Realistix Solutions: 10 Places To See Before You Die

1. Realistix Solutions: 10 Places To See Before
You Die
1.Swim, snorkel and dive Australia's Great Barrier Reef
Explore the living masterpiece that is the Great Barrier Reef by swimming, sailing,
snorkeling and diving. The World Heritage-listed attraction stretches more than
2,000km along the Queensland coast and can be seen from outer space. Hop
between the idyllic, palm-fringed islands and discover the bright coral and marine
life. Visit Heron and Wilson islands during the annual turtle nesting season
(Novemberto March)whereyoucan witnesshatchlingsscurryingtothesea. Browse
the world's most endangered places.

2. 2.Stand in front of Giza's Great Pyramid
Oneof the mosticonic attractions in the world,the GreatPyramidof Giza, wasbuilt
around 2560 BC as a tomb for the Egyptian Pharaoh Khufu. It took 20 years to
construct using nearly 2.3 million blocks of stone and at 450ft high remained the
world's tallest building for 4 millennia. Dan Saunders of Encounters Travel, which
specializes in group tours to Egypt, says: 'No trip to Egypt is complete until you’ve
stood at the base of the Great Pyramid of Giza in Cairo. This monumentis probably
one of the most recognizable sites around the world and is the only surviving
member of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World, so it should definitely be on
anybody’s travel bucket list.' Egypt's top 10 destinations

3. 3.Be wowed by the bright lights of New York City
The Northern Lights are one of nature's phenomenons that you need to see to
believe. With easy access to the natural light display, snowy wilderness and
reindeer, Finnish Lapland is a magical place to spotthe Aurora Borealis. Instead of
watching them outside in freezing temperatures, why not spotthe Lights fromthe
comfort of your own heated glass igloo? It means you can spend the night gazing
at the sky from your bed and wake up to the spectacular snow-covered scenery.
Stay four nights at Kakslauttanen Igloo Village in Saariselka with Taber Holidays.

4. 4. Hike the great Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru
Grab your hiking boots and experience the magnificent four-day IncaTrailthrough
cloud forests, over high peaks and past ancient Incaruins before you finally arrive
at beautiful Machu Picchu. 'Although the trek is rated moderate, it can be
challenging reaching altitudes as high as 4200mso spend at least a day in Cusco to
fully acclimatise,'advisesClaudia CornejoMohme, viceminister of Tourismof Peru.
'Wander the cobblestonestreets,admirethe Plaza de Armasin the heartof thecity
or soak up history in one of the many museums.'

5. 5.Witness the famous migration in the Masai Mara
If you're planning on saving up for an African safari, experiencing the migration in
Kenya's Masai Mara between June and November is a must. Stefano Cheli, owner
of Cheli & Peacock, which has camps in the Masai Mara, says: 'Don't just rush
towards the famous "river crossings" as those have become extremely busy with
tourists who sometimes unwittingly can interrupt wildebeest fromcrossing, which
can cause rage and stress. Enjoy the migration for what it is - millions of zebra,
wildebeest, Thomson's gazelleroaming the plains looking for better grasses. Siton
top of a hill and watch the elephants give way to lines of wildebeests and the
hyenas following behind hoping for the sight of an injured one.'

6. 6. Marvel at mysterious Stonehenge
An unforgettable day out and one of Britain's most wonderful attractions,
Stonehenge is a highlight of the South West and probably the most famous
prehistoric monument in the world. It comes with a mysterious history and was
built around 5,000 years ago. Was ita temple for sun worship? A healing centre? A
burial site? Or maybe a huge calendar? The World Heritage Site never fails to
impress and is surrounded by prehistoric landscape, perfect for a walk in the
beautiful Wiltshire countryside.

7. 7. Cycle across San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge
For the opportunity to get up close to one of the world's mosticonic attractions,
hop on a bike and cycle San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge. While mostpeople
have driving over the bridgeon their bucket list, cycling offers a fresh perspective
on the old classic, with great views across the bay, Alcatraz and the city skyline.
Hire a bike and go across yourself or book a guided cycle with Bike and Roll.

8. 8. Watch the sunrise over Angkor Wat
Cambodia's famous temples of Angkor Wat are something that mosttravellers
have on their bucket list, but if you want to take things one step further, enter its
east side before dawn and explore the temples by torchlight before the other
tourists arrive. Here you can watch the sun rise over the spires for a unique view
of the iconic attraction. Specialist tour operator TravelIndochina is the only
operator to haveaccess to the lesser-known entranceand gives you an intimate
experience, following a path through the jungleilluminated only by torchlight!

9. 9. Ride the Trans-Siberian railway
For one of the mostfascinating train journeys in the world, take a ride on the
Trans-Siberian railway, thelongest in the world, connecting Moscow with the
Russian Far East and the Sea of Japan. KristiRorison of IntouristUK, which
specialises in travel to Russia, says: 'Begin your adventure in Russia’s mighty
capital Moscow, with a rich history and some of the finest architecture in the
world, including the Kremlin, Seven Sisters buildings and the stunning Metro
System. Move onward through the vastness of Siberia before settling in Irkutsk,
home to Lake Baikal, the largestfreshwater sourceon the planet. Mongolia
awaits - spend time in a traditional Mongolian Ger and live like a nomad before
journeying on to Beijing, China’s colourful capital.'

10. 10.Be amazed by the magnificent dunes of the Namib Desert
'As deserts go, the Namib is the real thing,' says Chris McIntyre, managing director
of Expert Africa, which organises trips to Namibia. 'It's so old that its own endemic
animals have evolved there, but what captivates the visitor is the sheer beauty of
the sharp-edged, sinuous curves that glow apricot around sunrise and sunset.'
Enormous dunes, towering mountain ranges and deep sculptured canyons
characterise the Namib-Naukluft National Park. Be sure to leave plenty of time to
stop, take photos and have a picnic surrounded by space and silence.