Darjeeling sits along a ridge in the eastern Himalaya, shaped by colonial history and long-standing ties to the surrounding hills.

Skoura is an oasis town in southern Morocco, set between Ouarzazate and the Dadès Valley. Its defining feature is a broad palm grove where date palms, olive trees, fruit gardens, and traditional earthen buildings grow together. Unlike the dry terrain surrounding it, the oasis has a cultivated landscape supported by local irrigation systems. Skoura is particularly known for its concentration of kasbahs, including tall fortified residences built from rammed earth.

Saly is a coastal resort town on Senegal’s Petite Côte, south of Dakar and near the city of Mbour. It developed around a broad Atlantic shoreline, with sandy beaches, palm-lined streets, hotels, guesthouses, restaurants, and small businesses serving both residents and visitors. The surrounding area combines coastal dunes, scrubland, fishing communities, and lagoons, while the nearby town of Mbour remains an important fishing and trading center.

Nosara, on Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula, is a laid-back coastal town known for its strong connection to wellness, nature, and surf culture. Unlike some of the country’s busier resorts, Nosara has kept development low-key, with no large beachfront hotels and a community that values sustainability.

Malta’s ornate and vibrant capital, Valletta, dazzles travelers with its abundance of historical landmarks and striking architecture. This island jewel off the coast of Italy remains a popular destination for Mediterranean cruises. From central St. George’s Square, to sixteenth-century Casa Rocca Piccola, to the Siege Bell War Memorial, Valletta has no shortage of monuments detailing the city’s long history.