This week, UNESCO released its annual state of conservation reports, which outline which of its famous designated World Heritage Sites are in danger of losing the historic, cultural or natural characteristics that made them World Heritage Sites in the first place.
Tourism can harm the world’s wonders, but it can also help them when done responsibly. Below, find 19 places from UNESCO’s conservation reports that warrant a responsible visit. To compile this list, we pulled spots that appear on the Danger List, omitting any that come with travel warnings form the U.S. State Department. While such places are no less important, it’s not recommended that you visit them now, typically because of war, crime, or other dangers.
Peruse the options below, pack your bags, and check out UNESCO’s reports for more information on why these places are endangered and how you can help.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania
These wide-open plains are an important migratory hangout for animals like zebra and wildebeest. They're also home to the world's largest caldera.
Under threat due to: crop production; governance; ground transport infrastructure; social cohesion and more
Bagrati Cathedral and Gelati Monastery, Georgia
These historic buildings are prime examples of medieval architecture, UNESCO says. Keep an eye out for exquisite mosaics and wall paintings in the monastery complex, some of whose structures date back to the 12th century.
Under threat due to: interpretative and visitation facilities; management activities
Everglades National Park, U.S.
These subtropical wetlands came into being at the end of the last Ice Age. They're a wonderland of mangrove trees, and birds and reptiles hang out in the marshes and bays.
Under threat due to: housing; invasive/alien freshwater species; storms; surface water pollution; water infrastructure
Medieval monuments in Kosovo
This charming site comprises two monasteries and two churches known for their paintings and frescoes, which are excellent examples of a uniquely Balkan style of art, UNESCO says.
Under threat due to: civil unrest; legal framework; management systems/management plan
Under threat due to: civil unrest; fire; illegal activities; land conversion; livestock farming/grazing of domesticated animals; management systems/management plan
Under threat due to: financial resources; housing; human resources; legal framework; management activities; management systems/management plan
Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi, Uganda
This royal burial ground features a main building with four tombs, which UNESCO praises for "its intangible values of belief, spirituality, continuity and identity."
Under threat due to: ground transport infrastructure; management activities; management systems/management plan; fire
Under threat due to: commercial development; governance; high impact research/monitoring activities; housing; interpretative and visitation facilities and more
Chan Chan Archaeological Zone, Peru
The massive Peruvian city of Chan Chan is divided into nine individual "citadels" whose intricate remnants still stand. You can tour former temples, homes, storehouses, reservoirs and more.
Under threat due to: identity, social cohesion, changes in local population and community; illegal activities; management systems/management plan; water
The Ahwar is made up of seven sites: the remains of Mesopotamian Cities cities of Uruk, Ur and Tell Eridu and four wetland marshes. These sites are some of the world's largest inland delta systems that exist in an extremely hot and arid environment.
Antigua Naval Dockyard, Antigua and Barbuda
This harbor is made of Georgian-style structures tucked away in a narrow bay on Antigua island. The highlands surrounding the narrow bay offered protection from hurricanes.
Antequera Dolmens, Spain
This site consists of three megalithic tombs -- the Menga and Viera dolmens and the Tolos of El Romeral -- and two natural monuments known as the Peña de los Enamorados and El Torcal mountainous formations. As UNESCO notes, these dolmens are "one of the most remarkable architectural works of European prehistory."
Archaeological Site of Philippi, Greece
This walled city, founded in 356 BC by the Macedonian King Philip II, was developed as a "small Rome" and later became a center of the Christian faith following the visit of the Apostle Paul in 49-50 CE.
The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, Various Locations
Architect Le Corbusier was a pioneer of modern design. The 17 sites chosen by the World Heritage committee were built over a half-century. His work reflects "the solutions that the Modern Movement sought to apply during the 20th century to the challenges of inventing new architectural techniques to respond to the needs of society."
The Persian Qanat, Iran
This ancient qanat system consists of 11 underground tunnels used to carry water from the heads of valleys to rest areas or water reservoirs in the arid regions of Iran.
Gorham's Cave Complex, U.K.
There are four caves tucked away inside the Rock of Gibraltar which have provided evidence of Neanderthal occupation over a span of more than 125,000 years. These caves have allowed researchers to better understand Neanderthals and their cultural traditions.
Nan Madol, Micronesia
This site consists of 99 artificial islets constructed by humans off the coast of Pohnpei between 1200 and 1500 CE. Now, these islets contain the remains of stone palaces, temples, tombs and residential areas -- but are also listed by UNESCO as "in danger" due to climate change and coastal erosion.
Zuojiang Huashan Rock Art, China
There are dozens of examples of rock art on the steep cliffs in southwest China, and they are the only remains left in the world that reveal what life was like for the Luoye people, who date back to around the 5th century BCE to the 2nd century CE. These drawings have been interpreted as portraying south China's once-prevalent bronze drum culture.
Nalanda Mahavihara, India
This ancient university, comprised of a monastic and scholastic institution, dates back from the 3rd century BCE to the 13th century CE. Now, there are only remnants of stupas, shrines, vicars and art made of stucco, stone and medal.
Western Tien-Shan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan
One of the largest mountain ranges in the world, Western Tien-Shan, reaches altitudes of more than 14,700 feet and includes exceptionally rich biodiversity.
Stećci Medieval Graveyards, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia
This listing combines some 30 sites across several countries all containing these distinctive medieval tombstones known as stećci. These cemeteries date back to the 1100s are are mostly carved from limestone.
Pampulha Modern Ensemble, Brazil
This quirky cultural center, built in 1940 around an artificial lake, was designed by renowned architect Oscar Niemeyer in collaboration with other artists.The space includes a casino, ballroom, Golf Yacht Club and the São Francisco de Assis church.
Archipiélago de Revillagigedo, Mexico
These four remote islands are part of a submerged mountain range, with each peak representing the peaks of volcanoes emerging from the sea. They're a critical habitat for seabirds and marine life, with an abundance or large pelagic species including manta rays, whales and sharks.
Lut Desert, Iran
Between June and October, this arid subtropical area is swept by strong winds, which transport sediment and cause aeolian erosion on a colossal scale. Consequently, the site presents some of the most spectacular examples of aeolian yardang landforms.
These two sites protect ancient forests in central-eastern China and is home to some of the country's rarest animal species, including the Chinese Giant Salamander, the Golden or Snub-nosed Monkey, the Clouded Leopard and the Asian Black bear.
Khangchendzonga National Park, India
A collection of valleys, lakes, glaciers and snow-capped mountains are tucked away in the heart of the Himalayan range in northern India. These incredible features also include the world's third largest peak, Mount Khangchendzonga, which comes with its own set of caves, rivers and lakes, which are worshipped by the area's indigenous people.
Sanganeb Marine National Park and Dungonab Bay, Sudan
This entry includes two separate sites: Sanganeb, an isolated and vibrant coral reef in the central Red Sea, and the area including Mukkawar Island and Dungonab Bay. Seabirds, marine mammals, turtles and sharks call this protected area home.
Ennedi Massif's Natural and Cultural Landscape, Chad
Years and years of water and wind erosion have sculpted this sandstone into stunning canyons, valleys, natural arches and pitons. Thousands of images have been painted and carved into the rock surface of caves, canyons and shelters, presenting one of the largest ensembles of rock art in the Sahara.
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