Love Exploring

This extraordinary city is carved into a rocky outcrop in Italy’s Basilicata region, its huddle of Sassi (historic cave dwellings) unfurling from the lip of a sheer ravine. Airbnb first opened the doors to some of these caves in recent years, putting Matera on the map as a destination to watch. As holiday lettings took off, demand paved the way for a crop of boutique cave hotels, and restaurants began to spring up among the frescoed churches and golden-stoned cathedrals of the UNESCO-listed old centre. A jam-packed cultural programme throughout 2019 means now is the time to start planning a trip.

We take a look at the best of Australia's Big Things – a cult phenomenon in which Australians have built and sculpted enormous objects. Think giant lobsters, enormous mangoes, huge cows...

Each year following the rainy season the largest mammal migration on Earth sees 1.5 million wildebeest and zebra make an epic journey over a 11,583 square-mile area, travelling northwest from the plains of the Serengeti in search of greener pastures. This amazing sight can be seen at its best in May or June in either Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park or Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve. You can witness the migration as part of a safari in Tanzania and frequent, affordable internal flights mean you can easily explore other parts of this African country too. This could include a spell on the pristine beaches of Zanzibar, a stay in the country's most populous city Dar es Salaam, or a visit to the foothills of the imposing Mount Kilimanjaro.

We've found 20 of the most famous and awe-inspiring landmarks ready for their close-up – can you guess what and where they are?

From January to late March Japan’s wealth of cherry-blossom trees reveal their blooms to the waiting crowds, and the age-old tradition of 'hanami' (cherry-blossom viewing sessions) is still popular. Family and friends will gather to marvel at this stunning floral display in public spaces including Ueno Park in Tokyo and Philosopher's Walk in Kyoto, a pedestrian path that follows a cherry-tree-lined canal. Appreciate the full beauty of this phenomena by taking one of the many dedicated cherry blossom photo tours which cover locations such as Hiroshima and Osaka (pictured). The latter is home to a thriving nightlife and street-food scene, as well as Sumiyoshi-taisha, one of the oldest Shinto shrines in the country.

There's not too long left to enter this month's competition!
See details below:

If you’re still in hibernation mode and in need of a winter retreat, here are some of the best places in Scotland to hunker down for a weekend or more:

Driving Highway One from San Francisco to San Diego or vice versa is one of the USA's most iconic road trips. But the most extraordinary part of the Pacific Coast Highway, as it's also known, is Big Sur. Stretching from Carmel-by-Sea to Hearst Castle, it's all crashing ocean, rugged cliffs and towering Redwood trees. The road has recently reopened to drivers after a major landslide closed it in 2017.

Thailand is prone to monsoons, but Phuket is one of the most consistently sunny spots, with an average sea temperature of 28°C (82°F). Hire a scooter to nip from one beach to the next and don't miss out on a visit to Phuket City's Thalang Road for the vibrant weekend market.

Morocco's Red City is an enchanting explosion of colour and charm. Delve into a labyrinth of hustle and bustle, haggle for treasures and gaze upon starry mountains to uncover the delights tucked away in Marrakech:

This spectacularly steep and winding road can be found in the Tianmen Mountain National Park in China's Hunan Province. It curls up the mountain for seven miles with 99 nerve-wracking bends and precipitous drops. The road ends at a natural gap near the mountain's peak. Although, you'll need to walk 999 steps after you've parked to reach the sacred crevice, which is known as Heaven's Door.

Although winters in Canada are a cold and snowy affair, it’s hard to find a better time to make the most of the country’s snug hotels, inns and lodges. Here are our favourites:

Northern Vietnam can get pretty cool, so southern Vietnam offers a better guarantee of sunshine and heat. As cities go, Ho Chi Minh is hectic, crammed with spas and street-food vendors. Beyond that however, there's a burgeoning contemporary arts scene, extraordinary cocktail bars and retro-chic cafés serving Vietnamese coffee made with condensed milk. Once you’re fully caffeinated, take a bike tour around the older parts of the city.

We've picked some of the prettiest and most interesting passport-stamp designs from around the world. Take a look!

While temperatures may drop a little in the winter months, the northern state of Rajasthan enjoys plenty of sunshine and has one of India's shortest monsoon seasons. Visitors come here for the jaw-dropping architecture and to learn how the ancient Indian kings and queens lived. Perfectly preserved fortresses and stretches of desert make this a compelling slice of India.

From grand central terminals left to crumble to rural stop-offs reclaimed by nature, we take a look at some of the most beautiful abandoned railway stations around the world: