The southernmost island in the crescent-shaped Comoros archipelago. Encircled by a barrier reef, Mayotte is blessed with one of the world's perfect lagoons. In its lush forests, the fragrant yellow flowers of the ylang-ylang tree are picked to extract their perfumed oil. Against a backdrop of waterfalls and volcanic peaks on Mayotte, there is a feeling of rural tranquility.
Helsingør is a historic port town on Denmark’s northeastern Zealand coast, facing the narrow Øresund strait toward Sweden. Its waterfront setting has long shaped the town, with ferries, maritime traffic, and views across the water forming part of everyday life. The compact center contains narrow streets, colorful historic buildings, and squares surrounding the town’s main landmarks.
Tombstone Territorial Park is a protected wilderness area in central Yukon, north of Dawson City along the Dempster Highway. The park covers a large section of the North Klondike River region, where rugged mountains, broad valleys, tundra, and black spruce forests create a landscape unlike the lower-elevation country farther south.
Lead’s Main Street reflects its long history with places that invite people to explore local life beyond mining. The Black Hills Mining Museum offers displays of mining tools, machinery and a simulated underground mine experience that brings to life how miners worked the Black Hills over generations. Along the same street, galleries, cafés and historic buildings make for pleasant stops between deeper dives into the past.
San Gimignano, a stunning medieval hilltop town in Tuscany, Italy, is often called the "Medieval Manhattan" due to its remarkable skyline of ancient towers. Encircled by 13th-century walls, the town is a UNESCO World Heritage site that offers a mesmerizing journey back in time. As you stroll along the cobbled streets of the historic center, you'll be enchanted by the preserved Romanesque and Gothic architecture, from charming piazzas to grand churches.
Medan (pop 1.5 million) is the capital of north Sumatra and the third largest city in Indonesia. It is a huge, sprawling city and a popular entry/exit point for travellers. The solid Dutch buildings of the affluent older suburbs inspire images of bloated bureaucrats and burghers from the colonial era, while jerry-built lean-tos house the bulk of its population.
The city's two finest buildings are the Istana Maimoon (Maimoun Palace) and the magnificent black-domed Mesjid Raya. There are some fine examples of European architecture along Jalan Sukarno-Hatta, such as Bank Indonesia and the High Court. There are a number of museums, including the Museum of North Sumatra, which has excellent coverage
of the region's culture and history, and the weaponry-and-warfare-influenced Bukit Barisan Military Museum. Cultural performances can be seen at Taman Budaya.
Much of the budget accommodation is close to the city centre. Jalan Semarang, a small street between Jalan Pandu and Jalan Bandung, has great food stalls offering Indonesian and Chinese meals late into the night.
Other Popular Destinations in Indonesia
Ubud
Ubud lies in the uplands of central Bali and has long been regarded as the island’s cultural and spiritual heart. Historically a center for healing and royal patronage, the town developed around temples, palaces, and traditional villages that supported dance, painting, woodcarving, and ritual life.
Jakarta
Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, is a city where centuries of history meet modern energy. Located on the island of Java, it has long been a hub for trade and culture, drawing influences from across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.