The South Orkney Islands, lying in the icy waters of the Southern Ocean northeast of the Antarctic Peninsula, are a remote and rarely visited corner of the world. This small archipelago, claimed by both the United Kingdom and Argentina, is largely uninhabited except for a few research stations.

Arizona is a state where ancient landscapes and modern life meet in unexpected ways. While many come for the Grand Canyon, an awe-inspiring chasm over 277 miles long, there's far more waiting beyond the rim.

The Elbe is one of the Central Europe's greatest rivers, rising in the northern Czech Republic, traversing through Bohemia and Germany, and flowing into the North Sea not far from Hamburg. The river and its route have been largely untouched, so wildlife visibly abounds along its wetlands and wooded regions. Other scenery includes terraced vineyards and charming wine villages.

Tonga is distinctly different to its neighboring island nations. This Polynesian kingdom, made up of 170 islands, carries a proud history that dates back over 3,000 years. On the main island of Tongatapu, travelers can explore ancient stone structures like the Haʻamonga ʻa Maui Trilithon—sometimes called the Stonehenge of the Pacific. Royal tombs in Lapaha offer a glimpse into the lineage of Tonga’s kings, while village life remains guided by customs that have changed little over centuries.

Hunter Valley in New South Wales is one of Australia’s oldest and most celebrated wine regions, shaped by European settlement in the early 1800s.

Bryce Canyon, tucked into the high plateaus of southern Utah, offers one of the most unusual landscapes in the American Southwest. It’s not actually a canyon but a series of natural amphitheaters carved into the edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau. What makes Bryce unique is its dense collection of hoodoos which are tall, thin spires of rock formed over millions of years by frost-wedging and erosion.