Djanet is a small oasis town in southeastern Algeria, situated in the Tassili n’Ajjer region near the border with Libya. It is surrounded by a vast desert landscape of sandstone plateaus, rocky valleys, and palm-filled oases. The town serves as an important gateway to the Tassili n’Ajjer, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its unusual rock formations and extensive collection of prehistoric rock art.

McMurdo is distinctive not only for its scientific role but also for the unusual scale of daily life in Antarctica. The station has a power plant, medical facilities, dining services, workshops, communications systems, and specialized vehicles used to support research in extreme conditions. Nearby Scott Base, operated by New Zealand, provides another important Antarctic research presence on Ross Island. McMurdo also supports flights and overland journeys to remote parts of the continent.

Alter do Chão is a riverside village in the Brazilian state of Pará, on the banks of the clear Tapajós River. Though part of the larger municipality of Santarém, Alter do Chão has its own rhythm and identity, known far beyond Brazil for the white-sand beaches that appear when river levels drop between July and December. One of the most famous spots is Ilha do Amor (Love Island), a sandbar just off the village shore that feels almost like a hidden world of warm water and bright sky.

Palenque, nestled in the lush jungles of Chiapas, Mexico, offers an enthralling glimpse into the grandeur of the ancient Maya civilization. The city is renowned for its well-preserved ruins, which include the majestic Temple of the Inscriptions, where the tomb of the ruler Pakal the Great was discovered in 1952.

Kununurra is known by the local Miriwoong people as 'Gananoorrang', and is situated in the far north eastern corner of Western Australia just a short distance from the Northern Territory border. Kununurra is centred around the Ord River, with several lakes at lagoons surrounding the town itself. There is a fabulous lookout from the town at Kelly's Knob, giving views all around the area.