Situated off the west coast of Thailand in the Andaman Sea, Phuket is Thailand’s largest island. Gain an understanding of Phuket history at the Talang National Museum; marvel at the elaborate ornamental design of Wat Chalong, Phuket‘s most important Buddhist temple; and of course spend time on one of the islands many incredible world-class beaches. Sample shore excursions: Sea Canoe Adventure; Phang Nga Bay.

Scarred by decades of civil war, Sri Lanka and its commercial capital, Colombo, are relatively new to modern-day tourism. But Colombo has been a crucial trading post for more than 2,000 years. The city rose to prominence as Sri Lanka‘s most important port town in the 16th century with the arrival of Portuguese fleets. After a period under Dutch rule, Ceylon—as Sri Lanka was then called—became part of the British Empire in 1802. Sri Lanka gained independence in 1948, but the country experienced intense unrest from 1983 until 2009, when Sri Lanka‘s civil war finally came to an end. Many visitors head for the pristine beaches or up to the mist-draped mountains of Sri Lanka‘s tea country, and find that Colombo merits more than just a quick stop. Development continues at breakneck speed here, with skyscrapers jostling for space alongside the elegant architecture of its colonial past. Bustling markets and newfangled shops rub shoulders with ancient temples and rich layers of history in this fascinating place.

Port Louis is the capital city of Mauritius, in the Indian Ocean. It‘s known for its French colonial architecture and the 19th-century Champ de Mars horse-racing track. The Caudan Waterfront is a lively dining and shopping precinct. Nearby, vendors sell local produce and handicrafts at the huge Central Market. The Blue Penny Museum focuses on the island’s colonial and maritime history, along with its culture.

La Possession is a commune in the French overseas department of Réunion. It is located on the northwest side of the island of Réunion, between the capital of Saint-Denis and the commune of Le Port.

The coastal port of Durban lies along the Indian Ocean in the Kwa-Zulu Natal province of South Africa, where golden sand beaches meet warm blue-green waters. This stretch of pristine beach in the central area of the city is called the Golden Mile, but in fact stretches out for four miles, making it a beachcomber‘s paradise. If surfboards and sunbathing are not your thing, the promenades fronting the beach are a haven for flea markets and shops. Jump into a three-wheeled ‘tuk-tuk‘ for a unique look at the city. Head to the Victoria Indian Street Market, where you can visit temples, shop and sample local flavors. Amid British colonial buildings, a variety of historic museums and quiet parks await your exploration. Nearby, enjoy the lush Umgeni River Bird Park, home to more than 3000 bird species.

Cape Town‘s spectacular setting on Table Bay, beneath the 1,082-meter (3,550-foot) Table Mountain and Lion‘s Head, seldom fails to take one‘s breath away, whether you are a local or a visitor. If Johannesburg is South Africa‘s New York, this port city of four million, settled by traders from the Dutch East India Company in 1652, is its San Francisco. With a rich array of restaurants, galleries, vineyards and countless beaches, as well as a Mediterranean climate, life on the Cape Peninsula, which stretches for some 70 kilometers (43 miles) from downtown to the most southerly point, Cape Point, is genteel and all about good, healthy living and staying outdoors as much as possible. The Table Bay side of the city, known for its luxurious seaview properties and bustling nightlife, is countered by equally intriguing False Bay, which lies behind Table Mountain and is home to quaint, cobblestoned fishing villages like Kalk Bay, as well as the city‘s famous penguin colony. There, too, you‘ll find the oldest (and some of the best) vineyards in Africa, such as Constantia Uitsig and Buitenverwachting. If you visit, though, be warned: Once might not be enough.

Cape Town‘s spectacular setting on Table Bay, beneath the 1,082-meter (3,550-foot) Table Mountain and Lion‘s Head, seldom fails to take one‘s breath away, whether you are a local or a visitor. If Johannesburg is South Africa‘s New York, this port city of four million, settled by traders from the Dutch East India Company in 1652, is its San Francisco. With a rich array of restaurants, galleries, vineyards and countless beaches, as well as a Mediterranean climate, life on the Cape Peninsula, which stretches for some 70 kilometers (43 miles) from downtown to the most southerly point, Cape Point, is genteel and all about good, healthy living and staying outdoors as much as possible. The Table Bay side of the city, known for its luxurious seaview properties and bustling nightlife, is countered by equally intriguing False Bay, which lies behind Table Mountain and is home to quaint, cobblestoned fishing villages like Kalk Bay, as well as the city‘s famous penguin colony. There, too, you‘ll find the oldest (and some of the best) vineyards in Africa, such as Constantia Uitsig and Buitenverwachting. If you visit, though, be warned: Once might not be enough.

Cape Town‘s spectacular setting on Table Bay, beneath the 1,082-meter (3,550-foot) Table Mountain and Lion‘s Head, seldom fails to take one‘s breath away, whether you are a local or a visitor. If Johannesburg is South Africa‘s New York, this port city of four million, settled by traders from the Dutch East India Company in 1652, is its San Francisco. With a rich array of restaurants, galleries, vineyards and countless beaches, as well as a Mediterranean climate, life on the Cape Peninsula, which stretches for some 70 kilometers (43 miles) from downtown to the most southerly point, Cape Point, is genteel and all about good, healthy living and staying outdoors as much as possible. The Table Bay side of the city, known for its luxurious seaview properties and bustling nightlife, is countered by equally intriguing False Bay, which lies behind Table Mountain and is home to quaint, cobblestoned fishing villages like Kalk Bay, as well as the city‘s famous penguin colony. There, too, you‘ll find the oldest (and some of the best) vineyards in Africa, such as Constantia Uitsig and Buitenverwachting. If you visit, though, be warned: Once might not be enough.

Lüderitz is a coastal town in southwestern Namibia. It’s known for its German colonial buildings, including the art nouveau Goerke Haus, built into the rock face on Diamond Hill. Nearby, Felsenkirche is a hilltop church with panoramic bay views stretching around to Robert Harbor.

Sitting between the Namib Desert and the Atlantic Ocean, Namibia‘s Walvis Bay sparkles in colors both vivid and varied, from its golden beaches, blue waters and deep-pink flamingos on the coast to the red-and-tan dunes of the nearby desert and the brightly painted colonial buildings of Swakopmund, just over 40 kilometers, or 24 miles, to the north. Its unique biological diversity includes abundant marine life, particularly seals, sea turtles, dolphins and whales—in fact, the bay‘s name comes from the Afrikaans word for whale. To take in the scope of this paradise for birders and photographers, the area around Walvis Bay is best explored on the move: on a sightseeing flight above the massive Sossusvlei clay and salt pan, in an off-road vehicle across the shifting desert landscape, or aboard a catamaran or kayak to meet the curious wildlife. As one of the few deepwater ports on the southwest African coast, the bay has been coveted by Britain, Germany and South Africa, and it has changed hands many times. Most visitors, however, come for its timeless and natural sights: the desert sands and tranquil wildlife-filled lagoons.

Once a modest fishing village, Takoradi is today a major port city. Explore its colonial past with a visit to the ruins of the Dutch Orange Fort. Takoradi has wonderful restaurants, be sure to sample the local cuisine at any of the beachside resorts.

Known as “the Manhattan of the tropics,”Abiijian is one of the Côte d’Ivoire’s two capitals. This populous city boasts one of Africa’s liveliest music scenes, picturesque lagoons lined with swaying palm trees, as well as coffee and cocoa plantations.

Massive El Morro Fortress guards Old San Juan, while the benevolent Indian spirit Yuquiyu keeps watch over the entire island from the highest peak in the rain forest. By night there are roulette wheels to spin and fiery flamenco shows to catch. Sample shore excursions: Old San Juan Historic Walking Tour; El Yunque Rain Forest Drive; World Heritage Fortress & Art Museum.

There is an abundance of things to see and do in the Ft. Lauderdale area: visit the newly redesigned Ft. Lauderdale Beach and cafes, stroll the historic Riverwalk, shop the luxurious stores on Las Olas Boulevard or adventure to the Everglades for an intriguing air boat excursion.