From Carcassonne to Petra: Walking Through UNESCO World Heritage

There's something undeniably satisfying about visiting a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Perhaps it's knowing that you're standing somewhere recognised as having exceptional cultural or natural significance. Or perhaps it's simply the stories these places tell, stories of ancient civilisations, remarkable landscapes and the people who shaped them over centuries.

For walkers, UNESCO sites offer something even more rewarding. Exploring them on foot allows you to move beyond the guidebook highlights and experience the landscapes, history and atmosphere that make them so special. And this year, there's a new addition to celebrate.

The Royal Fortresses of Languedoc: UNESCO's newest addition

In July 2026, UNESCO added the Royal Fortresses of Languedoc to its World Heritage List, recognising a remarkable network of medieval fortifications across southern France. The inscription brings together the fortified city of Carcassonne and seven hilltop fortresses, including Peyrepertuse, Quéribus and Montségur, as a single defensive system dating back to the 13th century.

This is particularly exciting news for anyone who loves walking holidays. The rugged foothills of the French Pyrenees are already home to some of Europe's most dramatic fortified landscapes. Perched on rocky ridges and seemingly impossible peaks, these castles dominate the skyline and tell the story of a region shaped by conflict, power and the legacy of the Cathars.

Our Cathar Country holiday explores the heart of this remarkable landscape. Walking through vineyards, rolling hills and mountain scenery, you'll discover fortified villages, spectacular viewpoints and some of the most iconic castles in southern France. It's the sort of destination where every ridge seems to reveal another fortress in the distance, and where medieval history feels surprisingly close at hand.

The fortified city of Carcassonne itself has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997, but this latest recognition shines a spotlight on the wider network of fortresses that helped shape the region's history.

Hadrian's Wall, England

Stretching across northern England, Hadrian's Wall is one of Britain's most famous UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Built nearly 2,000 years ago on the orders of the Roman Emperor Hadrian, the wall once marked the north-west frontier of the Roman Empire. Today, it forms the backbone of one of the UK's most rewarding long-distance walking routes.

Our Hadrian's Wall National Trail holiday follows the line of the wall through rolling countryside, dramatic escarpments and some of England's most fascinating Roman sites. Along the way, you'll experience history on a truly remarkable scale, one footstep at a time.

The Dolomites, Italy

Some UNESCO sites impress because of their history. The Dolomites impress because they're simply breathtaking. Recognised by UNESCO for their outstanding natural beauty, these dramatic limestone peaks rise above alpine meadows, mountain villages and spectacular walking trails. They're among the most recognisable mountain landscapes in Europe and for good reason.

Our holidays in the Dolomites showcase the very best of this extraordinary region, where every day's walk delivers another unforgettable panorama.

Venice and its Lagoon, Italy

Few destinations are as instantly recognisable as Venice. Its canals, bridges and historic buildings have captivated travellers for centuries, earning the city and its lagoon UNESCO status in 1987. Yet exploring Venice on foot reveals a side of the city many visitors never experience.

Step away from the busiest streets and you'll discover hidden squares, quieter canals and pockets of local life that continue much as they have for generations. Our Venice Unmasked holiday helps uncover a different side of one of the world's most famous cities.

Petra, Jordan

Some places genuinely deserve their place on a bucket list, and Petra is undoubtedly one of them. Carved directly into rose-red sandstone cliffs more than 2,000 years ago, the ancient Nabataean city remains one of the most remarkable archaeological sites in the world. The journey through the narrow Siq before the Treasury finally comes into view is one of travel's most iconic experiences.

Exploring Petra on foot allows you to venture beyond the famous façade and discover monasteries, tombs and viewpoints that many visitors never reach.

Angkor, Cambodia

The temples of Angkor are among humanity's greatest achievements. Hidden amongst the forests of Cambodia for centuries, this vast archaeological complex combines extraordinary architecture, intricate carvings and a sense of scale that's difficult to comprehend until you're standing amongst it.

While Angkor Wat may be the most famous temple, the wider site contains hundreds of structures spread across a remarkable landscape of jungle, reservoirs and ancient roads.

Our Cambodia and Vietnam Adventure holiday provides the opportunity to experience one of Southeast Asia's most iconic UNESCO sites while gaining a deeper understanding of the culture and history that shaped it.

Why UNESCO sites are made for walking

UNESCO recognition often highlights places of exceptional beauty, cultural significance or historical importance. They're places worth travelling for. But they're also places worth slowing down for.

Walking encourages us to notice the details that might otherwise be missed: the texture of centuries-old stonework, the shape of a mountain ridge, the stories shared by local guides and the landscapes that connect these sites to their wider surroundings.

Whether you're exploring newly recognised fortresses in southern France, following the path of Roman soldiers along Hadrian's Wall or standing before the temples of Angkor, walking offers one of the most rewarding ways to experience the world's great heritage sites.

And as UNESCO's newest addition reminds us, there are always more stories waiting to be discovered.