Set high in the Khumbu Valley, Pheriche offers a quiet yet striking stop along the route toward Mount Everest. Surrounded by wide landscapes and rugged peaks, this small settlement sits in a windswept valley where the air is crisp and the views stretch for miles. Unlike busier stops along the trail, Pheriche gives travelers space to pause, adjust to the altitude, and take in the scale of the Himalayas without distraction.
Urfa proudly exhibits the legacy of all civilizations that have prospered in this region. In the second millenium B.C., it was a city of a Hurrite state. Tradition relates that Abraham was born in a cave near the area where the Mevlid Mosque now stands.
Sesriem, located in the heart of Namibia’s Namib Desert, serves as the gateway to the world-famous Sossusvlei and Deadvlei, two of Namibia’s most iconic landscapes. The dramatic red dunes of the Namib Desert, some of the highest in the world, are an awe-inspiring sight, particularly at sunrise when the light casts long shadows, creating an otherworldly contrast of colors.
Punta Cana, on the eastern tip of the Dominican Republic, is known for its wide sweep of white-sand beaches and warm Caribbean waters. Once a quiet stretch of coastline lined with coconut palms, it has grown into one of the Caribbean’s most popular destinations while still offering plenty of spots that feel calm and remote.
Montevideo, Uruguay’s eclectic and diverse capital, is sure to charm you with bustling markets, sunny beaches, and plenty of museums to explore. Start your stay in Montevideo at the city center in Plaza Independencia, a lush town square surrounded by towering palm trees and stunning architecture.
Who would have thought, back in the tumultuous coup and counter coup days of the 1970s, that Burkina Faso would become the cultural darling of West Africa? Unlikely as it seems, Burkina Faso has become the Utah of West Africa, hosting a biennial film festival that rivals the Sundance Film Festival for cultural clout. When it's not hosting film festivals, it's busy organizing its other biennial cultural festival.