Top Tourist Destinations Americans Cant Visit

Mount Kumgang, Kumgangsan Tourist Region

Location: North Korea’s east coast

Why you should go: It’s an unspoiled spiritual retreat. Mount Kumgang and the surrounding area feature exquisite natural beauty, a famous Zen monastery, and challenging trails for hiking enthusiasts. Nearby Kuryong Falls plunges 242 feet before crashing into a series of lagoons below. A pavilion allows easy viewing of the falls, and mountain paths take travelers more than 5,000 feet up for a stunning panoramic view of the surrounding valleys and the white-sand beaches of the Korean coastline. Enjoy the latter while you can, as electric and barbed-wire fences make access to these beaches rather difficult.

Why you can’t: Because it’s almost impossible. Americans can acquire visas for North Korea, but the only access points are through China and South Korea. Tony Poe, a travel agent based in Little Rock, Arkansas, says that although the North Korean regime has begun to allow U.S. tour groups entry, “you’re basically under quarantine” the entire time. American tourists (of which there have been fewer than 500 since the Korean War ended in 1953) are generally restricted to Pyongyang and the surrounding areas, with Kumgangsan essentially off limits.* Straying too far from the tour group is strictly forbidden, and the nonexistent U.S. Embassy and Consulate aren’t going to be of much help if you get into trouble with the Stalinist regime’s notorious secret police.

Baracoa

Location: Cuba’s eastern tip

Why you should go: Baracoa is Cuba’s oldest settlement, founded in 1511 by Spanish conquistadors, and is believed to be near where Christopher Columbus first landed in 1492. Important archaeological sites dot the area, and nearby caves provide visitors an opportunity to view pictographs and ceramic remains of Native American tribes that inhabited the island when Europeans first arrived. Large forts, built in the 18th century to repel pirate attacks, provide breathtaking views of the bay and surrounding forests. The area is also full of sandy beaches, lush vegetation, and waterfalls, not to mention a healthy array of musical, artistic, and cultural happenings.

Why you can’t: Because it is impossible. For a host of reasons—some of which have the last name Castro—U.S. tourist travel to Cuba is thoroughly restricted. Even travel to Cuba through a third country, such as

Pak Occupied-Kashmir

This was part a of India but now occupied by Pakistan

This beautiful scenery is from POK, its really heaven on Earth, check out the other pictures of Pakistan occupied Kashmir after the jump !

Inside the Luxury Igloo Hotel

Perched high above the five-star hotels and heated debate amongst global leaders in the Swiss resort of Davos, an igloo hotel offers the chance to chill out and enjoy life as an Eskimo might.

Set in the midst of the groomed, snow-clad ski slopes 2600 metres up, where temperatures sometimes hang

Top Mountain Climbing Places

A climb in mountains can be a way to relax your body and mind, but you have to choose the right place for it. Here is the top list of best mountain climbing destinations.

Kananaskis Country

Top Water Jumping or Diving Techniques?

Jumping into a water is always a risky water activity. To do it relatively safely, do it at least with your feet forward not with your head and ensure yourself first that the water is deep enough. Keep your feet together, put one hand over your crotch, and one hand under your chin to protect yourself.

Heaven on Earth - Maldives

An island country in the Indian Ocean southwest of Sri Lanka, consisting of 19 atolls made up of more than 2,000 coral islands. Settled by various groups from southern Asia, the islands were converted to Islam in the 12th century. The Maldives became a self-governing British protectorate in 1887 and achieved independence as a sultanate (1965) and subsequently as a republic (1968). Male is the capital. Population: 369,000.

Beautiful Italy

Italy is blessed with its natural beauty. Old cities like Venice, a name which later became synonymous to architectural excellence, Rome and Sicily all adds up to its natural splendor. Italy is one of the biggest producers of wine. Traveling a destination like Italy is certain to provide lot of entertainment and pleasure which you will endeavor for all your life. Travel Planners has collected a few natural clips of this country. You might as well run for to book a holiday ticket after you view these images. So beautiful it is. Do evaluate it yourselves.

Beautiful Italian Landscape

Unparalleled Architectural Marvels

The beautiful ShangriLa

In the year 1893, James Hilton described an eternally peaceful and quiet place among mountains in the East—— “Shangri-La” in one of his novels for the first time. In the novel “Lost Horizon”, an English diplomat Conway and his brother Gorge scattered the English citizens and helped them leave the dangerous region. On their way home, their plane was hijacked?and fell down into the mountain in the Tibetan region. Some lucky survivors were taken to Shangri-la where Conway found lots of fantastic things in such a state founded nearly 200 years ago, in which the local people lived up to more than one hundred years old and lived peacefully and harmoniously with the other people, animals and everything here. The place was called “Shangri-La” by the local folks.

click on images to enlarge

Sri Lanka - The Beauty

Myriad of Sri Lankans gather at Galle Face beach in Colombo to take a walk, watch the sun descend over the Indian Ocean, and wash their feet in the waves. “There is lots of color,” says photographer Palani Mohan. “There are children screaming, young lovers holding hands, people flying kites. The whole place is full of activity.”

Mihintale, a sacred mountain pilgrimage site. Today Mihintale is considered the cradle of Buddhism in Sri

Ideal place for a holiday

The 10 Most Spectacular Train Journeys in the World

Glacier Express

Taking almost eight hours to complete its journey, the Glacier Express has a reputation for being the slowest ‘express’ in the world - but it’s also one of the most beautiful. Linking the two mountain resorts of St. Moritz and Zermatt in the Swiss Alps, the journey covers 291 bridges and 91 tunnels.
At its highest point, the Glacier Express reaches 2,033 meters (6,670 feet) in altitude at the Oberalp Pass as it travel through some of the most stunning mountain scenery Europe has to offer: alpine meadows, mountain streams, snow peaked mountains and glacial valleys.

Harzer Schmalspurbahnen

Situated in the Harz mountains of central Germany, this route connects the main cities of Wernigerode, Nordhausen and Quedlinburg, as well as several smaller towns in the region. It passes over 140 km (87 miles) of steep track, through stunning forest and mountain scenery.
Renowned for being the longest narrow gauge track in Germany and featuring only steam locomotives, the Harzer Schmalspurbahnen is a unique way to discover this relatively unexplored area of Germany.

Eurostar

What better way to reach the continent for a weekend break, or the start of longer travels? With the completion of the high-speed rail link and the opening of a new station at St. Pancras, only 2:15 hours separate central Paris and central London.
Eurostar now operates from three English terminals–London, Ashford, and Ebbsfleet–and offers direct

Tonga- The country we know nothing about

In last two years in Tonga, one of the most peaceful countries in the world, called by Captain James Cook the friendly islands, turned up an uptight atmosphere. In November 2006 pro democratic rebels set on fire the business part of the capital city. Police and army managed to calm down the situation. Australia and New Zeeland sent their troops to help them. In August 2008, George Tupou V was crowned for a king, but he got accused for spending more than 1.300.000 pounds for the celebration.

The Worlds Best Sports Destinations

One way of distracting yourself from the gloom and cold of February is to plan your vacation. I’ve got some ideas for an adventure you’ll remember for the rest of your life! Or maybe you can just enjoy them on the net. Warning: for some of these, you must be well-trained. For others, you’ll have to at least be in good shape.
Hang Gliding -Rio de Janeiro

Hang glide Rio de Janeiro!

The combination of mountains, ocean, and city make for an awesome experience!

Biking -China

A 15 day bike tour starting at Guilin, Guangxi will take you to altitudes of 2,000 feet and through many scenic and historical rural villages. This tour is rated one of National Geographic’s best picks.

Cliff Diving -Brontallo, Switzerland

In Brontallo, Ticino in Switzerland, A 26 meter dive gives you time to show off your best moves. Or you could just watch! The Cliff Diving World Tour takes place there every July.

Scuba Diving -Andrea Doria

For the best scuba diving vacation, The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef in the world, almost 2,000 kilometers long, off the coast of Queensland in Australia. But for the most challenging dive, the wreck of the Andrea Doria off Cape Cod has been referred to as the Mount Everest of diving. At 240 feet deep, it is well below the recommended limit for scuba divers. 14 people have died attempting such a dive. Divers have retreived all kinds of treasures from the ship. The ship sank in 1956, and recent reports are that the hull is collapsing and the wreck is not as fascinating as it was in the past.

Surfing -Cortes Bank

Catch the big ones 100 miles out of San Diego at Cortes Bank. Here, a 17-mile underwater mountain range comes to a head 30 feet below the surface at a spot called Bishop Rock. The waves there are so big they show up on radar. Waves can range up to 60-70 feet when conditions are right. This surfing trip isn’t easy. You have to get there by helicopter or boat, and the waves move so fast, surfers must be towed into position with jet skis. Cortes Bank was featured in the movie Step Into Liquid.

BASE Jumping -Norway

Not only is BASE jumping still legal in Norway, it also has the best landscape for it.

Snowboarding -Nepal

Snowboarding in Nepal is for only the hardiest adventurers, but the thrills are huge. The first ever snowboard descent from Mount Everest was in 2001, and the industry has grown ever since. Snowboarding in Antarctica is pretty awesome, too! Find more destinations at the World Snowboard Guide.

Whitewater Rafting/Kayaking -Zambezi River

The Zambezi River on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe offers not only a variety of river conditions, but African wildlife and amazing scenery, including Victoria Falls.

Rock Climbing -Joshua Tree

Joshua Tree National Park in California is very popular with rock climbers. Even with 4,500 established routes, crowding can cause problems during high vacation periods. See a ton of photos at Joshua Tree Climb.
Gator Wrestling -Mosca, Colorado

The premiere -or possibly only- alligator wrestling academy is in Mosca, Colorado. Colorado Gators will begin classes for 2007 Memorial Day Weekend. Yes, you have to wrestle different sized alligators to advance to the next levels. You might even qualify for the Alligator Rodeo!
This was a thrill to put together. I may have a volume two sometime soon! Any suggestions?

via: artsonearth

Wat Mahathat Temple in Bangkok

Wat Mahathat in the Historical park of Ayutthaya is located in Thailand. The temple is believed to be built during the 14th century A.D. It is a symbolic center where the Buddha’s relics were enshrined. Most popular is Buddha head entwined by the root system of a fig tree. The old temple was built in the reign of King Rama I. It is located on Na Phrathat Road near Thammasat University.

Venice Alias the City On Water Submerging

Venice is an beautiful Italian city in the northern part of Italy. Venezia, how it is correctly named and spelled in Italy, is the 1300-year-old island city. No dispute, this city is suitable for all romantic spirits out there. But how long will this city last? By this trend, there is assumption, that by 2055, the most of city parts will be permanently submerged. To rescue the city, a so called Moses project were started in 2001. It is an integrated defence system consisting of rows of mobile gates to protect the Venetian lagoon. If there are no problems with funding, the work is expected to be completed in 2012. Will this project protect the city enough in the future? We will see soon.

What is behind this mysterious name? It is place or it is something else? At the beginning Auberge du Soleil was a restaurant created by restaurateur Claude Rouas. This happened 25 years ago. Now is much more. It is culinary destination in the bounty of Napa Valley. So if you prefer to visits restaurants or bars and like culinary dining as the most on your vacation, this vacation resort is absolutely for you. This place covers about 13 acres, a lot of olive trees and California sun.

The World’s Wackiest Holidays

From the largest annual tomato fight in Spain, to Scotland’s “Up Helly-Aa” fire festival, a look at those special days when people around the world go slightly nuts
No.1
Shetland Islands, Scotland: “Up Helly-Aa” Fire Festival. A tribute to the islands’ Viking Past, Up Helly-Aa (”End of the Holy Days”) culminates with the burning of a 32-ft. Replica of a Viking longship.

————————————————————————————-

No.2

Bobr, Belarus: Ivana Kupala Night. On the night of this pagan festival, celebrated on July 7, the Gregorian summer solstice, young women don wreathes and celebrants jump through fire and swim naked. The rites are connected to ancient beliefs about fertility and autopurification.

————————————————————————————-

No.3

New Delhi, India: Holi, the Festival of Colors. Indian girls throw gulal (colored powder) on each other during

25 Wonderful Places To Visit In Your Lifetime!

Grand Canyon:

Grand Canyon is the steep-sided gorge carved by the Colorado River in Arizona State of United States. The powerful sources that cause an impact on the Grand Canyon is erosion, first is by water and second is by wind.
Nearly 5 million people visit the 1 mile deep Grand Canyon every year. Planning a vacation to the Grand Canyon national park provides a great relief for you and your family.
The best time to visit Grand Canyon is during the summer, fall and mild spring, but most locals agree that winter is the great time to visit. There are various camp grounds both on the top and floor of the Grand Canyon. Camping at the floor of the Grand Canyon needs a permit from the country office.
Great Barrier Reef:

This is the world’s largest coral reef ecosystem. It is one of the top travel destinations in Australia. You can see it from the outer space and it is the world’s largest single structure, which is made of living organisms.

The Most Beautiful Beaches

“I have always loved the beach. The smell of the salty water, the wind in my face, the gentle roar of the waves all combine to create a sense of peace and calm.”

BoraBora Island, Tahiti, French Polynesia

THE AMANGIRI RESORT | UTAH

st. $800

BUY

Amangiri opened in October 2009 and is located on a 243-hectare (600-acre) expanse of wilderness in Canyon Point, Southern Utah, close to the border with Arizona. The resort is tucked into a protected valley with sweeping views over colourful, stratified rock towards the Grand Staircase – Escalante National Monument. Architecturally, the resort has been designed to blend into the landscape with natural hues, materials and textures a feature of the design. The structures are commanding and in proportion with the scale of the natural surroundings, yet provide an intimate setting from which to view and appreciate the landscape.

Arrival to the resort is via a winding road that descends into the valley and leads to the central Pavilion. Built around the main swimming pool, the Pavilion embraces a dramatic stone escarpment. Within the Pavilion is the Living Room, Gallery, Library, Dining Room, Private Dining Room and Cellar. Two accommodation wings lead from the Pavilion into the desert: 16 suites are located within the Desert Wing and another 18 suites together with the Aman Spa are located within the Mesa Wing. Outward views from the resort look over the untouched valley surrounded by lofty bluffs.

ALILA VILLAS HADAHAA | MALDIVES

St. $950

BUY

Alila Villas in Hadahaa is surrounded by only the vast expanse of sky and sea, the resort’s 50 island and aqua villas, some with private pool, reflect the unique Maldivian sense of space. Here, no boundaries exist between you and the ocean. Panoramic views stretch to infinity.

Surrounded by only the vast expanse of sky and sea, the resort’s 50 island and aqua villas, some with private pool, reflect the unique Maldivian sense of space. Here, no boundaries exist between you and the ocean. Panoramic views stretch to infinity.The resort is about the ultimate Maldivian experience of turquoise and azure waters and fine white beaches, complemented by tranquil settings. Succumb to the healing sensation of holistic wellness at Alila Villas Hadahaa, every experience is centred on bringing your mind, body and soul towards a new equilibrium.

The essence of the Maldives flows into the culinary and wellness experiences too. Savour authentic local cuisine and pamper yourself at the spa retreat, an oasis of indulgence and rejuvenation.Great care has been taken in the construction of Alila Villas Hadahaa to preserve the natural vegetation in order to maintain the ambience of the island and minimise the environmental footprint of the resort. Environmental awareness and protection are key considerations in all our guest experiences. Alila Villas Hadahaa is the first resort in the Maldives to adhere to the standards for Green Globe certification in the construction stage and resort operations.