star travel experience

Top 10 Travel Destinations for An Astronomy Geek

From the world’s biggest telescopes to isolated islands, here are some of the best places to explore the cosmos

Natasha Geiling

Mauna Kea Observatory—Hawaii, USA

13,796 feet above sea-level and isolated in the Pacific Ocean, the observatories at Mauna Kea on Hawaii's Big Island offer some of the most pristine star-gazing conditions in the world. Tourists can visit the summit, but officials suggest stopping at the Visitor's Center, located at 9,200 feet, before continuing onward (both to check weather conditions and acclimate to the elevation).

Every night of the year, from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Mauna Kea offers stargazing and star tours to visitors, with telescopes available for amateur astronomers. It's completely free, and you don't need a reservation to participate.

(Part of our special report on Life in the Cosmos )

Very Large Array—Socorro, New Mexico, USA

Fans of the movie  Contact will recognize the Very Large Array , a massive radio telescope facitilty located  50 miles west of Socorro, New Mexico. The site is open for self-guided tours from 8:30 am to sunset. On the first Saturday of each month, the facility holds free guided tours at 11:00 am, 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm. No reservations are required for the guided tours, which run 30 minutes.

Royal Observatory, Greenwich—London, U.K.

Home of the prime meridian, the Royal Observatory, Greenwich played a major role in the history of astronomy and navigation. Before the observatory was built, the grounds housed important buildings in English history dating all the way back to William I (the Tudors lived in Greenwich Castle, which was built on the same land as the Observatory).

The Royal Observatory and Planetarium features a museum with a wide variety of exhibits (including a number about astronomical navigation techniques), as well as London's only planetarium. 

Cerro Paranal—Atacama Desert, Chile

Chile's Atacama Desert offers some of the most ideal stargazing conditions in the word: dry weather, cloudless skies, high altitude and little to no light pollution. To experience the best this stargazing oasis has to offer, check out the Paranal Observatory, located on the mountain of Cerro Paranal. 

Operated by the European Southern Observatory, Paranal is home to The Very Large Telescope, a grouping of four  very large telescopes (over 320 inches in diameter).

Guided tours of the observatory are offered to the public, without charge, every Saturday. Space is limited, so reservations are required. 

Kitt Peak National Observatory—Arizona, USA

The American Southwest offers some of the best stargazing conditions in the United States—and perhaps none are more choice than Kitt Peak , a national observatory southwest of Tuscon, Arizona. Kitt Peak is home to the world's largest collection of optical telescopes, and offers guided tours daily at 10 am, 11:30 am and 1:30 pm. There are also nightly stargazing activities for those looking to peer at the cosmos through clear southwestern skies.

Griffith Observatory—Los Angeles, CA, USA

Sure, Los Angeles' polluted skies might not offer the best stargazing conditions, but a visit to the Griffith Observatory is as much about the history of Los Angeless as it is about the stars. The Griffith Observatory was donated to the city of Los Angeles in 1896; its first exhibit, in 1935, was the  Foucault pendulum . It was also the location of two important scenes in  Rebel Without a Cause .

The Griffith Observatory is open to visitors Tuesday through Sunday. 

South African Astronomical Observatory—Sutherland, South Africa

At nearly 6,000 feet above sea level sits the South African Astronomical Observatory , or SAAO, an observatory famous for its pristine sky conditions due to altitude and minimal air pollution. Located about 230 miles inland from the South Atlantic Ocean, the SAAO offers visitors a chance to tour their facilities and see telescopes that have been in operation since the 1970s.

Visitors must call ahead and reserve space on a tour—the observatory offers two during the day, one fully guided (for 40 South African rands, or about $3.70) and one self-guided (for about $2.80). Night tours are also available Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, during which visitors can look at the night sky through telescopes 14" and 16" in diameter (larger than what most amateurs would have the opportunity to use.) Visitors cannot see any of the research telescopes during night tours, however. 

Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory—Florence, Italy

If the hills of the Arcetri region of Florence were good enough for astronomy's ultimate bad boy (Galileo, maybe you've heard of him), then a visit to the Arectri Astrophysical Observatory, located in the very same hills where Galileo spent the last years of his life, should be good enough for you too. Arcetri Observatory doesn't boast the massive telescopes of Kitt Peak or radio technology like the Very Large Array, but it offers a chance to step back in time to a historic period in astronomy.

Daytime visits to the observatory are reserved for student groups, but nighttime visits are available for casual tourists. On Saturday evenings, the observatory holds an " Open Observatory ," where groups of up to 5 visitors are welcome to explore the observatory and grounds.

Teide National Park—Island of Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain

In 2013, the Starlight Foundation, which works to preserve clear night skies, named Teide National Park, located on the island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands, both a "Starlight Reserve" and a "Starlight Tourist Destination," thanks to its pristine night skies and ideal stargazing conditions. Laws exist on the island to control light pollution and flight pathways, in order to ensure perfect stargazing for visitors and astronomers alike. 

Tenerife is the site of  Starmus , a unique event that combines astronomy, art and culture. This year, Starmus will take place September 22-27. 

Tenerife is also home to one of the world's most advanced observatories, the Teide Observatory. Interested travelers can schedule visits (for a minimum of 15 people) by contacting the observatory . 

Hayden Planetarium—New York City, USA

It's an unfortunate reality for star lovers that it can't be perfect weather all the time—sometimes its cloud and rainy, thwarting chances of a perfect starry night. For times like that, head to the Hayden Planetarium in New York City. Here, you can take in an IMAX or Space Show, or check out one of the Rose Center for Earth and Space's four exhibits: the Cullman Hall of the Universe, the Big Bang Theater (which features a show about the Big Bang), the Heilbrunn Cosmic Pathway and the Scales of the Universe. 

Tickets to the Rose Center for Earth and Space and the planetarium must be bought through the American Musem of Natural History ; general admission tickets start at $22 and offer access to the Natural History Museum as well as the space exhibits.

(Part of our special report on  Life in the Cosmos )

Get the latest Travel & Culture stories in your inbox.

Natasha Geiling | | READ MORE

Natasha Geiling is an online reporter for Smithsonian magazine.

Dallas Cowboys Travel

Official Fan Travel Partner of The Dallas Cowboys

Home Game Travel Packages Include:

Plan your future game trip, away game travel packages include:.

• VIEW HOME GAMES
• VIEW AWAY GAMES

vs New Orleans Saints

Sun sep 15 | 12:00pm cst.

vs. Baltimore Ravens

Sun sep 22 | 3:25pm cst.

vs. Detroit Lions

Sun oct 13 | 3:25pm cst.

vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Sun nov 10 | 3:25pm cst.

vs. Houston Texans

Mon nov 18 | 7:15pm cst.

vs. New York Giants

Thu nov 28 | 3:30pm cst.

vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Mon dec 9 | 7:15pm cst.

vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Sun dec 22 | 7:20pm cst.

vs. Washington Commanders

Tbd jan 4 or 5.

at Cleveland Browns

Sun sep 8 | 3:25pm cst.

at New York Giants

Thu sep 26 | 7:15pm cst, at pittsburgh steelers, sun oct 6 | 7:20pm cst.

at San Francisco 49ers

Sun oct 27 | 7:20pm cst.

at Atlanta Falcons

Sun nov 3 | 12:00pm cst.

at Washington Commanders

Sun nov 24 | 12:00pm cst, at carolina panthers, sun dec 15 | 12:00pm cst.

at Philadelphia Eagles

Place your 2024 dallas cowboys game deposit, dallas cowboys home game travel packages, owners package, additional features, presidential package, cowboys united package, founders package, high five line package, club vip package, club blue package, club silver package, mvp package.

The 25 Travel Experiences You Must Have

A pair of internationally minded writers, a chef, an architect and a landscape photographer made a list of the most extraordinary adventures a person should seek out. Here are the results.

By Alwa Cooper ,  Ashlea Halpern ,  Debra Kamin ,  Aileen Kwun ,  Miguel Morales ,  Dan Piepenbring and Michael Snyder

One July morning, a five-person jury — including the writers Pico Iyer and Aatish Taseer , the architect Toshiko Mori , the chef and food scientist David Zilber and the landscape photographer Victoria Sambunaris — gathered over Zoom to debate what, exactly, constitutes a “travel experience” and how some might rise above the rest. To get the conversation started, each panelist had nominated at least 10 selections in advance of the call; their job now was to slash that list from 55 to 25.

The participants were all polite, often deferring to whomever they deemed an expert on a particular subject: Zilber, who worked at Noma and co-authored the Copenhagen restaurant’s 2018 book about fermentation, on outstanding restaurants; Sambunaris, who traverses the country several months a year by car to capture her images, on the spectacular topography of the American West. They were also quick to sacrifice their own darlings, particularly if they felt they were too familiar (Petra, Machu Picchu), too obscure (Alvar Aalto’s Muuratsalo Experimental summer house in Säynätsalo, Finland — a Mori selection), too personal (driving the Karakoram Highway connecting Pakistan and China — something Taseer heard about from his father) or too commodified (a Nile River cruise, most hotel stays ). As Iyer put it, “Hotels offer luxury and comfort, but they rarely touch my soul.”

Some panelists rescinded nominations for experiences they hadn’t had themselves, despite having dreamed for years about what it might be like to, say, hike through Japan’s remote Yakushima Island National Park , the inspiration for Hayao Miyazaki ’s “Princess Mononoke” (1997) . (“I feel like I don’t know if going there would destroy or enhance my fantasy,” Mori said.) Others opted to keep in the mix selections to which they couldn’t personally attest — proving how powerful our collective imagination can be. If something seemed too easy, they worried it might not be special enough. At the same time, not every experience chosen is rare or difficult to access: Sometimes it’s just a matter of opening your eyes (or mind) to whatever magic a place has to offer.

The panel considered safety, too, with some participants concluding that what might make a destination “dangerous” is largely, though not entirely, shaped by personal history and worldview. Others wanted to be sure readers were asked to conduct their own research before deciding whether or not to set out for a certain place, as situations on the ground can change rapidly. At the time of publication, the U.S. State Department had issued its strongest possible warning — Level 4: Do Not Travel — for four of the destinations on the following list; several others have been categorized as Level 3: Reconsider Travel. But most of the panelists agreed, time and again, to include politically, ethically and ideologically fraught locations . “War-torn countries and places in conflict right now haven’t always been and might not always be,” said Zilber. “I don’t think [their current status] should negate their inclusion.” (In the months between when this panel met — on July 20, 2022 — and the list’s publication, the world continued to shift: the Russian war with Ukraine deepened; Iran erupted in protests following the arrest and subsequent death of Mahsa Amini, a young woman accused by the country’s morality police of violating their hijab law; and Ethiopia and the Tigray Defense Forces, a paramilitary rebel group, agreed to a cease-fire after two years of ruinous civil war.)

The final lineup, which is grouped geographically but not ranked, includes experiences of art and architecture, food, history and religion. There’s something for every whim and every kind of traveler — even those who may never leave their armchairs. — Ashlea Halpern

This conversation has been edited and condensed.

Ashlea Halpern: I’m curious to hear how each of you defined the word “experience” when you sat down to make your list.

Pico Iyer: I asked myself, “Which are the moments that most stay with me 30 years on in my life? Which are the most moving and also the most unexpected?” I wouldn’t include seeing the Taj Mahal by moonlight, because most Times readers would be aware of that. So something slightly different, but something that still reverberates inside me half a lifetime later.

Victoria Sambunaris: I defined “experience” as a journey, because that’s what I do in my life: I’m on the road for months at a time, immersing myself in the landscape. I’m interacting with people and learning about the [local] culture, history, ecology and geography. No reservations anywhere, being spontaneous, camping under the stars — there’s a great sense of adventure.

Aatish Taseer: I veer toward man-made things — cultural and civilizational complications. When a natural experience leaves me with a sense of wonder that I didn’t expect, it breaks the mold. Everyone travels with a sense of what they’re going to see; no one is completely blank. Then, occasionally, there’s a real element of surprise. That’s what I looked for.

David Zilber: “Experience” is really broad; everything is an experience. Binge-watching Netflix while sick is an experience, though I can’t remember what I binge-watch when I’m bedridden at home. But I do remember my 45-minute drive through the mountains of Crete to eat at this man’s biodynamic farm with his kids running around — and I probably will when I’m 75.

Toshiko Mori: I thought of natural wonders, because we forget how small we are, and of being able to observe animal life in a habitat without interfering with it. With Instagram, everybody posts awesome images; [the depicted locations] become huge attractions and it’s destructive to the environment. Also, I thought of certain civilizations and places that have had challenging pasts — like Kurdistan after ISIS retreated. It’s essential for us to engage in experiences like this, because we are incredibly privileged and protected. I didn’t want to forget places that really need attention.

A.H.: Let’s start with Europe. Spain received four nominations from four different panelists — more than any other country on your initial longlists.

1. Taste Wood-Smoked Sorcery at Asador Etxebarri in Spain’s Basque Country

The chef Victor Arguinzoniz was raised amid the rolling green hills of Atxondo, a small village in Spain’s Basque country where, when he was a child, his family kitchen had neither electricity nor gas. Perhaps that’s why the open hearth can produce such magic for him. He has no professional training but for 30 years has overseen a temple to smoke and flame at the Michelin-starred Asador Etxebarri, a rustic restaurant minutes from his childhood home. Arriving there, with its view of cattle grazing in the foothills below, is like stopping time. But in the kitchen, the clock has inched slightly forward: The six custom-made grills, designed by Arguinzoniz and adjustable via pulleys, are tools of culinary alchemy. The chef prepares his own wood coals in special ovens that are cranked up to 750 degrees Fahrenheit. For each protein, he pairs a fuel with the precision of a sommelier, selecting holm oak for delicate shellfish and turning to heartier vine wood for red meats. There’s only one service — at 1:30 p.m. — and one menu per day. The meal, served in 15 courses, is a symphony that builds, plate by smoke-kissed plate, to a crescendo: first the smoked goat butter with Périgord truffle; then the salted, home-cured anchovies on grilled bread; then the beef chop with its crisp black sear and lustrous purple center; and finally a coda of smoky-milk ice cream with an infusion of sweet beets. This is fine dining in its purest, most unpretentious form. — Debra Kamin

D.Z.: Meals are some of the stickiest memories around, and this is definitely in the top three of my lifetime. It goes without saying that the Basque Country of Spain revolutionized food in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and the repercussions of that have been felt around the world. I started cooking in 2004, and all the techniques that I’ve learned came from that region. We can talk about Ferran Adrià and his El Bulli and all the progeny who are still cooking today in Barcelona and Madrid, but Etxebarri best encapsulates what this region is about and its deep connection to the land and its people. There’s no one who comes out of that restaurant who doesn’t leave deeply touched.

2. Search for Muslim Spain in Al-Andalus

From the eighth to the 11th centuries, the Iberian Peninsula, then under Muslim rule, was one of the world’s most important intellectual and artistic hubs. In the region of southern Spain known as Andalusia — the name a Hispanicization of Al-Andalus, as Islamic Spain was known — that heritage remains visible everywhere: in the crimped vocalizations of flamenco music; in the elaborate geometric friezes of Seville’s Alcázar Palace; in the infinite recess of the red-and-white archways of the Mezquita-Catedral de Córdoba; and, above all, in Granada’s storied Alhambra, the last Moorish stronghold on the European continent, where it glitters in honeycomb muqarnas and moonlight-washed, waterway-threaded gardens. During the so-called Reconquista, as the centuries-long process through which Catholic kings gradually eroded territories accumulated by successive Muslim dynasties has been historically misnamed, the great cities of Andalusia became spectacular palimpsests of divergent faiths superimposed on top of each other. In Seville, the 15th-century cathedral — the largest Gothic-style building in Europe — stands on the footprint of an Almohad mosque whose graceful minaret was repurposed as a church tower, while in Córdoba, a Renaissance cathedral bursts from the austere, rhythmic heart of the mezquita , itself built atop the remains of a sixth-century Visigothic basilica. After experiencing these spaces, one finds that the influence of Islamic aesthetics throughout Spain — and, indeed, throughout the Americas, devastated and remade under Spanish colonial rule — reveals itself everywhere. Beyond its beauty, Andalusia is a tribute to the indelible marks that cultures and communities leave on one another across time and space. — Michael Snyder

A.T.: Nothing in the world prepares you for the strangeness of the Grand Mosque in Cordoba [Mezquita-Catedral de Córdoba]. I’ve grown up in places where there are the mosques on the bones of temples on the bones of Buddhist viharas, but this business of church upon mosque upon church, where you walk in and see the remains of a Visigothic church but you’re in one of the most beautiful mosques in the world [and since the 13th century a church again], it’s like an act of reclamation — or historical revenge. Even the minaret is buried in the belfry of the church. It’s a theme that I love — layers upon layers of history — and just one of the reasons I thought it was absolutely marvelous.

P.I.: I was the one who suggested the Alhambra, so it comes down to whether we want a zoom lens or a wide angle. I chose the Alhambra for all the reasons that Aatish was mentioning: the overlapping of cultures, the historical significance and also the fact that the Alhambra is fairly well known. On nights when it’s open after dark, you’re getting a familiar place in a relatively unfamiliar context. So our question, really, is whether we want to introduce everyone to that entire region or just a microcosm of it.

A.T.: There’s a development I like in a broader trip, where you come to Seville, see the Giralda, which was originally built as the minaret of the old Almohad mosque, now part of this cathedral, and then you’ll journey a little farther and go to Córdoba and see this stunning mosque that has been turned into a church, and then finally it culminates in this last gasp of Islam in Spain, the Emirate of Granada, which then obviously results in the Catholic monarchs and the end of Muslim Spain. But Pico is absolutely right: The Alhambra is the epicenter — the Moors’ last sigh.

T.M.: I like this idea of a journey. This exposure to Muslim culture is so much more interesting than a single place.

3. Venture Into the Norwegian Night in Search of the Northern Lights

​​Spotting the aurora borealis, the elusive natural phenomenon colloquially known as the northern lights, involves careful coordination of time, place and, yes, luck. Like a digital rendering or laser beams projected above an after-hours rave, the unpredictable show illuminates the sky with dancing streaks of saturated yellow, pink, purple and green, a tangoing of solar gas and Earth’s magnetic field rendered in Technicolor. Locales roughly 66.5 degrees above the Equator, where the Arctic Circle begins, are considered prime viewing spots; cottage industries across Alaska, Canada and Scandinavia have sprung up to sell package tours and overnight accommodations to aurora hunters. Lofoten, an archipelago off Norway’s northwest coast, offers one of the most picturesque backdrops for witnessing this mercurial sight. There, a coastline framed by jagged peaks, sweeping fjords, sandy beaches and rorbu , old fishermen’s cabins painted cherry red and pine green, makes for a serene visit, day or night. Winters on the archipelago are long (November to April) and dark (for five weeks in December and January, the sun doesn’t even rise), so consider them a prime time to settle down on a north-facing beach (Unstad and Gimsøy are particularly beautiful) or sink into a hot tub at a heritage fishing lodge, neck craned skyward — and wait. The anticipation is half the fun. — Aileen Kwun

D.Z.: The northern lights are one of those earthly phenomena that don’t make sense — I don’t think that my brain could fully compute what it was like until I saw it in real life. And Lofoten is just extremely picturesque: It’s hard to get to but very rewarding once you’re there. But I don’t know. Maybe the northern lights are the Mona Lisa of the natural world?

A.H.: Anyone else seen the northern lights in Norway or elsewhere?

T.M.: Yeah, I have, because I’m in Maine and you can see it in northern Maine, but I don’t think it’s anything like what Dave is talking about. Lofoten is on my wish list.

A.T.: I saw them in Iceland but I’m 100 percent pinching David’s idea.

P.I.: I was really excited as soon as I saw this [on the list]. I’ve been up to Fairbanks, Alaska, to see the northern lights, and I know people go to Churchill in Manitoba. But the combination of the northern lights and this remote setting sounds irresistible.

4. Journey Across Two Continents and Eight Time Zones on the Trans-Siberian Railway

Traveling to Russia now, as its war with Ukraine continues, is virtually impossible: Nearly all international flights have been suspended, and the State Department has recommended that Americans steer clear of the country. How or whether Russia’s relationship with the rest of the world, not to mention its tourism industry — a frivolous concern compared to the immense suffering of the Ukrainian people — will recover remains to be seen. But in more peaceful times, riding the Trans-Siberian Railway and its shorter connecting lines is an unparalleled experience — a tour through the many and varied cultures that make up the largest country on Earth. The 5,772 miles of track from Moscow to Vladivostok, built at the turn of the 20th century at the behest of Emperor Alexander III, constitutes by itself the longest continuous railway in the world, and before the pandemic and then the war interrupted its international reach, sleeper cars could take you from most major Western European capitals to Moscow in two or three days. From there, you can make it to the other end nonstop in seven days, but arranging layovers along the way allows for a variety of side excursions: Hop off at Yekaterinburg to see the Soviet-era architecture of Russia’s fourth-largest city, for example, or Irkutsk to visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Lake Baikal, the world’s oldest and deepest freshwater lake. Better yet, switch at Ulan Ude to the Trans-Mongolian Railway, which extends through the capital of Ulaanbaatar and into the Gobi Desert, ideal for fossil hunting and camel riding, before arriving in Beijing. — Alwa Cooper

V.S.: OK, I know Russia is controversial right now. But this is the longest [direct] train journey in the world. You’re going through ancient cities, deep forests, breathtaking mountains and Siberian outposts. You’re seeing a lot.

A.H.: How does the panel feel about including Russia?

A.T.: I feel absolutely fine. Russia existed before Putin, and Russia is going to exist after Putin. I mean, how could I, with a straight face, eliminate traveling through Russia and then go scurrying down to my Dostoyevsky and Tolstoy? I have a firewall between this idea of Russia as a culturally rich nation and the political reality that one can speak critically of. Lots of nations that we love will come to be ruled by bad people.

P.I.: I agree with Aatish. Political complication, historical complexity and texture are really what make these places something more than sites.

5. Savor an Unforgettable Lunch at Ntounias in Western Crete

It takes a 45-minute drive from Chania, Crete, through the Greek island’s White Mountains to reach this mecca of homespun cooking in Drakona. Through scenic Therrisos Gorge, with occasional stops for sheep crossings, the journey is best made with the windows down, cooled by the hillside breeze and dazzled by the sun winking across limestone mountain caps. Expect a warm greeting upon arrival — the view from the terrace of the valley below will make up for any bumps in the rugged and twisty road — but don’t expect a menu. Along with his wife, Evmorfili, Stelios Trilyrakis, the chef, farmer, shepherd, butcher, owner and maître d’, takes care of all that. The daily bounty comes from an organic garden, part of the tavern Trilyrakis took over from his parents in 2004 after years of working as a chef in Chania. Guests are invited to tour the grounds and the nearby apiary as well as the wood stoves and ovens in the kitchen, though the meal rightfully remains the primary attraction. There might be a village salad (horiatiki), farm-baked bread and freshly churned butter, stuffed vegetables cooked in a traditional clay pot, potatoes fried in olive oil for close to an hour, goat sizzling in its own fat and house wine made on-site. In a country known for its cuisine, Ntounias stands apart. — Miguel Morales

D.Z.: This man used to be a chef in Chania and then seemed to think, as I did, that the world of restaurants is just not where it’s at. So he left and founded a little biodynamic farm. He has this plot of land that overlooks a verdant gorge, and he cooks everything on an open fire. You get snails, lamb stew, whatever is in season. It’s not complicated food; it’s never going to be in the Michelin Guide or on the “World’s 50 Best” list. But it’s the closest I’ve tasted to soul food.

T.M.: I love Crete. It’s a very beautiful place and it still has a certain authenticity about it. The roads sometimes dead-end, and when I was there, you needed at least three maps to figure out where you were. It’s a real physical landscape.

D.Z.: The island itself is one of the oldest continually inhabited civilizations in all of Europe. It has a crazy history, and just going there and eating this food, the way that he cooks it, it’s so honest.

6. Join the Faithful in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for a Different Kind of White Christmas

There is no Santa Claus in Ethiopia, no halls decked with holly. Christmas, which in so much of the Western world is a commercialized affair, is an intensely spiritual day here, observed not with gifts but with community, incantation and candlelight. The majority of Ethiopians are Christian and most worship freely, despite a history of extremist attacks on churches across the country. The nation follows a solar calendar, and Christmas, known as Genna, is observed on Jan. 7. The holiday begins with fasting on Jan. 6, when, at dusk, devotees head into the streets. In bustling Addis Ababa, a hush falls as thousands of men, women and children, all dressed in white and many wrapped in the traditional cotton robes called netelas , file to church like slow-moving snowdrifts. Many will worship all night, traveling by foot, lit candles in hand, from one church to the next until the small hours of morning. Ethiopia is home to some of the oldest and most beautiful churches in Africa, all of which are filled to capacity on Christmas Eve. (Visitors are welcome to observe.) In the capital, these include the Medhane Alem Cathedral, with its turquoise domes and columnar facade, and the Holy Trinity Cathedral, with its grand murals, jewel-toned stained glass windows and granite tombs in which Emperor Haile Selassie and his consort are interred. Some of the world’s oldest known human fossils have been unearthed from Ethiopian sands. On Christmas Eve, a nation that continues to endure famine and ethnic violence pauses for a prayer of peace. As worshipers pass one another and declare, “ Melkam Genna! ” — “Merry Christmas” in Amharic — the streets all but vibrate. — D.K.

P.I.: I seem to be haunted by places of spiritual intensity, from Lhasa to inner Australia. But I’ve seldom found anywhere to rival the power and magnetism of Ethiopia. It is, by some accounts, the oldest Christian country in the world, and when you drive through it, you feel like you’re going through the biblical books of Kings. But it comes to its culmination on Christmas Eve, when it seems like everyone in the capital is dressed in white, gathering around what look like mangers while these burning-eyed, bearded priests are rocking back and forth with little Bibles that fit in the palms of their hands. I’m not a Christian, but you look around and feel you could be in Bethlehem at the time of the birth of Jesus and that so little has changed in the past 2,000 years. Part of the poignancy is that life tends to be very difficult in Ethiopia, [teetering] between political uncertainty and impoverishment. So there’s this real sense that the religion and the moment mean even more than they might in Madrid or Paris. Although I was there 28 years ago, I’ll never forget walking through the night from church to church, seeing these people with tears in their eyes, gathered in the darkness, holding their candles and singing.

7. Traverse the Blossoming Oases and Ancient Desert Towns of Morocco’s Draa Valley

In precolonial Morocco, the imposing grandeur of the Atlas Mountains marked the boundary between the bilad el-makhzen — land under the rule of the Alaouite sultan — and the bilad el-siba , or “region of anarchy.” Today, to drive the circuitous route through the Atlases and into the Draa Valley is to exist on that line: It’s a liminal place where verdant gardens and soaring minarets open onto the vast barrens of the Sahara. Departing from Marrakesh, head southeast to Ouarzazate, or “the door of the desert,” and then onto M’Hamid, whose Dar Paru hotel exemplifies Berber architecture, with its rammed-earth walls and geometric parapets. From there, follow the N9 and N12 roads to hew close to the Draa, a river that runs along the Algerian border, nourishing a landscape of riotous color: The mountains’ ochers, umbers and emeralds cede to rippling oases of blue palms, olive groves, fields of golden barley and sun-baked adobe casbahs. Once home to a bustling trade route, the region bears the marks of Morocco’s imbricated faiths and folkways. Fragrant date palms, first grown by Arabs who arrived in the seventh century, freckle stretches of arable land hemmed in by sand dunes. Towns such as Tissint draw their influences from the Berbers, who have lived in North Africa for more than 4,000 years. (“Tissint” is the Berber word for salt, another early commodity.) Further southeast, in Akka, more than 300 miles from Marrakesh, are the remains of a community of Jewish merchants and silversmiths who plied their trade in the area as early as the second century. Their homes — made of mud brick and stucco, with walls now jagged or altogether missing — stand as monuments to the Draa’s rich, syncretic past and to the enthralling boundlessness of its present. — Dan Piepenbring

A.T.: I’d been to Marrakesh; I’d been to Tangier. Morocco, for me, was a known commodity. Then I did this journey south a couple of years ago. This is an Arabic place, and yet there’s this very profound other culture that’s always under the surface. The most startling moment came when I arrived in a town where there was an old Jewish quarter of silversmiths and we went into a house that felt like it had been abandoned yesterday. It was just one of those moments where suddenly all of the pieces fall into place and you get a window into another vein of culture or civilization and how it interacted with this Arabized Muslim state of Morocco. I also have to say, landscape-wise, it’s the only place other than Yemen where you’re driving through and you have these discrete, scarified mountains on either side, and every now and then there’ll be, like, a flowering tree against the desert. It’s stunning stuff.

8. Come Face to Face With a Rare Marine Mammal Off the Coast of Southern Mozambique

Sea pig, sea cow, sea camel — the dugong’s epithets aren’t particularly evocative, but its serene presence is the highlight of any dive trip. The 200 or so animals that scientists estimate live in the protected waters of Bazaruto Archipelago National Park constitute the largest remaining dugong population on the East African coast. To experience them, you must fly into the nearest international airport, in the town of Vilankulo, and then organize a helicopter or dhow ride to one of the archipelago’s many resorts and lodges. There are numerous diving and snorkeling spots along Bazaruto’s famed Two-Mile Reef, which offers unusually clear visibility and a thriving coral population. Found in the shallow coastal waters of as many as 40 countries, the large and placid dugong (imagine a manatee with a wider, shorter snout) is intensely shy, and its population is considered “vulnerable,” according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species. Its hearing is sharp but its vision is poor; moving in slowly, silently and respectfully is key. Even so, only the luckiest Bazaruto divers will ever spot a dugong — often from a distance of several meters — drifting alone or in pairs. — A.C.

A.T.: When I’m obliged to write about the natural world, I get kind of nervous because I think, “Oh, am I going to feel something? Am I going to know how to translate that feeling in my writing?” By April [2022], I had become very scared of travel: the pandemic, the restrictions, the fear that you were going to be stuck somewhere and not allowed back. All of this was weighing on my mind, and I’d almost lost that sense of wonder, that willingness to leave home. And in this place, which is the basin of the Indian Ocean in that part of the world, the plane tilted and I saw the sand flats push through this ancient archipelago and I thought to myself, “Of course, this is why one leaves home!” I hadn’t scuba-dived in 15 years, and here I was with blacktip reef sharks and sea turtles swimming into the raking light with plankton. Dugongs are incredibly rare, but as we came up from this dive, we saw one. It was a kind of emotional state brought on by the pandemic — a fear of leaving home running smack into that total excitement to be out in the world again.

A.H.: Many other lists like this would probably include an African safari; it’s refreshing not to promote a more traditional safari experience.

T.M.: The African safari has a checkered history because it’s related to hunting animals. There’s a balance now between conservation and infringement, but how those animals are really protected or may not be … there’s a lot we don’t know. So I’m definitely sensitive about not recommending a safari as an experience.

THE MIDDLE EAST

9. discover paradise on earth in the secret courtyard gardens of yazd, iran.

The very concept of paradise was born in Iran around 550 B.C., when Cyrus the Great, in the days of the Achaemenid Empire, oversaw the construction of a spectacular walled oasis called Pasargadae — a place of symmetry, flowering trees and calming waters — setting an example of how man might bend nature in pursuit of ultimate beauty. So deep do the Iranian roots of nirvana run that even the English word “paradise” comes from paridaida , the Old Persian term for walled garden. For those wishing to commune with Eden today, there’s perhaps no better place than Yazd, a 1,600-year-old Iranian desert town that was once a critical stop on the Silk Road. Here, the garden hotels of the city, which today is home to 530,000 people, pay homage to the Iranian legacy of paradise with their hidden courtyards. From the lush Kohan and the majestic Moshir Al Mamalek to the family-run Dad Hotel, the accommodations range from humble to luxurious. For guests who step through the door and out into the enclosed garden, hushed earthly delights of fountains and flowers — soft calla lilies, tulips and desert roses — await. — D.K.

P.I.: In all my traveling life, Iran is definitely the richest, most sophisticated, most surprising place I’ve been. And it’s the one I’m always urging my friends in California to go to — partly because I worry, as with Cuba or with other Middle Eastern places, that we’re reducing them to one-dimensional stereotypes from afar. And I’m so keen for people to experience the human reality firsthand. Sometimes friends will ask me, “Is it safe to go?” Well, I’m sitting here near Los Angeles, which for most of the planet is a really scary place.

Before I went to Iran, I was told by people who had been there that you only have to worry about two things: Everywhere you go, you’re going to be swamped with more friendliness than you know what to do with, and everyone’s going to invite you to dinner. The only reason that didn’t always happen to me was that people took me for Iranian, so they weren’t as excited as if they’d seen a more visible foreigner.

A.T.: I loved Yazd. I have to say that I did run afoul of the authorities in Iran and was turfed out with 48 hours to leave and probably couldn’t go back, but I completely second what Pico said. Up until that point, I had been met with nothing but hospitality and friendship, and Yazd was one of the highlights of that trip.

10. Swim in a Desert Oasis in Oman

Many of Oman’s wadis, or desert valleys, dry up in the scorching summer months, but at Wadi Bani Khalid, wide pools of water glisten year-round. You drive through the desert and suddenly there it is: a cliché of a gleaming desert mirage. But this is no illusion. Above the pristine pools, date palms sway in the breeze, and the rocky white cliff sides of the Hajar Mountains reveal canyons and caves; if you hike into them, you can see shimmering waterfalls. Thousands of tiny garra fish flash beneath the surface of these pools, ready to nibble at the dead skin on your toes. Wadi Bani Khalid is a three-hour drive from Muscat, making it an ideal day trip, although there are lots of budget hotels and desert camps in the area. Many visitors stop first at the sandy outpost of Al Wasil for camel rides and an overnight stay in a Bedouin-style tent. From there, the mountain road winds through fishing villages until the vast expanse of Wadi Bani Khalid, with its nearly 12-mile stretch of water, appears on the horizon. Its natural beauty is as intact today as it was when Oman’s Bedouin tribes relied on it, and a visit here offers an instant connection to the region’s deep history. The Oman government has helped develop the site in recent years, too, bringing with it a paved parking lot, bridges and public restrooms. — D.K.

T.M.: I share Pico’s notions that people should travel to the Middle East. The geographical diversity is incredible, and Oman is a peaceful and stable place. It’s absolutely gorgeous, the air is clear, the food is great and the climate is wonderful. It’s so easy for people to go here, yet Dubai takes all the tourists.

P.I.: I’m so happy to see Oman on the list. I think of it as the Bhutan of the Middle East because it’s so tastefully developed and preserved.

11. Delve Into 6,000-Plus Years of History at Erbil Citadel in Iraq

The longest continuously inhabited settlement in the world, Erbil Citadel lies at the heart of the modern-day capital of Iraqi Kurdistan. To the north, the Zagros Mountains beckon. The Kurdistan Regional Government has been developing trails there to promote hiking across a range that rivals the Alps in size — an impressive backdrop for one of the cradles of civilization. The 6,000-year-old fort sits atop a tell, a 100-foot-high mound the size of 19 football fields made by generations of Muslim, Christian and Jewish communities that built on top of one another. Courtyard homes constructed with oven-fired brick, said to be inspired by the ring of tents nomads once formed around their cattle, nestle inside the citadel walls. Their plain facades conceal branching floor plans that gave privacy to the extended families who once lived there. Visit the citadel with a guide in the late afternoon, when its brick walls turn the color of amber, and then drop by the bustling Qaysari Bazaar, one of the oldest covered markets in the world. Dating to the Ottoman era, it houses stalls of jewelry, textiles, crafts and sweets. Erbil and its citadel have withstood waves of conquest by Sumerians, Akkadians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Achaemenids, Greeks, Parthians, Romans, Sassanids, Muslims, Timurids, Mongols and Ottomans. To repair and preserve the settlement, the High Commission for Erbil Citadel Revitalization was formed in 2007; the Kurdistan Regional Government has allocated more than $30 million to the undertaking. But just as the citadel was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014, the rehab stalled temporarily owing to the rise of ISIS. Work has since resumed; the ancient tell remains open; and, despite centuries of conquest and long spells of neglect, the citadel stands: a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. — M.M.

T.M.: Kurds will say, “We have no friends but mountains.” This is one of the world’s largest stateless populaces and it’s constantly in danger, sandwiched between Turkey and Iran. The citadel is still going through reconstruction. I wouldn’t say it’s beautiful, but it gives you a real sense of place and what it’s like to live in a region that has had to defend against ISIS attacks. It’s not a safe choice, but Kurdistan is a strong and resilient community that has survived ongoing and periodic attacks. There are prominent politically progressive women in the government and there are many untouched archaeological sites.

12. Marvel at the Threatened Mud-Brick Skyscrapers of Yemen

In an ancient Semitic world as yet undivided by modern faiths, long before the rise of Christianity or Islam, the cities of what we now call Yemen emerged from the desert as their inhabitants made their fortunes on frankincense and myrrh. As trade between southern Arabia and the Mediterranean flourished, beginning around the third century B.C., these new urban centers sprouted along the so-called Incense Route , their occupants developing, over time, ingenious systems of irrigation and urban planning that are as remarkable today as they were a thousand years ago. In the 2,500-year-old historic center of Sana’a, the capital of modern Yemen, residents adorned the ocher walls of their multistory homes with garlands of gypsum plaster, while in the town of Shibam, which emerged in its current form in the 16th century, rammed-earth towers rose as high as seven stories from a cliff’s edge overlooking the Wadi Hadhramaut, a vertiginous landscape that blurs the boundary between the natural and the man-made. For decades now, these ancient settlements and the people who reside within them have suffered crisis upon crisis — floods and famines and a years-long civil war that, since its beginning in 2014, has precipitated mass starvation, even as historic neighborhoods are shredded by U.S.-backed Saudi bombings. Among the most extraordinary human settlements on earth, the tower cities of Yemen — and, more important, the communities that have for millenniums called them home — are in grave danger of disappearing for good. — M.S.

A.T.: Singularly, without a doubt, this was the most incredible trip I’ve done in my life. This is a rare, stuck-in-the-past kind of country: Like pre-Islamic Arabia, it felt Semitic in the deepest sense. Yemen, for me, was that one place where there was no creeping globalization; it was unbelievably pure. There were some dangers then, too, but not like there are now. I hesitate to recommend it because of the safety situation.

P.I.: I was thrilled to see it on the list. And if we have to single out one element in Yemen, those skyscrapers would be the place to start: Anyone who’s seen them is never going to forget them. I think we shouldn’t worry about safety. It is one of the great countries on Earth and, as Aatish was saying, not like anywhere else.

V.S.: Yes, I agree. We should keep it. Just Aatish’s description — I’m ready to go.

13. Follow the Silk Road Through the Caravan Cities of Uzbekistan

Step back in time with a visit to three of the most important stops on the Silk Road, each city a distinctive meld of Greek, Turkish, Mongol, Muslim and Russian cultures. In the tiled expanse of the Registan, ancient Samarkand’s public square framed by three madrasas (Islamic schools), stand transfixed beneath the grand portals, patterned minarets and ornate cupolas. A little down the road to the west lies Gur-e-Amir, the resting place of the Turco-Mongol conqueror Tamerlane. Resplendent with intricate tile work and crowned by a heavenly blue dome, the mausoleum inspired the Mughal master craftspeople of the Taj Mahal. A leisurely walk northeast, past new developments and century-old buildings, calls for a stopover at Siyob Bazaar, where you can wander the food stalls selling pomegranates, dates, halvah, naan and more. A few hundred paces away is Bibi-Khanym: One of the largest mosques built in the 15th century, the structure was restored to much of its former glory in the latter half of the 20th, its grand azure dome and four minarets suspended against the backdrop of the iwan. There are no direct flights from Samarkand to Bukhara, so take the scenic route by train, past rippling red sands, the oases that punctuate the bleached-out plains of the Kyzylkum Desert and Poi-Kalyan, the sprawling mosque complex, where the baked brick of minaret, madrasa and mosque glow pink at sunset. And though all three cities have centuries-old caravansaries — the famed inns where Silk Road merchants stayed — Ichan-Kala, a remnant of the ancient Khiva oasis, checkered with medieval Islamic buildings, appears completely untouched by time. Countless others have walked these walls before, and now you have joined your steps to theirs, grounded together in the richness of the past. — M.M.

A.T.: I mean, unparalleled, the most wonderful Silk Road trip you can do. Stunning monuments, red desert, old Persianate culture mixing with the culture of the steppe and then, obviously, the Soviet empire. I would recommend it very highly.

14. Tour the Lofty Potala Palace in Lhasa, a Sacred Repository of Tibetan Artifacts

Rising out of a cliff face more than 12,000 feet above sea level, Tibet’s Potala Palace feels like a lavish retreat, a religious sanctuary and an impregnable fortress all in one. The climb to the top of the 13-story building is breathtaking in every sense of the word; make sure you’ve acclimated to the altitude before you attempt it. And the palace’s sloped red-and-white facade — repainted annually with a mixture of honey, milk, brown sugar and saffron — is as inviting as it is magisterial. (Frank Lloyd Wright found it so inspiring that he kept a photo of it in his drafting room.) Completed in 1649, the palace’s two divisions, one red and one white, together comprise at least one thousand rooms that encapsulate the vibrant multiplicity of Tibetan history. Guided tours, lit by traditional butter lamps, take you through rooms crowded with hundreds of murals, works of porcelain and jade, intricate carpets and Buddhist scriptures; the world’s longest scroll of Tibetan calligraphy, measuring 676 feet in length, has been housed here since 2014. Also on display are astonishing gilded stupas — wooden towers of concentric rings inlaid with jewels, each crowned with a sun and moon — containing the remains of eight Dalai Lamas. The Potala is a tribute to Buddhism and an embattled people; located on a mountaintop in the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, or “place of gods,” it has survived numerous attempts at looting and destruction since Tibet was annexed by China in 1950. Its resilience is reason enough to go. — D.P.

P.I.: Tibet is a really important place for people to visit culturally and politically because it’s so imperiled. Ladakh is more beautiful and Bhutan is more protected. But Tibet, the center of this rich culture and religion, is being destroyed very quickly, and anyone who goes there suddenly feels deeply invested in its protection.

15. Explore the Architectural Syncretism in South India’s Deccan Plateau

The vast highlands stretching between the eastern and western coastal ranges of the peninsular subcontinent have seen the rise and fall of countless kingdoms, each of which has left behind architectural remains as proof of its former glory. Nowhere is that immense cultural wealth more evident than in the temple towns and former imperial capitals of northern Karnataka, near the Deccan Plateau’s semi-arid heart. Beginning in the sixth century, the Eastern Chalukya dynasty, a vast and culturally diverse empire, turned its successive capitals in the now-sleepy villages of Aihole and Badami and the ceremonial center of Pattadakal into hubs for experimentation in religious architecture, assembling free-standing temples from elaborately carved stone that drew influence from both North and South India and excavating and erecting sites of Hindu, Jain and Buddhist devotion. In the 14th century, the Muslim Bahmani kings introduced Persianate domes and crenellated walls at the fortress capital of Bidar, while in Bijapur, roughly six hours southwest, the skyline bristles with minarets and domes left behind by the Adil Shahi sultans, who ruled there in the 16th and 17th centuries. Farther south, the subcontinent’s last great Hindu empire blossomed in the city of Vijayanagar, built over the course of 200 years, then abandoned in 1565 after its defeat by the sultanates of the northern Deccan. Now known as Hampi, that great city marks the pinnacle of Dravidian architecture, with its soaring temple towers and colonnades. Taken together, these cities and towns, clustered in the northern districts of Karnataka state, represent a practically endless trove of architectural treasures at least as rich as the Mughal mosques and Rajput temples of North India’s well-trodden tourist circuit. More important, they speak to the long tradition of syncretism that has always defined India, a tradition that contemporary politics increasingly — and tragically — aims to erase. — M.S.

A.T.: I went to school in South India, and the Deccan is very far from the world of the Taj Mahal and North Indian Islamic architecture. It was this unbelievable trail with beautiful temples in Aihole and Badami. Then you come to Hampi, which was once the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, and it’s a site like Angkor Wat: absolutely stunning. Then you carry on to Bidar and Bijapur [Vijayapura] and you see mosques — it’s one of the most interesting, beautiful meeting points of Islam and Hinduism, but in the south of India as opposed to the north.

P.I.: I’ve been to India quite a few times and I’ve never heard about those wonders. It’s a fresh, eye-opening suggestion.

16. Hike Japan’s Lore-Steeped Kumano Kodo Trail

South of the ancient cities of Kyoto and Nara, Japan’s Kii Peninsula offers dramatic ocean vistas and dense old-growth cedar forests. Its flickering shadows, creeping mosses and shrouds of ethereal mist have enraptured pilgrims and seekers since antiquity, and the region’s awe-inspiring tranquillity has come to embody the long commingling of Shinto and Buddhist traditions. Every year, as many as 15 million people hike the Kumano Kodo, a network of trails more than a thousand years old and totaling more than 600 miles, whose cobblestone stairs and long wooden footbridges lead to three grand shrines: the Kumano Hongu Taisha, the Kumano Nachi Taisha and the Kumano Hayatama Taisha, all prized for their ability to heal and purify. (That last one is said to date to A.D. 128, when it was built for gods who’d descended to Earth.) Comprising seven routes around the peninsula or through the heart of the Kii Mountains, the Kumano Kodo is so sprawling that no two journeys will ever be alike, though all are formidable; its Kohechi trail, a four-day, 43-mile hike over three mountain passes, includes vertiginous ascents of more than 3,200 feet and is renowned for its difficulty. Those who make the strenuous climb will find weathered milestones, natural hot springs and a hand-operated cable car suspended over a riverbank. Visitors can seek shelter for the night at designated campsites or at minshuku, guesthouses scattered along the route. Further on, at the Kumano Nachi Taisha shrine, a stately three-tiered pagoda overlooks the 436-foot Nachi no Taki, Japan’s tallest single-drop waterfall, long considered a sacred entity, which has enveloped generations of travelers in its awesome roar. — D.P.

T.M.: I like the idea of Shinto mountain worship: It’s a challenging but incredibly cleansing experience — like the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia.

D.Z.: I know two people who’ve done it, both after their fathers died. They said it was transformative.

T.M.: It’s arduous, and that makes it a strange spiritual experience unlike anything else.

17. Spend the Day in the Womblike Emptiness of the Teshima Art Museum in Japan

Before the pandemic, hundreds of thousands of travelers visited the art islands of Japan, a collection of some 20 former fishing and industry isles turned art havens scattered across the Seto Inland Sea, just over an hourlong flight from Tokyo. They made the trek via a combination of train, ferry, car, bus and bicycle, some with visions of Yayoi Kusama’s “Pumpkin” (1994), a polka-dot yellow fiberglass pumpkin positioned at the end of a pier, in their heads. That sculpture was responsible for much of the foot traffic at the Benesse Art Site on Naoshima, a small island with several museums designed by Tadao Ando, until it was swept out to sea during a typhoon in 2021. (The work was eventually recovered, restored and, last month, put back on display.) As Japan slowly reopens, the Art Islands continue to attract pilgrims. Inujima, Shodoshima and Megijima host installations and art fairs in once-abandoned buildings, but it’s Teshima Island, home of the Teshima Art Museum, that travelers most need to experience. Designed by the Tokyo-based architect Ryue Nishizawa, the museum’s low-lying concrete shell is a feat of engineering and a work of art in itself. Inspired by the bulbous curve of a water droplet resting on a sheet of glass, it appears to emerge organically from a forested hillside overlooking the sea. Inside, two open-air oculi frame shifting scenes of water, sky and sunlight alongside the museum’s single permanent installation, 2010’s “Bokei” (Matrix), by the Hiroshima-based artist Rei Naito. The contemplative work features beads of water that emerge from, pool atop and are reabsorbed into pinholes perforating the floor. To enjoy a few hours in its engulfing silence, watching the light change with each passing hour, is to surrender to time itself. — A.K.

P.I.: I’ve been really impressed by the art project around Naoshima in the Seto Inland Sea and how it has developed over the past 30 years. Though I would recommend the entire Naoshima project, the most piercing place is Teshima. You take a bus across a quiet island, end up on a hill and step into this vast empty space, which is the museum. There’s nothing there except two openings in the roof and drops of water being made to emerge from the ground. And somehow it’s transfixing — like a James Turrell Skyspace doubled and taken in an almost feminine direction. So many people, from billionaires to meditation teachers, have told me this is the single most moving place they have ever been.

THE AMERICAS

18. take the ultimate road trip: drive the pan-american highway from argentina to alaska.

Roughly tracing the path that early man followed after crossing the land bridge over the Bering Strait, the Pan-American Highway runs at least 19,000 miles from Prudhoe Bay in Alaska to Ushuaia at the edge of Tierra del Fuego, a subantarctic territory split between Chile and Argentina. Crossing 14 countries and interrupted only by the ecologically fragile forests of the Darién Gap between Panama and Colombia, the highway — really a collection of interconnected freeways splintered across various routes — traverses the tundra of western Canada and the peaks of the Rockies, the deserts of northern Mexico and the pampas of Patagonia. Options for detours along the way are almost endless. You might weave through the national parks of the American West. In Mexico, depending on which route you take, you might feast on roasted goat in Monterrey or raw seafood in coastal Mazatlán. You could wander colonial cities like Antigua, Guatemala, or Granada, Nicaragua, and bird-watch in the rainforests of Costa Rica. In the valleys between Colombia’s triplicate Cordilleras, you could sip coffee among green hills in the department of Quindío and salsa dance in the lowland city of Cali. Following the Andes south, you’ll gaze upon the gilded extravagance of Ecuador’s whitewashed capital, Quito, or hike in the highland planes below the snow-dusted dome of Cotopaxi, that country’s highest active volcano. You could deviate from the main road to lose yourself in the endless white expanse of Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni, then follow the spine of South America through regions of Argentina and Chile punctuated by vineyards and lakes. To drive the Pan-American Highway is to glimpse the immensity of the Americas and the unthinkable marvels of a world both ancient and irrepressibly new. — M.S.

V.S.: You’re driving through at least 14 countries including the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina. There’s surfing, jungles, swimming, birding, colonial towns, the history, the culture, glaciers, caves, blue lakes, beaches, hot springs in Mexico — it gives you everything.

19. Behold the Natural Wonders of Chile’s Atacama Desert

Ranging from the Pacific Coast to the Andean Altiplano and locked in the rain shadow of the world’s longest mountain range, the Atacama Desert, located mostly within northern Chile, is among the most alien landscapes on the planet. Pink flamingos gather at the edges of salt lakes the color of lapis or topaz or garnet. Perfectly conical volcanoes loom over salt flats and desolate plains where guanacos, elegantly proportioned cousins of llamas, and viscachas, which resemble long-tailed rabbits, drift through prickly wisps of ground-hugging vegetation. Jets of steam slip through the arid turf in some of the highest geyser fields, and rocky hills drop into the frigid blue waters of the Pacific. Uncontaminated by light or clouds or moisture, the night sky explodes with stars, recorded and studied by some of the most advanced telescopes on Earth. Covering a swath of 70,000 square miles and contiguous with similar biomes in neighboring corners of Argentina, Peru and Bolivia, the Atacama is so extreme in its atmospheric conditions that NASA used it as a test site for its Mars rovers in 2017. Until civilian space travel becomes a reality, the Atacama, with its spectral beauty, will remain perhaps the closest one can get to an extraplanetary experience. — M.S.

V.S.: The Atacama is the driest nonpolar desert on Earth. And I love extremes, obviously. I felt that this would offer a remote and diverse experience with lunar landscapes, salt pools comparable to the Dead Sea, sand dunes, rock formations, hiking and incredible stargazing.

T.M.: You can have an amazing time looking at stars, and it’s incredibly dry, so the atmosphere is very different. A truly visceral experience.

20. Feast on the Cuisines of Oaxaca City, Mexico

The state of Oaxaca has long been a focal point of Mexican culinary identity. But in the past few years, the namesake capital’s limestone buildings and dazzling evening light have attracted unprecedented numbers of visitors, upending the equilibrium between its Indigenous identity and the constant demands of tourists for elegant restaurants and luxury hotels. Yet growing awareness of Oaxaca’s cultural wealth and diversity has also made it possible for chefs with local roots to open revelatory new businesses in spaces as simple as they are unforgettable. At Levadura de Olla, for instance, the chef Thalía Barrios García prepares food straight out of the remote hill country south of the city where she grew up. Bowls of black beans fragrant with wood smoke or, in season, tacos made with the brilliant crimson flowers of the pipe tree are the closest thing to country cooking you’re likely to find in any major city. Outside the center, the chef Jorge León has turned the tranquil garden of his family home into a restaurant called Alfonsina, where he serves an ambitious, adventurous tasting menu that draws on his experience as a cook at Pujol, the high-concept gastronomic temple in Mexico City, while his mother and aunts turn out a parallel menu of traditional dishes like a meticulously prepared hoja santa-scented mole amarillo. Every corner of this wondrous city and its surrounding countryside contains its own culinary jewels — from market stalls selling steamed tamales swaddled in banana leaves and crisp corn tlayudas folded like envelopes around sheets of chile-rubbed beef, to relaxed mezcalerías and market halls redolent of barbacoa cooked overnight in underground pits. The newer restaurants aim neither to replicate nor supplant these spaces but, rather, to honor them and, in their down-to-earth manner, expand their reach. — M.S.

A.T.: A lot of food scenes can be quite fussy. What was moving to me here were restaurants like Levadura de Olla, with a woman who’s come from the hills of Oaxaca to bring the cuisine of her home to this restaurant. Besides the food being wonderful, it seemed like a real break from the sort of fine dining you find elsewhere.

21. Dance Until You Drop at Carnival in Cuba

Cuba’s massive Carnival celebrations have been held in some form or another since the 17th century. As a series of winter events tied to the Catholic Church’s calendar, Carnival was largely reserved for Cubans of mostly Spanish ancestry, while its summer counterpart, the Mamarrachos, allowed laborers and the lower classes (mostly enslaved Africans and their descendants) a period of riotous release after the sugar cane harvest. Many other Carnivals across the Caribbean are still observed in February, before Lent, but Cuba’s Carnival has evolved into an exuberant summer event that is celebrated across the country. The most famous parties, held in Havana in August and in Santiago de Cuba at the end of July, have preserved the vibrant spirit and Afro-Caribbean influences of the original Mamarrachos. Spangled and feathered groups of dancers called comparsas perform in the streets between giant effigies of religious figures and celebrities, decorated floats and conga performers. The mainstreaming of festivals that originated from marginalized communities hasn’t been entirely seamless, with periodic attempts by conservative Cubans to sanitize them, but the omnipresent rhythm of the Carnival drums is a permanent reminder of their roots in resilience, triumph and pure joy. — A.C.

P.I.: Cuba is one of the most powerful places I’ve been and Carnival is a wild concentration of its energy, music and spirit.

A.T.: That’s a great way to do Cuba — because it’s atmospheric. Going there is one of those experiences that, 20 years on, I can’t stop thinking about.

22. Take In the Magnificent Scale and Immutable Geology of the Colorado Plateau

The high desert of the Colorado Plateau covers 150,000 square miles, stretching across the Four Corners region in an arid, empyrean expanse including not only its namesake state but parts of Utah, Arizona and New Mexico, as well as the whole of the Navajo Nation. From its massive sedimentary rocks rise gnarled, sweeping geological marvels that seem to defy gravity and dwarf the human concept of space: Here are the mesas, petrified forests, monoliths, pinnacles and hoodoos that define the rugged archetype of the American West. The Ancestral Pueblo people, who lived on the plateau until around A.D. 1300, left ruins in the form of kivas — circular subterranean chambers often used for ceremonies — adobe pueblos and intricate dwellings built into the sides of cliffs. These are enshrined among the plateau’s eight national parks and 18 national monuments, which together constitute some of the greatest, most diverse terrain in the United States. In addition to the Grand Canyon, there’s Bears Ears, a pair of burnt-sienna buttes revered by Indigenous groups; and Grand Staircase-Escalante, an imbricated series of ascending rock layers punctuated with canyons and cliffs. The plateau, in its vastness, offers many opportunities for hiking, cycling, rafting and birding, but the best way to experience it is to camp there, watching as its endless horizons become a vault of stars. — D.P.

V.S.: This area of the country is physically magnificent and encompasses so much of what I find engaging in the West: the Kodachrome red rock formations; the sweeping views; the canyons, mountains, valleys, deserts; the 600-million-year-old geologic history of the plateau and the culturally significant sites of Ancestral Puebloans, reminding us of what was here before. It’s an awe-inspiring trip that will remind you of our fleeting time here while you experience the grandeur where past and present converge.

23. Witness a Solar Eclipse in a Sleepy Fishing Village in Newfoundland, Canada

The next total solar eclipse in North America will occur on April 8, 2024. Among the many scenic vantage points on its path of totality is Bonavista, a town of some 3,000 people on a bucolic peninsula in Newfoundland. There are plenty of remote places here from which to take in the atavistic spectacle: a sublime, disquieting experience, full of renewal and destruction, that shatters one’s sense of magnitude. When you’re not watching the moon engulf the sun in a rite of astronomical passage, you can enjoy more earthly pleasures at the Bonavista lighthouse, which looks out onto a seascape of unsurpassed beauty, featuring calving icebergs, breaching humpback whales and ambling colonies of puffins. Nearby are the Dungeon, a collapsed sea cave warped by erosion into a natural archway, and the Ryan Premises, a set of white clapboard buildings from the 19th century, striking in their simplicity, and once the locus of the town’s thriving cod-fishing industry. (Their slogan: “Where cod is culture.”) Bonavista takes its name from the Italian explorer Giovanni Caboto, often Anglicized as John Cabot, who is said to have exclaimed, “O buona vista!” upon glimpsing its shores in 1497. A full-scale replica of Cabot’s ship, the Matthew , floats in a harbor near the village center, where visitors can rent kayaks for whale-watching excursions. — D.P.

D.Z.: The one experience where I’m like, “I will die on this hill for this,” is to observe the next [full] solar eclipse in North America from the path of totality. I’ve never had the chance to [do this] myself, but I will be traveling to Toronto with my son — he’ll be two then — and I want to “ Lion King”-style raise him into the eye of the moon when this happens. It’s something our ancestors have built entire mythologies around: a way of keeping track of celestial bodies and realizing there were powerful forces far beyond our own imagination. With the association eclipses have historically carried with the end of the world, it’d be fitting to witness it from what’s colloquially known as the end of the world: Newfoundland. The province [Newfoundland and Labrador] doesn’t get a lot of credit, but it has some of the most beautiful coastal wild nature in North America. April is also iceberg season, which will only compound the viewing experience.

24. Labor on an Organic Farm in New Zealand

Travel can be alienating, expensive and bad for the environment. WWOOF , or World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms, was started in England in 1971 by Susan Coppard as “a way of getting back into the countryside.” The first weekend she spent on a biodynamic farm spawned a global movement with a simple premise: Volunteers lend a hand on organic farms in exchange for food, lodging and an introduction to agriculture. WWOOFing in New Zealand, particularly in Northland, the milder, less-urbanized agrarian hub that spans much of the North Auckland Peninsula and is renowned for its white-sand beaches and giant Kauri forests, pairs this enterprise with a fairy-tale atmosphere. More than 100 farms here accept volunteer workers throughout the year, letting you experience nature and tend to it at the same time, living alongside New Zealanders, learning firsthand about their way of life and finding a way to give back to the picturesque landscape. Farm life often requires rising with the sun, but chores, whether pulling redroot weeds or tending sheep, usually conclude by lunch. Afterward, grander adventures can be had as well: backpacking Northland’s Great Walks, where you can rove through remote subtropical forests, or canoeing down the Whanganui River. But the most rewarding and memorable aspect of the trip comes from forging a bond with the earth and the resilient people who work it. — M.M.

D.Z.: Working on a farm is something everyone alive should do so that they understand where food comes from. WWOOFing is a great way to do that.

A.H.: It’s interesting in that it touches upon a recent trend toward voluntourism but in a less expected way.

T.M.: I have a miniature farm, but it takes all seasons and years to really understand a cycle. It depends on when you go, but you might see the planting, you might see harvesting; you might only get to do weeding.

D.Z.: It’s not a hotel; you can’t come and go as you please. But I don’t think the fact that you don’t get to completely embed yourself in agriculture over the course of multiple years or seasons negates the importance of learning what it’s like to farm.

A.H.: Why New Zealand specifically, David?

DZ: New Zealand, which is absolutely otherworldly for its natural landscape, is also an island nation that is super self-reliant thanks to the work of its farmers. If you chose to, say, help locals regenerate their surroundings by planting food forests, harvesting fruits in an organic orchard or rewilding land to create more habitat for native and endangered species, you would also get to reap the benefits of spending your off hours exploring Middle-earth, finding yourself a short drive from amazing landscapes like Spirits Bay [Piwhane] at the very tip of the North Island or the Te Paki sand dunes. Plus, I mean, who wouldn’t want to see a Kiwi bird in real life, crossing your path as you work in the field?

25. Float in a Zodiac to the Edge of Human Experience

The only continent with no permanent residents, Antarctica is synonymous with isolation. A two-day cruise through the notoriously rough Drake Passage (or a two-hour flight over it) from the tip of either Argentina or Chile brings you to the planet’s southernmost landmass. Once you’re there, the sights are simultaneously imposing and palpably ephemeral; the grandeur of miles-high glaciers in an exquisite spectrum of blues and greens is only heightened by the fragility of the climate that supports them. Antarctic sea ice is melting less quickly than that of the North Pole, but the vulnerability of the frozen sheet that contains more than half of the Earth’s freshwater supply has never been more difficult to ignore. Earlier this year, Antarctic ice was measured as at a record low (though it fluctuates from year to year, in contrast to Arctic ice, which has been consistently shrinking for decades). If the world’s governments fail to limit warming in the coming years to 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels, as seems increasingly likely, ice sheet collapses in the Antarctic could cause a catastrophic rise in sea levels over the next several centuries. Still, Antarctica’s sublime beauty persists. In addition to its penguin colonies, best encountered from November till January, the whale watching is revelatory. Go in February or March, when receding ice allows the dozen or so passengers in the inflatable Zodiac rafts of expedition cruises to get up-close views of blue whales, orcas, humpback whales and other cetaceans. Travel to Antarctica remains heavily regulated: Unguided landings are forbidden, and the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty, signed in 1991, instituted “leave no trace” guidelines designed to limit the human impact of tourism and scientific exploration alike. Before you go, do some research to identify the most sustainable way to explore . — A.C.

P.I.: I’m not very sensitive to nature, but this was beyond anything I’ve imagined or experienced, even in nearby Patagonia. It awakens you to the environmental concerns of the world, which are probably paramount in most travelers’ minds these days; being exposed to such majesty and beauty and also to the underlying frailty, you go home with important questions for your conscience as well as radiant memories.

At top: Footage of the World/Getty Images, Nick Ballon, Andrew Rowat, Iwan Baan, M’Hammed Kilito, Fernando Maquieira, Michael Turek (3), Nick Bondarev, Salvatore Di Gregorio, @SteMajourneys (2), Sjo/Getty Images, Luca Donninelli, Felix Odell, Stefan Ruiz (2), Grant Harder (2), Minasse Wondimu Hailu/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images, James Thompson, Kelly Cheng/Getty Images

Research Editors: Mario Mercado and Alexis Sottile

Copy Editors: Diego Hadis, James Camp and Polly Watson

Photo Editor: Katie Dunn

Ashlea Halpern is a Contributing Editor for T Magazine.

An earlier version of this article rendered incorrectly the name of a city in Cuba; it is Santiago de Cuba, not Santiago del Cuba.

An earlier version of this article misspelled the name of a city in the Achaemenid Empire; it was Pasargadae, not Parsargadae.

How we handle corrections

Login to continue

Round the World

Buying a multi-destination ticket has never been simpler.

Do you want to travel the world? Are you excited to discover and experience different countries and cultures? Are you looking for the best value for travelling to the world’s top iconic cities?

Our Star Alliance Book and Fly tool helps you plan and book multi-destination fares online. Certain exceptions apply. Alternatively, contact a member airline or your travel agent.

One Star Alliance ticket. Limitless travel possibilities.

Imagine embarking on a journey that takes you all around the world. Picture all the places you will go, the sights you will see, the people you will meet. Now imagine doing all of that and more, with just a single ticket.

The Star Alliance Round The World ticket offers you a travel experience unlike any other.

Journey across the world and visit up to 15 cities, while enjoying the kind of seamless flexibility and outstanding value for money that only the world’s largest airline network can offer. Where will your Round The World journey take you? Imagine your trip and make it a reality—all in just a few clicks with our Star Alliance Book and Fly tool. Certain exceptions apply. Alternatively, contact a member airline or your travel agent.

• Terms and Conditions

Book and Fly

• Single ticket valid on all Star Alliance members
• Every journey is different
• Follow our tips and reminders while booking

How to Map Your Journey

• Start and end in the same country
• Follow one global direction (East or West)
• Cross both the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean
• Have a minimum of 2 stops and maximum of 15 stops
• Travel between 10 days to 1 year
• Transits must be less than 24 hours
• Stopovers are more than 24 hours
• Check the terms and conditions for detailed inclusions

Flexibility

• Save your itinerary at any time
• Contact support 24/7
• Accrue frequent flyer points or miles
• Upgrade your flight or entire itinerary at any time, subject to availability

Round The World in Just a Few Clicks

Select your destinations.

Start by entering your Origin City. Then add destinations by entering the city name or by selecting cities on the map.

Choose Your Flights

The system will automatically select the flights for each segment, but you may also pick flights from the Star Alliance network that best cater to your needs.

Enter Your Details

Provide the necessary travel details such as your contact information and identification documents to help us secure your booking.

Pay Seamlessly

Enter your payment details to complete the transaction.

Circle Pacific

The itinerary can be accessed and changed by visiting staralliance.com and entering the Itinerary Code under 'Open Saved Itineraries' in the booking tool. Thank you for using the Star Alliance booking site for your journey.

• Planning: Please save your itinerary and copy the 20-character code for us to better assist you.
• Booking: We kindly ask that you refer to the terms & conditions for further booking details and reservation requirements.
• Availability: Please be reminded that pricing and availability is subject to change at any time without notice.
• Payment: If you experienced a problem with completing your payment, please indicate this when reaching out to our dedicated team of specialists.

Session expired. We are continuously updating our offers and flights, continue with us to have new offers

LAS VEGAS ATTRACTIONS

Kids attractions.

• M&M's World
• Ethel M Chocolate
• Canyon Blaster
• Mini Grand Prix
• Natural History Museum
• Lied Children's Museum

Star Trek the Experience

• Reviews: ★★★★★

Star Trek the Experience Overview

Star Trek geeks of the world are all heading to Las Vegas thanks to one adventure based in the Las Vegas Hilton. The Star Trek Experience is an interactive adventure that is based on the world famous science fiction television series by the same name. As you enter the experience, you will be thrown into the 24th Century. In this futuristic world you will be able to see and touch all there is to see in the future. The Star Trek Experience includes two, multi-million dollar completely interactive adventures for you to enjoy.

The adventures include Klingon Encounter and Borg Invasion 4D. In the Klingon Encounter you will have a chance to go on a Star Trek mission. Well, that is if you think you can handle the adventure. You will be going to war with the galaxy's most dangerous warriors! Your mission will be to evade the Klingon warship as you blast through galaxies at warp speeds on your shuttle craft. This adventure lasts 18 minutes.

Borg Invasion has been listed as the most ambitious 4D creation that has ever been conceived. Using live actors and amazing special effects you are offered a completely realistic Star Trek experience. You will be able to tour a research facility in the future. Meanwhile, the frightening drones that are part of the Borg Collective will be attempting to capture and absorb the guests in the facility by using state of the art cybernetic technology.

Kids Friendly

Age restriction

Star trek the experience photos.

Star Trek the Experience Location

Star trek the experience reviews, stay at the hilton because of the star trek experience.

I have to travel to Las Vegas to attend several Trade Show and I always stay at the Hilton because of the Star Trek Experience. I will take a tram or a taxi to the trade show as opposed to a much shorter transit, just to stay at the Hilton and at the Experience. Trade Shows can be boring but a fresh light at the end of the tunnel has always been the Experience. I am shocked the Experience is closed and it has resulted in my Family and I now staying another hotel on the strip. Live long and Prosper to all that loved the Experience and that would love to see it be reborn elsewhere! Sincerely, WP Vos

I LIKE THE FOOD AT QUARKS

The main reason I go to Vegas and stay at the Hilton is because of Star Trek Experience. I love the atmosphere and the people that work there. The place is very very clean. I like the food at Quark’s and am sorry to hear that STTE may close at the end of the yet, because I haven’t tried some other items on their menu. If it does not my plans are to spend Christmas there. If it does I will not be going to Vegas.

WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE

I want to stay at the same time I spent at Star Trek the Experience was a wonderful experience. I hope to make it to experience the Star Trek Experience again this year. It would be a sure shame if this one of a kind event closed. I would promote the experience as a wonderful time for the whole family.

MOST FANTASTIC TIME

We visited Star Trek the Experience last year from Australia. We spent the whole day there and had the most FANTASTIC time. The timeline details were fascinating. The behind the scenes was very very informative. The characters around the place were such fun to interact with. And it was wheelchair friendly-nig bonus for me. We are so sorry to hear it is closing down. We were saving up to come again. RIP Star Trek The Exhibition.

SOMETHING NEW TO ENJOY

I have been to the Experience many times over the years and I always find something new to enjoy along with all my previous fun. I loved going onto the bridge of TNG’s Enterprise. And what a hoot it is to see all the characters around from all over the galaxy. A must do is to eat at Quark’s, but watch out the owner may try to sell you a napkin.

I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT THE STAR TREK EXPERIENCE IS NOT AVAILABLE

I am very disappointed that the Star Trek experience is not available. I have been pumping up my family ,most of whom are flying for the very 1st time, about this attraction. This was going to be one of the major highlights of our trip. The 1st time my husband and I visited Vegas we came to the Hilton and had a blast at the Star Trek Adventure and have talked about t every since. Please open back up. If this is due to the financial crunch just lower your prices a little bit and maybe more people could afford to come.

STAR TREK THE BAR IS THE FUNNSET AFTER YOU DO THE VIRTUAL RIDE

Me and my friends go to Vegas every year after some times twice a year and always made it a point to visit the Hilton’s Star Trek the bar is the funnest after you do the virtual ride. I was there the last night open just by chance and am very disappointed to see it leave. It was one of my highlights going to Vegas over the last 10 years.

I was disappointed to hear the attraction was closing. I am planning a trip to Vegas and wanted to was going to book rooms at the Hilton until I learned the experience had closed. I guess we stay at Treasure Island.

Say it isn’t so! Our group was looking forward to seeing this attraction. I would have thought with the new movie it would have been very popular. We are all disappointed.

BRING IT BACK!

I really enjoyed my visit to the “Star Trek” Hilton. I especially loved Quark’s Bar where the 6ft plus Klingon “lady” put my know-it-all ex propery in his place and speechless for the first time in his life! I’d pay just to have her do the Divorce-paper servings!LOL

THE GREATEST TIME

My wife and I come to Vegas 3 or 4 times a year & always stayed at the Hilton because of Star Trek Experience & Quark’s bar. We no longer stay at the Hilton. We stay every where else. To the Hilton you made a big mistake, bring back The Experience & Quarks!!!

Subscribe to receive the lastest on Star Destinations's Tours!

Student Travel & Educational Tours

Students that read about a culture or a historically significant event can only hope to achieve a superficial understanding of the subject. But students truly begin to comprehend when they immerse themselves in the culture; take in the sights, smells, and sounds; participate in the customs; and witness firsthand the ongoing impact of events throughout history. And, more importantly, this is how students truly begin to appreciate the past and embrace the differences in our world.

Star Destinations’ student travel program focuses on making these experiences a reality through unique educational tours around the United States and the world. All our student tours are custom-designed to meet the needs of your group and offer the greatest educational and cultural impact possible within the budget of the students, school, or promoting organization. We strive to make the process stress-free for teachers by coordinating all the details, from transportation and accommodations to tours and attractions. No matter where you are looking to go or what you would like your tour to accomplish, Star Destinations is here to make your student travel experience a success.

View Your School Tours

Type in your password.

Who We Serve

Middle schools.

Middle school is the perfect time for students to see our nation’s government in action in Washington, DC. Add New York City to the itinerary for an unforgettable experience in one of world’s most iconic cities.

High Schools

Encourage your students to spread their wings with an eye-opening journey across Europe, volunteer work in Central America, or a senior class trip to Chicago.

Bands & Choirs

Customize a tour with experiences that enhance your students’ appreciation of music. Participate in a master class, attend an opera or musical, sightsee, and showcase your group’s talents with performances in some of the best venues in the world.

Foreign Language Classes

Immerse your students in the culture they are studying. Offer them the opportunity to converse with native speakers in Mexico, explore historic landmarks in Spain, or sample the exceptional cuisine in France. Let the culture envelop them and watch their love of the language grow.

Set the future leaders in agriculture up for success with a chance to attend the National FFA Convention where they will participate in workshops and establish industry connections. Our itineraries are rounded out with visits to farm equipment manufacturers, working farms, and more.

Why Star Destinations

Education and experience.

Our educational tours are about expanding students’ horizons through immersive experiences that can help them grow into responsible citizens of the world. It is through these unforgettable opportunities that your students become more deeply invested in their educational experience.

Your students’ safety is always of our utmost concern. We maintain low student-to-chaperone ratios, hire security guards for New York and DC hotels (and other major cities as requested), and require students to always carry emergency and medical information. Star Destinations also employs experienced tour managers to escort your group for the duration of the tour, if so desired.

Star Destinations’ student tours are designed to be both educational and fun! Our itineraries are filled with engaging tours and activities that bring history, art, science, and culture to life. But we also balance our trips with experiences such as a baseball game, Broadway show, or a day at the beach.

Please leave your name and email address for our newsletter.

• GULET CRUISES
• GULET CABIN SALES
• PRIVATE HIRE GULETS
• GULET & STAY
• SMALL SHIP CRUISES
• Greek Island Cruises

Gulet Cruises

• Croatian-Adriatic Cruises
• Nile Cruises
• Seychelles Cruises
• Tahiti Cruises
• West Africa Cruises
• TAILOR MADE & MULTI CENTER HOLIDAYS

Greece & Greek Islands

• NORTH CYPRUS

Egypt & Jordan

• SAFARI TOUR - TANZANIA
• DESTINATIONS
• Ephesus & Pamukkale
• Island of Santorini
• Island of Naxos
• Island of Mykonos
• Island of Paros
• Rhodes Island
• Island of Corfu
• Island of Zante
• Island of Patmos
• Island of Kos
• Multi Centre Holidays
• Island of Korcula
• Island of Sipan
• Tucepi - Makaraska
• Island of Hvar
• Piran and Portoroz
• Nile Cruise
• High Atlas Mountains
• Jordan Holidays
• North Cyprus
• TREASURES OF OMAN CRUISE
• Cape Verde Cruises
• Testimonials

Luxury Gulet Cruises from £1,120pp Aug 19 now £1,120 pp (was £1,370) save £500 per couple 

• Jun 24 now £1,198 pp (was £1,298 - save £200 per couples)

Sep 2, 9 now £1,848 pp (was £1,998 - save £300 per couples)

  find out more, why book with us, looking for something different  personal service tailored to you, 30 years knowledge & experience, quality customer care, most products personally inspected ,100% financial protection awards winning tour operator, 100% satisfaction, unforgettable experience, given back where the communities needs., gulet cruises , cabin sales & private hire /  gulet cruise & stay holidays, special offer - gulet cruise & stay holidays: aug 19 now £1,690 pp (was £2,090 - save £800 per couples)  - save up to £800 per couples   , at diamond star experience,we specialise:, gulet cruises, small ship cruises.  tailor made holidays to turkey, greek islands, croatia, egypt & morocco. relaxing beach holidays villa holidays            safari holidays   , british travel awards 2023 , diamond star experience has once again been named the best travel company (bronze) to east/south east europe this incredible recognition is all thanks to your continued support and trust in our services..

Tailor Made Holidays

 Holiday Inspiration Custom holidays, multi centres and tours

Cappadocia holiday specialist, a magical place, fairy chimneys, underground cities, hot-air balloons,  luxury cave hotels , small ship cruises - greek island cruise, adriatic cruises - croatian island hopping , nile cruise -  cruise & stay holidays.

Tailor Made

Small Ship Cruises

Destinations

Winter holidays, our top selection ideas.

3 Centre Holidays: Istanbul & Cappadocia & Gulet   Cruise -save £1000 per couple

Aug 12  £2,090 pp (was £2,590 - save £1,000 per couples) aug 26  £2,290 pp (was £2,590 - save £600 per couples).

Find out more

Luxury Gulet Cruises - FB

CABIN SALES SAVE UP TO £400 PER COUPLES 

• Aug 19 now £1,120 pp (was £1,370 - save £500 per couples)
• Sep 2, 9 now £1,148 pp (was £1,298 - save £300)

Greek Islands Hopping - Mykonos & Paros & Naxos & Santorini  

from £1,498 pp - for 12 Days Holidays

Greek Islands hopping is a great way to experience more of these amazing islands. Combine a short stay for selective of the Cyclades Greek Islands.  

Find out more 

Greek Island Hopping Cruises 

from £1,839 pp - for the week

Greek island cruise take you to some of the most beautiful and historic islands in the Mediterranean, you'll get to see Greece's famous archaeological sites, enjoy delicious Mediterranean food, and relax on crystal-clear beaches.

Why Book with Diamond Star Experience...

Looking for something different?

Personal service tailored to you, 30 years knowledge & experience, quality customer care, all products personally inspected, 100% financial protection, awards winning tour operator, 100% satisfaction, unforgettable experience, given back where the communities needs.

"I wanted to send you an e-mail now that we are back from our wonderful holiday. My wife and I wanted to express our sincere gratitude to you and the team at Diamond Star for arranging a truly unique style of holiday that we are still talking about to friends and family two weeks after we came home. The places we have visited, and the things we have seen were truly amazing, it will take a month or more to sort through our photos"  Andrew and June Welch - 24 Oct 2022

"Back from our holiday to Istanbul/Cappadocia what an awesome holiday. The hot air balloon was out of this world. Thank you Diamond Star for making it all possible special thanks to Nazan. I recommend this company to make your dreams come true."  Mrs Angela Bailey - 6 Oct 2022

"We arrived home from Fethiye on Monday, and would just like to thank you and Akin for planning an amazing trip. The gulet was fantastic and as usual, the Ece Saray Hotel was lovely. The staff there are some of the best we have come across, and the breakfasts were great. We are looking ahead to 2023 and were wondering if you could arrange a quote for a similar trip."  Sue and Mike Fedeczko - 28 September 2022

Speak to a Specialist

Akin has been to all these places and experienced all these holidays.

Give him a ring to discuss your holiday in detail on 0330 390 0999 or send an email.

Holiday Types

Gulet Cruise Holidays

Villa Holidays

Our Charities

Elephant Sanctuary

Climate Change

DEC Covid-19

The unmissable addition to Disneyland’s Star Tours ride? Space whales

• Show more sharing options
• Copy Link URL Copied!

Disneyland’s Star Tours: The Adventures Continue has proved to be one of the theme park’s most versatile attractions.

Though perhaps no longer the groundbreaking technological marvel that it was when it debuted in 1987, the flight simulator ride has shifted with the franchise, withstanding cultural trends and aligning with whichever version of “Star Wars” is popular at the moment — or in need of a marketing boost.

The latest update to Star Tours brings the ride into the Disney+ era, with nods to series such as “The Mandalorian,” “Ahsoka” and “Andor.” More noteworthy, at least for Disneyland guests, is that the centerpiece of the latest upgrades is a scene that provides a slight tonal shift for the attraction, one focused, albeit briefly, on slowing down and giving so-called starspeeder riders a look at one of “Star Wars’” more majestic creatures. Star Tours will now rocket guests straight to a moment that boasts a close-up with the purrgil, essentially large, mysterious space whales that move with a galactic grace.

Travel & Experiences

Want to see Disneyland’s most advanced animatronics? Visit Tiana’s Bayou Adventure

With new droids at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and some of the most lifelike characters ever created at Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, Disney is looking to wow guests.

April 4, 2024

For the 3-D attraction, it’s a moment that provides a breather. The motion simulator lingers for a few seconds, and our makeshift animatronic captain, the golden droid C-3PO, turns to face riders. C-3PO shifts into tour guide mode, appearing in awe of the purrgil and commenting on how serene the animals are.

“This will be different from other sequences, to have a moment,” said Tom Fitzgerald, a senior creative executive with Walt Disney Imagineering, the company’s secretive arm devoted to theme park attractions, when asked about taking a patient approach to the scene. “You don’t get many moments. It’s so compact. But it’s a moment to let people look at the beauty of this, and the 3-D gives you the scale of those creatures.”

The additions to Star Tours are arguably the centerpiece of Disneyland’s all-things- “Star Wars” promotion Season of the Force , which debuted this past weekend and runs through June 2. The “Star Wars” festival also sees new droids making their way to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge through the duration of the event, as well as the return of Space Mountain overlay Hyperspace Mountain and a new free scavenger hunt that aims to get players to pay close attention to the minute details of Galaxy’s Edge.

Fitzgerald has been with Star Tours since the ride’s beginning, and oversaw the latest Star Tours additions, which further deviate the attraction from any strict “Star Wars” timeline and instead focus it on being a sort of “greatest hits” for the brand. The purrgil scene also features Rosario Dawson’s Ahsoka Tano and the character’s svelte, fast-rotating starship above the planet of Seatos. Tano’s ship inspired Imagineers to see if they could add some new tricks to the attraction, mainly in the way the simulator can move. When Tano’s vessel twists and spins, for instance, the starspeeder attempts to mimic it, endeavoring to create the feeling of a 360-barrel roll. At other times, the starspeeder glides among the purrgil.

Key to Star Tours’ longevity, and what makes it the rare motion simulator that doesn’t feel rooted in the 1980s, is its ability to create new sensations via its movements. The ride now has more than 250 storyline variations, and when adding to the attraction, Imagineers are looking for ways to heighten the contrast among its various scenes, both tonally and in its maneuvers. Though Star Tours is typically randomized — for the foreseeable future, and definitely throughout Disneyland’s spring Season of the Force promotion — all riders are guaranteed to visit the new location and receive an early-flight transmission from one of the recently added characters.

“How do we make each of the places we go have a different color palette?” says Fitzgerald, who then recalls different “Star Wars” planets that can be featured in the attraction’s random programming. “Mustafar is all lava. Kashyyyk is all green jungle. So they feel very different when you get the combos. And then motion-based. Could we do a barrel roll? That’s the fun of doing it, and programming it and trying it. And we needed something else. What have we not done? So with the purrgils, what if we do skiing through the tentacles? We had never done that. So those are the two big motion changes.”

The attraction is also livened up by appearances from Dawson’s Tano, Diego Luna’s Cassian Andor and a masked Din Djarin from “The Mandalorian.” While the latter is played and portrayed by Pedro Pascal on the Disney+ series, many have noted that the Djarin on “Star Tours” features a slightly different vocal cadence than Pascal, and an Imagineering spokesperson says the company is not revealing its voice actors for the attraction. Nevertheless, “The Mandalorian” moment features some comic relief — and clever 3-D usage — courtesy of Grogu, colloquially refered to as “baby Yoda,” and his penchant to use Force powers to toy with and eat frogs.

Dine at a table that moves you from room to room? A look at the future of theme parks

Here are 5 takeaways from the Themed Entertainment Assn.’s annual gathering in Hollywood.

March 20, 2024

The three appear as transmissions that help define the suddenly urgent narrative of Star Tours. “Each one is different,” Fitzgerald says. “Mando and Grogu we played for comedy. And Andor is mysterious. You don’t see his face. You see this thing coming toward you. Is that a friend or foe? And then he pulls his hood and the music changes.” Tano, meanwhile, arrives like an old friend who knows C-3PO and fellow droid R2-D2. Riders are advised to pay close attention to the opening cinematic in a ship’s hangar, as there is a new randomized opening that features Tano in a lightsaber battle with Stormtroopers.

As for why the new additions perhaps lean a bit more heavily on “Ahsoka,” as it is that series that features the planet of Seatos and the purrgil, Fitzgerald had a simple answer: Yes, it’s the space whales.

With access to early scripts from Lucasfilm, Fitzgerald says he singled out the purrgil scenes. “Reading about that, not knowing what they looked like initially, I was going, that’s going to be really cool.” And, at least for a few seconds, relatively calming.

More to Read

Column: Disneyland has already turned my hometown into a giant tourist trap. What’s next?

May 8, 2024

Why Disney is doubling down on theme parks with a $60-billion plan

April 24, 2024

Disneyland’s $1.9-billion expansion project is latest mega investment in the Anaheim resort

April 17, 2024

Sign up for The Wild

We’ll help you find the best places to hike, bike and run, as well as the perfect silent spots for meditation and yoga.

You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.

Todd Martens joined the Los Angeles Times in 2007 and covers a mix of interactive entertainment (video games) and pop music. Previously, Martens reported on the music business for Billboard Magazine. He has contributed to numerous books, including “The Big Lebowski: An Illustrated, Annotated History of the Greatest Cult Film of All Time.” He continues to torture himself by rooting for the Chicago Cubs and, while he likes dogs, he is more of a cat person.

More From the Los Angeles Times

Get high (legally) at the massive new weed oasis inside the California State Fair

June 18, 2024

10 places in California to see magnificent wildlife in their natural settings

Do you have a ‘happy place’ in L.A.? We want to hear from you

June 17, 2024

Science & Medicine

You can help name L.A.’s newest dinosaur fossil. Just don’t call it Dino McDinoface

June 13, 2024

National Park star parties 2023: Events for stargazing, meteor showers under dark skies

Curious travelers have the chance to indulge in astronomy at some of  the few remaining safe havens for pitch-black skies providing a clear glimpse of thousands of luminous stars.

To promote public excitement and knowledge about the issue, several National parks will host stargazing festivals for sky watching and meteor showers in 2023. For those who can’t make it to these events, many national parks offer regular star parties throughout the year.

Here’s a list of events to take advantage of and make the most of the darkness this year.

• Past events have included a guided walk through a "solar system," demonstrations, guest speakers and observations with special solar telescopes.
• The Blue Ridge Mountains park is located within a day’s drive from two-thirds of Americans.
• Past events have covered space weather, nocturnal creatures and more.
•  The 77,000-acre park is one of the least crowded national parks and is home to  the Great Basin Observatory — the only research-grade observatory in a national park.
• Participants in the festival’s “Art in the Dark” program can paint in low-light conditions and experiment with how their eyes perceive color.
•  The festival conveniently overlaps with an annular “ring of fire” solar eclipse. The moon will appear to obscure between 70 and 80 percent of the sun.
• Joshua Tree became an official dark sky park in 2017.
• For the tens of millions of people who live in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, Joshua Tree is the “nearest convenient place to go stargazing under a relatively dark sky,” according to the International Dark Sky Association . 

Many areas part of the National Park Service (NPS) have received International Dark Sky Association certifi cation as light pollution gets worse . 

More: You can see a galaxy with the naked eye: Astrotourism is an adventure 'you can't experience from photos'

Certified International Dark Sky parks in the U.S.

• Buffalo National River
• Chiricahua National Monument
• Flagstaff Area National Monuments 
• Grand Canyon National Park
• Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument 
• Kartchner Caverns State Park
• Oracle State Park
• Petrified Forest National Park 
• Pipe Spring National Monument
• Tonto National Monument
• Tumacácori National Historical Park
• Antelope Island State Park (U.S.)
• Arches National Park (U.S.)
• Bryce Canyon National Park
• Canyonlands National Park
• Capitol Reef National Park
• Cedar Breaks National Monument 
• Dead Horse Point State Park
• East Canyon State Park
• Fremont Indian State Park
• Goblin Valley State Park
• Goosenecks State Park
• Jordanelle State Park  
• Kodachrome Basin State Park 
• Zion National Park
• Natural Bridges National Monument 
• North Fork Park  
• Rockport State Park
• Steinaker State Park 
• Anza-Borrego Desert State Park (U.S.)
• Death Valley National Park
• Joshua Tree National Par k
• Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park 
• Curecanti National Recreation Area
• Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
• Dinosaur National Monument
• Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
• Hovenweep National Monument
• Jackson Lake State Park
• Lake Fork Earth and Sky Center
• Mesa Verde National Park
• Top of the Pines 
• Big Bend National Park 
• Big Bend Ranch State Park
• Copper Breaks State Park
• Enchanted Rock State Natural Area
• Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park 
• Milton Reimers Ranch Park
• South Llano River State Park 
• UBarU Camp and Retreat Center
• Big Cypress National Preserve
• Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park

Best stargazing events of 2023 How to see green comet, meteor showers and an eclipse this year

• Stephen C. Foster State Park
• City of Rocks National Reserve
• Middle Fork River Forest Preserve
• Mammoth Cave National Park
• AMC Maine Woods (U.S.)
• Dr. T.K. Lawless County Park
• Keweenaw Dark Sky Park, Michigan
• Voyageurs National Park

Montana/Canada 

• Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park

North Carolina

• Cape Lookout National Seashore
• Mayland Earth to Sky Park & Bare Dark Sky Observatory
• Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute 
• Chaco Culture National Historical Park
• Clayton Lake State Park
• Capulin Volcano National Monument
• El Morro National Monument
• Fort Union National Monument  
• Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument
• Valles Caldera National Preserve
• Great Basin National Park
• Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area
• Geauga Observatory Park
• Prineville Reservoir State Park 

Pennsylvania 

• Cherry Springs State Park
• Craters Of The Moon National Monument
• Obed Wild and Scenic River
• Pickett CCC Memorial State Park & Pogue Creek Canyon State Natural Area 
• James River State Park 
• Natural Bridge State Park
• Rappahannock County Park 
• Sky Meadows State Park 
• Staunton River State Park

West Virginia

• Watoga State Park 
• Newport State Park

Visit NPS's website to view more stargazing events throughout the year.

Visit Russia With Star Travel group

We operate greate russian tours to view the best attractions of russia.

• ST Petersburg
• Recreational
• Up to 100 USD
• 101 - 200 USD
• 201 - 300 USD
• 301 - 400 USD
• 401 - 500 USD
• More than 500 USD
• Group Package
• Up to 200 USD
• 201 - 400 USD
• 401 - 600 USD
• 601 - 800 USD
• 801 - 1000 USD
• More than 1000 USD
• Search Hotels

It's time to start your adventure

Have you decided on which Russia tour is the best for you?

It's time to start your journey into Russia with us.

Star Travel Group has many different offers for you to enjoy a lovely trip to Russia.

Never waste any of your valuable time, we have covered everything you need on a trip to Russia, from booking the hotel and transfer to the tours and sightseeing.

Don’t waste your time getting overpriced taxis, book your transfer with us

Book with confidence, the Star Travel offers only the best hotels in Russia

Experience the most diverse tours to Russia with the Star Travel Group

The Star Travel Group has the most skilled and reliable tour leaders in Russia

Star Travel Packages

The best tour to russia 22-25.05, visit russia delight, russian holiday delight 21-28.06, exciting package to russia 01-08.07, special tour to russia 14-21.07, special tour to russia 28.07-04.08, russian holiday delight 06-13.09, make your tour memorable and safe with us.

Star Travel Group has more than a decade of experience in operating Russia Tours, so we know how to manage the best tours to Russia. We value our travelers, and we want the best for them, that's why we operate the loveliest and safest tours to Russia.

• 838 Place Explored
• 4061 Happy Tourist
• 361 Successful Tours

Star Travel Tours In Russia

Fullday tour to pavlovsk incl. - peterhof gardens incl. hydrofoil ride back, halfday tour to pavlovsk incl, ballet tour, tour to moscow, two day sightseeing-tour (without jusupov palace), white nights evening tour, fullday panoramic tour st. petersburg incl. visit of hermitage, fulldaytour to pushkin incl. visit of catherine palace - peterhof gardens incl. hydrofoil ride back, tourist attractions in russia, adventure in russia.

Visit the most exciting places in Russia

Historical Places In Russia

Witness the prominence and rich history of Russia

Travel To Russia

Top tips and pieces of advice on a journey to Russia

Shopping Centers In Russia

Best shopping centers in Russia

Religious Places In Russia

All the glory of religious places architecture and history

Russian Foods

Best of Cuisine and Culinary Tourism in Russia

Entertainment In Russia

Be ready to have fun

About Star Travel Group

Star Travel is one of the experienced Russian tour operators specialized in inbound tourism in Russia since 2006. Our experience in this industry has grown increasingly throughout these years of activity in Russia, and throughout this thirteen years of experience, we have a grand amount of knowledge about Russia history, culture, and its tourist target-cities. Given this, we can claim that we operate the best tours in Russia.

Managing Russia tour is our main expertise because our focus is only on Russia tours, this will help us to prove our case that we know how to make a truly fascinating journey to Russia.

Star Travel Group Members

Reservation Department

Olga Timoshuk

Group coordinator

Sales Department

Yegane Tayebifar

Sales Manager

Finance Department

Boris Trapezin

Financial Manager

Modal title

• +92 311 0507 759
• +92 33 5555 2054
• [email protected]

About Fast Star Travel & Tours

Welcome to Fast Star Travel & Tours , where every journey is a story waiting to be told. We take pride in being more than just a travel agency; we are your dedicated companions in exploration, committed to providing seamless and unforgettable experiences.

Join us in redefining the essence of travel. Fast Star is not just a brand; it’s a promise of excellence, a compass to guide you through the wonders of the world. Your journey begins here, with Fast Star Travel & Tours – Your Passport to Unforgettable Adventures

Our Services

Tours & travels services.

Explore unforgettable journeys, curated vacations.

• Visa Services

Efficient visa processing for your seamless travel journey.

Star Accommodation

Luxuriate in star accommodation, experience unparalleled comfort. Elevate travel.

• Air Ticketing

Ease travel with seamless ticketing, stress-free experience guaranteed.

• Transport Services

Reliable transport for seamless, comfortable travel experiences assured.

Umrah Packages

Tailored Umrah packages for sacred, seamless spiritual journeys.

Our Featured Tours

Last Ashra 3 star package 17 Days

• April 1, 2024

Last Ashra 4 star package 17 Days

Last Ashra 5 star package 17 Days

Last Ashra 7 star package 17 Days

Last Ashra 5 star package 15 Days

" travel unlocks the doors to understanding and unity, fostering a world where diversity is celebrated and bridges are built.", - quaid-e-azam muhammad ali jinnah, our featured hotels.

Karam Silver

• Bada'ah, Madinah 42311, Saudi Arabia

Karam Al Hejaz

Bir al Eiman

Deyafa Mukhtara

Grand Zowar

Mukhtara Massi

Explore us on instagram.

What They Say About Us

A global gathering: unveiling umrah in ramadan.

Ramadan transforms Makkah and Madinah into a global hub for Muslims seeking spiritual rejuvenation through Umrah. Witnessing the surge in pilgrims from all corners of

A Ramadan to Remember: Unveiling the Magic of Makkah and Madinah

Ramadan in the holiest cities of Islam, Makkah and Madinah, is an experience unlike any other. Imagine the amplified spirit of devotion, the fervent prayers

Unveiling the Blessings: How to Maximize Your Ramadan Experience

Ramadan, a holy month of introspection, self-discipline, and spiritual growth, arrives soon. As Muslims prepare for this cherished time, the question arises: how can we

Embarking on a Spiritual Journey: Dos and Don’ts for Umrah

Umrah, a holy pilgrimage to Mecca, is a deeply personal and transformative experience for Muslims worldwide.  As you prepare for this sacred journey, here’s a

• Office # 4, Wasil Plaza, Fazal-e-Haq Road, Opposite Allied Bank, adjacent to Haleem Ghar, Blue Area, Islamabad, Pakistan

Quick Links

• Knowledgebase
• Star Accommodations

All Rights Reserved

Developed by 5 tech sol.

• Latest News
• In Conversation
• Get in Touch

Star Travel Russia offers bespoke experiences for every traveller

If Russia is on your “must-see” list, (and let’s face it – it should be) then Star Travel Russia should certainly be your first port of call when planning your journey to this enigmatic country.

Offering a bespoke experience for every traveller, Star Travel Russia has the contacts, the experience and the local knowledge to make your trip a unique and fulfilling one, wherever in Russia you want to visit.

From the history and culture of St Petersburg, to the magnificence of the Kremlin in Moscow, Star Travel Russia tours can give you a real glimpse of the history and significance of this great country, and the tours can be tailored to suit the age, interests and walking abilities of every party, large or small. A Moscow tour might include a viewing of the coronation and state regalia at the Armoury Chamber , a visit to see the world-famous Bolshoi Ballet , or the Tretiakov gallery , which contains some of the most exciting ancient icons and works of art available to view.

Star Travel Russia also offer 24 hour concierge support to your party so that your trip can be exactly how you choose it to be, with tickets to the best nightclubs, film premieres and theatres available through their service giving every client the VIP experience. If you’re looking for the best tables in the best restaurants in Russia, then Star Travel can help here too, as they are able to book you a table in some of Russia’s most fashionable restaurants to experience some of the most sumptuous dining experiences in the world.

When it comes to accommodation, Star Travel is on hand to find the perfect places to stay for those seeking something luxurious yet traditional. Recommended hotels include the Sokos Palace Bridge , with its heady combination of Merchant Dynasty history, meshed with a whole host of wellness and entertainment experiences that are totally 21st century.

I’m looking forward to meeting the team once again at our upcoming Connections Luxury event in Abu Dhabi (6th-9th September). If you’d like to know more about participating, please drop me a note at [email protected] .

You Might Also Like

A special gift to celebrate Connections’ “leather” anniversary!

Expertise, connections and professional 24/7 service, cancel reply.

Connections is the international private community for trusted decision-makers in high-end travel. Our focus is on luxury, meetings incentives, wellbeing, adventure and weddings.

• 03-2786 7555

Where to next?

No 42-44, Jalan Raja Abdullah

50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

• Destinations
• Booking Terms

Get Updates & More

Subscribe to the free newsletter and stay up to date

Embark on a journey with Star Travel, your trusted travel companion since 1978. With over 40 years of heartfelt expertise, we craft seamless and personalised journeys globally, ensuring competitive prices and high quality services. Explore the world with us – your dream destination is just a trip away! 

Star Travel is an award-winning group in business and leisure travel. And by that, it fully understands that both modes of travel require a different set of disciplines, service levels, experience, and the convenience of technology assisted innovation.

• Terms & Conditions

Explore with us:

We organise FIT and incentive trips across Asia, Europe, South America, Antarctica. But that’s not all – we’re also your trusted source for domestic tours in Sabah & Sarawak and the beauty of Peninsula Malaysia.  

Wisma Star Travel, 42-44, Jalan Raja Abdullah, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia  

Office: 03 2786 7555 Tours: 017 504 7177   Ticketing: 013 297 7777

[email protected]

Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in

+ 844 1755 – 444 11

[email protected]

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.

• Restaurants
• Best-of Guides
• MICHELIN Guide Ceremony
• My Favorites
• Subscribe to newsletter
• Booking partnership with OpenTable
• Booking partnership with Resy
• USA - English - USD
• The Inspectors Reveal All on Daigo, One MICHELIN Star Restaurant Specializing in Shojin Ryori

From the journal of a MICHELIN Guide Inspector . Experience Japanese culture through Shojin ryori vegetarian cuisine.

Editor's Pick Japan Tokyo Inspectors Japanese cuisine Travel

Tokyo by The MICHELIN Guide

See the Tokyo guide

I begin in the Atago neighbourhood of Tokyo’s Minato Ward. Atago is home to Atago Shrine, famous in the area for its lucky ‘stone steps to success,’ as well as skyscrapers and Tokyo Tower soaring upward just beyond the lush greenery. Taking in the distinctive Tokyo scenery all around me, I arrive at the entrance gate to Seishoji Temple. When I climb the winding stone steps to the side, the sign for Daigo —the One MICHELIN Star shojin ryori I’m here to visit—comes into view,

When first established, this restaurant was located within the grounds of what is now the neighbouring Seishoji Temple, and the head priest named it Daigo. Shojin ryori, a form of vegetarian cuisine, has a long history. It was originally a type of vegetarianism practiced by Buddhists. As part of their Buddhist ascetic training, priests ate only plant-based foods. Today, as many diverse food cultures and customs are recognised and supported, Shojin ryori is now a style of Japanese cuisine attracting worldwide attention. Daigo follows the Buddhist philosophy of the Three Minds and offers a unique take on shojin cuisine. Despite shojin ryori’s focus on vegetarian ingredients, this restaurant uses bonito-flake broth in many dishes, believing that serving delicious food is paramount to hospitality. ・A great mind　 An unbiased, free-thinking mind ・A joyful mind　 A mind that embraces joy ・An elder’s mind　A kind and considerate mind With these three minds at its heart, the restaurant displays creativity unrestrained by any fixed ideas so that guests can enjoy the finest hospitality during their visit.

As a kimono-clad waitress guides me into a room, elegant garden scenery comes into view. I’m visiting just before the start of summer, as the plants that have overcome the chill of winter grow beautifully verdant and colourful. The doors near the garden are kept slightly ajar, letting a pleasantly refreshing breeze circulate through the dining space.

First, I observe the room layout, the hanging scrolls, the furnishings, and the sukiya-style architecture reminiscent of a traditional Japanese teahouse. The wrapper around the chopsticks on the table read ‘lightning protection chopsticks.’ The waitress explains that ‘These chopsticks are made from special Japanese yew trees in the Hida region of Gifu Prefecture . These trees are said to be so lucky that they even prevent lightning strikes, and the emperor actually has a sceptre made from this same type of wood. After the meal, guests are encouraged to take these chopsticks home with them as a souvenir.’

PRE-MEAL PRACTICE

Japanese cuisine also shows a respect for luck and incorporates elements of superstition. One example of this is Shikisai Kyuro Yose. This dish associated with the traditional Boy’s Day Festival (today also called Children’s Day) was named after a famed Sengoku military commander Minamoto no Yoshitsune who was also a superb flautist. Yoshitsune was known as ‘Kuro,’ but because this spelling sounds similar to ‘kurou,’ the Japanese word for ‘hardship’ which has negative connotations, the dish name uses ‘kyuro’ instead.

Fava Bean Surinagashi Soup

This soup is served in a bowl with colours which perfectly suit the new greenery of spring. It has contrasting flavours and textures from the sweetness of the taro and the flavourful rice crackers.

Shojin Soba

This local delicacy featuring soba buckwheat noodles forms a crucial centrepiece for the menu. The waitress removes the lid of the beautifully handmade lacquerware bowl. Mustard, dried seaweed and spring onion are served alongside as condiments for the tororo soba.

Reflecting the season of the year or a traditional Japanese occasion, hassun trays are a captivating highlight of Japanese cuisine. One example named for the Boy’s Festival features lotus root formed into a bow and arrow, with Japanese daikon radish as the target. The lotus root is flavoured with sesame sauce, and the daikon radish is wrapped with deep-fried bean curd. The rice dumplings have wheat-gluten inside. Resembling a horse’s bridle, the tezuna handrope sushi is beautifully colourful with carrots, cucumber and shiitake mushrooms. The simmered green soybeans also add colour to the dish.

Toji Yuba-wrapped Koya Tofu

Many types of yuba-based dishes have ‘Toji’ in their name because yuba (tofu skin) used to be produced at Kyoto’s Toji Temple (Kyo-Ogokokuji Temple ). This dish offers the sweetness of soybeans, highly nutritious ingredients, and top-notch quality.

Nameko Mushroom Porridge

This is another famous local delicacy. It uses bonito flake broth. The pickled vegetables shown here are sour Japanese plums and miso-marinated, savoury burdock.

During this short time, I appreciated the beauty of Shojin ryori which let me feel drawn closer to Japanese culture again.

Japanese cuisine also reflects the seasons and cultural events of the year. The sukiya architecture of the building, the tatami mats, the hanging scrolls, the furnishing, the garden view, the waitress’s elegant manners and kimono, and the cuisine and dishes were all truly impressive. I also enjoyed being able to experience Japanese art as an integral aspect of everything I felt and did there.

We live in an age where festivals, seasons and customs important to Japanese people are gradually being forgotten with the passage of time. But by spending just a few hours at Daigo, I was able to immerse myself in that beautiful old culture of Japan.

So why not take a moment to put down your smartphone, feel gratitude for the life right in front of you, and take in that culture?

Related articles：

What Does “Good Food” Mean to a MICHELIN Guide Inspector?

An Interview with a MICHELIN Guide Inspector

Top Image: ⒸDaigo

Milan for Design Lovers

A Fashionable 2-Day Itinerary in the Style Capital.

Kiko Mizuhara's Tokyo Favorites: A Guide to Experiencing the Fun and Stylish Side of the City

As you explore the city, let Kiko Mizuhara’s favorite spots guide you to some of the best-kept secrets and must-visit locations.

All You Need to Know About Toyosu and Tsukiji Markets

Top-quality ingredients, traditional snacks, tuna auctions—there’s something for everyone at these markets.

Keep Exploring - Stories we think you will enjoy reading

Diary of a Dish: The Unicorn at Miami’s Pao by Paul Qui

Tokyo’s Best Neighborhoods for Vintage Clothes Shopping

Discover a different side of Tokyo’s fashion scene

Lionel Beccat of Two MICHELIN Stars ESqUISSE Shares His Favorite Parts of Tokyo

This project introduces Tokyo through the lens of culinary figures and celebrities connected to the city. Try visiting these recommended cafés, bakeries and design museums, and you might discover an entirely new side of Tokyo. This time, we’ll bring you a selection of Tokyo destinations featuring a vibrant sense of French esprit.

Tokyo in the Summer: 10 Things to See and Do

Beat the heat and enjoy your Tokyo summer stay to the fullest.

Best Day Trips from Tokyo

Our top picks for day trip destinations easily reached from the capital

Spas, Sento and Onsen: The Best of Bathing Culture in Tokyo

Immerse yourself in one of Japan’s oldest traditional practices

Where to Stay in Tokyo if You Love Nightlife

Along with being known for its culture, food, beautifully walkable streets and amazing pockets of nature, Tokyo has a fantastic nightlife scene.

Tokyo’s Best Speakeasy Bars to Feel the Vibes

Discover Tokyo’s booming and blooming cocktail bar scene.

MICHELIN Guide

Use the app to find the best restaurants and hotels everywhere

Be the first to get news and update about the michelin guide.

MICHELIN Guide selections

The michelin group.

• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Legal Notice

Display settings

Customize your experience by easily adjusting display settings for territory, and currency to suit your preferences!

Member privileges

The Plus program provides upgrades and amenities at participating hotels. For this hotel, Plus members will receive:

Non-members can add the privileges at checkout through our 30 day free trial, cancellable at anytime.

• Our Destinations
• Meet the Team
• Our Mini-group Tours
• Our tailor-made programs
• Our Experiences
• TESTIMONIALS

S T A R   T R A V E L R U S S I A

Find   yourself   an   unforgettable   trip   here., d i s c o v e r o u r   d e s t i n a t i o n s.

St. Petersburg

The Golden Ring

Lake Baikal

T h r e e   ' b e c a u s e ' t o   t r a v e l   w i t h   s t a r   t r a v e l   r u s s i a.

Because we love

traveling and our country, it makes us wake up every morning.

Because nothing is

more fulfilling than sharing your experience with people.

Because of that

moment after months of planning, when the clients thank you for giving them the time of their lives.

C o n t a c t   u s

[email protected].

+7 812 644-57-83 (office) +7 911 146 12 69 (24/7)

S h a r e   y o u r   f e e d b a c k   w i t h   u s

Privacy preference center, privacy preferences.

Rostov is one of the earliest historically attested towns in Russia, first mentioned under 862 in the ancient chronicle “Tale of Bygone Years.” The town’s main architectural ensemble is the majestic kremlin or, more properly, the Court of the Metropolitan.  Although most of the ensemble was not built until the 17th century, this citadel conveys an unforgettable sense of Rostov’s importance for medieval Russia. In modern time it has been a set for historical films many times.

Yaroslavl is a magnificent town situated on a high bank of the Volga River, it is rich with cultural and architectural monuments of the ancient Russian history. Its historical centre is included into the UNESCO Heritage List.

On the tour you will  visit the  Church  of Elijah the Prophet , take a walk along the Volga River embankment and have a look at the Russian Golden Ring in miniature:

The Church of Elijah the Prophet , built between 1647 and 1650 in the architectural style typical for Yaroslav, comprises a white-stone four-pillared main building topped with five green domes connected by a closed gallery to a bell tower and a dome tower on either side. Inside it boasts a magnificent iconostasis and some of the best 17th century frescos in Russia which cover every inch of its walls.

A walk along the upper level of the  Volga  River  embankment . The upper level of the embankment is a kind of a large observation deck. There are many monuments, museums and other historical sites to be viewed from here.

When visiting the  Show – Museum “Golden Ring of Russia in miniature”  you will systemize all places you have already seen on your 3 days trip and can make some new plans for travelling deeper into Russian provinces. Here, on the area of ​​almost 330 square meters, there is a miniature model of official 9 towns of the Gold Ring and even more.

To begin with you will be pointed out the  Susanin Square  – the central square of Kostroma built according to the general plan of the city of 1781-1784. Here you can see a well preserved architectural ensemble of the late 18th-19th centuries. The main dominant of the square is the Fire Tower (1825), which has become one of the symbols of Kostroma. Have a look at the  Church of the Resurrection on Debrya  (1645-1651) – a beautiful monument of traditional Russian architecture. One of the first stone buildings of Kostroma, it was built at the expense of the townspeople.

And finally we will visit the main place of interest in Kostroma, its soul and heart – the Holy Trinity Ipatiev Monastery.  It is the cradle of the Romanov dynasty, an object of the cultural heritage towering on the bank of the Kostroma River in the western part of the city. On the territory of the Ipatiev Monastery there are more than ten historical buildings. The magnificent Trinity Cathedral (1650-1652) is its main attraction.

The Ivanovo Textile Factory Museum has got on display the best examples and fascinating works spanning 200 years. It is the museum of the local chintz (printed multicoloured cotton fabric with a glazed finish) containing over 300 iconic samples of Ivanovo cotton and silk canvas.

Because of huge number of textile enterprises, Ivanovo was called “Russian Manchester” and “the city of calico kings”.

Ivanovo can be a paradise for lovers of architectural style “constructivism”. More than 30 monuments of early Soviet architecture have been preserved in the city.

The Museum of Industry and Art, founded by the manufacturer and philanthropist Dmitry Burylin, contains unique collections of books, weapons, numismatics and porcelain. The Burylin Museum was one of the finest private museums in pre-revolutionary Russia, and is still often called the Ivanovo Hermitage.

The tour will be finished at the  Gostiny Dvor  in the city centre, where you can buy some traditional Russian specialties (free time for shopping). 

Gostiny Dvor (meaning:   Trade House ) in Suzdal was built at the beginning of the 19th century in the likeness of the one in St. Petersburg. This is the busiest shopping arcade in the Gold Ring towns and the best place to buy  “Suzdalskaya Medovukha” , an ancient Russian drink made of honey, water and yeast which appeared well ahead of vodka. And do not forget to look into the “Baker’s Nest”, a place of real Suzdal bread with wild yeast leaven, rye and white bread, pot-bellied loaves and crispy baguettes, crumbly croissants and twisted pretzels.

During a sightseeing tour of Suzdal you will get acquainted with the rich history of this ancient town, its amazing architectural ensemble. In the kremlin, you will see the ramparts of the ancient city, the white-stone  Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin  of the 13th century,  the Bishops’ Chambers  of the 15th-18th centuries, in the building of which the expositions of the museum-reserve are housed. In the Museum of Wooden Architecture you will learn about the traditional way of life, rituals and holidays of the peasants in Vladimir province.

”Bogdarnya” means “the gift of God”. The area of the complex is an intriguing and unique mix of stunning countryside with ancient forests, open meadows, expansive lakes and clean flowing rivers. Breath fresh air, enjoy the scenery, taste local food – the visit to Bogdarnya will please your body and soul.

In Bodgarnya complex we will visit an authentic peasants’ old hut and acquaint with the life of a peasant family of the late 19th – early 20th centuries.  Optionally one can try on traditional Russian outfits and take pictures in them depicting scenes of Russian village people.

Once the capital city of North-Eastern Russia, modern Vladimir still preserves the spirit of antiquity. The town’s historical white stone architecture is on the list of the UNESCO heritage objects.

At the end of the city tour take a walk along the historical Georgievskaya Street.

Nowadays in Vladimir, pedestrian and cycling infrastructure is actively developing. The restored pedestrian zone on Georgievskaya Street, which is full of tourist facilities, is a favourite walking place for citizens and tourists. It stretches along the main transport highway of the regional centre. Some newly installed bronze sculptures are absolute favourites and participants of endless selfies…

Unique architectural ensemble of the Monastery includes churches and cathedrals dating back to XV – XVII centuries.  On the tour we will visit:

• the majestic five-domed  Assumption Cathedral  (1559-1585),  founded at the behest of Tsar Ivan IV the Terrible. In ancient Russian cities and towns it was a tradition to erect the main cathedrals in honour of the assumption of the blessed virgin. This one resembles the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. The monastery cathedral repeats the general composition of the five-domed temple, exceeding the size of the one in Moscow Kremlin. The interior space of the Monastery Cathedral amazes with its majestic size and richness of light.
• the  Church of the Spirit  (1476-1477) – the Church in honour of the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles. The Church of the Spirit was built in those years when the best Russian and European architects worked in Moscow at the grand ducal court. That is why all new techniques and details were used in the construction and decoration of the temple.
• the  Church  of St. Sergius  with the Refectory Chamber  (1686-1692). The Refectory Church, one of the largest and most beautiful in the Monastery’s architectural ensemble, appears as a beautiful palace because of abundance of outdoor attire. The interior decoration is also colourful and solemn.

Tourism Malaysia encounters challenges in domestic tourism promotion efforts

Friday, 14 Jun 2024

Related News

Motac decision to suspend MM2H agents done without consultation, says S'wak minister

Motac developing tourism app to transform travel experiences, more from motac to melaka.

KUALA LUMPUR: Tourism Malaysia has encountered difficulties in its domestic tourism promotion efforts, with certain states showing a reluctance to share their lists of tourist spots, especially those that need infrastructural development, says Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing.

"The Prime Minister asked me about the competitiveness of Malaysian tourism compared to Thailand's. He is keen to see Malaysia draw in more tourists, considering our numerous beautiful destinations.

"Unfortunately, following our invitation for discussions, some states have still not presented their lists of sites needing improvements," said the Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister.

He said developing tourist sites through a broad strategic approach was important, not just minor improvements.

"During economic downturns, a unified effort is crucial to bolster the tourism sector and generate substantial income," said Tiong at the "Road to Visit Malaysia 2026—Re-Strategise The Marketing Action Plan for Tourism Malaysia Overseas Offices" event.

Tiong also expressed the necessity for directors of overseas offices to increase their efforts to promote Malaysia in the next two years.

"I've made it clear to the Tourism Malaysia Director-General that a transformation is essential; without it, we'll consider leadership changes.

"Our directors abroad must move beyond talk; they require actionable, market-driven plans.

"Our desks need to be alert, responsive to inquiries immediately—not in months or years. Fail to do so, and your position could be at risk," Tiong warned.

He also acknowledged the need to hire more staff for global promotional activities, adding that one office covering promotions in six countries is an unreasonable ask.

He hopes to expand the contract staff to enhance efficiency and outcomes.

Previously, Tourism Malaysia Director General Manoharan Periasamy said the Ministry targeted 220 million domestic tourists and RM88bil in tourism revenue for this year.

"We have achieved 25% of our target in the first quarter," he reported.

Tags / Keywords: Motac , Tourism Malaysia , State , Upgrade , Domestic Travel , Promote , Staffing , Domestic Tourism , Global Tourism ,

Found a mistake in this article?

Report it to us.

Thank you for your report!

EMPOWERING THE NEW GENERATION WITH FINANCIAL LITERACY

Next in nation.

Trending in News

Air pollutant index, highest api readings, select state and location to view the latest api reading.

• Select Location

Source: Department of Environment, Malaysia

Others Also Read

Best viewed on Chrome browsers.

We would love to keep you posted on the latest promotion. Kindly fill the form below

Thank you for downloading.

We hope you enjoy this feature!

• Entertainment
• Submit Your Story

We stayed in West Midlands Safari's Tiger Lodge and were stunned by a unique close encounter

Nature is amazing - many people will travel all over the world this summer on safari - but one of the finest and most personal encounters you can experience is right on your doorstep.

West Midlands Safari Park has won many awards over the years and their 90 minute, four-mile drive-through continues to excel with its ever expanding interactive animal attractions.

But for the height of luxury and a day/night you will never forget, the park's wildlife lodges are beyond any adult or child's wildest imagination.

When you first walk in, your eyes are immediately drawn to the showpiece of the lodge, the panoramic views throughout the entire living room and bedrooms looking out onto your chosen animal.

We had not one, not two, but three stunning Sumatran tigers enjoying their new habitat - mother, father and baby.

Dudley car dealership and director get big court bill for selling dangerous car bought at auction Crime | 8 hours ago

Black Country men jailed for role in huge drug dealing line as probation officer is also locked up Crime | 8 hours ago

Man who attacked woman in pub and knocked over high chair with baby in it is jailed Crime | 8 hours ago

Historic former pub could be saved from bulldozers under shop plan Plus Dudley | 20 hours ago

Major road closures for Sandwell, Walsall & Dudley: Seven to avoid over the next fortnight Plus Transport | 16 hours ago