Randi Thomsen Profile

Together with Svein, we travel around the world to explore and enjoy new WHS, countries, culture and great food.  In 2010 we become WHS travellers, when we started planning our trips in order to visit WHS. 

Hunting for WHS makes us go off the beaten tracks and brings us to new and exciting places, trying to understand the OUV.  Travel is more than seeing new places, it’s  about learning history, new culture and enjoy excotic food and drinks. 

 

 

Visited Sites Randi Thomsen

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Legend

  • Cultural
  • Natural
  • Mixed

Recent Reviews Randi Thomsen


Sangha Trinational

Randi Thomsen Norway - 04-Dec-24

Sangha Trinational

After a long day on the Sangha River from Oesso, we arrived at Dzanga-Sangha National Park we arrived at eight o’clock, the last leg in darkness. The speedboat journey through untouched nature, passing isolated villages and local fishermen, was serene and surreal - we encountered only one motorized boat the entire day.

Our stay was at Doli Lodge, managed by WWF and beautifully situated on the Sangha River. The lodge exceeded expectations and offered more comfort than its counterpart in Odzala-Congo. Though the original plan was for four nights, it was shortened to three due to the temporary suspension of gorilla trekking. The unfortunate loss of the last silverback means the groups need time to stabilize. However, the park has much more to offer.

Read On

Odzala-Kokoua

Randi Thomsen Norway - 30-Nov-24

Odzala-Kokoua

We arrived the park after nightfall - it’s a 14 hour drive from Brazzaville.

Camp Impalanga, one of the few camps in Odzala, is a small facility run by African Parks, offering just four cabin/tents. There is no luxury here, but perfect for a couple of days in the Congolese jungle, and we believe it will be an unforgettable adventure. We are staying four nights and hoping to see our first gorillas.

Odzala is one of Africa’s largest national parks, established as early as 1935. Today, the National park is also managed by African Parks.

Read On

'Uruq Bani Ma'arid

Randi Thomsen Norway - 22-Nov-24

This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that I was very excited to visit, located at the edge of the legendary “Empty Quarter.” Desert landscapes have always fascinated me. However, obtaining information in advance about how best to visit the national park proved challenging. I came across a forum thread online that mentioned a permit was required beforehand.

I reached out to NCW, explaining our wish to visit and the date we had planned for the trip. The following day, I received a polite response asking me to send copies of the passports for all visitors. A day later, I received an email confirming our request for permission has been approved, and informing that they had arranged a guided tour for us! 

Read On

Melka Kunture and Balchit

Randi Thomsen Norway - 08-Aug-24

Melka Kunture and Balchit

It’s likely we are the first visitors from our community to visit this site after inscription at the 2024 session.

On our southern Etiopia  tour this was our first stop. The site is anonymous, with no signs leading to it from the main road. At the site itself, there were no indications of its recent status as a World Heritage site.

We visited the Gombore site, which has five excavation sites, with #2 displayed as an open-air museum. From the entrance, it is a few hundred meters walk along an overgrown path.

Read On

Andrefana Dry Forests

Randi Thomsen Norway - 07-Jul-24

Andrefana Dry Forests

Els has covered this site pretty good, but we like to add a few comments. 

First of all, what an adventure to get here! We really enjoyed the drive through wonderful lansdscape, small villages and the river crossings. We stayed three nights, two days and did the Grand Tsingy first. For the Grand Tsingy, our guide convinced us to do the Grand tour, combining circuit Ranotsara, Broadway and Andamozavaky. It will take about 6-7 hours and almost no one does it. And he was right, we didn’t meet any other people until at the end. The route adds one more viewpoint and a hanging bridge. And as Els explained, we used harness to clip on to safety ropes, up ladders and stepping stones,  climbing our way to the top. I am impressed how they made this marvelous rocky terrain available to «common people»

Read On

Profile Data

Name
Randi Thomsen
Country
Norway
Most Impressive
There are so many impressive places in the world. I have a special feeling for Natural WHS like Galapagos, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon and Norwegian Fjords, but places like Machu Picchu, Angkor Wat and Rome is impressive

Recently Visited WHS

Update 29.11.24
Rating Stats
Angkor 5
Petra 5
Pompei 5
Rome 5
Baalbek 4.5
Cordoba 4.5
Florence 4.5
Palenque 4.5
Redwood 4.5
Serengeti 4.5
Sigiriya 4.5
Taj Mahal 4.5
Anjar 4
Brugge 4
Elvas 4
Hampi 4
Hegra 4
Hué 4
Nikko 4
Prague 4
Toledo 4
Uxmal 4
Vienna 4
Assisi 3.5
Bamberg 3.5
Champagne 3.5
Chan Chan 3.5
Cuzco 3.5
Edinburgh 3.5
El Tajin 3.5
Garajonay 3.5
Hoi An 3.5
Konso 3.5
Kraków 3.5
Le Morne 3.5
Matera 3.5
My Son 3.5
Naples 3.5
Olympia 3.5
Oporto 3.5
Paphos 3.5
Pergamon 3.5
Potsdam 3.5
Quito 3.5
Québec 3.5
Rhodes 3.5
Riga 3.5
Salzburg 3.5
Segovia 3.5
Shiretoko 3.5
Siena 3.5
Sintra 3.5
Surtsey 3.5
Syracuse 3.5
Tiwanaku 3.5
Tsodilo 3.5
Tyre 3.5
Vat Phou 3.5
Vegaøyan 3.5
Albi 3
Belem 3
Byblos 3
Chavin 3
Cuenca 3
Genoa 3
Graz 3
Kandy 3
Kotor 3
Lima 3
Lyon 3
Mostar 3
Orange 3
Pienza 3
Puebla 3
Rabat 3
Reims 3
Røros 3
Split 3
Torun 3
Trier 3
Trogir 3
Verona 3
Visby 3
Aquileia 2.5
Aranjuez 2.5
Arles 2.5
As-Salt 2.5
Atapuerca 2.5
Avila 2.5
Ayutthaya 2.5
Bordeaux 2.5
Bryggen 2.5
Caceres 2.5
Corfu 2.5
Evora 2.5
Ferrara 2.5
Hollókö 2.5
Ibiza 2.5
Jelling 2.5
Kerkuane 2.5
Kondoa 2.5
Mafra 2.5
Mazagan 2.5
Meknes 2.5
Modena 2.5
Nancy 2.5
Nesvizh 2.5
Nice 2.5
Provins 2.5
Qalhat 2.5
Red Fort 2.5
Reichenau 2.5
Saltaire 2.5
Tallinn 2.5
Tarraco 2.5
Telc 2.5
Tiya 2.5
Trebic 2.5
Troy 2.5
Urbino 2.5
Valletta 2.5
Vézelay 2.5
Warsaw 2.5
Zamość 2.5
Al Ain 2
Djerba 2
Ivrea 2
Corvey 1.5
Kernavė 1.5
Pearling 1.5
  1. Abraj Al-Kuwait (T)
  2. Aire du Dragonnier Ajgal (T)
  3. Amalienborg and its district (T)
  4. Ancient Greek Theatres (T)
  5. Archaeological Site of Nikopolis (T)
  6. Art and Architecture in the Prehistory of Sardinia. The domus de janas. (T)
  7. Asuka-Fujiwara : Archaeological sites of Japan's Ancient Capitals and Related Properties (T)
  8. Augustow Canal (T)
  9. Azraq (T)
  10. Bahá'í House of Worship at New Delhi (T)
  11. Balaton Uplands Cultural Landscape (T)
  12. Barbar Temple (T)
  13. Beng Malea Temple (T)
  14. Big Bend National Park (T)
  15. Bioclimatic Refugia of Western Arabia (T)
  16. Black River Gorges National Park (T)
  17. Brandberg National Monument Area (T)
  18. Brooklyn Bridge (T)
  19. California Current Conservation Complex (T)
  20. Cascata delle Marmore and Valnerina: Monastic sites and ancient hydrogeological reclamation works (T)
  21. Cattolica Monastery in Stilo and Basilian-Byzantine complexes (T)
  22. Central Park (T)
  23. Centre historique de Saida (T)
  24. Ceský ráj (Czech Paradise) Rock Cities (T)
  25. Cetinje Historic Core (T)
  26. Chirundu Fossil Forest (T)
  27. Chobe Linyanti System (T)
  28. Chott El Jerid (T)
  29. Citadel of Alessandria (T)
  30. Cité de Carcassonne et ses châteaux sentinelles de montagne (T)
  31. Cittadella (Victoria - Gozo) (T)
  32. City of Charlestown (T)
  33. City of Motovun (T)
  34. City of York: historic urban core (T)
  35. Coastal Cliffs (T)
  36. Cultural Landscape of Innsbruck-Nordkette/Karwendel (T)
  37. Delhi - A Heritage City (T)
  38. Diocletian's Palace and the Historical Nucleus of Split (extension) (T)
  39. Djerdap National Park (T)
  40. Dreams in Stone - the palaces of King Ludwig II of Bavaria: Neuschwanstein, Linderhof and Herrenchiemsee (T)
  41. Edifices for Worship of Fortress Type in Belarus, Poland and Lithuania (T)
  42. Egyptian Hajj Road (T)
  43. Ellis Island (T)
  44. Etosha Pan (T)
  45. Evolution of Temple Architecture - Aihole-Badami- Pattadakal (T)
  46. Extension of the World Heritage Site "Historic Centre of Prague" with the important Monuments in its Vicinity (T)
  47. Fishriver Canyon (T)
  48. Former M-13 prison/ Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (former S-21)/ Choeung Ek Genocidal Centre (former Execution Site of S-21) (T)
  49. Fort Shirley (T)
  50. Francke Foundation Buildings (T)
  51. Frontiers of the Roman Empire - The Danube Limes (Romania) (T)
  52. Frontiers of the Roman Empire - The Danube Limes in Bulgaria (T)
  53. Frontiers of the Roman Empire – The Danube Limes (Serbia) (T)
  54. Geyser in Herlany (T)
  55. Grobiņa archaeological ensemble (T)
  56. Großglockner High Alpine Road / Großglockner Hochalpenstraße (T)
  57. Group of Mozarabic buildings on the Iberian Peninsula (T)
  58. Guano Islands, Islets, and Capes National Reserve System (T)
  59. Habitat troglodytique et le monde des ksour du Sud tunisien (T)
  60. Heiligenkreuz Abbey (T)
  61. Hejaz Railway (T)
  62. Hikone-Jo (castle) (T)
  63. Hire Benkal, Megalithic Site (T)
  64. Historic Center of the City of Trujillo (T)
  65. Historic zone of Basseterre (T)
  66. Historical city of Izamal (Izamal, Mayan continuity in an Historical City) (T)
  67. Historical Lisbon, Global City (T)
  68. Historical-town planning ensemble of Ston (T)
  69. Jerash Archaeological City (Ancient Meeting Place of East and West) (T)
  70. Jozani - Chwaka Bay Conservation Area (T)
  71. Khor Dubai (T)
  72. Knights Fortifications around the Harbours of Malta (T)
  73. L'amphitheatre de Durres (T)
  74. L'oeuvre architecturale d'Henry van de Velde (T)
  75. La Haute Ville d’Antananarivo (T)
  76. La Rioja and Rioja Alavesa Vine and Wine Cultural Landscape (T)
  77. Lake Maggiore and Lake D'Orta lakelands (T)
  78. Lake Titicaca (T)
  79. Las Pozas, Xilitla (T)
  80. Le centre historique de la ville de Batroun (T)
  81. Le Chateau-fort médieval d'Esztergom (T)
  82. Le complexe hydraulique romain de Zaghouan-Carthage (T)
  83. Le noyau historique de la ville d'Alba Julia (T)
  84. Le Palais de Justice de Bruxelles (T)
  85. Le site archéologique de Sbeïtla (T)
  86. Les Alpes de la Méditerranée (France) (T)
  87. Les Alpes de la Méditerranée (Italy) (T)
  88. Les Alpes de la Méditerranée (Monaco) (T)
  89. Les Mausolées Royaux de Numidie, de la Maurétanie et les monuments funéraires pré-islamiques (Tunisia) (T)
  90. Les passages de Bruxelles / Les Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert (T)
  91. Les Plages du Débarquement, Normandie, 1944 (T)
  92. Les témoignages matériels de la construction de l’État des Pyrénées : la Co-principauté d’Andorre (S) (T)
  93. Leuven/Louvain, batiments universitaires, l'héritage de six siècles au sein du centre historique (T)
  94. Levadas of Madeira Island (T)
  95. Makgadikgadi Pans Landscape (T)
  96. Maltese Catacomb Complexes (T)
  97. Marianas Trench Marine National Monument (T)
  98. Massif du Mont Blanc (T)
  99. Massif du Mont-Blanc (T)
  100. Mdina (Citta Vecchia) (T)
  101. Meanders of the Upper Daugava (T)
  102. Médina de Sfax (T)
  103. Mediterranean Wind Mills (T)
  104. Mole National Park (T)
  105. Monastery of Santa María de La Rábida and the Columbus Memorial Places in Huelva (T)
  106. Morne Diablotin National Park (T)
  107. Mosquée de Tinmel (T)
  108. Mothia and Lilibeo Island: The Phoenician-Punic Civilization in Italy (T)
  109. Moulay Idriss Zerhoun (T)
  110. Mount Vernon (T)
  111. Møns Klint (T)
  112. Mývatn and Laxá (T)
  113. Naletale Cluster of Dzimbabwes (T)
  114. National Park Hohe Tauern (T)
  115. Natural and Cultural Landscape of Danube Region (T)
  116. Natural Reserves of Tatras Mountain (T)
  117. Ngwenya Mines (T)
  118. NOSYnakà (Sahamalaza, Nosy Hara, Nosy Tanikely, Lokobe, Ambodivahibe, Ankarea, Ankivonjy) (T)
  119. Noyau historique d'Antwerpen -Anvers- de l'Escaut aux anciens remparts de vers 1250 (T)
  120. Nuragic monuments of Sardinia (T)
  121. Nuruosmaniye Complex (T)
  122. Oasis de Gabes (T)
  123. Oasis of Fayoum, hydraulic remains and ancient cultural landscapes (T)
  124. Okavango Delta (T)
  125. Old Town of Bar (T)
  126. Orvieto (T)
  127. Parc National d'El Feija (T)
  128. Patzcuaro, Site of Humanistic Memory and Cultural Confluence (T)
  129. Petrified Forest National Park (T)
  130. Pobiti Kamani Natural Monument (T)
  131. Prehistoric Stone Structures in Saudi Arabia (T)
  132. Primošten Vineyards (T)
  133. Qasr Al-Mushatta (T)
  134. Rijal Almaa Heritage Village in Assir Region (T)
  135. Ring of cenotes of Chicxulub Crater, Yucatan (T)
  136. Rocks of Belogradchik (T)
  137. Royal Seats in Esztergom, Visegrád (T)
  138. Sacred Titicaca Lake (T)
  139. Salento and the Barocco Leccese (T)
  140. Salt Mines of Maras (T)
  141. Sarajevo - unique symbol of universal multiculture - continual open city (T)
  142. Saviour Transfiguration Church and St. Sophia Cathedral in the town of Polatsk (T)
  143. Seruwila to Sri Pada (Sacred Foot Print Shrine), Ancient pilgrim route along the Mahaweli river in Sri Lanka (T)
  144. Shaubak Castle (Montreal) (T)
  145. Sheikh Abdullah Al-Jabir Palace (T)
  146. Sites along the Uttarapath, Badshahi Sadak, Sadak-e-Azam, Grand Trunk Road (T)
  147. Sites of Globalization (T)
  148. Sites of Saytagrah (T)
  149. SS. Boris and Gleb (Kalozha) Church in the city of Hrodna (T)
  150. Sun Temple, Modhera and its adjoining monuments (T)
  151. Sungai Buloh Leprosarium (T)
  152. Svalbard Archipelago (T)
  153. Syrian Hajj Road (T)
  154. System of Fortifications at the Confluence of the Rivers Danube and Váh in Komárno - Komárom (Slova) (T)
  155. System of Fortifications at the Confluence of the Rivers Danube and Váh in Komárno - Komárom (Slovak) (T)
  156. Temple d’Echmoun (T)
  157. The Ancient Plovdiv (T)
  158. The Ancient Walled Oases of Northern Arabia (T)
  159. The Architectural Works of Alvar Aalto - a Human Dimension to the Modern Movement (T)
  160. The broader region of Mount Olympus (T)
  161. The Central Slave and Ivory Trade Route (T)
  162. The Core of the Mayan Area (T)
  163. The Cultural Landscape of Civita di Bagnoregio (T)
  164. The cultural landscape of the Benedictine settlements in medieval Italy (T)
  165. The Hadrianic city of Italica (T)
  166. The Hajj Pilgrimage Routes: The Darb Zubaydah (Saudi)) (T)
  167. The Historic Centre of Sibiu and its Ensemble of Squares (T)
  168. The historic town of Korcula (T)
  169. The Industrial Heritage of Barbados: The Story of Sugar and Rum (T)
  170. The Karlstejn Castle (T)
  171. The Laponian Area - Tysfjord, the fjord of Hellemobotn and Rago (T)
  172. The Lofoten islands (T)
  173. The Maritime Heritage of Dragør Old Town and Harbour - A ‘skipper-town’ from the era of the great tall ships in the 18th and 19th centuries (T)
  174. The Murge of Altamura (T)
  175. The natural and architectural ensemble of Jajce (T)
  176. The Oil Industrial Heritage in Saudi Arabia (T)
  177. The Olive Grove Landscapes of Andalusia (T)
  178. The Rise of Systematic Biology (T)
  179. The Roussensky Lom National Park (T)
  180. The Rural Cultural Landscapes of Sarawat Mountains (T)
  181. The Sanctuary of Agios Lot, At Deir 'Ain 'Abata (T)
  182. The Scotland District of Barbados (T)
  183. The Silver Route (T)
  184. The Tara National Park with the Drina River Canyon (T)
  185. The town of Melnik and the Rozhen Monastery (T)
  186. The Transhumance: The Royal Shepherd's Track (T)
  187. The Turf House Tradition (T)
  188. Thingvellir National Park (T)
  189. Tokaj Wine Region (T)
  190. Torfajökull Volcanic System / Fjallabak Nature Reserve (T)
  191. Trakai Historical National Park (T)
  192. Troodos, Mt.Olympus (T)
  193. Via Francigena in Italy (T)
  194. Victoria Lines Fortifications (T)
  195. VIKING MONUMENTS AND SITES / Thingvellir National Park (T)
  196. VIKING MONUMENTS AND SITES / Vestfold Ship Burials and Hyllestad Quernstone Quarries (T)
  197. Villas of the Papal Nobility (T)
  198. Volterra: Historical City and Cultural Landscape (T)
  199. Water Management in Saudi Arabia: The Ancient Dams (T)
  200. Welwitschia Plains (T)
  201. White Sands National Monument (T)
  202. Worship wooden architecture (17th -18th centuries) in Polesye (T)
  203. Zee Ain Heritage Village in Al-Baha Region (T)

Top 50 Missing Sites

  1. Alexandria, ancient remains and the new library
  2. Baikonur Cosmodrome / Cape Canaveral
  3. Cenotes of the Yucatan
  4. Death Valley National Park
  5. Golden Gate Bridge
  6. Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Frank Gehry
  7. Mount Rushmore
  8. Panama Canal
  9. Petrified Forest National Park
  10. Rainforests of Polynesia
  11. Scrovegni's Chapel
  12. Silk Roads
  13. Svalbard
  14. Tempelhof Airport, Berlin