Mei-Mei Kirk

This vast country is packed with beauty, variety, history and surprises. Enjoy the scenery, its gorgeous coast and the mountainous interior. Learn about the painful era of Apartheid. Dine on sophisticated and inexpensive food. Marvel at prodigious wildlife, especially in Timbavati and Sabi Sands, adjacent to Kruger National Park.

Portugal is a popular, growing destination. But not many have been to (and some are not even aware of) the two impressive volcanic island groups off its shores: the Azores and Madeira. Both are known for lush mountains and verdant valleys. I’ve been to mainland Portugal, but this was my first time to the islands. This is my report on our fabulous week in Madeira, following a week-long cruise around the Azores aboard National Geographic/Lindblad's Orion.

Portugal is a popular, growing destination. But not many have been to (and some are not even aware of) the two impressive volcanic island groups off its shores: the Azores and Madeira. Both are known for lush mountains and verdant valleys. I’ve been to mainland Portugal, but this was my first time cruising around the Azores, and the first time sailing with National Geographic/Lindblad aboard the Orion. Here’s what it was like.

I first visited Tanzania’s famed Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater in 2008. The stunning spectacle of the Great Migration, the remarkable variety of wildlife, and the intimate close encounters with lions and elephants won my heart. I returned in 2017 and have since been to Africa five more times. Each visit has been uniquely memorable, and my week in Tanzania in December 2025 actually exceeded all expectations!

Coming face-to-face, toe-to-toe with silverback mountain gorillas was more astonishing than I ever imagined! Wildlife is our passion, and we are constantly seeking intimate encounters in natural habitats. After Arctic polar bears and Antarctic penguins, of course we had to go trekking with gorillas, the largest of primates.

Nearly at the edge of the world (before you head to Antarctica), the vast Patagonia region straddles Argentina and Chile. Featuring gorgeous mountains, glaciers, and lakes, Patagonia beckons adventurers who want to explore and hike in one of the most remote and rugged areas in the world. Here are highlights of hiking 100 miles in Torres Del Paine and El Chalten.

During our first exploration of the Balkans, we spent 17 days in Croatia, four in Slovenia, three in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and took a day trip to Montenegro. The region's diverse beauty and fascinating history exceeded our expectations, from the mountains to the Adriatic. Here are our top 10 highlights.

We nearly circled the Emerald Isle over 16 days, driving 1500 miles through some 1500 wrong-way-roundabouts—or so it seemed. Ireland exceeded our expectations for natural beauty and charm, as well as weather. We gained a deep appreciation for Ireland's history: its numerous Neolithic ruins (as far back as 3200 BC, centuries before Stonehenge or the Great Pyramids); its mansions and castles galore; and its lingering remnants of The Troubles of Northern Ireland. Here are our top 10 highlights.

If spotting polar bears in the wild is on your bucket list, there are only a few destinations to consider: Norway, Kaktovik, Alaska (off limits for now), and parts of Canada, Greenland, and Russia. There are currently two accessible areas where polar bears are most concentrated: Svalbard, Norway—an archipelago just 800 miles from the North Pole, with about 300 polar bears—and Churchill, Manitoba, Canada, with about 700 polar bears, claiming the title of "Polar Bear Capital of the World." Having journeyed to Svalbard in May 2024, we went to Churchill in August 2025, in search of polar bears. Here's what we found!

Over 10 whirlwind days, we drove 1,412 miles counter-clockwise around Iceland. The land of fire and ice surprised, then captivated, us with its variety—from bleak lava fields to lush green meadows, vast glaciers to shapely craters to gushing waterfalls. Yes, the prices were outrageous, but we were prepared and accepted it, protesting only scrimpy portions. We’ve gone twice in August, when temperatures ranged from the 40s to 50s with fierce winds. Here are our top 10 highlights.

We were on the wrong side of the car and the road, but we survived driving 2,100 miles around Edinburgh, England, and Wales over 28 days in 2022. About 10 percent was on motorways, 30 percent was circling roundabouts, and 60 percent was on harrowing, curvy, hilly hedge alleys, competing with and trying to avoid cars, bikes, tractors, buses, potato haulers, and sheep. We cracked up each time we saw signs saying "road narrows ahead." In exchange, we saw glorious villages, waterways, gardens, and ancient treasures.

The Amalfi Coast and Cinque Terre are two of Italy’s most stunning (and popular) seaside destinations. They both feature steep cliffs, pebbly beaches, and colorful villages cascading down to the water. So how do you decide which is right for you? I've been to both twice, and here are my key comparisons.

My fifth trip to Africa seemed like the right time to go off the beaten path into Namibia, known for its unspoiled wilderness. Namibia is home to the Namib, the oldest desert in the world with some of the highest sand dunes, and features intriguing desert wildlife. Here's what we discovered.

There are innumerable guides for visiting the main tourist areas of gorgeous Greece: Athens, Corfu, Crete, Mykonos, and Santorini. But what if you want to get off the beaten path and discover the hidden gems on the mainland and tucked among the islands? Here are our top lesser-known highlights—over three weeks—to places where few tend to tread.

The Alps run 750 miles through eight countries, with some 100 peaks above 13,000 feet. While the Swiss towns are nice, the Alps are spectacular. Over two glorious weeks, we became intimate with three areas featuring Matterhorn, the trio of Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau, and Mont Blanc (a bonus from just across the border in France). Seeing the same mountain from different views was fascinating. With the efficient (though pricey) mountain trains and cable cars, access is easy for everyone, although the altitude may initially be tough for some. Here’s how we rank our mountain experiences, traveling to St. Moritz, Zermatt, Berner Oberland, and Chamonix.

Most of us are unlikely to tackle Mt. Everest, the tallest mountain in the world, but we adventurers yearn to breathe the rarified air of the magnificent Himalayas. Nepal hosts nine of the world’s 14 highest peaks (sharing some with neighboring Tibet) and features the highest concentration of high-altitude treks in the world. It’s a tiny country packed with diversity, with more than 100 ethnic groups speaking different languages. Buddhism and Hinduism are both honored, and temples, stupas (shrine), prayer wheels, and prayer flags are found at every turn. Much of it is rural and agricultural—little has changed over time. My adult daughter and I had planned to hike the Annapurna Circuit in 2020, but were waylaid by Covid. Five years later (and five years older), we finally made it to Nepal in 2025. Over 20 days, we explored Kathmandu, hiked Annapurna, and went in search of Everest and tigers. Read on to see what we learned about this small nation at the heart of the Himalayas.

Lhasa, Tibet, is among the most remote and highest capitals in the world, set among the impressive Himalayan mountains at 12,000 feet. The birthplace of Buddhism and the former residence of the Dalai Lama, Lhasa draws pilgrims seeking spiritual enlightenment and visitors curious about an ancient way of life. You might expect solemn meditation and quaint charm, as I did. What I found was a loud, modern city of more than 500,000 people, with super highways, high-rises, and railways installed over the past two decades by the Chinese government. And yet, Lhasa still is the heart of Buddhism, with devoted rituals and spiritual longing unchanged for centuries.

As I neared 65, I only had a few items left on my bucket list. One was to see polar bears in the wild. So in May 2024, I went on my first polar expedition aboard Quark's Ultramarine to Svalbard, Norway, an archipelago just 800 miles from the North Pole. Read on to see what we saw!

We’ve all been fascinated by images of Dubai’s opulence and glistening skyscrapers—with Tom Cruise clinging to the side—amid red deserts and the Arabian Sea. So, en route to Nepal in April of 2025, we stopped by for a few days to check it out (there are direct flights from Orlando on Emirates!). Dubai is one of seven independent emirates (a territory ruled by an emir) that make up the United Arab Emirates, with the largest population and most liberal policies. This former fishing village was transformed by oil but has since diversified into a global financial hub. It prides itself on blending old and new, Islamic traditions and Western lifestyles. But it’s driven by superlatives: the biggest this, the highest that. Dubai boasts the tallest building, largest shopping mall, and largest man-made marina in the world. And it keeps pushing boundaries. We never came across a leopard in a Lamborghini, but we saw nearly everything else!

My adult daughter and I have had the good fortune to travel extensively over the past decade since my retirement. When asked which adventure is my favorite, I cannot choose. Each is singularly outstanding and cherished, from hiking in New Zealand to tracking leopards in Africa to snorkeling with seals in the Galápagos. But 2024 was particularly extraordinary. Within seven months, we were at the furthest edges of Earth on our first polar expeditions to the Arctic, then to the Antarctic. In May, Regan and I cruised around Svalbard, Norway, well above the Arctic Circle, aboard Quark’s Ultramarine. From December 2024 to January 2025, we cruised around the Falklands, South Georgia, and Antarctica aboard Viking’s Octantis. Both featured magnificent ancient glaciers, towering snow-clad mountains, crackling sea ice, crystal waters, and wildlife thriving remarkably amid the harsh landscapes, largely unconcerned by us humans. With no pollution, lights, or crowds, the sense of serene solitude was profound. I would say these were once-in-a-lifetime trips…except we’re already planning a return. The polar regions completely captured our imaginations and hearts. Here’s how the Arctic and the Antarctic compare, in our view.

Just a four-hour flight from Miami is a unique, pristine wildlife wonderland. The abundance of endemic (meaning: exists only here!) plants, birds and creatures is astonishing, thanks to Galapagos' volcanic origins and remote location. There are 13 major islands in the archipelago where you can have incredible close encounters with giant tortoises, marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies, finches, tropical penguins, sea lions, sharks and more. You can enjoy a lot on land. But it’s underwater where the magic happens.

Malta is one of the most unique, fascinating places we’ve ever visited. Just about the size and population of Atlanta, it’s bursting with 8,000 years of eclectic influences and cultures. Ruling it for two centuries each were the Knights of St. John, then, much later, the Brits. A glistening jewel in the heart of the Mediterranean, Malta boasts buildings older than the pyramids. It claims St. Paul was shipwrecked here in 60 AD and headquartered the pivotal, successful Allied invasion of Sicily in World War II.

Ancient glaciers frozen in time. Towering snow-clad mountains. Azure icebergs, sea and sky. Ferocious howling winds. Silence that takes your breath away.

It’s hard to grasp the immensity of the white continent.

But what really bedazzled me was the exuberant wildlife: penguins, seals, whales and birds galore, fearless and thriving here at the end of the world.

This bucket list destination is, indeed, like living in an Instagram postcard. Compared to Hawaii, French Polynesia is way more remote, compact and untouched, so its beauty intimately embraces you. Perfect temperatures, glistening blue water and green mountains, vibrant sea life, and incredible pampering. Yes, this is paradise.

After our incredible Quark Ultramarine cruise around Svalbard in search of polar bears in May 2024, we spent 10 days immersing in gorgeous Northern Norway. The area around Tromso is well above the Arctic Circle, with spectacular mountain, water and village views. We loved hiking and eating our way from Tromso to Senja to Lofoten!

Longyearbyen is for adventurous spirits. Just about 800 miles from the North Pole, this is the northernmost inhabited town in the world, well above Iceland and the Arctic Circle. Longyearbyen, on the island of Spitsbergen, is the port for daily and longer Arctic cruises around the beautiful Svalbard archipelago. Depending on when you go, you might see polar bears or the northern lights, go dog mushing or kayaking. Here's how to enjoy this unique town over three days in May.

New Zealand is packed with breathtaking beauty, death-defying adventure and charming whimsy. I've visited three times, and each has been extraordinary. Here's a collection of the top highlights in three weeks across both the North and South Islands.

The five seaside villages of Cinque Terre are a riot of spectacular colors spilling down the mountains into the azure Ligurian Sea. Twenty-four years after my first attempt to hike the famed paths that link all five, I was more successful while in port at La Spezia for the day. Here's how you can hike Cinque Terre yourself from La Spezia.

Ancient glaciers frozen in time. Towering snow-clad mountains. Azure icebergs, sea and sky. Ferocious howling winds. Silence that takes your breath away. It's hard to grasp the pristine immensity of the 7th continent. But what made Antarctica truly unique for me was the exuberant wildlife, fearless and thriving here at the end of the world, from waddling penguins to playful fur seals to hungry humpbacks. Ready to plan? Here's everything you need to know.