| With Indiana Jones back in the cinemas once | | | | the World. |
| more, an interest in ancient civilisations is no longer | | | | You can reach Machu Picchu by train from Cusco, |
| confined to professors and archaeologists. Indeed, | | | | but for a really adventurous cultural heritage |
| cultural heritage holidays are growing increasingly | | | | holiday you can walk the Inca Trail, a multi day |
| popular, with many AITO tour operators offering | | | | hike through a number of Inca ruins that reaches |
| trips that look at some of the most notable | | | | Machu Picchu at sunrise on the fourth day. |
| ancient ruins in the world. While most of the great | | | | Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt |
| monuments of ancient civilisations have been | | | | Out of the Seven Wonders of the World listed by |
| eroded or destroyed, some still survive, and | | | | the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, the Great |
| visiting one of these sites is like going on a holiday | | | | Pyramid of Giza is the only one that can still be |
| in ancient history. In addition to being spectacular | | | | seen today on an ancient history holiday to Egypt. |
| structures in their own right, they form an | | | | Built over 4500 years ago, the Pyramid was built |
| invaluable part of any cultural heritage holiday, | | | | as a tomb for the Egyptian pharaoh Cheops. It |
| giving a glimpse of a way of life that has long | | | | took over twenty years to construct, and was |
| since disappeared. | | | | the tallest man-made structure in the world for |
| If you fancy yourself as the next academic | | | | several thousand years. |
| adventurer and are considering a cultural heritage | | | | Chichen Itza, Mexico |
| holiday abroad, here are five of the most | | | | Cultural heritage holidays to Mexico inevitably tour |
| important places to visit around the world. | | | | the ruins of ancient Mayan civilisation, and Chichen |
| The Parthenon, Greece | | | | Itza is one of the most important Mayan sites in |
| Anyone on a specialised classical Greece holiday | | | | Mexico. The temple complex was built over 2000 |
| will see many amazing sights, including the Temple | | | | years ago, and most of the buildings remain intact |
| at Delphi and the ruins of the Temple of Zeus at | | | | today, including the Temple of Kukulkan, the |
| Mount Olympus. But dwarfing them all is the | | | | Great Ball Court and the Temple of the Warriors. |
| Parthenon in Athens, often regarded as the most | | | | It was the capital of Mayan civilisation for almost |
| important classical monument that is still standing | | | | a thousand years - why Chichen Itza was |
| today. It is an ancient temple to the goddess | | | | abandoned is not known, but archaeological |
| Athena, and is one of the finest examples of | | | | research suggests its downfall was violent. The |
| ancient Greek architecture and artwork. The | | | | site is truly a must-see for those with an interest |
| inside is a treasure trove of sculptures (though | | | | in ancient Mayan culture, with some of the best |
| much of its content now resides in the British | | | | preserved Mayan architecture left standing today. |
| museum), and the temple is placed in an | | | | Coliseum, Italy |
| unforgettable location on the Acropolis, looking | | | | Situated at the centre of Rome, this colossal |
| down over Athens. | | | | amphitheatre (the largest ever built in the ancient |
| Machu Picchu, Peru | | | | Roman empire) is almost 2000 years old. Originally |
| This "Lost City of the Incas" was only | | | | known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, the Coliseum |
| rediscovered at the beginning of the 20th century, | | | | could hold over 50,000 spectators, and hosted |
| and is an essential place to visit for those | | | | gladiatorial contests, performances and historical |
| interested in past civilisations. Situated on top of a | | | | enactments. Despite damage from earthquakes |
| mountain above the Urubamba Valley in Peru, this | | | | and robbery, it has stood the test of time and |
| excellently preserved site is the one of the finest | | | | remains one of the landmark sights for a cultural |
| remaining examples of Inca architecture and has | | | | heritage holiday to Italy. |
| been voted one of the New Seven Wonders of | | | | |