Topdeck Travel Blog

3. See sunset at the Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon in Arizona, USA, is so colossal that it’s difficult to put into perspective. Try this – imagine gazing into the canyon to see four Empire State Buildings on top of one another. They still wouldn’t reach above the rim!

The Grand Canyon is the product of the Colorado River eroding its way through Arizona’s sedimentary rocks, exposing 2 billion years of geological history in the process. The stats are mind-boggling: 277 miles long, up to a mile deep, an average of 10 miles wide, not to mention one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

It has captivated visitors for centuries, from the local Pueblo Native American tribes who revere it as a holy place, to daredevils such as the late Evel Knievel who viewed it as a giant adventure playground.

Visitors have a few different options to take in its beauty; for adrenaline seekers, a helicopter flight reveals the majesty of Grand Canyon from the air, while for those who prefer keeping their feet on the ground, a hike below the rim escapes the crowds and unveils the canyon’s full range of climate zones.

And those who want the best of both can try the Skywalk, a hair-raising glass-bottomed walkway which extends out over the 4000ft abyss!

Standing on the edge of this gargantuan gorge at sunset is a particularly enchanting experience, as the surrounding landscape comes to life and glows in layers of fiery red. It’s a striking vision of America that seems somehow new and familiar at the same time.

But if you’re still having trouble picturing its scale, then here’s a fun fact to finish: it would take a herd of 1 million cows up to 200,000 years to fill the Grand Canyon with methane…

We’d love to see that happen, one way or an udder!

Topdeck Top Tip: Only 2% of visitors hike below the rim, so it’s a great way to avoid the crowds. However you should be aware of the change in climate – the canyon floor can be up to 7°C hotter than the rim in summer! Prepare accordingly and take lots of water with you.

Entertaining Grand Canyon media

• Amazing HD aerial footage of the Grand Canyon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4ZCdC3zJ4g
• Daredevil Travis Pastrana backflip a motocross bike into the Canyon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xllTd9xF7wg
• Images of the nerve-jangling Skywalk here: http://www.grandcanyonwest.com/skywalktour.php

2. Visit the Pyramids of Giza

The year is 1310 AD. Italian poet Dante has just completed The Divine Comedy. The University of Cambridge recently turned 100 years old. The Notre Dame cathedral in Paris is nearly finished, showcasing cutting-edge European architecture. But it’s not the tallest building in the world – not even close. So what is?

The Great Pyramid of Giza

For well over 3500 years the 146m high tomb of the ancient Egyptian Pharaoh Khufu held that title. It’s worth repeating – three thousand five hundred years! Think about it! Popes resign more frequently than that. It’s nearly as long as it feels like to sit through a Twilight movie.

This near-mythical structure is a bonafide jaw-dropper – of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the world, it is the only one which remains.

It sits on the Giza Plateau, adjacent to the Pyramids of Khafre and Menkaure and neighbouring Sphinx, while Cairo’s urban sprawl looms nearby creating a striking juxtaposition of ancient and modern Egypt.

The Pyramids are so vast that you can only discern their huge individual blocks up close – but even modern scholars have struggled to comprehend how the ancient Egyptians managed to build them given the technology at their disposal.

Theories and myths add a rich layer of intrigue to the Pyramids – did Napoleon Bonaparte have a vision of destiny in the King’s Chamber? Are they a reflection of the astronomical Belt of Orion? Were they built by aliens to cover a subterranean city of lizard creatures who will one day rise to become our reptilian overlords? Who knows…

What we do know is that the Great Pyramid and its illustrious siblings are among the most incredible sights in the world. Visit them, gaze at their majesty… and be sure get a photo of yourself ‘walking like an Egyptian’!

Topdeck Top Tip: To get the perfect photo of you kissing the Sphinx or placing a finger on top of a Pyramid, make sure you stay still and get your photographer to move until you’re lined up properly. It’s much easier!

Have you seen the Pyramids of Giza?
Share your favourite Pyramids of Giza or Egypt memories with us!

Did you know that in 2013 Topdeck celebrates its 40^th birthday? How time flies! Since our first trip in November 1973 we’ve spent four decades sharing incredible travel experiences all over the globe with our passengers.

In anticipation of our birthday we’re going to be featuring 40 of our favourite experiences over the next 40 weeks – a travel wish list that has proved virtually impossible to narrow down!

How many of them have you done? And how many would you love to do? Check in weekly to read about some of the most unforgettable travel moments on this amazing planet of ours, and perhaps get inspired for your next travel adventure!

Explore. Enjoy. Share the Experience with Topdeck.

1. See the Eiffel Tower sparkle

What’s the most recognisable landmark in the world? If you answered the Eiffel Tower, not many would disagree with you. This elegant behemoth is beloved by Parisians… but it wasn’t always so. Did you know that for a long time after its construction in 1889, the Eiffel Tower was widely despised by many locals?

Designed as an entrance arch to the 1889 World Expo, the tower was originally intended to be a 20-year temporary structure… but the time came and went while the tower remained standing. Over time even the notoriously picky Parisians grew to love it – as do its estimated 7 million visitors per year!

Already iconic, the Eiffel Tower became even more dazzling (literally) in the year 2000, when a flickering light display was installed for the millennium celebrations.

It went down so well that it has remained in place ever since and the tower performs a nightly spectacle on the stroke of each hour.

For around five minutes the Eiffel Tower glitters above the Parisian skyline, as though the world’s paparazzi have swarmed up to every possible vantage point and started photographing the stylish city on the Seine.

The Eiffel Tower has endured Parisian cynicism, thwarted the ambitions of Hitler, and even survived a sneaky bungy jump from a mulleted young Kiwi called AJ Hackett! It has cemented its place in the cast of the world’s great landmarks and firmly deserves a place on any travel wish list.

Topdeck Top Tip: For a great view watch the display from the Champs du Mars parade ground below the tower, where the symmetrical gardens and tree-lined walkways act as the perfect frame for one of the most eye-catching displays in Europe. What’s even better is that it’s completely free!

Check out AJ Hackett’s bungy jump here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAyA2dZn8Ns

Have you seen the Eiffel Tower sparkle?
Share your best Eiffel Tower pics and Topdeck memories with us!