World Heritage Sites

with Mountain Hiking Holidays

The Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage is an international agreement that has been signed by more than 150 nations to date. It was adopted by the General Conference of UNESCO in 1972. Through the identification of sites whose extraordinary values warrant their protection and preservation, the Convention seeks to encourage international cooperation to conserve the world’s heritage for all humanity.

As of December 2016, there are 1,052 sites that have been “inscribed” on the World Heritage List. 814 of them are cultural sites; 203 are natural sites; 35 are “mixed properties.” World Heritage Sites have been identified in 165 “states parties.” For a complete list of World Heritage Sites, visit UNESCO’s World Heritage website.

Following are some of the World Heritage Sites that are visited on our trips.

	Los Glaciares ARGENTINA Inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1981 Featured on our Best Hikes in Patagonia trip. « Monte Fitzroy catches the morning light in Los Glaciares National Park.
	The Dolomites ITALY Inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2009 Featured on our Best Hikes in the Dolomites and Best Hikes in the Dolomites II trips. « The Tre Cime di Lavaredo (Drei Zinnen) from Paternsattel.
	Pyrénées – Mont Perdu FRANCE AND SPAIN Inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1997 Featured on our Hiking the Pyrenees trip. « Enjoying the view of the Brèche de Roland in the heart of the Pyrénées-Mont Perdu World Heritage Site.
	Shiretoko JAPAN Inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2005 Featured on our Hokkaido Trails trip. « Oshinkoshin Falls near Utoro on the Shiretoko Peninsula.
	Bryggen NORWAY Inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1979 Featured on our Hiking Fjord Norway trip. « The wooden warehouses on the wharf (“bryggen”) in Bergen recall the days of the Hanseatic League.
	West Norwegian Fjords (Nærøyfjord) NORWAY Inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2005 Featured on our Hiking Fjord Norway trip. « A tree-framed view of the lovely Nærøyfjord from Beitelen. (Photo by Stephen Zimmermann)
	Boyana Church BULGARIA Inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1979 Featured on our Mountains of Bulgaria trip. « An architectural detail from the exterior of the Boyana Church; the real gems are the frescoes inside!
	Pirin National Park BULGARIA Inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1983 Featured on our Mountains of Bulgaria trip. « Icebergs float in Popovo Lake in the Pirin National Park.
	Rila Monastery BULGARIA Inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1983 Featured on our Mountains of Bulgaria trip. « The church at Rila Monastery seen from the multi-storied arcades that ring the monastery compound.
	Jungfrau-Aletsch-Bietschhorn SWITZERLAND Inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2001 Featured on our Hiking the Swiss Alps trip. « Seen from near Männlichen, the summit of the Jungfrau rises into the clouds.
	Skellig Michael IRELAND Inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1996 Featured on our Hiking Western Ireland trip. « The “beehive huts” of the monastic complex atop Skelling Michael.
	Meteora GREECE Inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1988 Featured on our Hiking Northern Greece trip. « Monastery of St. Barbara Roussanou.
	Great Wall of China CHINA Inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1987 Featured on our Hiking the Great Wall trip. « Hikers on the Great Wall.
	Laurisilva of Madeira PORTUGAL Inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1999 Featured on our Azores and Madeira trips. « The lush greenery of the laurisilva forest, Madeira Nature Park.
	Historic Centre of Sighisoara ROMANIA Inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1999 Featured on our Mountains of Romania trip. « The thirteenth century Sighisoara clock tower.
	Olympic National Park UNITED STATES Inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1981 Featured on our Hiking the Olympic Mountains trip. « Mount Angeles, Olympic Mountains.