By Rachel Brown with reporting by Reagan Walker
Palm Springs, California
Dive into this design-driven Coachella Valley oasis.
What to do
Marvel at verdant desert life on a hike in Indian Canyons—part of the reservation belonging to Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, who have lived in the area for some 5,000 years. Hop on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway to an 8,516-foot-high observation deck overlooking the wilds of Mount San Jacinto State Park. In February, book a small-group tour to enjoy Modernism Week, an annual celebration of Palm Springs architecture.
What to eat
Workshop Kitchen + Bar is minimalist in design (think concrete interiors) but maximalist in flavor, serving seasonal heritage cocktails and farm-to-table American fare.
Where to stay
Soak up the spirit of modernism at the Parker, an iconic, ironic swankienda that flaunts retro-chic interiors by designer Jonathan Adler. Remodeled with Rat Pack swagger, the Ace Hotel & Swim Club includes a bohemian roadside diner (formerly a Denny’s) and a groovy organic spa.
Photograph By Winnie Au
St. Petersburg, Russia
Russia’s former capital shines with an array of activities.
What to do
Avoid the crowds by booking a personal, off-hours tour of the Hermitage Museum (ask to see the mechanical gold peacock spread its tail). In June, when the sun sets at 10:30 p.m., board a private boat on the Neva River to watch the night-long twilight bathe the city’s neoclassical architecture. Then head to shore for the best views of the Scarlet Sails celebration, a dazzling midnight display of fireworks, flotillas, and water shows.
What to eat
Try the signature “candle fish” at Korushka, a riverside restaurant near the Peter and Paul Fortress. At the Café Literaturnoe, where poet Alexander Pushkin supposedly ate his last meal, tuck into caviar and elk steak.
Where to stay
Enjoy the royal elegance of the Four Seasons Lion Palace, restored to its 1820s magnificence and replete with two of the marble beasts guarding its entrance.
Video by Image Bank Film, Getty Images
Cairo, Egypt
Seek out ancient wonders—and enjoy modern luxuries.
What to do
Though the Grand Egyptian Museum won’t open until 2020, you can still hire an Egyptologist for an in-depth tour of its elder sibling, the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, which offers a sprawling collection of ancient art and artifacts. Browse the glittering jewelry at Khan El-Khalili, the city’s largest souk. Then don your formal finery to end the evening with a performance at the elegant Cairo Opera House.
What to eat
Sip karkade (hibiscus tea) or Egyptian-style coffee at Fishawi, a hundred-year-old café renowned for its nostalgic ambience.
Where to stay
Enjoy the pyramids’ nightly sound and light show from a room at the Mena House Hotel. Or, at Kempinski Nile Hotel Garden City Cairo, swim in a pool overlooking the Nile.
Photograph By mauritius images GmbH, Alamy
The Marquesas, South Pacific
Discover an island paradise in this French Polynesian archipelago.
What to do
Ponder the tangled legacy of post-Impressionist painter Paul Gauguin at his grave on Hiva Oa. Scuba dive with hammerheads, orcas, and manta rays around Nuku Hiva. Charter a yacht for a day of snorkeling, sightseeing, and dolphin-watching in style.
What to eat
Savor Gallic-influenced Polynesian cuisine such as poisson cru (raw fish tartare marinated in lime and coconut milk) and bountiful platters of fresh mango, grapefruit, starfruit, papaya, and breadfruit.
Where to stay
Enjoy bay views and a black sand beach at Nuku Hiva Keikahanui Pearl Lodge—or book a cruise on the Tahiti-based ship Aranui V.
Video by Moment Video RF, Getty Images
Borobudur, Indonesia
Make a pilgrimage to the center of Java.
What to do
Visit the UNESCO-recognized Buddhist temple of Borobudur in the early morning to watch dawn light reveal the buildings’ intricate carvings. Wander the side streets of nearby Yogya to browse the best antique shops.
What to eat
Try stewed lamb with cinnamon, coconut milk, and cardamom. Or tuck into coriander fried chicken.
Where to stay
Take in magnificent views of the Menoreh Hills—and Borobodur itself—at Amanjiwo, an elegant resort with 36 garden-terraced suites.
Photograph by Blend Images, Alamy
Jaipur, India
See why Jaipur is the crown jewel of India’s “land of kings.”
What to do
Tour the Jaipuri countryside in a chauffeur-driven car, stopping at the pink-plastered, 18th-century Naila Palace for sunset cocktails. Experience a traditional aarti, the Hindu ritual of offering prayers by fire, at a three-hundred-year-old Lord Shiva temple.
What to eat
Nibble on nut-stuffed Kashmiri mushrooms cooked in saffron-flavored onion and cashew gravy at the Raj Mahal restaurant in the Oberoi Rajvilas hotel.
Where to stay
Whether you choose a swanky villa or sumptuous private tent, start your stay at the Oberoi with private morning yoga in the hotel’s gardens. For a tranquil waterfront experience, stay at the lovely Lake Palace in nearby Udaipur.
Video by Creatas Video, Getty Images
Porto, Portugal
Savor classic wine in this centerpiece of the lush Douro Valley.
What to do
In Porto, stop by the Salão Arabe (“Arabian Room”) in the Palacio da Bolsa, then browse the shelves at Livraria Lello, one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world. Take a bicycle tour through the countryside—or, for a different view, a helicopter ride above it.
What to eat
Stroll through Porto’s Mercado do Bolhão and sample the smoked meats, local cheese, and pungent local olive oil. In Vila Nova de Gaia, tour some 30 lodges where, for hundreds of years, wine merchants have been ageing casks of port.
Where to stay
Check in to the Yeatman, one of Porto’s most luxurious hotels, or sleep in an 18th-century manor house at Quinta Do Vallado Wine Hotel.
Photograph By carlos sanchez pereyra, Alamy
Sacred Valley, Peru
Explore the heart of the Andes—and Cusco, the Incas’ imperial city.
What to do
Head to Plaza de Armas, Cusco’s main square, to people-watch and admire the combined Inca and colonial Spanish architecture. Make a day trip from Cusco to hike Vinicunca, the “Rainbow Mountain” known for the colorful mineralogical formations hard to find elsewhere on Earth.
What to eat
The Sacred Valley is having a foodie moment. Try pachamanca, a traditional dish made in earthen ovens with meat, potatoes, and corn. End the evening at Cusco’s Museo del Pisco with a tasting flight of the distinctive Andean aperitif.
Where to stay
Belmond’s Palacio Nazarenas—a former convent located in the historic center of the 11,150-foot-high city—pumps additional oxygen into every guest room. Or try Inkaterra La Casona, a 16th-century manor house restored into an 11-suite boutique with an open central courtyard.
Video by Moment Video RF, Getty Images
Naoshima, Japan
Modern art, charming villages, natural beauty: Explore Japan’s art island.
What to do
Hop from one art installation to the next by bike—or, if the hills intimidate, rent a motorized cycle. Don’t miss the Chichu Art Museum, built mostly underground so as to blend into the surroundings. Take a day trip to the neighboring island, Teshima: its art museum is a stunning structure shaped like a splattered water drop and houses a single artwork.
What to eat
Try Naoshima sea salted butter and sweet summer orange jam on cranberry and coconut scones at Apron Café, tucked in a pedestrian-only alley in the charming port town of Honmura.
Where to stay
Spend the night at Benesse House, which doubles as a Tadao Ando-designed museum.
Photograph By Stefan Boness, Panos Pictures/Redux
Antarctica
Meet unbridled nature at the bottom of the world.
What to do
Embark on a National Geographic expedition from Ushhuaia, Argentina, sailing deep blue water past bright blue ice and steep black mountains. In early November, cross-country ski Antarctica’s shores. If you dare, strip to your swimsuit and take the ultimate polar-bear plunge in the Antarctic Sea—a rousing tradition when conditions are right.
What to eat
Savor line-caught fish right from the sea.
Where to stay
Sleep on an expedition ship outfitted with a luxurious spa.
Video by Jeff Patterson/RVRD
Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
Seek out an unforgettable encounter with a mountain gorilla.
What to do
Volcanoes National Park is renowned for its gorillas: Daily treks depart from the park, and sightings are common. You can also hike the area’s lush rainforests and grasslands or trek two of the extinct volcanoes. Plant an indigenous tree to contribute to the region’s reforestation.
What to eat
Try sambaza (tiny, spiced, fried fish) and liboke (a chicken dish steamed in banana leaves), prepared by local chefs.
Where to stay
Bisate Lodge, with its volcanic views and six deluxe villas, is both sustainable and luxurious.
Photograph by Martha Robbins, Nat Geo Image Collection
Split, Croatia
Explore the historic city—and the natural wonders that surround it.
What to do
Arrange for a wine tasting in the ancient, cavernous basement at the Vestibul Palace. For day trips, hire a private skipper for a trip to Hvar Island's secluded beaches or drive a couple hours north to take a guided tour of the waterfalls at Plitvice Lakes National Park.
What to eat
Bokeria Kitchen & Wine Bar does traditional food in exciting new ways.
Where to stay
Vestibul Palace shares walls with an ancient palace built by Roman Emperor Diocletian at the turn of the fourth century.
Video by Creatas Video, Getty images
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