Timeless Journeys: Travels to the World's Legendary Places

by National Geographic Society, Ford Cochran (Foreword)

From Machu Picchu to the Pyramids of Giza and beyond, this travel-lover's delight takes readers on a breathtaking visual journey to the world's most historic wonderlands. Pack your bags for an extraordinary adventure with National Geographic to more than 50 places that have captivated our imaginations for centuries. In this visually stunning volume, the world's leading authority on cultural travel and history showcases bucket-list-ready destinations on every continent, from Easter Island's haunting stone moai to Kyoto's breathtaking temples. Vintage photographs from the National Geographic archives tell the backstory of the discovery and earliest visitors to places like Carthage, Pompeii, Victoria Falls, and more, while showstopping contemporary photographs bring them to life in exquisite detail. Full-spread features highlight lesser-known hidden sites, such as Pompeii's better-preserved sister city Herculaneum and the less-visited Maya city El Mirador in Guatemala’s jungle, offer readers extraordinary opportunities to deepen their travel experience and discover places where the past can truly come to life. With practical travel tips to help readers get started planning their own legendary journey, this is the perfect gift to keep—or share.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction

577 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 24, 2017

About the author

The National Geographic Society (NGS), headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States, is one of the largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations in the world.
Founded in 1888, its interests include geography, archaeology, and natural science, the promotion of environmental and historical conservation, and the study of world culture and history. The National Geographic Society's logo is a yellow portrait frame—rectangular in shape—which appears on the margins surrounding the front covers of its magazines and as its television channel logo. Through National Geographic Partners (a joint venture with The Walt Disney Company), the Society operates the magazine, TV channels, a website, worldwide events, and other media operations.

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable. Great photography. The rational of why this place and not that place is "timeless" I found fairly perplexing and the decision process is not explained. Fun book to page through and make plans...

[Loren · Rating 3 out of 5]

The photos are lovely, as you would expect from the National Geographic, but the layout is weird. Two-page spreads often come several pages after the place they depict is described, well after the text has moved on to a new place. I'm not sure if it's a misprint or a design issue, but it's discombobulating.

Other strange choices made me question my knowledge of the world. I wouldn't have categorized Cappadocia or Petra as in Asia. I'm glad the Taj Mahal was represented in photos, if not in the text. I'm not sure why the Guiana Highlands were included at the loss of Tikal, or why Hobart, Tasmania was included instead of Mount Everest.

Still, as fodder for armchair travels, there is a lot to please the eye in this book.

[RumBelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love National Geographic books, first and foremost, for the photography. It is so stunning and amazingly beautiful, you wonder sometimes how they were able to capture such pictures. Second is the subject matter of the books, in this case legendary locales around the world. The text that accompanies the photos is always educational, entertaining and engaging. It draws you in, and keeps you interested.

This book, divided up by geographical location, visited many of the famous, and many less well known legendary locations throughout the world. The sections I loved best were the palaces in Europe, and Egypt. A thoroughly enjoyable journey.

[Laura Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not only worth the read, its worth going out of your way to find if you enjoy travel books and beautiful photography. It’s safe to say that I’m on a travel book kick now.

[Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the destinations introduced were new to me (ex. USA's Route 66 and the many stops on the way, including Oklahoma's Pop Soda Ranch). Hope to visit those in the future. I do wish there were more places shown for China aside from the Great Wall.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spectacular photos!

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book highlighted some really awesome places. It is a beautiful coffee table book that I would love to have. I have traveled all around the world, this can take you anywhere.

[Swan Bender · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic photographs and lovely information about places I have grown up hearing about and never getting around to seeing. I think my favorite photo was snow on the Great Wall of China.

[Diane B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Armchair travel! Beautiful photographs.

[Miss Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

More of a travel guide than photography book, but interesting. Nothing too in-depth, but if you are unfamiliar with a location it gives a solid overview.