Luna 
You don’t have to scale a towering peak to feel the effects of high elevation. Plenty of beloved travel destinations sit at lofty heights—like Cusco, Peru (11,152 feet) or Leh, India (11,550 feet). At higher altitudes, the air holds less oxygen, which can leave you breathless just strolling up a street. (Check out these nine … Read more
Email’s impact on work-life balance has shaped an entire generation. Now, with productivity tools like Slack and Zoom, escaping work in your free time feels nearly impossible—even when you’re lounging on the beach. In many ways, the pandemic has worsened “grind culture,” the expectation of being constantly available for work, further erasing the boundaries between … Read more
Travelers usually love that sudden rush of adrenaline—the kind that sharpens your focus and leaves you breathless for a moment. It’s proof you’re on an incredible adventure. But those same intense reactions can also show up as anxiety, an unavoidable part of travel—the flip side of the thrill. For more and more travelers, that anxiety … Read more
Perched on hilltops across Andalusia, Spain, clusters of whitewashed villages dot the countryside. But these pueblos blancos share more than just striking architecture—they were built centuries ago to protect communities from invaders during times of conflict. Today, the battles are over, but the sense of community remains. One such village, Algar, recently started a campaign to get … Read more
Around 4,500 years ago, a massive stone structure aligned with the sun’s movements was built on England’s Salisbury Plain—by a civilization that had no metal tools, horses, or wheels. Even today, many mysteries remain about how and why Stonehenge was constructed. But thanks to modern technology, researchers are uncovering new clues about these ancient puzzles. … Read more
France’s Palace of Versailles was built to leave visitors in awe. It wasn’t just the massive scale, the endless marble, or the stunning frescoes that amazed 17th-century guests (and still dazzle eight million visitors every year). The gardens, too, were a display of Louis XIV’s dominance, showcasing the meticulous artistry that made André Le Nôtre’s jardin … Read more
On a remote peninsula in Western Australia, a 16-hour drive from the nearest city, faces carved 30,000 years ago gaze at the few visitors who make it to this wild place. These ancient human depictions are part of Murujuga, home to one of the largest collections of rock art in the world—older than Egypt’s pyramids … Read more
Back in December 2016, Vienna’s city government in Austria shared what seemed like great news: A public-private partnership had come together to construct a brand-new ice-skating rink right outside the historic Wiener Konzerthaus, a venue over a century old. If you’ve ever been to Vienna—the dazzling hometown of legends like Beethoven, Mozart, and Freud—two things … Read more
For our annual Best of the World list, National Geographic’s global network of editors, writers, photographers, and explorers shares their top picks for must-visit museums, festivals, and cultural hotspots this year. From Morocco to Mongolia and New Orleans to New Zealand, these destinations pull you into rich traditions, vibrant communities, and fascinating history—and leave you eager to … Read more
The equatorial sun beats down without mercy as I guide Elaine, a walnut-brown mare with a dark mane, through tangled acacia thorns and thick brush. It’s been a long day riding, and my thighs are sore. Our camp waits just beyond a ridge of time-worn, folded hills in Kenya’s Lolldaiga Range—a patchwork of landscapes and … Read more