The Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens, located on the west bank of the Nile near Luxor, Egypt, are two of the world’s most significant archaeological sites. For over 500 years during the New Kingdom (16th–11th centuries BCE), these valleys served as the burial grounds for pharaohs, queens, and high-ranking nobles.
Porto-Novo is the political capital of Benin, located in the country's southeast near the Porto-Novo Lagoon and not far from the Nigerian border. The city is known for its combination of Yoruba heritage, royal traditions, and Afro-Brazilian architecture. Historic neighbourhoods contain distinctive buildings with decorated facades, while markets, workshops, museums, and religious sites remain part of everyday urban life.
Niigata sits along the Sea of Japan on Honshu’s west coast, a place where long winters and bright summers shape its traditions and flavors. For centuries this region has produced some of Japan’s finest rice, especially the Uonuma Koshihikari variety known for its rich taste and texture. That quality rice helps make Niigata sake famous across the country, and visitors can sample more than 90 local brews at tasting spots such as Ponshukan inside Niigata Station.