Ourika Valley lies south of Marrakesh in Morocco’s High Atlas Mountains, following the Ourika River through a narrow valley of villages, orchards, terraced fields, and steep mountain slopes. The valley is known for its relatively cool climate and access to the Atlas foothills, making it a marked contrast to the dry plains around Marrakesh. Small settlements extend along the river and up the surrounding slopes, where traditional houses are often built from earth and stone.

Almaty is Kazakhstan's largest city and a major cultural and economic center in the southeast of the country. It lies at the foot of the Trans-Ili Alatau, where the broad urban area gives way to forested mountain slopes and alpine terrain. Tree-lined streets, parks, historic neighborhoods, modern buildings, and mountain views define much of the cityscape. Almaty is also known for its orchards and agricultural surroundings, reflected in the city's name, which is associated with apples.

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.

The Avenue of the Baobabs is a famous landscape in western Madagascar, located near Morondava in the Menabe region. A group of tall Grandidier's baobabs lines a dirt road across a broad, dry plain, creating one of the country's most recognizable natural scenes. These trees are endemic to Madagascar and can reach great heights, with thick trunks adapted to storing water during the dry season.

A must-see in this centrally located Sicilian town is the 3rd century Villa Romana del Casale.