Lac Abbe, straddling the border between Djibouti and Ethiopia, is one of East Africa’s most otherworldly landscapes.

Bulgaria is a republic in southeastern Europe. The capital and largest city is Sofiya. Bulgarian culture has been influenced successively by Byzantine, Greek, Russian, and Western cultures.

Queen Elizabeth National Park, in western Uganda, is one of East Africa’s most diverse and scenic protected areas. Stretching from the Rwenzori Mountains to the shores of Lake Edward, the park encompasses savannah, wetlands, and dense forests, making it a sanctuary for an incredible array of wildlife.

Imlil is a small Berber village nestled in the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco, serving as a gateway to the Toubkal National Park. Its history is tied to mountain agriculture and traditional life, with stone houses and terraced fields reflecting centuries of adaptation to the rugged terrain.

Lead’s Main Street reflects its long history with places that invite people to explore local life beyond mining. The Black Hills Mining Museum offers displays of mining tools, machinery and a simulated underground mine experience that brings to life how miners worked the Black Hills over generations. Along the same street, galleries, cafés and historic buildings make for pleasant stops between deeper dives into the past.

Guayaquil, Ecuador, is a vibrant port city and a frequent starting point for cruises to the Galapagos Islands.