Frutillar is a small city on the western shore of Lake Llanquihue in southern Chile, with views across the water toward the snow-covered Osorno, Puntiagudo, Tronador, and Calbuco volcanoes. Its waterfront is defined by a long promenade, gardens, and dark volcanic-stone beaches, while wooden houses and carefully maintained public spaces give the town a distinctive appearance.

Nestled in the heart of South Africa’s Cape Winelands, Franschhoek is a charming village renowned for its exquisite vineyards and rich history. Founded by French Huguenots in the late 17th century, the village’s French heritage is palpable in its architecture, cuisine, and local culture.

Salima is a lakeside town in central Malawi, located between Lake Malawi and the capital city, Lilongwe. Its position near the lake has made it an important centre for fishing, agriculture, trade, and transport. Salima also has a practical connection to Lake Malawi through nearby Senga Bay, one of the better-known recreational areas on the central lakeshore. Its combination of inland commerce and easy access to the lake gives the town a distinctive role in central Malawi.

Bourg is a small riverside town set along the Dordogne estuary in southwestern France. Its position above the water gives it a quiet but strategic presence, with stone houses rising along narrow lanes that lead toward the harbor. One of Bourg’s most intriguing features lies beneath its streets. Guided visits reveal hidden staircases, carved stone rooms, and cool corridors that offer a completely different perspective from the sunlit streets above.

Antsirabe is a highland city in central Madagascar, known for its cool climate, broad streets, thermal springs, and distinctive cycle rickshaws called pousse-pousse. Located in a fertile agricultural region, it serves as an important center for farming, crafts, and local trade. The surrounding landscape includes rice fields, volcanic hills, and cultivated countryside, while the city itself has a more orderly layout than many other Malagasy towns.