Whether exploring ancient ruins, spotting wildlife along the dramatic coastline, or simply soaking in the calmness of this unique destination, the Shetlands provide a truly extraordinary travel experience.
On Cook Strait sits Wellington, New Zealand's charming windy city. Must-sees here include the waterfront, the lovely beaches, and the Wellington Cable Car that takes riders to botanical gardens. For cultural exposure, visit The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, with its Maori national treasures and art gallery. Wellington Zoo is another key attraction, and features Tahi, a one-legged kiwi, as its mascot.
Maui is a Hawaiian paradise offering an incredible variety of landscapes, experiences, and cultural traditions. Known for its valleys, beaches, and volcanic peaks, Maui attracts visitors who want to immerse themselves in nature and Hawaiian heritage. The island’s crown jewel is Haleakalā National Park, where the massive dormant volcano provides beautiful scenery and unforgettable sunrise views. Visitors can hike through the park or stargaze under one of the clearest night skies in the world.
Khasab stands at the edge of Oman’s Musandam Peninsula, where rocky inlets carve into the land like desert fjords and earning it the nickname "Norway of Arabia." A short dhow ride uncovers soaring cliffs and narrow waterways, often mirrored by pods of dolphins gliding beside the wooden vessel. These traditional dhows, used for centuries by traders, now carry visitors into those coastal arms for snorkeling, swimming, and quiet reflection.
The Lemaire Channel is a spectacular sight with enormous sheer cliffs falling straight into the sea. It's a narrow channel flanked by the Antarctic Peninsula on one side and Booth Island on the other. So photogenic is the channel that it's nicknamed 'Kodak Gap', and it's only once you're well within it that a way through is visible. Unfortunately, ice can sometimes obscure the path and ships need to retreat and sail around Booth Island. At the northern end of Lemaire Channel are a pair of tall, rounded and often snow-capped peaks known as Una's Tits that are also popular with holiday snappers. The channel was first navigated by Belgian explorer de Gerlache during his 1898 expedition aboard Belgica, and, curiously, named it after the Belgian explorer Charles Lemaire, who explored parts of the Congo.
Other Popular Destinations in Antarctica
Antarctica
No place on Earth quite compares to Antarctica, this stunning and vast continent is cold and windy, containing 90% of the ice in the world. Those who brave a visit here are rewarded with beautiful glaciers that must be seen to be believed, and a vast array of wildlife such as whales, penguins, Arctic foxes and seals.
Drake Passage
Drake Passage is a stretch of ocean between Cape Horn at the southern tip of South America and the South Shetland Islands near Antarctica. It connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and is widely known for rough seas, powerful currents, and rapidly changing weather.