The road less travelled: 1,000 amazing places off the tourist trail

338 Pages·2011·126.05 MB·English

by  Carol Wiley

The Road Less
Travelled

The Road Less
Travelled
1,000 amazing places off the tourist trail
foreword by bill bryson
Contents
LONDON, NEW YORK, MELBOURNE,
MUNICH AND DELHI
LIST MANAGER Christine Stroyan Foreword 7
SENIOR EDITOR Sadie Smith
PROJECT EDITOR Alexandra Whittleton Ancient and Historical Sights 8
EDITORS Fay Franklin, Michael Fullalove,
Justine Montgomery, Ros Walford
Pyramids of Meroe, Sudan
DESIGN MANAGER Sunita Gahir vs Pyramids of Giza, Egypt .............................................10
DESIGNERDST PN DicEoSIlGa NEErRd p Jraessosne rL, Pitatluel Jackson A vebury, UK vs Stonehenge, UK .................................14 Great Journeys 80
PICTURE RESEARCHER Ellen Root Agrigento and Selinunte, Sicily, Italy The Apolobamba Trek, Bolivia
CARTOGRAPHERS Stuart James, Casper Morris vs The Acropolis, Athens, Greece ................................18 vs The Inca Trail, Peru ........................................................82
PRODUCTION CONTROLLER Liz Cherry
Pula Arena, Croatia Coastal Route 15, Mexico
PUBLISHER Douglas Amrine v s The Colosseum, Rome, Italy .....................................20 vs Route 66, USA .................................................................86
Herculaneum, Italy vs Pompeii, Italy .........................24 Annapurna, Nepal
QUADRUM SOLUTIONS PVT. LTD vs Everest Base Camp, Nepal ...........................................90
www.quadrumltd.com
Lalibela, Ethiopia vs Petra, Jordan ..............................28
The Palace on Wheels, Rajasthan, India
First Published in Great Britain in 2009 Isla del Sol, Bolivia vs Machu Picchu, Peru .............32 vs The Orient Express .........................................................92
by Dorling Kindersley Limited
80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL Borobudur, Java vs Angkor, Cambodia .....................36 Pilgrimage to Rome, Italy
vs Camino de Santiago, Spain .........................................96
This edition published in 2011 Tikal, Guatemala
vs Chichén Itzá, Mexico ...................................................40 Cruising Lake Nasser, Egypt
COPYRIGHT © 2009 vs Cruising the Nile, Egypt .............................................100
DORLING KINDERSLEY LIMITED, LONDON Krak des Chevaliers, Syria
A PENGUIN COMPANY vs The Tower of London, UK ........................................42 Less-Travelled China ..........................................................102

Foreword copyright © Bill Bryson 2009 44 More Amazing Ancient and Historical Sights ....44 Less-Travelled India ............................................................106
Reproduced by Media Development Printing Corsica’s Northwest Coast, France
Printed and bound in Singapore by Star Standard vs The Amalfi Coast, Italy ................................................110
Festivals and Parties 48
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 44 More Great Journeys ...................................................112
NO PART OF THIS PUBLICATION MAY BE Salvador Carnival, Brazil vs Rio Carnival, Brazil ...50
REPRODUCED, STORED IN A RETRIEVAL
SYSTEM, OR TRANSMITTED IN ANY FORM OR Mamaia, Romania vs Ibiza, Spain ................................54
Architectural Marvels 116
BY ANY MEANS,ELECTRONIC, MECHANICAL,
PHOTOCOPYING, RECORDING OR OTHERWISE Gnawa and World Music Festival, Morocco
WITHOUT THE PRIORWRITTEN PERMISSION vs WOMAD, UK ................................................................56 Haghia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey
OF THECOPYRIGHT OWNER. vs Basilica San Marco, Venice, Italy .............................118
New Year, Singapore
A CIP CATALOGUE RECORD IS AVAILABLE vs New Year, Hong Kong, China .................................58 Imam Mosque, Isfahan, Iran
FROM THE BRITISH LIBRARY. vs St Peter’s Basilica, Rome, Italy..................................120
Haro Wine Battle, Spain
ISBN 978-1-4053-6167-5 vs La Tomatina, Buñol, Spain ........................................59 San Gimignano, Italy
vs The Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy .............................124
Esala Perahera, Kandy, Sri Lanka
(cid:58)(cid:72)(cid:482)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:85)(cid:92)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:74)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:29) vs St Patrick’s Day, New York City, USA .................60 Chicago, Illinois, USA
(cid:489)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:92)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:90)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:73)(cid:73) vs Manhattan, New York City, USA ..........................128
(cid:489)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:83)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:73)(cid:85)(cid:82)(cid:80)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:83)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:69)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:3) Melbourne Arts Festival, Australia
(cid:73)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:87)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:86)(cid:76)(cid:69)(cid:79)(cid:72) vs The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, UK ......................62 9 de Julio, Buenos Aires, Argentina
(cid:489)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:78)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:82)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:79)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:85)(cid:72)(cid:71)(cid:88)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:3)
(cid:90)(cid:68)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:74)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:88)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81) vs Champs-Elysées, Paris, France .................................129
(cid:489)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:70)(cid:78)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:86)(cid:88)(cid:83)(cid:83)(cid:79)(cid:76)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:482)(cid:3)(cid:90)(cid:82)(cid:85)(cid:78)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:74)(cid:3) Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras, Australia
(cid:70)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:76)(cid:87)(cid:76)(cid:82)(cid:81)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:478)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:75)(cid:72)(cid:92)(cid:3)(cid:81)(cid:72)(cid:89)(cid:72)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:70)(cid:75)(cid:76)(cid:79)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:79)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:85)
vs The Love Parade, Germany ........................................66 Puning Temple, Chengde, China
(cid:41)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:69)(cid:71)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:83)(cid:3)(cid:80)(cid:85)(cid:68)(cid:82)(cid:70)(cid:85)(cid:87)(cid:72)(cid:76)(cid:70)(cid:3)(cid:72)(cid:68)(cid:86)(cid:69)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:68)(cid:88)(cid:87)(cid:3)(cid:87)(cid:90)(cid:3)(cid:82)(cid:90)(cid:88)(cid:90)(cid:85)(cid:3)(cid:89)(cid:17)(cid:71)(cid:68)(cid:78)(cid:79)(cid:88)(cid:17)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:80)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:3) vs Temple of Heaven, Beijing, China .........................130
Montreal Jazz Festival, Canada
vs Montreux Jazz Festival, Switzerland ......................68 Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles, USA
Every effort has been made to ensure that this book is as up-to-date
as possible at the time of going to press. Some details, however, such as vs Sydney Opera House, Australia ..............................132
telephone numbers, opening hours, prices, and travel information are liable to Goa’s Full Moon Parties
change. The publishers cannot accept responsibility for any consequences vs Ko Pha Ngan, Thailand ...............................................70 Ponte delle Torri, Italy
arising from the use of this book, nor for any material on third-party websites, vs Pont du Gard, France....................................................136
and cannot guarantee that any website address in this book will be a suitable Semana Santa, Cusco, Peru
source of travel information. We value the views and suggestions of our
readers very highly. Please write to: Publisher, DK Travel Guides, Dorling vs Semana Santa, Seville, Spain .....................................71 Notre-Dame d’Amiens, France
Kindersley, 80 Strand, London, WC2R 0RL, Great Britain or email vs Notre-Dame de Paris, France ....................................140
[email protected]. Asti Palio, Italy vs Siena Palio, Italy ............................72
44 More Inspirational Architectural Marvels ........142
www.traveldk.com Bumbershoot, Seattle, USA
vs Lollapalooza, Chicago, USA ....................................74
Cover image Stupas and Buddhas of Borobudur, Java, Indonesia
Half title page image Lake Pukaki, New Zealand
44 More Intoxicating Festivals and Parties ..............76
Title page image Barges on Canal du Midi, Toulouse, France
Natural Wonders 146 Sports and Activities 210 Festival di Spoleto, Italy
vs The Proms, London, UK ............................................268
Devils Tower, Wyoming, USA Skiing: Kicking Horse, Canada
vs Uluru, Australia ...............................................................148 vs Whistler, Canada ............................................................212 New York’s Independent Galleries
vs MoMA, New York, USA ............................................270
The Orinoco, Venezuela The Paris Marathon, France
vs The Amazon, Brazil .......................................................152 vs The London Marathon, UK ......................................216 44 More Destinations for Art and Culture .............274
The Chilean Lakes Salsa in Havana, Cuba
vs The Italian Lakes .............................................................154 vs Tango in Buenos Aires, Argentina .........................218
Cities 278
Bryce Canyon, Utah, USA Hiking: Mount Stanley, Uganda
vs The Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA .......................158 vs Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania ..................................220 Delft, The Netherlands
vs Amsterdam, The Netherlands ..................................280
The Patagonian Fjords, Chile and Argentina Rejkyvík Golf Club, Iceland
vs The Norwegian Fjords .................................................160 vs St Andrews, UK ..............................................................224 Less-Explored London ......................................................282
Fernando de Noronha Islands, Brazil Diving: Christmas Island, Australia Alexandria, Egypt vs Cairo, Egypt ..............................286
vs Galapagos Islands, Ecuador .......................................161 vs The Great Barrier Reef, Australia ...........................226
Potosí, Bolivia vs Cusco, Peru ........................................287
Western Uganda Reserves Cycling: Cappadocia, Turkey
vs Kruger National Park, South Africa ......................162 vs The Slickrock Trail, Utah, USA ..............................230 Less-Explored New York ..................................................288
Cherry Blossoms in Japan Trekking in Bhutan Reno, Nevada, USA
vs New England’s Fall, USA ...........................................166 vs Trekking in Chiang Mai, Thailand .........................232 vs Las Vegas, Nevada, USA .............................................292
Iceland vs Yellowstone, Wyoming, USA ..................168 Motorcycle Races: Tandragee 100, Gyeongju, South Korea vs Kyoto, Japan ...................293
Northern Ireland, UK
Croatia’s Islands vs The Greek Islands .......................170 vs TT Races, Isle of Man ..................................................234 Less-Explored Hong Kong ..............................................294
Iguaçu Falls, Brazil and Argentina Surfing: The Soup Bowl, Barbados Fez, Morocco vs Marrakech, Morocco ......................298
vs Niagara Falls, USA and Canada ..............................172 vs Bondi Beach, Australia ................................................236
Less-Explored Venice .........................................................300
Mindo-Nambillo Cloud Forest, Ecuador 44 More Exhilarating Sports and Activities ............238
vs Costa Rican Rainforests ..............................................176 Rīga, Latvia vs Prague, Czech Republic ....................304
44 More Breathtaking Natural Wonders ..................180 Less-Explored San Francisco ..........................................308
Art and Culture 242
Bath, UK vs Budapest, Hungary ..................................312
Smaller Parisian Museums vs Musée de Louvre ....244
Beaches 184 Zacatecas, Mexico vs Mexico City, Mexico .............313
Wine-Tasting in Mendoza, Argentina
Grace Bay, Providenciales, Turks & Caicos vs Wine-Tasting in Napa Valley, Less-Explored Paris .............................................................314
vs Magens Bay, St Thomas, US Virgin Isles .............186 California, USA ...................................................................248
Less-Explored Sydney ........................................................318
Cottesloe Beach, Perth, Australia Crazy Horse, South Dakota, USA
vs Miami Beach, Florida, USA ......................................188 vs Mount Rushmore, South Dakota, USA ..............250 44 More Fantastic Cities ..................................................322
Hulopo‘e, Lāna‘i, Hawai‘i Kröller-Müller, The Netherlands Geographical Index ............................................................326
vs Waīkīki, Hawai‘i .............................................................192 vs Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam,
The Netherlands ...................................................................251 Main Index ..............................................................................328
Turtle Bay, Watamu, Kenya
vs Mombasa’s Beaches, Kenya ........................................194 Rock Art of the Drakensberg, South Africa About our Authors ..............................................................334
vs The Cave Paintings of Lascaux, France ................252
Sabratha, Libya vs Tulum, Mexico...............................198 Acknowledgments and Credits.....................................336
Lyonnaise Cuisine vs Parisian Cuisine ......................256
Manzanillo Beach, Costa Rica
vs Montezuma Beach, Costa Rica ................................199 Capitoline Museums, Italy
vs Vatican Museums, Italy ................................................258
Ihuru, The Maldives
vs Ko Phi Phi, Thailand ....................................................200 Film Festivals: San Sebastián, Spain
vs Cannes Film Festival, France ....................................262
Isle of Harris Beaches, Outer Hebrides, UK
vs Coast Guard Beach, Cape Cod, USA ..................202 Umbria, Italy vs Tuscany, Italy .......................................264
Punta del Este, Uruguay
vs Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil .......................204
44 More Stunning Beaches .............................................206

foreword bill bryson
by
There are even more eye-popping, life-enhancing sights and
experiences out there than I had ever dreamed existed
I have just finished reading this gorgeous and to go to the Great Stupa of Sanchi – with a name We are the first generation that
remarkable book, and I have good news and bad like that, who could not? – and the mighty Pyramid can pretty much afford to go
news to report. The bad news is that there are of Cholula and Punta del Este and Zacatecas and – wherever we want – and so of
more fantastic things in the world to see than you well, just all of it. And mostly I never will, which is course that is what we do. If
can ever possibly hope to get to. You are just not kind of discouraging. you don’t wish to holiday with
going to live long enough. Sorry. On the other hand – and this really is the millions of others, you simply
The good news, however, is that there are crucial point – it is tremendously exciting to have to take a little more care
more fantastic things in the world to see than be part of a planet that is so packed with wonders choosing where you go.
you can ever possibly hope to get to. that you have to choose which fraction of them And that is why this book –
I am sure you take my point. It is always slightly you will visit. How dreary it would be, after all, if so trustworthy, so engaging,
appalling to be reminded that you are never going you actually could go everywhere and do so endlessly perusable – is
to get to do all the things you want to do in life. everything. There would be nothing left to dream more valuable to the serious
I feel even worse about this now (you will too about, and dreaming, in my view, is often the best traveller than any book I have
shortly) because, thanks to this estimable tome, I part of travel (and certainly the cheapest). seen in a long time. It has been
have discovered that there are even more eye- I don’t suppose many people would think put together with authority and
popping, life-enhancing sights and experiences of now as being a golden age of travel – people care by experts who have been
out there than I had ever dreamed existed, and hardly ever think of the present as being a golden everywhere and genuinely want you to have
I thought I was fairly worldly. age of anything, in my experience – but in fact I the best possible experience when you travel.
I had never heard of the Cordillera Blanca, a believe it is. Oh, I know airports are hopelessly So why are you just sitting there? Turn the
112-mile walk through the mountains of Peru, but thronged and a lot of popular destinations like page, for goodness sake, and start planning.
it looks fantastic and I really, really want to be with Machu Picchu and the pyramids of Giza and many
the people pictured on page 85. I want even more others are vastly more crowded than they were a
generation ago, but that’s because a generation
Apadana Staircase, Persepolis, Iran (p44) ago most people couldn’t afford to go to them.