Skardu is a mountain town in Gilgit-Baltistan, northern Pakistan, set in a broad valley near the confluence of the Indus and Shigar rivers. It serves as an important gateway to the Karakoram and to trekking and mountaineering routes leading toward K2, Gasherbrum, and other high peaks. The town is surrounded by starkly contrasting landscapes, including dry mountain slopes, fertile valleys, turquoise lakes, and high-altitude plains.

Explore Jasper, Alberta and gaze in awe at one of Canada’s most beautiful national parks in the Canadian Rockies. A veritable paradise for the bold traveler, Jasper National Park has no shortage of natural marvels guaranteed to take your breath away.

Colombo, the commercial capital of Sri Lanka, is a vibrant city where colonial architecture meets modern skyscrapers. Visitors can explore historic sites such as the Gangaramaya Temple, the Dutch Hospital, and the Colombo National Museum, which reflect the city’s rich cultural heritage and diverse history.

Cachi is a small mountain town in Argentina’s Salta Province, set in the northern Calchaquí Valleys at more than 2,000 meters above sea level. Its historic center has cobbled streets, raised sidewalks, adobe buildings, and a central square surrounded by traditional architecture. The town sits beneath the peaks of the Nevado de Cachi and among stands of tall cardon cacti, creating a distinctive highland landscape.

This southern Mexican state borders Guatemala. Its mountainous highlands and dense rainforest are dotted with several Mayan archaeological sites and Spanish colonial towns.