Porto Santo Stefano features two main ports which serve as gateways to the nearby Tuscan Archipelago. Visitors can enjoy the crystal-clear waters and pristine beaches, perfect for swimming and snorkeling.

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.

Kyle of Lochalsh, located on the west coast of the Scottish Highlands, serves as a gateway to the Isle of Skye via the Skye Bridge, but the village itself deserves more than a passing glance. Once the terminus of the Highland Railway, the town still welcomes visitors by train on one of the UK’s most scenic routes. The line from Inverness to Kyle passes through remote glens, past lochs and mountain ranges, ending just steps from the waterfront.

Karpathos is marked by the peculiar Karpathian houses, built of carved stone, full of embroidery and characteristic interior decorations. From Pigadia you may visit Kyra Panagia, a picturesque bay with a marvelous beach and a monastery of the same name. A little further, on the northern promontory of Karpathos, lies the Diafani village; on the nearby little island of Saria we see Palatia, with ruins of the ancient city of Nisyros.

Kos, an enchanting island in Greece’s Dodecanese archipelago, is a gem steeped in both history and natural beauty. Known as the birthplace of Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, Kos is home to the ancient Asclepeion, a healing temple where Hippocrates taught his students. Visitors can wander through the well-preserved ruins and enjoy sweeping views over the island and the Aegean Sea.