Granada, Nicaragua, founded in 1524, is one of the oldest European-established cities on the mainland of the Americas where visitors can explore cobblestone streets lined with brightly painted facades. The mustard-yellow Granada Cathedral dominates the central park and provides an easy reference point for those navigating the city on foot or by traditional horse-drawn carriage.

Ilha Grande, an island off the coast of Rio de Janeiro state, is a place where tropical forest and coastline meet in striking harmony. Once a pirate hideout and later the site of a penal colony, it has evolved into one of Brazil’s most remarkable island destinations. With no cars allowed and no large resorts, the island moves at a different pace, where footpaths and boats are the main ways to get around.

Leknes sits in the heart of Norway’s Lofoten Islands, a small town shaped more by geography than by long urban history.

Namche Bazaar, perched at 3,440 meters in the Khumbu region of Nepal, is often called the gateway to Everest, but it’s far more than a rest stop on the way to Base Camp. Once a trading post between Tibetan and Nepali merchants, Namche has developed into a small mountain town where yak caravans and Wi-Fi cafes exist side by side. Despite its remote location, it has a Saturday market that continues to bring traders and trekkers together, just as it did centuries ago.

South Central Asia offers travelers a journey through vivid contrasts, where centuries-old temples stand beside bustling modern cities, and tea-covered hills roll into dense tropical forests. In India, visitors can witness the grandeur of Mughal architecture at the Taj Mahal, then find serenity at the ghats of Varanasi, where rituals have continued for thousands of years.