Bujar I Gashi
Europe´s newest independent country – just 18 years old – is small, youthful, and still something of a blank spot on the European travel map, without the polished tourism industry of neighboring Croatia or Greece. But that’s exactly a key part of its appeal: Kosovo feels real, raw, and a little bit undiscovered. Plus with a population of roughly 1.8 million and slightly smaller than Wales and the U.S. state of Connecticut, it´s compact enough to explore easily, yet varied enough
unesco world heritage sites (37)
For sheer human energy, few countries can match this one. Dense, river-laced, green, noisy, resilient, and often misunderstood, Bangladesh sits tucked into the northeastern corner of the Indian Ocean, almost enveloped by India, with a shorter border to Myanmar and a coastline on the Bay of Bengal. Long dismissed abroad as a place of floods, poverty, repression, and exploitative garment factories, Bangladesh is increasingly emerging as something more interesting: one of Asia’s great undervisite
First off, the current conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran has spilled over into various other countries in the Middle East, and Iraq is one of them, particularly in capital Baghdad, parts of which have been targeted in retaliatory strikes by Iran and militias aligned with it. But while it´s definitely unsafe to travel to at the moment, once the crisis passes, this is a country that any curious traveler—particularly one interested in history—should visit. Because Iraq
Guatemala´s "place of voices" is the largest of the ancient Mayan cities of the Classic period. Its monumental scale can still be admired, transporting us back in time to the era between 250 and 909 when it became one of the main cultural centers of the Mayan civilisation which today spans four other countries besides Guatemala (Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, and Mexico).
It has more than 3,000 structures spread across an area of 16 square kilometres (just over six sq. miles) with
Wallonie, Belgium’s French-speaking south, occupies about 55 percent of the country’s land area yet is home to only around 3.7 million people—less than a third of the national population. Consisting of five provinces, it has been long shaped by coal mining and heavy industry and has faced decades of economic difficulty, and its cities lack the international polish and visibility of Flemish destinations like Antwerp, Brugge (Bruges), Ghent, and Leuven. But that relative obscurity is p
Adam Smigielski
In good part because of its long civil war (from 1983 to 2009), this mostly Buddhist island nation of 22 million, located in the Indian Ocean to the southeast of India, is afflicted by overtourism yet is now attracting increasing numbers of visitors thanks to an amazing trove of sights and experiences, from coconut-palm-fringed beaches (some of which are great for surfing!); lush tea plantations; exciting wildlife-spotting safaris; a delectable cuisine; and friendly locals not
Zairon
This wealthy Persian Gulf kingdom - an archipelago of one large island and dozens of smaller ones off the coast of Saudi Arabia (and connected to it by causeway - is one of the Middle East´s smallest countries – packing a population of 1.6 million into a territory just a fifth the size of Wales and smaller even than the U.S. state of Rhode Island – you can drive across the main island in just under an hour. But it also boasts one of the region´s longest inhabited histories. stretching b
This landlocked country in South America´s Southern Cone is the continent´s biggest “blank space” for travelers. About the size of California and just under twice the size of Britain, but fairly sparsely populated, with a population of some seven million, it gets a fraction of the travelers welcomed by neighbors like Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Peru. The reason is that it doesn´t have the “star power” and marquee attractions that pull most first-time visitors. Paraguay’s appeal is d
This small North African country (pop. 12.3 million) is perhaps most famous as home in classical antiquity to the capital and heartland of the Phoenician-founded Carthaginian Empire, which lasted some 670 years until razed by Rome, and at its height ruled all of coastal North Africa as well as large swaths of present-day Spain and southern Italy. Today, however, it´s only as big as Florida and about two-thirds the size of England
After 75 years under French colonial rule, Tuni
UNESCO
An anomaly in South America, the continent´s only country where Dutch is spoken, and it’s also one of the continent’s smallest and least visited—roughly the size of the U.S. state of Georgia and a bit more than England and Wales put together — with a population of 630,000. Most Surinamese live along the Atlantic Ocean coast, especially in the capital Paramaribo, and the interior consists of vast Amazonian rainforest, sparsely populated and even roadless in many areas.
The region was exp
Ali mjr
Covering around 35 acres, this carefully planned ceremonial complex is a powerful symbol of ancient Persian civilization,. It´s located in Fars Province in the south, at the foot of the Kuh-e Rahmat (“Mountain of Mercy”) a one-hour drive from Shiraz and roughly ten to 12 hours from Tehran, depending on traffic and road conditions (there are also regular 90-minute flights between Tehran and Shiraz).
Founded around 518 BCE by Darius I, Persepolis served as the ceremonial he
Ousmane Garba Kounta
With a population of around 22 million, this vast landlocked country in West Africa is a bit larger than California and Texas combined, and about five times the size of the entire United Kingdom. It´s a place of sweeping Sahel landscapes, ancient cities, and extraordinary cultural depth, with a climate ranging from hot, dry desert in the north to semi-arid and tropical zones farther south. Travelers visit for its legendary heritage—Timbuktu, Djenné, Dogon Country—its music
If you're looking for an exciting place to spend your next holidays, allow us to suggest one of the world's most interesting and welcoming countries. Located in the northwest of South America astride both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Colombia and its people will make you feel welcome and at home whilst you discover amazing new sights, sounds, flavours, and experiences. Here's how:
Fascinatin' Rhythms
The mix of cultures in this country has given rise to some 150 genres of musi
José Balido
In 2021, UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation) honoured Spain´s capital with its first World Heritage Site designation, elevating Madrid to the ranks of destinations with districts or monuments worth preserving for future generations (the larger Madrid community surrounding the capital already had UNESCO sites, including the royal sites of El Escorial and Aranjuez, which make marvelous day trips).
The city´s leafy Paseo del Prado boulevard,
Honduras is one of Central America’s most underrated destinations. While many travelers rush to its neighbors, Honduras quietly offers a rich mix of Caribbean beauty, Mayan history, tropical rainforests, and authentic local culture. Whether you’re planning an adventurous backpacking trip or a family vacation, Honduras has plenty to offer for every kind of traveler.
Why Travel to Honduras?
Honduras is blessed with diverse landscapes—from turquoise beaches and coral reefs along the Caribbean Sea t
Mariaplr
Hugging Spain's upper border with Portugal, the autonomous community of Extremadura, composed of the provinces of Cáceres and Badajoz, is well known to other Spaniards as a proud land of strong traditions; rich history; distinguished cuisine; and fascinating historic, architectural, and natural riches.
In fact, in particular this is considered one of the country's under-the-radar eco-paradises, with extensive and dramatic valleys, plains, and natural parks that attract nature-lovers
Palestine´s West Bank - a territory of just under 2,200 square miles with a population of 4.2 million, wedged betwen Israel and Jordan - has long been a trove of history and culture enjoyed by millions of visitors in recent decades, especially those attracted to biblical history (mostly but far from exclusively Christians from around the world). But beginning in the fall of 2023, Israel responded to the brutal murders and kidnappings of more than a thousand of its citizens by Gaza´
A British Overseas Territory with a land area of just 21 square miles – the size of a middling city anywhere in the world – and a population of 73,000, Bermuda is named after its original discoverer, Spanish explorer Juan de Bermúdez. It has been settled for 412 years and has been a popular tourist destination – especially for those in the United States, for whom it´s a flight of just over two hours from the East Coast – since the 1880´s, when the Hamilton Hotel (now the Fairmont
Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula is home to some of the most fascinating remnants of the ancient Maya civilization, and among them, the Tulum ruins stand out as a spectacular destination that combines history, culture, and breathtaking coastal scenery. Nestled on a cliff overlooking the turquoise Caribbean Sea, the Tulum archaeological site offers visitors a unique glimpse into the past while providing stunning natural beauty. For travelers interested in exploring ancient mysteries, a Tulum Ruins tou
