Nicholas Kontis

If you visit Athens, you’ll more than likely stroll through Psirri, one of the oldest districts of this City of Antiquities. The once-edgy neighborhood took its name from the Psirri family, who purchased many plots of land after moving there during the Turkish occupation from Psara, a small island in the northern Aegean Sea.

From the outside, the idea of journeying thousands of miles to stand before a solitary sandstone monolith seems puzzling. Yet for those drawn to places imbued with history, belief and meaning, Uluru, once known as Ayers Rock, is far more than just a rock. It is a living cultural landscape.

As wanderlust for small-group expeditions to remote lands continues to grow, island destinations like Iceland, the Galapagos, and the Seychelles are fixed on travelers' radars. Yet travelers seek even more extraordinary experiences in search of epic adventures.

One of the most famous paths in the world, arguably its most renowned spiritual route, the Camino draws pilgrims from around the globe. More than two of every three trekkers who undertake the journey follow St. James’ Way, also known as Camino Frances (“The French Way”). It extends more than 800 kilometers across northern Spain from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, France, in the foothills of the Pyrenees.

Often described by Greeks as the country’s “second capital,” Thessaloniki is a city where history and modern creativity coexist effortlessly. Ideal for a city break or short stopover, it offers a rich tapestry of experiences and unforgettable memories in less-visited northern Greece.