In those days, tourism was a privilege almost entirely confined to the wealthy, who travelled largely for cultural exploration. One has to remember, the Greek and Roman upper classes were a people who prided themselves on artistic, scientific, and philosophical pursuits. It follows, then, that these early travelers largely sought to learn the arts, languages, and cultures of their destinations. Soon enough, traveling for leisure’s sake began to gain popularity popularity; from the Roman Empire arises some of the earliest examples of travel resorts and spas in the world. Though they documented their experiences most thoroughly, the elite Europeans were not the only ones traveling in the ancient times. In eastern Asia, it was popular for nobles to travel across the countryside for the religious and cultural experience it offered, oftentimes stopping at temples and sacred sites during their travels.