Awe-Inspiring Destinations to Make Your Jaw Drop

Awed in Cambodia

Where have you been that totally exceeded your expectations?

One of my favorite feelings when traveling is being totally overwhelmed and in awe of the history and the majesty of the place where I am. Whether it's an incredibly beautiful destination or an awe-inspiring landmark that totally exceeds my expectations, I love feeling blown away by a new place or experience. 

Here are a few of my own favorite wonders of the world and the places that made my jaw drop. Remember, working with a travel advisor can take these experiences from awesome to extraordinary!

The Colosseum, Rome, Italy

Most likely the first place that I visited which took my breath away. I was not prepared to be so wowed by the Colosseum, despite its status as an actual wonder of the world. I had seen ruins before - how different could it be? But it truly is incredible and worth the visit! 

How can you make a visit to the Colosseum even more extraordinary? Skip the Line tickets are only the beginning. When we work with our preferred partners in Italy, our clients have access to the best local guides who can share all of the history and context to make their visit extra special. 

Angkor Temple Complex, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Officially the second time I was blown away by ruins. When I visited in 2018, I had seen many more ruins since that trip to Rome in 2012. But the temples at Angkor may have been even more impressive than the Colosseum. The sheer scale of the temple complex and the temples themselves is staggering. Climbing around the ruins, still relatively well preserved in some cases, I couldn't believe how long ago these were built and how they were still standing today. The temples are all quite unique and I found a few favorites, including Angkor Thom and Benteay Kdai. Want to level up your own visit to Angkor Wat? We can help plan your trip to Cambodia and secure the best local guides who can take you to the temples for as much or as little time as you like (there’s a lot to see but it can be quite tiring), and bring you to the temples that may be less busy at various times of the day. 

And my own personal tip? Skip the sunrise at the main Angkor Wat temple where everyone goes and instead watch it from Srah Srang, a reservoir that was previously the Royal Bath. If you’re looking for a truly serene experience in a beautiful setting, watching the sunrise over the reservoir is pretty special. And there were only about 7 other people there. Once sunrise is over, you can walk across the road to one of my favorite temples, Banteay Kdai, and have it almost to yourself.

Scuba Diving in Koh Tao, Thailand

There’s nothing like being underwater, scuba diving for the first time and experiencing a whole new part of the world. I spent four months diving in Koh Tao - that’s a lot of time getting to know this one part of the ocean! But it stands out to me because it was where I had all of my first diving experiences. Honestly, scuba diving and being able to breathe underwater for long periods of time, exploring the underwater world - it’s awe-inspiring to me every time I do it. Being able to travel and dive around the world now is truly something special and a privilege I am fortunate to have. If you have thought about learning to scuba dive and traveling around the world to dive, let me know! I would love to help you plan your first dive trip (or your fiftieth). There are incredible destinations around the world that have a lot to offer outside of scuba diving, offering many places for you to travel with those who don’t want to dive. 

Bonus: Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, France

Recently reopened after its 5 year post-fire restoration, Notre Dame had to be added to this list. I don't recall if I was awestruck during my first visit to the historic cathedral; I was 11 years old and it may not have felt that special to me at the time. What I do remember is visiting the cathedral with my mom in 2017. She had never been there and I was excited to go back. It was even more amazing than I had remembered. I walked around snapping photos and taking in the awesome grandeur of this place. I felt humbled in the way a large Gothic cathedral is meant to make you feel, and I was moved by the beauty of this space. I cannot wait to return and see the newly restored Notre Dame on my next trip to France. 

If it’s time you planned your next awe-inspiring trip, contact us to get started - we can take your trip from amazing to extraordinary.