Tongariro National Park, on New Zealand’s North Island, holds deep cultural meaning as well as striking geological presence. It was the country’s first national park, gifted to the nation by Ngāti Tūwharetoa chiefs in the 19th century, establishing a model that tied conservation to Māori guardianship. The volcanic peaks of Tongariro, Ngāuruhoe, and Ruapehu are considered ancestors, giving the landscape a living cultural identity rather than a purely scenic one.

Tampere is the third largest city in Finland with a population of 182,000. Tampere is also the heart of the Tampere Region which has a dynamic population of about 430,000. In the last few years the city's population has grown rapidly. Tampere is located 110 miles north of Helsinki, the capital.

Cat Island, one of the more unspoiled Out Islands of The Bahamas, is a destination that feels worlds away from the busier resort hubs. Stretching about 50 miles long, the island is lined with pink-sand beaches, rolling green hills, and quiet fishing villages where time seems to stand still.

Manama pulses with stories from long ago and today. Just beyond the modern skyline lies Qal’at al‑Bahrain, a layered mound once the capital of Dilmun, used by societies from the Kassites to the Portuguese. Visitors can climb its crumbling stairways and imagine life across centuries there. Nearby, the Bahrain National Museum, opened in 1988 in a stately waterside building, displays archaeological finds from ancient Dilmun to modern-day artifacts and is one of the Gulf's first modern museums.

The Gobi Desert, spanning across northern China and southern Mongolia, is one of the world’s most iconic and mysterious landscapes. Known for its vast stretches of arid plains, towering sand dunes, and rugged mountains, the Gobi offers a stark, breathtaking beauty that has captivated explorers and travelers for centuries.

This coastal route runs between the Gulf of Alaska and Puget Sound, and is a popular route for cruise ships. Cruise passengers can expect to see a breathtaking amount of wildlife, as well as Ketchikan, Wrangell, Prince of Wales, Sitka, Juneau, Haines, Skagway and Glacier Bay.