Today Sicily is part of Italy, but over the last several thousand years, the largest island in the Mediterranean has been host to the Greek, Roman, and Arab empires, along with nearly every other major European power from the Middle Ages through the Renaissance. Italy is a traveler’s paradise, but when Italians want to get away, they often go to Sicily. Here are some of our favorite reasons why.

Climb an active volcano
Take a jeep tour on Mt. Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe outside the Caucasus and one of the world’s most active volcanoes. Don helmets and torches and explore craters and underground lava flows.

Stay in a palazzo
You’ll find idyllic villas all along Sicily’s rocky coast, many of which have been converted into hotels and guesthouses. For less than the cost of a standard hotel room in Rome, you can spend a night in 14^th-century luxury with sweeping views of the Mediterranean.

Search for buried treasure
Sicily rivals Greece and Israel for unearthing historic artifacts and boasts seven UNESCO World Heritage sites. Visit Siracusa, Taormina, Catania, and Agrigento to discover ancient theaters, cathedrals and temples, fortified ports, and historic hilltop villages.

Eat the world’s first cannoli
Originating in Palermo in 1000 A.D., the cannoli was invented by the Arabic Saracens people—who first brought sugar cane to Sicily—and is believed to have been prepared as a fertility symbol during Carnevale season.

Insider Tip: Sicily’s summer arrives early and leaves late, providing ample opportunity to soak up the Mediterranean sun along 1,200 kilometers of coastline.

Fun fact: The indigenous Nero d’Avola, Grillo, and Zibibbo grapes are putting Sicily on the world winemaking map.

 

Despite Israel’s small geographic size, it remains one of the richest cultural destinations on the planet. Start in the bustle and beauty of Jerusalem, and then hit the road for an adventure of biblical proportion.

Jerusalem: The spiritual and cultural center of the world’s three major religions has endured through most of recorded history and continues to enchant travelers from around the globe. 

Golan Heights: Take a jeep tour across the rocky plateau and learn about the complexity of the Golan and its strategic relationship to Israel’s Syrian and Lebanese neighbors.

Safed: One of Judaism’s four holy cities and home to Kaballah (Jewish mysticism), it has the highest elevation in Israel and offers breathtaking views of the Galilee.

Ramon Crater: Created 220 million years ago in the Negev desert, the world’s largest erosion crater remains one of the planet’s most spectacular geologic formations.

Caesarea Maritima: Built as a Roman seaport around 20 BCE, King Herod the Great’s architectural achievement is still one of the most beautiful cities of the ancient world.

Acre (Akko): One of the oldest continuously inhabited-settlements on Earth, the medieval Old City was a major destination during the Crusades.

Insider Tip: Foodies should head to Machane Yehuda Market in Jerusalem for a tasting tour of world cuisine.

Fun fact: Israel north to south (Haifa to Eilat) measures just 270 miles and can be driven in 4-1/2 hours.

Covering 400,000 square miles at the southern end of South America, Patagonia is quite literally the end of the earth. The vast region has coasts on three oceans, is divided between Chile and Argentina by the Andes Mountains, and includes the archipelago of Tierra del Fuego, which extends into the Southern Ocean just 1,000 km north of Antarctica.

Chilean Patagonia is known for its jagged peaks and glacial fjords. It’s one of the last truly wild places on Earth, and more than one explorer has entered the region never to return. But its beauty continues to lure would-be adventurers, and traveling there is half the fun.

Southern Chile is largely uninhabited. Its rocky coastline, dense forests, and frozen ice fields are home to more horses than people, and travel by 4×4, kayak, or on foot is the best way to explore. This is a trekker’s paradise, and you’ll find plenty of companies offering guided trips into Torres del Paine national park, where new adventures are only a step away.

Insider Tip: Completed in 2018, the Carretera Austral is an all-weather roadway that runs through the Patagonia National Parks Network, a 2,400 km stretch that includes 17 national parks.

Fun fact: The glaciers in Chile make up 80% of the glacier coverage in South America, and the most beautiful ones can be found in San Rafael National Park.

The very word “Bali” conjures up notions of pleasure, sanctuary, and spiritual enlightenment. For thousands of years, it has lured sailors, adventurers, and soul seekers with its idyllic beaches and mythical promises. But today, its exotic song can be heard around the world, and its hidden allure is well within reach.

Often considered the crown jewel in the Indonesian archipelago, Bali (just eight degrees south of the equator) boasts perfect beach weather year-round. Luxurious resorts and surf towns alike cater to tourists, making Bali one of the most hospitable destinations in the world.

But its inner beauty is perhaps what attracts the most travelers. Perched among highland peaks, many of Bali’s ancient temple complexes are still in use, providing ample opportunity to experience the mystical beauty of traditional prayer and religious festivals. Ubud, a small town in the heart of the island, is nestled among terraced rice paddies and villages that specialize in Balinese arts and crafts.

If you’re not already convinced, then consider this: Bali is also one of the most affordable destinations. An over-supply of hotels and steadily increasing inflation have resulted in tremendous value for the American dollar. Offering some of the world’s best restaurants and spas, Bali is sure to live up to your dreams.

Insider Tip: Indulge in a beach massage. It’s much less expensive than visiting a spa, and most masseuses are willing to bargain!

Fun fact: Warungs (street-side food stalls) offer traditional Balinese cuisine and are the best places to mingle with the locals.

The Irrawaddy River snakes through Myanmar (previously known as Burma) among Himalayan glaciers and alluvial plains for 1,300 miles before reaching the Indian Ocean. The main transportation thoroughfare since the middle ages, the Irrawaddy (also known as the Ayeyarwady) is largely unchanged today: ox plows and bullock carts line the riverbanks, and tiered pagodas and thatched homes rise along the hillsides.

Considered one of the most beautiful rivers in the world, the Irrawaddy is the best way to explore Myanmar’s ancient cities and steep yourself in the timeless culture of forgotten lands. Devotional chanting can be heard from waterside monasteries in the World Heritage Site of Bagan, home of more than 2,000 temples and pagodas built by kings dating back to the ninth century.

Unlike ocean cruises among far-flung destinations, river cruising puts you at the center of a place, providing intimate views of local life. During the day, rivers come alive with the bustle of daily activities, while at night, passengers settle into the rhythm of the calm flow of the current.

You can sail the Irrawaddy in a multitude of vessels, providing various levels of cruising style. From polished teak and brass steamers to 20-cabin luxury yachts, day boats to private charters, you will explore life as travelers have for thousands of years.

Insider Tip: The best time to visit Myanmar is during the dry season, October through March, when river levels and the humidity are lower.

Fun fact: Donald M. Stadtner’s Sacred Sites of Burma recounts the rich history of Buddhist sites along the Irrawaddy River.

Mountain gorillas, the largest primates on the planet, have long fascinated travelers and scientists alike. Now numbering less than 1,000, primarily due to poaching and habitat loss, these majestic animals are finding new hope.

Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park is leading the charge to protect its indigenous primates through carefully regulated tours guided by National Park Rangers. Group tours are limited in size and duration to protect the animals and their habitat, and the revenue from ecotourism is making visiting the mountain gorillas a more profitable enterprise than hunting them.

Mountain gorillas are nomadic and wild, and their habitats can be remote. Going on a gorilla trek is not like other African jeep-driven safaris—hikes are often strenuous and can last from one to six hours, as your guides lead you through dense forest and to elevations of 7,500 feet. But the reward of discovering a hidden family of gorillas in its native habitat is well worth the trip.

Volcanoes National Park is located in Kigali, where most travelers venture into the vibrant culture of the local markets, as well as visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre, the site of the Rwandan Genocide of 1994.

Kenya is a short flight away, and there you can continue your search for endangered species—including black rhinos and elephants—among the high plains of Laikipia and the Maasai Mara.

Insider Tip: Visitors to Kigali can also purchase permits to trek for golden monkeys, an endemic species to the Albertine Rift montane forests of Volcanoes National Park.

Fun fact: Rwandan coffees are gaining prominence among their long-popular African neighbors, and a burgeoning coffee tourism industry is also helping to protect Rwanda’s natural lands.

Once the gateway to the New World for European sailors, Portugal—perched on the western edge of the Iberian Peninsula—invites American travelers to a land where the Atlantic, the Mediterranean, Europe, and Africa meet.

Here you’ll find historic explorers, maritime delicacies, sumptuous wines, and Europe’s sunniest capital city. And if these weren’t reasons enough to pack your bags, Portugal is also one of the Continent’s most affordable destinations, offering Western European elegance at Eastern European prices.

Beyond the old-world charm of Lisbon—with its wooden trams and baroque facades—terraced hills descend to rocky beaches along the serene coast. Modern explorers will delight in the fairytale palaces of nearby Sintra, Evora, and Arraiolos. And history buffs still make pilgrimage to Fátima, famed for its alleged sighting of the Virgin Mary.

If you’re a wine enthusiast, venture north to the enchanted vineyards of the Douro Valley (about a four-hour drive from Lisbon) and Porto, Portugal’s second city, known for the centuries-old fortified wine that bears its name.

Insider Tip: 850 miles west of mainland Portugal (just a 2.5-hour flight from Lisbon) lie the Azores, a chain of volcanic mountain islands whose wild, hidden allure is well worth the trip.

Fun fact: With the continuous rolling swell of the Atlantic Ocean, Portugal is one of Europe’s best (and least crowded) surfing destinations.

Second in size in South America only to Brazil, Argentina dominates the continent with offerings larger than life—towering Andes in the west, endless Atlantic coastline to the east, and the sprawling glacial plains of southern Patagonia. For some, this is literally the end of the Earth, and for hundreds of years people across the globe have traveled here to lose themselves in a spectacular setting.

But every journey to Argentina begins in its fiery heart, Buenos Aires—a city of brazen gauchos, sensual tango, and world-class cuisine. Take a dance lesson in San Telmo and stroll through storybook streets of Spanish colonial architecture. And when you’ve had your fill of city life, head out of town and discover a land waiting to be explored.

Mendoza: Argentina’s most highly-rated Malbec wines originate from Mendoza’s high-altitude wine regions of Lujan de Cuyo and the Uco Valley, located 1.5 hours by plane west of Buenos Aires in the eastern foothills of the Andes.

Bariloche: Winter ski resort and summer mountain retreat, Bariloche is also the launch point for the only water passage through the Andes, a breathtaking cruise through the lakes district along the Chilean border that will take you to places few have seen.

Perito Moreno: Soaring 240 feet above the sea, 19 miles long and still growing, the Perito Moreno Glacier in Patagonia’s Los Glaciares National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site. If you had to pick just one glacier to visit in your life, we’d recommend this one!

Insider Tip: Visit El Zanjon de Granados, a series of old tunnels, sewers, and cisterns built in the 18^th century, which lie beneath modern Buenos Aires and provide the base for one of the city’s oldest settlements.

Fun fact: In the last decade, archaeologists in Argentina have made multiple discoveries of gigantic dinosaurs, Giganotosaurus—a genus of theropod dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period approximately 98 to 97 million years ago.

With over 1,100 islands and 300 miles of the most stunning coastline in Europe, Croatia’s southern Dalmatian Coast is a gem that is finally gaining international attention. Shimmering walled cities rise up out of the Adriatic Sea against a backdrop of staggering mountain peaks. Secluded lagoons offer private paradise, while Turkish, Slavic, and Hungarian flavors infuse fresh catches from the sea. The best way to enjoy the postcard scenery is by boat, stopping along the way to explore the old-world splendor and natural treasures.

Dubrovnik: Take a walk above the terra cotta rooftops of the old town for beautiful vantage points of the perfectly preserved medieval city (recently featured in the Game of Thrones TV series) with its marble streets and historic 16^th-century battlements. Easy day trips can be made to neighboring Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro.

Split: A visit to Croatia’s second-largest city must include Diocletian’s Palace, the acclaimed art gallery of Ivan Mestrovic, and Europe’s third-oldest Jewish synagogue still in use. Less than an hour away is the beautiful artist colony of Trogir. And intrepid travelers will not want to miss the terraced lakes and stunning waterfall hikes of Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia’s rugged interior.

Insider Tip: Meander through the cobblestone streets of northern fishing port Rovinj (near the border of Italy), explore the scenic countryside by bicycle, and hunt for truffles with the locals.

Fun fact: While the region has been known as Dalmatia since Imperial Roman times, the Dalmatian dog breed’s origins have officially been recognized as Croatian with illustrations dating back to the 17th century.