12 Amazing Ruins of the World: A Visual Memory

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We’ve seen a lot of amazing ruins of the world. But as I go through all that there is yet to see I find that we have barely scratched the surface. We have yet to see Easter Island, Stonehenge or The Acropolis and we may never see any of the great structures of Afghanistan or Iraq.

However we have seen some spectacular archeological wonders during our travels and we want to share a photographic journey of some of our favourite ruins of the world.

Ruins of the World

1.Bagan, Myanmar

Bagan Myanmar

The days were hot when we explored the Temples of Bagan in Myanmar. We hired a horse cart for one day and a bicycle for the next. One thing we remember was that our horse cart driver was expecting a child any day now. It was a happy time.

2.Petra, Jordan

Petra, Jordan

Having the chance to visit Petra was a dream come true. We had heard about this ancient city but never thought that we’d get there. To have a guide from the Jordan Tourism Board and a Petra official long for our walk through the ruins allowed for us to experience a Petra that many others don’t get to see. It is by far one of our favourite ruins of the world.

3.Hampi, India

Hampi, India

We didn’t even know Hampi existed before going to India. But we were told about it while studying Yoga in Goa. We hopped on a train to see this city in the boulders where people still live among the ruins. Even today people sell their wares in the bazaar and worship at the temples.

Check out our latest chat on CTVNewsChannel where we discuss our favourite ruins of the world with host Dan Matheson

4.Giza, Egypt

Pyramids of Giza, Egypt

It’s the most famous of all the ruins of the world. The Pyramids of Giza don’t disappoint. We saw them by camel but sadly were ripped off by the sly guides. We got over it though because we just witnessed the mysterious temples seen on movies and television. Who ever thought we’d ever get the chance to see the pyramids of Giza?

5.Machu Picchu, Peru

Machu Picchu, Peru

The fog was heavy when we arrived at Machu Picchu and we worried that we would never fully see this ancient city. Located high in the Andes it is shrouded in clouds each morning. But as the day moves on, the sun burns off the clouds and the complex is revealed. We were mesmerized. How did people build this structure on the slope of a mountain without modern machinery? Machu Picchu is truly an impressive ruin of the world.

6.Tikal, Guatemala

Tikal, Guatamala

It was by far our favourite place to visit. Mounds of earth burst out of the ground in conical shapes. Hiding beneath was yet another temple waiting to be discovered. Howler monkeys are heard in the distance and spider monkeys and toucans drop berry pits upon our heads. It was the leaf cutter ants that caught our attention though. We watched them work as they hustled back and forth along the distinct trail that they carved on the jungle floor. It was mesmerizing. Tikal may be one of the greatest ruins of the world, but it’s the wildlife and setting that make it stand out above the rest.

7. Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Angkor Wat, Cambodia

It’s the mother of all ruins of the world. Angkor Wat was introduced to the masses in Lora Croft’s Tomb Raider. This ancient Khmer Temple is being overrun with tourists these days. When we were there, one could still outrun tour buses by taking a tuk tuk to remote corners of the complex. Whenever we saw a bus coming, we hopped in our ride and told our driver to high tail it out of there. We stayed one step ahead of everyone and enjoyed solitude in the temples.

8.Chizen Itza, Mexico

Chitzenitza, Mexico

The first archeological site we ever visited was Chizen Itza. We took a tour from our resort in the Mayan Riviera and enjoyed every minute of our day. We learned about the ancient Mayans, climbed to the top of the main temple and listened to the acoustics of the ball court. It was early in our travel lifestyle, but even then we knew we were hooked on seeing ruins of the world.

9. Jerash, Jordan

The Ruins of Jerash

One of the most well preserved Roman Ruins in the world can be found in the Middle East. The hand of Rome reached far and nothing shows that more than the impressive Jerash Ruins. Who knew that the small country of Jordan has some of the most important and impressive Roman ruins of the world?

10. Tonina, Mexico

Tonina Ruins in Chiapas, Mexico

Deep in the south of Mexico you will find the quiet ruins of Tonina in Chiapas. The complex itself is 2 square km but only a small portion of it has been excavated. Why did we love this so much? There was nobody around to stop us from exploring it to the fullest. The most exciting moment was walking through the 50 metre passageway. It’s pitch black and claustrophopic. You need to run your hand along the walk to find your way, but watch out for spiders!

11. Great Wall of China

The Great Wall, China

We didn’t expect to be impressed by the Great Wall, we even went to the site expecting to be disappointed. I’m glad that we allowed ourselves to change our minds. The Great Wall was one of the best ruins of the world we have ever visited. The MuTianYu Great Wall section is practically deserted and you can walk along the 2.5 km section enjoying the countryside and imagining the great battles that took place between the Chinese Empire and the Mighty Mongols.

Roman Colosseum

Colosseum, Rome

It took us a while to finally see Rome and wow, what a city. Ancient ruins are intertwined throughout the entire metropolis. One minute you are sipping an espresso in a cafe and the next you are walking by a piece of architecture thousands of years old. Spending time in Rome is like no other experience you’ll ever have in a city. It’s modern chic mixed with ancient tradition. The most impressive monument is the Colosseum. We had the privilege of staying in an apartment right across the street and looked out our window each day at one of the most amazing ruins of the world from above. It was spectacular.

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50 Responses to 12 Amazing Ruins of the World: A Visual Memory

Fantastic Images would be good to see some videos too, if you have some.

Alicia November 4, 2011 at 8:48 am Reply
- Thanks Alicia, Your wish is our command. I’ve added a couple of videos that we already had edited from some of our visits. We’re working on adding a lot more video into our posts in the coming weeks too. Cheers.
  
  debndave November 4, 2011 at 9:00 am Reply
The Roman ruins of Volubilis in Morocco are extraordinary. The Romans were there for only a short while, but they left a well-laid out town behind. Restoration is very, very slowly underway and visitors can get unbelievably close to what’s been uncovered. That probably won’t last as more is uncovered!

Krista November 4, 2011 at 9:01 am Reply
- I can’t wait to go to Morocco. Thanks for sharing. Hopefully we will get there next year. It is amazing how far the arm of the Roman Empire reached.
  
  debndave November 4, 2011 at 4:20 pm Reply
I have never seen any of these but would love to see Petra and the Pyramids. Coming from England, I have never seen Stonehenge either, shameful:( It is definately on my to do list though;)

Drina Murphy November 4, 2011 at 9:12 am Reply
- I know exactly how you feel Drina. We never seem to see the things that are in our own back yard.
  
  debndave November 4, 2011 at 4:13 pm Reply
Absolutely incredible shots! Can’t wait to visit these places for ourselves.

Bret @ Green Global Travel November 4, 2011 at 9:35 am Reply
- Thanks Bret, it won’t be long until you have seen them all, I am sure!
  
  debndave November 4, 2011 at 4:05 pm Reply
Great photos! I’d love to go to Angkor Wat someday!

Global Basecamps Adrienne November 4, 2011 at 2:05 pm Reply
- Angkor Wat is definitely amazing. My advice is to get there early and head straight out to the farthest temples to avoid being on the same route as the crowds. That way you can stay one step ahead of them and then go to the main Angkor Temple after the tour buses have passed through. Hire a tuk tuk to move quickly. You’ll want to be able to reach the more remote corners because it is becoming very crowded these days.
  
  debndave November 4, 2011 at 4:01 pm Reply
- I agree with the first reply. What I love about Angkor is that it is crowded with tourists but there is also many locals coming there to pray. It’s not just a piece of ancient history it is still well alive.
  
  EmpreinteAsie March 18, 2013 at 7:44 am Reply
These are gorgeous!! Funny — I’ve been to two of the only ones you haven’t been to, but none of these. Living vicariously!!

DTravelsRound November 4, 2011 at 4:37 pm Reply
- Isn’t that the way it goes. There are so many things to see on earth that we never have enough time to see it all! We’re looking forward to adding to the list next year
  
  debndave November 5, 2011 at 9:53 am Reply
I think I have just decided on my next set of holidays! Jaresh and Petra look amazing!

Sam Osborne November 4, 2011 at 8:03 pm Reply
- Hi Sam.
  Good choices. You won’t be disappointed I can tell you that. Both sets of ruins are amazing as well as there are so many other things to do in Jordan.
  Don’t miss the Dead Sea and the canyoning at Wadi Mujib. And if you want to get away from it all the Feynan Eco Lodge is the best place to do this.
  
  debndave November 4, 2011 at 11:59 pm Reply
I’m glad I found your blog and I love the picture of Bagan. It looks really great and the fact that it has yet to be overrun by mass tourism adds the excitement. I myself am going to Myanmar next January and hopefully I can make it to Bagan. By the way, if you like ruins you might love Borobudur temple in Java. Some say it’s much better than Chichen Itza which has been voted as one of the New 7 Wonders.

Bama November 5, 2011 at 8:26 am Reply
- Hi Bama, Thanks so much for the info. We wish that we made it to Borobudur when we were in Indonesia, but it gives us a reason to come back for sure! Have a great time in Myanmar, you are going to love it!
  
  debndave November 5, 2011 at 9:45 am Reply
I’m absolutely fascinated by ruins, but we’ve visited so few of them. That needs to change soon! These are lovely photos, and I’m going to use this as a “beginner’s check-off list”.

Christy @ Technosyncratic November 5, 2011 at 12:52 pm Reply
- Hi Christy, they are definitely fascinating. We have found that our best experiences have been when we hired a guide. We learn so much more. In Machu Picchu, we used our guide book but I wish that we spent the money for a private guide. We would have come away with much more information. Now whenever we visit, we have someone with us to tell us about the history.
  
  debndave November 7, 2011 at 11:05 am Reply
wow. pretty jealous.
i like your sum up of tolina, in that it was so good because you were the only ones there. we had similar experiences in mexico as well.
LOVE the photos too by the way.

jamie - cloud people adventures November 5, 2011 at 2:26 pm Reply
- It’s amazing having an experience where you are all alone at ruins. In todays world it is such a rare experience. Something tells me that Tonina will soon start having crowds though so get there quickly!
  
  debndave November 7, 2011 at 11:03 am Reply
Beautiful pictures and awesome videos, guys! You always have the best posts

Sarah Palmer November 5, 2011 at 2:29 pm Reply
- Thanks so much Sarah. We are lucky to have visited these amazing sites and are so happy to be able to share them with everyone.
  
  debndave November 7, 2011 at 11:01 am Reply
I shall use this as a visual addition to my future travels list. Thanks for the inspiration!

Katrina November 6, 2011 at 6:56 pm Reply
- Awesome Katrina, I’m so glad that we could inspire.
  
  debndave November 7, 2011 at 10:41 am Reply
Gee… I can only cross three off the list! Thanks for the ideas – they all look stunning!

Turtle November 7, 2011 at 11:11 am Reply
- Thanks Turtle. Three is pretty amazing. We are so lucky to be able to even witness one ruin. Our first was Chitzen Itza and we were totally blown away.
  
  debndave November 7, 2011 at 12:26 pm Reply
Amazing. We are off to Egypt over Christmas/New Years and cannot wait to see the Pyramids. Just a question, how do you take such amazing photos? We just brought our new camera so on a steep learning curve and hopefully we get some that are as good as yours when we are there.

Cole @ FourJandals November 11, 2011 at 10:33 am Reply
I really like the photo of Great wall of Chine. I hope someday I would be there.

Alex @ wine tours in Tuscany November 18, 2011 at 6:58 am Reply
These are all amazing shots!

Kelsey November 20, 2011 at 10:34 pm Reply
- Thanks Kelsey, much appreciated.
  
  debndave November 21, 2011 at 12:35 am Reply
You guys have really been to some amazing places. I cannot imagine seeing all of these or ever having to pick a favorite!

Rease November 22, 2011 at 10:12 am Reply
- It was definitely difficult choosing a favourite.
  
  debndave November 22, 2011 at 12:25 pm Reply
Wow, was not familiar with #1. That’s a unique and fantastic looking place.

Tikal is amazing isn’t it? Truly a fantastic wonder, especially when explored early int he morning!

Alex Berger November 23, 2011 at 9:37 am Reply
Wonderful photography of some of the most iconic places in the world! Well done

Greg Goodman November 28, 2011 at 5:31 pm Reply
- Thanks Greg. We’ve been lucky to have the opportunity to these places.
  
  debndave November 28, 2011 at 7:42 pm Reply
Macchu Picchu is the ruins I’d like to visit the most! I’m going to Vienna tomorrow evening and as soon as I come back to Athens I’ll write a post about Acropolis, dedicated to you guys! Excellent post (as always), thank you for the ride!

Penny December 7, 2011 at 3:28 pm Reply
I’ve just been to Angkor wat recently (as in, a couple weeks ago) and it was absolutely breathtaking. Despite being overrun by Korean tour buses in many areas, I still loved it. I am also definitely going to the Pyramids in Giza and Machu Picchu one day; they are so high on my to-do list it’s not funny. I studied anthropology/archaeology at university so this kind of stuff just makes me all giddy inside haha.

Kaylin February 2, 2012 at 12:17 am Reply
Amazing stuff. Great set of itinerary

Amelie February 7, 2012 at 3:26 pm Reply
Fabulous shots. I have made it to 5 of the 10… so much more to see; which is a good thing!

Nancie February 18, 2012 at 1:21 am Reply
- That is awesome Nancy. I agree with you, I never want to run out of things to do and see on my list. It’s great to have posts out there to inspire us to keep on exploring. What ones have you seen and what were your favourites? That is if you have a fav.
  
  debndave February 18, 2012 at 4:17 pm Reply
Great photos! You inspired me a lot in this post. I must try to visit these ruins too.

Ziimeotravel March 20, 2012 at 3:40 am Reply
I have been to Cambodia to see Angkor Wat and it is indeed amazing. The picture featured here is the Ta Prohm temple though, not Angkor Wat. I can’t wait to travel the world and see some more of these amazing ruins!

Georgia April 13, 2012 at 12:35 am Reply
Hampi was one of the most interesting places I visited in all of India. I’d heard so much about it (and you’re right – never heard of it before India) and it quickly became one of my favorite places. Felt like a scene right out of the Flinstones!

Adam April 26, 2012 at 5:12 am Reply
- Ha, Adam that is awesome. It really did feel like something out of the Flintstones there. It is amazing to me that such an enchanting place can remain so obscure in this day and age. I can’t believe that we had never heard of it before going, it is huge and fascinating and yet nobody knows of it.
  
  debndave April 26, 2012 at 11:34 am Reply
Great images and list! Can’t wait to see Bagan for myself.

Andrea June 22, 2012 at 9:55 am Reply
Mounds of earth bursted–sorry, bad english. BURST

i hated to quit reading but bad english equals fail to me. bye.

marvin nubwaxer October 3, 2012 at 12:20 am Reply
- Thanks for the heads up Marvin. As I don’t have an editor and I write seven days a week, I sometimes miss spelling and grammar mistakes. Sorry you had to quit reading, but this is a fun blog for fun people so it probably isn’t for you anyway.
  
  debndave October 3, 2012 at 9:08 am Reply
Thanks for the inspiration– our world sure is a beautiful, fascinating place. Stunning photos!
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Debbie April 12, 2013 at 1:49 pm Reply
nice

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