Top 10 UNESCO World Heritage Sites to visit on a cruise
The Ilulissat icefjord
In Disko Bay, 250 km north of the Arctic Circle, a massive ice flow from the polar ice cap pours into the frozen Ilulissat Fjord. Towering icebergs break away with a thunderous roar before drifting serenely across the water. A truly breathtaking natural spectacle!
The Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
The Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, in Vatnajökull National Park, is one of Iceland's most photogenic natural wonders. Countless icebergs calved from the glacier are sculpted by the waves and then washed onto the black-sand shoreline, where they glitter like thousands of diamonds.
Geirangerfjord
Listed by UNESCO alongside neighbouring Nærøyfjord, Geirangerfjord is among the world's longest and deepest fjords. Sheer cliffs streaked with waterfalls plunging from heights of up to 1,500 metres, crowned with dense conifer forests, create one of nature's most iconic landscapes.
L'Anse aux Meadows
This remarkable archaeological site on the island of Newfoundland, Canada, preserves the remains of an 11th-century Viking settlement, complete with turf houses and a blacksmith's forge. Archaeological evidence that proves the discovery of the Americas by these Nordic explorers is not a legend.
Darién National Park
A pioneer among UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Darién National Park, Panama, combines exceptional natural landscapes with a living cultural heritage. These highly diverse landscapes of beaches, mangroves, rainforests and mountains are in fact the ancestral lands of the Emberá, Wounaan, and Kuna communities, who still live there today.
The Ancient Site of Delphi
The “navel of the world” was the name given to the sanctuary of Apollo by the ancient Greeks, majestically situated on the slopes of Mount Parnassus. Its temples, terraces and theatre still retain their timeless aura, even though the Oracle's voice has long since fallen silent.
Itsukushima Shrine
Like the perfect composition of a master painter, the Shinto shrine of Itsukushima embodies the harmonious union of nature and human creativity. Seeing its iconic torii gate rising from the sea against a mountainous backdrop is an unforgettable experience.
Marquesas Islands
The volcanic and lush Marquesas Islands emerge like an oasis in the heart of the Pacific, renowned for their terrestrial and marine biodiversity, as well as their sacred archaeological sites. The warm and welcoming people of the Marquesas Islands are dedicated to preserving their ancient Polynesian heritage.
The Namib Desert
The dunes of the Namib Sand Sea display an extraordinary palette of colours and textures, constantly reshaped by the wind. Moisture carried inland from the Atlantic sustains a remarkable diversity of endemic plants and wildlife in one of the world's most arid coastal deserts.
Cidade Velha
In the south of Santiago Island in Cape Verde, the historic centre of Ribeira Grande bears witness to centuries of exchanges between Europe, Africa and the Americas. It was the first European colonial settlement established in the tropics when founded in the late 15th century, and the birthplace of a rich Creole culture shaped by diverse influences.