In Saudi Arabia
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| Edge of the World (Jebel Fihrayn) | Sheer cliffs about 300 metres above a vast plain, with unforgettable sunsets. | About 90 km north-west of Riyadh; the last stretch needs a 4x4 |
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| Jabal Al Soudah | One of the Kingdom's highest peaks (about 3,000 metres), with juniper forests, mist and cool summers. | North-west of Abha |
| Abha cable cars | Cable car rides over the valleys between stations such as the Green Mountain. | Operating hours vary by season |
| Habala hanging village | A village on the edge of a high cliff, reached by a thrilling cable car ride. | About an hour's drive from Abha |
| The Fog Walk | A walkway on the mountain edge where clouds and mist drift past. | Abha |
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| Half Moon Beach | A crescent-shaped sandy beach surrounded by dunes. | South of Al Khobar |
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| The Al Hada road | One of the Kingdom's best-known mountain roads, winding between Taif and Makkah, with viewpoints at their best at sunset. | West of Taif |
| Jabal Daka in Al Shafa | Al Shafa's highest peak at over 2,500 metres, with wide views over the mountains. | About 25 to 30 km south-west of Taif |
| Al Shafa's farms | Pomegranates, grapes, figs and prickly pears, with stalls selling honey, ghee and seasonal fruit. | Summer is fruit season |
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| Elephant Rock (Jabal Al-Fil) | A towering rock shaped like an elephant, with seating and cafés around it; best at sunset. | North-east of AlUla |
| Harrat Viewpoint | A wide view over AlUla from the top of the volcanic harrat. | West of AlUla |
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| Jabal Al-Qarah and its caves | Caves that stay cool in summer and warm in winter, with striking rock passages. | About 15 km east of Hofuf |
Abroad
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| Jebel Jais | The UAE's highest mountain, with a mountain road, viewing decks and cooler air than the coast. | About an hour from Ras Al Khaimah city |
| Snoopy Island | Clear water and reefs close to shore, ideal for snorkelling. | Al Aqah, north of Fujairah |
| Wadi Wurayah | The only waterfall in the UAE that flows all year, inside a nature reserve. | Guided group tours only, booked in advance |
| Jebel Hafeet | A winding mountain road to wide views over Al Ain and the desert. | South of Al Ain |
| Hatta Dam | A lake of green water between the mountains, with kayaking. | Hatta, east of Dubai |
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| Uzungöl lake | A quiet lake between green mountains, with a wooden mosque on its shore. | About 2 hours from Trabzon |
| The Ayder plateau | Waterfalls, wooden chalets and mist drifting over the forests. | Rize |
| Sapanca lake and Maşukiye | A lake among the forests, and Maşukiye village with its small waterfalls and riverside restaurants. | About 2 hours from Istanbul |
| Mount Uludağ | A cable car up to Bursa's forests and peaks, with skiing in winter. | Bursa |
| Cappadocia's balloons | A dawn balloon flight over the rock chimneys and valleys. | Flights depend on the weather, so book early |
| Pamukkale | White travertine terraces and warm water above the ruins of Hierapolis. | Denizli, western Turkey |
| The Düden waterfalls | Waterfalls that drop from the cliff straight into the sea. | Antalya |
| Lara and Konyaaltı beaches | Long beaches and family resorts on the Mediterranean. | Antalya |
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| The Scottish Highlands | Mountains, green glens and lochs, among Europe's finest scenery. | Northern Scotland |
| Loch Ness | A long loch between the mountains, with the ruins of Urquhart Castle on its shore. | Near Inverness |
| The Isle of Skye | Cliffs, waterfalls and stunning coastal rocks. | Western Scotland |
| The Lake District | Lakes, green fells and stone villages, on the World Heritage list. | North-west England |
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| Wadi Rum | A desert of towering red mountains, with 4x4 tours and camps under the stars. | About an hour from Aqaba |
| Aqaba | Jordan's Red Sea city, with beaches, diving and coral reefs. | The far south |
| The Dead Sea | The lowest point on Earth, about 430 metres below sea level; you float without effort, and its mud is famous. | About an hour from Amman |
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| Yanar Dag (Burning Mountain) | A fire fed by natural gas that burns constantly on a hillside. | About half an hour from central Baku |
| Gabala and the Tufandag cable car | Green forests and mountains, a cable car up to the Tufandag peaks, and Nohur Lake. | About 3.5 hours from Baku |
| Shahdag | A mountain resort for skiing in winter and nature and cable cars in summer. | Northern Azerbaijan |
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| The Tree of Life | A lone tree that has stood in the desert for about 400 years. | South Bahrain |
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| Khor Al Adaid (the Inland Sea) | Sand dunes that meet the sea, with 4x4 desert safaris. | South Qatar, about 1.5 hours from Doha |
| Al Thakhira mangroves | Kayaking among the mangroves and the birds. | North of Doha |
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| New Alamein | White beaches, turquoise water and modern towers on the Mediterranean, a much-loved summer destination. | West of Alexandria, on the coast |
| Ras Mohammed National Park | One of the world's finest diving sites, with coral reefs and colourful fish. | South of Sharm El Sheikh |
| Giftun Island | White sand and clear water on a boat trip from Hurghada. | Off Hurghada |
| Wadi El Rayan | Waterfalls between two lakes in the middle of the desert, a lovely outing in winter. | Fayoum, about 2.5 hours from Cairo |
| The White Desert | White rock formations that look like snow, and nights under a sky full of stars. | Near the Farafra oasis |
| Siwa Oasis | Salt lakes, springs and palm groves, and the old mud-brick Shali fortress. | Western Egypt, near the Libyan border |
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| The cable car and the SkyBridge | A cable car to the top of Mount Mat Cincang, and a curved bridge above the forest with views of the sea and islands. | Closed on Wednesday mornings for maintenance, and in heavy rain |
| The Kilim mangroves | A boat ride through mangroves, caves and sea eagles, in a UNESCO Global Geopark. | North-east of the island |
| The Seven Wells waterfalls (Telaga Tujuh) | Waterfalls tumbling over seven natural pools in the forest. | Near the cable car station |
| Cenang beach | The island's best-known beach, with its restaurants and lovely sunsets. | West of the island |
| Penang Hill | A funicular up to wide views over the island, and a walkway among the treetops. | Penang |
| Mount Kinabalu | Malaysia's highest mountain, in a World Heritage national park of forests and rare flowers. | Sabah, on the island of Borneo |
| The islands off Kota Kinabalu | Nearby islands with clear water for swimming and snorkelling. | Off Kota Kinabalu, Sabah |
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| The Cameron Highlands | Green tea plantations, mild weather and strawberry farms. | About 3 hours by car |
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| Chamonix and the Aiguille du Midi | A cable car up to 3,842 metres facing Mont Blanc, the highest peak in the Alps. | Chamonix-Mont-Blanc |
| Lake Annecy | One of the clearest lakes in Europe, beside an old town laced with canals. | About an hour from Geneva |
| The lavender fields of Valensole | Purple plains filled with fragrance in the flowering season. | Roughly late June to mid-July |
| The Verdon Gorge | A deep canyon of turquoise water, with boat and kayak trips on Lake Sainte-Croix. | Haute-Provence |
| The cliffs of Étretat | White rock arches above the sea, one of the loveliest coasts in France. | Normandy |
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| Kazbegi (Stepantsminda) | A mountain village beneath the towering Caucasus peaks, with some of Georgia's finest scenery. | About 3 hours from Tbilisi |
| Gudauri and Ananuri Fortress | A ski resort in winter and paragliding in summer, with Ananuri Fortress on the Zhinvali reservoir on the way. | On the road to Kazbegi |
| Martvili Canyon | Emerald waters, waterfalls and boat rides between the rocks. | Imereti region |
| Prometheus Cave | Lit cave halls and a boat ride on an underground river. | Near Kutaisi |
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| Marbella and the Costa del Sol | Beaches, the luxury Puerto Banús marina and seafront restaurants. | Southern Spain |
| Ronda and its bridge | A town on the edge of a deep gorge, with a towering stone bridge across it. | Between Marbella and Seville |
| Monasterio de Piedra Natural Park | Waterfalls, lakes and caves in a green forest. | Zaragoza, about 2.5 hours from Madrid |
| The Sierra Nevada | Snow-capped peaks for winter skiing, close to Granada. | About an hour from Granada |
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| Lake Como | Colourful villages on a lake between the mountains, about an hour from Milan. | Northern Italy |
| Lake Garda | Italy's largest lake, with its villages and beaches. | Between Milan and Venice |
| The Amalfi Coast | Colourful towns on cliffs above the sea. | South of Naples |
| The Dolomites | Stunning rock peaks and clear mountain lakes. | North-east Italy |
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| The Jungfraujoch (Top of Europe) | A train to Europe's highest railway station at 3,454 metres, with snow all year. | From Interlaken |
| Harder Kulm | A funicular to a viewpoint over Lakes Brienz and Thun. | Interlaken |
| The Trümmelbach and Staubbach falls | Waterfalls inside the mountain and others dropping from the cliff in the Lauterbrunnen valley. | Lauterbrunnen |
| Lake Brienz | Turquoise water between the mountains, with boat trips. | Near Interlaken |
| Mount Titlis | A rotating cable car, a suspension bridge over the glacier and an ice cave. | Engelberg, about an hour from Lucerne |
| Mount Pilatus | The world's steepest cogwheel railway, with views over the lake. | Near Lucerne |
| The Rhine Falls | One of Europe's largest waterfalls, which you can approach by boat. | Schaffhausen, about 40 minutes from Zurich |
| Zermatt and the Matterhorn | A car-free mountain village beneath the famous Matterhorn peak. | Southern Switzerland |
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| Hallstatt | A lakeside village between the mountains, one of Europe's prettiest. | About 1.5 hours from Salzburg |
| Lake Zell | A clear lake between the mountains, with boat trips and a lakeside promenade. | Zell am See |
| The Kitzsteinhorn glacier | A cable car to a glacier summit with snow all year. | Kaprun |
| The Krimml Waterfalls | Austria's highest waterfalls, dropping in several stages over about 380 metres. | About an hour from Zell am See |
| The Grossglockner High Alpine Road | An Alpine road with views of Austria's highest peak and its glacier. | Open in the warm season |
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| The Trebević cable car | A cable car up Mount Trebević with views over the city. | Sarajevo |
| The Kravice waterfalls | Wide waterfalls dropping into a green lake, lovely for a summer swim. | Near Ljubuški, about 40 minutes from Mostar |
| The Buna spring at Blagaj | A powerful spring emerging from beneath a towering cliff. | Blagaj, near Mostar |
| The Jajce waterfall | A waterfall pouring through the heart of the old town. | Jajce |
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| Wadi Darbat | A lake and waterfalls flowing among the greenery in the khareef season. | The waterfalls flow in the khareef |
| Ain Razat and Ain Athum | Springs among the rocks and trees, quiet places for families. | East of Salalah |
| Mughsail beach and its blowholes | A wide beach with sea spouts shooting up through the rocks. | West of Salalah |
| Jebel Akhdar | Terraced farms, mountain villages and mild summer weather. | About 2 hours from Muscat; the road needs a 4x4 |
| Wadi Shab | A wadi with turquoise water between the mountains and pools for swimming. | About 2 hours from Muscat |
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| The Ouzoud waterfalls | Some of Morocco's most beautiful waterfalls, tumbling between red rocks and trees. | About 3 hours from Marrakech |
| The Ourika Valley and the Atlas Mountains | Berber villages, streams and small waterfalls on the Atlas slopes. | About an hour from Marrakech |
| The Merzouga dunes | Towering golden dunes and camps under the stars. | South-east Morocco |
| The Caves of Hercules | An ocean cave with an opening shaped like the map of Africa. | Near Tangier |
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| The Phi Phi islands | Islands with clear water and colourful reefs, visited on a day trip by boat. | By boat from Phuket or Krabi |
| Phang Nga Bay | Towering limestone rocks rising from the sea, with boat and kayak trips. | North-east of Phuket |
| Kata and Karon beaches | Quiet beaches that suit families. | South-west Phuket |
| Railay beach | A beach between limestone cliffs, reached only by boat. | Near Ao Nang |
| The Four Islands tour | A boat trip between small islands and beaches for swimming and snorkelling. | From Ao Nang |
| The Emerald Pool | A natural pool of clear green water in the forest. | About an hour from Ao Nang |
| The Erawan waterfalls | Seven tiers of waterfalls and turquoise pools in the forest. | Kanchanaburi, about 3 hours from Bangkok |
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| The Tegallalang rice terraces | Green terraces stepping down the valley near Ubud. | Ubud |
| The Tegenungan and Sekumpul waterfalls | Waterfalls tumbling through the tropical forest. | Central and northern Bali |
| Nusa Penida | An island of stunning cliffs and beaches, the best known being Kelingking. | By boat from Bali |
| Mount Batur | A volcano you climb at dawn to watch the sunrise over the lake. | North-east Bali |
| Mount Bromo | Sunrise over a volcanic crater in a sea of sand. | East Java |
| Lombok and the Gili islands | White beaches and clear water for snorkelling, calmer than Bali. | East of Bali |
| Komodo National Park | Home of the Komodo dragon, with pink beaches and reef diving. | Eastern Indonesia |
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| Lake Königssee | An emerald lake between towering mountains, with electric boat trips. | Berchtesgaden |
| The Zugspitze | Germany's highest peak, reached by train or cable car. | Garmisch |
| The Triberg waterfalls | Among Germany's highest waterfalls, dropping through the forest. | Triberg |
| Lake Titisee | A quiet lake among the forests, with a village of shops and cafés. | Southern Black Forest |
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| The Oia sunset | The world's most famous sunset over the caldera and the white houses. | North of the island |
| A caldera boat trip | A cruise around the volcano and its warm springs. | From the old port |
| The Red Beach | A beach beneath rare red cliffs. | South of the island |
| Crete and Elafonissi beach | The largest Greek island, and a beach of pink sand. | Southern Greece |
| Corfu | A green island of beaches and clear bays. | Western Greece |
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| Giethoorn | A village where you travel by boat along its canals, between houses and wooden bridges. | North-east Netherlands |
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| Pravčická brána | Europe's largest natural sandstone arch. | Bohemian Switzerland National Park |
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| Your resort's house reef | Most resorts are ringed by reefs you can snorkel straight from the beach. | Ask your resort about snorkelling gear |
| Hanifaru Bay | Gatherings of manta rays in the Baa Atoll biosphere reserve. | Baa Atoll; the season runs roughly June to November |
| South Ari Atoll | One of the best-known places to see whale sharks. | All year |
| Sandbanks | A picnic on a strip of sand in the middle of the sea. | On a trip from your resort |
| A sunset dolphin cruise | A boat trip to watch the dolphins. | On a trip from your resort |
| Hulhumalé beach | A public beach near the airport, handy for the first or last night. | Hulhumalé |
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| Lake Kawaguchi | One of the finest views of Mount Fuji, clearest in autumn and winter. | About 2 hours from Tokyo |
| Hakone | A ropeway over a volcanic valley, a boat across Lake Ashi, and hot springs. | About 1.5 hours from Tokyo |
| The Arashiyama bamboo grove | A path between towering bamboo stalks filtering the light, best early in the morning before the crowds. | West Kyoto |
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| Nami Island | An island on the river with famous tree-lined paths, loveliest in autumn. | About 1.5 hours from Seoul |
| Sunrise Peak (Seongsan Ilchulbong) | A volcanic crater on the sea, at its finest at sunrise, on the World Heritage list. | East Jeju |
| The Jeongbang and Cheonjiyeon waterfalls | Waterfalls among the greenery; Jeongbang falls straight into the sea. | Seogwipo, south Jeju |
| Hallasan | South Korea's highest mountain, with hiking trails through the forest. | The summit needs a free permit booked in advance |
| Haeundae beach | Korea's best-known beach, with its long promenade and towers. | East Busan |
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| The Zhangjiajie mountains | Towering stone pillars topped with forest in the mist, and a glass bridge over the canyon. | Hunan province |
| The Li River between Guilin and Yangshuo | A river cruise between green karst peaks, one of China's most beautiful landscapes. | Guangxi |
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| Sochi and Rosa Khutor | A city on the Black Sea, with a mountain resort above it for skiing in winter and cable cars and walks in summer. | Southern Russia |
| The northern lights in Murmansk and Teriberka | Green lights dancing in the sky above the Barents Sea. | Roughly September to March |
| Lake Baikal | The world's deepest lake, with crystal-clear water that freezes like glass in winter. | Siberia, near Irkutsk |
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| My Khe beach | A long beach of warm water, one of the best known in Vietnam. | Da Nang |
| The Marble Mountains | Five marble hills with caves and views of the sea. | Between Da Nang and Hoi An |
| Ha Long Bay | Thousands of limestone islands on emerald water, best seen on an overnight cruise. | About 2.5 hours from Hanoi |
| Trang An in Ninh Binh | A boat trip between karst peaks and through caves, on the World Heritage list. | About 2 hours from Hanoi |
| Sapa and Fansipan | Green rice terraces in the mountains, and a cable car to the highest peak in Indochina. | North-west Vietnam |
| Phu Quoc | White beaches, and a long cable car over the sea to Hon Thom island. | South Vietnam |
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| The train from Kandy to Ella | One of the world's most beautiful train journeys, through tea estates and past waterfalls. | About 6 to 7 hours |
| The Nine Arch Bridge | A stone bridge in the forest with the train crossing it in a famous scene. | Ella |
| Ravana Falls | A waterfall beside the mountain road, easy to reach. | Near Ella |
| Nuwara Eliya | Green tea estates, cool weather and visits to the tea factories. | In the mountains |
| Yala National Park | Safaris to see leopards, elephants and birds, one of Asia's best-known reserves. | South-east Sri Lanka; parts close in the dry season |
| Mirissa and whale watching | A lovely beach and boat trips to see blue whales. | Season roughly November to April |
| Bentota | Resorts on a golden beach beside a calm river. | South-west coast |
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| El Nido | Boat trips between turquoise lagoons and beaches hidden among the limestone cliffs. | North Palawan |
| Coron | The crystal-clear Kayangan Lake between the mountains, and diving around shipwrecks. | North Palawan |
| The Puerto Princesa Underground River | A boat ride along a river flowing through a long cave, on the World Heritage list. | With a permit booked in advance |
| Boracay's White Beach | One of the world's best-known beaches, with soft sand and enchanting sunsets. | Boracay |
| The Chocolate Hills | Hundreds of near-identical hills that turn brown in the dry season. | Bohol |
| Kawasan Falls | Turquoise waterfalls in the forest, and an adventure jumping between the pools. | South Cebu |
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| Ngong Ping 360 | A cable car ride over the sea and the green mountains of Lantau Island. | Tung Chung, near the airport |
| The Dragon's Back trail | An easy ridge walk with views of the beaches. | South-east Hong Kong Island |
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| Big Almaty Lake | A turquoise lake between snowy peaks, one of the finest sights in Central Asia. | The road is closed to private cars, and swimming is banned |
| Medeu and Shymbulak | A high-altitude ice rink in the mountains, and a cable car to the Shymbulak resort for skiing in winter and views in summer. | About 30 minutes from central Almaty |
| Kok Tobe | A cable car from the city centre to a view over Almaty and the mountains, with rides for children. | Almaty |
| Charyn Canyon | A red rock canyon reminiscent of the Grand Canyon, with a path between the rocks. | About 3 hours from Almaty |
| The Kolsai lakes and Lake Kaindy | Mountain lakes among spruce forests; Kaindy has trees standing in the water. | About 5 hours from Almaty |
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| The Chimgan mountains and Charvak Lake | Green mountains and a wide lake close to the capital. | About 2 hours from Tashkent |
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| Cabo da Roca | The westernmost point of mainland Europe, with towering cliffs above the ocean. | Near Sintra |
| Benagil cave | A sea cave with an opening in its roof that lets the sun onto a small beach. | By licensed boat or guided kayak only; landing on its beach is banned |
| Ponta da Piedade | Golden cliffs and rocks above turquoise water. | Lagos |
| Marinha beach | One of Europe's most beautiful beaches, between golden rocks. | Near Benagil |
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| Lake Balaton | The largest lake in Central Europe, with beaches and summer towns. | About 1.5 hours from Budapest |
| The Danube Bend | Green hills and historic towns where the river curves, such as Szentendre and Visegrád. | About an hour from Budapest |
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| The Kasprowy Wierch cable car | Up to the Tatra peaks, with views over Poland and Slovakia. | Zakopane |
| Gubałówka | A funicular to views over the town and the mountains, and a gift market. | Zakopane |
| Morskie Oko | An emerald mountain lake between the peaks, one of Poland's finest sights. | About a 9 km walk from the car park |
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| The beaches and islets of Ksamil | Crystal-clear turquoise water and small islands close to the shore. | South of Sarandë |
| The Blue Eye | A deep spring of enchanting blue in the middle of the forest. | Between Sarandë and Gjirokastër |
| The Albanian Riviera | The beaches of Dhërmi and Himarë below the mountains, and a mountain road with superb views over the Llogara Pass. | Between Vlorë and Sarandë |
| The Dajti Express cable car | A cable car up Mount Dajti with views over the whole of Tirana. | East Tirana |
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| The northern lights in Tromsø | One of the best places in the world to see the aurora, on night trips away from the city lights. | Roughly September to April |
| The Fjellheisen cable car | Up Mount Storsteinen, with views over Tromsø and the islands. | Tromsø |
| The Lofoten islands | Sharp mountains rising from the sea, and fishing villages of red houses. | North Norway |
| The Geirangerfjord | A deep fjord between towering mountains and waterfalls, on the World Heritage list. | West Norway |
| The Flåm Railway and the Nærøyfjord | One of the world's most beautiful train journeys, then a boat trip through a narrow fjord. | Between Bergen and Oslo |
| Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen) | A flat rock 600 metres above the fjord, on a lovely hiking trail. | Near Stavanger |
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| Husky and reindeer rides | Sleds pulled by dogs or reindeer through the snowy forests. | Lapland, in winter |
| Glass igloos | A night in a glass-roofed cabin, watching the northern lights from your bed. | Rovaniemi, Saariselkä and Levi |
| The Lakeland and Saimaa | Thousands of lakes among the forests, and wooden cabins on the water in summer. | East Finland |
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| Geysir and Strokkur | A hot spring that shoots water high into the air every few minutes. | The Golden Circle |
| Gullfoss | A giant two-tiered waterfall in a deep canyon. | The Golden Circle |
| Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss | Two famous waterfalls; at Seljalandsfoss you walk behind the falls on a rocky path. | About 2 hours from Reykjavík |
| Reynisfjara black beach | Black sand and basalt columns above the ocean. | Near Vík; beware of sudden waves |
| The Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon | Blue icebergs floating in a lagoon, and Diamond Beach with chunks of ice on black sand. | South-east Iceland |
| The Blue Lagoon | Turquoise geothermal water among black lava fields. | Near the airport; may close briefly when there is volcanic activity nearby |
| Kirkjufell | Iceland's most famous mountain, with its cone shape and small waterfall. | The Snæfellsnes peninsula |
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| The archipelago | Boat trips among thousands of green islands. | From Stockholm harbour |
| Abisko and the northern lights | One of the best places in the world to see the aurora, with clear skies on most winter nights. | Roughly September to March |
| The Icehotel | A hotel built of ice every winter, part of which is open all year. | Jukkasjärvi, near Kiruna |
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| Lake Sevan | A wide mountain lake of blue water, one of the largest high-altitude lakes in the world. | About an hour from Yerevan |
| Dilijan | A town among dense forests and mountains, called the Switzerland of Armenia. | About 2 hours from Yerevan |
| The Wings of Tatev cable car | One of the longest cable cars in the world, crossing a deep gorge with stunning views. | South Armenia, about 4 hours from Yerevan |
| Tsaghkadzor resort | A mountain resort for skiing in winter, and cable car rides and walks in summer. | About an hour from Yerevan |
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| Issyk-Kul and Cholpon-Ata | One of the largest mountain lakes in the world, which never freezes, with beaches and resorts on its north shore. | About 4 hours from Bishkek |
| Fairy Tale Canyon (Skazka) | Colourful rocks in strange shapes near the lake's south shore. | South of Issyk-Kul |
| The Jeti-Oguz rocks | Towering red rocks and green valleys near Karakol. | Near Karakol |
| Ala-Kul lake | A turquoise lake between the peaks, reached by keen hikers on a mountain trek. | A trek from Karakol, in summer |
| Ala Archa National Park | A green mountain valley with hiking trails, rivers and snowy peaks. | About 40 minutes from Bishkek |
| Song-Kol lake | A lake in a wide mountain pasture, with nights in traditional nomad yurts. | Central Kyrgyzstan, June to September |
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| Hammamet and Sousse | Golden beaches and resorts, and the walled old town of Sousse. | The east coast |
| Djerba | A quiet island of beaches, white houses and traditional markets. | The south-east |
| Douz and Tozeur | The gateway to the Sahara, with camel rides, palm oases and dunes. | The south-west |
| Chott el Djerid | A vast salt lake that shimmers in different colours at sunrise. | Between Tozeur and Douz |
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| Table Mountain | A rotating cable car up to a flat summit with views over the city and the ocean, one of the New7Wonders of Nature. | Stops in strong wind |
| The Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point | Towering cliffs at the tip of the continent, and a lighthouse looking out over the ocean. | About 1.5 hours from Cape Town |
| Boulders Beach | A colony of African penguins among giant boulders. | Simon's Town |
| Kruger National Park | One of Africa's best-known reserves for lions, elephants and giraffes. | North-east South Africa |
| The Garden Route | A coastal road through forests, lagoons and beaches, from Knysna to Tsitsikamma. | The south coast, east of Cape Town |
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| The Masai Mara | Africa's best-known reserve, home to the Great Migration as millions of animals cross the plains and rivers. | The migration runs roughly July to October |
| Amboseli | Herds of elephants in front of the snowy summit of Kilimanjaro. | South Kenya |
| Lakes Nakuru and Naivasha | Flamingos and rhinos at Nakuru, and boat rides among the hippos at Naivasha. | The Rift Valley, north-west of Nairobi |
| Nairobi National Park | Lions and giraffes against the city's towers, minutes from the centre. | South Nairobi |
| The elephant orphanage (Sheldrick) | Watch orphaned baby elephants at feeding time. | Daily 11 am to noon, by advance booking only |
| The Giraffe Centre | Get close to the giraffes and feed them from a raised platform. | Lang'ata, Nairobi |
| Diani beach | White sand and turquoise water lined with palm trees. | South of Mombasa |
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| Prison Island (Changuu) | Giant, long-lived tortoises on a small island nearby. | About 30 minutes by boat |
| Nungwi and Kendwa | The island's loveliest beaches in the north, good for swimming most of the time. | North Zanzibar |
| Paje beach | White sand and wide tides, a favourite for wind sports. | East Zanzibar |
| Mnemba Atoll | Snorkelling trips among reefs and colourful fish, and sometimes dolphins. | North-east Zanzibar |
| Jozani Forest | A tropical forest home to the rare red colobus monkey. | Central Zanzibar |
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| Anse Source d'Argent | One of the world's best-known beaches, with pink granite boulders and shallow water. | La Digue |
| Anse Lazio | An enchanting beach of turquoise water between the rocks. | North Praslin |
| Cycling on La Digue | A quiet island you get around by bike, between beaches and giant tortoises. | La Digue |
| Beau Vallon beach | A long, calm beach that suits swimming and families. | North-west Mahé |
| Sainte Anne Marine Park | Glass-bottom boat trips and snorkelling over the reefs. | Off Mahé |
| Morne Seychellois National Park | Green mountains and hiking trails with views over the islands. | Central Mahé |
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|
| The Seven Coloured Earth and Chamarel falls | Small dunes in seven colours, beside a waterfall plunging into a green gorge. | Chamarel |
| Black River Gorges National Park | Forests, gorges and hiking trails with views of the waterfalls. | South-west of the island |
| Île aux Cerfs | White sand, calm water and water sports, reached by boat. | The east coast |
| Grand Baie | A lively bay of beaches, boat trips and shopping. | North of the island |
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The information is for guidance only; ticket prices and opening hours are set by each attraction and may change, so check them on the official website before you go.
