The United Arab Emirates rolls history and invention into a seamless experience. In Abu Dhabi, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque stands out with its reflective pools, marble columns inlaid with floral patterns, and the world’s largest hand-knotted carpet beneath domes that glow by night. On Saadiyat Island, the Louvre Abu Dhabi shelters art that spans civilizations, all beneath a dome designed to scatter sunlight like palm fronds.
Phuket, Thailand’s largest island, has long served as a cultural and trade crossroads in the Andaman Sea. Centuries ago, it was a stopover for merchants trading tin, spices, and textiles, with influences from Chinese, Portuguese, Indian, and Malay travelers still reflected in the island’s architecture and cuisine. Inland, the Khao Phra Thaeo Wildlife Sanctuary protects rainforest habitat home to gibbons, civets, and exotic birds.
Page, Arizona, offers a gateway to some of the most breathtaking landscapes in the American Southwest. Nestled near the northern border of Arizona, this city is a perfect base for exploring natural wonders such as Antelope Canyon, a slot canyon renowned for its stunning light beams and swirling sandstone formations. Visitors can take guided tours to witness the canyon’s otherworldly beauty, which has been shaped by centuries of erosion and natural forces.