UNESCO World Heritage Sites are areas around the world that are considered to have an outstanding cultural or natural importance to the common heritage of humanity. The UNESCO list currently totals 962 and Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts properties globally are doing what they can to help guests best experience these sites.

Launching this August, the Geopark Discovery Centre at Four Seasons Resort Langkawi, Malaysia showcases the 550 million-year-old wonders of Southeast Asia’s first UNESCO Geopark. For guests in need of some “me time,” the Resort’s new Geo Spa is the perfect place to experience the healing benefits of nature, inspired by the Park.

Guests at Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru, located in the Baa Atoll UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, one of the newest UNESCO sites, can experience once-in-a-lifetime encounters with a variety of marine creatures while learning about their life, habitat and how to preserve these at-risk species at the Resort’s Marine Discovery Centre.

Beijing is well known for its great entertainment and high-end shopping but many people may not know that it hosts six UNESCO-accredited sites. Later this year the new Four Seasons Hotel Beijing will be opening and future guests keen to expand their UNESCO knowledge will be spoiled for choice with The Summer Palace, The Great Wall of China, The Temple of Heaven and The Forbidden City all close by.

The West Lake Cultural Landscape of Hangzhou, home to Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou at West Lake has also recently been named on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Guests can get a sense of why this area is considered a worldwide natural treasure by taking a stroll through the Hotel’s extensive and tranquil landscaped gardens, which were inspired by the UNESCO site itself.

From China to the Indian Ocean, the Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve on the nearby island of Praslin, just a short flight from Four Seasons Resort Seychelles, has also been acknowledged by UNESCO. The virgin palm forest is 650 million years old, and offers guests the opportunity to see the legendary coco de mer fruits that are used in several treatments at the Resort’s Spa.

One of the newest properties Four Seasons Hotel Baku, Azerbaijan (opening this August) gives guests a chance to visit the Walled City of Baku, another World Heritage Site. A melting pot of cultures from the Arabic and Ottoman to the Persian and Russian, the city is a traveller’s dream. Must-sees for guests are the 12th century Maiden Tower and 15th century Shirvanshah’s Palace.

As the UNESCO list continues to grow and countries around the world become more accessible, there’s never been a better time to become a “culture vulture” with Four Seasons.