Lion Rock ( Sigiriya, Sri Lanka )
Climbing the Lion Rock is one of the must-do things in Sri Lanka. The rock is 660 ft tall and the over 1,500 years old preserved ancient palace ruins on top can only be accessed by climbing 1,200 (!) steps. Halfway up the rock on a small plateau, two lions paws mark the entrance to the final ascent. To reach the top, visitors have to master steep, narrow, slippery limestone stairs, man-made walkways, and a vertical winding staircase (enclosed within a wire cage). The rewards are close-up views of frescos along the rock wall and incredible views.