Volubilis is an extensive archaeological site in northern Morocco, located near the pilgrimage town of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun and surrounded by fertile farmland at the foot of Jbel Zerhoun. The ruins represent one of the country’s most important ancient urban sites, with temples, public buildings, residences, defensive walls, and elaborate mosaic floors spread across a broad hillside. Its location overlooking the surrounding agricultural plain helps explain the settlement’s importance.
Gudauri is a mountain resort in northeastern Georgia, located along the Georgian Military Highway in the Greater Caucasus range. The settlement is known as one of the country’s main ski destinations, with long winter seasons and wide alpine slopes that attract skiers, snowboarders, and paragliders.
Carmel-by-the-Sea is a small coastal city on California’s Monterey Peninsula, overlooking Carmel Bay and the Pacific Ocean. The community is known for its compact village center, white-sand beach, cypress trees, and architecture that includes distinctive cottages and courtyards. Much of the commercial district can be explored on foot, with galleries, restaurants, boutiques, and wine-tasting rooms concentrated within a small area.
Negombo, located just north of Colombo and minutes from Sri Lanka’s main international airport, offers a coastal town experience steeped in layered history and local life. Once a vital trading post for cinnamon during the colonial era, Negombo has seen Portuguese, Dutch, and British influence with each leaving a mark on its architecture and culture. The Dutch-era canal system, still used by fishermen and local vendors today, runs through parts of the town and can be explored by boat or bicycle.
Wadi Rum, often called the “Valley of the Moon,” is a desert landscape in southern Jordan renowned for its dramatic sandstone mountains, sweeping red sand dunes, and ancient history carved into the rock. Its vast, otherworldly scenery has made it both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a backdrop for films set on distant planets.
Shangri-La City, formerly known as Zhongdian, was renamed after the fictional paradise of James Hilton's "Lost Horizon" in an effort to promote tourism in 2001. Located in northwestern Yunnan province, Shangri-La is commonly used as a gateway into Tibet, but tourists also visit the city en route to the Ganden Sumtsenling Monastery, the largest in Yunnan province; Pudacuo National Park, home to almost 100 endangered species; and Tiger Leaping Gorge, one of the deepest river canyons in the world and part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Other Popular Destinations in China
Beijing
Beijing, the capital of China, is a city where history and modern life intersect on a grand scale. Ancient landmarks like the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and the Temple of Heaven reflect centuries of imperial heritage, while the Great Wall lies just outside the city, offering views of one of the most famous engineering feats in the world.
Shanghai
Shanghai is a city where contrasting timelines meet at every corner. Once a small fishing village along the Huangpu River, it grew rapidly during the 19th century into a major trading port. Today, its skyline tells a story of that transformation. On one side, the Bund’s colonial-era buildings stand tall in limestone and granite; on the other, the futuristic towers of Pudong, like the Shanghai Tower and Jin Mao, stretch into the clouds.