Whether you’re a mythology buff looking to summon Zeus atop Mt. Olympus or want to follow in the footsteps of Indiana Jones, these real-life destinations are full of history, scenery, and lore.
Just don’t forget to brush up on your ancient mythology before you go.
Myth:
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Home of Zeus and the Ancient Greek gods, Mt Olympus has long been the armchair mythologist’s favorite destination. The region is also an ecologist's paradise, home to more than 1,500 plant species.
The highest peak on Olympus (there are more than 50!) is Mytikas, which reaches more than 9,500 feet in altitude and is a destination for hikers, backpackers, and die-hard fans of Greek mythology.
Along with being one of Greece’s most beautiful wilderness areas, Mt. Olympus was named Greece’s first national park in 1938, and a Unesco Biosphere Reserve in 1981.
Myth:
The best time to book a flight is Tuesday
Whether your interest stems from the DreamWorks movie or the history of the indigenous people of the Altiplano Cundiboyacense of Colombia, the myth of the “Golden Empire” remains an enticing story.
While the lore is a myth rooted in Spanish quests for gold, history mentions the nearby Lake Guatavita as the site of an ancient ritual in which leaders would drop jewels and gold into the water.
Today, Lake Guatavita, is a beautiful, if rarely noted, destination as tantalizing for modern travelers as explorers throughout history.
Myth:
Saturday night stopovers are required for lower fares
The second-highest mountain in Africa, Mount Kenya, has long been a sacred place to numerous tribes including the Kikuyu, Embu, Ameru, and Maasai.
The Kikuyu people believe it to be the place the god Ngai showed the first man, called Gikuyu, and first woman, called Mumbi, the land where they would live at the foot of Kirinyaga.
From his throne, Ngai watched as Gikuyu and Mumbi had nine daughters and populated what is today Kenya. Today Kirinyaga is preserved not only in folklore, but as Unesco World Heritage Site.
Visitors can view this former stratovolcano from the base, or try to summit its glaciated 17,057 foot (5,199 meter) peak. If you aren’t a skilled mountaineer, instead trek to Point Lenana.