This tiered waterfall is so pretty it may cause visitors to cry tears of their own.

A city built from mud and known as the "Manhattan of the desert."

The most alien-looking place on Earth.

A preposterously luxurious hotel with gold-plated iPads, Rolls Royce chauffeurs, and a staff that trains by watching "Downton Abbey."

Planned as the world’s first zero-carbon city, it had lofty ideals—but is only 5 percent completed and aiming for 50 percent carbon-neutral.

Billed as the "largest natural flower garden in the world" this Middle Eastern show field has little competition at 45 million flowers.

A mysterious ancient cemetery with Roman sarcophagi and Lycian inscriptions.

The alleged house of the Virgin Mary is tucked away in a park and nature preserve on Mt. Koressos in Turkey and is holy to both Catholics and Muslims alike.

Live a night as a Byzantine King, with a minibar and private jacuzzi.

A Lycian city of the dead carved into the hillside of Southern Turkey, complete with startlingly human touches.

A marvel of Byzantine engineering under the streets of Istanbul.

Roman ruins top white travertine terraces formed by ancient hot springs.

In this historic region, homes and churches are carved into ancient volcanic rock formations.

Ruins of the Crusaders' headquarters.

Mysterious lost empire of the Silk Road.

Site where Moses may have received the Ten Commandments.

This remote British Imperial telegraph relay outpost drove men insane.

An imposing Omani fortress surrounded by date palm trees.

Mummies preserved naturally for seven centuries.

After this one-of-a-kind palace was built the architect's hands are said to have been cut off to keep it that way.

An ancient capital city that dates back 3,000 years old and harbors many surprises.

Take respite inside this jaw-dropping church while climbing the volcano where Georgia's Prometheus was once chained.

A literally moving statue of stacked metal giants just continually trying (and failing) to find love.

The first skyscraper to include a Ferris wheel built into the facade.