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Traveling to the Antarctic may not be on everyone’s list of things to do and places to go but it one of the most beautiful and remote places you will ever see. Traveling to this climate means carefully choosing the right time of year as it is the coldest and the driest land mass on the planet but it also has the distinction of having the highest average elevation, making for unique weather conditions.
The summer months in the Antarctic are from November to March. During this time cruises to the area are possible, although there is considerable restriction and regulation on where the ships can go to preserve the very delicate ecological balance. At this time of year the seas is open and there is up to 24 hours of sunlight. The temperature hits a balmy 55 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit, which goes down to a low of -40 in the winter months. At the center of the Antarctic, the South Pole, the winter temperatures can reach -112 degrees Fahrenheit.
When on the cruises offered to this amazing area travelers to Antarctic can expect to penguins and seabirds, spring wildflowers on the Falkland Islands and on South Georgia as well as both elephant and fur seals in their natural breeding territories. Depending on the specific time you travel you can also see penguin chicks and young seal pups, as well as whale sightings along the Antarctic ice flows.

If you love warm climates and enjoy seeing a vast array of birds then a trip to the Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary in Senegal is well worth your time and effort. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to some of the largest bird populations in the world and covers over 16,000 hectares of rivers, streams, lakes and the River Senegal.
There are over 400 different species of birds that inhabit the Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary at different times of the year. Pelicans are typically there in vast flocks, but so are egrets, flamingos, cormorants and herons. Not far from the major city of Saint-Louis, this is definitely a bird watcher’s paradise. Dakar is not a great distance away and as the capital city it offers the greatest variety of entertainment and sight seeing opportunities.
There are several different religions and cultures in Senegal. The Great Mosque of Touba as well as several other mosques are beautiful to see. Islam is the predominant religion with French as the most common language spoken in the country. Other areas with the major cities include neighborhoods featuring Moroccans, Portuguese, Spanish, Lebanese and Vietnamese, providing a wide range of cultural activities and events around the year.

For some amazing scenery that is truly unique plan to travel to Bolivia. Not only will you be amazed at the Andes but you can also see the world’s largest stand flat. This watery plain stretches out for 4,085 miles, with the beautiful mountains in the background and hundreds of small inverted cone shaped salt, halite and gypsum mounds that dot the massive salt flat. There is estimated to be 10 billion tons of salt on the flat, which is one of the largest salt collections in the world.
Surprisingly the trip to the Salar de Uyuni salt flats isn’t as lifeless as you may think. This area is also the breeding ground for there different flamingo varieties and they flock to the flats each November. The summer months in this landlocked country are from November through to March, perfect timing for a winter get-away. Hiking, natural watching, horseback riding and guided tours are all possible during the summer months even well up into the Andes Mountains.
Very traditional steeped in Latin America culture travelers to Bolivia will enjoy the folk music and dances. The fishing and boating on lake Titicaca is a wonderful way to spend a day or two in between shopping in the many local boutiques and craft shops in La Paz and the capital city of Sucre.