Vierwaldstättersee, Switzerland
Sustainable Switzerland.
The medieval city Lucerne is choked with tour buses, but new developments around the spacious lake it sits on (called Lake Lucerne by tourists but known as Vierwaldstättersee to locals) promise to thin crowds and offer accessible doses of authentic Swiss Alps.
Kauai Hawaii, USA
The island’s ubiquitous aerial tours do deliver jaw-dropping views of the towering Na Pali Coast sea cliffs, cascading waterfalls, and other blockbuster locations. But plunging deep into the Garden Island’s wild side requires hitting a trail.
Marked hiking paths lead on to the floor of Waimea Canyon, through the shallow bogs of Alakai Swamp, and across unbelievably lush landscapes.
Basilicata, Italy
Caves, beaches and more in Italy's secret southern region.
This is a chance to visit Italy's southern region before the world catches on. Between the heel that is Puglia and the toe that is Calabria, you will find Basilicata, the arch of Italy's foot.
Despite a storied and ancient past, the region has been overlooked in modern times. Easily Italy's best-kept secret, Basilicata is revered for beautiful beaches, ancient towns and a dearth of organized crime.
Qinghai Lake is China's largest inland saltwater lake. This view is one of the great draws of Qinghai Province in China's far northwest every June and July.
Few tourists make it to this part of China to enjoy this oil painting of a scene, not counting packs of mad cyclists who come for Tour de Qinghai Lake International Cycling Race every summer.
Pudacuo is the first national park in China to meet the criteria set by The World Conservation Union.
More than 20% of the country's plant species and around one-third of its mammal and bird species call this wetland plateau home.
Photographers especially love the area's many types of orchids and China's highly endangered black-necked cranes.
Xinjiang is increasingly attracting visitors for its extraordinary natural beauty and fascinating history and culture. In short, a visit to Chinese Takla Makan Desert makes for an exploration of China's past and its cultural diversity, or simply a journey into some of the most sublime landscapes on earth.
In terms of natural beauty there are few places like Xinjiang autonomous region. Not only is it home to the spectacular Altai and Kunlun mountains and the lush Nalati and Bayanbulak grasslands, but also the vast and rugged Taklimakan Desert. There are few places in China and around the world that have such a rich natural landscape as Xinjiang.
With regard to cultural diversity, Xinjiang is home to 13 different ethnic groups including Uyghur, Hui, Kazakh and Tajik. The visitors have the opportunity to experience each of these amazing cultures, including their unique foods and customs.