Former palaces and Arab mansions along the twisting streets of Stone Town hint at a grander age for this port city on the western coast of Zanzibar. The Old Fort, built in the 1700s to fend off the Portuguese, now hosts local performances, a café and an art gallery. Overstuffed bazaars lend an air of nonstop bustle. Mafia Island Marine Park sits just offshore, a haven for snorkeling the local reefs. Day tours visit working plantations where the island's legendary spices are grown.

The mighty Nile has been providing Egypt with water for millennia. Deserving of its reputation as the world's largest open-air museum, the Nile River Valley contains thousands of monuments at sites such as Luxor and Aswan. Don't miss the city of temples ar Karnak, the dozens of tombs in the Valley of the Kings, the massive rock temples of Abu Simbel or vast and powerful Luxor Temple. Visitors can float by these astounding sites on a felucca boat or cruise ship or catch a train from Cairo.

The “Red City” of Marrakesh is a magical place, brimming with markets, gardens, palaces, and mosques. Exploring the intimate courtyards and snaking alleyways of the historic Medina can easily eat up a day. Find inner peace at the serene Jardin Majorelle or take in the beauty of one of the city’s historic mosques (taking note that, unless you are Muslim, you are not allowed to enter).

The tourist village of Kumarakom is relaxed and refined, featuring lush flowery landscapes and a multicoloured plethora of bird species, best enjoyed at the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary. Glide along an intricate web of lagoons, lakes and rivers on a fully-staffed private houseboat, or settle in at a cozy B&B for some well-deserved R&R. Don’t miss the famous wood carvings at the peaceful Shiva Temple at Ettuman. Local cuisine will delight your taste buds with fresh, rich flavours and a variety of spices.

Colombo is the gateway to Sri Lanka for most travelers—but don’t be tempted to simply pass through this diverse and interesting city. Take a train ride along the coast to Mount Lavinia, a popular beach, or explore the Talangama Wetland, which several TripAdvisor travelers say is the perfect place to take a break from the bustling streets of the city.

The oldest university in the world isn’t Oxford or the Sorbonne—it’s the University of Al-Karaouine, and you’ll find it in Fes el Bali. This walled city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, will transport you back to mediaeval times. Visit the ancient maze-like quarters of the Medina to Fes el-Bali and the four imposing Gates of Fes, with their distinctive Moroccan tile work. You can walk, or, if you're brave, take a taxi—the daredevil drivers will have you hanging on for dear life.