Kobe, Japan is a beautiful port city renowned for its historic shrines, botanical gardens, hot springs, and marbled Kobe beef. Highlights of this Japanese retreat include Ikuta Shrine, thought to be one of Japan's oldest Shinto shrines, Kobe Nunobiki Herb Botanical Gardens, Mount Rokkō, and Arima Onsen, a popular hot springs resort surrounded by Japanese maple trees.

Bahrain, the only island nation in the Arabian Gulf, offers a unique blend of ancient heritage and modern flair. Away from the city, Bahrain’s landscape surprises many. The Tree of Life, a lone 400-year-old mesquite standing in the desert with no known water source, continues to puzzle scientists and inspire travelers.

Located in Oaxaca, Mexico, Huatulco is famous for its beaches and the sparkling blue water of surrounding bays.

Espiritu Santo, one of the largest islands of Vanuatu off the east coast of Australia, is a popular destination for divers. Famous Champagne Beach, as one might guess from the name, offers crystal clear waters and powdery white sands, while the western side of the island is dotted with caves to explore and reefs team with marine life just offshore.

Nilwella is a small coastal settlement in Sri Lanka’s Southern Province, located near Dikwella along a quieter section of the Indian Ocean shoreline. The area is characterized by sandy beaches, rocky headlands, coconut palms, and small fishing communities. Nilwella is less developed than many of the better-known beach towns farther west, giving it a more local character. Its position on the southern coast also places it close to Dikwella, Hiriketiya, and several smaller beaches and coves that ca