Subterranean wonders

Georgina Lawton explains how splitting her time between London and Lisbon was the right choice for her.

This summer's record-breaking heat has brought environmental consequences across the US, from coral bleaching in Florida to cacti toppling over in Arizona.

At 6:02 a.m. on a chilly Monday morning in April, the sun rose over northern Arizona's desert, driving shadows out of Horseshoe Bend.

“It only takes one,” whispers the person next to me.

New Zealand is one of the happiest countries in the world. It helps that its landscapes are so stunningly otherworldly that New Zealand is a go-to filming location for literal fantasy lands. But for travelers, New Zealand’s natural beauty can be more than just a fantasy. If you’re headed to the Land of the Long White Cloud — a popular translation of Aotearoa, New Zealand’s indigenous Māori name — start with the South Island to see for yourself. These six natural attractions prove just how fantastical the New Zealand’s South Island truly is.

I’m settled in the shade of a hawthorn bush at the edge of the trail. Banked cow parsley waves in the breeze, elderflowers are breaking bud and the white chalk line of the footpath draws the eye on through the landscape. As I sit, a hare hops out of the hedge just metres away and pauses on the path. For a long moment it is still and calm, eyes shining golden. I hold my breath. Then it notices me and bursts into action, launching off the track and through the undergrowth to the field beyond, quicker than my eyes can follow. I exhale. Walks are made for moments like these.

It’s hard to encapsulate the full depth and variety of the USA – any nation that can marry cities as life filled as New York, San Francisco and LA with landscapes as breathtaking as those of Alaska, Arizona and Hawaii is beyond easy summary. Its rewards come in droves, from all-American icons like baseball, blues and bourbon to the unbridled spectacles like Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

Northern Kenya is one of the world’s last great wildernesses. This rugged, dusty land is rich in history, cultural heritage and isolated appeal and offers the most epic of adventures for the wild at heart. Here, fiery desert plains give way to luscious jungles; bubbling oasis streams are set against imposing, glorious mountain ranges and black, volcanic lakeshores are trodden by some of the world’s most remote tribes.

The British appetite for all things eccentric — particularly anything with a competitive element — ensures that on any given weekend you can find a bunch of people who lead otherwise sensible lives in a damp field somewhere snorkelling through bog water, racing pigs or chucking around black puddings. Here are the best ones to watch — from a safe and sensible distance of course.

Mankind has erected some stunning monuments across the world throughout history, and stumbling across a stunning building is one of the greatest joys of travel. Here's some of our favourite architectural masterpieces, drawn from travel bible Make The Most Of Your Time On Earth.

«What are the seven wonders of the world?» is a question that causes debate among historians and travellers alike. It's been a contentious issue for centuries, since Ancient Greek explorers created the first list in the fifth century BC, and hundreds more adventurers and writers have created their own versions.

Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula is famous for its beautiful Caribbean beaches but, as Shafik Meghjidiscovers, the most memorable – and unusual – places for a swim are found inland and underground in a series of spectacular cenotes.