Dambulla, situated in the Central Province of Sri Lanka, is best known for its rock temple complex that has been in use for over two thousand years. The Dambulla Cave Temple, also called the Golden Temple of Dambulla, is made up of five caves carved into a granite outcrop, filled with over 150 Buddha statues and intricate wall paintings. These caves were first used by King Valagamba in the 1st century BCE as a refuge during exile, and later transformed into a sacred site.
Nuuksio National Park is a protected landscape of forests, lakes, rocky hills, and wetlands in southern Finland, close to the Helsinki metropolitan area. The park lies mainly in Espoo and extends into Kirkkonummi and Vihti, yet its terrain feels far removed from the nearby urban region. Pine and spruce forests cover much of the area, while numerous small lakes occupy hollows between granite ridges.
Al Ain is located about 160 km east of Abu Dhabi, and has its own international airport, which opened in 1994. Its many attractions include camel races, ancient forts, a zoo, museums, and the Jabal Hafit Mountain.
Set along the western shore of Lake Maggiore, Stresa is one of northern Italy’s most graceful lakeside towns. Its elegant promenade, framed by grandhotels and views of the Borromean Islands, has attracted travelers since the 19th century, from European nobility to writers like Ernest Hemingway.
Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park lies in South Australia’s Flinders Ranges, covering about 95,000 hectares of rugged mountains, dry valleys, rocky gorges, and semi-arid plains. Its most recognizable feature is Ikara, also known as Wilpena Pound, a vast natural amphitheatre enclosed by quartzite ranges. The park also contains the Heysen Range and the Brachina and Bunyeroo gorges, creating a landscape shaped by erosion and exposed geological layers.
The Ijssel is is a slow-moving lowlands river flowing northeastward through the Netherlands as a distributary of the Rhine.
Other Popular Destinations in On the River
Amazon River
The Amazon River, winding through the heart of South America, is a marvel of nature that offers unparalleled adventure in one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth. Originating from the Peruvian Andes, the Amazon travels through nine countries before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean.
Danube
Coursing through 10 countries, the Danube is the second-longest river in Europe. This waterway, lined with fortresses and castles, rises in Germany's Black Forest and runs for 1,770 miles to the Black Sea. The Danube is an essential commercial thoroughfare for central and southeastern Europe, and several river cruise companies sail vessels on it year-round. Destinations along this river include Vienna, Budapest, Passau and Bratislava.