Kazakhstan, the world’s ninth-largest country, offers travelers a striking mix of sweeping steppe landscapes, modern cities, and deep-rooted nomadic traditions.

Stretching across central Oman, the Wahiba Sands offer a dramatic desert landscape of rolling dunes that shift in color with the changing light. This vast sea of sand is home to towering ridges and open plains, creating an otherworldly backdrop for exploration.

Knoxville sits in the Great Valley of East Tennessee at the headwaters of the Tennessee River, with the Appalachian Mountains rising to the east and southeast. The city combines a historic downtown with riverfront parks, leafy neighborhoods, and easy access to outdoor areas.

Rorvik is a busy fishing community on the eastern side of the Vikna archipelago. Outdoor activities abound in this maritime region, including kayaking, canoeing, fishing and diving. Several museums offer a look at Rorvik's culture and history, and wildlife enthusiasts will find a myriad of bird and fish species to observe.

Chios lies in the northeastern Aegean, close enough to the Turkish coast that the mainland feels present in daily life.