As much as we try to stay “off-the-beaten-path” in our travels, certain famous attractions and world wonders make their way into our itineraries. And with good reason! Places such as Machu Picchu and Angkor Wat are just as awe-inspiring and worth experiencing as they are hyped up to be. Here are a few pointers to get the most out of the “touristy” parts of your trip.

Employ the services of a local guide
A day I spent visiting temples in Ladakh was entirely unique and special because of my guide, Lama Padma. He shared stories about his personal experiences in the temple, showed me his favorite shrines, and led me into dusty alcoves and hidden passages I would not otherwise have found. Hiring local guides is a win/win: you support the community and gain an insider’s perspective.

Tip: Rather than hiring a guide outside a big attraction when you arrive, ask around town the day before for recommendations at local shops or guesthouses.

Tweak the timing of your visit to experience it in a slightly different way
With every world-class destination, there are peak seasons and peak times. Find out what those are and try to work around them. Going early in the morning or later after tour buses have pulled away can often create a quiet pocket of time, even at the busiest of places. I remember creeping into the ruins of Angkor Wat in Cambodia and quietly exploring as the first rays of morning light began to seep in. While a throng of thousands sat on the grass outside to watch the spectacular sunrise, my partner and I felt as though we had the place to ourselves!

Tip: Visiting international attractions during festival times or pilgrimages can be especially festive and fun – just prepare yourself for the largest of crowds!

Come prepared!
A long day at one of the wonders of the world can be epically taxing. Be sure you plan for the elements and bring layers of gear to get you through the hottest, coolest and wettest weather possibilities. As always, it’s essential to stay hydrated and if you are allowed, it’s highly recommended you pack your own food for the day. Food at major attractions tends to be overpriced and, let’s face it, not so good. Last fall, the outrageously priced lunch I had at the cafeteria at Machu Picchu was the only place I got food poisoning.

Tip: Coming prepared also means keeping your wits about you – pick-pocketing and petty crimes are exponentially higher at tourist destinations.

Do your homework
Places like the Great Wall, the Pyramids and the Grand Canyon are world-famous attractions for a reason. Take some time to learn about their histories and understand why these places are of such importance. Understanding the greater context of what you are seeing and how it relates to the country you are in will only add to the overall impact.

Tip: The effervescent Rick Steves gets so fired up about history in his series, Europe Through the Back Door, that it highly contagious. Be sure to also check out the The Traveller’s History Books Series, which is designed for travelers seeking greater historical context in their journey.

Respect the masses and appreciate the shared experience
People like you and I spent their childhoods dreaming about the day they would gaze upon Paris from the Eiffel Tower. But the truth is that we’ll never have serene solitude of a beret-wearing violinist and a sexy French lover whispering in our ear when we do finally step out on the viewing deck: it will be a chaotic mass of strollers, cameras, cranky cries and lots of waiting in line. Try to have a sense of humor about it all and enjoy the idea that you are standing at a cultural crossroads at this moment, drinking in an amazing place with several thousand strangers.

Blinded by the bling? Click here to read about getting beyond the big tourist attractions and creating your own “off-the-beaten-path” itinerary.

Angkor Sunrise photo: Chi King
Crowd photo: Ragesh Vasudevan
Eiffel Tower photo: Vincent Teeuwen

If you have the good fortune to travel in a country with a thriving Buddhist community, by all means – spend some time in the wats (temples)! They are the epicenters of many Asian communities; the lives of young and old revolve around temple life, and it is a profound way to connect with true local culture.

Luckily for us westerners, travelers are welcomed into Buddhist temples to simply observe, to meditate or to participate in rituals and offerings.

For the responsible traveler, there are a few things to consider when visiting a Buddhist temple:

It is extremely important that you dress respectfully. Short-sleeved shirts and tank tops are not acceptable for men or women to wear. Likewise, both sexes should plan to cover their legs. Some wats will have sarongs on hand for this purpose, but its best to plan ahead and come prepared. Shoes are left outside the temple; this will be hard to forget when you approach the large mass of shoes outside.

Observe local customs when interacting with a monk, nun or holy person. In most Asian countries, it is disrespectful for a woman to touch, be touched by or sit next to a monk. She must also not hand him anything directly. (Instead she should place it within his reach.) A good guidebook will outline the particular customs of the Buddhists in a given country.

Consider your comportment – whenever you are inside a Buddhist temple or at a holy site, you should be calm and respectful, although not altogether quiet. Actually, one aspect I love is the low buzz of noise at an active wat –  the air is filled with prayers, gongs, recitations, and bells. Buddhist statues and images are considered sacred, so do not pose in front of, lean against or crawl on them.  Also take care to be sure your feet are never pointing directly at a Buddha or relic when sitting or kneeling.

You may observe (and even choose to participate in) rituals and offerings at a wat. Temple-goers around you may be bowing, chanting, processing, lighting incense, or engaging in a host of other activities that you may not understand. The beauty of sitting in a Buddhist temple is that you can take it all in, and even find your own spiritual connection to the moment. Small monetary contributions are welcome, as are offerings of food and supplies to the temple’s monks, nuns and lamas. Asian families regularly bring offerings to temples to support of their religious community and gain religious merit for this life and the next.

Be sure to visit Delicious Baby for your Friday photo fix!

The recent flooding in Peru’s Sacred Valley shut off access to the famous ruins of Machu Picchu and left some tourists stranded and scrambling. Machu Picchu is the mega-star of Peru, drawing more than half a million people a year to its precipitous cliffs, and at times perhaps outshining the myriad other wonders that Peru has to offer.

Articles and posts have been popping up like mushrooms after the rain, pointing out all the possible “alternatives” to visiting Machu Picchu. (The knkexplore blog’s “Peru: Beyond Machu Picchu” is a good starting point). Even the national tourism agency has launched the “Meet Peru Now” campaign to promote alternative tourist destinations within the country.

While big tourist attractions are certainly part of the draw even for responsible tourists, it can become limiting and even frustrating when your itinerary revolves around them. That said, it’s very easy to tweak your mindset and make your trip less attraction-oriented.

Avoid the laundry list. Your sketched-out trip itinerary should not read like a play-by-play out of a Frommers guide. Let go of the antiquated idea that a vacation is all about coming back with all the requisite photos, and a lengthy list of “been there’s, done that’s”. Think in terms of experiences rather than places and things.

Back away from the guidebook. Leave some days in your itinerary for doing nothing but exploring, with no set plans. Unexpected encounters and fascinating places will present themselves, guaranteed. Linger at a local watering hole, or browse the stalls at local markets and take it all in. Or try weaving a few highlights you’ve read about ahead of time into a larger day of wandering and allowing things to unfold. Once you’ve eschewed the Tourist Checklist, your days will become organic spontaneous delights.

Find the local version of Machu Picchu. Every region or town has its own local pride, whether it be a historic site, a type of art, a culinary specialty or a craft museum, that they want to show off. Ask the locals what’s not to be missed in their village or neighborhood. Better yet, ask them to bring you there and show you. As a traveler, showing interest in the micro-cultures and communities of a country is a crucial part of sustaining fading traditions.

Think about what you are trying to capture. As a young woman on my first trip to Paris, I knew that I wanted to experience the literary, artistic and philosophical tradition of that storied city. A visit to the café Deux Magots, primary stomping grounds for Picasso, Hemmingway and others, did little to satisfy. The drinks were overpriced and the tables were packed like sardines with tourists, not scruffy writers scribbling in notepads.

It was in a non-descript (and non-historically significant) café around the corner from my budget hotel, however, that I looked up over a steaming bowl of onion soup one day and saw that I was surrounded by French people, talking and laughing and arguing and dreaming. A dog sat on it’s owner’s lap and drank from a porcelain bowl on the table. My waiter begrudgingly allowed my broken French when trying to ask for the bill. Lovers cuddled and old men huddled in heated conversation. That’s what I had been looking to touch somehow.

Machu Picchu doorway photo by Latin America for Less
Teacup photo: saxon