Nepal, a land of majestic mountains and rich cultural heritage, beckons adventurers and spiritual seekers alike. Nestled in the lap of the Himalayas, Nepal is home to eight of the world’s fourteen highest peaks, including the iconic Mount Everest. Trekking enthusiasts flock to the Annapurna and Everest regions, where trails wind through terraced fields, rhododendron forests, and charming villages, offering awe-inspiring views of snow-capped giants.
Wisconsin is bordered by two Great Lakes (Superior and Michigan). Milwaukee is the key city, and popular for the Harley-Davidson Museum, the Public Museum, and various beermakers' brewery tours.
This cosmopolitan city beckons with an elegant skyline dotted with numerous skyscrapers. Despite the modern look, Calgary is still steeped in the western culture that earned it the nickname “Cowtown,” as evidenced in the Calgary Stampede, a July rodeo and festival that grew out of the farming exhibitions once presented here
The third largest city in Turkey, a cosmopolitan and lively city all year round, during the International Arts Festival (June/July) and the international Fair (August/September), Izmir bursts with an added vibrancy.
Riga, the vibrant capital of Latvia, offers a captivating blend of medieval charm and contemporary energy. Founded in 1201, Riga’s Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a treasure trove of stunning architecture and historical landmarks. Wander through its cobblestone streets to admire the intricately carved facades of buildings like the House of the Blackheads, a striking 14th-century guildhall that epitomizes Riga's rich merchant history.
The remote and austerely beautiful Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago, lies north of continental Norway in the Arctic Ocean, a mere 650 miles from the North Pole. A hub for Dutch, English, French, Norwegian, and Russian whalers between the 17th and 19th centuries, this collection of glacial islands officially joined the Kingdom of Norway in 1925 with the Svalbard Act and continues to be used in coal mining enterprises. Spitsbergen, the only permanently inhabited island in the Svalbard archipelago, and its largest settlement, Longyearbyen, have become popular stops for tourists, who often arrive on arctic cruises.
This mountainous archipelago offers magnificent views of stark white glaciers and snowfields, which cover a vast stretch of the region. Arctic flora and fauna fascinate; catch a glimpse of polar bears, reindeer, arctic foxes, and walruses amongst the mossy tundra and icy coasts. In the summer, visitors will witness the rare splendor of Svalbard’s midnight sun.