Medan is the capital of north Sumatra and the third largest city in Indonesia. It is a huge, sprawling city and a popular entry/exit point for travellers. The solid Dutch buildings of the affluent older suburbs inspire images of bloated bureaucrats and burghers from the colonial era, while jerry-built lean-tos house the bulk of its population.

Tamraght is a small coastal village in Morocco’s Souss-Massa region, located between Agadir and Taghazout above the Atlantic Ocean. The village sits on a hillside overlooking a coastline known for sandy beaches, rocky headlands, and reliable surf. Its setting also includes green banana plantations and argan trees around the nearby valleys, creating a noticeable contrast with the dry hills farther inland.

Lake Tana, located in the northwest of Ethiopia, is the country’s largest freshwater lake and the source of the Blue Nile. Its calm waters are dotted with more than 30 islands, many of which are home to ancient monasteries adorned with religious paintings and manuscripts.

Castellammare del Golfo is a coastal town in western Sicily, set around a broad bay in the province of Trapani. Its historic center rises above a working marina, while the Arab-Norman castle stands directly beside the sea and gives the town its distinctive profile. The waterfront is lined with fishing boats, small streets, and buildings that climb toward the slopes of Monte Inici.

Located northwest of Cairo on the Mediterranean coast, Alexandria is one of Egypt's most spectacular cities and an important historical, industrial, and economic center for the country.