Mountains in Uttar Pradesh, India

Nestled high in West Himalaya, India’s Valley of Flowers National Park is renowned for its meadows of endemic alpine flowers and outstanding natural beauty. This richly diverse area is also home to rare and endangered animals, including the Asiatic black bear, snow leopard, brown bear and blue sheep. The gentle landscape of the Valley of Flowers National Park complements the rugged mountain wilderness of Nanda Devi National Park. Together they encompass a unique transition zone between the mountain ranges of the Zanskar and Great Himalaya, praised by mountaineers and botanists for over a century and in Hindu mythology for much longer.

Copyright © UNESCO/World Heritage Centre. All rights reserved.

Review by: World Reviewer Staff

Photo by flickr user Dawn Endico

Astronomy in South Australia, Australia

The Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary, a seven hour drive north of Adelaide, is right out in the middle of nowhere in the Australian Outback. Arkaroola’s isolated position is great for stargazing and the park was the first in Australia to adopt the ‘Dark Skies Policy’ to keep it that way.

There are three observatories on site, complete with up to date astronomical equipment, and the site is fully prepared to cater to all levels of observatory experience. Strange contraptions known as ‘star chairs’ are available for visitors looking to experience the night skies in comfort. Almost like dentists chairs pointed up at the heavens they are fitted out with a joy stick and binoculars to navigate through the stars. Arkaroola has received an Advanced Ecotourism Accreditation for its astronomy tours and these really are experiences worth taking part in.

Review by: Anna Dejardin

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Art Collections in New York, United States

The 'Met' is to New York what the Louvre is to Paris. It's an astonishing museum in its scale and size - the best museum by far in the New World, and one of the 'must-visit' sights of New York. The collection of European art encompasses all ages from the Romans to Renoir, with works by all the masters on view. The Met's reach, though, is global: Egypt, Africa, the Middle East and Oceania are all represented and there is an extensive collection of American art. The programme of special exhibitions is excellent.

Review by: amoore

Photo by flickr user t_a_i_s

Beaches in North Island, New Zealand

The northern part of New Zealand's North Island is famed for its wild and beautiful beaches. Take a tent or campervan and explore the endless windswept beaches of the west coast and the more tranquil coves and bays of the east coast, which includes the famous Bay of Islands.

Review by: Mike Lyvers

Photo by mikelyvers

Coastlines in West Country, United Kingdom

West Bay is "Dorset's Golden Gateway to the Jurassic Coast" – a great little harbour town and a wonderful base-camp for walkers, fossil hunters, fishermen (and fisherwomen!), paragliders, golfers,and photographers, et al. The South-West coastal path can be pursued in either direction - westwards towards Lyme Regis and Sidmouth, or eastwards towards Abbotsbury and Weymouth. Excellent walking, if a little steep in places.

The 'Jurassic Pier' offers splendid coastal views and, along with the beach on either side, a great opportunity to land a few mackerel, or even something much bigger... The imposing cliffs make great launch-pads for people who like to throw themselves into the air under a colourful piece of silk or nylon. And if you're needing a spot of lunch or supper, there are plenty of harbourside kiosks serving freshly cooked fish and chips; the Riverside Restaurant, with its scenic views and excellent seafood; and at least a couple of friendly pubs.

Just a few miles to the east lies the popular Hive Beach, at Burton Bradstock, with its excellent 'cafe-on-the-beach' and a National Trust car park.

Review by: Nikonman

Photo by Nikonman

Train Journeys in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

In the wood-panelled, gleaming five-star luxury of a bygone era, Rovos Rail traverses half the length of Africa, from Dar es Salaam in the east across into central Zambia, Zimbabwe and down to Johannesburg, Swaziland, Lesotho and all South Africa's main cities, before branching up west again into Namibia.

These trains have larger suites than any others, some with full-size bathrooms - not train travel as we know it, but taking train travel to whole new level of travelling experience.

Review by: larapiegeler

Photo by flickr user DanieVDM

Wildlife in Transylvania, Romania

The Carpathian Mountains’ dense, legend-haunted forests are one of the continent’s last safe havens for our favourite ‘furry but fierce’ European carnivores: bears, wolves and lynxes live in the wild here alongside other beautiful and often rare fauna, such as red deer, storks, buzzards, wild boars, bats (-no, not vampires) and lesser spotted eagles.

Needless to say, the countryside itself is also spectacular: noble, mist-crowned mountain peaks form the backdrop for wildflower-carpeted meadows and silent, shady woods stretching up soaring slopes and plunging valleys. It’s perfect country for hiking and horse-riding as well as wildlife-watching.

Equus Silvania is a good company to go with for your first foray into Romania’s wild places. Run by a husband and wife team of skilled horse-riders and expert wildlife biologists, it offers opportunities to combine mountain hikes, horseback trekking days and wildlife-watching. They’ll look after you for anything from an unforgettable evening’s bear watching to a few weeks’ worth of exploration of the area, and their extensive stables and bright, clean guesthouse and log cabins are based in Sinca Noua, an 18th century farming community, which has been hailed as Romania’s first eco-village because of its inhabitants’ shared organic, sustainable farming and production principles.

Review by: larapiegeler

Photo by flickr user Carl Chapman

Wildlife in Costa Rica

Visit this Caribbean country during the nesting and hatching season of the Green Sea Turtle and witness a timeless tradition. Female turtles drag their bodies out of the water to the very same beach where their lives began and lay their eggs.

Guides escort you to the beach after nightfall to watch the nesting process, and later on in the season, see the new hatchlings make their way to the ocean by moonlight.

Turtle season is from July to October and staying close to a beach reserve gives you the best opportunity to see it.

Review by: Graeme Harwood

Photo by flickr user Pvt. Pondscum

Works of Art in Paris, France

Mona Lisa, or La Gioconda (La Joconde), is a 16th century oil painting on a poplar panel by Leonardo Da Vinci. It is arguably the most famous painting in the world, and few other works of art have been subject to as much scrutiny, study, mythologizing and parody. It is owned by the French government and hangs in the Mus

Review by: Amber Dobrzensky

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Mountains in Central-North Kenya, Kenya

An extinct shield volcano, Mount Kenya rises out of the Kenyan plains, smooth and rocky on top. Mount Kenya National Park surrounds the mountain, protecting the impressive range of wildlife living around the base and the varied environments thriving on its slopes – there are even forests of bamboo surrounding the peaks.

Not an easy mountain to climb, its roof has glaciers and it gets very cold as you near the top, but there are eight paths leading up it. One route has huts along the way so it’s at least a comfortable climb. Several tribes grow food on Mount Kenya’s slopes.

Review by: World Reviewer Staff

Photo by flickr user Tambako the Jaguar