Michael Turtle

Member since May 2015

#104 373 35 11
I'm a travel journalist and blogger who started counting World Heritage Sites in 2011. Often I try to visit the sites as part of other trips - although sometimes I will go to a country just with the mission to see as many as possible.

My most impressive site: Iguazu

My proposal for a new site: Bagan, Myanmar

Recent Visits
  • 5
    0
    July 4, 2025
    Gobustan Rock Art, Monastery of Geghard, Mtskheta, Sheki, Walled City of Baku
  • 7
    0
    March 20, 2025
    Agra Fort, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Hill Forts of Rajasthan, Humayun's Tomb, Jaipur City, Rajasthan ...
  • 2
    0
    Feb. 1, 2025
    Plain of Jars, Vat Phou
Top 10 Missing
  1. Galapagos Islands 4.60
  2. Yellowstone 4.49
  3. Rapa Nui 4.49
  4. Victoria Falls 4.48
  5. Grand Canyon 4.41
  6. Serengeti 4.41
  7. Granada 4.39
  8. Persepolis 4.37
  9. Ngorongoro 4.36
  10. Old City of Jerusalem 4.36
Completed Countries

About Michael Turtle

Member since
May 2015
Country of Origin
None
Visits
Rank
#104
WHS
373
Tentative Sites
35
Website Participation
Reviews
136
Ratings
23 0
Locations
0
Zones
0
Reserved for members.

Reviews by Michael Turtle

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Rio de Janeiro by Michael Turtle

Rio de Janeiro (Inscribed)

Rio de Janeiro

The issue I have with this site is that it's never really clear when you're actually in a World Heritage area - the designated spots are not distinct enough from …

Keep reading Michael T… 06/11/16
Yosemite National Park by Michael Turtle

Yosemite National Park (Inscribed)

Yosemite National Park

An incredible park - one of the best in the US. However, it is super busy in summer and holiday periods and that definitely takes away from the enjoyment. I …

Keep reading Michael T… 06/11/16
Great Wall by Michael Turtle

Great Wall (Inscribed)

Great Wall

The Great Wall of China is obviously one of the most impressive landmarks ever built by man. But there are lots of ways to visit it and the quality of …

Keep reading Michael T… 06/11/16
Temple of Heaven by Michael Turtle

Temple of Heaven (Inscribed)

Temple of Heaven

If you're visiting the temple, make sure you give yourself enough time to explore the park around it - particularly if you can make it there early in the morning …

Keep reading Michael T… 06/11/16
Colonia del Sacramento by Michael Turtle

Colonia del Sacramento (Inscribed)

Colonia del Sacramento

I am a bit torn about my view on the town. It is quaint and cute but I also found it a little boring. Maybe I was missing something but …

Keep reading Michael T… 06/11/16
Flemish Béguinages by Michael Turtle

Flemish Béguinages (Inscribed)

Flemish Béguinages

Honestly, I thought this (multi property) site would be a bit boring but I actually really enjoyed visiting a few of the places included in the listing. Not only do …

Keep reading Michael T… 18/03/16
Royal Exhibition Building by Michael Turtle

Royal Exhibition Building (Inscribed)

Royal Exhibition Building

This is an incredible building and I'm surprised it's not a more popular tourist attraction in Melbourne. Perhaps it doesn't market itself that well. It was used for several very …

Keep reading Michael T… 18/03/16
Hoi An by Michael Turtle

Hoi An (Inscribed)

Hoi An

I have mixed feelings about Hoi An.It is a beautiful place - a charming little historic town that is completely authentic and has mainly the original buildings from when it …

Keep reading Michael T… 18/03/16
My Son by Michael Turtle

My Son (Inscribed)

My Son

The site has been (generally) well preserved and you can get a really good sense of the ancient city that used to be here. Although it is easily accessible from …

Keep reading Michael T… 18/03/16
Hué by Michael Turtle

Hué (Inscribed)

Hué

The Imperial City is the main attraction of Hue and one of the few sights that you would see when you come to the city. Luckily, it's an impressive World …

Keep reading Michael T… 18/03/16
Qhapaq Ñan by Michael Turtle

Qhapaq Ñan (Inscribed)

Qhapaq Ñan

This is a strange site to visit - how do you determine whether you have 'seen' it, when it's made up of thousands of kilometres of track all across the …

Keep reading Michael T… 05/03/16
Lima by Michael Turtle

Lima (Inscribed)

Lima

I was surprised to bump into quite a few tourists in Lima who couldn't be bothered to go to the historic part of the city - they thought it would …

Keep reading Michael T… 05/03/16
Arequipa by Michael Turtle

Arequipa (Inscribed)

Arequipa

I didn't know much about Arequipa before going to Peru - even though it's the country's second largest city. In the end, it was a really pleasant surprise. I loved …

Keep reading Michael T… 05/03/16
Regensburg by Michael Turtle

Regensburg (Inscribed)

Regensburg

To get the most out of a visit to Regensburg, the best thing to do is just walk through its streets. Even the buildings of no particular note that line …

Keep reading Michael T… 26/02/16
Maulbronn Monastery by Michael Turtle

Maulbronn Monastery (Inscribed)

Maulbronn Monastery

The complex is not particularly large in terms of area but it is big enough that some of the buildings within the complex are now part of the town and …

Keep reading Michael T… 26/02/16
Prehistoric Pile Dwellings by Michael Turtle

Prehistoric Pile Dwellings (Inscribed)

Prehistoric Pile Dwellings

On the edge of Lake Constance, in the town of Unteruhldingen, experts have reconstructed a small community of these ancient pile dwellings. Although it is artificial in the sense that …

Keep reading Michael T… 26/02/16
Pilgrimage Church of Wies by Michael Turtle

Pilgrimage Church of Wies (Inscribed)

Pilgrimage Church of Wies

The closest main tourist town to the site is Füssen and most visitors will set out from there to visit the church. There are a lot of other interesting places …

Keep reading Michael T… 26/02/16
Shirakawa-go and Gokayama by Michael Turtle

Shirakawa-go and Gokayama (Inscribed)

Shirakawa-go and Gokayama

I loved Shirakawa-go and had a good length of time to explore it. Many people come in just for the day and walk around and go to the shops. I …

Keep reading Michael T… 26/02/16
Wadden Sea by Michael Turtle

Wadden Sea (Inscribed)

Wadden Sea

I spent some time exploring the German part of this WHS, particularly around the coastal town of Norden, which has good access to mudflats which you can go out and …

Keep reading Michael T… 02/02/16
Bauhaus Sites by Michael Turtle

Bauhaus Sites (Inscribed)

Bauhaus Sites

To see all of the Bauhaus buildings included in the World Heritage Site, you’ll need to visit two German cities – Weimar and Dessau, which are about 150 kilometres apart.

…

Keep reading Michael T… 02/02/16
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