North Africa is a veritable treasure trove of amazing sights, sounds and situations for you to explore. From the shifting sands of the Sahara Desert to the crowded city streets of the area’s Kasbahs, there is no end to the wonders and excitement that you can discover. However, most people don’t have the time to spend experiencing the whole of the region (which would take a lifetime!), so how do you decide where to go? Well, to help narrow it down we’ve put together a list of the top five cities in that you can visit on your holidays to North Africa.

Cairo Egypt

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The Valley of the Kings is the resting place for Ramses II one of the most important emperors of Ancient Egypt. All his tomb have suffered from inclement weather and flooded more than seven times by groundwater. This is why it currently remains closed to the public. To enter the tomb you must descend a ramp and then go down the stairs. The images recorded on the walls belong to the Book of Amduat.

The same appears to structure the grave in twelve similar spaces correspond to the hours defined in the book. In the other chambers and corridors that make up the tomb of Ramses II, can be seen various pictures of other Egyptian sacred books, including the famous Book of the Dead.

Tomb of Ramses II

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Like most other inland European cities, Warsaw is built around a large body of water, straddling the sparkling Vistula River. The small fishing town was first fortified as a Masovian stronghold in the early 14th century. Compared with the histories of its pre-Roman Polish neighbors, the city of Warsaw is practically a fledgling on the grand timeline of human settlement in the region.

However, it did not take long for Warsaw to become the center of the Poland-Lithuanian Commonwealth and soon thereafter the capital of the (periodically) independent Poland nation until present.

Warsaw Poland

When it comes to selecting a destination for a winter break there may be many things to consider but really only two things matter: sunshine and warm temperatures. Of course a nice beach, decent scenery, fantastic restaurants, perhaps a bit of history and culture will add value but with warm weather most destinations can write of their chances.

So given the weather patterns of Europe during the winter months, very few locations can claim to be attractive to winter sun seekers. The main candidates are typically the Canary Islands, Cyprus, Turkey perhaps, Dubai for those who can afford it and finally Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt.

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Ruins reach across centuries to fire the imagination and fuel travel plans. The very best make you feel young, small, and utterly amazed by the architectural chops of the ancients. Among the many amazing ruins that still exist today, a few stand out as the trip of a lifetime.

No matter which ruins you visit, a few rules hold true: Time your trip for the less crowded times of day, often early or late. Give yourself plenty of time, as some ruins require days of exploration. Hire a knowledgeable guide, since the history is rich but the signage is often cursory. And get beyond the most popular parts of the ruin; you’ll need a bit of quiet space to appreciate this kind of ancient majesty.

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Looking for an exciting and different vacation? An excuse to go somewhere you’ve never been and see something you’ve never seen? Or perhaps the chance to see a familiar place in a new way, from high above the earth? Hot air balloon festivals take place all around the world, and are the perfect way to spend a family vacation, especially if you’ve become bored with the average fare. Picture six hundred hot air balloons taking off at the same time—you can be sure it’s no ordinary sight! Here’s a list of some of the best balloon places for balloon rides around the  world.

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