Traveler Guide

Andrew Evans, - “Switzerland is good for the soul, of this I am certain.” - roams the world’s great destinations-bloggig, tweeting, and posting every step of the way. Here, he shares memories and tips from his amazing trip exploring the cultural and natural beauty of Switzerland. He visited the birthplace of the Internet; got to know locals; tasted the finest Swiss chocolate; hiked the Alps’longest glacier; explored the lavish city of Geneva; marveled at the famous Matterhorn peak; and toured the entire country with one single train ticket.

What’s the best way to get around? Train! With the Swiss Pass, available from Rail Euriope, you can ride trains, trams, metros, buses, and boats fro a day, several days, ro like me-a whole month. What I loved best was the freedom to wander freely on a single ticket.

If you could eat three things in Switzerland, what whould you pick? A big pot of moitie chees foundue, a crispy brown potato rosti, and of course, chocolate.

And if you could drink three things? Swiss wine from Lavaux (Louis Bovards is a favorite), apfelschorle (sparkling fresh apple juice), and the curing bubbly waters of St. Moritz!.

What surprised you most? Switzerland is astonishingly diverse-every valley or mountaintop is completely separate and unique from another. Dialect and customs are vastly different from one mile to the next. It’s mind-boggling to consider that the cities of Geneva, Zurich, and Lugano are all in the same country.

Does one hike stand out? Yes, definitely, my hike along the top of Aletsch Glacier. I walked on ice for three days, hopping over crevasses, sleeping in high Alpine huts, and enjoying the highest layer of the Alps. The summer snow was beautiful-it felt like walking on diamonds.

Which villages felt the most authentic?Celerina in Engadin, Chateau-d’Oex in Vaud, and Fontana in Ticino. Each one offers its own timeless magic.

Where should extreme adventure addicts head? Interlake. The mountains, lake, and valley around intelakenare paradise for skydivers, paragliders, climbers, and mountain bikers.

What are your best after-dark memories? Summer in Lucerne, in the dwindling twilight, walking along the clear lake, rippled with swans and dotted with stars reflected in the water. I was going to take the bus back to my hotel, but I walked all the way back instead, under an archway of moonlight trees, finally, across the historic Chapel Bridge.

What museum do you wish you could see again? The Matterhorn Museum in Zermatt. There are so many grand museums throughout Switzerland, but I love learning about the history of this iconic mountain and the glory and tragedy that lie at the base of this huge rock.

Your top mountaintop?Stanserhorn(1,898 m) is a peak just outside of Lucerne that makes a wonderful half-day hike up through flower-filled Alpine meadows. The view from the top stretches all the way to Switzerland’s borders. Be sure to ride the incredible double-decker Cabrio Cable Car (up or down), which affords a rare in-motion panorama all the way back down.

Tips for Swiss Bliss

Rent an E-bike. It’s very Swiss, the bike paths take you anywhere, and you get an extra push uphill!

Go swimming. Switzerland offers some of the cleanest water in the world, so dive in!

Don’t forget Ticino – the Italian part of Switzerland is magnifico and utterly unique. Eat gelato in Ascona and drive the scenic Val Bavona.

Do a hut-to-hut hike in the mountains-it’s an unbeatable way to absorb the landscape, follow an old Aphine tradition, and make lots of new Swiss friends.

Take a break from restaurants and dine at one of the weekly markets in the smaller Swiss towns. Buy directly from the farmer, butcher, or cheese-maker and taste true Switzerland.

Learn how and remember to say ‘thank you very much’ in all four official Swiss languages : merci vilmau (Swiss German), merci bearucoup (French), grazie mille (Italian), gratscha fitg (Romansch).

Check out Switzerland’s many World Heritage sites. My personal favorites are Lavaux, Aletsch Glacier, the castles of Bellinzona, and the old city of Berne.

Visit the smallest village in Switzerland; Croppo, population 16.

Swiss Travel Resources:

Getting to Switzerland

Getting around Switzerland: Swiss Pass Information; For Swiss Pass Bookings

More information on select regions: Engadin St.Moritz ; Lake Geneva Mattherhorn Region; Lucerne

For General information on Switzerland:http://www.myswitzerland.com

best For: Families hoping to groom the next Bode Miller

Executive summary by darmansjah

Though it hosts one of Colorado’s largest and most well-known ski resorts, the town of Steamboat Springs, population 12,088, has a character that is unique in the state. Northern Colorado is ranching country, and Steamboat is still an authentic, working cowboy town that has evolved into one of the most important ski towns in America. You won’t find cutesy false-front stores here, but you will find the city-owned Howelsen Hill, the longest continuously operating ski area in Colorado, where the town’s Winter Sports Club practices on seven wooden ski jumps contoured out of the mountain. There’s also a Winter Carnival every February, when truckloads of snow are dumped on the town’s broad main street for ski-joring competitions and a high school band that comes through on skis.

Three miles away, rising high above the Yampa River Valley, is the Steamboat Ski Resort, spreading white ribbons across a forested massif of six rounded peaks. Though offering less puckering expert terrain than some areas in the state, what Steamboat does deliver is its signature light powder, world-class tree skiing, and snowboarding through endless groves of aspen. The ski school is considered one of the best in the country, and Steamboat claims to have produced 79 Olympic skiers and snowboarders, more than any town in America.

Ask a Local

Ski-racing legend Billy Kidd, Steamboat’s longtime director of skiing, was the first American ski racer to medal at the Olympics, netting a silver medal in 1964. (Teammate Jimmie Heuga won a bronze in the same race.) He’s 68 but claims he skis like a 67-year-old. Here are his recommendations.

Best Digs

Budget: The Rabbit Ears motel is right downtown and directly across the street from hot springs.

Swank: The Sheraton is literally about a hundred feet from the bottom of the gondolas.

Best Eats

Cheap: Slopeside Grill at the bottom of the mountain is good for burgers and beer or pizza.

Gourmet: Harwigs L'Apogeé in town has a great wine list.

Best After-Ski Party Spot

Tugboat is the old locals place where the ski patrol goes to hang out after the end of the day. There’s live music.

Best Rest-Day Activity

Almost no other ski area in America has hot springs right near the bottom of the mountain. The hot spring in town is a pool with waterslides and is good for kids. Strawberry Park is a natural hot springs five miles outside of town, with rustic log cabins for rent.

Steamboat’s Classic Ski Run

“When we get powder, my favorite area to go to is the Shadows, which is up on top in the trees, so when you start down you’re above tree line, then you go into pine trees, then into aspen trees,” says Kidd. “Beginners and intermediates don’t go there, so it really holds the powder. Also, it faces west, so if you ski it the afternoon you get that great light the photographers love.”

Best For: Patrician eastern U.S. skiers with a taste for fine dining

Executive summary by darmansjah

The archetypal New England ski village, Stoweis an impossibly quaint town of clapboard houses and steepled churches set in wooded hills at the foot of Vermont’s Green Mountains. Main Street and Mountain Road are alive with boutiques and eateries. The larger community harbors more three- and four-star restaurants than any ski town in the Northeast. Partiers take note: Luxury lodging abounds, late-night revelry does not. You come to Stowe to live in a postcard, not a Harold and Kumar movie.

The skiing takes place a 15-minute drive up the road at Stowe Mountain Resort, where high-speed quads and gondolas whisk you up two separate mountains. Mount Mansfield, the highest peak in Vermont, has plenty to offer adventurous skiers and snowboarders, including the famed “front four”—four double-black diamond runs that are among the most challenging in the East. Spruce Peak, newly connected by a short gondola ride to Mansfield, is the place for beginners, with its ski school and gently arcing blue and green runs. Side- and backcountry skiing from the area is some of the best in the East, including Mount Mansfield’s original run, the Bruce Trail, a narrow, twisting, 2,400-foot drop cut by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the early 1930s.

Ask a Local

Sam von Trapp, from the family made famous by The Sound of Music, is a ski instructor and helps to manage the Trapp Family Lodge, a world-class Nordic lodge and the first commercial cross-country ski resort in the United States. Here are his recommendations.

Best Digs

Budget: Town and Country Resort at Stowe offers great bang for the buck.

Swank: Stowe Mountain Lodge is ski-in, ski-out and five stars.

Best Eats

Cheap: Pie in the Sky Pizza

Gourmet: The Blue Moon Cafe, right in the center of town

Best After-Ski Party Spot

The Mattherhorn bar is a Stowe institution.

Best Rest-Day Activity

The Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum is right in the center of town and a great opportunity to indulge in ski culture while resting the legs.

Stowe’s Classic Ski Run

There are tons of great lines off-piste, but try the Goat. It’s narrow, steep, and challenging.

Best For: Art-loving skiers and boarders with a taste for steep runs and green chilies

Executive summary by darmansjah

In the world of classic ski towns, Taos is a unique gem. Originally an ancient, high-desert pueblo at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in northern New Mexico, the city was populated in the early 20th century by artists and writers who were attracted to the Native American and Hispanic culture, stunning natural surroundings, and the region’s 300 annual days of crystalline sunshine. In 1955, a German immigrant named Ernie Blake founded Taos Ski Valley 18 miles outside of town in a narrow valley engulfed by precipitous peaks. Today, the Swiss-style chalets at the area’s base exude an old-time European character while the town itself feels like a funky Southwestern artist’s colony.

Still run by the Blake family, the mountain offers some of the finest steep skiing and boarding in the U.S., with powder that rivals Utah’s for lightness. You can ski double diamonds top to bottom here. The most challenging terrain—and best powder runs—come on the hike-access West Basin and Highline ridges and the area’s highpoint, 12,481-foot Kachina Peak (check in with ski patrol before attempting). Taos operates one of the country’s most highly regarded ski schools—for beginners and the already skilled—which is good because the terrain demands it. There are no high-speed lifts here, which somehow suits the mountain’s almost mystical, apart-from-the-world vibe.

Nightlife in the bohemian town of 5,716 is limited, but there are plenty of art galleries, coffee shops, and inexpensive restaurants serving delicious, green-chili-smothered New Mexican food in town.

Ask a Local

Taos ski patroller and avalanche forecaster Rey Deveaux has been skiing at Taos for over 50 years. He also owns and manages the Gearing Up bicycle shop in town. Here are his recommendations.

Best Digs

Budget: The cheapest, funkiest place to stay is the Abominable Snowmansion.

Swank: El Monte Sagrado is a four-star hotel that is eco friendly—it recycles its grey and black water and produces a some of its own electricity from photovoltaics and a geothermal system.

Best Eats

Cheap: Try Ranchos Plaza Grill for authentic northern New Mexican food. It’s moderately priced and next to the historic San Francisco de Assisi Mission Church. The cheapest good spot is Taos Diner 1, at the north end of Taos.

Gourmet: Sabroso Restaurant & Bar in Arroyo Seco has great food, service, and atmosphere.

Best After-Ski Party Spot

Doc Martin's at the Historic Taos Inn has nightly entertainment, an outdoor seating area, and the best mix of visitors and local flavor. Best place to "mix it up" and dance is at the Martini Tree Bar at Taos Ski Valley.

Best Rest-Day Activity

Take a drive and visit the sacred Taos Pueblo, home of the Taos Pueblo Indians, an ancient tribe still mostly living the traditional ways. Then go out to the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, the one of the highest bridges in the U.S., with beautiful views and spectacular geology.

Taos’s Classic Ski Run

The classic ski run at Taos Ski Valley for experts willing to climb ten minutes is Stauffenberg, named after the Nazi army officer who plotted to assassinate Hitler. It’s a classic steep chute with hundred-mile views! For something mellower, try Honeysuckle, a long groomer that’s sunny and scenic.

Executive summary by darmansjah

In Australia’s smallest state, remote rain forests, secluded beaches, and more than 200 vineyards are accessible by foot. Tasmania’s mild, maritime climate and compact size (comparable to West Virginia) make this heart-shaped island 150 miles (240 kilometers) off the Australian mainland a year-round destination for walkers and hikers of all ages, interests, and fitness levels.

Great Walks Tasmania features seven distinct, guided walking tours ranging from the moderate 14- to 18-mile (23- to 30-kilometer) Bay of Fires wilderness trek along the coastal rim of Mount William National Park to the gentler 12- to 28-mile (20- to 45-kilometer) gourmand’s ramble through Maria Island’s eucalyptus forest and pristine beaches. In 2011, Tasmania hosts the biennial Ten Days on the Island international arts celebration from March 25 to April 3, an event that features nearly 500 artists in 111 venues.

Executive summary by darmansjah

What puts the Te Araroa on the top of my dream list is the variety. New Zealand is famous for its diverse landscapes, and the Te Araroa links up close to 2,000 miles of coastal sand, alpine ridges, and jungle bushwhacks traversing through national parks, rural farmland, and past volcanoes. After bagging the Triple Crown of long trails in the U.S., the Te Araroa would be the obvious target for that next big thru-hike. —Dan Ransom

Distance: 1,894 miles

The Details: The Te Araroa, Maori for “The Long Pathway,” is aptly named. It traverses the entire country, from Cape Regina at the tip of the North Island to Bluff on the toe of the South Island.

Split into 160 tracks, the trail takes about 120 days to finish, if hikers stick to official recommendations (though ultrarunner Jez Bragg ticked it off in just 53 days in 2013) and requires a ferry ride to hop between the North and South Islands. Each of those sections is a wonder in itself. The bays of Queen Charlotte Track on the South Island can be a casual stroll in paradise. The river valleys of the North Island’s Whanganui National Park shelter centuries of Maori culture. The dark Takitimu Forest feels straight out of Middle Earth. The trail tromps over the slopes of the active Tongariro volcano and even runs through the metropolis of Auckland. Add to all that natural wonder a well-organized system of volunteers and caretakers spearheaded by the Te Araroa Trust, and you indeed have one of the best places for a long walk on the planet.

When to Go: October through April

About Ransom: Photographer and filmmaker Dan Ransom followed explorers Rich Rudow and Todd Martin down numerous technical first-descent slot canyons in the Grand Canyon to make the movie Last of the Great Unknown. During filming, he dropped to the ground, suffering from the effects of a brain tumor. Ransom recovered and the movie showed to rave reviews at the Banff Mountain Film Festival. He has returned to the Grand and other canyons, as well as enjoying long backpacking trips in Utah’s Uinta mountains. He’s currently a videographer and editor at Backcountry.com.

Best For: Big-lunged skiers and boarders with a taste for fine wine and the mountain high life

Executive summary by darmansjah

Remote and unrelentingly beautiful, Telluride may be the most picturesque ski town in North America, a Victorian-era silver-mining hamlet set deep in a box canyon in the San Juan Mountains of southwest Colorado. The steep runs of Telluride Ski Resort spill right into the edge of the town’s National Historic District, where a gondola whisks skiers back up into the area’s almost 4,000 vertical feet of absurdly scenic skiing. Only 12 blocks long and with no stoplights, neon signs, or billboards, this charming town of 2,325 people combines fine wine lists and funky bars with a spirited culture of diehard mountain lovers. The town sits at a gasping 8,793 feet above sea level, and lifts reach to over 12,500 feet, so come prepared to acclimatize.

For a mountain with a well-earned reputation for steeps and bumps, Telluride in fact offers excellent cruisers and beginner terrain—in the kind of high-alpine setting that makes even first-timers feel like heroes—on the slopes around its modern, luxurious Mountain Village. Experts will find bumps, bowls, and chutes in every corner of the resort, and those willing to hike can access some of the most extreme in-bounds terrain in the country in Black Iron Bowl and 13,251-foot Palmyra Peak. Heli-skiing can be hired in the Mountain Village, and the San Juan Hut System offers shelters and multiday routes for backcountry adventurers.

Ask a Local

Travel and adventure writer Rob Story has skied in 13 countries on six continents and at 75 North American resorts. When he left his longtime post as senior editor at Powder magazine in 1998, he knew exactly where he wanted to move—Telluride. He is the author of Telluride Storys. Here are his recommendations.

Best Digs

Budget: There’s not much to Mountainside Inn, but it’s ski-in, ski-out.

Swank: The Peaks Resort has a great après deck and spa.

Best Eats

Cheap: Oak, the barbeque place in town at the base of the gondola

Gourmet: La Marmotte is a great French restaurant in the town's old icehouse.

Best After-Ski Party Spot

The Historic Bar at the Sheridan is the oldest in town.

Best Rest-Day Activity

Walk north up Aspen Street. When it turns to a dirt trailhead, keep going straight up to beautiful Cornet Falls, a 80-foot waterfall in a small red rock canyon.

Telluride’s Classic Ski Run

“Plunge, because on the steep parts you can look through your tips at our tidy, cute, historic town,” notes Story.

Executive summary by darmansjah

“When I follow the serried multitude of the stars in their circular course, my feet no longer touch the earth.” Ptolemy.

Executive summary by darmansjah

WHENwe raise our eyes from the ground and see the sky-or when we stand high above the world and look down upon the clouds-we feel ourselves lifted to another level of existence. We so clearly belong to the earth that to experience life at the heights is to become something else entirely, less human and more celestial. Even when the sky is frightening it is, quite truly, uplifting.

This may explain, at least in part, why we are awed by and attracted to high places, and also to those plants, animals, and natural features that make their homes in the sky. To see the world’s highest reaches means stepping out of our earthbound skins for a little while. Theredwood treeis impressive not just for sheer size or age, but also because it overtops all other living things. The high plateau of Bolivia and the secluded reaches of Machu Picchutake us into a realm few people have known, one of keening winds and huge-winged, soaring birds.Mount Everest, lure and bane of so many a climber, gives humans a God’s-eye view, a perspective they know they were not born to experience. And perhaps the most breathtaking of all, the northern light, take our familiar night sky and make it dance. Suddenly we realize we are just tiny beings on a planet surrounded by crackling energies. Reaching into the heights means entering into a fantasy world where we shed our human forms and briefly know what it is to fly.

Sheer Immensity

A string of climbers makes its way across the sheer sides of the Krakoram Range’s K2 *28,251 feet/8,611 m), the second highest mountain in the world. Known as the Savage Mountain, it is one of the most dangerous destinations on Earth.

Executive summary by darmansjah

Great Rift Valley View The Great Rift Valley is a name given in the late 19th century by English explorer John Walter Gregory to the continuous geographic trough, approximately 3,700 miles in length, that runsfrom northern Syria in Southwest Asia to central Mozambique in East Africa. In eastern Africa the valley divides into two, the Western Rift Valley and the Eastern Rift Valley.

The Western Rift, also called the Albertine Rift, is edged by some of the highest mountains in Africa, including the Virunga Mountains, Mitumba Mountains, and Ruwenzori Range. It contains the Rift Valley lakes, which include some of the deepest lakes in the world. Lake Victoria, the second largest area freshwater lake in the world, is considered part of the Rift Valley system although it actually lies between the two branches. All of the African Great Lakes were formed as the result of the rift, and most lie within its rift valley.

Since the Great Rift Valley covers portions of Kenya, Malawiand Tanzania, the types of activities available to you can be anything from day and night game drives in 4x4 vehicles to a dhow trip on Lake Tanganyika.

Contact details for more information about safaris to the Great Rift Valley. 1 800 593 1148 info@glameplanafrica.com

Portal Creek to McCarib Pass to Tonquin Valley and Out via the Astoria River

Executive summary by darmansjah

Round-Trip: 27 miles, 3 to 5 days

When to Go: July to September; it can snow any day of the year.

Watching the sunrise light up the enormous broadside of the Ramparts, throwing golden reflections into the waters of Amethyst Lake, is an experience worthy of any effort expended to get into this wild valley. First photographed in 1915, the unrelenting beauty of the Tonquin Valley, nestled deep in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, has drawn pilgrims ever since—including Ansel Adams, whose very first trip as a Sierra Club photographer was right here. This big hiking loop takes you in over high, scenic McCarib Pass and out via the lovely Astoria River, laying the whole mind-blowing landscape before you in a backcountry journey to rival any.

Insider Tip: If all those grizzly bears wandering around make you uneasy, consider booking accommodations at two wilderness lodges hidden at the edges of the valley. Founded as horsepacking operations, both the Amethyst Lake Lodge and Tonquin Valley Lodge increasingly cater to hikers looking for a bit of comfort and home-cooked meals in this wild place.

Executive summary by darmansjah

Munich

Munich, the capital of Bavaria and gateway to the Alps, is one of the most beautiful cities in Germany. It offers first class museums and traditional German architecture, a salute to Bavaria’s royal past. Get a true taste of Munich’s hospitality, culture and world-famous beer at its Oktoberfest, which attracts more than 6 million visitors every year.

Nuremberg

The 950-year old city of Nuremberg (Nürnberg) is Bavaria’s second largest city and alive with history. See the Imperial Castle, which was the residence of Germany’s Kaiser and kings, the romantic Old Town with original timber-framed buildings, Albrecht Dürer’s home, and the Nazi Rally Party Grounds.

During the holidays, the Old Town becomes a winter wonderland when Nuremberg celebrates its Christkindlmarkt, one of the country’s best Christmas markets.

Neuschwanstein Castle

The world’s most famous castle, Neuschwanstein, is nestled in the Bavarian Alps, and it seems to come straight out of a fairy tale; king Ludwig II designed his dream castle with the help of a theatrical set designer. Take a tour through the flamboyant castle’s interior. Highlights include a gaudy grotto, the Throne Room with its giant crown-shaped chandelier, and the lavish Minstrels’ Hall.

Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest is the world’s largest fair and one of the best festivals in Germany: Every year, over 6 million visitors from all over the world come to Munich to drink beer, eat sausage and join together in song.

The festival is famous for its huge beers in heavy steins, but there is more to the Oktoberfest; link arms with locals, swing to the Oompha of Bavarian bands, admire traditional costumes, enjoy hearty food, and get a good helping of German hospitality.

The Bavarian Alps

Walking, hiking, mountain biking, or skiing – the Alps are one of Bavaria’s (and Germany’s) premier holiday destinations. Running along the border between Germany and Austria, the Bavarian Alps are home to Germany’s highest peak, the Zugspitze, where you can go glacier skiing until May. Some of the most well-known resort towns in the German Alps are Oberstdorf, Füssen, Berchtesgaden, and Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

Romantic Road

The Romantic Road is a 261-mile long scenic drive through Bavaria; it leads you from the Franconia wine country to Neuschwanstein in the foothills of the German Alps. Along the way, you can enjoy the Bavarian countryside, which is dotted with charming villages, hidden monasteries, and romantic hotels. The picturesque cities of Würzburg and Augsburg are also stops along the Romantic Road.

Eagle’s Nest

The Eagle’s Nest (Kehlsteinhaus) was a gift from the Nazi party for Hitler’s 50th birthday; perched on a mountain summit close to the town of Oberberchtesgarden, its construction in 1939 was an architectural phenomenon. You can tour a vast underground bunker system, then head through a tunnel to the original brass elevator, built right into the rock, which brings you up to Hitler’s mountain retreat. The chalet, where Hitler entertained world leaders, is now restaurant and a beer garden, both offering stunning views of the Bavarian mountains.

Dachau Concentration Camp

The concentration camp of Dachau, 10 miles northwest of Munich, was one of the first concentration camps in Nazi Germany and would serve as a model for all subsequent camps in the Third Reich.

Dachau visitors follow the “path of the prisoner”, walking the same way prisoners were forced to after their arrival in the camp. You will see the original prisoner baths, barracks, courtyards, and the crematorium, as well as an extensive exhibition.

Bavarian Forest

The Bavarian Forest, located in the East of Bavaria and running along the Czech border, might be not as famous as Germany’s Black Forest – but therefore it is much less crowded and an insider tip for nature lovers.

Established as the first national park in Germany, the Bavarian Forest is the largest continuous wooded area in the country, with glacial lakes, wooded mountains, little villages that host medieval festivals, and the scenic Glass Route, where you can explore the traditional art of glass making.

Explore and Discover

If you want to escape the crowds and experience the down-to-earthGemuetlichkeit Bavaria is famous for, make sure to spend time in some rural villages along the way. One of my favorite regions in Bavaria is the beautiful Allgaeu. Stop in a town you never heard of before, head to the “Gasthaus” (restaurant) for some Bavarian fare, buy some goodies in a local store, and take a hike in the surrounding area – wherever you are, I am sure it will be a highlight of your Bavaria vacation.

Hiker: Topher Gaylord, ultrarunner and president of Mountain Hardwear

Executive summary by darmansjah

Circling Mont Blanc—the rooftop of Western Europe—is one of the most special hiking experiences in the world. You travel through three different countries (France, Italy, Switzerland) and over several mountain passes with some of Europe’s most dramatic glaciers on display. You can soak it in and take your time over seven to ten days or fast pack in three days. No matter how you choose to do it, it is an adventure of a lifetime! —Topher Gaylord

Length: 104 miles

The Details: The most famed long-distance walk in the Alps circumnavigates the massif of the highest peak in the range. The 15,781-foot mountain is always there, looming above, but the trail itself is constantly changing. It dips down into seven different valleys in three different countries and tops out twice at 8,743 feet atop the Col des Fours, France, and the Fenêtre d'Arpette, Switzerland. It rambles along hair-raising sections of exposed rock as well as wildflower-choked meadows as it takes walkers back around the classic start and end point in Chamonix, France.

But it’s the civilization in between that really makes the trail special—you won’t have to worry about carrying a tent or even food here (which makes the trail an easier possibility for kids and older hikers, too). Stop at villages or huts along the way to gorge yourself with fondue, wine, slices of local cheeses, and homemade bread—then keep walking to work it all off.

You can pitch a tent if you choose, but there are plenty of options for a bed at night, ranging from high-end hotels in a resort town such as Courmayeur, Italy, to a bed in one of the cozy refuges up high. The walk normally takes about ten days, though it’s worth taking it slow and making side trips, including a climb of Mont Blanc itself, most often begun from Saint-Gervais-les-Bains or Chamonix. Or you can be like Gaylord and run the 100-mile Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc race in just over 24 hours.

When to Go: Summer, when huts are open and snow won’t block paths

About Gaylord: There are two, equally successful sides to Topher Gaylord. First, he is the top executive at Mountain Hardwear, an outdoor brand now owned by Columbia Sportswear that manufactures technical outerwear, tents, packs, and sleeping bags and has long been associated with authenticity in the outdoor space. Before that he ran an even larger operation, serving as the president of VF Corporation’s Outdoor and Action Sports International brands, which included the North Face, Jansport, Vans, and Reef. But don’t think he’s a stuffy executive planted in an office chair—Gaylord can also pound out adventures with his brand’s athletes. The accomplished skier, climber, and windsurfer is also a top ultrarunner. He came in second in the first North Face Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) in 2003, which he has run eight times since, and has been a top finisher in major races including the nefarious Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run, the Miwok 100K Trail Race, and Dick Collins Firetrails 50.

Executive summary by darmansjah

New Zealand is an otherworldly, photogenic and friendly country offering visitors unbeatable changes for adventure and exploration. The rugged islands are home to dense native forests, mountains, beaches, glaciers, thermal regions and fiords that have been well-preserved by the environmentally-conscious government and culture. New Zealand is a place where traditional Maori culture mixes with modernity in cosmopolitan cities, charming villages and vast expanses of untouched wilderness. Pristine and heavenly, the island nation has something for everyone, including the following top tourist attractions in New Zealand.

Coromandel Peninsula

This north-eastern peninsula is famous for its white and golden sand beaches that frame magnificent coastal scenery, forests perfect for days of exploration and other natural wonders. Start your visit in Thames, a small but picturesque city with a rich history of gold mining. Don’t miss a stop at Hot Water Beach, where visitors can dig their own hot pool from the springs under the sands.

Abel Tasman National Park

Located on the northern tip of the country’s South Island, this vast national park is a hiker’s dream. Closed to vehicles, one must enter by boat, foot or small plane, but the trip is well worth it. While traversing the mountainous terrain, blue penguins, wekas, oyster catchers, wood pigeons and other rare birds can all be seen.

Sky Tower

The Sky Tower is an observation and telecommunications tower located in New Zealand’s largest city. At a height of 328 meters (1,076 ft) it is the tallest free-standing structure in the Southern Hemisphere and the Sky Tower has become an iconic structure in Auckland’s skyline. The tower offers views of up to 80 km away and fine dining in the Orbit revolving restaurant.

Napier Art Deco

Napier, a small city in Hawke’s Bay on the North Island’s east coast, is famous for its eye-catching art deco architecture. Most of Napier was leveled by an earthquake in 1931. The rebuilding period coincided with the short-lived Art Deco era and as a result Napier’s architecture is strikingly different from any other city in the world. Thousands of tourist visit Napier every February for the Art Deco Weekend, an event dedicated to the style, vintage cars, picnics and the soapbox derby.

Kaikoura

This small coastal town on the South Island is a haven for seafood lovers. You can spot fur seals, dolphins, sperm whales and albatrosses off the shore, then indulge in a feast of fresh crayfish, mussels, blue cod and more. Land lovers can take a wilderness walk through the untamed and dramatic Kaikoura forest.

Franz Josef Glacier

This glacier, located within Westland National Park in the southwest, is one of the world’s most accessible. Visitors can walk right up to the foot of the massive glacier or take a helicopter ride over the dazzling Ice Age remnant. Together with Fox Glacier it is one of South Westland’s major drawcards for tourists.

Rotorua

Rotorua is known as the thermal wonderland of New Zealand. There are numerous geysers and hot springs in and around the city. Many of these are in parks and reserves. Natural eruptions of steam, hot water and mud occasionally occur in new locations. Nearby Wai-O-Tapu is also a popular tourist attraction with many hot springs noted for their colorful appearance, in addition to the Lady Knox Geyser.

Tongariro National Park

The first national park of New Zealand, Tongariro is known for its surprises and extremes. The park’s diverse range of ecosystems includes tranquil lakes, active volcanoes, herb fields, untamed forests and desert-like plateaus. Start your trek at the Whakapapa Visitor Center, just a three hour hike from the stunning Taranaki Falls. The short hike will take you through scrubland and forest and across the lava line of volcanic eruptions from hundreds of years ago.

Bay of Islands

The Bay of Islands is one of the most popular holiday destinations in New Zealand. The picturesque area contains 144 islands, many secluded bays and some great sandy beaches. This beautiful bay has an abundance of marine life including whales, penguins, dolphins and the big marlin. Not surprisingly, it is a popular tourist spot for sailing yachts on world cruises and international sport fishermen.

Milford Sound

Milford Sound is among the most famous tourist attractions in New Zealand. Lying at the most northern and accessible end of Fiordland National Park, Milford sound offers some of the world’s most staggering coastal scenery with its dramatic peaks and dark blue waters. The area’s frequent downpours only enhance this South Island beauty, sending numerous waterfalls cascading down the cliffs.

Citywith ahistory ofthousands ofyears hasmade manypeoplefall in lovewithits charm. Napoleonwhoonce ruledhalf ofEuropehaddubbedIstanbulas the capital ofthe world. OrhanParuk, Nobel literaturelaureatesin 2006to dedicateaspecialbookforher hometown.Even thelatestJames Bondmoviereportedlyscheduled to bere-filmed in thiscity, following twonew filmFromRussia WithLoveandTheWorldisnotEnough.Historicaland culturalwealth ofIstanbul's specialsummarized, as toldbyHaniSulastriHamid, Executivesummarybydarmansjah

Istanbulis one ofthe largest city inTurkey. Althoughnolonger functioningas the capital ofIstanbulsince 1923butremains themost importantin this country. Everyyearmillions of touristsvisitthiscitybecause of the manyinteresting places thatare not ownedbyanotherState. Ifyoulovetravelingandare interested to learnthe history, background ofIstanbulwho was formerlyByzantiumandConstantinople, and thelong history ofthe Ottoman Empirethatmake this cityhas manyinterestingrelics, youhavebeen toIstanbulasits history is richdo notbe surprised ifIstanbulis crownedEuropeanCultureCapitalin2010.Another thing thatmakesthis cityinteresting isit liesontwocontinents, AsiaandEurope.

Regionisthe first time IvisitedSultanahmet, themostfuturisticin Turkey. Herethere aremany buildingsthat must be visitedby touristssuch asHagiaSophia, TopkakiPalace, BlueMosque, BasilicaCisternandGrandBazaaar. Because of its locationadjacent to, anybuilding can bevisited inonedaywkatufull. By the timeI visited theHagiaSophia, the queuetobuyticketswaslongsnakingbecausemany wanted tosee first hand thecharmof thishistoricbuilding. HagiaSophiais theredbuildingwith a lot ofthe dome. At firstIstanbulwasanicon ofachurch foundedbyEmperorJustinianinthe 6th centurytoreplace thepreviouscathedraldestroyed by fire. In1453SultanMehmedIIconquered ConstantinopleHagiaSophiachangedintoa mosque. Substitution ofthe functionsofthe churchinto a mosqueseenonvarioussides ofthismagnificent building. Among themosaic-mosaic depicting theVirgin MaryandJesusChriston the wallsvisitors canseeand writtenin ArabiccalligraphyAllahandMuhammadinbigletters. The interesting thinghereisastonethat has aperforationin the middlecalled thewishstone. When visitorsenterandconductanother round ofthumb, it ishopedwill be achieved. Ohyes, theHagiaSophiato entervisitorsmustpay 20lira for a ticket.

After visiting the Aya Sofia, I headed Topkaki Palace. Not too far away from Hagia Sophia, enough to walk about five minutes. After paying $ 20 lira admission, I then entered the gates of the magnificent Palace Topkaki like a palace in a fairy tale. There is a large door and two buds dome on the right and left. The palace was formerly the residence of the Ottoman dynasty sultan. Here visitors can see the Harem, the palace which is where the sultan to various activities. I can feel the grandeur of being a sultan when I saw this place. Topkaki also save a lot of historical objects such as jewelry, clothing and tools of war legacy of the Ottoman Empire that ended at the beginning of the 20th century. This palace also save a lot of Muslim heritage artifacts, among which is one of the swords of the Prophet Muhammad SAW.

Having exhausted the magnificent surrounds Topkaki Palace and very wide, I went to the Blue Mosque. Blue mosque is said to be due to the blue dome is very beautiful when viewed from a distance. Historic mosque is a place to rest and worship for those who are Muslims. Because it is still used as places of worship, visitors do not have to pay admission like other historic buildings. Interestingly the mosque does not prohibit non-Muslim visitors to enter. They can go as long as it uses decent clothes that cover arms and legs. Board may lend the mosque fabric covering the arms and legs when a visitor needs it.

Best For: Families with aspiring ski or rider rock star kids; also, ski and rider rock stars

Executive summary by darmansjah

In theSierra Nevada north of Lake Tahoe, between Reno and South Lake Tahoe, the old logging and railway town of Truckee has bloomed into a ski mecca, with no less than eight different ski areas within 15 miles. The first recorded ski lift in the U.S. was a Truckee steam-powered tobaggan lift in 1910, and the burg still maintains much of its Old West character, with wooden walkways in its historic downtown and a still active, clapboard train station (Amtrak service twice daily). Its population of 16,180 is growing fast, but the relaxed town has managed to eschew the glitz of the larger Tahoe resort scene. This is where the locals live.

With many of its ski areas receiving some of the highest average snowfall totals in the country—more than one ski area ran lifts on the Fourth of July this past year—it’s easy to understand why the locals choose to live here. Famed for its extreme terrain and appearances in countless ski movies, Squaw Valley is Truckee’s alpha mountain, with six distinct peaks, a superpipe, and plenty of bleached hair and mirrored goggles. It’s called “Squallywood” for a reason. A recent merger with neighboring Alpine Meadows, a family favorite, will, when connected, create the one of the country’s largest ski areas. Northstar, six miles southeast of town, is an intermediate’s paradise; Sugar Bowl has steeps that rival Squaw but with fewer crowds; Tahoe Donner, right in town, and nearby Soda Springs are perfect for beginners.

Ask a Local

Daron Rahlves—four-time Olympian, 15-year member of the U.S. Ski Team, and current Sugar Bowl ski ambassador—moved to Truckee with his family when he was 19 and is now raising his own children there.

Here are his recommendations.

Best Digs
Budget: The historic Truckee Hotel
Swank: Resort at Squaw Creek is ski-in, ski-out at Squaw

Best Eats
Cheap: Tacos Jalisco, a classic taqueria
Gourmet: Cottonwood Restaurant and Bar, in a former ski lodge overlooking downtown

Best After-Ski Party Spot
Pastime Club is a happening dive bar.

Best Rest-Day Activity
Take a dogsled ride at Sugar Bowl or jump in Lake Tahoe.
Truckee’s Classic Ski Run
Rahlves' Run at Sugar Bowl

Executive summary by darmansjah

With 713 miles (1,148 kilometers) of gentle Mediterranean coastline, Roman ruins and fortified casbahs, and glowing ribbons of Saharan dunes, Africa’s northernmost country offers adventure for all ages. Pictured here is a Roman ampitheater in El Jem, Mahdia, Tunisia.

In Tunisia’s sunbaked Matmâta region, explore the troglodyte lunar landscape (featured in the first Star Wars movie) and float—or walk, if the water has evaporated in summer—in the Chott El Djerid salt lake. June through September, hop aboard the historic Red Lizard train (Lézard Rouge) in Metlaoui for a 90-minute round-trip excursion through the Atlas Mountains. The narrow mining track winds through towering rock canyons and across barren flatlands to Seldja Gorge. Saharan expeditions include camel and dune buggy rides and camping in traditional Bedouin tents.

The eight-day Sahara Desert Trek led by adventure outfitter Exodus includes a five-day walking tour from the Sahara gateway Douz to the oasis village of Ksar Ghilane. One of North Africa’s best preserved Roman archaeological sites is Dougga, a window into life over 17 centuries in an indigenous Numidian city.

Editor's note: In January 2011, a state of emergency was declared in Tunisia after anti-government protests erupted in violence.

Executive summary by darmansjah

Wonders never cease, nor does our fascination with them. Marvels of extraordinary size, beauty, or strangeness transport us from our routine lives, commanding awe, admiration, or even reverence.

These are the emotions that stirred Herodotus in them id-fifth century B.C. An indefatigable traveler, as well as the ‘Father of History,’ he wrote home enthusiastically to tell his fellow Greeks how exciting other lands could be. Today, these are the emotions that the National Geographic Society shares through its magazines, books, films, and television programs.

Since its founding in 1888, the Society has been providing ‘a window on the world’ to armchair explorers. Much like Herodotus, the writers, photographers, and filmmakers of Nat Geo are driven to explore the wonders of Sky, Earth, and Sea. That sends them to the bizarre vistas of the Great Rift Valley in East Africa; to the depths of the virtually unexplored blue holes in the Bahamas; and to the highest point of Earth, the fearsome Mount Everest.

On the following pages 25 of the world’s most awe-inspiring places and phenomena are presented under the heading Sky, Land, and Water. These places are products of geologic forces and biological conditions that stretch back millions of years. They still inspire us today, much as distant lands inspired Herodotus and, with care, will inspire generations to come.

Fresh-flowing lava outlines cooler rocks in neon orange on Tanzania’s Ol Doinyo Lengai volcana. The Maasai Know the stratovolcano as ‘The Mountain of God.’

Africa’s new frontier

Executive summary by darmansjah

Uganda, once the cornerstone of Africa’s Grand Tour, is today bypassed by most visitors. The nation and its people have been brutalized by dictators, battered by warlords, and negatively portrayed by viral videos. Safarigoers line up in next-door Kenyaand Tanzania, with only a few coming to Uganda to see the famed mountain gorillas.

The land mixes savanna, enormous lakes, rain forests, and the glacier-clad Rwenzori Mountains, one of Africa’s tallest ranges. The headwaters of the Nileoriginate here, then burst through a cleft in the rocks at Murchison Falls. Uganda’s parade of animals is amazingly diverse. Hippos graze along the shores of Lake Edward in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, while lions lounge in the trees of Ishasha, in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The star in Bwindi is the mountain gorilla, a species down to about 720 animals visible in their tiny habitat.

Uganda has tough decisions ahead. Oil lies beneath the Rift Valley, right inside Murchison Falls National Park. Extraction seems inevitable. But tourism dollars could provide an easier coexistence between banana-loving gorillas and banana farmers in Bwindi. —David Swanson

Travel Tips

When to Go: The best times are during the drier seasons, January-March and June-August.

Where to Stay: Embark on guided boat trips, hikes, and safaris from rustic Jacana Safari Lodge on Lake Nyamusingire (Uganda’s largest crater lake) in Queen Elizabeth National Park, or from thatched-roof Mihingo Lodge on the secluded edge of Lake Mburo National Park.

How to Get Around: Public and private transportation options include minibuses, taxis, luxury coaches, rental cars, and inland ferries. Tour operators can arrange travel for day trips, safaris, and complete itineraries.

Where to Eat or Drink: In Kampala, head to Nalongo in suburban Katwe for traditional luwombo: a mixture of meat, vegetables, and (sometimes) peanut butter steamed in banana leaves. Funky Mish Mash in Kololo serves an all-day breakfast in a laid-back art gallery-tree house-café-garden setting.

What to Buy: Local crafts, including mats and baskets handwoven from elephant grass and palm leaves, are sold along roadsides and at outdoor markets.

What to Watch Before You Go: The Last King of Scotland (2007). The fictionalized chronicle of the rise and fall of brutal dictator Idi Amin was the first feature film completely shot on location in Uganda. Forest Whitaker’s chilling portrayal of Amin earned an Academy Award and Golden Globe.

Fun Fact: Small farms employ four out of every five Ugandans. Using mainly traditional, chemical-free methods, an estimated 200,000 organic farmers produce fresh matooke (plantain), pineapple, apple bananas, and ginger for local use and international export.

Helpful Links: Uganda Tourism Board

Executive summary by darmansjah

Nearly half of Mongolia’s three million residents are nomads, and most of the rest live in Ulaanbaatar—the country's capital and largest city. The cultural, economic, and transportation hub on the Tuul River is the starting point for two-humped Bactrian camel treks and other exotic Gobi desert expeditions, but its ten museums, close proximity to national parks, and collection of imperial palaces and Buddhist monasteries qualify Ulaanbaatar as a destination rather than way station.

Wander through the Narantuul, a 2,500-vendor, open-air market; visit Gandan Monastery—Mongolia’s largest functioning Buddhist monastery—and the adjoining Megjid Janraisig and Kalachakra Temples; and view Stone and Bronze Age artifacts, sacred relics, and fossilized dinosaur bones and eggs found in the Gobi at the Nationaland Natural History Museums. During the July 11-13 National Holiday, Ulaanbaatar hosts the nation’s largest Naadam Festival, a legendary cultural celebration featuring wrestling, archery and cross-country horse racing competitions, plus traditional costumes and dance.

Huge golden Buddha at Gandan Monastery

Hiker: Will Harlan, ultra-endurance runner and writer

Executive summary by darmansjah

This route was the original ultra that Micah True (aka Caballo Blanco) ran with the Tarahumara before moving the race to the more accessible gravel roads of Urique. The trail climbs 5,000 feet from the desert floor to the forested canyon rim, crossing gurgling arroyos and offering literally breathtaking canyon vistas. The steep, quad-crushing descent down to the Batopilas River offers equally stunning scenery. The river-carved Copper Canyon is deeper than the Grand Canyon but without a single trail sign or marker. I learned that lesson the hard way on my first hike, getting lost, drinking Giardia-infested water, and being held up by AK-47-wielding drug runners. —Will Harlan

Length: 30 miles

The Details: Yes, Copper Canyon is larger than the Grand Canyon, but it’s a bit of a misnomer—it’s a system of six major river-carved canyons in Chihuahua that include everything from pure wilderness to villages inhabited by the native Tarahumara people to a railroad running down in the middle of them.

This typically three-day trip—unless you are running like Micah True and Will Harlan—connects the two local communities of Urique, a sleepy town almost free of tourists, and Batopilas, a former silver mining hot spot that’s about a five-hour bus ride from the larger town of Creel. In between, the trail dips into the best of what these canyons have to offer: It winds through steep sandstone walls and past massive agave plants (as well as wandering near a ghost town and the occasional wild burro). As it grunts to the top of the canyon, the trail opens up for a view that has none of the busloads of gawkers and interpretive signage of the better known canyon across the border. You do need to be careful, both of the danger of bandits and, more likely, dehydration. Water is stunningly beautiful when it comes cascading into this desert—but stock up on it when you find it.

When to Go: Late fall (October-November) or early spring (March-April), when the temperatures don’t get too hot

About Harlan: In 2009, Will Harlan (aka El Chivo, "the goat") won the legendary Ultramarathon Caballo Blanco 50-mile race in Mexico’s Copper Canyon, an experience that is documented in the forthcoming film El Chivo. No gloating champion, his victory showed both his athletic prowess and a sensitivity and connection to the people who have lived in the canyons for centuries. The editor of Blue Ridge Outdoors, Harlan lives on a sustainable farm in North Carolina. He's also five-time champion of the 40-mile Mount Mitchell Challenge and holds the record for the fastest unsupported crossing of the Appalachian Trail through Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Spectacular Switzerland

Steamboat Springs, Colorado

Stowe, Vermont

Taos, New Mexico

Tasmania

Te Araroa Trail, New Zealand

Telluride, Colorado

The world’s highest reaches

Great Rift Valley — Tanzania

Tonquin Valley, Canadian Rockies, Alberta, Canada

Top 10 Things to Do in Bavaria

Nuremberg

Neuschwanstein Castle

Oktoberfest

The Bavarian Alps

Romantic Road

Eagle’s Nest

Dachau Concentration Camp

Bavarian Forest

Explore and Discover

Tour du Mont Blanc, France, Italy, and Switzerland

Tourist attraction in NZ

Abel Tasman National Park

Sky Tower

Napier Art Deco

Kaikoura

Franz Josef Glacier

Rotorua

Tongariro National Park

Bay of Islands

Milford Sound

Istanbul City of Two Continents

Truckee, California

Tunisia

TWILIGHT ERUPION

Uganda

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Urique-Batopilas Trail, Copper Canyon, Mexico