Maui, both second youngest and second largest of the Hawaiian Islands, is home to the world's largest dormant volcano, Haleakala, meaning "House of the Sun." Last erupting about 200 years ago, it makes up the eastern end of the island. Maui was formed by volcanic activity from Haleakala on the east and the West Maui Mountains to the west. The connecting isthmus between the two spots was formed from joining lava from both and gives Maui its nickname, the Valley Isle.

The Osa Peninsula extends into the Pacific Ocean from southern Costa Rica's Puntarenas Province, forming a remote region of rainforest, rivers, beaches, mangroves, and coastal waters. Much of the peninsula remains forested, with small communities such as Puerto Jiménez, Drake Bay, and Carate providing access to the surrounding landscape.

Lifou is the largest of the Loyalty Islands of New Caledonia and is known for its raised coral landscape, clear lagoons, and forested interior. Unlike Grande Terre, Lifou has no high mountain range, but its limestone plateau reaches enough elevation to create cliffs, caves, and elevated coastal viewpoints.

Agafay, often called Morocco’s "stone desert," is located just 40 kilometers southwest of Marrakech, but the landscape feels like a different world. Unlike the golden dunes of the Sahara, Agafay stretches out in rolling hills of sand-colored rock and hard-packed earth. It offers the vastness of a desert experience without requiring a long journey from the city.

Bamberg, located in northern Bavaria, stands out for its remarkably preserved medieval layout, which earned it a spot on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Built on seven hills and often compared to Rome for that reason, the city’s architecture reflects over a thousand years of uninterrupted development. Bamberg is well known for its beer, and not just in the usual Bavarian sense. The city has more breweries per capita than any other town in Germany, and it’s the birthplace of rauchbier.