Stairways get a bad rap. They are associated with toddler accidents, high school gym class and failed New Year’s Resolutions. Why not give stairs a chance? You’d be amazed what awaits at the top of some of the longest stairs.
Here’s our list of 10 Stairways Worth the Climb
Batu Caves, Malaysia
Guarded by a 140-foot concrete, gold-painted statue of the Hindu Lord Murugan, the Batu Caves attract history buffs and religious tourists. The prime attraction, Temple Cave, lies atop a steep 272-step stairway. Ornate Hindu shrines polka dot the area. For a difference experience, take a detour at step 204 for a guided tour of Dark Cave, a 100-million-year-old limestone cave home to millions of bats and creepy creatures that live off bat poop.
But if most people come once for the statues and shrines, most people come twice for the monkeys. The devious macaques throw coconut shells at sweaty tourists and snatch their unprotected snacks and water bottles.
Want serenity? Arrive before 10 a.m. via the KTM Kommuter train from Kuala Lumpur Sentral. Otherwise, be prepared for tourists and monkeys – and be able to distinguish between the two.
Temple of the Moon, Machu Picchu, Peru
Those afraid of stars, that is, those suffering from bathmophobia, ought not to attempt the exposed, slippery, 600-foot hike to the Temple of the Moon at Machu Picchu. The Temple of the Moon is accessible via the Gran Caverna path, an original Incan pathway of stairs carved into a mountainside. Hiking down to the Temple is easy. Going back, navigating the slippery stairs, surrounded by clouds, at one point climbing a wooden ladder, requires about 1.5 hours and a half-gallon of water.
Jiankou, Great Wall of China
Fun fact: In 2010, Chinese scientists at Zhejiang University discovered that a secret to the longevity of the Great Wall of China was sticky rice mortar. Rice, when combined with slaked lime and limestone, creates a special organic composite material – and that’s about as far we read, too.
For a more up-close-and-personal experience of the Great Wall, bring a DSLR camera and rugged boots to the 12.5-mile Jiankou section of the Great Wall. Built along a mountain ridge, home of the famous 80-degree Sky Stairs, the Jiankou stretch is for experienced hikers only. Bring a water-resistant jacket.
Tian Tan Buddah, Lantau Island, Hong Kong
Western travelers dismounting a NLB Bus or Ngong Ping 360 cable car are often surprised that the megalithic bronze Tian Tan Buddha statue, nicknamed the “Big Buddha,” is not fat. This is because there are two types of Buddhas: one modeled after a corpulent monk named Hotei, the “Laughing Buddha,” and another modeled after Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism.
Visitors can ponder all this and more as they surmount the 268 steps to the base of the Big Buddha. Below him are three floors: The Hall of Universe, The Hall of Benevolent Merit, and The Hall of Remembrance. With the purchase of admission to these Halls comes a free snack at the Po Lin Monastery Vegetarian Restaurant.
P.S. Are you stairway-challenged? Ask staff members about the small, paved handicapped-accessible road that bypasses the climb.
El Pailón del Diablo, Ecuador
Reminiscent of the Ancestral Puebloans who chiseled handholds into rocks as entryways to their shaded cave dwellings, the rock pathway leading to El Pailón del Diablo, the Devil’s Cauldron, look like some larger-than-life design of Dr. Seuss. Tourists can either cross a suspension bridge to access the top of the cascades, or descend a 0.6-mile slippery stone pathway that wriggles behind the falls and within an arm’s reach of the violent cascades. Seal electronics in waterproof bags, bring a walking stick, pay a few dollars for entry, and look for a double rainbow.
Half-Dome, Yosemite National Park, California
If a 14-mile round-trip hike up an 8,800-foot mountain along dirt paths, granite stairs and swinging cables sounds fun, then we present: Half-Dome. The lucky 300-or-so hikers per day who receive permits should expect a 10-12 hour hike, more than 400 rock steps, and a spine-chilling cable climb up the summit. You’ll see Yosemite at its best and yourself at your worst.
San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, Spain
Unlike other stairways on this list, the path across the beautiful cone-shaped island of San Juan de Gatzelugatxe is relatively safe. Thick, handcrafted stone walls border an ancient pathway of 241 steps that leads to a secluded hermitage atop the island, a hermitage possibly built by the Knights Templar. After completing the 40-minute hike, visitors, by tradition, must ring the bell of the church thrice and make a wish.
The only confirmed death from falling on the island occurred in 1593, when Francis Drake, who was considered a politician in England and a pirate to Spain – something like today’s Republicans and Democrats – sacked the monastery and threw the caretaker off the cliff into the drink.
Lempuyang Temple, Bali
They call it the Temple of 1,000 Steps. In reality, the two-hour hike to the top traverses about 1,700 steps. Off the beaten path, usually empty of straw hat tourists, Lempuyang Temple is the crown jewel of Mount Lempuyang and offers panoramic views of East Bali non pareil. A guide is a must. A sarong is required. En route to Pura Lempuyang along the stairway are six other Hindu temples and hordes of monkeys. Be careful; the monkeys bite.
Odeon of Herodes Atticus, Athens, Greece
When empty, the pentelic marble steps of the Greek theater loom large and empty, a stone crop circle shaped like Pac-Man. When full, the amphitheater hosts 5,000 people and doesn’t look much different from 200 A.D. when Athenian magnates also used it for music concerts. Experienced travelers recommend visiting the Odeon in the afternoon whilst other crowds swarm the nearby Acropolis. Reserve tickets for a show because (forgive the pun) the acoustics “rock.”
Pyramid of the Moon, Teotihuacan, Mexico
Fun fact: the Americas have more pyramids from antiquity than the rest of the world combined, and that includes the famed Giza pyramids. Take that, King Menka-whatever. Located about 30 miles northeast of Mexico City, the Pyramid of the Moon is some 1,500 years old and can still be summited by the adventurous traveler in 15-30 minutes. However, you’ll probably be waiting much longer. The queue lines are long and the sun is hot. To entertain yourself and annoy others, you can purchase a llama distress signal from local vendors. Visiting hours are Tuesday-Sunday, 9-5.
Iconic stairways can be found in some of the world’s greatest destinations. For more extraordinary experiences, see our advisors’ Bucket List Worthy Destinations guide.
Great cruise experiences start with the right cabin choice. Our advisors’ How to Choose a Cruise Cabin guide ensures you find the perfect stateroom.
