The Port of Stavanger is a popular stop on the route to the Norwegian Fjords, and boasts a first-rate assortment of museums and cultural events. Old Stavanger has Europe’s best preserved wooden house settlement.

Kyrgyzstan, a country in Central Asia, is known for its rugged mountains, alpine lakes, and rich nomadic traditions. The Tien Shan mountain range dominates the landscape, offering opportunities for hiking, horseback riding, and exploring remote villages.

Uyuni, in southwestern Bolivia, is best known as the gateway to the world’s largest salt flat, Salar de Uyuni. Once a humble railway town, Uyuni has grown into a base for travelers drawn to this surreal landscape, where an ancient dried-up lake has left behind a vast expanse of glistening salt crust.

South Dakota, known for its striking contrasts, from sacred Indigenous landmarks to dramatic prairie landscapes, offers travelers a rare chance to experience stories etched in both stone and living tradition. Mount Rushmore may be the most photographed site, but just 17 miles away, the Crazy Horse Memorial tells a deeper story. In the west, the Black Hills are full of geological surprises and sacred sites. Custer State Park offers scenic drives where herds of bison often stop traffic.

Tissamaharama, often called “Tissa” by seasoned travelers, sits in southern Sri Lanka as a town steeped in history and living culture. Once the capital of the ancient Ruhuna Kingdom in the 3rd century BCE, this settlement still radiates stories from the distant past in its temples, reservoirs, and even the streets where market life unfolds each day.