The Holy Land was included among 25 destinations for a trip of a lifetime, including the northern lights, Galapagos Islands, Amazon, Taj Mahal, Grand Canyon, Antarctica and Great Wall of China. The name Israel, by the way, was not mentioned.
"When you see the faces of the faithful as they walk in groups along the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem, or approach the Wailing Wall, or see the Dome of the Rock for the first time, you know that for many people a trip to the Holy Land is a genuine trip of a lifetime," the newspaper explained its choice.
"Part of the reason for the Holy Land being so affecting is the spiritual predisposition of visitors; they come here to seek God, to feel blessed. But it’s also due to the many layers of architectural and archaeological heritage left by the civilizations that have held sway here, from the Canaanites, Egyptians, Assyrians and Babylonians to the Romans, Crusaders, Ottomans and imperial British."
The Telegraph's ultimate travel bucket list:
- See the northern lights
- Visit the Galapagos Islands
- Trek to Machu Picchu
- See New England in the fall
- Tour Patagonia
- Visit the Amazon
- Explore the temples of Angkor
- Witness the Serengeti's great migration
- Go whale watching
- Marvel at the Taj Mahal
- Visit the Grand Canyon
- Go on safari in the Okavango Delta
- Trek through the Himalayas
- Dive the Great Barrier Reef
- See the sun rise over Bagan
- Set foot on Antarctica
- Tour the temples and gardens of Kyoto
- Take a great American road trip
- Drive the Great Ocean Road
- 20. Walk the Great Wall of China
- Visit Easter Island
- Visit the Holy Land
- See the landscapes and wildlife of Namibia
- Take a trip to the Arctic
- Travel the Silk Road