Time leaves footprints that are waiting to be followed, writes Miriam Kimvangu.
Petra, Jordan/Filippo Cesarini/Unsplash
Across the world, the remains of ancient civilisations endure as physical records of how societies once organised power, belief and daily life. Long before modern borders and tourism routes, these cities and ceremonial centres were shaped by trade, astronomy, religion and the demands of landscape. Today, they function as destinations because they continue to offer insight into the complexity of past worlds. Visiting them gives travellers and opportunity to understand how human civilisation has repeatedly risen, adapted and, in some cases, disappeared. Here are seven of many worth visiting for a trip into the past.
Machu Picchu, Peru
Machu Picchu/Willian Justen de Vasconcellos/Unsplash
High in the Andes, Machu Picchu stands as the most famous legacy of the Inca Empire. Built in the 15th century and abandoned within a century of its construction, the citadel escaped Spanish destruction and remained hidden until the early 20th century. Its precise stonework, agricultural terraces and astronomical alignments reflect an advanced understanding of engineering and ecology. Today, visitors reach Machu Picchu by train or on foot via the Inca Trail, experiencing both the cultural significance of the site and the dramatic mountain landscape that protected it for generations.
Chichén Itzá, Mexico
Chichén Itzá/Christina Abken/Unsplash
Once a major political and ceremonial centre of the Maya civilisation, Chichén Itzá flourished between the 9th and 12th centuries. The site is best known for El Castillo, a stepped pyramid aligned with the solar calendar. During the equinoxes, shadows create the illusion of a serpent descending the staircase, a tribute to the feathered serpent deity Kukulkan. Beyond the pyramid, ball courts, temples and observatories reveal a society deeply invested in astronomy, mathematics and ritual. Chichén Itzá remains one of Mexico’s most visited archaeological sites and a key introduction to Mesoamerican history.
ALSO READ: African cities that come alive after sunset
Angkor, Cambodia
Angkor Wat/allPhoto Bangkok/Unsplash
The Angkor complex was once the heart of the Khmer Empire, which dominated much of Southeast Asia from the 9th to the 15th centuries. Angkor Wat, originally a Hindu temple later adapted for Buddhist worship, is the most iconic structure, but the wider archaeological park covers hundreds of square kilometres. Reservoirs, canals and causeways show how water management sustained a vast urban population. Today, travellers explore Angkor by bicycle or tuk tuk, moving between temples reclaimed by jungle and restored monuments that illustrate the empire’s architectural ambition.
Great Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe
Great Zimbabwe ruins/Janice Bell/Wikimedia Commons
Southern Africa’s most significant archaeological site, Great Zimbabwe was the capital of a powerful trading kingdom between the 11th and 15th centuries. Built without mortar, its granite walls and towers stand as evidence of skilled craftsmanship and social organisation. The city was a hub in Indian Ocean trade networks, exporting gold and cattle in exchange for goods from as far as China and the Middle East. Visiting Great Zimbabwe offers insight into indigenous African civilisations that were once dismissed or misunderstood, making it a vital destination for regional and global history.
Petra, Jordan
Petra, Jordan/Alex Vasey/Unsplash
Carved into rose-coloured sandstone cliffs, Petra was the capital of the Nabataean kingdom and a vital stop on ancient trade routes linking Arabia, Africa and the Mediterranean. Its architecture blends Hellenistic influence with local tradition, while an advanced water management system allowed the city to thrive in a desert environment. Entering Petra through the narrow Siq before emerging at the Treasury remains one of travel’s most dramatic reveals. Today, the site balances mass tourism with conservation efforts aimed at preserving its fragile stone facades.
ALSO READ: 6 border regions to visit that redefine adventure
Pompeii and Herculaneum, Italy
Pompeii/Nick Night/Unsplash
In 79 AD, Mount Vesuvius erupted, burying the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum under ash and volcanic debris. Unlike many ancient sites, these towns preserve everyday life in remarkable detail. Streets, homes, bakeries and bathhouses reveal how ordinary Romans lived, worked and socialised. Pompeii offers scale and breadth, while Herculaneum provides more intimate glimpses, including multi-storey buildings and wooden structures preserved by heat. Together, they form one of the most compelling archaeological experiences in Europe.
Meroë, Sudan
Meroë/Frehiwot Teklemedhin/Unsplash
Once the royal centre of the Kingdom of Kush, Meroë lies along the Nile and is marked by more than 200 pyramids. These structures, smaller and steeper than those in Egypt, served as burial sites for Kushite kings and queens between 300 BC and 300 AD. Meroë reflects a civilisation that blended African traditions with Egyptian influence while maintaining its own political power. Though less visited than other ancient sites, it offers travellers a quieter, more reflective experience and a deeper understanding of Nubian history.
These ancient civilisations are embedded within modern nations, living communities and ongoing debates about ownership, representation and stewardship. For much of their modern history, many of these sites were interpreted through colonial frameworks that prioritised external discovery over local knowledge. Today, that narrative is slowly shifting. Archaeology, conservation and tourism increasingly recognise the role of descendant communities and local custodians who have long understood these landscapes as part of their cultural inheritance. Visiting these places is acknowledgement of who tells their stories, who protects them and whose histories have endured despite disruption. In this way, ancient sites become spaces not only of memory, but of continuity and reclamation.
Follow us on social media for more travel news, inspiration, and guides. You can also tag us to be featured.
TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
ALSO READ: A design lover’s guide to Johannesburg’s architectural landmarks
