Socotra rises from the Arabian Sea like a world apart, its landscapes shaped over millennia. The Dragon’s Blood Trees, with their umbrella-shaped crowns and deep red sap, stand among the most iconic sights here. In places like Dixam Plateau and Homhil Forest, these trees gather in sparse formations, creating scenes that feel both ancient and alien. The resin remains valued for traditional dyes and remedies.
Tunis' white-washed, blue-shuttered buildings hide a treasure trove of Arabic and Ottoman art. Inspect illuminated manuscripts from the Koran, follow the twists and turns of the fascinating old Medina (inner city), marvel at the ornate Palace of Dar Ben Abduallah and the magnificent Djamaa-Ez-Zitouna Mosque, whose 184 columns were "recycled" from the rocky ruins of Carthage.
What sets Kaikōura apart are the extraordinary marine encounters that begin just off the shoreline. The Kaikōura Canyon, an underwater gorge that plunges to great depths close to land, creates currents rich with nutrients that attract a remarkable array of sea life year-round. Sperm whales are a common sight here and are frequently spotted on local boat tours. Dusky dolphins twist and leap in large pods, and colonies of New Zealand fur seals laze on rocky outcrops along the coast.
Homer, Alaska, sits at the end of the Kenai Peninsula and is often called the “end of the road,” where dramatic landscapes meet a vibrant small-town spirit. Overlooking Kachemak Bay, the town is framed by snowcapped mountains, glaciers, and a striking spit of land that juts four miles into the sea.
Ogunquit is a beautiful place by the sea. Offering quaint New England flavor of the Village Center, Ogunquit is a bustling holiday haven to visitors from all over the world. Ogunquit today remains a tranquil, small village that continues to offer almost everything to almost everyone as perhaps nowhere else in the country can.
Its countless variety of fine shops, excellent restaurants and lodgings, art galleries and museums, the Playhouse and summer repertory theatres, nearby golf courses and country clubs, fishing, lobstering and sight-seeing cruises, and spectacular views all year round would be difficult to encounter anywhere else. For the past 100 years, this charming seaside village has evolved from a small fishing hamlet with dirt roads and shacks, to a major vacation resort without losing its charm or magnetism. This little "gem" on the rocky coast of Maine should not be missed.