Posts Tagged ‘UNESCO World Heritage Sites’

« Older Entries

Jordan Visa Requirements To Visit the “Rose-Red City”

Saturday, July 24th, 2010

“Match me such marvel save in Eastern clime,a rose-red city half as old as time.”
John William Burgon

This week’s featured UNESCO World Heritage site is one of Jordan’s oldest and most beautiful cities.  Located between the Red Sea and the Dead Sea, Petra was an important trading city during Biblical times, and has been inhabited for far longer than that.

Petra rose to power as the capital city of the Nabataeans. The Nabataeans traded not only goods but also water, and Petra is constructed with a system of dams, water storage and irrigation that allowed them to capture water when it rained and dispense it as needed during dry periods.

After the Romans took control of the area, trades routes shifted and Petra’s location became much less advantageous. Eventually it was all but abandoned, before locals led a Swiss explorer to the city in 1812.

The entire city is built into a mountain, carved into and constructed out of the same gorgeous red rock. According to UNESCO, Petra “is one of the world’s most famous archaeological sites, where ancient Eastern traditions blend with Hellenistic architecture.” It is also Jordan’s most popular tourist attraction.

Fun Fact: The last scene in the movie “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” was filmed in Petra.

To visit Petra, you need a valid passport and a tourist visa.  In most cases, you can get a visa to visit Jordan when you arrive. However, if you are crossing over the border with Israel at the King Hussein/Allenby Bridge crossing, you must apply for your Jordan visa in advance.

No matter how you are entering Jordan, if you’d rather have your Jordan visa paperwork taken care of before you leave the US, you do have the option of applying ahead of time.  The application process for a Jordan visa is pretty straightforward. Just submit your US passport, 1 Jordan visa application form, and 1 passport-sized photo taken within the past 6 months.

Also, keep in mind that you may need other tourist or transit visas depending on your itinerary. RushMyTravelVisa can help by reviewing your travel plans and researching visa requirements for each stop. Then, we can help you with the application process and deliver your paperwork to the appropriate embassy or consulate to expedite processing.

Apply for your Jordan visa today!

Tags: , ,
Posted in World Heritage Site of the Week | No Comments »

Azerbaijan Visa Requirements To See the Rock Art at Gobustan

Saturday, June 12th, 2010

Azerbaijan is one of those countries that’s off the beaten path but full of wonderful surprises, like this week’s featured UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape. Added to the World Heritage List in 2007, Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape is an amazing collection of ancient rock art created over a period of 40,000 years.

There are over 6,000 engravings at the site, depicting a wide range of subjects, including people, rituals,battles,  bullfights, the sun and stars, boats, and more. In addition to the engravings, the site is full of other archaeological evidence of ancient human settlement, such as burial sites and preserved cave dwellings.

Today, Gobustan is rather dry and arid, and is sparsely populated as a result. However, in the past, the region’s climate was wetter and water more abundant, and the area supported a diverse selection of fauna that you would have to travel to Africa to see today, including goats, deer, wild horses, donkeys, wild boars, gazelles , lions, wolves, wild cats and leopards. Naturally, humans were attracted by the abundant wildlife and the natural shelter provided by the caves.

In addition to the rock art, Gobustan is also famous for mud volcanoes. Although they sometimes shoot flames in the air, mud volcanoes mainly just spew mineral-rich mud that is reputed to have medicinal properties.

To visit Azerbaijan, if you are a US citizen you will need both a valid passport and an Azerbaijan visa. You can get a single-entry Azerbaijan visa at the airport if you arrive by plane, but you will need to apply ahead of time if you are arriving by land or if you need a multiple-entry visa. Here’s what you need to get the visa:

  • 1 Azerbaijan visa application form
  • 2 passport photos
  • A tourist voucher from a  hotel in Azerbaijan with a confirmation number.

Remember, you may need other visas depending on what countries you travel through to get to Azerbaijan, even if you’re just passing through. RushMyTravelVisa  can research your itinerary and tell you exactly what documents you need. Then, we make it easy to apply by walking you through the application process and submitting your paperwork for you to expedite processing.

Apply for your Azerbaijan visa today!

Tags: , ,
Posted in World Heritage Site of the Week | No Comments »

Ethiopian Visa Requirements To Visit Fasil Ghebbi

Sunday, April 11th, 2010

Can you imagine touring fairy-tale castles in the heart of Africa? This week’s featured UNESCO World Heritage Site is located in the Gondar region of Ethiopia. The fortresses of Fasil Ghebbi date to the 16th and 17th centuries, after the Ethiopians made contact with the Portuguese.

The Ethiopians may have rejected the Roman Catholic faith introduced by the Portuguese in favor of their own traditional version of Christianity, but they were apparently more impressed by Portuguese architecture.  The castles of Fasil Ghebbi really do look like something out of the Brothers Grimm, leading Gadling to refer to Fasil Ghebbi as “Ethiopia’s Camelot.”

The castles aren’t strictly European, of course-they were also influenced by Hindu and Arab architecture as well as Ethiopia’s own native building styles. The end result is fantastic.

The first fortress in Gondar was founded by King Fasilides in the 16th century. Eight of his successors  reigned there as well, including one queen, called Queen Mentaweb.  Born a commoner, she became a queen when she married King Bacaffa, and ruled Ethiopia after his death.

Fasil Ghebbi was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1979.

American citizens do need a visa to visit Eithiopia. Theoretically, you can obtain a visa when you arrive at Bole International Airport. However, the US Department of State advises against this, saying

To avoid possible confusion or delays, travelers are strongly advised to obtain a valid Ethiopian visa at the nearest Ethiopian Embassy prior to arrival.

Here’s what you need to apply for an Ethiopian visa:

  • 1 completed Ethiopian visa application  form
  • 1 passport-sized photo of yourself
  • A copy of your round-trip itinerary
  • Your US passport

RushMyTravelVisa can help make getting your Ethiopian visa much easier. We’ll take a look at your itinerary to make sure you know exactly what documents you need to travel, and we’ll provide easy-to-follow instructions that make filling out applications breeze and reduce the chance of common errors.  Then, we submit your application to the appropriate visa or consulate for the fastest possible processing.

Apply for your Ethiopian visa today!

Tags: , ,
Posted in World Heritage Site of the Week | 1 Comment »

Get a Brazil Visa To Visit Jaú National Park

Tuesday, March 30th, 2010

To get to this week’s featured UNESCO World Heritage Site, you  must travel into the beating heart of the Amazon. Jaú National Park  is part of the Central Amazon Conservation Complex, the largest stretch of protected forest in the Amazon Basin.

The park is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because it shelters a unique variety of flora and fauna,  both on land and in the rivers that wind through it. For example,  the tropical rainforest ecosystem is home to jaguars, sloths, armadillos and uncountable numbers of birds.  In the rivers, you’ll find manatee, pink river dolphin, black caiman alligators, and the “living fossil” giant arapaima fish.

Watch out, though- Jaú National Park is also home to the widest variety of electric fish in world.

Currently, you need permission from the Brazilian government to visit the park, but that doesn’t mean that it’s impossible-just that you need t0 plan ahead and make sure you only deal with reputable tour operators who have the required permits to lead tours in the park.  This Wikitravel article is one good source of logistical information.

Brazil visa regulations require all American tourists to have a tourist visa in hand to enter the country.  Make sure to apply ahead of time, or you won’t be allowed to board your flight to Brazil.

Here’s what you need to apply

  • Your US passport, which needs to have an expiration date at least 6 months in the future and also needs to have at least 2 blank pages in the back so that the Brazil embassy has room to add the tourist visa.
  • One completed Brazil visa application
  • 2 passport-sized photos of yourself
  • A copy of your round-trip itinerary showing the dates you plan to enter and leave Brazil.
  • A  photocopy of your driver’s license or state-issued ID card. The copy must be clear and easy to read.
  • If you will be visiting friends or relatives while in Brazil, you also need a letter from your hosts.

To enter Brazil, you may be required to get a yellow fever vaccination. Vaccines are required of travelers who have been to any of the following countries in the past 3 months (90 days): Angola, Bolivia, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, French Guiana, Gabon, Ghana, Gambia, Republic of Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Peru, Sierra Leone, Sudan or Venezuela.

You should also be aware that Brazil has a “jurisdictional” visa system. That means that you have to apply at the specific Brazilian embassy or consulate that serves your home address.

Brazil visa rules are more than a little complex. A private visa expediting company like RushMyTravelVisa can make it easier and faster to get your visa.

Let us help you with your Brazil visa today!

Tags: , , ,
Posted in World Heritage Site of the Week | 2 Comments »

Vietnam Visa Requirements to Visit Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park

Sunday, March 28th, 2010

This week’s featured UNESCO World Heritage Site is  in Vietnam, 500 kilometers south of Hanoi. Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park is located on the site of one of the world’s largest karst systems. Karst is a type of terrain that is distinguished by limestone rock formations and caves. Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park  contains 65-70 kilometers worth of caves and underwater rivers.

Of the 300 caves and grottoes located in the park, only 20 have been studied and mapped.  The most spectacular of these caves is Phong Nha Cave, which is 7729 meters long.  Although tourists are only allowed to see the first 1,500 meters of the cave,  it is a popular destination due to its numerous grottoes and 13,969 meter-long underground river.

Phong Na cave is also filled with fascinating rock formations that have been given fanciful names like the Lion, the Fairy Caves, the Royal Court and the Buddha.

The park also boasts the world’s largest cave, called Son Doong Cave.

Above ground, the park is covered with evergreen forests. It is home to rare orchids and many different species of animals, including monkeys, deer, guar (a type of wild cow), bears, antelopes and the pangolin, or scaly antelope.

To get to Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park, you need both a valid passport and  a visa. Vietnam visa regulations do not allow visas to be issued on arrival, so you will need to apply in advance.

Here are the required documents for US tourists applying for a Vietnamese visa:

  • Your US passport
  • A completed Vietnamese visa application
  • A recent passport photo, taken within the past 6 months.

Also, if you need a multiple-entry visa, make sure you specify that when you apply-otherwise, the default is a single-entry visa.

It can be somewhat confusing and intimidating to negotiate the visa system of an unfamiliar country-that’s why RushMyTravelVisa.com is here to help. We’ll walk you through the application process and deliver your application to the appropriate visa or consulate for the fastest service possible.

Apply for your Vietnam visa today!

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in World Heritage Site of the Week | No Comments »

Bolivian Visa Requirements to Visit The Ancient City of Tiwanaku

Sunday, March 21st, 2010

This week’s UNESCO World Heritage Site is located in Bolivia. Once upon a time (more precisely, from between 300 to 1000 AD), the city of Tiwanaku was the center of a great empire. According to Wikipedia, the people that lived there used an ingenious form of agriculture called “suka kollus,” growing crops in raised fields separated by flooded canals. The canals kept the crops irrigated during the hot days and protected them against freezing during the cold nights.

Supported by these agricultural techniques, the city grew to 6.5 square kilometers, and had between 15,000 – 30,000 inhabitants when it was at its largest point.

Tiwanaku also brought other cities under its leadership, sometimes through trade and treaties, sometimes by force. The city expanded its territory to include parts of modern-day Peru, Bolivia and Chile. Around 1000 AD, the empire fell, possibly because a drought led to decreased food production.  However, the city’s monumental architecture remained and has been excavated along with other artifacts.

UNESCO’s web site notes that the city’s ” monumental remains testify to the cultural and political significance of this civilisation, which is distinct from any of the other pre-Hispanic empires of the Americas.”

To see Tiwanaku, you need a US passport and a Bolivian visa. Tourists can apply for a Bolivian visa upon arrival at the airport, but of course you’ll get out of the airport faster and with less stress if you get one before you leave the States. Here is what is required to get a Bolivian tourist visa:

  • 1 completed Bolivian visa application form.
  • A valid US passport
  • 1 passport photo
  • Your hotel confirmation, if you are staying in a hotel.
  • A letter of invitation if you are staying with someone in a private home.
  • A copy of a roundtrip airline ticket.  However, if you are planning on touring South America by bus or by car instead of flying in, you can submit a statement saying when and where you plan to enter and exit the exit the country.
  • A recent bank or credit card statement showing that you have enough cash or credit to cover the cost of your trip.
  • An international yellow fever vaccination certificate.

RushMyTravelVisa.com can help you get your visa quickly and easily.

Apply for your Bolivian visa with us today!

Tags: , ,
Posted in World Heritage Site of the Week | 1 Comment »

Get an Indian Visa to See Nanda Devi and the Valley of Flowers

Thursday, March 11th, 2010

This week’s UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Week is a set of two national parks in India, Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers. Nanda Devi is India’s second-highest mountain, rising 25,643 feet into the air. It is often referred to the patron goddess of the Uttarakhand Himalaya.

Nearby, the lush beauty of the Valley of Flowers offers a pleasing contrast to the jagged peaks of Nanda Devi. As you might expect from the name, Valley of Flowers is covered in so many flowers that locals legends say it is inhabited by fairies!

UNESCO named both parks World Heritage Sites in 2008, saying:

“Together they encompass a unique transition zone between the mountain ranges of the Zanskar and Great Himalaya, praised by mountaineers and botanists for over a century and in Hindu mythology for much longer.”

To visit these parks, you will need an Indian tourist visa. You must apply in advance-visas are not available at the airport.  To get an Indian tourist visa, you need the following documents:

  • Your valid US passport
  • 2 recent passport-sized photos
  • A completed Indian visa application form. To ensure that your visa application is approved, make sure that you write neatly and that you do not make any mistakes on the application. Make sure that you enter in “tourism” in the section that asks you to state why you are traveling to India.
  • A photocopy of your plane tickets or your itinerary.
  • A clear photocopy of your driver’s license or utility bill.

India has what is known as a “jurisdictional” visa system. That means that you must submit your visa application to the correct embassy or consulate for your home state.

RushMyTravelVisa can help you apply for your Indian visa. We’ll assist you with the application, and then deliver it directly to the appropriate embassy or consulate for the fastest possible processing.

Apply for your Indian visa today!

Tags: , ,
Posted in World Heritage Site of the Week | 1 Comment »

UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Week: Get a Chinese Visa to See Giant Pandas

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

Who doesn’t love pandas? With their big, over-sized heads and gentle faces, they look like they are just waiting to be picked up and hugged (although they will bite if provoked- see this amusing story about a Chinese student who broke into a panda cage and tried to hug one, only to discover he’d bitten off more than he could chew.)

There are some pandas in zoos in America, but for the full panda experience, you really have to go to the Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries.The panda sanctuaries protect the largest stretch of habitat remaining for the giant panda, and contain the largest panda captive breeding program.  The area is home to 30% of the world’s giant pandas and has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2006.

In addition to housing giant pandas, the sanctuaries also protect other endangered and elusive creatures, including the red panda, the snow leopard and the clouded leopard. While the Woolong Nature Reserve used to be the top choice for viewing pandas because of the gorgeous views and natural scenery, it was heavily damaged in the China Earthquake, and is currently closed.

Until Woolong opens back up, the best place to see pandas is the Chengdu Panda Base, which has a healthy population of captive breeding pandas.

To visit China, you will need a Chinese tourist visa, also called an L visa. You need to apply before you leave, and you will need to submit the following documents:

  • An application for a Chinese tourist visa.
  • Your passport, which must be valid for at least 6 months and have at least one blank page.
  • You’ll also need a copy of the information page from your passport.
  • One passport.

If you plan to leave within the next 7 days, you should also submit a copy of your travel itinerary to get expedited service.

RushMyTravelVisa can help you speed through the China application process, providing friendly advice, personal attention, easy-to-follow instructions, and the fastest possible service.

Apply for your Chinese visa with us today!

Tags: , ,
Posted in World Heritage Site of the Week | 1 Comment »

Get a Turkmenistan Visa to See Ancient Parthian Fortresses

Monday, February 8th, 2010

This week’s UNESCO World Heritage Site is located in the country of Turkmenistan. The Parthian Fortresses of Nisa are the remains of two fortresses that date back to the Parthian Empire, which ruled the area from the middle of the 3rd century BC to the 3rd century AD.

The Parthians competed with the Roman Empire, providing a barrier to expansion that they were never able to defeat. Nisa was their capital city. The two fortresses contained in the UNESCO World Heritage site date from different time periods, and are called Old Nisa and New Nisa.

The UNESCO World Heritage website says that Nisa was chosen to receive the World Heritage Site designation because “the archaeological remains vividly illustrate the significant interaction of cultural influences from central Asia and from the Mediterranean world.”

Visas are required to travel to Turkmenistan. Here’s what you need to get a Turkmenistan tourist visa:

  • Your US passport, which must be valid for at least 3 months past the date you plan to enter Turkmenistan.
  • 2 Turkmenistan visa application forms
  • 2 passport photos
  • If you are staying with a private citizen in Turkmenistan, you will need an invitation from that person . The  invitation must be certified  by the minister of foreign affairs. If you are staying in a hotel, you can  contact ministry of tourism to get an invitation instead.

You should also be aware that transit visas may be required if you pass through  certain countries on the way to Turkmenistan. RushMyTravelVisa can help you go over your itinerary to make sure you know exactly what documents you need to get to your destination.

We can also help you apply for your  visas, providing clear, easy to understand instructions and walking you through the application process, then forwarding your application to the appropriate embassy or consulate for the fastest possible processing.

Apply for your travel visas with us today!

Tags: , ,
Posted in World Heritage Site of the Week | 2 Comments »

Cameroon Visa Requirements For Dja Faunal Reserve

Saturday, January 30th, 2010

This week’s featured UNESCO  World Heritage site is the Dja Faunal Reserve in Cameroon. The Reserve was first listed as a World Heritage site in 1987  for it’s rich biodiversity.  The UNESCO site calls it “one of the largest and best-protected rainforests in Africa, with 90% of its area left undisturbed.”

Inside the reserve, you can find various types of primates, including monkeys, lowland gorillas and chimpanzees. Elephants, leopards and wild hogs roam the forest, while two threatened species of crocodile swim in the Dja River, which provides a natural border for the southern edge of the park .

The Dja Faunal Reserve is not just home to animals, however. People live there, too.  In the forest, a small group of Pygmies lives a (mostly) traditional lifestyle.

To visit the Djal Faunal Reserse, you will need a passport and a Cameroon visa.   Visas are not issued on arrival,  so you will need to apply in advance. Here’s what you need to submit:

  • 2 Cameroon visa application forms
  • 2 passport photos
  • An international certificate of vaccination for  yellow fever
  • A copy of your itinerary or round trip tickets.
  • A copy of a recent bank statement showing that you have sufficient funds to support yourself. If you don’t want to submit a bank statement, you can provide the name of  s0meone, either at home or in Cameroon, who is willing to vouch for you and provide financial support if needed.

When you travel off the beaten path, its important to  have all of your paperwork in order. RushMyTravelVisa.com can help. We can research your itinerary to make sure you don’t get surprised by visa requirements. Then, we’ll help you fill out the paperwork and deliver your application to the appropriate visa or consulate for fast processing.

Apply for your Cameroon visa today!

Tags: , ,
Posted in World Heritage Site of the Week | No Comments »

« Older Entries