Uganda - Anthony assures us with a big smile that the boat is hippo-proof as we approach the first hippos on the opposite bank of the river. Hippos rest in the water during the day and graze on land at night. One hippo is standing on land. Anthony tells us that ...

Algeria - I had expected that today we would walk to the old center of Constantine, but the distance turns out to be too far. Instead, we drive by minibus to the Emir Abdelkader Mosque. After independence, this mosque was built in 1972 to accommodate about 20,000 ...

North Macedonia - The Church of Saint John at Kaneo is a Macedonian Orthodox church located on Kaneo beach, overlooking Lake Ohrid in Macedonia. The exact date of its construction is unknown, but archaeologists believe it was built sometime before the rise of the Ottoman ...

Jordan - Despite the chilly wind in the open Jeep, the Wadi Rum desert looks stunning. Wadi Rum is a desert valley with sandstone and granite cliffs. It is considered the most beautiful desert plain in Jordan. We first head to the Khaz'ali Canyon. Just after getting ...

Japan - After just half an hour, the train pulls into Osaka station. My hostel is within walking distance, but I can’t get my bearings to figure out which direction to go. A kind lady at the information desk draws it out for me on a map. Hostel HIVE is located ...

Panama - The Panama Canal is an 81-kilometer-long canal in Central America that runs through the Isthmus of Panama and connects the Caribbean Sea with the Pacific Ocean. The canal is a vital artery for intercontinental transport because it eliminates the need ...

North Macedonia - Heraclea Lyncestis was an ancient Greek city in Macedon, later ruled by the Romans. The ruins lie two kilometers south of the town of Bitola in Macedonia. It was founded by Philip II of Macedon in the mid-4th century BC. The city was named after the mythological ...

Spain - The center of Spain’s capital Madrid is compact and atmospheric. When walking through the city, it doesn’t feel like a typical capital. Most of the main attractions are within walking distance. The Palacio Real, the royal palace, is well worth a visit ...

Tuvalu - Fongafale is the capital and largest settlement of the Oceanic island nation of Tuvalu. It is also the name of the island over which this village stretches. About 3,500 people live in Fongafale. Fongafale is the only settlement on the eponymous island, ...

India - Varanasi, one of the oldest cities in the world and one of the seven holy cities in Hinduism, is embraced by the sacred Ganges River. The Ganges in Varanasi is more than just a waterway—it is a spiritual lifeline. The ghats along the river form a breathtaking ...

Wales - After breakfast, I walk back to Cardiff Castle. The castle was built in 1091 on the remains of an old fort. Over the centuries, it was expanded. One of the most notable transformations occurred in 1868, when the Marquess of Bute commissioned a neo-Gothic ...

Germany - In Ottobeuren stands the Benedictine monastery and cathedral of Ottobeuren. From a distance, we already see the enormous cathedral. Upon entering the church, we are overwhelmed by the beautiful interior. The Baroque church is lavishly decorated with paintings, ...

Hong Kong - The Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery is a unique and fascinating Buddhist attraction located in Sha Tin, in the New Territories of Hong Kong. Despite its name, it is not an official functioning monastery, as no monks live there. It’s a temple complex ...

Germany - The impressive Schloss Wilhelmshöhe is located on the outskirts of the German city of Kassel and forms the majestic centrepiece of the famous Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe. The palace was built at the end of the eighteenth century in neoclassical style for ...

Armenia - The Sevanavank Monastery, also called Sevan Monastery, is situated on a picturesque peninsula on Lake Sevan, Armenia’s largest lake and one of the highest lakes in the world. At over 1,900 meters above sea level, it offers breathtaking views of the ...

Palau - Rock Islands Southern Lagoon covers 100,200 hectares and includes 445 uninhabited limestone islands of volcanic origin. Many of them display unique mushroom-like shapes in turquoise lagoons surrounded by coral reefs. The aesthetic beauty of the site is ...

Vatican City - The Vatican Museum is one of the world's largest and most impressive art collections and museums, located in Vatican City, the smallest independent state in the world and the home of the Pope. The Vatican Museum houses an extensive collection of artworks ...

Monaco - The Principality of Monaco is located on the southern Mediterranean coast of France, near the Italian border, in Southern Europe. It is the smallest independent state in the world after Vatican City and is almost entirely urbanized. Monaco thrives on ...

Uzbekistan - The old town of Khiva is enclosed by a 10-meter-high mudbrick city wall. As I enter through the west gate, souvenir vendors are already lining up to sell me all kinds of items. Unfortunately for them, I’m not buying. I head for the 12th-century palace ...

China - Huanglong National Park, located in northwest Sichuan province in China, is one of the country’s most enchanting natural areas. The park is known for its spectacular limestone terraces, brightly colored lakes, lush forests, snowy mountain peaks, and ...

Egypt - Of course, I knew the pictures from history books — the pyramids of Giza: three stone structures whose construction still remains a mystery. The illustrations showed thousands of workers stacking stone upon stone. Beautiful, of course. But I will never ...

Nicaragua - After more than an hour and a half, the Jeep stops at the base of the volcano. I see the mountain giant towering in front of me. A thick cloud of volcanic gas rises from the crater. Miguel, my guide for this volcano, hands me a flashlight. He also distributes ...

Madagascar - I walk to the main street of Diego Suarez for breakfast. On the terrace of the Grand Hotel—by far the most luxurious hotel in the city—I order a breakfast menu. Back at the hotel, the 4x4 vehicles are already waiting. Bruno welcomes me again. He will ...

Monaco - The area around the Prince’s Palace in Monaco, also known as Monaco-Ville, forms the historic and symbolic heart of the principality. This old town sits on the Rocher de Monaco, a steep rock that rises high above the Mediterranean Sea and the harbor. ...

China - Langmusi, also known by its Tibetan name Taktsang Lhamo, is a picturesque village at 3,325 meters altitude on the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau. It lies on the border of the Chinese provinces Gansu and Sichuan, with the river running through the ...