Farther from a continental landfall than any other group of islands on earth, the twelve Marquesas jut out of the open Pacific just south of the equator, shrouded in a constant cloud cover.

Mount Nebo rises in western Jordan, overlooking the Jordan River Valley, the Dead Sea, and, on clear days, Jerusalem and Jericho.

Bali, an island province of Indonesia, has been shaped by centuries of Hindu influence, volcanic activity, and a deep connection between daily life and ritual. The island’s temples are a major part of its landscape as more than 20,000 exist across Bali. One of the most visited is Uluwatu Temple, perched dramatically on a cliff 70 meters above the Indian Ocean.

Vienna has a long memory. Once the capital of the Habsburg Empire, the city still carries signs of its imperial past in its palaces, concert halls, and wide boulevards. Visitors can walk through the Hofburg complex, where emperors once ruled, or tour the opulent rooms of Schönbrunn Palace, which features 1,441 rooms and a maze in its gardens. But Vienna’s many historic buildings now house contemporary art museums, cafés, and institutions that reflect the city’s modern identity.

Cut length wise by the Turkish/Greek border, the island of Cyprus leads two lives. The Turkish side is traditional and Islamic, while the Greek side is a very modern vacation destination.