Just outside the train station in the Swiss town of Sion, a yellow signpost points hikers in two main directions with no fewer than 16 routes to choose from. As you cross the medieval downtown, keeping the Valère Basilica and the Tourbillon Castle on the right, aim for the Valaisanne Brewery. If you can resist the brewery’s new tap room and its outdoor tables, be sure toduck as you scramble up a staircase and through the tunnel of holly and its busy bees and onto the Bisse de Clavau and 500 years of history. The Bisse de Clavau was built in 1453 to irrigate the terraced vineyards in the region, which is the driest and hottest in all of Switzerland. A bisse (rhymes with peace) is a narrow (two- to six-foot wide) canal that brings water from high-altitude rivers across mountains toirrigate pastures and vineyards. File video: Crash-proof Gimball drone explores ice cave (Reuters) From the 11th to the early 20th century, about 300 bisses (stretching about 1,200 miles in all) were dug by hand, primarily in the Valais Canton, which is bisected by the Rhone River Valley. Centuries ago workers dug up the channels, flinging the mud and debris next to the canals, thus forming a berm that was used as an elevated walkway. Thirsty walkers can find refreshment at one of the wine bars called guérites, stone outbuildings that vintners used to store tools and take shelter. Where: León, Nicaragua If snow-capped mountains or sun-lit beaches don't excite you, why not toboggan down the Cerro Negro volcano at speeds of up to 30 mph (48 kph)? The slopes of this relatively young volcano are made of small grains of black volcanic rock, making it perfect for surfing. Where: New Zealand If you’re not afraid of the dark, visit the Waipu and Waitomo Caves to witness the natural marvel of glowworms. With an elevation of 17,582 feet (5,359 meters), the pass is dotted with picturesque villages and offers a motorcycle riding experience like no other. It includes a lot of activities such as rock climbing, swimming and hiking, and promises a close encounter with Mother Nature. Where: Sydney, Australia Be it during the dawn or late during the sunset, the view from atop the iconic Harbour Bridge is never the same twice and manages to enthrall every single time. Where: Bolivia The Bolivian natural marvel, which is also the world’s largest salt flat, offers a surreal experience as the large, stable surface acts like a mirror, reflecting the sky above just like water in a lake. Where: Jerusalem, Israel Nearly 10 times as salty as the ocean, the Dead Sea has an incredibly high density, which makes it easy to swim or float. You can choose to pull out of the run anytime you want, just be sure to be quick enough to dodge the bulls when you rush towards the protective barriers on the side of the road. Where: Vatican City Located in the Apostolic Palace, the official residence of the Pope features the works of Renaissance masters such as Michelangelo, Sandro Botticelli and Raphael. Where: Across Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary Take in the serene beauty of the Danube river as you bike down well-laid paths. Where: Yosemite National Park, California, U.S. Known for its distinct shape, this granite dome is a popular destination among hiking enthusiasts. Extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine, it is one of the most challenging hiking trails in the world. Where: Maharashtra, India If ancient Hindu, Jain and Buddhist religious art and rock-cut architecture fascinate you, these UNESCO World Heritage caves should feature on your list. Marked as a UNESCO World Heritage Site today, the ancient city offers an insight into daily life during the Pax Romana. From exploring the historic amphitheater to checking out plaster casts of volcanic attack victims in situ, this one is a must for any enthusiast of ancient history. Where: Finland Vindelfjällen Nature Reserve is one of Europe’s largest protected areas and has a starkly beautiful landscape of mountains, plains and ancient forest. Where: Argentina and Chile Located at the southern end of South America, Patagonia comprises the Andes mountains as well as deserts, steppes and grasslands. While there, make sure to check out the southern right whale, the Magellanic penguin, the orca and elephant seals. Where: Agra, India This monument of love was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in the memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. Where: Thailand You may have seen adventurers like Bear Grylls survive on creepy crawlies on one of his TV shows and you may have wondered – do insects actually taste good? Where: Iceland Get transported to a surreal world where the clear night sky is lit up by a celestial ballet of different-hued lights — a natural phenomenon called Northern Lights or aurora borealis. Where: Tonga Every year, between July and October, humpback whales migrate from Antarctica to the South Pacific to give birth to their calves. Despite its roughness, it is home to a host of interesting animals and birds — budgerigars, cockatoos, corellas, galahs, kangaroos and dingoes. Where: Spanning through several Asian and European countries Undertake the journey of a lifetime by re-tracing the steps of the ancient Chinese silk traders, who carried expensive silk and other Oriental goods to the West via this route. Where: Dubai, UAE Burj Al Arab, the third tallest hotel in the world, is also home to one of the highest tennis courts in the world. It has hosted exhibition games between some of the biggest names in tennis, including Roger Federer and Andre Agassi. Where: U.S. Written about by luminaries such as John Steinbeck and Jack Kerouac, the great American road trip can be a transformative journey. Where: Passing through Russia, Mongolia, China, and North Korea The network of railways connects Moscow with the Russian Far East and the Sea of Japan. Where: Juneau, Alaska, U.S. About 13.6-miles long (21.8 km) and located in the Mendenhall Valley, trekking through the challenging glacier is the best way to experience its natural beauty. Originally constructed as a Hindu temple, it later became a Buddhist shrine. Where: Switzerland Those with a daring streak must try skydiving over the pristine town—enjoying the spectacular sights of the Swiss Alps and its surroundings while floating down to the ground. Where: Mexico Witness the annual migration of the great white sharks from the Arctic belt to the coastal lagoons of the southern Baja peninsula, from the safety of an underwater steel cage. Where: Ghana The Kakum National Park has a long series of hanging bridges known as the Canopy Walkway. Where: China Built along the historical northern borders of China to protect the Chinese empire against raids and invasions as early as the seventh century B.C., it is one of the seven wonders of the world. Where: Norway A fjord is a long, narrow inlet with steep sides or cliffs that is created by glacial erosion. Where: Wisconsin, U.S. Centuries of wave movement have sculpted breathtaking shorelines throughout the Apostle Islands in Lake Superior. Where: Buñol, Spain Held every year on the last Wednesday of August, it is described as the “world's biggest food fight,” where more than 100 metric tons of over-ripe tomatoes are squished and thrown at each other by revelers. Though they look like smaller versions of polar bears, they are actually a subspecies of the American black bear. Where: Wales For an adventure junkie, coasteering - a cross between swimming and rock climbing - at this dramatic coastline is a must. Where: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda Get ready for a humbling experience and meet these endangered primates in their natural abode. Though most prefer to drive across this iconic attraction, with the backdrop of San Francisco's beautiful skyline, cycling across it will give you a refreshing experience. Where: Croatia Surrounded by the mountains of Plješevica, Mala Kapela and Medveđak, the national park is home to 16 blue-green Plitvice Lakes that are known for their distinct colors, ranging from azure to green and blue. When: Greece You have to witness the sunset in Santorini, where the sky turns red and reflects off whitewashed houses. Where: Turkey Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Pamukkale—meaning cotton castles in Turkish—is home to natural infinity pools with terraces made of carbonate minerals left by flowing waters. Where: Istanbul, Turkey Book a ferry and sail across the Bosporus narrows, from the Asian shore to the European, and vice versa. While the ride takes only 20 minutes, it offers an excellent view of top Istanbul landmarks such as the Blue Mosque. Where: Arizona, U.S. Trek or just sit and enjoy the beauty of the steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River. Where: Japan From grand castles, shrines, gardens and wooden houses to kaiseki meals, kimonos and geishas – Kyoto has everything to entertain you. However, it is during the months of March and April the city really blooms, thanks to its exquisite cherry blossoms. Where: Iceland From naturally-warm, mineral-rich waters to white silica mud packs and a waterfall massage, the Blue Lagoon will surely take your spa experience to another level. Where: Turkey Fly in hot air balloons over a spectacular landscape that includes fairy chimneys, cave houses, orchards, vineyards and beautiful valleys with distinctive rock formations and rippled ravines. While in the country, add Ibo Island to your itinerary for delicious seafood, mangrove forests and a touch of ancient history. Where: Chile If horse rides thrill you, this trip on horseback across the beautiful mountains of the Andes, with glimpses of lakes and cascades, is a must. Where: Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, U.S. Watch 3,700 to 8,400 gallons (14,000 to 32,000 liters) of water erupting to a height of 106 to 185 feet (32 to 56 meters) from this cone geyser. Where: Ranthambore National Park, India Experience the thrill of watching a powerful Bengal tiger in the wild. While Stonehenge’s ring of standing stones are set within earthworks in the middle of the densest complex of Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments, no one really knows if it was a sun worship point, a calendar or a burial site. Where: New Zealand Bushwalk in Fiordland National Park and watch the time fly as you pass by lupines (a kind of flowering plant) of myriad colors. In September, the new 100 Swiss franc bill was introduced featuring an image of the suspended wooden bisse clinging to the overhanging rock face at Torrent-Croix. A bisse in the upper Valais, in the German-speaking part of the canton, inspired a theory on the shared management of scarce resources developed by Elinor Ostrom, the only woman to have won theNobel Prize for Economics. But when he pitched the idea to the local authorities, and 200 people filled the room, his vision started to take shape. Between 80,000 and 100,000 visitors make the trip every year, “but about 10 percent turn around when they see the first bridge,” Mr. Varone continued with a hint of a smile. Starting from the Sainte-Marguerite Chappelle where, from 1430 to 1935, workers would stop to pray en route to the Branlires precipice, visitors are immediately struck by the vertical landscape. The water for most of the next several miles was transported in chenaux, planks of larch wood forming a three-sided channel that was held up by two boutzets, or beams of larchwood. Every spring, 200 men, women and children from the town of Savièse would work for one month to repair and clean the bisse to get it ready for when the fields started to dry out. Mountain goats occasionally send rocks tumbling down the steep embankment, hurtling past the bisse and the wooden overhang protecting hikers. Léon Courtine, who worked on the bisse in the 1920s and ’30s, inaugurated the renovation in 2009, proclaiming: “Tant que l’eau coulera, l’homme vivra” — “For as long as water flows, man will live.” As they’ve known for centuries in the Valais, the opposite is true as well. Between the two, the Café des Bisses offers cuisine that is a big step up from typical mountain food, including a savory lamb burger. After lulling walkers into a daytime reverie, the path comes upon an art installation consisting of a giant wooden hand that captures the white water of the Dix-Huit Cascade before channeling it back into the bisse. A plaque beside it reads: “Water is only borrowed, by cascading into and out of this hand, water continues itsperpetual cycle.” A walk ending in wine Hiking is the most popular sport in Switzerland with 44.3 percent of the population having spent an average of 20 days on the trail in 2014. After a 15-minute scramble up a steep hiking trail, the Grand Bisse de Lens offers intrepid walkers another example of a successful rehabilitation effort. The Grand Bisse de Lens underwent major renovations in 2010 to improve safety and bring water back to a cliff- hanging section made irrelevant by a tunnel built in 1983. After the cliffs, it becomes a highly pleasant walk, complete with a covered picnic table, from which you can observe the “marteau avertisseur,” a water wheel turning a hammer that strikes a plank. The steady banging was like an alarm, letting the caretaker of the bisse know — from a substantial distance away — that the water flow was neither too fast nor too slow and that thebisse wasn’t clogged somewhere upstream. A rope bolted to the rock wall is all that separates walkers from plummeting or sliding hundreds of feet into the gorge. Weary hikers are rewarded several miles later at the Château de Vaas (circa the 12th century), which is one of the oldest houses still standing in Switzerland. The crispy flutes au fromage, cornalin red wine and Valaisan chiffonade (thin-sliced cold cuts)couldn’tcome at a better time. After these refreshments, there is a nearby bus stop or an easy 30-minute walk through the vineyards that take you to the valley floor, and — for betterorworse —civilization.
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