Khinaliq is a high-mountain village in northern Azerbaijan, situated in the Greater Caucasus Mountains at an elevation of more than 2,000 meters. The village is built on steep slopes above the Qudyalchay valley, with tightly packed stone houses rising in terraces along the mountainside. Surrounding peaks, alpine meadows, rocky ridges, and deep valleys create a rugged landscape shaped by the high-altitude environment.
This mountainous archipelago offers magnificent views of stark white glaciers and snowfields, which cover a vast stretch of the region. Arctic flora and fauna fascinate; catch a glimpse of polar bears, reindeer, arctic foxes, and walruses amongst the mossy tundra and icy coasts. In the summer, visitors will witness the rare splendor of Svalbard’s midnight sun.
Tsavo East National Park is one of Kenya’s largest protected areas, covering about 13,747 square kilometres in the country’s southeast. Its landscape is largely semi-arid, with open plains, scrub, rocky outcrops, and river corridors shaped by the Tsavo, Athi, Galana, and Voi rivers. The park is particularly associated with its dust-red elephants, whose appearance comes from the animals coating themselves in the park’s distinctive red soil.
The largest virgin tract of rainforest in Australia (and the second largest in the world), this lush, tropical World Heritage area is a living testimonial to the ancient rainforests which once covered the earth's surface. Cool forest streams, primitive rainforests, stunning mountain scenery and abundant wildlife - a naturalists and bird watchers paradise.
Cusco once served as the heart of the Inca Empire, and that legacy still shapes every corner of the city even as it serves as a gateway to Machu Picchu. Outside the historic center, the ruins of Sacsayhuamán overlook the city from a nearby hilltop. This ceremonial complex is best known for its massive zigzag stone walls, some weighing over 100 tons. During the Inti Raymi festival in June, thousands gather here to reenact ancient Andean rituals.
Lalibela is the name of the township which King Lalibela, later canonized, ruled in the 12th century. At his command, eleven monolithic churches were hewn out of living rock. The churches are unique because they are not carved into rock but were freed from it entirely. A large area was chosen for the construction, trenches cut around it and the remaining solid block of rock then cut inside. The churches, many of them connected from tunnels, stand on either side of a river which the villagers of Lalibela call Jordan.
Other Popular Destinations in Ethiopia
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital of Ethiopia and a highland city set at the foot of the Entoto Mountains. Its elevated setting gives the city a relatively cool climate compared with much of the country, while broad avenues, busy neighborhoods, green hills, and expanding modern districts create a varied urban landscape. Addis Ababa is also the headquarters of the African Union and hosts numerous international organizations, giving it an important diplomatic role across the continent.
Bahir Dar
A small town located on the shores of Lake Tana (Ethiopia's largest). Visit the ancient monestaries, the beautiful Tissisiat Falls (30km) and the place where the 'Blue Nile' creates smoking waters.