Historical destinations

The troubled history of Algiers is manifested in its cityscape, architecture and culture. The capital (and the largest city) of Algeria holds impressive monuments and curious surprises for visitors. French and Islamic influences exist next to each other and make it a place as diverse as its people. Visit richly coloured mosques, discover sights and ruins of days gone by, and taste the spicy and delicious food of northern Africa.

Places that stir all your senses and that pluck your heartstrings are extremely rare. These are the places that touch you deeply, yet whose secrets you can’t unlock completely. Bruges happens to be such a unique place. Cultural and artistic, cosmopolitan, unashamedly Burgundian, mysteriously medieval, and a Unesco World Heritage site to boot. Strolling along the narrow alleys, picturesque canals and verdant ramparts you cannot help but fall hopelessly in love with its elegant mysteriousness.

One of Saudi Arabia's northernmost regions, Al-Jawf (also spelt Al-Jouf) is a treasure ground of historic artefacts and natural beauty. The province's two major tourist routes lie through its rural capital of Sakakah and the ancient town of Dumat Al-Jandal, where most of Al-Jawf's ruins and ancient relics are concentrated. Endless opportunities for exploration, rich cultural heritage, and exotic desert adventures await visitors to Al-Jawf at every turn.

The Island of Hawaii is known colloquially as the Big Island — a fitting nickname for an island twice the combined size of its neighboring counterparts! Big Island flaunts its colors like the plumes of a peacock: fierce reds of magma from Hawaii Volcanoes National Park contrast spectacularly with the bright white snow of Maunakea, while the electric black sands of Punaluu Beach stream into the emerald green of the Hamakua Coast’s rainforests.

The beating heart of the Indian state of Gujarat, Ahmedabad has managed to preserve its cultural integrity through the centuries, remaining relatively unaffected by the British colonial rule. Little-developed by the tourism industry, the city remains a true hidden gem inhabited by remarkably hospitable Gurajatis, teeming with exquisite historic temples, renowned universities, and world-class vegetarian eateries able to convert diners of the most carnivorous persuasion.

This small but perfectly formed city in the picturesque county of Devon has preserved many of its historic features while enjoying all the amenities and vibrancy of a modern cosmopolitan hub. Exeter is the perfect base to explore the surrounding English countryside dotted with pretty villages, quaint old pubs and tea rooms serving the famous Devon cream tea. All of this comes with the added bonus of being only a short journey to the nearby coastal resorts, fishing ports, and sandy beaches of the English Riviera and the World Heritage Jurassic Coast.

Doncaster is an eclectic mix of the urban and the rural, and of the old and the new. World-famous for its horse racing and home to one of the most important race courses in the UK, Doncaster is one of Britain’s oldest cities, featuring an abundance of historic sights, interesting architecture and cultural activities, all in a beautiful countryside setting.