Have you ever been curious enough to venture to places where explorers used to journey into? Was there ever an instance where you wanted to satisfy your curiosity of what locations past explorers discovered and want to witness said places yourself?
Look no further as we list the top ten explorers’ journeys and where you can access them.
Johann Burckhardt, Petra, Jordan
Swiss adventurer, Johann Burckhardt, stumbled upon the red, ruined city of Petra—an ancient city that was once known as the capital of the Nabataean Empire.
Today, Petra is a renowned World Heritage Site and one of the most famous archeological sites on the planet that can be accessed by tourists.
Petra offers various tours (offers would vary depending on which tour is booked by the tourists) wherein tour guides will educate and tour visitors in various sites in Petra.
http://www.visitpetra.jo/Default.aspx
John Muir, Yosemite, USA
John Muir, who is also referred to as “John of the Mountains” and also “Father of National Parks”, is a naturalist who is famously known for exploring Yosemite Valley and creating Yosemite National Park.
Yosemite is arguably one of the most famous places to visit in the United States. This tourist spot offers a wide array of activities that would mainly consist of hiking, camping, and biking.
Tourists can also engage in Yosemite’s museums and galleries if they enjoy the site of artifacts and artworks. Lastly, Yosemite also offers various accommodations, one of the best places to stay at would be The Ahwahnee.
Heinrich Harrer et al., North Face Of The Eiger, Switzerland
Known for its steep paths and dangerous heights, the north wall of Eiger is labeled as the largest in the Alps, also, it has been given the title of being the most notorious mountain face in the world.
No one dared to ascend this intimidating mountain until four brave souls made their attempt in 1938.
Austrian and German climbers Heinrich Harrer, Anderl Heckmair, Ludwig Vörg, and Fritz Kasparek were hailed as the first-ever group of climbers to ascend the north wall route of the mountain.
Although the north wall of Eiger can only be reached by climbers with years of experience, tourists can enjoy the views of the mountain by accessing hiking trails. Tourists may also visit a viewing platform by boarding a train on Grindelwald.
Fridtjof Nansen, Fram, Norway
Fridtjof Nansen is a renowned polar explorer who was successful in his attempt to reach the North Pole uniquely. How you might ask? He did it by freezing his ship, Fram, in an Arctic pack of ice which allowed currents to drive it north.
Today, tourists can travel to Norway and visit the Fram Museum to witness the preserved Fram itself.
There are activities within the museum that are suitable for both children and adults, also, it would be worth a shot to try out the museum’s cinema wherein they will be educated about polar history.
Lastly, tourists may also opt to arrange meetings at the museum itself.
They offer venues that would make special occasions unforgettable, for instance, the entire museum can be booked as well as the upper deck of Fram, the Amundsen Saloon, Explorer’s Club, and so on and so forth.
Norbert Casteret, Pierre St. Martin Caves, France
Native underground explorer Norbert Carteret is known for his great discoveries of various cave systems in France, to be specific, he was able to discover a staggering 2000 cave systems.
Today, tourists can access the St Pierre Caves and can avail of packages online to enjoy the entirety of their stay in the caves.
John Wesley Powell, Colorado River, USA
John Wesley Powell was a geologist who had both a remarkable and tragic 900-mile journey in Colorado. Alongside his crew, Powell endured many hardships as they journeyed to Colorado, sadly, as they were navigating the river, they were met with natives.
Powell’s crew fled and left him to the Native Americans—who had taken his life not long afterward.
Now, Colorado is a famous destination for tourists as they can engage in several activities such as paddling through the Grand Canyon or simply enjoying the scenery of the place.
Captain James Cook, Doubtful Sound, New Zealand
During his seminal first expedition, Captain James Cook sailed to the South Island of New Zealand and was in awe of its scenery. The waters of the South Island were eerily calm which was new to the seaman since crashing waves were the norm to him.
That being said, Captain James Cook came up with the term ‘Doubtful Inlet’ to describe exactly how he felt. Fast forward to the modern days, this region in New Zealand absorbed the name Doubtful Sound.
This destination is accessible to tourists, however, it is not as popular as other destinations near it. Nonetheless, tourists that are interested in visiting Doubtful Sound can avail of various packages to explore the fiord such as kayaking, day cruises, or scenic flights.
Marco Polo, Summer Palace, Beijing, China
Marco Polo went on a great and lengthy expedition alongside his father and uncle all across Asia, besides this, they also went to other destinations such as Persia, Indonesia, and China. All in all, the three explorers ventured a total of 15,000 miles.
When they ended up in Summer Palace, Beijing, China, Polo claimed that he was a special envoy for Kublai Khan, an infamous individual that previously ruled China and Mongolia for 17 years.
Today, Summer Palace, in Beijing, China can be accessed by tourists wherein they can do all sorts of activities like boating on Kunming Lake or watching a traditional Chinese performance in an ancient theater.
Vasco Da Gama, Kappad Beach, Kerala, India
Vasco da Gama was a Portuguese explorer who sailed directly to India from Europe. Along with his crew, which was distributed in four ships, their expedition lasted for 549 days.
After 32 days, the Portuguese explorer and his crew ended up on a vast beach called Kappad Beach located in Kerala, India.
Today, tourists can travel to Kappad Beach and do tons of activities there such as swimming in the backwaters, taking a boat ride, playing beach games, and doing beach tours.
Dr. David Livingstone, Lake Malawi, Southeast Africa
Dr. David Livingstone is known as the first Westerner to ever witness Victoria Falls and Lake Malawi. During his expedition of seeking the source of the Nile was in fact located in the south of Lake Victoria and Lake Albert, and he endured many problems.
Dr. Livingstone was abandoned by his party soon after they began their journey, his supplies were stolen, and we witnessed 400 Africans murdered by slave traders.
Today, the tropical beach destination, Lake Malawi, is considered to be a hot spot for tourists. Tourists can enjoy a wide array of activities in this destination such as water sports, kayaking and sailing, snorkeling, leisure cruises, scuba diving, and so on and so forth.
