Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, located in southwestern Uganda, is one of Africa’s most extraordinary natural treasures. Its dense rainforest, often draped in mist, shelters a wealth of biodiversity and has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for both its ecological significance and natural beauty. This ancient forest is among the few places on earth where travelers can come face-to-face with mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.

Plovdiv, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Europe, carries over 8,000 years of history layered into its streets. The Roman Theater, still in use today, was discovered by accident in the 1970s and now hosts operas and concerts overlooking the Rhodope Mountains. Nearby, visitors can walk the remains of a Roman stadium buried beneath the main pedestrian street, where modern shops and cafés stand above ancient foundations.

Querétaro, located in the heart of central Mexico, is a city where centuries of history are still visible in daily life. Its historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, features narrow streets, elegant plazas, and baroque churches that reflect its colonial past. One of the city’s most iconic landmarks is the massive aqueduct, built in the 18th century with 74 stone arches stretching nearly a mile across the landscape.

Ronda, perched high above the El Tajo gorge in southern Spain’s Málaga province, offers one of the most dramatic landscapes in Andalusia. The city is split in two by a 120-meter-deep canyon carved by the Guadalevín River, and connected by the iconic Puente Nuevo, an 18th-century stone bridge that took over 40 years to complete. Visitors crossing the bridge can stop at the viewpoint built into the stone itself, once used as a prison.

Banjul, the capital of The Gambia, is located on St. Mary’s Island at the mouth of the Gambia River, giving it a unique waterfront setting.