This clay village is considered to be one of the most beautiful in Morocco. It is an ancient Kasbah, a walled Berber city designed to defend its surroundings: houses, farms and palm groves from potential invasion. Although there are many Kasbahs in Morocco, this is one of the best preserved examples. It is recognised as a World Heritage site and has been the setting of films such as Gladiator, The Mummy and Alexander the Great. Indeed, the region of Ouarzazate is known as the Moroccan Hollywood. This impressive construction is still inhabited by some families who have learnt to live with the abundant tourism in the area and offer tourists the best of Moroccan craft ware.

Ait Benhaddou

Known for the Dad&egrave;s Gorges,, considered by some to be even more spectacular than those of Todra, this valley is characterised by its varied landscapes, its architectural richness and beautiful setting. From the top of the gorges, the vegetation is completely different to that below. The climate is cooler, so date trees cannot survive, and its main attraction is the fact that you can see the snow on the highest mountains from its sides. Its wild landscape is complemented by the streams, cliffs, canyons and the presence of the Kasbahs, large fortified constructions. During the journey you can see fields growing wheat, fruits, nuts, birch and almond trees. The Dad&egrave;s Valley is one of the natural wonders of the centre of Morocco.

Dadès Valley

The second largest city in Morocco, Fez, located in the north of the country, exudes a historic charm thanks to its long history and well-preserved old town. Founded between the 8th and 9th century under the Idrisid dynasty, the city of Fez was considered one of the most important cities in Islamic civilisation, which is still evident today in its many prestigious religious buildings and monuments. It is also home to one of the world&rsquo;s oldest universities, the University of al-Qarawiyyin, a centuries-old centre of science and technology.
The heart of Fez can be found in its labyrinthine medina, where you will be struck by the car-free streets, filled instead with working animals such as donkeys and horses. It is the largest car-free urban zone in the world. Fez is renowned as the handicraft capital of Morocco, so you will be spoilt for choice when shopping in the city&rsquo;s souks.
Over the centuries the city has benefitted from its location between many of the other major Moroccan cities, such as Tangier, Rabat and Casablanca, making it an important trading and production centre and an unmissable stop on a tour of Morocco. &nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h2>Highlights of Fez</h2>
A number of impressive buildings and monuments are not to be missed on a trip to Fez. Firstly, the Bou Inania Madrasa stands out for its distinctive Islamic architecture, thought to be the best example in Fez which can be enjoyed by non-Muslim visitors. A 14th-century religious school, this madrasa is centred around an ornate courtyard, decorated with beautiful Islamic wall-designs and bas-reliefs including traditional geometric patterns.
Another fantastic example of traditional architecture is the Bab Bou Jeloud city gate, which most visitors to Fez will pass through in order to enter the medina. This eye-catching triple-arched Moorish design structure offers itself to countless photo opportunities.
The Dar al-Makhzen Royal Palace is another monumental feat of Islamic architecture, eternally glistening in the sunshine due to its golden doors. Still in use today by the Alaouite Sultan, the palace is not open to the public but the entrance gates are impressive enough on their own! A trip to Fez is incomplete without a wander through the winding alleys of the medina and its souks. This is the ultimate way to experience the city and understand it&rsquo;s history and it&rsquo;s people.

Step into the &lsquo;Red City&rsquo;,&nbsp;Morocco&rsquo;s&nbsp;most popular destination, known for the winding alleys of its&nbsp;Medina&nbsp;and the non-stop hustle and bustle of its&nbsp;souks. Located in&nbsp;Western Morocco,&nbsp;Marrakech&nbsp;is a former imperial city, sat in the foothills of the snow-capped&nbsp;Atlas Mountains.&nbsp;Arabic&nbsp;and&nbsp;French&nbsp;are the spoken languages in the city, the latter of which is a remnant of the&nbsp;French Protectorate&nbsp;in&nbsp;Morocco&nbsp;in the early&nbsp;20th-century.
A trip to Marrakech&nbsp;can feel like a whirlwind for the senses, as you venture through the busy&nbsp;souks, contend with the amazing volume of traffic, comprised largely of both motorbikes and donkeys, and take in the vibrant atmosphere. Luckily, the city offers plenty of opportunities to unwind after a busy day, from its numerous rooftop cafes and restaurants, often with fantastic panoramic views out across the city and mountains, to the plentiful&nbsp;riads,&nbsp;guesthouses built around an internal courtyard to ensure optimum tranquillity.
Marrakech&nbsp;dates back to the&nbsp;Berber Empire&nbsp;and has been inhabited by&nbsp;Berbers&nbsp;since&nbsp;Neolithic&nbsp;times, but the city was officially founded in the&nbsp;11th-century&nbsp;by the&nbsp;Almoravid Dynasty.&nbsp;It was in this period that the old city walls and various buildings inside were constructed in red sandstone, which has given the city its recognisable appearance and nickname.&nbsp;Marrakesh&nbsp;grew rapidly and established itself as the cultural, religious, and trading centre of&nbsp;Northwest Africa.&nbsp;The golden years of the&nbsp;Saadian Dynasty&nbsp;saw the establishment of many elaborate palaces and monuments in the city, such as the&nbsp;Badi Palace&nbsp;and the wealthy sultans are buried in the richly embellished&nbsp;Saadian&nbsp;Tombs, a major attraction for visitors on a&nbsp;tour of Marrakech.
With a rich and diverse history, the city acts as a living museum, as around every corner there is an insight into the traditions and culture that shaped this immersive city. Standing in the&nbsp;Jemma el-Fnaa&nbsp;Square, the busiest square in Africa, you may well find you don&rsquo;t know what to look at first; the bustling stalls, the folk dance performances or the towering&nbsp;Koutoubia Mosque!
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<h2>Highlights of Marrakech</h2>
A holiday to Marrakech&nbsp;is incomplete without visiting at least some of the city&rsquo;s major attractions. A good place to start is the&nbsp;Jemma el-Fnaa Square, where you can enjoy eye-opening displays from&nbsp;snake-charmers,&nbsp;folk dancers&nbsp;and&nbsp;Berber musicians,&nbsp;all the while sampling the local cuisine, most notably the&nbsp;Moroccan tagines&nbsp;on offer at the numerous food stalls that spring up every evening as night falls on the city. Your senses will be ignited by the energy of&nbsp;Africa&rsquo;s&nbsp;busiest square and the sheer volume of sights and sounds, so if you&rsquo;d rather watch the spectacle from afar, there is a huge choice of rooftop restaurants and bars overlooking the square. If you are lucky enough to be in the square on a Friday afternoon, you might well witness huge groups of&nbsp;Muslim&nbsp;devotees taking part in&nbsp;Friday prayers, whilst religious teachings sound from loudspeakers and echo around the square.
Many visitors who&nbsp;travel to Marrakech&nbsp;are excited to explore the labyrinthine&nbsp;Medina souks,&nbsp;an unmissable experience for anyone looking to immerse themselves in the local culture. From shops selling clothes and handbags to the more authentic spice sellers and the &lsquo;black magic&rsquo; souk, selling weird and wonderful mixtures and potions, the&nbsp;souks&nbsp;of&nbsp;Marrakech&nbsp;are out of this world.
It is almost impossible to avoid getting a little lost, as the winding alleyways often seem to lead you back to where you started, as you pass by artisans working with metal or weaving baskets and busy food sellers providing hearty lunches for long ques of local shop owners. Except for a small number of tourist-centric shops, bartering is to be expected when you attempt to buy an item, so you can often secure great bargains whilst shopping in the&nbsp;souks.
Outside of the walled&nbsp;Medina, lies the new town, known as&nbsp;Gueliz,&nbsp;and it is here that you can find the popular&nbsp;Jardin Majorelle,&nbsp;perhaps one of&nbsp;Marrakech&rsquo;s&nbsp;most photographed locations! Situated next to the&nbsp;Yves Saint Laurent&nbsp;Museum, and with the option to buy a combined ticket to both, the&nbsp;Jardin Majorelle&nbsp;is a shady oasis amidst the flamboyant chaos of the city. These gardens belonged to the famous artist&nbsp;Jacques Majorelle&nbsp;and are a tropical paradise of exotic plants, a shady bamboo lined walkway and numerous water features and fountains. The centerpiece of the garden is the iconic electric blue building, which houses the&nbsp;Berber Museum, filled with artifacts and jewelry. Those looking to spend a day in tranquil surroundings during a&nbsp;trip to Marrakech&nbsp;would be wise to choose a visit to these fabulous gardens.
The most characteristic structure of&nbsp;Marrakech&rsquo;s&nbsp;skyline is undoubtedly the&nbsp;Koutoubia Mosque,&nbsp;its minaret stretching&nbsp;77 meters&nbsp;into the sky, making it the tallest building in the&nbsp;Medina,&nbsp;as building above this height it outlawed in order to retain the prominence of the mosque. Built in the&nbsp;12th-century, the&nbsp;Koutoubia&nbsp;stands out for the intricate blue tiling of its minaret and the gilded copper balls of its spire. Although non-Muslims cannot enter the mosque, they can admire it from the lush gardens that surround the building and hear the live call of prayer which sounds at regular intervals from its minaret.
A&nbsp;tour of Marrakech&nbsp;would not be complete without visiting the majestic&nbsp;Bahia Palace,&nbsp;another of the city&rsquo;s most picturesque sights, renowned for its colorful tiling and decorated rooms. This&nbsp;19th-century&nbsp;palace complex was built for the&nbsp;Grand Vizier of the Sultan,&nbsp;who used it as his residence and for entertaining&nbsp;Moroccan&nbsp;nobility. The gardens and palace buildings perfectly capture the essence of both&nbsp;Islamic&nbsp;and&nbsp;Moroccan&nbsp;style, with decorative wood-carved bas reliefs, mosaic work, and decorative columns. A&nbsp;visit to the Bahia Palace&nbsp;invites you to step back in time to the days of the&nbsp;Sultan&nbsp;and to imagine yourself relaxing in the courtyard, sipping refreshing mint tea.

Marrakesh

Nestled at the edge of the towering sand dunes of Erg Chebbi, Merzouga is the gateway to the Sahara Desert in Morocco. It&rsquo;s accessibility and facilities enable many a traveller to live out their dreams of exploring the eternal landscapes of the desert. This small village, in the shadow of orange-hued dunes, is easily reached by road in a day or two from either Fez or Marrakech and has seen a steady increase in tourism in recent years as more and more people make the journey to experience the tranquillity of the desert for themselves.&nbsp;
Nevertheless, it&rsquo;s retained much of its charm and visitors who travel to Merzouga can enjoy the mix of Arab and Berber culture and countless desert experiences out in the dunes of the Sahara.&nbsp;
Things to do in Merzouga include camel trekking in the desert and gazing at the millions of twinkling stars in the clear desert sky at night. Most who visit Merzouga during their tour of Morocco opt to join camel trains, which travel deep into the desert, to spend the night at remote Berber camps and experience first-hand the life of this desert-dwelling culture. Most desert camp experiences in Merzouga include traditional Moroccan meals around a campfire and entertainment in the form of dancing and music. Simply being surrounded by the immense sand dunes of the Sahara and watching the sunrise or set over the endless horizon is the main attraction of a trip to Merzouga.&nbsp;
Most lodges and hotels in the village of Merzouga itself are able to arrange camel trekking and desert excursions for visitors. If you wonder why this village emerged from the desert in the first place, a clue can be found at nearby Lake Merzouga, where rich birdlife, such as flamingos, storks and sandgrouse, can be spotted frolicking in the waters of this real-life desert oasis.

Merzouga

Set in a stunning location, nestled between the snow-capped High Atlas Mountains and the Sahara Desert, Ouarzazate is a Berber town and the first port of call for travellers wishing to head deeper into the deserts of Morocco or explore the fortified village of Ait Ben Haddou. Ouarzazate has been an important trading centre for centuries and grew quickly during the years of French rule.&nbsp;
A stroll past its atmospheric Taourit Kasbah reveals its antique charms, but much of the appeal of a trip to Ouarzazate lies in its accessibility to the Sahara, making it an excellent base for a number of adventurous desert excursions. Camel trains into the desert leave from Ouarzazate, destined for magnificent journies to destinations as far-flung as Timbuktu in Mali. Since the French left in the 1950s, Ouarzazate has famously been used as a backdrop for a number of blockbuster movies and a visit to Atlas Studios will show you the settings of films such as Gladiator and Kingdom of Heaven. Film-buffs can even explore the eerie abandoned set of the spooky Hills Have Eyes blockbuster, which is located close to the city and is complete with a spooky mock gas station.&nbsp;
Rather more tranquil things to see in Ouarzazate include a number of oases, such as the Flint Oasis, where tiny villages nestle amongst the uncharacteristically lush palm trees, and Skoura Oasis, known as the &lsquo;Oasis of 1000 Palms&rsquo;. There are countless accommodation options to choose from in Ouarzazate, as well as cafes and restaurants showcasing the best in Berber cuisine, although many who travel to Ouarzazate choose to join the camel treks into the desert to spend their nights under the blanket of stars in the Sahara instead. The &lsquo;gateway to the desert&rsquo;, Ouarzazate is an unmissable stop on any tour of Morocco.

Ouarzazate

Grand Tour & Kasbah Route

The city of Santiago de los Caballeros de Guatemala, whose official and historical name is the Very Noble and Very Loyal City of Santiago de los Caballeros de Guatemala, commonly referred to simply as Antigua Guatemala, is located in the Sacatep&eacute;quez department. It was the capital of the Captaincy General of Guatemala, between 1541 and 1776, the year in which the capital was moved to Nueva Guatemala de la Asunci&oacute;n, or Guatemala City, following the Santa Marta earthquakes which devastated the city for the third time in the century. It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979. Today it is an important tourist destination for its well preserved Spanish architecture with Baroque facades, as well as a great many ruins of catholic churches. It is also known for its Easter processions which have taken place ever since the city became capital.

Antigua Guatemala

A town in the El Quich&eacute; department famous for its market which attracts a great many tourists throughout the year; it is a cultural and historical centre. The majority of the population are of the native K&rsquo;iche&rsquo; ethnicity.

Chichicastenango

The Dulce River is situated in the Izabal department, between Lake Izabal and Amatique Bay, some 42 kilometres in length. It is, since 1955, one of the first protected areas of Guatemala. It covers 7,200 hectares and is home to the manatee, an endangered mammal, along with crocodiles. The rivers creek offers a unique beauty due to its vegetation and the fact that it is a refuge for many sea birds. The largest bridge in Guatemala is located over the river, which is 45 metres in height and 1563 metres in length.

Dulce River

Flores is a city on the shore of Lake Pet&eacute;n Itz&aacute; and partially occupies a small island of the same name in its old town. Flores is one of the richest towns in natural resources in Pet&eacute;n, not to mention its economic and cultural offer. The island is the meeting point for special events, be they cultural, social, economic or tourist-focused.

Flores

Livingston is a town in the Izabal department, located 65 kilometres from Puerto Barrios. The city is mainly populated by the Garifuna people, who settled there in the 18th century, and is one of the main tourist attractions of the country, with a unique gastronomy in the region.

Livingston

Tikal is one of the largest archaeological sites and urban centres of the pre-Columbian Mayan civilisation. It is located in the town of Flores, in the Pet&eacute;n department, and forms part of the Tikal National Park, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979. According to the glyphs found at the site, it was once named Yax Mutul. Tikal was the capital of a belligerent state, which was converted into one of the most powerful kingdoms of the ancient Mayans. Although the monumental architecture of the site dates back to the 4th century BC. Tikal was at its peak during the Mesoamerican Classic Period, between 200-900 AD. During this time, the city dominatad a large part of the Mayan region, in the political, economic and military arenas and maintained links with other regions, throughout Mesoamerica, including the then metropolis of Teotihuacan, in the distant Valley of Mexico.

Tikal

Essence of Central America

Home to almost half of the population of&nbsp;Greece,&nbsp;Athens&nbsp;is the ancient capital known for its world-renowned historic sights. Offering a fusion of ancient culture and urban cool, a&nbsp;trip to Athens&nbsp;is key to understanding Greek culture, in all its vibrant, joyful and, sometimes chaotic, charm. One of the oldest cities in the world,&nbsp;Athens&nbsp;has a history that stretches back more than 3,400 years. You can&rsquo;t escape the historic atmosphere of Athens as the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.exoticca.com/ca/europe/the-balkans/greece/acropolis-of-athens" target="_blank">Acropolis</a>&nbsp;looms large over the modern city.&nbsp;
Famously the birthplace of the pillars of Western civilization, such as democracy and philosophy, if you&nbsp;travel to Athens&nbsp;you can walk in the footsteps of the greats such as&nbsp;Plato, Pericles&nbsp;and&nbsp;Socrates.&nbsp;Athens&nbsp;is known for its brilliant museums, restaurants and cultural events and the best time to visit is in the spring or autumn when you can go sightseeing without the large crowds and heat of summer.&nbsp;
A&nbsp;vacation to Athens&nbsp;is incomplete without contemplating its diverse neighbourhoods. Discover the delights of Greek cafe culture in&nbsp;Exarchia, go shopping in the trendy boutiques of&nbsp;Koukaki,&nbsp;bar hop in the&nbsp;tavernas&nbsp;of&nbsp;Gazi&nbsp;and stroll through the charming old town of&nbsp;Plaka. Undoubtedly, the heart of the city is&nbsp;Syntagma Square,&nbsp;home to the parliament building and connecting a number of the capitals most important streets. This is the perfect place to begin a&nbsp;tour of Athens&nbsp;or spend an afternoon people-watching.
As well as a seemingly endless city sprawl,&nbsp;Athens&nbsp;is home to a beautiful coastline, with plenty of beaches, full of sun-seeking Athenians on the weekends. On the other hand,&nbsp;Piraeus Port,&nbsp;one of the most important in&nbsp;Greece,&nbsp;connects the capital with the idyllic&nbsp;Greek islands, such as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.exoticca.com/ca/europe/the-balkans/greece/crete" target="_blank">Crete</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.exoticca.com/ca/europe/the-balkans/greece/santorini" target="_blank">Santorini</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.exoticca.com/ca/europe/the-balkans/greece/mykonos" target="_blank">Mykonos.</a>&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">Things to see in Athens</h2>
One of the most important&nbsp;things to see in Athens&nbsp;is the&nbsp;Acropolis, standing high above the city on a rocky outcrop. One of the worlds most treasured historical sights, you can admire the marble columns of the&nbsp;Parthenon&nbsp;and get to know the&nbsp;Golden Age of Athens&nbsp;under&nbsp;Pericles, the father of&nbsp;Western democracy. Afterwards, a visit to the&nbsp;Acropolis Museum&nbsp;is sure to be a highlight of a&nbsp;tour of Athens. Housed within an ultra-modern building, you&rsquo;ll find a multitude of priceless artefacts from the&nbsp;Acropolis&nbsp;site and gain a deeper understanding of classical Athens.
Just north of the&nbsp;Acropolis&nbsp;is the&nbsp;Ancient Agora, once the heart of public life in&nbsp;Athens.&nbsp;Walk in the footsteps of&nbsp;Socrates, who would have sparked heated debates here back in the day, and admire the well-preserved&nbsp;Doric-style&nbsp;Temple of Hephaistos. The nearby&nbsp;Agora Museum&nbsp;is home to interesting artefacts from everyday Athenians.&nbsp;
The cultural delights of Athens cannot be understated, and the&nbsp;National Archaeological Museum&nbsp;is a paradise for those interested in classical history. Home to the worlds finest collection of ancient&nbsp;Greek treasures, here you can find artefacts including jewellery, sculptures and frescoes, housed within a vast&nbsp;Neoclassical&nbsp;building in the city centre.&nbsp;
Whether you&rsquo;re trying to snap the best photo of the&nbsp;Acropolis&nbsp;or just want a bit of fresh air,&nbsp;Filopappou Hill&nbsp;is a tranquil oasis to visit on a&nbsp;trip to Athens.&nbsp;Just south of the&nbsp;Acropolis,&nbsp;this green area is the perfect place for a peaceful stroll and boasts fabulous views of the&nbsp;Acropolis&nbsp;and the&nbsp;Parthenon. A marble path, shaded by pine trees, weaves past a number of historic sights on the hill including the&nbsp;Roman monument of Filopappos.&nbsp;
If you&nbsp;travel to Athens,&nbsp;be sure to visit the&nbsp;Panathenaic Stadium.&nbsp;The Panathenaic Stadium was the site of the first modern&nbsp;Olympic Games, although it was used as a racecourse as far back as the&nbsp;6th-century BC.&nbsp;One of the best&nbsp;things to see in Athens,&nbsp;it&rsquo;s also the only stadium in the world&nbsp;built entirely from marble.
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Athens

It is impossible to reach the famous monasteries of Meteora without passing through the small town of Kalambaka. If you decide not to act like other tourists and make a stop here, you will be surprised how much there is to see in Kalambaka.
<h2>What to see in Kalambaka</h2>
<h3>A walk through the town of Kalambaka</h3>
The first thing you will notice in Kalambaka are the views of the surrounding country, a feature that it shares with the nearby and also little-visited village of Kastraki. But the town itself is also charming. And not only because of its narrow streets and simple houses. Most of these have their own stable and garden.
The best thing about Kalambaka is the church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. This is a building with three naves decorated with frescoes that date from the 14th century, a real gem that many people miss because they are so set on seeing Meteora.
The town's best-known streets converge in the main square: Vlahavas, Kastrakiou, Ioanninon, Trikalon and Rodu.
A small wood stretches around the town and, where it ends, you will see a beautiful chapel that crowns the top of the mountain. A place with a special aura, full of mystery and charm. Undoubtedly one of the places to see in Kalambaka.
<h3>What to see in Kalambaka: the surrounding area</h3>
Meteora is one of the most visited places in northern Greece and one of the most famous attractions to see in and around Kalambaka. The combination of its rugged landscape, with strange rock formations, green valleys bottoms and floating monasteries make it unlike anywhere else.
What is there there to do in Meteora?
The monasteries of Meteora are its main attraction, but there are many things to do in the wild natural surroundings.
<ul>
<li>You can go hillwalking to get a close up view of the rock formations that are the hallmark of the area. The views from the inns that lie on some of the trails will take your breath away.</li>
<li>Walk to Meteora's highest rock. If you are wondering what to see in Kalambaka, a stop here, 400 metres above the town, will give you a unique perspective.</li>
<li>Climbing</li>
<li>There are cycle routes with three different levels of difficulty.</li>
<li>Visit to the caves of Meteora</li>
<li>Rafting</li>
</ul>
<h3>Meteora Monasteries: the sightseeing highlights in and around Kalambaka</h3>
Originally there were 24 monasteries in Meteora, but only thirteen still remain and of these only six can be visited. All of them have been named World Heritage Sites by UNESCO, which has not prevented well-known films and series such as HBO's Game of Thrones from being shot here.
If you want to make sure you see at least a couple, arrange for your visit to fall on a Sunday. This is the day when all the monasteries are open.
Which monasteries can be visited in Meteora
<ul>
<li>Monastery of Great Meteoron or the Transfiguration This is the largest and also the most interesting of the group. If you're only going to see one, make it this one. It even houses a small museum explaining the monastic way of life.</li>
<li>Monastery of St. Nicholas</li>
<li>Monastery of St. Stephen The easiest to reach.</li>
<li>Monastery of the Holy Trinity The most difficult to reach.</li>
<li>Monastery of Roussanou or Saint Barbara, which is the only one where nuns still live.</li>
<li>Monastery of Varlaam or All Saints.</li>
</ul>
Tips for visiting the monasteries of Meteora
It is important to bear in mind that there is a dress code and that it is especially important for women. Women must cover their arms and legs; trousers are not acceptable - they must wear long skirts. If you're travelling in short sleeves and shorts, don't worry. Like many mosques in other countries, the monasteries in Meteora lend large scarves which you can use to cover your arms and legs and go inside.
The rules are more permissive for men. In theory long trousers are needed to enter and the most reasonable thing is to wear them, but they do not usually make too much fuss about men wearing shorts. In any case, men can also use the same type of scarves as women to cover their legs if necessary.
<h3>Sunset in Meteora</h3>
Besides visiting the six monasteries that are the main sightseeing attraction in Kalambaka and the surrounding area, watching the sun go down on Meteora is a real treat. Especially if you follow one of the mountain paths up to the viewing points. If you choose to embark on this little adventure, remember to carry a torch in your rucksack. The area is safe, but you can't be too careful if you want to prevent your holiday being spoilt by a mishap on the mountain.
And now that you know what there is to see in Kalambaka, prepare your trip with Exoticca.

Kalambaka

Extraordinary rock formations, situated at the northern edge of the&nbsp;Plain of Thessaly,&nbsp;Meteora&nbsp;has to be seen to be believed. In the heart of&nbsp;Central Greece, these monolithic rock pillars are the result of thousands of years of erosion, but it&rsquo;s not just the geology that tempts people to&nbsp;travel to Meteora. Perched upon these gravity-defying peaks are six&nbsp;UNESCO World Heritage&nbsp;protected&nbsp;monasteries, attracting travellers from all over the world to admire their amazing architecture and remote, otherworldly location.&nbsp;
Appearing to rise out of the rock pillars, visiting the&nbsp;Meteora Monasteries&nbsp;is sure to be a highlight of any tour of&nbsp;Greece.&nbsp;A trip to&nbsp;Meteora&nbsp;is a journey through a fusion of unique topography and spiritual heritage, making it one of the most incredible places to&nbsp;visit in Greece. At one point, a total of&nbsp;24 monasteries&nbsp;teetered atop the clifftops of&nbsp;Meteora, and although only&nbsp;6&nbsp;remain, they are all active monasteries, home to dedicated nuns and monks.&nbsp;
Many travellers&nbsp;visit Meteora&nbsp;as part of a day trip from the major cities of&nbsp;Athens&nbsp;or&nbsp;Thessaloniki, although the nearby town of&nbsp;Kalabaka&nbsp;offers lots of options for overnight accommodation. Sightseeing at the different monasteries is the most popular thing to do in&nbsp;Meteora, although hiking enthusiasts can enjoy the enchanting landscapes on foot on a series of marked&nbsp;walking trails,&nbsp;reaching all the way to the hilltop monasteries. If you take a&nbsp;trip to Meteora, be sure to stay and watch the&nbsp;sunset&nbsp;over the rock formations.
<h2 dir="ltr">Things to see in Meteora</h2>
Of course, the best thing to see in&nbsp;Meteora&nbsp;is the six incredible&nbsp;&lsquo;Hanging Monasteries&rsquo;.&nbsp;Established between the&nbsp;12th&nbsp;and&nbsp;16th-centuries, the remote and inaccessible location of these monasteries was chosen in order to escape the political and religious upheaval of the&nbsp;Middle Ages. Perched high on the clifftops, the monks were also protected from the expanding Turkish occupation.&nbsp;
The largest monastery and the most popular place to visit in&nbsp;Meteora&nbsp;is the&nbsp;Monastery of Great Meteoron. This is also the oldest of the&nbsp;Meteora&nbsp;monasteries and is home to an interesting museum where visitors can learn more about the unique history of the site. Visit in the late afternoon to enjoy spectacular sunset views over&nbsp;Kalabaka.
Just next door is&nbsp;Varlaam Monastery, the second-largest and home to a large&nbsp;community of monks. Here you can admire the&nbsp;Athonite-style&nbsp;architecture and see a series of beautiful&nbsp;16th-century frescoes&nbsp;inside the&nbsp;All Saints Chapel.&nbsp;
Although these are the two most popular monasteries to visit on a&nbsp;trip to Meteora,&nbsp;you could easily spend an entire day or two exploring the varying architectural styles of all six monasteries. Furthermore, the&nbsp;Monastery of Rousanou&nbsp;and the&nbsp;Monastery of St. Stephen&nbsp;are home to a flourishing&nbsp;community of nuns. In the past, the only way to transport goods and people up to the clifftop monasteries was by using long ladders, ropes and baskets, but today a series of staircases have been added to allow easy access if you&nbsp;travel to Meteora.
Once you&rsquo;ve explored the soul-stirring landscapes and historic monasteries of Meteora, head down to the nearby town of&nbsp;Kalabaka, in the shadow of Meteora&rsquo;s towering rock pillars. A great choice for an overnight stay,&nbsp;Kalabaka&nbsp;has a number of its own important religious buildings and is considered one of the most beautiful places in&nbsp;Greece.&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Meteora

One of the best-loved&nbsp;Greek islands,&nbsp;Mykonos&nbsp;is known as a hedonistic paradise, famous for its vibrant nightlife and paradise beaches.&nbsp;Mykonos&nbsp;is part of the&nbsp;Cyclades island&nbsp;group, situated between the islands of&nbsp;Tinos, Syros, Paros&nbsp;and&nbsp;Naxos. A&nbsp;vacation&nbsp;to Mykonos&nbsp;is a great choice for sun-worshippers who can spend laid-back days on the shores of beaches such as&nbsp;Elia, Paradise, Super Paradise&nbsp;and&nbsp;Psarou. If you&nbsp;travel to Mykonos&nbsp;you&rsquo;ll find the island holds all the usual Greek charms: white and blue low rise towns, cubist architecture and plenty of sea view&nbsp;tavernas&nbsp;from which to watch the local ferries and cruise ships come and go. With to-die-for sunsets and a distinctively upscale atmosphere, a&nbsp;trip to Mykonos&nbsp;is a highlight of any Greek island-hopping&nbsp;vacation. The majority of the island&rsquo;s population is concentrated in&nbsp;Mykonos Town, known as&nbsp;Chora, on the island&rsquo;s west coast. Bursting with life during the summer season,&nbsp;Chora&nbsp;takes on a more tranquil charm come winter. Behind the town stands the famous&nbsp;Mykonos windmills, the legacy of the island&rsquo;s heritage as&nbsp;&lsquo;the breadbasket of Greece&rsquo;&nbsp;and a symbol of Mykonos&rsquo; nickname: &lsquo;The Island of the Winds&rsquo;. Named after the grandson of Greek god&nbsp;Apollo, despite Mykonos&rsquo; youthful appeal, you can still scratch your itch for culture at a variety of archaeological and ecclesiastical landmarks. The&nbsp;best time to travel to Mykonos&nbsp;is from the early spring to the late autumn, but be aware that the island becomes incredibly busy during the height of summer.
<h2>Things to see in Mykonos</h2>
Many of the&nbsp;best things to see in Mykonos&nbsp;are situated in and around&nbsp;Chora, also known as Mykonos Town. The centre of life in Mykonos, a stroll through this historic centre will allow you to soak up the white and blue architecture, get lost in the labyrinthine cobbled streets and shop for souvenirs in any number of boutique shops. Once you&rsquo;ve found your way back to the old port, grab a chair in one of the sea view&nbsp;tavernas&nbsp;overlooking the&nbsp;Aegean&nbsp;in&nbsp;Little Venice, the perfect place to people-watch. A&nbsp;trip to Mykonos&nbsp;is incomplete without visiting&nbsp;Panagia Paraportiani Church, dating back to between the&nbsp;15th and 17th centuries.&nbsp;One of the most photographed religious buildings in the whole of Greece, this humble church is situated in the quiet&nbsp;Kastro&nbsp;neighbourhood. Its white-washed exterior is the epitome of traditional Greek-island architecture and it's one of the best&nbsp;things to see in Mykonos. If you&rsquo;re longing for a little insight into the secrets of&nbsp;Ancient Greece, one of the&nbsp;best things to do in Mykonos&nbsp;is to take a day trip to the nearby island of&nbsp;Delos.&nbsp;A 30-minute boat ride from the old port will whisk you away to the uninhabited island of&nbsp;Delos, once a major pilgrimage destination and the site of the ancient&nbsp;Delian Games.&nbsp;Filled with enchanting archaeological sites the island is believed to have been the birthplace of&nbsp;Apollo&nbsp;and&nbsp;Artemis,&nbsp;two of the most revered&nbsp;Greek gods. A day trip to Delos is the perfect antidote to the party atmosphere of&nbsp;Mykonos&nbsp;and is the best way to add a little culture to your&nbsp;Mykonos&nbsp;vacation. Back on the island, a trip to the&nbsp;Archaeological Museum&nbsp;in Chora is a must-do. Established in&nbsp;1902&nbsp;it is home to invaluable Hellenic-era treasures from across the Cyclades island Group.

Mykonos

One of the best-known&nbsp;Greek islands,&nbsp;Santorini&nbsp;sits within the&nbsp;Cyclades&nbsp;island group, nestled in the azure waters of the&nbsp;Aegean Sea.&nbsp;Instantly recognisable by its whitewashed hilltop towns, a&nbsp;vacation&nbsp;to Santorini&nbsp;is high on the lists of all travellers looking for an idyllic beach escape.&nbsp;Santorini&nbsp;is situated halfway between&nbsp;Athens&nbsp;and&nbsp;Crete, easily connected to both the mainland and other islands by ferries and flights.
Santorini&nbsp;actually encompasses a number of islands within a small volcanic archipelago, officially known as&nbsp;Thira,&nbsp;although the main, crescent-shaped island is where most visitors who travel to&nbsp;Santorini&nbsp;choose to stay. Santorini&rsquo;s volcanic origins can be traced back more than&nbsp;3,600 years ago, when it was the site of the&nbsp;Minoan Eruption,&nbsp;the largest volcanic eruption ever recorded, responsible for the decline of&nbsp;Minoan&nbsp;civilisation in the Greek islands.
Nevertheless, most travel to&nbsp;Santorini&nbsp;for its gorgeous beaches and charming&nbsp;Greek culture,&nbsp;rather than its unique geology, although this volcanic environment makes for some pretty spectacular landscapes such as black sand beaches and dramatic red stone clifftops.
Fira&nbsp;and&nbsp;Oia&nbsp;are the main villages on the island and the most popular places to stay in&nbsp;Santorini.&nbsp;Both are known for their stylish tavernas, glamorous sea-view bars and soul-stirring sunsets. They&rsquo;re the perfect base for exploring the wealth of beaches and captivating landscapes of&nbsp;Santorini.
A popular destination for a relaxing beach&nbsp;vacation,&nbsp;Santorini&nbsp;has long been the most revered of the&nbsp;Greek Islands,&nbsp;so you can expect to find high-end hotels, fine dining and unforgettable views across this volcanic archipelago. No wonder it&rsquo;s also one of the most popular&nbsp;honeymoon&nbsp;islands in the world!
<h2 dir="ltr">What to do in Santorini</h2>
Whether your planning on spending your&nbsp;vacation&nbsp;in Santorini&nbsp;kicking back on the beach or exploring the local culture, you&rsquo;ll find plenty of things to see and do.&nbsp;Oia village&nbsp;is one of the best places to see in&nbsp;Santorini&nbsp;and is said to be the&nbsp;most photographed place in Greece! This picturesque village is located in the north of the island, perched on the edge of the volcanic caldera. Awash with cubic houses, blue-domed roofs and narrow cobblestone streets, this is the&nbsp;Santorini&nbsp;of your imagination. Wander through its atmospheric streets at sundown to experience&nbsp;Oia&nbsp;at its most photogenic!
Just a&nbsp;10-minute boat ride&nbsp;from&nbsp;Fira&nbsp;is another of the most important things to see in&nbsp;Santorini:&nbsp;Nea Kameni. This is the crater of the volcano from which&nbsp;Santorini&nbsp;was formed and is a must-visit sight on a&nbsp;trip to Santorini.&nbsp;A protected scientific site, boat trips to Nea Kameni usually include a&nbsp;20-minute hike&nbsp;up to the peak of the submerged volcano, where you can soak up exceptional views of the&nbsp;Santorini archipelago&nbsp;and gain a good understanding of the geography of this volcanic island group.&nbsp;
One of the lesser-known things to see in&nbsp;Santorini&nbsp;is its wineries. In fact,&nbsp;Santorini&nbsp;produces some of the most popular wines in&nbsp;Greece&nbsp;and is home to an impressive collection of&nbsp;18 wineries! Whether your an expert sommelier or just a casual wine-lover, be sure to take a tour of the island&rsquo;s wineries, scattered throughout the volcanic landscapes. In fact, the mineral-rich volcanic soil is responsible for Santorini&rsquo;s abundant wine cultivation, so be sure to take a tasting tour of the island&rsquo;s wineries if you&nbsp;visit Santorini.
Of course, there&rsquo;s more to&nbsp;Santorini&nbsp;than sun-drenched beaches and wineries. The island has a rich historic heritage, and the ancient&nbsp;Minoan ruins of Akrotiri&nbsp;are a window into the ancient civilization which once inhabited the island. Predating the Greeks, part of the site dates back more than&nbsp;4000 years&nbsp;including amazing ruins of houses, roads and everyday items. Visiting&nbsp;Akrotiri&nbsp;is one of the best things to do in&nbsp;Santorini&nbsp;if you want to learn more about the mysterious&nbsp;Minoan civilization.&nbsp;
Whilst you&rsquo;re uncovering Santorini&rsquo;s history, be sure to stop at the&nbsp;Prehistoric Thera Museum,&nbsp;located in&nbsp;Fira. Here you can admire the most magnificent relics of both Minoan and Ancient Greek civilization excavated from archaeological sites across the island.&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Santorini

Ancient Ruins & Cyclades Island Hopping

This small city located in the centre of the country sat at 1820 meters above sea level in the foothills of the Tungurahua volcano is considered the gateway to the Ecuadorian Amazon. It is surrounded by exuberant vegetation full of hot springs, waterfalls, rivers, mountains and an active volcano, enough reasons to be one of the most acclaimed destinations for tourists both for adventure and relaxation in Ecuador.
 The most interesting points of the city are the Basilica of Our Lady of Holy Water, inside which there is an interesting collection of murals that describe the local miracles attributed to the Virgin and an imposing altar covered with gold leaf. Other highlights include the Basilica Museum of Holy Water located in the Convent of the Dominican Fathers, the building of the municipality with its Clock Tower in front of the Palomino Flores Park and the lively market. It offers a great gastronomic variety in its more than 80 restaurants, many of them international, and the area has a festive nighttime atmosphere.
 The natural wonders of Ba&ntilde;os are the serpentine Pastaza River with its canyon and the active volcano Tungurahua with its eternally snow-capped summit. Following the course of the river, you can follow the"Cascade Route", a circuit of about 20 km which is suitable for bikes or karts. The route showcases the fantastic natural setting of dense vegetation and high mountains. In the city itself, there is the Hair of the Virgin waterfall. Continuing along the route, the Agoy&aacute;n waterfall, one of the highest in the Andes Ecuadorian, stands out. At the Manto de la Novia waterfall, you can ride in a metal basket similar to a cable car called a "tarabita" to cross the river, and appreciate the waterfall and the landscape. Following the route you come across the San Jorge and San Pedro waterfalls and not far from there is the famous Pail&oacute;n del Diablo on the Verde River, one of the most impressive waterfalls on the planet, whose name is due to its shape, which resembles the face of the devil. The best way to cool off is to enjoy a refreshing swim in the pools of the Roc&iacute;o waterfall.
 The thermal waters of Ba&ntilde;os are known nationally and internationally for their medicinal properties that comfort the body and state of mind. Located in the center of the city are the Termas de la Virgen at the foot of the "Hair of the Virgin" waterfall and the Spa of Santa Clara. The Balneario Las Pe&ntilde;as has pools with slides like a water park. Las Termas El Salado, next to the river Basc&uacute;n, have 5 hot water pools that reach up to 54 degrees and another 2 with cold water.
 The outdoor sports activities that can be practiced in this privileged environment are endless, from rafting, canopy climbing, kayaking, canoeing, bungee jumping and zip-lining to climbing, downhill, hiking, mountaineering, bicycle tours, horseback riding, hiking and paragliding.
 A few kilometers from Ba&ntilde;os is the &lsquo;Tree House Swing&rsquo;, loved by tourists who visit the city. It was originally built to enjoy good views of the jungle and the Tungurahua volcano at a safe distance. Ba&ntilde;os boasts waterfalls, rainbows, thermal springs, fleeting clouds, volcanoes of fire and snow, ecological trails, wild orchids, colorful butterflies and limpid rivers. The area overflows with nature, green, beauty and tranquillity.

Banos

Situated just&nbsp;50 kilometres&nbsp;south of&nbsp;Quito, the capital of&nbsp;Ecuador,&nbsp;Cotopaxi National Park&nbsp;is a stunning protected area, home to the towering&nbsp;Cotopaxi Volcano, one of the highest active volcanoes in the world. On a clear day, the snow-capped volcano can be seen from&nbsp;Quito, but a trip to&nbsp;Cotopaxi National Park&nbsp;offers more than just stunning views of the volcano, which last erupted in&nbsp;2015.&nbsp;
Home to glistening lakes, wild horses and pristine grasslands, it&rsquo;s the perfect place to appreciate the natural landscapes of&nbsp;Ecuador.&nbsp;If you travel to the&nbsp;Cotopaxi National Park&nbsp;you can hike, trek and bike through the protected eco-system in the shadow of the perfectly cone-shaped&nbsp;Cotopaxi Volcano,&nbsp;its peak reaching a staggering&nbsp;5,897&nbsp;metres above sea level. It is one of the most popular highlights on a tour of Ecuador.
If you visit&nbsp;Cotopaxi, you&rsquo;ll be awe-struck by how the mostly flat terrain gives way to the towering volcano, seemingly emerging out of the earth from nowhere. As you explore the immaculate landscapes, be sure to keep a lookout for the diverse native wildlife, including wolves, pumas, the famous&nbsp;Andean condor, bears, foxes and plenty of wild horses.&nbsp;Cotopaxi National Park&nbsp;also boasts an array of unique flora and plant species, which thrive in this cold, humid climate.&nbsp;
The best time of year to visit&nbsp;Cotopaxi National Park&nbsp;is between&nbsp;July and October.&nbsp;At this time of year, you can enjoy clear skies which grant visitors unparalleled views of the mighty&nbsp;Cotopaxi Volcano.
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<h2 dir="ltr">Things to do in Cotopaxi National Park</h2>
Although the&nbsp;Cotopaxi Volcano&nbsp;is the most popular thing to see in&nbsp;Cotopaxi National Park, there are many other highlights to enjoy. Hiking around&nbsp;Laguna Limpiopungo&nbsp;is one of the more accessible things to do in&nbsp;Cotopaxi National Park.&nbsp;Laguna Limpiopungo&nbsp;is a seasonal lake that swells during the rainy season, conveniently located close to the entrance of the national park. The relatively easy&nbsp;1.5-kilometre&nbsp;hike&nbsp;offers plenty of opportunities to experience the local wildlife. See nesting Andean gulls, tiny rabbits and hummingbirds as you pass around the glistening shoreline. If the weather is clear, you&rsquo;ll be treated to a beautiful reflection of the&nbsp;Cotopaxi Volcano&nbsp;in the still waters of the lake.&nbsp;
For something more adventurous, one of the more challenging things to do in&nbsp;Cotopaxi National Park&nbsp;is to hike to the&nbsp;Jose F. Rivas Refugio, the starting point of the trail to the summit of the&nbsp;Cotopaxi Volcano. At&nbsp;4,500&nbsp;metres&nbsp;above sea level, it is a strenuous undertaking, but those who reach the refuge are rewarded with spectacular views across the Andean landscape.&nbsp;
If you&rsquo;d rather stick to flat terrain, a&nbsp;bike tour&nbsp;is a great way to admire the natural grasslands and stunning scenery of the park whilst covering more ground than you would on foot. There are plenty of companies that hire bicycles and e-bicycles in the&nbsp;Cotopaxi National Park. Alternatively, for a slower-paced adventure,&nbsp;horseback riding&nbsp;is a relaxing way to discover the park and get in touch with nature.&nbsp;

Cotopaxi National Park

The Galapagos Islands, whose official name is the Archipelago de Col&oacute;n, constitutes a province of Ecuador and is located 1000 km off the mainland coast, in the Pacific Ocean. The group are formed of a set of thirteen islands of volcanic origin and more than a hundred islets and rocky outcrops. It is the second largest archipelago in the world and with more volcanic activity than Hawaii. The Galapagos is a Natural World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve. They are known to be the center of the observations and studies of Darwin's for the development of his "Theory of Evolution".
 Its exotic landscapes do not resemble other islands of the Pacific, on the contrary, they are rather arid, with huge lava fields, rock formations, cactus forests and volcanic cones. And this is exactly where its exoticism lies, in its uninhabited and naked aspect that seems like it is from another time and from another planet. Under the sea, there are underground craters and coral reefs, where an extraordinary biological diversity is present. So much so they are also considered one of the seven underwater wonders of the world and one of the most fascinating places in the planet to perform deep sea diving.
 The Galapagos can be reached by air from Quito or Guayaquil. Only four of its islands are inhabited, the town of Puerto Ayora in Santa Cruz Island is the main human settlement. Other minor settlements are Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on San Crist&oacute;bal, Puerto Villamil on Isabela Island and Puerto Velasco on Floreana Island.
 The lava beds of the Island of San Crist&oacute;bal are like "a petrified sea at the height of the storm", according to the famous naturalist. Its tourist points are Playa Ochoa, Puerto Grande, Le&oacute;n Dormido, Isla Lobos, Puerto Chino, Galapaguera from Cerro Colorado, El Progreso, the Interpretation Center, Cerro Tijeretas, Mann Beach, Punta Carola and La Lober&iacute;a.
 In Isabela, the largest island, you can see an identical landscape. On the way to the volcano Sierra Negra, the vegetation disappears little by little and the magma of recent times floods the horizon along with plenty of large cacti. The equatorial line crosses the north of the island.
 The main airport is on Baltra Island, whose most famous attraction is the 150-meter water channel that separates it from Santa Cruz Island and where sea lions, birds and endemic species live together.
 Bartolome Island has some of the most beautiful landscapes of the archipelago which consist of an extinct volcano 100 meters just off the coast of Santiago Island and a variety of volcanic formations in red, orange, green, black and bright. Pinnacle Rock and the twin bays, separated by an isthmus, are popular with travelers. In the Plaza Islands and the channel that separates the North Island from the South, the turquoise waters contrast with the black lava of the banks. Plaza South is one of the smallest in the Galapagos, but in spite of its size it is the richest of all and some of the most interesting and outstanding species of the archipelago live there. Seeing land iguanas, that often remain in the shade of the cactus, is guaranteed as well as swallow-tailed gulls who nest on the cliffs.
 Its geological past of almost 5 million years has given it a spectacular and unique landscape and has made it home to two thousand endemic species. This is one of the most exciting places for scientists and biologists due to its rich fauna and flora. 220 species of endemic plants have been counted, 399 natives and 119 introduced, transported by the wind, the sea, or the birds that emigrated from the continent. In the animal world, sea lions, dolphins, Darwin finches, cormorants, giant tortoises, land and marine iguanas, flightless cormorants, Galapagos penguins, frigates, seahorses, pelicans, blue-footed boobies and red-legged, albatross and whale and hammerhead sharks constitute the enormous diversity that lives in this exclusive environment.
 Traveling to the Galapagos Islands encourages you to strengthen the bond between man and nature and to look into each other's eyes with respect and admiration. The islands are a very unique place, and when you discover them, it is hard to forget your experiences there.

Galapagos Islands

Guayaquil is the largest and most populated city in Ecuador and is located on the banks of the Guayas River, which flows to the Pacific Ocean through an estuary called "Estero Salado".
Right in the centre are the famous streets of Clemente Bail&eacute;n and Chimborazo, where the Seminario Park is located, in which huge and harmless iguanas roam wild. It houses an equestrian statue of Simon Bolivar and in front of the garden area is the Cathedral of Guayaquil, a beautiful neo-Gothic building rebuilt in stone after the great fire.
On the banks of the river, the 2.5 km long Malec&oacute;n Sim&oacute;n Bol&iacute;var, known as the Malec&oacute;n 2000, allows for peaceful river-side strolls. It is one of the most successful urban projects in America and an icon of the city. Guayaquil locals stroll along the promenade and it is also the departure point for boats that sail down the river to enjoy the local landscapes.
This urban park, full of nature, history, tradition, modernism and beauty, has many tourist attractions such as manicured gardens, artificial lagoons, fountains, viewpoints, quays, squares, museums, cinemas, shopping centers, restaurants, bars, food courts, play areas and historical monuments such as the Hemiciclo de La Rotonda, a monument that commemorates the meeting between Sim&oacute;n Bol&iacute;var and Jos&eacute; de San Mart&iacute;n; a Clock Tower, 30 meters high, which an octagonal base and a huge Byzantine-style dome that is one of the most famous and photographed buildings in the city; the Palacio de Cristal, a convention and exhibition center located in the Plaza de la Integraci&oacute;n, the Obelisk to the Glorious Aurora and the statue of the politician Olmedo.
A few meters from the Malec&oacute;n 2000 and on the banks of the river on a hill, is the emblematic historic district of Cerro de Santa Ana, a very special neighbourhood with a colonial appearance, narrow cobblestone streets and wooden houses of different colours. Behind the statue of the founder Francisco de Orellana, there are 444 steps that connect the base of the hill with the top in a route that concentrates a variety of restaurants, cafes, art galleries and craft shops. Above you get one of the best views of the city and you can visit the Lighthouse, the Chapel of the Virgin of Mercy and the Naval Museum. At the foot of the hill, Las Pe&ntilde;as neighbourhood is the most iconic of Guayaquil, where we can appreciate the colonial air in its old, elegant and colourful wooden houses with French-style balconies. In its most emblematic street, the narrow paved road Numa Pompilio Llona, art galleries and live music venues permeate the place with a captivating bohemian air. Next to Las Pe&ntilde;as is Puerto Santa Ana with its own Malecon and modern commercial and office buildings.
Travel to Guayaquil to discover the economic centre and feel the constant renewal of Ecuador. Guayaquil is warm, cosmopolitan, colourful, modern and dynamic. It has as been baptised "the Jewel of Ecuador" and &ldquo;the Pearl of the Pacific".
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Guayaquil

"Light of America&rdquo; is one of the names that have been assigned to Quito. The capital of the Republic of Ecuador was founded in the sixteenth century on an ancient Inca city. It has the largest and best preserved historic center in Latin America, enough reasons to be proclaimed the first Cultural Heritage Humanity Site in history along with Poland&rsquo;s Krakow.
 Quito is full of churches, monasteries, colonial buildings, squares, convents, museums, theaters and narrow, steep cobbled streets. The Spanish influence has left dozens of temples in the old town, modest in their facades and immense inside for the materials and details. Three of them stand out considerably: the Church of San Francisco, the oldest, called the "Escorial of the New World" because of its size; The Company of Jesus, one of the most important baroque expressions of the continent whose interior is covered with sheets of gold leaf; and the Basilica del Voto Nacional, the largest neo-Gothic architecture on the continent, whose curious gargoyles not only represent mythological beings, but also endemic fauna.
 The neighborhood of La Ronda is the most emblematic of Quito and in its main artery, Juan Dios Morales street was known as La Ronda street, you can still breathe the bohemian, cultural and artistic air of yesteryear and listen to live music and taste the famous canelazos or delicious empanadas on sale in every restaurant. Another of the most important roads is that of the &lsquo;Six Crosses&rsquo;, which runs through the entire colonial area. Its name refers to the stone crosses that were placed in the atriums of each church as a popular altar.
 The Plaza Grande or Plaza de la Independencia houses the Palacio de Carondelet or Palace Presidential, the Municipal and Archbishop's Palace and the Metropolitan Cathedral. In the middle of it and surrounded by gardens, stands the monument to Independence, a cry for freedom. The Plaza Foch in the neighborhood of La Mariscal, constitutes "the zone of farra" or the center of the entertainment and evening entertainment in Quito where you can enjoy "la pachanga" dancing in bars, restaurants and nightclubs.
 Quito is located at 2800 meters above sea level. At 3000 meters above sea level, on the hill of Panecillo, stands the sculpture of the Virgin of Quito, 30 meters high and built with 7400 pieces of aluminum. From its vantage point, you can get the best views of the city, both the old town and the modern area, as well as the suburban neighborhoods that climb the slopes of the mountains that surround the city. Thus, delimiting the city is the Casitagua volcano to the north, the Falla de Quito to the east, the eastern slopes of the Pichincha, belonging to the Cordillera de los Andes, to the west and the Atacazo volcano to the south.
 Another attraction of the city is the cable car, which climbs from 2950 meters to 4053 meters in just 10 minutes to the slopes of Pichincha from whose natural terrace the viewer can be captivated. The surrounding parks are an important part of the urban life of the locals, who come on weekends as a family to enjoy the endemic wildlife. Popular parks include Itchimb&iacute;a, Gu&aacute;pulo, Metropolitano, El Ejido and La Carolina.
&nbsp;

Quito

Cities, Volcanos & Galapagos Discovery

Bergen is the second largest city in Norway and the gateway to the Norwegian fjords. A small fisherman's city who's colourful wooden houses cannot fail to charm. Especially the area of Bryggem, a UNESCO World Heritage site which was occupied by the Hanseatens, a German federation which controlled fishing in the north of the country for years. The city is surrounded by seven mountains, the best known being Ulriken and Floyen, the latter the supposed home of fairies and trolls. Bergen was the inspiration for the Disney film, Frozen.

Bergen

Known as the &lsquo;Land of the Fjords&rsquo;, Norway is famous for its glistening waterways. The word &lsquo;fjord&rsquo; is of ancient Viking origin, used to describe the watery inlets that stud the coastline of Norway. So what is a fjord? These mythical bodies of water are created by retreating glaciers that, after carving out a groove into the coastal cliffs, melt away leaving behind huge channels to be inundated with seawater.&nbsp;
The thing that makes Norway&rsquo;s fjords so impressive are their sheer length, number, and complexity; some of them even have branches that continue to carry the seawater in different directions along tributaries. You can think of the fjords as natural canal systems. One thing is for sure is their incredible beauty and appeal; they are surely the biggest attraction of a trip to Norway. Norwegian fjords cruises are increasingly popular with travelers who desire a tranquil getaway amidst the heavenly landscapes of Norway&rsquo;s fjord region. Glistening, glacial waters surrounded by dramatic cliffs; sounds like a perfect picture!
 
<h2>Must-see Fjords</h2>
On a Norwegian fjord holiday, it can be challenging to know which fjords to focus on. The &lsquo;King of the Fjords&rsquo; is a good place to start! Sognefjord is the deepest and longest of the Norwegian fjords, at 1308 meters deep in places and weaving its way into the mainland for a staggering 200 kilometers! It is a natural giant and one of the most widely enjoyed fjords by visitors as its depth allows for large cruise ships to navigate on the waters.&nbsp;
For the wow-factor, head to the Geirangerfjord and Naeroyfjord, two of the most spectacular in the country and both inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Bordered by free-flowing waterfalls which cascade into the fjord and traditional farm dwellings dotted along the hillsides, these fjords are sure to make you feel as if you have stepped into a fairytale.&nbsp;
A Norwegian fjords cruise is incomplete without navigating the Hardangerfjord, which begins just south of the city of Bergen, on the Atlantic Ocean, and ends all the way in the Hardangervidda mountains. This mighty fjord is famed for its summertime apple trees, which blossom all along the lengths of its banks.&nbsp;
 
<h2>How to experience the Fjords</h2>
A fjord cruise is perhaps the best way to get a good view of the different landscapes of Norway&rsquo;s fjord systems and to be close to the action. Whether it is on a large scale cruise ship as part of a fjords tour or simply a day trip cruise, you can feel the truly tranquil atmosphere and sense the shadows that the towering cliffs cast upon the still waters from the deck of a cruiser.&nbsp;
Another option to experience the fjords in Norway is from the sky. A birds-eye view of the fjord region is an amazing way to capture the sheer scale and complexity of the inlets. If you are landing at Bergen airport, you&rsquo;re likely to enjoy an amazing view. Alternatively, take the funicular from Bergen to the top of Mount Floyen for a brilliant panorama of the different Norwegian fjords.
Prefer something a little more luxurious? Jump aboard the prestigious Flam Railway, which runs from the end of the Aurlandsfjord, a tributary of the Sognefjord, to the hill station of Myrdal. The hour-long journey covers breathtaking landscapes ranging from tiny villages to waterfalls and farms, with the backdrop of the glistening fjord. More adventurous travelers on the hunt for Norway&rsquo;s fjords might prefer to take a kayak excursion out onto the waters. There&rsquo;s no better way to connect with the fjords than with the freedom of a kayak.

Norweigan Fjords

Oslo is the capital of Norway and, as such, the most populated city in the country. Its main asset is the fact that it is surrounded by nature, between hills, forests and fjords. Consequently, it boasts not just an urban centre and lively night life, but also numerous possibilities to enjoy the great outdoors. Amongst the most popular tourist attractions is the famous painting The Scream, by Edvard Munch which can be found in the National Gallery, also home to the Madonna, by the same artist. Other landmarks include the Vigeland Sculpture Park, the Holmenkollen, a popular ski jump offering fantastic views of the city and a museum dedicated to the sport, the Akershus fortress and the Viking Ship Museum.

Oslo

Vision of the Fjords

Located on the banks of the Vistula River, the city of Krakow is one of the essential visits on a trip to Poland. It was founded by Prince Krak (hence its name Krak&oacute;w) from the hill of Wawel, where his famous castle is located along with the city&rsquo;s Cathedral. Just below is the dragon statue, one of the protagonists of his legend that tells that the only knight capable of finishing him was a shoemaker who offered him a sheep full of sulfur. Once devoured, the dragon came to drink water from the Vistula and died. In the epicentre of the city, in the busy market square, you can also hear learn of the legend of Saint Mary, one of the best-known images of Krakow. Every hour, the trumpet sounds to the rhythm of Hejnał Mariacki, a traditional Polish melody reminiscent of the trumpeter killed during the Tartar invasions. The Market Square is medieval in style and it is the best preserved in Europe. Underneath it, ancient prisons and torture rooms are located.
Although Krakow was affected by the Jewish Holocaust that took place during World War II, the city suffered little material damage. Today, these black pages of history can be discovered through a walk around Kazimierz and Podg&oacute;rze, Jewish Krakow wherein the second of them the ghetto was created and where the well-known factory of Oskar Schindler is located. Converted into a museum, today it is one of the essential visits on a trip to Krakow. Other essential places are the university, the oldest in Poland; and the palace of the Archdiocese, where the window from where John Paul II used to say goodnight to the parishioners when he visited the city, is located.
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Krakow

Located in the Tatra Mountains, in southern Poland and just over 100 kilometers from Krakow, this national park is one of the country's greatest attractions and is home to one of the most beautiful parts of the Carpathian Mountains. Its variety of forests, characteristic of high mountain areas, are ideal for hiking trails. Most of them include Lake Morskie Oko (eye of the sea), the most beautiful of all due to its incredible views of the peaks that surround it. The highest of these is the Rysy, of almost 2,500 meters high, which climbers and experienced mountaineers can access. The park also offers the possibility of enjoying beautiful valleys and discover fascinating waterfalls and caves. Another of its great attractions is its fauna, where mammals such as the marmot, the mountain goat and even bears can be found, although the latter are more difficult to locate. Among the birdlife, the golden eagle stands out. Most of the excursions that cross the Tatra National Park leave from Zakopane, a small city located at the foot of the Tatras that enjoys a lot of atmosphere during the winter months when it becomes a ski resort.

Tatra National Park

Located in the Tatra Mountains, in southern Poland and just over 100 kilometers from Krakow, this national park is one of the country's greatest attractions and is home to one of the most beautiful parts of the Carpathian Mountains. Its variety of forests, characteristic of high mountain areas, are ideal for hiking trails. Most of them include Lake Morskie Oko (eye of the sea), the most beautiful of all due to its incredible views of the peaks that surround it. The highest of these is the Rysy, of almost 2,500 meters high, which climbers and experienced mountaineers can access. The park also offers the possibility of enjoying beautiful valleys and discover fascinating waterfalls and caves. Another of its great attractions is its fauna, where mammals such as the marmot, the mountain goat and even bears can be found, although the latter is more difficult to locate. Among the birdlife, the golden eagle stands out. Most of the excursions that cross the Tatra National Park leave from Zakopane, a small city located at the foot of the Tatras that enjoys a lot of atmosphere during the winter months when it becomes a ski resort.
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Warsaw

Jewels of Poland

Also known as Aswan, this city located in the south of Egypt is known for being the starting point for many of the visits to Abu Simbel. Due to the flooding of the Nile riverbed, the Egyptians built both a high and low dam in the area to prevent flooding, but in both constructions, the environmental impact was not taken into account, and due to the rising levels of Lake Nasser the temples of Nubia and Abu Simbel suffered flooding damage. Thanks to a UN campaign to preserve the monuments, different countries of the world collaborated in the transfer of the temples to the interior, away from the river banks.

Aswan

The gigantic Egyptian capital stretches for kilometers. The Alabaster Mosque is one of the visual references of the city, as well as the citadel of Saladino, a medieval Islamic fortification that can be seen from different parts of the city.
One of the great attractions of any trip to Cairo is to get lost in the Jan el-Jalili souk, a network of narrow streets covered with numerous stalls where you can find all kinds of items: from the famous shishas, incense, papyri, spices or poufs made from camel skin, to clothing, antiques and costume jewellery. The Egyptians like to bargain very much, so purchases in any part of the country will be very economical. Another unmissable sight is the famed Egyptian Museum in Cairo, whose cabinets contain precious relics of Ancient Egypt such as vases, sculptures, friezes, paintings, personal belongings and sarcophagi found in the valley of the Kings. In the museum, you can also see the treasure of Tutankhamun, and the mummies of some of the most important pharaohs in history. The pyramids of Giza, one of the wonders of the world, are located on the outskirts of Cairo.
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Cairo

The necropolis of Giza is one of the greatest treasures of Ancient Egypt. Located within the site are the famous pyramids of Khafre, Menkaure and the great pyramid of Giza, Khufu, considered one of the best preserved and one of the seven wonders of the world. Located on the outskirts of Cairo, these three imposing monuments are one of the main tourist attractions, as well as the enormous figure of the Sphinx, the animal with the body of a lion and a human head whose nose was destroyed by Napoleonic troops. A visit to the great pyramid of Giza allows the traveler to enter a giant network of low-lying tunnels that lead to the King's chamber, where an empty sarcophagus is found. In the surroundings, other visitors have the opportunity of taking a camel ride between the different pyramids, for an exciting, unique experience.
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Giza

Known as the ancient city of Thebes, Luxor was the capital of the New Kingdom of Ancient Egypt built by the pharaohs Amenhotep III and Ramses II. An archaeological center of great relevance where you can find the pillars of the famous temples of Luxor and Karnak, linked together by an avenue of sphinxes and considered a world heritage by UNESCO. Dedicated to the god Amun, you can expect to see columns, obelisks, bas-reliefs and calendars sculpted in the rock. It is also where the mysterious sculpture of an Egyptian beetle is found, which legend suggests has the power to grant wishes. The Luxor area also includes other renowned places of interest such as the Valley of the Kings, the ancient necropolis where the pharaohs of Ancient Egypt were buried. One of the most important findings was the tomb of Tutankhamun in 1922. A few meters away is the Valley of the Queens, where the funeral chamber of Nefertari was found. Finally, on a trip to Egypt and Luxor you should not miss the Colossi of Memnon, two stone sculptures on the banks of the Nile that represent Amenhotep III.
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Luxor

On a trip to Egypt, you can not forego a boat trip or cruise on the Nile, the longest river in Africa on whose bank the most important cities of the country were built in antiquity. Currently, it is where the main tourist attractions are located, such as Luxor, the ancient capital; Giza, the necropolis where the famous pyramids are located; as well as Cairo, the capital of modern Egypt. The Nile River has two tributaries: the White Nile, which is born in Burundi and passes through Tanzania, Lake Victoria, Uganda, South Sudan and Sudan; and the Blue Nile, which originates in Lake Tana, crosses Ethiopia and reaches Sudan, where it meets the northern part of the river. 
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