Discover UNESCO World Treasures

Scuba, hike, explore, ponder and support World Heritage sites with these Four Seasons hotels and resorts at the centre of your expedition.

Aug 22, 2011

By: Callie Young

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Area de Conservación Guanacaste in Costa Rica

Vallée Mai Nature Preserve on Praslin Island

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Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru: Long known as a scuba diving paradise and an eco-haven for endangered sea creatures, Baa Atoll was recently named a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. At Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru, located in the Baa Atoll, guests can join in conservation programmes such as the Manta Ray Project and Marine Discovery Centre.

Photography courtesy Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts

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Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou at West Lake: With its historic temples and famously picturesque landscape, the West Lake Cultural Landscape of Hangzhou has inspired poets, artists, explorers and countless visitors to the region. West Lake was recently named a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Photography courtesy Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts

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Four Seasons Hotel Amman: Also new to the UNESCO World Heritage site list is the Wadi Rum Protected Area in Jordan. Four Seasons Hotel Amman guests are easily drawn to the Wadi Rum's rugged landscape, hidden caverns with intriguing petroglyphs and archaeological remains.

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Four Seasons Resort Langkawi: Langkawi's World Geopark, a biological preserve supported by UNESCO, is the only one of its kind in Southeast Asia. From Four Seasons Resort Langkawi, explore the island's amazing geological formations and ecological sites, some dating back an estimated 550 million years.

Photography courtesy Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts

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Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo: The Area de Conservación Guanacaste in northwestern Costa Rica is a UNESCO World Heritage site and home to several rare or endangered animal and plant species. Stay at Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo and you'll have the opportunity to take part in preservation activities or assist local communities.

Photography courtesy Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts

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Four Seasons Resort Seychelles: From Four Seasons Seychelles take a short flight to the island of Praslin and the Vallée Mai Nature Preserve. The 650 million-year-old virgin palm forest that takes up the island is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Photography Thinkstock

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Cultural Capitals: Many Four Seasons destinations are close to fascinating natural and architectural wonders deemed culturally significant by UNESCO. Take, for instance, the Walled City of Baku, near the soon-to-open Four Seasons Hotel Baku in Azerbaijan: structures that reflect Arabic, Ottoman, Persian and Russian influences date as far back as the sixth and seventh centuries BC.

Photography Thinkstock

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Portugal and Beyond: Vestiges of Portugal's 15th-century maritime dominion can be seen in UNESCO World Heritage sites as varied as Colonia del Sacramento, near Four Seasons Resort Carmelo, Uruguay, and in Macau and around the Four Seasons Hotel Macao, Cotai Strip®. In Lisbon, venture from Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon to explore the Tower of Bélem (pictured) and the Monastery of the Hieronymites.

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Old World Europe: Rich with historic and cultural sights, the cities of London, Paris and Prague are UNESCO World Heritage sites. Let the Concierge teams at Four Seasons Hotel George V, Four Seasons Hotel Prague and the new Four Seasons Hotel Park Lane in London guide you on the perfect itinerary in which to explore landmarks, such as Prague's Charles Bridge (pictured) or Westminster Abbey in London.

Photography courtesy Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts

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Southeast Asia and Beyond: Several other destinations recognised by UNESCO and close to Four Seasons are: the Siamese capital of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, just an hour from Four Seasons Hotel BangkokS; the modern marvel that is the Sydney Opera House (pictured), near Four Seasons Hotel Sydney; and Mexico City's historic centre, which you can explore from Four Seasons Hotel México City, D.F.

Photography courtesy Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts

Concierge Recommends Tips

Sydney

World Cuisine

The Sydney Fish Market has everything from off-the-boat fresh sushi to wharf-side dining and more. The Rocks Foodies Market on Fridays and The Rocks Markets on weekends are a melting pot of food, fashion and fun.

See all Sydney recommendations

Sydney

Surf's Up

Sydney is spoilt with nearly 40 beaches and beach towns. The most famous is Bondi. Its highly regarded Let’s Go Surfing school caters to visitors and offers a Bondi Surf Experience Taste Test for surf novices.

See all Sydney recommendations

Seychelles

The Seychellois Life

On Saturday evenings, the Resort's Kannel comes alive with a Creole barbecue buffet featuring local dishes like grilled asparagus with mixed bean salad, a grilled octopus skewer with sweet chilli glaze, Creole-style reef fish, and more.

See all Seychelles recommendations

Carmelo

Horsing Around

Saddle up a criollo steed to go horseback riding through the rolling grasslands that surround the Resort’s lakeside golf course.

See all Carmelo recommendations

Sydney
World Cuisine
View Tip Sydney
Surf's Up
View Tip Seychelles
The Seychellois Life
View Tip Carmelo
Horsing Around
View Tip

UNESCO World Heritage sites are areas considered to have outstanding universal value. Take an eco-escape with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and explore some of these amazing and enduring cultural and environmental landmarks in Asia and the Pacific, the Middle East and South America.

Discover UNESCO World Treasures