Sip on lemon tea at dusk and watch the mountainside burn. Azerbaijan, known as The Land of Fire, is home to many natural gas outlets that have been firing up unabated along the Absheron Peninsula for some for centuries. In the 1700s this natural wonder attracted the attention of Zoroastrians, who built temples around the flames and worshipped the fire for its cleansing properties. In more recent times, the Yanardag mountainside was lit when, rumour has it, an unsuspecting shepherd discarded his cigarette.
And if there’s a burning feeling inside your chest from too much of the local mutton stew – rather than the flaming countryside – take respite in Naftalan where the local oil is said to cure more than 70 ailments, including indigestion.
Before the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Naftalan was an elite tourist hotspot where wealthy Russians would go to soak in oil baths and plot cinema gold – two of the empire’s most famous movies, The Diamond Arm (1969) and Amphibian Man (1962), were filmed in Azerbaijan and sold more than 70 million tickets each. But Azerbaijan isn’t just a USSR relic; it’s a country on the move and one devoted to reclaiming its tourism industry. The country was host to the Eurovision Song Contest in 2012 and the 2015 European Games, which saw a rise in infrastructure and accessibility. The Armenian borders are still sketchy, but the Land of Fire is open and ready to blow.
The mountains make it, but there’s certainly more to Austria than its alpine landscape. The cities are also places of great beauty and each boasts a medley of food, ideas and art sure to satisfy the most ravenous of cultural travellers.
Vienna is its heartbeat, and a city that is both cutting edge and deeply tied to its empirical roots – no more so than during Ball Season, when the city hosts hundreds of formal high-society galas. Vienna’s cvibrancy is due, in part, to the ruling and highly regarded intelligentsia, none more famous than the late Sigmund Freud, whose home office is one of Austria’s most popular attractions. So feast your eyes on Klimt’s gold-leaf paintings, gorge on game meats and cheese spätzle (noodles), then take to the couch for a bout of psychoanalysis.
Did you have to check out Google Maps? There’s no shame in that since this is one of Africa’s smallest nations, wedged between Ghana and Benin, and it’s major claim to fame is its ranking in the bottom five of the world’s happiest countries.
Those who make it there find little evidence of the latter, although there’s certainly not much in the way of creature comforts if you decide Togo is for you. Its capital Lomé – once known as the Paris of West Africa – is on the coast. There’s little heed paid to the needs of tourists, but it’s a laid-back place where the streets are broad and the markets colourful. Make sure you head to the Marché des Féticheurs, the world’s largest voodoo market (somehow the missionaries who travelled to Africa back in the nineteenth century couldn’t convince the Togolese to give up their animist ways). It’s not one for the weak of stomach or PETA supporters, since it’s chockablock with dead critters. You can, however, meet with a practitioner to cure your woes – live hawks and eagles are used to rid the unlucky of curses.
Outside of Lomé there is little in the way of infrastructure – public transport is non-existent, and running water and electricity can’t be taken for granted – but the people are welcoming and generous. Hike up Mount Agou and look out to Ghana, or head to Parc de Sarakawa. You’re not going to see any of the big five here, but then there’s not going to be moving herds of 4WDs blocking your view while you’re watching antelopes, zebras or ostriches either.
A true blend of cultures and its almost complete lack of profile on the tourist trail are just a couple of the reasons you might choose to head to this northern African country. Perhaps a little surprising is that, due to its history and location, this vast country (the largest on the continent) is more Arabian than African. The Berbers are its original inhabitants but during thousands of years just about everyone – the Romans, Vandals, Ottomans and, much later, the French – has had a crack at it. Now, there are a number of UNESCO World Heritage sites – the ruins of Beni Hammed Fort, part of the eleventh-century Hammadid dynasty, and the M’Zab Valley, with its large urban oasis, among them – for intrepid adventurers to explore.
The capital Algiers, on the Mediterranean coast, is both beautiful, with its whitewashed buildings on the seafront, and enormous. One of the country’s other World Heritage sites is here: the Algiers Casbah is one of the oldest parts of the city, with the remains of the citadel, old mosques and Ottoman palaces dotting its still bustling alleys.
Chances are you’re not ever going to end up in this country, especially if you’re a woman. Some westerners end up there for work, and it’s common for Muslims to visit for the Hajj or Umrah – this after all, is the country where you’ll find both Mecca and Medina – but it doesn’t come highly recommended.
It’s an incredibly conservative place, and one of the few countries to employ religious police who enforce dress code, the separation of men and women, a ban on alcohol and attendance at prayer. Women were given the vote in 2015.
If you are tempted (and manage to get in), theattractions include the amazing pre-Islamic site of Mada’in Saleh, with its monumental, rock-hewn tombs, great diving in the Red Sea, and Jeddah’s Old Town where tall houses are built from blocks of coral and feature intricately carved wooden shutters.
Good luck to you, intrepid traveller.
Want adventure? Prefer to drop and flop? Doesn’t matter. Here you can do as much of each as you want. To the west you’ll enjoy still blue waters ideal for swimming, and to the east there are surf-worthy waves ready to ride. No matter where you are, sun, sand and relaxation are never far away.
It’s known for its boat and sailing cruises, so hop on and sail away to sunbathe or snorkel among the crystal clear waters of the Atlantic. Barbados is not short of wildlife, so prepare yourself for a meeting with a wise old sea turtle or coloured schools of fish. Then get your camera ready for sceneries and sunsets worthy of a postcard.
Don’t tire yourself out during the day, as this humble island nation has a booming nightlife on offer, too. Mosey down streets lined with restaurants ranging from simple to stylish. Barbados is home to one of the oldest rum distilleries in the world, too, so you’d be mad not to wrap your lips around a signature rum punch, perhaps accompanied by some reggae tunes, at one of the many bars.
Lebanon is one of the few countries in the world where you can go skiing in the morning and to the beach in the afternoon – only for a few days of the year, mind you, but it’s a good indication of the diversity of experiences you can experience in a short trip.
With stunning beach resorts filled with beautiful people near Byblos, incredible food and awe-inspiring archaeological and architectural sites – the Beiteddine Palace and Temple of Jupiter are just two – it’s easy to brush off the higher stress of the crowded cities. On the other hand Beirut has been referred to as a “beautiful, rowdy, intoxicated mess”, and there is definitely more to it than the political strife that so often captures the headlines. Then there’s Tripoli, which, while extremely religious, offers impressive architecture from Crusader and Ottoman eras, as well as one of the most interesting souks in the country.
Be sure to keep an eye on travel warnings: after decades of civil war, the country is by no means in a completely peaceful state. If the time’s right, however, get onto a flight. It’s a country that will make you eat (entirely too much), think and pray to return to soon.
It may be just to the north of South Africa and have some sights that would seem incredible to the average traveller – Victoria Falls and the Masvingo’s Great Zimbabwe ruins, a city built in a unique dry stone style, among them – but most tend to avoid Zimbabwe An unstable political situation caused by the compulsory acquisition of farming land and the human rights abuses committed by Robert Mugabe and his supporters made it a less than ideal place to kick back and relax, although visitor numbers are slowly increasing.
One of the reasons is the country’s standing as a wildlife management powerhouse. Tick off your game-viewing bucket list at one of the many game reserves, like Mana Pools on the Zambezi River with its elephants, hippos and crocodiles. For lions, leopards, Cape wild dogs, all number of grazing animals and the country’s largest number of elephants, Hwange National Park can’t be beaten, especially since there are a number of camping and accommodation options available there.
Harare is a surprisingly modern city, with plenty to offer visitors, including galleries and museums, lush parks, good food and browse-worthy markets.
Rugby, dragons and places with weird names that defy all the normal rules of pronunciation… If you’ve never been to Wales they might your only points of reference for this small country hanging off England’s northwest.
But a visit – quick or otherwise – will no doubt surprise. Cardiff is the capital, although its size is eclipsed by many other cities in the UK. It is, however, a cool mix of innovative modernity and historical sites. Don’t miss Cardiff Castle in the centre of the city, then catch a show or an exhibition at the Wales Millennium Centre.
Most of the Welsh population lives in its southern reaches, so head north for some respite. Snowdonia National Park has it all, with lakes, peaks and tiny villages. Go walking through the mountains or along beaches, cycle trails or fish for wild trout in the Mawddach river. These more northern areas are also where you’re more likely to hear people speaking Welsh. Chances are you won’t understand any of this Celtic language, although it may be helpful to know that Iechyd da i chwi yn awr ac yn oesoedd is the traditional greeting and means “Good health to you now and forever”.
You might also want to visit the town with the longest name in the English-speaking world. Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch means “St Mary’s Church in the Hollow of the White Hazel near a Rapid Whirlpool and the Church of St Tysilio near the Red Cave”. Good luck asking for directions.
Spend a couple of days lazing on the remote Con Dao islands off the country’s southern coast before traipsing into the highlands of Vietnam’s north, discovering French colonial towns like Sapa from where you can trek to the villages of hill tribes. If you didn’t know better you might even think you were in two entirely different countries.
Many people start their Vietnamese adventure in the capital Hanoi, one of Southeast Asia’s most beautiful cities. Spend some time exploring the streets of the Old Town and join the locals in a spot of tai chi by Hoan Kiem lake. From here, it’s time to decide whether you head further north – for those encounters with H’mong and Tay tribespeople – or take to the water of Halong Bay, where limestone karsts erupt from the turquoise sea.
Be sure to enjoy a spot of old world charm (and bargain hunting) in Hoi An, on the central coast, and organise a home stay with a family on the Mekong Delta.
Wherever you wander through this diverse country you’ll be overwhelmed by the culture, history and beauty, and all the while you’ll be slurping down steaming bowls of pho (noodle soup) and getting buzzed on Vietnamese coffee.
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