Jūrmala, Latvia’s famed seaside resort, stretches along 33 kilometers of white sandy beaches kissed by the Baltic Sea. Its wooden architecture, featuring colorful villas from the early 20th century, tells the story of its history as a retreat for the well-to-do during the Russian Empire. Visitors strolling the Jomas Street promenade will find a lively atmosphere filled with cafes, boutiques, and galleries, alongside peaceful spots where the sea breeze encourages relaxation.
Jeddah sits along Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast and has long served as a gateway between the Arabian Peninsula and the wider world. For centuries, merchants, pilgrims, and travelers passed through its port on the way to Mecca, shaping a city known for openness and exchange.
Set within a basin of pink granite mountains, Tafraoute offers a landscape that feels both open and sheltered. The town lies in the Anti-Atlas range, where rounded rock formations rise above palm groves and small farms. As the sun moves across the sky, the rocks shift from soft rose to deep orange, creating a changing backdrop that defines the area. The setting gives Tafraoute a sense of quiet distance, even though it serves as a central hub for nearby villages.
On the remote Osa Peninsula, Corcovado National Park unfolds as a vast stretch of rainforest meeting the Pacific Ocean. This protected area covers a large portion of the peninsula and is often described by scientists as one of the most biologically intense places on Earth. Dense jungle, quiet beaches, and winding rivers sit side by side, creating a landscape where visitors may walk from thick forest into open coastline within minutes.
One of the Caribbean's most lively islands, Guadeloupe will charm you with its impressive dormant volcano, stunning tropical forests, and French ambience. Actually composed of two islands, Grand Terre and Basse Terre, Guadeloupe has the honor of hosting one of France's seven Parcs National. Don't miss a chance to try Guadeloupe's famous Creole cuisine.
Center of the Caribbean's Creole culture, boasting a spirited blend of French and African influences, this island archipelago remains largely provincial. It consists of two butterfly-shaped islands. The national emblem is the raccoon, which lives in the forests of Basse-Terre, and mongooses and agoutis are also common. About 334,000 people live on the twin islands, with offshore Marie-Galante the most populous of the surrounding islands with 13,000 people. The majority of the population is drawn from a combination of African, European and East Indian descent. Recently arrived French and those who can trace their ancestry to the early French settlers make up about a quarter of the population. Most visitors require a French entry visa.