From ENCHANTMENT to the FEAR FACTOR

 

 

FROM ENCHANTMENT TO THE FEAR FACTOR

From Victoria Falls to Taj Mahal, Lonely Planet reveals the world's top 10 greatest wonders that'll have you reaching for your camera They’re the great wonders of the world that every intrepid traveller must have on their wish list. From Ireland’s Giant’s Causeway, Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano, to India’s Taj Mahal and the Great Wall of China, to not see them, really is missing out. A new book by Lonely Planet reveals the top 50 must-see world wonders – with the experts picking out their top 10 especially for MailOnline Travel. The top 10 wonders of the world... 1. Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe/Zambia 2. Great Rift Valley, Ethiopia 3. Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland 4. Taj Mahal, India 5. Terracotta Army, China 6. Great Wall of China, China 7. Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania 8. Kilauea, Hawaii 9.  Hagia Sophia, Turkey 10. Potala Palace, Tibet World’s Great Wonders brings together the most amazing manmade structures and natural creations from across the globe. From the formation of the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia to the painstaking creation of the Terracotta Army, the book dedicates at least four pages to each site’s fascinating facts, stunning photography and detailed illustrations which give the reader an insight into its creation. The foreword for the book is provided by art historian and BBC presenter Dan Cruickshank who explains: ‘The aim of this book is straightforward – to inform, to inspire and to encourage its readers to travel. ‘If you know key facts about your destination you will surely enjoy it – and most certainly understand it – better. ‘Of course the term “wonder” is loose, clearly subjective and poetic, rather than scientific or objective. I suggest anything that surprises, mystifies, or takes the breath away by its sheer size, beauty or audacity is a wonder.’ Jheni Osman, the author of The World’s Great Wonders, adds: ‘This book takes you a step further on your travels, revealing the science and engineering behind how epic structures were built or incredible natural wonders formed. ‘It was always going to be tough to reduce all the world’s amazing wonders into 50 must-see sights, but this book spans the heights of engineering, the spectrum of beautiful architecture, and the eons of time.’ World’s Great Wonders, which is now on sale priced £19.99, is available through Lonely Planet. Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe/Zambia: Explorer David Livingstone named the waterfalls of the Zambezi River after Queen Victoria, but locals call them Mosi-oa-Tunya, meaning 'the smoke that thunders'. Located on the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia, the falls plummet 108m, creating a mist that is visible from 20km away Great Rift Valley, Ethiopia: Dallol volcano in the Great Rift Valley - the world's largest rift system which stretches 6,000km from the Red Sea down to Lake Malawi. Up to 74km in places, it's cradled by a series of cliffs, rising from the valley floor to the top of the highest escarpments, up to 1.6km above Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland: Legend claims this rocky peninsula is the handiwork of an angry giant, but the real story behind the striking basalt columns is even more extraordinary Taj Mahal, India: This marble-clad mausoleum, considered the most beautiful building in the world, and said by its creator to have made the sun and moon shed tears, is the jewel in India's crown Terracotta Army, China: More than 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots and 670 horses from this vast, life-size clay army, protecting China's first emperor in the afterlife Great Wall of China, China: The stone dragon weaves 6,500km across mountaintops and plunges deep into canyons. But its magnificence hides its tumultuous history Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania: At 610m deep and 260sq-km, this is the largest unflooded caldera in the world. A blue-green vision from above, it's a haven for endangered wildlife and maasai livestock Kilauea, Hawaii: The world¿s most active volcano has been constantly erupting for over three decades on Hawaii, creating the fastest-growing land on the planet Hagia Sophia, Turkey: Cathedral. Mosque. Museum. The Hagia Sophia (Aya Sofya) has withstood the ravages of war and earthquakes, a testament to Istanbul's tumultuous past Potala Palace, Tibet: An architectural wonder and the spiritual home of the Dalai Lama, the world¿s highest palace - at 3,700m above sea level - rises 13 storeys, and contains more than 100 rooms A stunning historic former palace near to Machu Picchu has been revealed as the world's top-rated luxury hotel. The five-star Palacio Nazarenas, set in a tranquil plaza behind Cusco's main square in Peru, came out on top of nearly 900,000 online hotel reviews. Boasting 55 suites ‘enriched with oxygen’, the resort and spa is metres from Nazarenas Square, and close to the Inca sites of Machu Picchu, and the Ollantaytambo and Sacsayhuaman fortresses. Number one: Palacio Nazarenas, set in a tranquil plaza behind Cusco's main square in Peru, has been ranked the best luxury hotel in the world Scenic: The stunning five-star Palacio Nazarenas, close to Machu Picchu, offers views across the mountains from its suites Room with a view: The Belmond-owned Northern Belle train scooped second place in the top-ranked accommodation in the world It’s billed as the ultimate rail journey – a new 53-day trip on some of the world’s most iconic trains, taking in some of the most astounding views on earth. Travelling from London across the USA, China, Russia and back through Europe before returning to the UK’s capital, the Great Rail Journeys new Around The World In 53 Days Tour is an explorer’s dream. With highlights including New York, Chicago, the Grand Canyon, the Terracotta Warriors, the Great Wall of China, the Gobi Desert, Mongolia and Venice, the epic escorted trip is launching next year. Epic trip: The £21,995 tour sees guests travel on the US's Durango & Silverton Railroad through canyons, the National Forest and the pretty Aminas Valley to Durango The Big Apple: The first stop on the epic journey is New York, where guests can enjoy a day of sight-seeing Ultimate trip: Holidaymakers on the 53-day around-the-world tour will also take a flight over the Grand Canyon The price for the holiday – on which guests travel in luxury through, including on board some of the world’s most famous railways – will set you back £21,995. Alex Roberts, Great Rail Journeys spokesman, said: ‘Our ultimate 53-day round-the-world tour is perfect for the traveller seeking the ultimate experience - the kind of person who really wants to experience circumnavigating the world going from one side of the world to another in fantastic luxury and enjoying some of the world's best rail travel along the way.’ The trip starts from London, flying to New York, before taking Amtrak's Acela service to Washington DC, touring the city's iconic buildings, including the White House and the Pentagon. High-end travel: Guests will travel on the world-famous Venice-Simplon Orient Express, the legendary luxury train which has inspired writers and filmmakers New trip: The Great Rail Journeys tour launches in 2015, and takes in St Basil's Cathedral in Moscow All aboard! Following the traditional route of the iconic Trans-Siberian Express, passengers will have the chance to travel on board the Tsar's Gold private train The route: Travel from London across the USA, China, Russia and back through Europe before returning to the UK¿s capital on the Great Rail Journeys new Around The World In 53 Days Tour After travelling through the Midwest to Chicago, then Denver, holidaymakers hop on board the Royal Gorge Route Railroad, travelling to Canon City in restored 1950s carriages. With stop-offs including a flight over the Grand Canyon, sightseeing in Los Angeles, Hollywood and San Franscisco, guests then fly to Shanghai and travel to Xi'an to see the famous Terracotta Warriors. It's first-class travel to Beijing and then on to the Great Wall of China - ascending by cable car at Mutianyu - before boarding a Chinese sleeper train to Moscow, then joining the Tsar's Gold Private Train following the iconic Trans-Siberian Express route through the Gobi desert. Sightseeing: The £21,995 trip, which takes 53 days, will also visit Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna Scenic route: For the final leg of the intrepid voyage, travellers will head south through Europe's imperial cities to Venice Final leg: Guests will arrived by Venice-Simplon Orient Express, before continuing by rail back to Calais and then London Then the 53-day trip heads from Mongolia to Russia, across Siberia to Russia and into Europe - stopping in Warsaw, Prague, Vienna, and Venice. For the final leg of the epic journey, guests will join the world-famous Venice-Simplon Orient Express, enjoying tea and pastries as the legendary train passes through the Dolomites up to Austria and on to Paris then London.   Prices start at £328 per night for rooms, and master suites include marble bathrooms, 24-hour butler service, handcrafted ceilings, and an in-room boutique. A less static form of accommodation scooped second place in the world’s top-rated luxury hotels, with The Northern Belle receiving high praise from online reviewers, according to the ReviewPro Global Review research. The Thirties-styled, Belmond-owned train offers overnight journeys in the UK, including to Scotland and the Lake District. Exclusive resort: Jumby Bay, a sprawling 18,000-square-foot beachfront estate in the Caribbean, came third in the research Fourth place: The Oberoi Vanyavilas in India - luxury jungle resort on the edge of the Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve - received top online reviews Luxury travel: The Four Seasons Tented Camp in Chiang Rai, Thailand, has been ranked the fifth best-rated high-end hotel in the world While Jumby Bay, a high-end resort on a 300-acre private Caribbean island accessible only by boat, scooped third place. Nestled off the coast of Antigua, it boasts the Lazy Lizard villa, a sprawling 18,000-square-foot beachfront estate situated on five acres of tropical landscape, with a moated entrance. The list was revealed as a top 10 as part of research which measured nearly 900,000 online guest reviews published during 2013 on more than 100 online travel agencies and review sites, in all five continents, in more than 45 languages. Remote: Wildflower Hall, in the Himalayas, was ranked the sixth best-rated luxury hotel in the world Great reviews: Wildflower Hall, in the Himalayas, situated at 8,000ft in the Himalayas near Shimla, ranked sixth in the research Sporting destination: CordeValle, a luxury, secluded golf resort in San Martin, California, ranked seventh place Top 10 best-rated hotels in the world... 1. Palacio Nazarenas, Peru 2. Northern Bell, UK 3. Jumby Bay, Antigua 4. The Oberoi Vanyavilas, India 5. Four Seas Tented Camp, Thailand 6. Wildflower Hall, Himalayas, India 7. CordeValle, San Martin, California 8. The Oberoi, Mauritius 9. Olare Mara Kempinski, Kenya 10. Las Ventanas al Paraiso, Mexico It ranked The Oberoi Vanyavilas - India's leading luxury jungle resort on the edge of the Ranthambhore Tiger Reservein - in fourth place. While in fifth place is the Four Seasons Tented Camp, Golden Triangle in Thailand, which promises 'the adventure of a lifetime trekking elephants through lush jungle and spectacular mountain trails'. RJ Friedlander, CEO of ReviewPro, said of the research: ‘Ninety-two per cent of hotel guests are influenced by reviews. ‘As luxury brands worldwide compete to deliver superior guest experiences, the insight provided by online reputation and social media analytics is key to their success. ‘By analysing almost 900.000 online guest reviews published during 2013, 1,696 properties and 84 brands in five continents, we are aiming at providing a comprehensive report tracking which luxury hotels brands are doing the best job of earning rave reviews from their well-heeled guests.’ In sixth place, nestling 8,250ft above sea level in the Himalayas, India, is Wildflower Hall, set in 23 acres of woods. CordeValle, a luxury, secluded golf resort in San Martin, California, ranked seventh place; the stunning Oberoi, in Mauritius, surrounded by unspoilt beaches came eighth; and the elegant Olare Mara Kempinski in the Olare Orok Conservancy, Kenya, was ninth. While high-end resort Las Ventanas al Paraíso, Mexico, was named the tenth best-reviewed resort in the world. Golden sands: Surrounded by unspoilt beaches, Oberoi, in Mauritius, came eighth in the research High-end travel: The elegant Olare Mara Kempinski in the Olare Orok Conservancy, Kenya, came ninth in the findings Top reviews: Las Ventanas al Paraíso, in Mexico, was named the tenth best luxury hotel in the world A stunning stretch of sand in Wales has been named the best beach in the UK, the third best in Europe - and the ninth best in the world. Rhossili Bay in the Gower has beaten off competition from Dorset, Cornwall and Scotland to secure the top spot in the UK, and Spain, Greece, Italy and Turkey to keep its third-place ranking in Europe for the second year running. And the vast three-mile expanse of white sand managed to improve its position on the top 10 beaches in the world – which features Australia, Seychelles and Turks & Caicos - climbing from tenth place to ninth. Scroll down for video Number one: Rhossili Bay in the Gower, Wales, has been named the best beach in the UK in the TripAdvisor awards Runner up: Woolacombe Beach, in Devon, scooped second place in the TripAdvisor awards for the best beaches in the UK Rhossili Bay in Wales named best beach in the UK Picture perfect: Porthminster beach in St Ives, Cornwall, which was voted the third best beach in the UK, boasts golden sands and clear waters TOP 10 BEST BEACHES IN UK 1 Rhossili Bay, Gower, Wales 2    Woolacombe Beach, Woolacombe, Devon 3    Porthminster Beach, St Ives, Cornwall 4    Hengistbury Head, Bournemouth, Dorset 5    Perranporth Beach, Perranporth, Cornwall 6    Longsands Beach, Tynemouth, N Tyneside 7    Weymouth Beach, Weymouth, Dorset 8    Fistral Beach, Newquay, Cornwall 9    Sandbanks, Poole, Dorset 10  Nairn Beach, Nairn, Scotland Three UK destinations managed to secure a place in the top 10 beaches in Europe, with Woolacombe Beach, in Devon, named in seventh place, and Porthminster Beach, in Cornwall, scooping ninth place. They also came in second and third place respectively for the best beaches in the UK, according to the TripAdvisor Traveller Choice Beaches Awards, based on reviews and ratings over the past 12 months, winners revealed today.  Rabbit Beach, in Lampedusa, Italy, and Playa de ses Illetes, in Formentera, Spain were crowned in first and second place in the top 10 best beaches in Europe. James Kay, TripAdvisor spokesman, said: ‘These awards recognise the best beaches in the UK and worldwide, according to the travellers that have visited and given them the highest levels of praise. ‘To have three British beaches named among the best in Europe just goes to show how lucky we are in the UK to have such stunning scenery right on our doorstep.’ On your doorstep: Hengistbury Head, in Bournemouth, Dorset, has been voted the fourth most amazing beach in the UK Best of the UK: Perranporth Beach in Cornwall scooped fifth place in the UK's most amazing beaches awards Postcard pretty: A sweeping view in summer of Longsands at Tynemouth, North Tyneside, which has been named as the sixth best beach in the UK TOP 10 BEST BEACHES IN EUROPE 1    Rabbit Beach, Lampedusa, Italy 2    Playa de ses Illetes, Formentera, Spain 3    Rhossili Bay, Gower, Wales 4    Playa de las Catedrales, Ribadeo, Spain 5    Elafonissi Beach, Elafonissi, Greece 6    Cala Mariolu, Baunei, Italy 7    Woolacombe Beach, Woolacombe, UK 8    Iztuzu Beach, Dalyan, Turkey 9    Porthminster Beach, St Ives, UK 10  La Concha Beach, San Sebastian, SpaiN Rhossili Bay’s triumph against beaches in such glamorous destinations as Mexico, Brazil and Australia goes to prove that travellers don’t need to travel half way around the world to find a great beach. The largest expanse of white sand on the Gower Peninsula, Rhossili Bay, which stretches below towering cliffs, is popular with surfers, paragliders and ramblers alike. The village of Rhossili itself is steeped in history and the wreck of the Helvetia, which ran aground on Rhossili Bay in November 1887, can still be seen on the beach to Cllr Nick Bradley, the council’s Cabinet member for Regeneration said: ‘This is fantastic news! The national and international exposure that this award brought Rhossili Bay in 2013 was both appropriate for all those involved in its upkeep and significant in terms of the impact it has had on the tourism industry locally and nationally. ‘Our natural resources and in particular our coastline are what make Swansea Bay one of the most attractive destinations in the UK for holidays and short-breaks.’ Stunning view: Playa de las Catedrales, in Ribadeo, Spain, has been named the fourth best beach in Europe Golden sunrise: Elafonissi Beach, in Elafonissi, Greece, scooped fifth place in the top 10 best beaches in Europe awards A photographer's dream: Sunset on La Concha beach, in San Sebastian, Spain, which was named the tenth most amazing beach in Europe

Inside Boston's creepy, abandoned, HAUNTED Masonic Hall, where footsteps are heard running round the building and a 'female form' appears at sunset From the outside it looks fairly normal – but it’s only members of the Addams family that would find the inside of this old, abandoned Masonic Hall in Boston homely. Sinister images of the Massachusetts building show a lone chair in an abandoned hallway where the owner of the site has said he has seen a 'female form' appear at sunset. Other photographs show dusty organs used for prison church services, and rustic safes lie abandoned from a by-gone era.   +12 Creepy: The haunted hallway in an old Masonic Hall in Boston, where a 'female form' has twice appeared +12 Sinister: Only members of the Addams family would find comfort in the dusty corridors of the Hall +12 Innocuous: The Hall looks normal enough from the outside - but is distinctly creepy on the inside +12 Basement scene: The engine room inside the hall, which was first built by the Freemasons in 1880 There was also a pricey collection of law books gathering dust on a shelf and political placards littered some rooms showing the diversity of the building's purpose over the years. The building in Boston, Massachusetts, was first built by the Freemasons in 1880 and was used as their meeting place for over 50 years. Eventually the secretive group made a new temple and used the building to house elderly single men, often old Masons themselves. Take a video tour of the haunted Masonic hall in Boston     +12 +12 Unnerving: Some of the interior decoration in the Hall is a bit on the unwelcoming side (left), but the building does have facilities for keeping valuables safe (right) +12 Forbidding: Looking down from the top of the staircase inside the Hall, which was used as a meeting place for the Freemansons for over 50 years +12 +12 Write stuff: Old books come as standard with the Hall, which is due to be renovated by the owner, who is all too aware of the building's haunting atmosphere +12 Noteworthy: The Hall even has an old organ for a would-be Lurch to play on +12 Window of opportunity: A political campaign placard inside the Hall, which at least brings a bit of colour to the surroundings In the 1970s, The Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal organisation, had the building for ten years, before a succession of businesses moved in. As they went bust during the 1980s and rooms went vacant, the building fell into abandonment and disorder. Its only purpose in these dilapidated years was for the prison service, who took prisoners to the old building for Sunday worship.   +12 Sky's the limit: The view from the top of the Hall across the city, something that brings some welcome relief from the gloom of the interior The old temple was recently bought by photographer Liam Carleton, 36. ‘We've heard things and seen a few things, there have been a few cases of footsteps running around the building,’ said Mr Carleton, from Boston. ‘There's also been a female form shown up in the hallway, that's only happened twice in the time I've been here and on both occasions it was during sunset.’ Mr Carleton, who is currently renovating the building, has been told he should try and do something about the hauntings, although he doesn't agree. ‘If it isn't trying to hurt me, I won't mess with it, I'll just let it be.’ This is the heart-stopping moment a group of daredevils decided to take a walk on the wild side by highlining across the mountains of Snowdonia. Pictured against the stunning back drop of the Ogwen Valley, Wales, the walkers risked life and limb to take part in the highest-altitude highlining attempt ever seen in the UK. And if balancing over the edge of a 250-foot drop wasn't daring enough, one high flier upped the ante by dangling himself upside down. Scroll down for video Getting hire: Daredevil Guy Ruyssevelt highlining over the Ogwen Valley, Snowdonia, Tryfan, Wales Air-obatics: Tom Parker hangs upside down on the highline over the Ogwen Vally, Snowdonia Captured by British photographer Ray Wood, 44, the walkers made for a spectacular photo opportunity as they made their way across the 40-metre-long rope at the the summit of Tryfan Mountain, Snowdonia, Wales. Guy Ruyssevelt, 24, Tom Parker, 23, and Jacob Hirsch-Holland, 26 - a circus performer from Australia who lives in the Netherlands and flew over from Holland for the event - climbed up the mountain for two hours to reach the location. They carefully constructed the line by placing slings around large blocks and boulders on either side of the gorge. Luckily, the group have plenty of experience between them and the event attracted some of the best talent in the country. Ray said: ‘It was the position of the highline that made it spectacular. Because of its location near the summit of Tryfan it was the highest-altitude highline made to date in the UK and that made it a really special event. Daredevils flip UPSIDE DOWN on 250ft wire across Snowdon Walk on the wild side: Highliner Guy Ruyssevelt steps on the high wire 250-foot over the Ogwen Valley in Wales Scenic route: Circus performer Jacob Hirsch-Holland takes part in the highest altitude highlining attempt ever seen in the UK ‘I was so lucky to see these guys in action, they made it look incredibly graceful and from a distance it looked as if they were walking in the sky. ‘The highline has quite a bit of bounce and swing to it so the highliners are always having to make subtle adjustments to their balance as the line moves around under their feet. ‘The weather was surprisingly pleasant for the mountains of north Wales, with a mixture of sunshine and swirling atmospheric cloud. ‘I think the high liners definitely gave any walkers reaching the top quite a surprise. Steady! Highliner Jacob Hirsch-Holland makes his way along the 40-metre-long rope at the summit of Tryfan Mountain ‘They must have thought a circus troupe had descended on Tryfan; which I suppose it had. ‘If the line is set-up properly the high liners shouldn't be in any danger, however, there's a great deal of critical judgement in the complex rigging of the line. ‘The pressure placed on the anchors by simply walking across a taut high line can be incredibly large and that's before the shock of falling-off on to the line is taken into account. ‘It isn't something to be considered without having somebody involved with a great deal of experience at setting-up highlines. ‘It was a memorable day and it was definitely the most exciting high line I've ever photographed.’   Yosemite HD II is a beautiful time-lapse video set in the California park Photographers Sheldon Neil and Colin Delehanty first visited the park together in 2012 to create Project Yosemite The duo spent 45 nights in the park and trekked over 200 miles gathering footage for their second film They used a Canon 5D Mark II camera and Canon and Zeiss lenses Emotional soundtrack by M83 adds drama to already incredible footage Filmmakers Colin Delehanty and Sheldon Neil wowed the world with a stunning short film set in Yosemite Park in 2012. Project Yosemite featured mother nature at her most incredible, documenting life in the beautiful Californian park though clever time-lapse technology. Now the inspiring duo have done it again, revisiting the national park to deliver another spine-tingling journey through the wilderness. Filmed over the course of ten months the two men and their team spent 45 days trekking more than 200 miles to capture the awesome footage, including incredible sunrises, dramatic storms, changing seasons and even shooting stars. Stunning: Photographers Colin Delehanty and Sheldon Neil have created a time-lapse video about Yosemite Park Pink skies: The American photographers revisited the national park after the success of their first project in 2012 Each picturesque scene lasts for a few seconds, but because of the time-lapse technology, the viewer is able to see what happens in the spot over the course of several hours. Neil says: 'Colin and I decided to shoot Yosemite HD II because we wanted to show more of the wilderness and backcountry landscapes. 'Like most photographers, you always strive to do better. Visitors who come to Yosemite every year photograph the park from numerous perspectives, but we wanted to show our own. 'In short, we wanted something that would do the park justice and display its grandeur that would reach a large audience. Yosemite HD II is just that.' Yosemite HD II from Project Yosemite on Vimeo. The American photographers first met through video sharing website Vimeo and decided to create their first video 'Project Yosemite' after spending a night on the park's Half Dome. They say: 'On that first trip, we carried loads of camera equipment to Half Dome’s summit, where we shot time-lapse all night and through the morning. 'Being on Half Dome that night felt like being on another planet, a smooth granite surface under our feet and endless space spinning overhead. The morning's sunrise felt like the first proper sunrise we'd ever witnessed. We decided to team up and document the experience together for others to see. 'We’ve been working together since then to capture and share our experiences in Yosemite National Park. We want to inspire others through our work like many others have done for us.' The team are donating  will donate any money raised through their Vimeo tip jar to the Yosemite Conservancy, which helps preserve Yosemite. Sky at night: The team spent ten months capturing the phenomenal footage Evergreen: During the 10 month process the team captured changing seasons as well as incredible sunrises, sunsets and shooting stars Sheldon Neil says: 'Like most photographers, you always strive to do better. Visitors who come to Yosemite every year photograph the park from numerous perspectives, but we wanted to show our own.' Dramatic: The adventurous pair wanted to document the wilder side of the world-famous park Sweet dreams: The men spent 45 nights in the park as they gathered the footage