israel, and among others, it probably is the most credible and genuine of all places mentioned in the Bible. Dating back to the biblical times, Jerusalem is unquestionably one of the oldest cities in the world. Jewish tradition has it that Jerusalem was founded by Shem and Eber, ancestors of the Old Testament prominent figure Abraham. Melchizedek, an ally of Abraham once ruled Jerusalem and was later allocated to tribe of Benjamin during the time of Joshua. Over time, it was conquered by King David and made the capital of the United Kingdom of Israel. This biblical account about the antiquarian existence of Jerusalem bears strong credence from recent excavations that modern archaeologists themselves traced back to the time of David.

Athens, Greece

Athens being ranked as one of the oldest cities in the world has been continuously inhabited for at least 4,500 years. The reign of the classical era are made evident and famous by the presence of ancient monuments and works of art, famous of which being the Parthenon on the Acropolis which is considered a major landmark of early Western civilization. Further, modern Athens still holds rich and great kinds of sculptural works of art of the Roman and Byzantine. Ottoman monuments are well present in this ancient city, indicating Athens’s great history across the ages. Aristotle, Socrates, Plato and other great Greek thinkers, writers, artists, and philosophers lived and walked Athens many centuries before Christ. So, there’s no denying that Athens is the birthplace of our democracy, modern sciences, philosophy and almost any other arena of human intellectual pursuit.

Beirut, Lebanon

Beirut is the largest and capital city of Lebanon. Having its history that dates back to 5000 years , makes Beirut one of the oldest cities in the world. This claim is well supported by archaeological facts unearthed in the down town area, showing layers of Phoenician, Hellenistic, Roman, Ottoman and Arab remains. In addition, Beirut is mentioned in the cuneiform tablets of the “Armand Letters”, whcih is believed to have been existing since the 4th century. Today, Beirut is fastly becoming progressive as it is home of the largest seaports of the eastern Mediterranean Sea while its tourism is as well becoming popular the world over.

Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon is the capital and largest city of Portugal. As shown by numerous archaeological and historical records, Lisbon certainly ranks among the oldest inhabited regions in the world. For one, this ancient region was once inhabited by Iberian-related people. Religious monuments called, dolmens,. Megaliths and menhirs are some of the existing testaments of the Iberian settlement. For another, Phoenician influence is thought to have existed in the region as suggested by archaeological findings, dating back to 1200 BC. Prominently, Phoenician remains were found recently underneath the Mediaeval Se Lisboa or main cathedral of the modern city. However, many historians maintained doubts with regards to the historical truth of Phoenician settlement; instead they believe that ancient Lisbon was just one of the major and active regions of trading in which Phoenicians had had good commercial relations; thus the archaeological remains of pottery and other material objects found beneath the cathedral.

Beijing, China

Beijing or Peking is the capital city of the People’s Republic of China, and for the record it ranks among the oldest inhabited regions in the world. Human habitation were found to be dating back to 230,000 to 250,000 years ago, as shown through carbon dating performed on the archaeological remains of the now famous Peking Man (Homo Erectus) whose remains were excavated in the caves of Dragon Bone Hill in the village of Zhoukoudian in Fangshan District. 27,000 years ago, Paleolithic Homo sapiens also lived in the region.

Amazing Buildings Swallowed by the Desert

The desert is one of the best landscapes for finding ancient buildings. The arid climate lends itself to preservation, and there is little danger of serious decay or damage from flooding. At the same time, the sand is an ever-shifting geographic feature that can swallow whole towns both quickly (as in a violent sandstorm) or slowly (as it shifts over time). The elements of one of the world’s harshest climates can wreak havoc on anything man-made, even while providing the perfect climate for it to be preserved.

Mosque Minaret, Egypt

This 1100 year old mosque was discovered near the town of Al Burullus along Egypt’s Mediterranean coastline. Archaeologists discovered in only recently, and speculate that there could be an entire town buried beneath the sand. The minaret is believed to be 30 meters tall, but only the very tip is showing above the sand.

Arouane

The outpost of Arouane is located halfway between the legendary city of Timbuktu and the salt mines. Though the salt caravan’s travel infrequently these days, the town is still inhabited. However, the ever-shifting sands mean that the buildings are almost always partially buried.

Armenian Ruins

This ruined building in Ani, Turkey is part of the remnants of the country’s once strong Armenian population. Persecution and genocide caused many Armenians to move elsewhere (as far away as Los Angeles). Meanwhile, ruins like these dot the arid countryside.

American Ghost Towns

The Berlin Ghost Town in Nevada is a reminder of the late 19th century gold rush. Located at the base of the Shoshone Mountains, the buildings were not covered by sand. Some still stand eerily intact amid the thriving desert shrubs. A mill and a hotel are the two largest remaining buildings in Berlin.

Meroe, Sudan

The pyramids at Meroe show the influence of the ancient Egyptian empire. A Nubian kingdom once had its capitol at Meroe. Pyramids and a city were built more than 2300 years ago. The city is now Sudan’s largest archaeological site, with the tombs almost completely unearthed but other parts of the city still hidden under the ever-shifting sands.

Telouet, Morocco

Telouet was inhabited until 50 years ago. Located high in the Atlas Mountains, it housed rulers who were loyal to the French colonial administration in Morocco. Because of this fact, and because slaves were used to serve the ruling family, little care has been taken to preserve these buildings which are being eroded by time and the harsh winds of the high desert.

Sahel

The Sahel is the Sahara’s little sister. Located just below the Sahara, it is mostly characterized by semi-arid grasslands. Parts of the Sahel have fallen victim to desertification, with the sand from the Sahara literally blowing into the grasslands.

Namibian Ghost Town

The town of Kolmanskop was built when diamond fever hit Namibia in the early 1900s. The town was quickly constructed a few miles inland from a major port. A mere 10 years after the first inhabitants moved in, people started leaving as diamond prices fell during World War I. By World War II, the town was completely deserted and the sand dunes started to reclaim the land.

Sandstorms

Though sandstorms would probably never be fierce enough to swallow a huge city like Dubai, they can temporarily cause problems by creating low visibility and coating everything with a layer of dust.

Dune-covered Church

This church in northern Denmark was covered by a sand dune in the late 17oos. In its final days as a working church, parishioners actually had to dig their way in. The tower, the only part that is still visible, is in remarkably good shape and has become an easily recognizable landmark. This is also a good example of why shifting sands are not merely found in the desert.

10 Breathtaking Viewing Platforms around the World

If you suffer from vertigo, these are ten destinations you should pass.

Dachstein Sky Walk (Austria)

Nicknamed the “balcony of the alps,” the Dachstein Sky Walk is formally enthroned at 2,700 m above sea-level, high up on the 250 m vertical rock face of the Hunerkogel. A 360 degree panorama allows the visitor a view of Slovenia in the south to the Czech Republic in the north. The Sky Walk is distinctly higher than the platforms of the Niagara Falls or even the one at the Iguazu waterfalls in Brazil. (Source)

Aurland Lookout (Norway)

Architects Todd Saunders and Tommie Wilhelmsen were commissioned to design a scenic rest-stop 2′000ft above Aurland fjord in Norway and came up with this beauty wining the first prize in Norwegian tourist routes competition. The outermost end of the horizontal platform – which curves to form the structure’s support – is closed off by a sheet of glass, offering an incredible view towards the ground for all those with the guts to make the trip to the end.

Grand Canyon Skywalk (Arizona – USA)

This horseshoe-shaped pant-filler hangs approximately 4000ft above the floor and extends 65ft beyond the edge of the Grand Canyon. The Horseshoe shaped skywalk is constructed of glass walls 4 inches thick and visitors must don special scratch-proof socks as they partake in the view. The work is a true engineering feat that can hold up to 70 tons (roughly 14 African Elephants) and withstands winds of 100mph.

Suspended platform at Iguazu Falls (Brazil and Argentina)

While the falls themselves are magnificent, their setting in a huge subtropical nature reserve makes visiting even more enjoyable.

To fully appreciate their size and splendor it’s worthwhile viewing the falls from the skywalk. The viewing platform is so close you are instantly drenched by spray and deafened by the roar of water plunging over an 80 metre cliff.

Auckland’s Sky Tower (New Zealand)

Auckland’s 328m Sky Tower is the southern hemisphere’s tallest structure. It took 2000 tonnes of reinforcing steel, 660 tonnes of structural steel and 15,000 cubic metres of concrete to erect it. It can withstand 200km/h winds, earthquakes up to eight on the Richter scale and on a clear day, visibility is around 82km. The highest indoor point is Sky Deck, which has seamless glass giving unimpeded 360? views.

Illawarra Fly Tree Top Walk (Australia)

This walk opened recently after five months of construction. Located at Knights Hill up high on the escarpment near Robertson in the Southern Highlands, the Illawarra Fly Tree Top Walk allows visitors to walk among the rainforest canopy 25 metres above the ground on a steel platform. The 500m elevated walkway features cantilever arms that take visitors to the edge of the escarpment and offer inspiring views of the coastline from Kiama through to Shellharbour.

Landscape Promontory (Switzerland)

The landscape promontory is a suspended viewing platform designed by Paolo Burgi as part of the Cardada project, a revitalization of the Cardada mountain that is expected to finish in 2010. The passageway is made of steel and titanium leads to the lookout platform with a view of Lago Maggiore. The landscape panorama is not the only thing that visitors are meant to appreciate. Symbols in the paving with accompanying texts in the railing provide references to history and literature.

Infinity Room at House on the Rock (Wisconsin – USA)

The House on the Rock, originally opened in 1959, is a complex of architecturally unique rooms, streets, gardens and shops designed by Alex Jordan, Jr. It is located in Spring Green, Wisconsin and is a regional tourist attraction. The Infinity Room at the House extends several hundred feet over the valley, without supports underneath, and is lined with over 3000 handmade windows.

Il binocolo (Italy)

Within the gardens of Trauttmansdorff castle in Italy you’ll find this charming steel platform poking out through the trees, its name (meaning ‘the binoculars’) coming from the shape of the platform’s small roof and the view of the surrounding landscape. Designed by architect Matteo Thun.

Top of Tyrol (Austria)

Top of Tyrol by Astearchitecture is a viewing platform located 3,000 m above sea level at the Stubai Glacier in Tyrol, Austria. Weathering steel was used in the construction of this structure to account for the extreme weather conditions so you can stand 9 metres away from the mountain with a perfect view of Stubai glacier.

10 Beautiful Shipwreck Dives

1. SS Thistlegorm, Egypt

When a German bomb tore through her port side in 1941, the SS Thistlegorm sank to a watery grave in the Egyptian Red Sea—and into the annals of diving history. Discovered by nautical legend Jacques Cousteau in 1956, the Thistlegorm is a spectacular sunken museum of motorbikes, cargo trucks, tanks, artillery shells and other World War II relics. Read more

The Top Seven Most Bizarre Islands

The Floating Islands of Zacaton

It’s located in Mexico. Zacaton is considered to be the deepest sinkhole in the entire world. It’s rare in that the structure is entirely circular. But the weirdest part are the 15 islands that move about freely on the surface which is propelled solely by wind. It would be quite strange having a picnic and getting a tan and then waking up in a new spot. Read more

Amazing Mountain Hotels

Uma Paro, Bhutan

“The first thought that comes to mind while gazing at the surrounding scenery from Uma Paro is ‘Oh my God, I’m in the Himalayas,’” says Bobby McGovern. “It’s something that only a handful of travelers ever get to experience. After spending hours on winding mountain roads or hiking the surrounding hillsides, coming back to the hotel is true heaven.” Perched on the side of a hill at 7,550 feet, five-star Uma Paro offers views up to the Himalayas and down to a valley below. The 29 rooms reflect the parent company’s philosophy of quiet comfort in inspiring, culture-rich locations. The hotel sits on 38 acres in the town of Paro, surrounded by pine valleys, terraced hills, towering peaks, cliff-clinging monasteries, and orchards lining pristine rivers.

The Lodge and Spa at Cordillera, Cordillera, Colo.

Located on a private mountaintop, the Lodge boasts many of the features of the best mountain hotels, from great views to outdoor pursuits to luxurious appointments, from remote privacy to access to culture, cuisine and camaraderie. Guests can pursue world-class, golf, fishing, skiing, hiking and other activities and return to one of only 55 extraordinary rooms in a hotel built in the style of a Belgian chateau. Rooms feature fireplaces, patios, feather down comforters and Anichini sheets. The hotel has been ranked among the best anywhere by golf, spa, travel, and ski magazines. Guests craving a bit more action can drop down into the world-renowned resort town of Vail.

Hotel Ancora, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy

Located in a valley ringed by the Dolomite Alps, and originally constructed in 1826, the Hotel Ancora combines the best of outdoor activities, a great town, mountain views, and extreme luxury. From the hand-painted gothic arches in the dining room, to the guest rooms with Jacuzzis and wooden balconies, to the pedestrian mall just outside, Hotel Ancora epitomizes life at the top. Ski journalist Charlie Leocha says, “This hotel nestled in the Olympic resort town of Cortina is one of the most luxurious in the region. Cortina is the ski and snowboard resort of Italy’s beautiful people, and the passeggiata each evening outside the doors of this hotel offers a fashion show on parade. During the summer the town hosts Italy’s upper crust, who come to enjoy the mountain beauty, hiking, and top-notch regional cuisine”

Fairmont Banff Springs, Canada

Originally constructed to evoke a Scottish baronial castle in the Chateau style, and created to house upscale guests of the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1888, the hotel currently offers 768 rooms in a wood and stone palace. Its public spaces can provide an entire evening of wandering between fireplaces, secret nooks, hardwood-floored ballrooms with giant beams, and galleries full of artwork. The 38,000-square-foot Willow Stream Spa provides a hideout within this luxurious hideout. Hal Phillips says, “The scale and look of the place are truly castle-like. The hotel sits on the Bow River where it cuts through the Canadian Rockies. But it’s also on the edge of a really kicking arts and ski town.”

Grand Dragon, Ladakh, India

Located in the very high desert between the Himalayas and Karakorum Mountains in India, at an altitude of over 11,000 feet, Grand Dragon is the only luxury hotel in an area rich in both culture and adventure sports. Wangchuk Kalon, Director of Snow Leopard Trails tour company, says, “I give full marks to the Grand Dragon since it is the first hotel at this height to have all rooms centrally heated and remains open throughout the year, keeping in mind the conditions we face in winter. What makes the hotel so great is that it’s so far above other hotels in the area.” Nearby sites and activities include Buddhist monasteries, rafting on the Indus and Zansker Rivers, and trekking to mountains and lakes. As an added bonus, the hotel pursues an environmental ethic which includes the incorporation of 95 solar panels.

Arlberg Hospiz Hotel, Arlberg, Austria

Originally constructed in 1386 by monks as an outpost to aid people crossing the mountains, the Hospiz and its chapel now rescue guests from more mundane hotel stays. The hotel’s largest suite holds up to 12 people. Ski journalist Charlie Leocha says, “The Arlberg Hospiz Hotel sets top international standards for quality, taste, and style. The setting, beneath the towering Valluga peak, is surrounded by flower-strewn pastures in summer and snowfields in the winter. It’s considered one of the most luxurious in Austria, houses one of the country’s top spas, three restaurants that rank among the top mountain restaurants, and one of the best Bordeaux wine cellars outside of France.”

Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, Peru

Whether your journey to the 15th-century ruins of Machu Picchu takes five days by foot along the Inca Trail or three hours on the train from Cuzco, the Lodge is the only hotel adjacent to the Lost City of the Incas. The 31 rooms and suites—many with startling mountain views—provide guests with an opportunity to visit the site early in the morning and late in the afternoons, before and after visitors who are staying elsewhere. Interior gardens feature orchids and other local flowers, and two restaurants serve Peruvian and continental cuisine. Bobby McGovern says, “There’s no better way to begin or end your day at Machu Picchu than by relaxing in the garden surrounded by mountains and local flowers. And a sunset here is one you’ll never forget.”

Sofitel Dalat Palace Hotel, Dalat, Vietnam

This posh hostelry and former French colonial hill station offers 43 rooms at nearly 5,000 feet of elevation in the Vietnamese hill country, surrounded by restored villas in the style of the French gilded age. It serves the same function that it did when the French built it the 1920s—to provide an escape from the heat and humidity of Saigon. Hal Phillips says, “You look at the hotel from the remade Art Deco exterior and think, ‘Okay, South Beach, Miami.’ Then you go inside, and it’s the 18th Century, and you’re in a Loire Valley chateau—chandeliers in the lobby, chandeliers in the chambers, and chandeliers in the bathrooms. Heavy drapery. Colonial-era phones. Oriental rugs on polished wooden floors. It’s the most comfortable place to be in Vietnam.”

Les Fermes de Marie, Megeve, France

“This old-world French resort is the favorite of the country’s super rich,” says Charlie Leocha, “and provides a luxurious French country experience whether during summer or the winter ski season.” The hotel’s 71 guest rooms, two restaurants, and award-winning spa all have a rustic mountain ambience, if anything so rich can still be called rustic. Facilities include a beautiful bar, library, and gorgeously appointed rooms and private chalets. Leocha adds, “What makes this very special other than the cuisine and service is that the lodging is in old farm houses from across France that were dismantled and then reassembled into a hamlet outside of Megeve.”

Mt. Washington Hotel, Bretton Woods, N.H.

Opened in 1902 as a summer retreat for wealthy New Yorkers and Bostonians, the hulking edifice in the Spanish Renaissance style still boasts Tiffany stained glass and crystal chandeliers, and an orchestra accompanies the nightly four-course dinners. Presidents and celebrities have enjoyed the ambience at the base of the highest Eastern U.S. peak for more than a century. Media and travel consultant Hal Philips calls it “the prototypical New England summer hotel, an enormous, sprawling white monolith with a red roof in the shadow of the tallest peak on the east coast—an incredible setting. It’s a mecca for hikers, leaf peepers, skiers, and golfers—the Donald Ross design here was just restored. It’s the kind of place where, back in the day, you’d bring a trunk and stay for a month. Today it’s a four-season affair with a new spa, and the rooms are big and quite classy. The porch doesn’t quit; it wraps all the way around the hotel.”

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