The Coromandel Peninsula on New Zealand’s North Island is a place where coastline and culture come alive in ways that stay with visitors long after they’ve left. Stretching for about 110 kilometers between the Hauraki Gulf and the Bay of Plenty, this region has deep roots that go back to the arrival of Māori long before Europeans stepped ashore.

Set among Fiji’s Mamanuca Islands, Malolo Island combines a lush, hilly interior with palm-fringed beaches, clear lagoons, and coral-rich waters. Visitors can spend their days swimming, snorkelling, kayaking, or sailing before settling into the island’s unhurried pace.

This southern Mexican state borders Guatemala. Its mountainous highlands and dense rainforest are dotted with several Mayan archaeological sites and Spanish colonial towns.

A major industrial area in the Loire Valley, it is an ancient city and was often visited in pilgrimages to pay homage to the tomb of St. Martin, a former bishop of Tours.

Niagara Falls, New York, is home to one of the most powerful natural spectacles in North America. More than 3,000 tons of water pour over the edge every second, creating a thunderous roar and a rising mist that can be felt from blocks away. Visitors can stand just feet from the American Falls at Prospect Point or take the iconic Maid of the Mist boat tour, which has operated since 1846 and now features all-electric vessels.

Pondicherry is a coastal town in southern India that still carries traces of its French colonial past. The French Quarter, or White Town, is filled with mustard-yellow buildings, iron-laced balconies, and streets with French names. Visitors can explore this area on foot or by bicycle, stopping at spots like the 18th-century Eglise de Notre Dame des Anges, built in Greco-Roman style, or the French Consulate, which continues to operate from a colonial-era building.