Travel is adventure, and adventure is discovery. 

Each of the cities on this list were once thriving, bustling metropolises in their own time. But whether through political upheaval, war or natural disasters, they were abandoned by their citizens and left to the ravages of time. Reduced to whispered legends, they were eventually rediscovered by brave and canny explorers and now await your arrival. 

It's a breathtaking way to turn a trip into adventure travel, to step through the barrier or ages and into these ghostly lost cities. But as we said, travel is adventure.

Great Zimbabwe, Africa

From the appearance of its remarkable granite stone ruins, Great Zimbabwe was a city of great importance.  Its remains are scattered throughout three sections: the Hills Ruins, Great Enclosure and Valley Ruins, which paints a vivid picture of its early settlement by the Shona civilization.

First established in the 11^th century, Great Zimbabwe was a thriving site and dubbed the capital of the Kingdom of Zimbabwe by the era of the Stone Age. Even royalty acknowledged the significance of the city. Over time, with a population exceeding 10,000 people, food became scarce and it was abandoned around the 15^th century.

Today the three groups of archeological findings, perched on the hills of this UNESCO Heritage Site, is a constant reminder of the city that was built on the hopes of an ancient gold rush.

Petra, Jordan

Etched into pink and red sandstone, the "Rose City" of Petra glistens with an antiquity that begs to be discovered.  Its eloquent designs are carved into huge cliffs that pay tribute to the architectural advancements of the distant past. 

A visit to this acclaimed site yields rich rewards with a look into the past as temples, churches, as well as an array of emblematic architectural beauties appear like ghosts amid the rubble.  A vast system of dams and tunnels also creates an image of Petra as a vibrant spice trading center. 

Set amid the Dead and Red Sea, this major treasure of ancient Nabataea is visited by many people who have been drawn to the city since its rediscovery in 1812. You may have even recalled seeing Petra’s antique beauty in the last scene of the blockbuster Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

Memphis, Egypt

In this city of Memphis you won’t be singing the blues.  In fact you’ll be humming to a different tune once you see the archeological fragments laid out at the banks of the Nile. 

Established around 3000 BC, Memphis acted as Egypt’s capital as well as a hub that drove the bustling industries of trade and commerce. The pieces of the Hout-ka-Ptah stand as testimony of Memphis’ early civilization’s belief in Ptah and the Pharaohs that ruled the city. 

Here, images of Temple of Hathor, the Temple of Ptah of Rameses II and Temple of Ptah of Merneptah are all testimony of the great role that religion played. But time makes fools of us all, an eventually the city could not compete with the rise of nearby Alexandria. Now its ruins are a goldmine of exploration.

Troy, Turkey

There is something about the excavation of Troy causing it to become one of the richest lost treasures of the world. Believed to be a myth for centuries, the city was most famed for its role in Homer's Iliad. This put it at the unique crossroads of history and legend until its discovery in 1865.

But even as it passed out of the world of myth, Troy remained a legend in its own right, attracting more visitors than some destinations that are in existence today. In the face of its ruins, it is quite possible to imagine a thriving city that once held a queen captive. And if you can envision this, then it won’t be hard to retrace the steps of one of the world’s most infamous wars through the eyes of Troy’s demise.

Pompeii, Italy

Sparkling in the volcanic ashes of Mount Vesuvius, the history of Pompeii lives on to tell another story.  This once-busy town now sits in dead silence as its dusty roads lead visitors on a path through tragedy. 

In true Roman fashion, the city was decked out with colossal walls, brothels and even restaurants. Abundant water flowed through its veins, which made its fountains and baths local hangout spots. However, its well-developed landscape was no match for the wrath of Mount Vesuvius — which still declares its hold on the land through occasional steam blasts. So if you’re in the area make sure you learn from the city's fall and enter silently in hopes of not awakening the volcanic beast.

El Mirador, Guatemala

Once you enter the premises of this buried city, you may think you’ve encountered the remote home of Tarzan.  But beneath the lush trees that conceal this site from public view is the ancient capital of the Maya civilization.

El Mirador was once one of the largest cities to ever grace the region, but this might seem inconceivable because of the impenetrable surroundings.. 

Nonetheless, a visit along El Mirador’s off-the-beaten-path location is met with wonders of the pyramid of El Tigre as well as Temple IV at Tikal.  This pre-Colombian destination is more than an ancient city that lost its way. It is a glimpse into one of the world’s most mysterious societies, buried in the deep green of a jungle.

Mahendraparvata, Cambodia

Most of us have heard about or visited Angkor Wat, but until recently the idea of Mahendraparvata was merely a faint whisper. Sheltered by thick trees, the classic gem remained perched on the hills of the Phnom Kulen for centuries before a team of archeologists discovered its remains.

The city is more than 300 years older than Angkor Wat and remained a vibrant destination before it was out of sight. With more than 1,000 years in existence, an exploration of its ruins is matched with old and new surprises.  You may even hear the fain cries of its lost souls in the temple — but there’s only one way to find out.