experience earth travel

28 Adventures to Travel For, From Glacier Chasing in Greenland to Sand Surfing in the Sahara

By Caitlin Morton

As much as we love lounging on a faraway beach or revisiting our favorite city for the tenth time, sometimes our passports need some adventure travel—we’re talking about those once-in-a-lifetime trips that push us way outside our comfort zones. Adventure travel is a great way to see more of the world, while also testing your physical limits, and coming home with a lifetime's worth of stories to tell at parties.

Below, we’ve rounded up some of the most incredible outdoor adventures for intrepid travelers, ranging from climbing Machu Picchu to skydiving in Dubai . Even if you don’t consider yourself a daredevil, you’ll still find activities that feel exciting (hello, camping under the northern lights) without too much physical—or emotional—exertion required. So fasten your seatbelts, grab your best pair of hiking boots , and get ready for the adventure of a lifetime.

All listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you book something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.

Boat under the Iguazú Falls

South America’s Iguazú Falls, located on the border of Brazil and Argentina, make all other waterfalls look like mere trickles in comparison. The system of more than 200 cascades (reaching heights of around 270 feet) can be viewed from surrounding walkways and catwalks, but we’re fans of the more adventurous vantage-point—hopping on an Iguazú Jungle inflatable raft and sailing directly under the exhilarating, high-pressure falls.

Climb to Machu Picchu

No adventurer’s must-visit list is complete without Machu Picchu , the famous Incan citadel located in the Andes. While the site can be accessed via train and bus, more active travelers can take the five-day trek along the entire 26-mile-long Inca Trail. Or, thanks to local tour operator Sam Travel Peru , you can get dropped at kilometer marker 104 and do the whole experience in 24 hours .

Sand surf in the Sahara

The dunes of the Sahara are colossal, untouched, and tailor-made for extreme sports. The desert’s rows of barchans (meaning “crescent-shaped dunes” in Turkic) have ideal shapes for sand surfing (descending the slopes on a surfboard) and sandboarding (descending the slopes on a snowboard)—and those views don’t hurt, either. Stay at Erg Chigaga Luxury Camp in Morocco, which offers sandboarding in addition to other desert activities like camel rides and quad biking.

Heli-hike in British Columbia

With CMH Heli + Skiing , you can helicopter to the steepest and deepest powder in Canada for backcountry skiing. However, come summer , the company’s guides take guests on multi-day hiking trips to terrain otherwise inaccessible, along ridgelines, through alpine meadows, and to stunning viewpoints. While these high-altitude adventures are not for the faint at heart, the accommodations are quite comfortable, with log-hewn lodges complete with full-service restaurants, spa treatments, and a rooftop hot tub to relax in before another day on the trail.

Arati Menon

Hannah Towey

Maya Silver

Hot air balloon over Cappadocia

A hot air balloon ride over central Turkey’s Cappadocia region provides 360-degree views of the famous limestone spires and “fairy chimneys”—something you can't get at the ground level. We recommend booking with Kapadokya Balloons , the first company that introduced hot air balloon tourism in Cappadocia. Services include transfers to and from your hotel, snacks, full insurance, and a champagne party after the flight.

Hunt for glaciers in Greenland

Greenland is relatively expensive and tricky to get to, but well worth the effort—especially since it’s one of the most untouched landscapes on the planet. Exhibit A: the hundreds-year-old icebergs and glaciers floating off the mainland, which you can get up close and personal with during a cruise excursion. ( Hurtigruten and Cruise Norway offer these sailings.)

Hop across Botswana on a mobile safari

While most safari camps stay in one place like a traditional hotel, the private canvas safaris by  Barclay Stenner Safaris are totally mobile, meaning you can pick up and move locations based on weather conditions and wildlife movements. The outfitter’s Botswana itinerary moves across the country to fauna-rich areas like the Okavango Delta and Makgadikgadi Salt Pans—get ready to follow groups of lions, hippos, elephants, and more.

Paraglide over Turkey’s Blue Lagoon

Oludeniz has one of the most beautiful beaches in Turkey, with pebble shores and a “blue lagoon” of aquamarine hues. The beach also happens to be one of the world's best places to paraglide, thanks to stable weather and gorgeous panoramic views. The launch site for most companies is from Babadağ mountain, with jumping-off points reaching 6,000 feet above sea level.

Explore the Great Barrier Reef

Divers and snorkelers everywhere need to experience the Great Barrier Reef at least once in their lifetime. Not only does the site have more than 400 different types of coral and 1,500 species of fish, but the natural wonder has been rapidly eroding due to coral bleaching and global warming . That means it’s more urgent than ever to see this sight in all its glory—and to understand what we are losing.

Swim through Mexico’s cenotes

Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula features a wealth of unique natural beauty, particularly when it comes to its cavernous cenotes. Floating in one of these natural sinkholes is an incredible experience, as is diving through the underground cave systems . When in Tulum , visit Dos Ojos (“Two Eyes”) to view one of the planet’s most beautiful underwater sites or Gran Cenote for rock formations that resemble Gothic architecture.

Free-fall over Dubai at 120 miles per hour

Dubai is one of the most over-the-top cities in the world, so are you really surprised that skydiving is one of its most popular activities?  Skydive Dubai is a company located near Jumeirah Beach, offering tandem skydiving for beginners and solo jumps for licensed divers. If you thought Dubai’s skyline was impressive already, just wait until you see it while falling from 13,000 feet in the air.

Scale Half Dome at Yosemite National Park

The Half Dome trail through Yosemite may be one of the most intense hikes you’ll ever take, stretching for 16 miles and ascending more than 5,500 feet. The final 400 feet are the trickiest—hikers must climb up the steep slope with two steel cables as their only support—but the breathtaking views from the top make the effort (and terror) worth it. Afterwards, stay at The Ahwahnee, one of the most beautiful national park hotels in the country.

Swim with great white sharks in South Africa

The fishing town of Gansbaai is often considered to be the birthplace of great white shark cage diving, an activity that would make most adrenaline junkies drool. Cage diving is totally safe (despite what some low-budget shark movies might lead you to believe), but we dare you to keep your heart rate in check as you come face-to-face with an apex predator.  Marine Dynamics is one of the most popular cage diving operators in town, with a marine biologist and videographer joining every tour.

Bungee jump in New Zealand

New Zealand practically invented adventure sports when the Kawarau Bridge Bungy opened in 1988. Here you join around 38,000 annual visitors to take the 140-foot jump from the South Island's historic, steel-framed Kawarau Bridge—an activity in which the views are almost as thrilling as the fall itself.

Climb Mount Fuji

Solitary Mount Fuji is probably Japan’s most iconic natural wonder , rising 12,388 feet above villages and reflecting on lakes’ surfaces. You can get views of the landmark from many places, like Lake Kawaguchi in Fujikawaguchiko and even the Park Hyatt Tokyo , but it’s the views from the mountain that will give you the most bragging rights. Visit from early July to mid-September to take advantage of the official climbing season, when the designated trails and paved roads are free of snow.

Go volcano boarding on Cerro Negro in Nicaragua

If you’re looking for action sports and adventure, we recommend booking a flight to Nicaragua right now. There you can kayak, surf, zipline through the jungle, and even sled down the side of an active volcano. Intrepid travelers love to climb up the 2,388-foot Cerro Negro and then “volcano board” back down (an activity where you sit or stand on a piece of plywood and slide your way down the slopes). You'll want to go with a guided group tour with this one. Bigfoot Hostels is one of many operators for excursions—for $25, you get transportation to the volcano, boards, safety equipment, snacks, and your speed clocked by a radar gun.

Take a white-knuckle drive in Norway

Who says your adrenaline can’t pump from the comfort of your car? Trollstigen is one of the world’s most popular (and  terrifying ) highways, known for its steep gradient and hairpin turns. The one-lane road passes such impressive wonders as the 1,050-foot Stigfossen waterfall, but be sure to pull over before you gawk and snap photos. There are several viewing platforms along the road that will let you take in the sites without risking a crash.

Dive Belize’s Great Blue Hole

Known for its circular shape and strikingly deep blue color , the Great Blue Hole is a 1,000-foot-wide sinkhole in the middle of Belize’s Lighthouse Reef. While an aerial shot is enough to convince anyone of its beauty, scuba divers are the ones who get to experience the wonders that lie beneath: massive, 40-foot limestone stalactites and stalagmites that formed during the last glacial period.

Go canyoning in the Azores

Portugal’s Azores Islands are equal parts adventurous and beautiful, inviting travelers to get up close and personal with nature while hiking, biking, and swimming. If you want to really push the envelope, try canyoning—an activity that has you rappel down a waterfall while navigating slippery rocks and fast-flowing water. Azores Getaways offers a comprehensive and easy-to-book experience. Training, equipment, on-site instructors, and snacks are all included in the excursion, which will no doubt become one of the most memorable of your life.

Kayak through Torres del Paine National Park

Chile’s Patagonia region is one of the most beautiful spots on the planet, and there are plenty of ways to explore the area. But while most people experience the sights while hiking, you can get a slightly different view from the water via a kayaking trip.  Kayak en Patagonia offers several tour options ranging in duration and difficulty levels, but all let you paddle past towering mountains, rugged glaciers, and other incredible vistas.

Sleep under the northern lights

Ah, the elusive northern lights . So many factors are at play when it comes to seeing the technicolor phenomenon—location, time of year, weather conditions—but it’s hard to lose with an excursion to Finnish Lapland. The Arctic area is one of the planet’s best for aurora viewing, especially if you get to sleep in an igloo hotel at Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort or mobile Aurora Bubble Sled . Up your viewing chances by planning a trip between December and March.

Go heli-skiing in Alaska

If you’re a seasoned traveler who’s conquered every black diamond slope in North America, there’s still one snowy adventure left to vanquish: heli-skiing. There’s nothing quite like hopping in a helicopter and being dropped onto untouched snow at the top of a mountain—especially in a setting as formidable as Alaska’s Chugach Mountains. The experienced guides at  Valdez Heli Ski Guides (VHSG) will help make this dream a reality, taking you to some of the best runs of your life and then letting you unwind (hot tub and massages included) at the cozy  Tsaina Lodge .

Snorkel between continents in Iceland

Iceland is one of the best countries in the world for adventure travel , with opportunities for everything from glacier hiking to snorkeling and diving. For the latter, head straight to Thingvellir National Park along the country’s Golden Circle route , where two tectonic plates slowly pull apart at the rate of about two centimeters (0.8 inches) per year. The phenomenon results in the Silfra fissure, a stunning rift valley where travelers can snorkel or dive in impossibly clear (and cold) waters. Tour company DIVE.IS offers tours for divers and every level of snorkeler—including those with no prior experience—and will snap an underwater photo of you touching two continents at the same time.

Float along the Amazon

Some remote destinations are best seen from the deck of a boat, and that includes the upper Amazon River. Aqua Expeditions ’ luxury cruises through the Peruvian stretch of the river tour the area’s wildlife and culture at a delightful, leisurely pace. You'll even have chef-prepared gourmet meals and five-star suites with floor-to-ceiling windows. Looking for something a little less luxe? Amazon Adventures offers kayaking trips along some Amazon tributaries, where you can fish for piranhas and camp out in the rainforest.

Surf ‘The Pipeline’ in Oahu

Oahu’s Banzai Pipeline (commonly referred to as The Pipeline) is easily one of the most sought-after surfing spots in the world. Located off the coast of the island’s north shore in Ehukai Beach Park, the surf reef break averages waves measuring nine feet high. This activity is definitely not for beginners, but even non-surfers will get a thrill out of watching the many surf competitions that take place at The Pipeline—all from the safety of a sunny beach.

Spot elusive wildlife in the Great Bear Rainforest

Canada’s Great Bear Rainforest is the largest intact temperate rainforest in the world—and one of the most magical, with elusive species like sea wolves and Kermode bears roaming its 21 million acres. Outer Shores Expeditions will take you on a nine-day excursion aboard a schooner, departing from British Columbia’s First Nations community of Bella Bella and stopping for sea kayaking along the way.

Soak in the planet’s most extreme infinity pool

Located on the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia, Victoria Falls attracts thousands of tourists each year. One of the biggest draws here is the Devil’s Pool , a naturally formed eddy sitting at the very edge of the falls, where daring swimmers can splash around between August and January (depending on water levels, that is). Given that a slippery rock barrier is the only thing separating you from going over the edge, this site is easily the planet’s most extreme infinity pool .

Camp in Antarctica

Antarctica is truly the final frontier when it comes to adventure travel, providing untouched landscapes, unique wildlife, and more activities than you’ll know what to do with (like cruising, caving, and thermal spring soaking , to name a few). If you can get yourself to Punta Arenas, Chile, Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions will fly you to Antarctica for three days of skiing and hiking before setting you up for a South Pole sleepover.

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100 Best Places on Earth – The Ultimate Travel Bucket List

Book your individual trip , stress-free with local travel experts

• roughguides.com
• 100-best-places-on-earth-travel-bucket-list

written by Rough Guides Editors

updated 13.12.2023

This isn't just a travel bucket list; it's a gateway to experiences so profound and diverse that they promise to reshape your understanding of beauty, culture, and adventure. From the majestic peaks of Patagonia to the hidden alleyways of Kyoto, each destination on this list has been chosen not just for its aesthetic appeal, but for the unique story it tells. Rough Guides, your trusted travel companion, goes beyond the usual tourist trails to bring you authentic, tailor-made experiences that resonate with your personal travel aspirations.

1. Bhutan - a tiny country leading the way in sustainable tourism

• 2. Discover Tbilisi's reignited cultural scene

3. Ethiopia - the sunken churches of Lalibela

• 4. Gorges du Verdon - the 'alternative Grand Canyon'

5. Taj Mahal - one of the new Seven Wonders of the World

6. victoria falls - the world’s widest curtain of water.

Hidden in the Himalayas, with all the matchless scenery you’d expect, the tiny country of Bhutan is staggeringly beautiful. Piercing peaks and plunging valleys fold into its borders, where you can climb to mountaintop monasteries, hike through ancient forests and horseback ride over lush green plains, while local guides give a real insight into the country’s living spirituality.

Bhutan has been quietly forging its own path for centuries. Now, it’s leading the way in sustainable tourism. With at least sixty percent forest cover, Bhutan takes environmental conservation seriously. It’s already carbon negative, and while the target to become the world’s first fully organic nation by 2020 has been pushed back, they are still actively working on it.

Preservation is priceless, and travellers to this enchanting nation will leave with a real sense of what a privilege it is to experience Bhutan’s natural, cultural and spiritual riches.

You may have heard of Bhutan’s now-famous compulsory tourist tariff, which sees foreign visitors paying a minimum of $250 per day just to visit. But what you may not know is this includes all accommodation, food, transport and a local guide – and it also grants you access to one of Southeast Asia’s most pristine corners. A tailor-made trip ensures you get to see exactly what you want to see and travel the way you prefer - a specific route, selected hotels, particular activities, it's all possible when you go tailor-made.

Monks in Bhutan

2. Discover Tbilisi's reignited cultural scene

While the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, has long lured visionary types to its bohemian neighbourhoods, it’s slipped under the tourist radar for years. That may have something to do with its turbulent recent history: although Georgia gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, there followed a period of civil war, violence and ethnic tensions.

Over the past decade, however, a new generation has reignited Tbilisi’s cultural scene through a mix of local art galleries, exhibition spaces, music venues, concept stores and creative hubs. A growing crop of industrial- style hotels is springing up across the city, many set in Soviet-era factories and publishing houses. The food scene is thriving, too – innovative chefs have taken the helm in the kitchens of new restaurants, where they reimagine traditional Georgian cuisine with a modern twist. The revolution is underway. Read more about why Georgia is the ultimate adventure destination .

Where to stay

Enjoy a stunning view from the Terrace Boutique Hotel , located a short walk from the Tbilisi funicular.

Discover the wine region on a full-day tour from Tbilisi . Visit beautiful towns, taste plenty of Georgian wine and find out more about the traditional winemaking process.

Tailor-made travel

Planning to visit Georgia for a holiday? Talk to our carefully selected local expert to create and book your perfect trip to Georgia.

Tbilisi in Georgia

An enigmatic and utterly beguiling country, Ethiopia has endless intrigue. From its unique, highly sociable cuisine – the basis of which is injera , a spongy sourdough pancake, piled high with piquant curries and stews and shared between friends – to its ancient language and curly Amharic script, there’s very little that’s familiar about this place, and your trip will be all the better for it.

Ethiopia is a largely Orthodox Christian country, and its religious festivals and structures are something to behold. The sunken churches of Lalibela , hand-carved out of the red rock below ground some nine hundred years ago, are an astonishing feat of engineering. Come January, the network of tunnels and staircases that connect all eleven churches fill up with thousands of worshippers dressed in white, celebrating the birth of Christ with a twelve-hour mass.

Exploring Ethiopia with your own guide and at your own pace will help you really discover this fascinating country. A local expert working for a local tour operator can help to plan and book your ideal trip .

Lalibela in Ethiopia

4. Gorges du Verdon - the 'alternative Grand Canyon'

The breathtaking beauty and majesty of the Gorges du Verdon – also known as the Grand Canyon du Verdon – almost matches that of its American cousin, albeit on a much smaller scale. Peppered with spectacular viewpoints, plunging crevices up to 700m deep, and glorious azure-blue lakes, this area of Provence in France is absolutely irresistible. The river falls from Rougon at the top of the gorge, disappearing into tunnels, decelerating for shallow, languid moments and finally exiting in full, steady flow at the Pont du Galetas at the western end of the canyon. Alongside is the huge artificial Lac de Sainte-Croix, which is great for swimming when the water levels are high.

Moustiers-Ste-Marie is the loveliest village on the fringes of the gorge, occupying a magnificent site near its western end. Set high on a hillside, just out of sight of both canyon and lake, it straddles a plummeting stream that cascades between two golden cliffs. A star slung between them on a chain, originally suspended by a returning Crusader, just adds to its charms.

If you're planning to stay in Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, the Hotel La Bonne Auberge features a large terrace and garden, as well as a swimming pool in an excellent location in town.

Visit the gorge as well as the lavender fields on a day trip from Nice . Particularly suited for those short on time or without their own transportation, this day tour allows you to discover the area while returning back to Nice the same evening.

If you're thinking of visiting Provence and the Gorges du Verdon – get in touch . Rough Guides has paired with experienced local tour operators in France to offer fully customisable trips, like this from Paris to Provence itinerary .

Gorges du Verdon in France

Related articles from the blog

Simply the world’s greatest building, Shah Jahan’s monument to love does not disappoint. Volumes have been written on its perfection, and its image adorns countless glossy brochures and guidebooks; nonetheless, the reality never fails to overwhelm all who see it, and few words can do it justice. A workforce of some twenty thousand men from all over Asia completed the Taj Mahal in 1653 after twenty years of toil, and it is undoubtedly the zenith of Mughal architecture in India .

Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore described the Taj Mahal as “a teardrop on the face of eternity”, and though its layout follows a distinctly Islamic theme, representing Paradise, it is above all a monument to romantic love. Shah Jahan built the Taj to enshrine the body of his favourite wife, Arjumand Bann Begum, better known by her official palace title, Mumtaz Mahal (“Chosen One of the Palace”). The emperor was devastated by her death, and set out to create an unsurpassed monument to her memory – the result is sublime.

There are endless accommodation options in Agra , from where most travellers start their Taj Mahal visit. Our favourites include Tajview IHCL SeleQtions with stunning views and the Grand Imperial - Heritage Hotel .

Planning to explore the Taj Mahal on your own? Get your skip-the-line access tickets to the Taj Mahal beforehand to enjoy a hassle-free visit.

To see the Taj for yourself, drop us a line . Our tailor-made trips service will pair you with a local expert based in India to plan and book a fully customisable tour of India, like this sample itinerary to explore the Golden Triangle .

Taj Mahal in sunset

Along with Mount Everest and the Grand Canyon, Victoria Falls – or Mosioa-Tunya (“the smoke that thunders”) – ranks as one of the world’s seven natural wonders. No matter how many pictures you’ve seen beforehand, nothing can prepare you for the awe-inspiring sight and deafening sound of the falls. The world’s widest curtain of water crashes down a huge precipice, producing clouds of spray visible from afar, before squeezing into a zigzag of sheer-sided gorges as a torrent of turbulent rapids, carving its way to the Indian Ocean well over 1000km away.

Their dramatic setting on the Zambezi river – on the Zambia-Zimbabwe border – has also made Victoria Falls the undisputed adventure capital of Africa. There’s an array of adrenaline-fuelled activities on offer, from whitewater rafting and bungee jumping to zip-lining and bodyboarding. Less touted are the stunning wildlife-viewing opportunities

Victoria Falls affords: the national parks that line the serene banks of the Upper Zambezi are home to large mammals, such as elephant, lion, buffalo, giraffe and leopard, as well as a variety of antelope and more than 410 bird species.

Read more in our First-timer's Guide to the Victoria Falls .

Ilala Lodge is your best bet if you want to be as close to the Falls as possible. Occupying lovely grounds, the lodge has stylish rooms, a small pool and an excellent restaurant. Best of all, though, it’s just a 10-minute walk to the park’s entrance; from the hotel’s terrace, you can see clouds of spray rising from the Falls.

There are endless opportunities to explore the area: from a guided walking tour over sunset cruises to exploring the local entertainment and food scene .

Victoria Falls

Find more travel inspiration in our book The Rough Guide to the 100 Best Places on Earth 2020 .

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The 12 best adventure-travel experiences in the world

By Jonathan Thompson

• RIDE A SEVEN-STAR TRAIN ACROSS JAPAN

Best for: stylish travellers looking for the Japan beyond Tokyo

There are trains and then there are trains . Japan’s Seven Stars in Kyushu slots firmly into the latter category, siding with the likes of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express and South Africa’s Blue Train in terms of pure, uncompromising luxury. On my own journey across the verdant, onsen -dotted landscape of Kyushu, Japan ’s southernmost island, I was blown away by the astounding scenery and service alike, including 10-course banquets, live bands and a bedroom big enough to host my own cocktail parties. This is a perfect coupling of old-world glam and state-of-the-art tech, in spectacular surrounds.

FEAR FACTOR: 0/5 SHOW-OFF LEVEL: 4/5 BOOK IT: cruisetrain-sevenstars.jp **PRICE:**From about £5,900 for three nights

• TRAIN AS AN ASTRONAUT AT SPACE CAMP

Best for: those craving more space

With the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing in July 2019, why not take one giant leap of your own and sign up for Space Camp? The facility – next to NASA’s base in Huntsville, Alabama – welcomes guests of all ages for weekend retreats, where you’ll suit up and get hands on with the art of astronauting. On my recent visit, we learnt how to pilot shuttle simulators, walk in recreated lunar gravity (one-sixth that of the Earth’s) and perform repairs while floating in space suits. Not to mention the infamous Astronaut Trainer, which hurls you about like confetti at a wedding (tip – they aren’t joking when they suggest you don’t drink any alcohol the night before this particular experience, which is a problem as Hunstville has some really good bars ).

FEAR FACTOR: 2/5 SHOW-OFF LEVEL: 4/5 BOOK IT: spacecamp.com PRICE: Three-day Adult Space Academy about £435, including accommodation and food

• EXPLORE THE EMPTY QUARTER

Sand-lovers after the ultimate off-grid experience

It’s bizarre that Rub al Khali, the world’s largest desert , isn’t better known. Translated as the Empty Quarter, this is the heart of TE Lawrence’s Arabia: an ocean of sand covering a mind-boggling 400,000 square miles, taking in parts of Saudi Arabia, Oman and Yemen. It’s bested kings and adventurers alike over the centuries, but today you can explore its untamed magnificence in high style, with UK-based expert Wild Frontiers. 'The Empty Quarter is one of nature’s most remarkable creations,' says founder Jonny Bealby, who leads expeditions here. 'Standing on top of the world’s highest dunes, the sheer scale of the landscape and the utter silence blows you away. The tranquillity here is absolute.'

FEAR FACTOR: 2/5 **SHOW-OFF LEVEL:**4/5 BOOK IT: wildfrontierstravel.com PRICE: About £2,850

• TAKE A NUCLEAR ICEBREAKER TO THE NORTH POLE

Best for: those who’ve already set foot on all seven continents

Unlike Antarctica, which has become borderline mainstream in recent years, its polar opposite remains tantalisingly distant as a holiday destination. Distant, but not unachievable. Quark Expeditions runs three sailings a year to the North Pole, aboard a nuclear-powered icebreaker from the Russian port of Murmansk. On my recent trip, recorded by expedition photographer Mark Chilvers, above , we explored abandoned bases, witnessed polar bears on the hunt (with cubs in tow) and took the infamous polar plunge beneath the pack ice (invigorating and numbing in equal measure – they have plenty of whisky on standby afterwards). Even on a specialist ship such as Quark’s 50 Years of Victory , passage to the frozen north is only possible in July and August, with the entire 14-day voyage taking place under the perpetual daylight of Arctic summer. So pack an eye mask as well as thickest parka you can find.

FEAR FACTOR: 2/5 SHOW-OFF LEVEL: 5/5 BOOK IT: quarkexpeditions.com **PRICE:**From about £23,500

• TREK THE CLOUD FORESTS OF LAOS

Best for: those after a story very few others will have

When it comes to daydreaming about travel, it’s not just your head that could be lost in the clouds. Inside Asia Tours organises hiking expeditions into the incredibly diverse cloud forests of northern Laos , making for the summit of Phou Louey, or Forever Mountain, over five days. You will traverse meadow-carpeted valleys and endless green forests, with possible sightings of rare species such as sun bears, white-cheeked gibbons and clouded leopards – and overnight stays with hill tribes. 'This is a remote corner of the country where few visitors have ever been: you’ll be one of only a handful of people to set foot in this region every year,' says Inside Asia's Chris Greener. 'If Laos is little visited, this area feels positively uncharted.'

FEAR FACTOR : 3/5 SHOW-OFF LEVEL : 4/5 BOOK IT : insideasiatours.com PRICE: 9 nights from £1,495

• MOUNTAIN BIKE ONE OF THE WORLD’S MOST ACTIVE VOLCANOES

Best for: A fiery alternative to the fly-and-flop of neighbouring Mauritius

The Indian Ocean’s Réunion Island has already been tipped as one of 2019’s hot destinations – and the good news is that you can bike up to its hottest point. The Piton de la Fournaise (Peak of the Furnace) is one of the world’s most active volcanoes , but there are dedicated trails crisscrossing all the way up to its bubbling summit. Plus you can create a fire and water experience by canyoning some epic waterfalls on the way down. 'The trail descends across volcanic rock, through thick jungle and then cane fields before ending at the beach,' says Alexis Vincent of local outfit Ayapana. 'It might be stating the obvious, but nothing quite compares to the exhilaration of biking down the side of a volcano.'

FEAR FACTOR: 3/5 SHOW-OFF LEVEL: 3/5 BOOK IT: ayapanareunion.com PRICE: About £60

• ABSEIL DOWN TABLE MOUNTAIN

Best for: solo travellers who want to let loose

At 1,000 metres above sea level, Table Mountain isn’t just South Africa ’s most famous landmark – it’s also one of the highest commercial abseils in the world. As such, it’s the obvious spot to propel yourself from your comfort zone in immortal fashion. Group adventure-travel specialist Flash Pack can easily arrange the heart-in-your-mouth experience as part of a longer stay in the area. 'We did the big abseil on day one, so people were going straight from their desks to a literal cliff edge,' says one person who braved it. 'The views across the cityscape and the Cape Peninsula are absolutely spectacular, but edging over the rim can be terrifying. Once you’ve done it though, you’re buzzing for days afterwards – you feel like you can take on the world.'

FEAR FACTOR 5/5 SHOW-OFF LEVEL 4/5 BOOK IT: flashpack.com **PRICE:**13 days from £3,549

• JOIN THE GREATEST SHOAL ON EARTH

Best for: David Attenborough fans ready to take the plunge

Each June, one of the animal kingdom’s most thrilling spectacles takes place off the KwaZulu Natal coastline. The Sardine Run sees millions of sardines migrating north, following warmer currents towards the Indian Ocean. This moving smorgasbord attracts a who’s who of hungry ocean predators, from dolphins and game fish to sharks and whales. If you’ve got the nerve (and the swimming ability), Dive Worldwide can drop you into the thrashing heart of the action. 'During our five days at sea we were fortunate enough to jump into the water with a super pod of dolphins, swim alongside an enormous humpback whale and witness numerous bait balls as they were attacked from all angles,' says photographer Mat Howell-Reeve. 'The gannets dive-bombed from above, the dolphins orchestrated from below and the sharks make a wondrous mess of the middle. It was epic to witness nature on this scale.'

FEAR FACTOR: 4/5 SHOW-OFF LEVEL: 4/5 BOOK IT: diveworldwide.com **PRICE:**11 days for £2,695

Charlotte Davey

Lee Marshall

Arati Menon

Connor Sturges

• CYCLE THE WORLD’S MOST DANGEROUS ROAD

Best for: travellers with balance and backbone in equal measure

You don’t get a nickname like Death Road by accident. Hacked into the side of a mountain near the Bolivian capital of La Paz , Yungas Road earned its sobriquet thanks to a notoriously high fatality rate. Today, the bulk of local traffic takes a safer route, but the road remains – and mountain-bike crews such as Barracuda Biking will take you down it. Twisting rapidly to sea level from the snowy summit, you’ll pass everything from grazing alpacas to a government drugs checkpoint. Just keep your wits about you and both hands over the brakes – fatal accidents are less frequent now, but broken bones are an almost daily occurrence. On the plus side, the views are to die for.

FEAR FACTOR: 5/5 SHOW-OFF LEVEL: 5/5 BOOK IT: barracudabiking.com PRICE: About £65

• LEARN TO BE AN OLYMPIC SKI JUMPER

Best for: Experienced skiers looking for a new challenge

If you’ve ever felt like channelling your inner Eddie the Eagle, you can do so at Utah’s Olympic Park near Salt Lake City. After a couple of days’ training on smaller jumps, competent skiers graduate to the Olympic training ramps and eternal glory – or a large medical bill. The trick, as I learnt, is to lean forward and ‘attack’ the jump as you exit the ramp, forcing your body into the correct aerodynamic shape as you reach for the clouds. My take-off from the 40-metre jump ( photographed above ) was perfect – it was just the landing on my backside that left a lot to be desired.

FEAR FACTOR: 5/5 SHOW-OFF LEVEL: 5/5 BOOK IT: utaholympiclegacy.org COST: Single pass from about £35

• FIND YOURSELF BY GETTING LOST

Best for: outdoor enthusiasts eager to test their limits

In what has to be the world’s ultimate digital detox , intrepid-deluxe outfit Black Tomato will drop you into the wilderness from a helicopter, then leave you to fend for yourself. When you sign up for Get Lost, your precise location remains a secret, even to you, but it could be anywhere from Guatemala to northern Iceland . All you’ll have is a small pack of supplies, a satellite phone and a set number of days to work your way back to civilisation. 'Clients can choose what kind of terrain they want to be lost in: polar, desert, mountain or jungle, and then given the necessary survival training,' says co-founder Tom Marchant. 'The skills you acquire, and spending time in the wilderness , can really change the way you look at the world.'

**FEAR FACTOR:**5/5 SHOW-OFF LEVEL: 5/5 BOOK IT: blacktomato.com PRICE: From £15,000

• GO CLIFF CAMPING IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS

Best for: Insomniacs with a head for heights

When it comes to reflecting back on the sunlit plateaus of life’s long journey, this is one you’ll never forget. Colorado -based KMAC offers a cliff-camping experience deep in the Rocky Mountains , where you’ll spend the night suspended from a sheer rock face 200ft (or 18 storeys) up. After abseiling down to it, you’ll make yourself comfortable on a portaledge little wider than a church pew, then settle in till morning. You can see our attempt in the photograph above. Personally, I didn’t sleep a wink, but the spectacular view over the moonlit mountains was worth it – as was the hard-earned sunrise, incinerating any lingering night fears as it ignited the sky about me. (I was grateful to get my feet back on terra firma afterwards though).

**FEAR FACTOR:**5/5 **SHOW-OFF LEVEL:**5/5 BOOK IT: kmaconline.com PRICE: One person about £950

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[b] More epic adventures

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Experience Earth

In de spotlight.

De toekomst van het vliegen

Een wind van verandering waait over Europa – van verandering van klimaathouding tot zoektocht naar emissievrij vliegen. Aardobservatie vanuit de ruimte draagt bij aan een nieuw klimaatbesef. De zorg voor onze planeet inspireert de zoektocht naar schoon vliegen op groene energie – de toekomst van het reizen boven en buiten onze planeet.   In Toulouse -  het grootste Europese te...

Kangaroo Island Wildlife & Conservation

Actief bijdragen aan natuurbehoud is eveneens aan de orde. U kunt bijvoorbeeld meehelpen met het zogeheten bird banding, waarbij een bandje wordt gedaan om het pootje van een vogel. Voorts ontmoet u Dr. Peggy Rismiller, dé expert op het gebied van de kortsnavelige mierenegel en ziet u met eigen ogen het belang van het werk van ecologen na de desastreuze Black Summer Fires (2019...

Eyre Peninsula, van de outback tot aan de oceaan

Bekijk de ExperienceEarth trailer op ons YouTube-kanaal.  

Als we kijken naar de ‘ impact van reizen ’ hebben reizigers op verschillende manieren invloed op de wereld. ExperienceEarth wil reizigers helpen bewustere keuzes te maken zodat de positieve impact meer effect krijgt.

De reizigers voetafdruk  

Op de korte termijn zullen we meer ons best moeten doen om de aarde te beschermen en tegelijkertijd moeten we investeren in innovatie om transport en vervoer in de nabije toekomst schoner te maken. We pretenderen niet alles perfect te doen, maar willen het samen met onze reizigers steeds een beetje béter doen, zodat we een kleinere voetafdruk achterlaten voor de toekomst. We willen dit bereiken door het geld dat aan reizen wordt uitgegeven terecht te laten komen bij reispartners die zich inzetten voor natuur- en erfgoedbehoud en de betrokken gemeenschappen. Daarnaast geloven wij dat reizen mensen inspireert om beter voor onze planeet te zorgen. Om de impact van uw reis op de wereld inzichtelijk te maken, gebruiken we voetafdruksymbolen zodat u bewustere reiskeuzes kunt maken. Bij elke accommodatie en activiteit geven wij aan wat de impact van uw bezoek is. De symbolen zijn niet bedoeld als waardeoordeel, maar als richtlijn om u transparanter te informeren.

Groene voetafdruk

Als u dit symbool ziet staan, betekent het dat de impact van uw bezoek direct positief is. Deze reispartner voert een actief beleid om uw bezoek zoveel mogelijk te laten bijdragen aan een betere wereld. De inkomsten van uw bezoek worden bijvoorbeeld geïnvesteerd in duurzame ontwikkelingen ten gunste van de natuur, cultuur of lokale omstandigheden. Bij dit stempel kunt u steeds een onder-bouwing lezen die aangeeft op welk vlak u iets bijdraagt als u hiervoor kiest. Beoordeel vervolgens zelf of u onze suggestie positief genoeg vindt om dit onderdeel in uw reis op te nemen. Gele voetafdruk

Dit symbool toont aan dat de impact van uw bezoek (nog) niet positief is, maar we zien dat de eerste stappen worden genomen om uw bezoek een lagere impact te laten hebben dan voorheen. Denk hierbij aan een actief beleid voor het terugdringen van vervuilende activiteiten en het gebruik van duurzamere energiebronnen en/of schonere brandstoffen.

Grijze voetafdruk  

Het symbool met de grijze voetafdruk laat zien dat er nog een lange weg te gaan is op het gebied van duurzaamheid. We bieden dit reiselement toch aan, omdat niets menselijks ons vreemd is en we u niets willen verbieden. Als u toch iets wilt teruggeven met deze keuze, bieden we u de mogelijkheid om op vrijwillige basis extra te investeren in de zorgvuldig geselecteerde projectpartners van de ExperienceEarth Foundation.  

ExperienceEarth Foundation

Een percentage van de reisopbrengst gaat naar de  ExperienceEarth Foundation , een stichting waarmee we samen met u actief bijdragen aan een betere wereld door te investeren in projecten en organisaties die de wereld beschermen. Aanvullend is het mogelijk om op vrijwillige basis gericht duurzame projecten te steunen. Onze missie is om met de stichting in 2024 € 1.000.000 bij te dragen aan zorgvuldig geselecteerde projecten. Zo komen we stap voor stap samen tegemoet aan een betere wereld. 

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How to travel better: a beginner's guide to sustainable travel in 2023 and beyond

Sustainable, green, responsible — planet-friendly ways to explore the world are more popular than ever but how do you start to make better decisions when you travel? The first step is to understand what sustainable travel is and why it’s important.

What’s sustainable travel? Sustainable travel is about travelling in a way that’s sensitive to the climate and nature emergencies while ensuring that the wellbeing of the places we visit gain long-term benefit from us travelling there. It’s a balancing act between maximising the positives of travel while reducing or eliminating the negatives.

What’s happening and why? The concentration of carbon dioxide currently in the atmosphere is well over 400 parts per million higher than at any time in at least 800,000 years — and it’s still increasing, causing global temperatures to rise. The consensus is that a rise of just 1.5C will cause dangerous warming of the planet. The stability of our world’s climate hinges on whether we can keep this small rise in global temperatures in check and time’s running out. This is the decade that counts.

How does this impact the natural world? Commensurate with the climate crisis is the nature emergency: worldwide, 1 million animal and plant species are threatened with extinction due to the intensification of agriculture and forestry, resource extraction, hunting, invasive species, urban sprawl, pollution and climate change. Yet, this is not just about the disappearance of remote rainforests or polar bears at the extremities of the planet – habitat and biodiversity loss are happening on a colossal scale in the UK, to our hedgerows and forests, our garden birds, and the fish in our seas.

What can you do about it? Being a sustainable traveller is not about making grand, one-off gestures, it’s a state of mind, an ongoing attitude to conscious adventure that influences all aspects of how we holiday, including what we pack in our luggage and how we travel out to destinations, as well as the choice of hotels and activities we take part in while we’re there.

How do I even get started? To begin with, consider packing less: travelling lighter will reduce the chances of having to dispose of items; it makes it much easier to travel around, especially on foot, by bike or on public transport; and it’s more fuel efficient — especially noticeable if you’re travelling in an electric car. A useful device for packing economically is to consider the three Rs: Reduce: What can I get away with not taking; are there items that can double up for several uses? Reuse: What can I take that I can reuse over and over again? Recycle: What can I take that can be recycled once I’ve finished using it? Try to avoid taking single-use plastic, such as bottles, bags and straws, which break down over time into tiny microplastics that enter the food chain when they’re consumed by marine wildlife and ultimately cause serious health issues for humans. Instead, pack a refillable water bottle, coffee cup, Tupperware containers for food and toiletries, and a shopping bag — it’ll be handy not just as a replacement for buying a plastic bag at a supermarket, but also when you’re out buying food and groceries at a local market.

What’s the most important change that I can make? The single more significant way to reduce the carbon emissions of travelling is to tackle the transport portion, which is often responsible for at least 70% of the carbon emissions of a holiday. The most effective way to do this is to reduce the distance travelled and to travel in a way that burns less or, even better, no fossil fuels, using more sustainable modes of transport; or by not travelling in a vehicle at all, choosing instead to travel on foot, by bike or under sail. There’s a steep difference in terms of the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by aeroplanes compared with most land-based vehicles. There are concerted efforts to decarbonise air travel using alternative fuels and methods of propulsion (such as via electricity and hydrogen), but even the most optimistic predictions support that this change is at least a decade away for most airlines. For the time being, the emissions from just one long-haul flight can be more than those caused by someone driving a standard petrol car for a whole year. Taking the train within the UK emits about six times less than flying and taking the bus emits about nine times less. In Europe, where many trains (including Eurostar) are electric, the emissions from rail travel can be as much as 10 times less than flying.

And what if I do need to fly? If you do fly, bear in mind that there’s quite a large disparity between the carbon emissions of aircraft and the operating procedures of airlines, so do use online tools such as the ‘Greener Choices’ label on the search results provided by the flight search engine skyscanner.net , which flags up those flights that have less than average emissions.

While flying continues to be such a large polluter, consider adopting a more selective approach to flying: just as with the flexitarian approach to food where you eat a mainly plant-based diet and only occasionally eat lean meat and sustainably sourced fish, a similar attitude to flying could be that you mainly travel overland and only occasionally fly, staying for longer, and making the most of the flight by choosing a positive-impact holiday that benefits nature conservation and/or genuinely benefits the wellbeing of local communities.

What does my carbon impact look like once I get to a destination? There are other factors that will affect your carbon emissions when you’re at the destination, including your choice of hotel and the food you eat. The average carbon footprint of a night in a typical hotel in the UK is about 31.1kg CO2, according to the Hotel Carbon Measurement Initiative, so choosing a hotel that has lower than average carbon emissions can make a significant difference to your holiday’s footprint. Thankfully it’s becoming easier to find green accommodation — keep an eye out for the green filters on specialist accommodation booking sites, such as Airbnb’s ‘off-the-grid’, Sawday’s 'Sustainable stars'   and   i-escape's 'eco rating', there are several online agencies that specialise in green accommodation, such as fairbnb.coop and myecostay.eu , and even the big online agencies, such as Booking.com , TripAdvisor and Google , now flag up eco-certified hotels in their search results. Many of these eco-certified accommodations do much more than reducing their carbon emissions, they’ll also reduce the amount of waste they send to landfill and reduce the use of chemicals and the amount of water they use.

Feasting on local, seasonal food washed down with the local tipple conveys a sense of place better than any travel brochure. It’s also much better for the environment as there are significant emissions of carbon arising from the ‘food miles’ associated with transporting food great distances. Whether it’s freshly baked bread for breakfast, salad from the local market for lunch, or the catch of the day at the nearby restaurant, choosing local isn’t just good for the planet, it’s also healthier and a great way to put money into the local community.

Where to go Some of the most colourful cities in Europe are a great choice for a green break, such as Bristol, Angers, Nantes, Zurich, Ljubljana and Copenhagen. Here, pragmatic local authorities are implementing the circular economy to create sustainable transport, housing and economic development policies that are accelerating their transition to net zero, which has the knock-on effect of improving the experience for sustainable travellers. For example, regenerative wetlands and connected green spaces help manage storm water, air quality and improve biodiversity, but also provide wonderful green sanctuaries that are great for appreciating urban nature or for just chilling out in parks and gardens across urban villages.

And how to get around? Countries that have a modern, high-speed rail infrastructure make it easy to travel with a lower carbon footprint. Switzerland has an extensive public transport network across the country (the Swiss Travel Pass provides free admission to 500 museums as well as unlimited travel on trains, bus, boat and public transport in cities), while France, Spain, Italy and Germany have impressive high-speed rail networks, particularly between major cities.

What about long haul? Further afield, some countries have made concerted efforts to include tourism in their sustainable development goals. Following decades of tree clearing for agriculture and livestock production, in the 1980s the Costa Rican government implemented policies that have halted and reversed this deforestation. Today, over half of Costa Rica’s land is covered by forest, compared to just 26% in 1983, allowing it to make the most of the biodiversity in its rainforests and pioneer the concept of ecotourism, developing small-scale, high-end eco lodges that have contributed to the conservation of its rainforests. Guyana, too, is developing community-based ecotourism to fund the protection of its rainforests. Lodges such as Iwokrama River Lodge , Rewa Eco-Lodge and Surama Eco-Lodge enable visitors to enjoy the country’s incredible biodiversity, while contributing to its conservation and to the livelihoods of remote communities.

Where can I look for more information? Richard Hammond is a sustainable travel expert and founder of Green Traveller and the author of The Green Traveller: Conscious Adventure That Doesn’t Cost the Earth (£18.99, Pavilion).

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4 Ways to Experience Outer Space Right Here on Earth

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While the space race of the 1950s and 1960s was an exciting time to be alive, humanity has never lived through a more fast-paced period of space exploration and human spaceflight. It seems almost impossible to catch up on the news without seeing a headline about a new Mars Rover, space telescope or astronomical event – and the public clamors for all of it.

We're finally on the cusp of a huge leap in space exploration: commercial spaceflight, also known as space tourism . But advances in space tourism are mostly due to billionaires and private development, and tickets have been primarily bought by the ultra-wealthy — for instance, it costs $250,000 to book a seat on Virgin Galactic for a trip to space. And when NASA said in 2019 that it would allow private citizens to fly to the International Space Station (ISS), it put the cost to stay there at $35,000 a night, and the price to get there at around $50 million.

However, while we wait for prices to come down, there are still ways to experience space tourism on Earth. These earthly adventures cover the range of experiences you could have in space, while still fitting the budget many people have for other "bucket list" travel, like visiting Antarctica .

• Take a Zero-G Flight
• Visit Mars in Spain
• Go to Space Camp
• Train Like an Astronaut in Star City

1. Take a Zero-G Flight

If there's one constant force on Earth, it's gravity. Our measure of gravity on Earth forms the basis for our understanding of gravity elsewhere in the solar system. But gravity doesn't feel the same everywhere. The experience changes whether you're traveling through space (zero Gs) or visiting another celestial body like Mars ( one-third of the gravity on Earth ) or the moon ( one-sixth the gravity ). To simulate the differences in gravity, there are two companies that offer "zero-G" flights.

These companies, including American Zero-G and AirZeroG in Europe, use modified planes to simulate different gravitational forces through a series of parabolic flights. Over the course of a flight, the pilots take the plane through maneuvers that simulate Martian gravity, lunar gravity and zero gravity. Of course, this isn't really zero gravity – it's actually weightlessness as you fall back toward Earth. But try not to think about that too much as it's a bit disconcerting to imagine!

Zero-G flights range in cost from $6,700 to $9,500. Flights are offered in different states and cities throughout the year.

2. Visit Mars in Spain

Ever wondered what life on Mars is really like? Astroland can answer that question. As one might expect, this is a more challenging mission – physically and psychologically. Astroland is similar to the NASA HI-SEAS program , but is aimed at a wider tourist base. The company operating Astroland is based in Spain, expanding the access in space tourism on Earth to more of Europe.

The main experience at Astroland is Ares Station , a realistic habitat built into a cave to simulate one possible settlement plan for Mars . While details on how to join an Astroland mission are currently limited, the idea is that each person will pay for a place on a team; you'll then go through advanced training to determine your role on the team. Following that, you'll spend a designated time in Ares Station living and working full time – including conducting research projects and providing data about the psychological impact of living in isolation.

Initial pricing for Astroland was reported in the range of 6,000 euros ($7,000) for a month of training plus a three-day, three-night stay in Ares Station.

3. Go to Space Camp

If you'd rather keep your feet firmly on planet Earth but still experience a bit of outer space, there's nowhere quite like space camp . Made famous by the "Space Camp" family film of the 1980s, children have been attending space camp in Huntsville, Alabama, for generations. There's also a program for adults – both for those who went as kids and those who missed out.

The weekend-long Adult Astronaut Training program gives grown-ups the chance to get hands-on learning about planetary science, orbital mechanics and NASA missions past, present and future. Space camp is housed at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, part of NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, and all programming is designed in coordination with actual NASA missions. This means you can spend time in simulations piloting the Orion Capsule, working in mission control, and doing a "spacewalk" to work on International Space Station modules. And before or after your adult space camp, you can add on training as an underwater astronaut !

Cost is $199-$299 per person for space camp and $150 per person for the underwater program.

4. Train Like an Astronaut in Star City

You can follow in the footsteps of real astronauts and cosmonauts by participating in astronaut training through a company called Space Adventures, which offers space tourism experiences ranging from watching rocket launches in Kazakhstan to actually launching tourists to the International Space Station.

But let's get back to learning how to be an astronaut for real. Spaceflight training through Space Adventures takes place in Star City, Russia, outside of Moscow. During the experience, participants learn how to fly Russian Soyuz spacecraft through a simulator, get to try spacewalk training, and ride the centrifuge to get a better understanding of the gravitational forces experienced during launch and landing. This experience offers a different perspective than others on this list as it focuses on the Russian space program, Roscosmos, rather than NASA.

Space Adventures' Spaceflight Training is a bespoke experience, and pricing is available on request.

China also has a Mars base simulator, called Mars Base 1 Camp (not to be confused with the student-oriented experience by the same name offered through NASA ). The huge complex is located in China's Gobi Desert in the Gansu province and is aimed at inspiring students to prepare for future Mars missions and may eventually be used for Mars mission training. Unfortunately, at this point Mars Base 1 Camp is only open to Chinese citizens.

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Solar eclipse 2024: A traveller’s guide to the best places to be when the light goes out

O n 8 April 2024, a total solar eclipse will sweep across North America , providing an astronomical experience in many alluring locations.

Only a tiny proportion of humanity has ever witnessed a total eclipse – but tens of millions of people will be able to experience one as the “path of totality” sweeps from the Pacific to the Atlantic during the course of that magical Monday.

Here’s what you need to know about why you should see it and where to be.

What happens during a total solar eclipse?

The greatest show on earth comes courtesy of the lifeless moon. Normally the orbiting lunar lump merely provides earth with tides, moonlight and somewhere to aim space rockets. But roughly once a year the natural satellite aligns with the sun and, thanks to a geometric miracle, blots out the hub of the solar system to create a total eclipse.

“Even though the moon is 400 times smaller than the sun, it’s also about 400 times closer to earth than the sun is,” says Nasa. “This means that from earth, the moon and the sun appear to be roughly the same size in the sky.”

A narrow band marking the “path of totality” carves an arc of darkness across the surface of our planet. If you are somewhere on that line at the predicted time, and you have clear skies, then the experience will become a lifelong memory.

The closer you are to the centre of the path of totality, the longer the total eclipse will last. The astronomer Dr John Mason, who has guided dozens of eclipse trips (and will be doing so again in 2024), says: “People down in southwest Texas will get about four minutes 20 seconds, and that reduces to about three minutes 20 seconds up in the northeast. That’s a pretty good, long total eclipse.”

What’s so good about seeing an eclipse?

In the days leading up to the eclipse, locations in the path of totality acquire something of a carnival atmosphere as astronomical tourists converge in excited anticipation.

On the day, the cosmological performance begins with a warm-up lasting more than an hour, during which the moon steadily nibbles away at the surface of the sun.

Suddenly, you experience totality. The stars and planets appear in the middle of the day. The air chills.

To testify to the heavenly fit between our two most familiar heavenly bodies, faint diamonds known as Baily’s beads peek out from behind the moon. They actually comprise light from the sun slipping through lunar valleys.

A sight to behold – so long as you can see the moon blotting out the sun and appreciate the mathematical perfection of nature in our corner of the galaxy.

Eclipses are entirely predictable: we know the stripes that the next few dozen will paint upon the surface of the Earth. But the weather is not. Cloud cover, which blighted the Cornwall eclipse in 1999, downgrades a cosmological marvel to an eerie daytime gloom.

Almost as predictable as the eclipse is that traffic towards the path of totality will be heavy on the morning of 8 April 2024.

Accommodation rates are astronomical: even humdrum motel rooms in Niagara, central in the path of totality, are selling for C$600 (£350) for the night of 7-8 April 2024.

Where will the great American eclipse 2024 be visible?

The path of totality makes landfall from the Pacific at Mazatlan on Mexico’s Pacific Coast and sweeps northeastwards to reach the US-Mexican border at Piedras Negras.

In the US, three big Texan cities – San Antonio, Austin and Dallas – are on the extremes of the path of totality; many citizens are likely to drive to locations near the centre of the line.

Arkansas will be an attractive place to see the eclipse , with both Texarkana (on the border with Texas) and Little Rock within the path of totality.

In the Midwest, Indianapolis and Cleveland share the distinction of being fairly central in the path of totality. In upstate New York, Buffalo and nearby Niagara Falls (shared with Canada) could be extremely attractive – though prone in early April to cloudy skies.

In Canada , Montreal is just touched by the path of totality. The line then reverts to the US, passing across northern Maine – which promises to be a superb with clear skies. Then back to Canada’s Maritime Provinces, with New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland all in the line of darkness.

Will I be able to see a partial eclipse from the UK?

Yes. The eclipse ends with the sunset in the eastern Atlantic, about 600 miles off the coast of Cornwall , before it reaches the UK and Ireland . But on the island of Ireland and western parts of Great Britain, a partial eclipse may be visible with the sun low in the sky.

If skies are clear and you have an open view to the west, it will start at around 7.55pm in Cardiff, Liverpool , Manchester, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

BBC Weather presenter Simon King said: “With the partial solar eclipse occurring late in the day UK time, the Sun will be low to the horizon and will actually set before the spectacle is over.”

Can I combine an exciting city with a partial eclipse?

Boston, New York and Chicago are among the big cities that will see a sizeable chunk of the sun blotted out. Viewer as far apart as Alaska and the far north of Colombia and the Caribbean will, if skies are clear and they use the correct eye protection, see a partial eclipse. But there is nothing to compare with a total eclipse.

Eclipse guru Dr Mason sums up the difference between a 99 per cent partial eclipse and a total eclipse as far apart as “a peck on the cheek and a night of passion”.

“There will be people who will look at the map and say, ‘I live in Cincinnati or I live in Columbus [Ohio] and I’m just outside the zone of totality. But I’m going to get a 99 per cent-plus eclipse, so maybe I won’t bother to travel’.

“What they don’t realise is there an enormous difference between 99 per cent and 100 per cent. And there’s a range of phenomena that they won’t see if they put up with 99 per cent.”

You must use special eclipse safety glasses or viewers when viewing a partial eclipse or during the partial phases of a total solar eclipse.

Where should I be for the total experience?

There are no guarantees of clear skies: all you can do is play the odds based on the record of cloud cover for the corresponding date in previous years.

Dr Mason says the average expected cloud cover amounts increase from around 40-45 per cent on the Mexico/Texas border to over 80 per cent in Maine, New Brunswick and Newfoundland.

Three particularly tempting locations:

• Southern Texas , close to San Antonio or Austin. Besides clear skies being more likely than not, access is easy with direct flights to Austin. Importantly there is much to explore in the region before and after the eclipse, from Big Bend National Park on the Rio Grande to Space Center Houston – an excellent place to continue the cosmological theme.
• Northern Arkansas , a picturesque part of the state, with the added attraction of Memphis just a couple of hours away.
• Niagara Falls : the dramatic border between the US and Canada could be an eclipse washout due to clouds. But the natural surroundings are impeccable – and there is plenty of accommodation, which will avoid the risk of being caught in severe traffic congestion on the freeways from Toronto and locations in New York State.

However, the most recent forecasts for cloud cover suggest that the Midwest around Indianapolis and the northeastern state of Maine could have the best prospects.

When are the next total solar eclipses?

Summer 2026 – Wednesday 12 August, to be precise – should bring a spectacular eclipse visible in northern Spain at the height of the European holiday season. The path of totality begins in the Arctic and crosses Greenland and Iceland before arriving in the northern half of Spain. The stripe of darkness will traverse the great cities of Bilbao, Zaragoza and Valencia in mainland Spain before arriving in Palma de Mallorca.

The following summer (2 August 2027), the southern tip of mainland Spain is in the path of totality for an eclipse that will sweep across North Africa and the Arabian peninsula : going east from the Strait of Gibraltar, it will encompass Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, the northeasternmost corner of Sudan, Saudi Arabia and Yemen.

Just under 12 months later, on 22 July 2028, Outback Australia will be the place to be. A total eclipse will make landfall in northern Western Australia, sweep across the Northern Territory and part of southwest Queensland – then clean across New South Wales, with Sydney in the middle of the path of totality.

Winter cloud cover could disrupt the experience in Australia’s largest city – and is very likely in the southern portion of New Zealand’s South Island where the eclipse reaches a finale.

Australia also features in the cosmological plans on 25 November 2030. This is early summer in the southern hemisphere, and likely to be good conditions for viewing in Namibia, Botswana and South Africa (Durban is on the path of totality) as well as South Australia.

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Guest Essay

Our Mom Is 75. We’re Moving Heaven and Earth for This Eclipse.

By Kathleen Lenihan and Maureen Lenihan Rust

Ms. Lenihan is a former high school history teacher and an elected member of the School Committee in Lexington, Mass. Ms. Rust is a senior manager for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

If all goes according to plan, on Monday, our 75-year-old mother, Nancy, will be settled into a lawn chair in Waco, Texas — some 1,300 miles from her recliner in Las Vegas — and joining a great many other Americans as they put on solar eclipse glasses, tilt their heads up and try to make sense of what’s happening in the heavens.

None of this was a given. Fiercely independent and more than a little skeptical of hype, fads and feverish mass events, our mother is not what you’d call a joiner. Like many of her generation, she has seen a lot in life; she knows what it’s like to have high expectations and be let down. But she also knows the coming eclipse is neither trend nor fad. Planning to see it has united our family in a desire to participate in a mass event that is a wonder of the world.

Part of the drive to take our mother to Waco is the hard truth of time. Partial eclipses come and go, but the next awe-inspiring and captivating total eclipse will not be seen again in the contiguous United States until 2044. Our mother is in variable health and disabled. Absent good luck and medical advancements, odds are heavily stacked against her living to see another one.

Retirement for our mom came with familiar features — more time for her hobbies, rooting for her favorite teams and vacations that cater to disabled individuals. But this planned excursion is different. A cruise can bill itself as a “once-in-a-lifetime adventure” and then offer many dates on the calendar for the same adventure. No matter how many exhilarating experiences a person has collected in 75 years, this one will stand apart.

Her body may be broken, but our mother is still the experience-seeker she has always been. She left home at 18 for a college a thousand miles away, traveled alone to the Middle East and never met a boat, big or small, she didn’t love.

These days, our mom can barely walk. She moves around via a scooter. Her back is so damaged from osteoporosis and an unsuccessful surgery that she cannot sleep, stand or sit without pain. Still, she remains the same stubborn and determined person she has always been. Years ago, this meant going to law school at the age of 40, traveling the world as a divorced single woman and starting her own business just shy of her 50th birthday. Now it means bristling when we mentioned that we are coming from our homes in Massachusetts and California to “take” her to see the eclipse.

“I decided I was going, so I am going,” she told us. “Compliant” and “rule-following” are words not generally used to describe our mom. It wasn’t true when she was a girl at Catholic school, and it certainly isn’t true now with her adult children.

As for us, we don’t always feel like dutiful children. Sure, we send flowers for Mother’s Day and her birthday. We try to speak at least weekly with our mother, but we also frequently end up in yelling matches over politics. In those moments, we tell her she has lost her mind, and she wonders aloud where she went wrong in raising us. Although we visit every Thanksgiving and Christmas, we have never vacationed together as adults. The daily demands of work and our own children long ago got in the way, and those yelling matches are wearying. It’s easy to end a phone call. It’s much harder to stop an uncomfortable conversation at the dinner table.

Despite all that, we have spent more than a year making the arrangements to escort her to this phenomenon of nature. Flights, rental cars and a wheelchair-friendly rental house have been booked since last spring. Most important, we identified an eclipse event at Baylor University in Waco that could handle my mom’s needs while giving us the best chance to view the eclipse under clear skies. We asked the organizers so many questions about walkways, bathrooms, seating and parking that a representative replied via email, “I can see you are putting a lot of thought into making this happen for your mom.” It is a lot of planning, but then my mom (and dad) did the same for four children. Our childhood was filled with trips to see the birthplaces of presidents, Thomas Edison’s workshop, Civil War battlefields, the U.S. Mint and more. Now, like many people in their 40s and 50s, we’ve reversed our roles.

Our mother stayed home when two of her children viewed the solar eclipse in 2017 in Jackson Hole, Wyo. They came back with tales of an event so transformational, she knew she wanted to witness the next one for herself.

People who have never seen a total eclipse are often befuddled by all the hoopla. They most likely recall a partial solar eclipse from childhood — a vague memory of seeing a strange, shadowy impression of the sun through cheap paper sunglasses. But a total solar eclipse is a singularly spectacular phenomenon. The sky darkens, the temperatures drop, and birds fall silent. Viewers can stare directly in the direction of the sun without any eye protection for the minutes of “totality,” when the moon completely covers the sun. Indeed, the only time a human being can see the entire daytime sky is during a total solar eclipse. As Dr. David Grinspoon, now senior scientist for Astrobiology Strategy at NASA, explained to a reporter in 2017, “It’s like the veil comes off the heavens for a minute.” A total eclipse is so outside the realm of normal human experience that in the minutes of totality in 2017, we shouted out in delight and spontaneously hugged each other. Many of us that day had not fully understood that the universe could put on such a wondrous display.

Knowing all that, our mother is saving her strength. She booked a business class flight to Texas to ease her pain, and she is sitting out most of Waco’s pre-eclipse weekend festivities. She will skip the planned science talks. Instead, she will rest for most of the morning and plan to arrive on Baylor’s campus just in time to see the start of the eclipse.

We inherited the desire to explore our world from our mother. The need to care for her now is just as deeply woven into our psyche. Over the past year of planning, the eclipse became less about science for us and more about ensuring that our mother finally has this experience of a lifetime.

Kathleen Lenihan, the eldest of Nancy’s four children, is an elected member of the Lexington, Mass., School Committee. Maureen Lenihan Rust, the second of Nancy’s four children, is a senior manager for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

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The 10 Best Places for Panoramic Views of Moscow

The city on seven hills, Moscow is quite a view from above. No matter how much you walk around Russia’s capital, no Moscow experience is ever complete without a visit to one of the city’s observation decks. From Michelin-star restaurants , to 16th-century bell-towers – here are Moscow’s best places with panoramic views.

White rabbit.

Located on the 16th floor of the Smolensky Passage shopping mall, White Rabbit is a restaurant with Michelin-star winning menu and breathtaking views. Discover the latest food trends, while enjoying fantastic views of the Kremlin walls, Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, and two of the seven Stalinist skyscrapers – Hotel Ukraine and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

White Rabbit, 3 Smolenskaya Square, Moscow, Russia, +7 495 782 62 62

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVm-W8XgdB-/?taken-by=whiterabbitmoscow

Ivan Velikiy Bell Tower

Built in 1508, the Ivan Velikiy Bell tower had been Moscow’s tallest construction up until the 17th-century. To marvel at the views from the height of 25 meters, you’ll need to climb 137 steps, which might be quite challenging. The observation deck is open from April to October. Children under 12 are not allowed there, even when accompanied by adults.

Ivan Velikiy Bell Tower, Kremlin, Moscow, Russia, +7 495 697 03 49

Time Out Bar

One of the most famous panoramic bars in Russia’s capital, Time Out occupies the 12th and 13th floors of Peking Hotel Moscow. Apart from its glorious location, the bar is known for its unconventional cocktails, featuring a very eclectic combination of cold stock and vodka.

Time Out Bar, 5 Bolshaya Sadovaya, Moscow, Russia, +7 495 229 01 80

https://www.instagram.com/p/Si_rbQEBRE/?taken-by=timeoutbar

Cathedral of Christ the Saviour

Built in 2004, Patriarchy Bridge commands the magnificent vistas of the Kremlin, Moskva river embankments, the island of Red October, the Peter the Great statue and the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour . The latter, in its turn, has four observation decks of its own, set 40 meters between the cathedral bell towers, 40 meters above the ground. Available only as part of a guided tour, they offer amazing views on Gorky park, Krymsky bridge, Poklonnaya tower and Kotelnicheskaya embankment building.

Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, 15 Volkhonka Street, Moscow, Russia

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bc-WHCll8fL/?taken-at=639573152

The highest altitude restaurant in Europe, Sixty is the pinnacle of Moscow’s panoramic places. Located on the 62th floor of the Federation Tower of the Moscow International Business Center, this place seems to have it all: head-spinning views, great food and vibrant atmosphere.

Federation Tower, 12 Presnenskaya emb., Moscow, Russia, +7 495 653 83 69

https://www.instagram.com/p/BYxlO2jF648/?taken-by=sixtymoscow

Imperia Tower

Another panoramic place of the Moscow city, this observation deck draws crowds looking for futuristic views. Here you can take a closer look at the skyscrapers of the Moscow International Business Center and enjoy the views of the Moscow State University, Ostankino Tower, Moscow’s White House and Cathedral of Christ the Saviour.

Imperia Tower, Presnenskaya emb., Moscow, Russia, +7 495 236 72 90

Vorobyovy Gory

Opened in 1953, Moscow’s most famous observation deck is on every first-time visitor’s must-see list. Here you can spot almost every important landmark in the city: from all the seven Stalinist skyscrapers, to Ostankino tower, and Peter the Great statue – now you can take a closer look at each of them using free binoculars.

Observation Deck, Vorobyovy Gory, Moscow, Russia

Ostankino Tower

Completed in 1967, Ostankino Television Tower was the world’s highest building at the time of construction. The 540-meter-tall tower features two observation decks: the open-air one, which is open from May to October and the one with glass walls, which you can visit all year round.

Ostankino Tower, 15 Akademika Koroleva Street, Moscow, Russia

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19 Unique And Fabulous Experiences In Moscow

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Thinking of visiting Russia? When visiting such a famous city, one must, of course, visit the iconic landmarks first. Moscow has plenty of those, most of them in the center of the city, which is very well-planned for tourists. Once you’ve seen the sights that are on most travelers’ lists, it’s time to branch out and visit some of the lesser-known sites, and there are some fascinating places to see and things to do.

I know this list is long, but I just couldn’t help myself. You probably won’t have the time to see them all. But that’s okay. Just scroll through the list and choose what sounds the most interesting to you. Where possible, make sure to book in advance, as things can get crowded, especially during high season.

1. The Red Square, Kremlin, And Surroundings

Red Square (Krasnya Ploshad) is the heart and soul of Russia, and where much of the country’s history has unfolded. This is the most famous landmark in Moscow and indeed the whole country, it’s an absolute must-do! The square is always full of people and has a rather festive atmosphere!

Saint Basil’s Cathedral

This is the famous church with the rainbow-colored, onion-domed roof. The cathedral was commissioned in the 1500s by Ivan the Terrible and according to legend, the Tsar thought it was so beautiful, that he ordered that the architect’s eyes be cut out afterward, so he could never build anything more beautiful! He wasn’t called Ivan the Terrible for no reason!

Lenin’s Mausoleum

The “love-it-or-hate-it” of tourist attractions in Russia. A glass sarcophagus containing the embalmed body of Russian revolutionary, Vladimir Lenin. It may seem a bit bizarre to display the mummy of a person, but it has been there for almost half a century and the 2.5 million visitors who come each year, clearly feel the queuing and thorough body search are worth it, to be in Lenin’s presence.

Pro Tip: no photos and no loud talking are allowed inside the Mausoleum.

Eternal Flame

There is an Eternal Flame in honor of an unknown soldier on the left side of Red Square. The hourly changing of the guards is worth seeing.

The Kremlin is the official residence of the Russian president. You can see it from the outside, or you can take an excursion to one of the museums located inside. This is the biggest active fortress in Europe, and holds a week’s worth of attractions! Once behind the 7,332-feet of walls, there are five squares, four cathedrals, 20 towers, various museums, and the world’s largest bell and cannon to see. Worth a special mention is the Armory Chamber that houses a collection of the famous Faberge Eggs.

Pro Tip: You can only go inside the Kremlin if you are part of a tourist group.

2. Bolshoi Theatre

Bolshoi Theatre translates to “The Big Theatre” in Russian, and the building is home to both the Bolshoi Ballet and Bolshoi Opera — among the oldest and most famous ballet and opera companies in the world.

Pro Tip: It’s hard to get an inexpensive ticket, so if you’re reading well in advance of going to Moscow then try buying tickets on the official website . Last-minute tickets cost around $250 per person. If this is out of your budget, about an hour before a performance, you can try buying a ticket at the entrance from a reseller. Most can speak enough English to negotiate the price.

Tour the Bolshoi Theatre: You can take a group guided tour of the Bolshoi Theatre which focuses on the history and architecture of the theatre and behind the scenes. There’s an English language tour that lasts 2 hours and costs around $300 for a group of up to six.

3. Luxury Shopping At GUM And TSUM

Russia’s main department store, GUM, has a stunning interior that is home to over 100 high-end boutiques, selling a variety of brands: from luxurious Dior to the more affordable Zara. Even if shopping is not on your Moscow to-do list GUM is still worth a visit; the glass-roofed arcade faces Red Square and offers a variety of classy eateries. TSUM, one of the biggest luxury malls in town, is right behind the Bolshoi and GUM. It’s an imposing building with lots of history, and worth a visit just for its design and its glass roof.

4. Christ The Savior Cathedral

This is one of Russia’s most visited cathedrals and is a newer addition to the gorgeous array of Muscovite cathedrals, but don’t let its young age fool you. After perestroika, in the early 90s, the revived Russian Orthodox Church was given permission to build a cathedral on this site. It did the location honors and built the largest temple of the Christian Orthodox Church. The façade is as grand as you’d expect, but it’s the inside that will mesmerize you, with its domes, gold, gorgeous paintings, and decor!

The cathedral is located just a few hundred feet away from the Kremlin and was the site of the infamous Pussy Riot protest against Putin back in 2012.

Pro Tip: Bring a shawl to cover your hair as is the local custom.

5. Gorky Park

Moscow’s premier green space, Gorky Park (Park Gor’kogo) is the city’s biggest and most famous park. There is entertainment on offer here for every taste, from outdoor dancing sessions to yoga classes, volleyball, ping-pong, rollerblading, and bike and boat rental in summer. In winter, half the park turns into a huge ice skating rink. Gorky Park is also home to an open-air movie theater and the Garage Museum of Contemporary Art. There is also Muzeon Art Park, a dynamic contemporary space with a unique collection of 700 sculptures. It is located right in front of Gorky Park.

6. Sparrow Hills Park

If you take a walk from Gorky Park, along the Moscow River embankment, you’ll end up in the city’s other legendary park, Sparrow Hills. Although the park doesn’t offer as many activities as its hip neighbor, it has a great panoramic view of the city

Pro Tip: You can take a free walking tour to all of the above attractions with an English-speaking guide.

7. River Cruising

One of the best ways to experience Moscow, and see all the famous landmarks, but from a different angle, is from the Moscow River. Take a river cruise. Avoid the tourist crowds. There are little nameless old boats that do the cruise, but if you are looking for a more luxurious experience take the Radisson Blu cruise and enjoy the sights with some good food and a glass of wine.

8. Metro Hopping

Inaugurated in the 1930s, the Moscow Metro system is one of the oldest and most beautiful in the world. Started in Stalinist times, each station is a work of art in its own right. I’d recommend touring the stations between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. This way, you’ll be able to properly see it without the crowds. Ideally, I’d recommend taking a tour with a knowledgeable guide with GuruWalk, who will tell you stories of forgotten stations and how the history of the country is interconnected with the metro development. If going by yourself, then I definitely recommend checking out: Mayakovskaya, Ploschad Revolutsii, Kievskaya, Kropotkinskaya, Kurskaya, and Novoslobodskaya stations.

Visit the free Moscow Metro Museum: For real train enthusiasts, located in the southern vestibule of Sportivnaya station is a small free museum. Here you can take a peek into the driver’s cabin, see a collection of metro tokens from different cities, and see different models of a turnstile, traffic lights, escalator, and more.

9. Moscow State University View

In his effort to create a grander Moscow, Stalin had seven skyscrapers built in different parts of town; they’re called the Seven Sisters. The largest of these buildings and the one with the best view is the main building of the Moscow State University. Although this is a little outside the city center, the view is more than worth it.

10. Izmailovsky Market

Mostly known for the city’s largest flea market, the district of Izmaylovo is home to a maze of shops where you can get just about anything, from artisan crafts to traditional fur hats, handcrafted jewelry, fascinating Soviet memorabilia, and antiquities. It’s also one of Moscow’s largest green spaces. There are often no price tags, so be prepared to haggle a bit. Head to one of the market cafes for a warming mulled wine before continuing your shopping spree.

The History of Vodka Museum is found here, and the museum’s restaurant is the perfect place to sample various brands of the national drink.

Once you’ve covered the more touristy spots, Moscow still has plenty to offer, and the places below will also be full of locals! So for some local vibes, I would strongly recommend the spots below!

11. Moscow City

With a completely different vibe, Moscow City (also referred to as Moscow International Business Center) is like a mini Dubai, with lots of impressive tall glass buildings. Here is where you’ll find the best rooftops in towns, like Ruski Restaurant, the highest restaurant both in Moscow City and in Europe. Moscow City is great for crowd-free shopping and the best panoramic views of the city.

12. Tretyakov Gallery

Tretyakov Gallery started as the private collection of the Tretyakov brothers, who were 19th-century philanthropists. They gave their private collection to the government after their deaths. If there is just one museum you visit in Moscow, I recommend this one!

13. Tsaritsyno Museum-Reserve

Tsaritsyno was a residence of Catherine the Great more than two centuries ago. It became derelict during the Soviet era but has now been fully renovated. With its opulently decorated buildings, gardens, meadows, and forests, Tsaritsyno Park is the perfect place for a green respite in Moscow.

14. Kolomenskoye

A 10-minute metro ride from the city center is Kolomenskoe Museum-Reserve, where you can get an idea of what Russia looked like 200 years ago. You’ll find ancient churches (one dating back to the 16th century), the oldest garden in Moscow, and the wonderful fairytale wooden palace of Tsar Alexey Mikhailovich, father of Peter the Great.

15. Ostankino TV Tower

Built in 1967, Ostankino TV Tower was the tallest free-standing construction in the world at the time, it’s still the 8th tallest building in the world and the highest in Europe. It’s also the best observation deck, with a glass floor and 360-degree views. The speedy elevators take you 1,105 feet in next to no time.

Pro Tip: You need to book in advance; entrance is based on specific ticket times and the capacity is limited and only a certain number of tourists are allowed per day. Don’t forget your passport, you’ll need it to get through security.

16. Zaryadye Park

Zaryadye is a newly opened, landscaped urban park so new you won’t find it in a lot of tour guides. The park is near Red Square and is divided into four climatic zones: forest, steppe, tundra, and floodplains, depicting the variety of climatic zones in Russia.

These last three suggestions are a little quirky, but all are really worth checking out.

17. Museum Of Soviet Arcade Games

Release your inner child playing on 66 arcade machines from the Soviet era! What a great way to spend a couple of hours when tired of visiting museums and palaces. The staff speaks excellent English and are happy to explain how the games work.

18. Moscow Rooftop Tour

Take a 1-hour private Moscow rooftop tour with an experienced roofer. I can just about guarantee none of your friends will be able to say they’ve done it! For your comfort, I recommend wearing comfortable shoes. Take your camera, there are some amazing photo opportunities out there!

19. Sanduny Banya

This classical Russian bathhouse opened its doors in 1808 and is famous for combining traditional Russian banya services with luxurious interiors and service. If you enjoy spas and saunas, then you should experience a Russian bathhouse at least once in your life! Go with an open mind and hire a specialist to steam you as it’s meant to be done — by being beaten repeatedly with a besom (a leafy branch)! This is said to improve circulation, but is best done by a professional!

So there you have my list of things to do in Moscow. I could have gone on and on and on, but I didn’t want to try your patience! There are so many things to do in this vibrant city that you’ll definitely need to allocate several days for exploring.

Here are some other reasons to visit Moscow and Russia:

• 7 Reasons To Put Moscow On Your Travel Bucket List
• Russia 30 Years (And 30 Pounds) Ago
• Massive Mysterious Craters Appearing Again In Siberia

Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, before moving to Africa at the age of 21, Sarah Kingdom is a mountain climber and guide, traveler, yoga teacher, trail runner, and mother of two. When she is not climbing or traveling she lives on a cattle ranch in central Zambia. She guides and runs trips regularly in India, Nepal, Tibet, Russia, and Ethiopia, taking climbers up Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro numerous times a year.

What is the difference between a solar eclipse and a lunar eclipse?

It almost time! Millions of Americans across the country Monday are preparing to witness the once-in-a-lifetime total solar eclipse as it passes over portions of Mexico, the United States and Canada.

It's a sight to behold and people have now long been eagerly awaiting what will be their only chance until 2044 to witness totality, whereby the moon will completely block the sun's disc, ushering in uncharacteristic darkness.

That being said, many are curious on what makes the solar eclipse special and how is it different from a lunar eclipse.

The total solar eclipse is today: Get the latest forecast and everything you need to know

What is an eclipse?

An eclipse occurs when any celestial object like a moon or a planet passes between two other bodies, obscuring the view of objects like the sun, according to NASA .

What is a solar eclipse?

A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon comes in between the Earth and the sun, blocking its light from reaching our planet, leading to a period of darkness lasting several minutes. The resulting "totality," whereby observers can see the outermost layer of the sun's atmosphere, known as the corona, presents a spectacular sight for viewers and confuses animals – causing nocturnal creatures to stir and bird and insects to fall silent.

Partial eclipses, when some part of the sun remains visible, are the most common, making total eclipses a rare sight.

What is a lunar eclipse?

A total lunar eclipse occurs when the moon and the sun are on exact opposite sides of Earth. When this happens, Earth blocks the sunlight that normally reaches the moon. Instead of that sunlight hitting the moon’s surface, Earth's shadow falls on it.

Lunar eclipses are often also referred to the "blood moon" because when the Earth's shadow covers the moon, it often produces a red color. The coloration happens because a bit of reddish sunlight still reaches the moon's surface, even though it's in Earth's shadow.

Difference between lunar eclipse and solar eclipse

The major difference between the two eclipses is in the positioning of the sun, the moon and the Earth and the longevity of the phenomenon, according to NASA.

A lunar eclipse can last for a few hours, while a solar eclipse lasts only a few minutes. Solar eclipses also rarely occur, while lunar eclipses are comparatively more frequent. While at least two partial lunar eclipses happen every year, total lunar eclipses are still rare, says NASA.

Another major difference between the two is that for lunar eclipses, no special glasses or gizmos are needed to view the spectacle and one can directly stare at the moon. However, for solar eclipses, it is pertinent to wear proper viewing glasses and take the necessary safety precautions because the powerful rays of the sun can burn and damage your retinas.

Contributing: Eric Lagatta, Doyle Rice, USA TODAY

Watch CBS News

Why do total solar eclipses happen? Learn what will cause today's celestial show.

By Emily Mae Czachor

Updated on: April 8, 2024 / 12:20 PM EDT / CBS News

A total solar eclipse takes shape today, April 8, when an overlap between the sun and the moon is expected to darken daylight skies over parts of North America and ask awestruck Earthlings to briefly reckon with their place in the universe. It will mark the United States' first total solar eclipse since August 2017 , although experts say this upcoming astral event could prove to be even more impressive than the last. 

Here's what to know about total solar eclipses and why they occur.

What exactly is a solar eclipse?

Eclipses of all types are caused by an alignment in space between the sun, moon and Earth. Their precise choreography results in one celestial body obscuring another, and, depending on whether the moon is positioned on the side of Earth nearest the sun or farthest from it, the moon either casts its shadow onto Earth or vice versa. During a lunar eclipse, like the one that appeared over much of the Western hemisphere in late March, all three align with Earth sandwiched in between. That sometimes allows people to watch as a shadow of the planet, backlit by the sun's rays, moves across the moon's surface.

Their alignment is switched during a solar eclipse. The moon, while orbiting Earth, passes between the planet and the sun in such a way that it appears to cross directly in front of the star, temporarily blocking its light from view. With the sun behind it, a shadow of the moon is cast onto Earth. 

People within the path of that shadow — much narrower than the shadow Earth casts onto the comparatively smaller moon during a lunar eclipse — will see day turn to twilight as the moon passes overhead along its orbit.

"It's profound," said Michael Kirk, a research astrophysicist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center who traveled to Oregon for the total solar eclipse seven years ago. "Because it brings all of these astronomical qualities and quantities down to what you can see with your eyes."

Why do total solar eclipses happen?

Because Earth is constantly orbiting the sun, and the moon constantly orbits Earth, an eclipse of some kind generally occurs four to seven times each year, somewhere in the world. Total eclipses are less common .

"It's based on the distance from the Earth to the moon, the Earth's orbit and, of course, the position of the sun in the sky from Earth," said Kirk. "When all of those align, when that recipe gets to be just right, you get a total solar eclipse."

They are especially striking to witness from Earth, something scientists chalk up to a spectacular cosmic coincidence. The sun's diameter — the length from one end to the other — is about 400 times as large as the moon's, and its position in space is about 400 times farther than the moon's from Earth. From the vantage point of the planet, that ratio causes the moon and sun to look as though they are similar sizes. It can make for dramatic solar eclipses, since the moon can block out all or most of the light.

Solar eclipses can only occur during a new moon , a milestone phase of the lunar cycle. New moons happen roughly once a month, when the moon's orbit around Earth and Earth's orbit around the sun intersect, with the moon gliding between the star and the planet. A similar intersection happens during a full moon, the new moon's polar opposite. On that end of the cycle, Earth winds up in the middle instead.

Like the planet, the moon has its own sort of night and day, determined by which side of the moon faces the sun at different points in its orbit. As sunlight reflects off of half of the surface of the moon, people gazing upward see its bright, sun-facing side as moonlight.

None of the moon's sunny side faces Earth during a new moon, which is why it looks like a dark disc covering the sun during a solar eclipse. But solar eclipses do not happen each month when the new moon does.

Although the moon does pass by the sun at regular intervals, the perfect lineup necessary for a solar eclipse is often missed. The moon's orbit around Earth is tilted compared with Earth's around the sun. So, when their orbits cross paths during a new moon, the intersection usually happens at an angle. The angle of just about five degrees is enough to throw off the alignment, so the new moon typically passes slightly above or slightly below the slice of light beamed from the sun onto Earth, rather than passing through it. The moon's tilted orbit is also why full moons happen monthly but lunar eclipses do not.

What exactly happens during a solar eclipse?

As the new moon glides squarely between Earth and the sun, the sunlight still shining around it from behind projects a shadow over a portion of the planet. The natural course of the moon's orbit traces a path along the surface of Earth, which is moving, too, as it continues to track its own orbit and spins on its axis at the same time. The path then becomes a traveling shadow, called the path of totality, where within its bounds the shadow is experienced on the ground as a total solar eclipse.

"By observing the eclipse shadow pass over you, you're actually observing the moon's orbit in human-scale real-time," said Kirk. "When you see the eclipse shadow racing across the land as you go into totality, and you're in it for a minute and you see it leaving just as fast, that is literally the orbit of the moon that you're watching."

The moon is closer to Earth now than it was during the total solar eclipse that dazzled millions of Americans in 2017, so today's spectacle will have a much wider path of totality. That presents a unique opportunity for many across the country to witness a total solar eclipse, perhaps for the first time. In the contiguous United States, there will not be another chance for 20 years.

Today's eclipse will see the moon temporarily blot out the sun in skies over a vast stretch of North America, moving from the Pacific Coast of central Mexico to the southwestern U.S., the Midwest, the Northeast and New England before tapering off in far-eastern Canada. Millions of people are flocking to places  inside the path of totality , which includes cities like Dallas and Buffalo, for the show.

As the eclipse passes overhead, people watching should see afternoon light fade to resemble something like dusk or dawn. But anyone who decides to look up, even through a camera lens , needs to wear specialized protective glasses .

Weather permitting, observers in the path of totality may also be able to see wisps of the sun's outermost atmosphere, called corona. They could potentially see a coronal mass ejection, too, which is essentially an eruption of solar material from that outer layer. Unlike the total solar eclipse in 2017, this one comes in the midst of an especially active and energetic period for the sun.

What is different about the cause of a partial solar eclipse?

People just outside the path of totality today may witness a partial solar eclipse , which happens when the moon passes between the sun and the planet without flawless alignment. Skywatchers inside the path will likely see partial eclipses before and after totality. From Earth, the moon appears to cover only part of the sun during a partial solar eclipse, at times creating the crescent shape more often associated with moonlight.

Partial and total are not the only categories of eclipse. Annular is another iteration, where the cosmic recipe for a total solar eclipse unfolds but the moon is at, or close to, the farthest point from Earth in its elliptical orbit. As it did with the annular eclipse that slipped past the U.S. last October, that extra distance causes the moon to appear smaller against the backdrop of the sun during an eclipse, like a black spot surrounded by a fiery ring. Eclipses can also shift in some situations between an annular presentation and totality.

What determines the timing of a solar eclipse?

Today's solar eclipse starts over the South Pacific Ocean , according to NASA, and the phenomenon is first expected to arrive on land in coastal Mexico at around 11:07 a.m. PDT. Totality will linger longest near the beginning of the eclipse's path, over an area about 25 minutes northwest of the city of Torreón. There, for up to 4 minutes and 28 seconds, the sun will all but disappear behind the dark veil of the moon.

Earth's rotation guides the path and timing of an eclipse as much as the moon's orbit. Whichever spot on the planet's surface finds itself exactly aligned with the moon when the moon aligns with the sun is where the eclipse "begins." In this case, that spot is somewhere in the South Pacific. But the moon's position changes in orbit while the planet turns as the day goes on, and their calibration with the sun eventually falls out of alignment. The eclipse "ends" at the spot on Earth's surface where alignment is intact for the last time.

How long totality lasts in any given place is based on the curvature of the Earth, and the distance between its surface and the moon during a solar eclipse.

"The peak eclipse is where the moon is closest to the Earth's surface and the most aligned with the sun," said Kirk. "So, as that alignment gets off from the ideal peak, and you move around on the Earth's surface because the Earth is round, that curvature brings you out of perfect alignment just a little bit. That means the length of time that you get that perfect alignment between the Earth, sun and moon to get totality is just a little bit shorter, and a little bit shorter."

After today's eclipse leaves Mexico, totality will touch parts of Texas , Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, as well as limited areas in Tennessee and Michigan along the way. Once the eclipse passes through the U.S., it is forecast to enter Canada in Southern Ontario before moving on to Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and, finally, Cape Breton. It will exit continental North America on Newfoundland's Atlantic Coast at 5:16 p.m. in the local time zone.

The amount of time spent in darkness at each location within the path of totality is shorter than the last. But areas all along the eclipse's route will still experience it for long enough to notice, with scientists estimating that even portions of Canada at the far end of it will witness totality for up to 3 minutes and 21 seconds.

For comparison, the longest period of totality observed during the 2017 solar eclipse was only 2 minutes and 42 seconds, near Carbondale, Illinois. Plus, NASA has estimated that 99% of people in the U.S. will experience the next solar eclipse to some degree — either partially or totally — no matter where they live. That includes parts of Alaska and Hawaii.

Emily Mae Czachor is a reporter and news editor at CBSNews.com. She covers breaking news, often focusing on crime and extreme weather. Emily Mae has previously written for outlets including the Los Angeles Times, BuzzFeed and Newsweek.

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Dog Company Announces New Air Travel Experience Designed Specifically for Canines: They 'Will Be the VIPs'

Routes will currently serve the New York City metro area with flights to Los Angeles and London

Man's best friend will soon be able to get the VIP treatment when taking to the skies!

Earlier this week, BARK , a dog-focused company that provides products, services and content for canines, launched BARK Air , the "world’s first air travel experience designed specifically for dogs first, and their human companions second," according to a press release obtained by PEOPLE.

Currently, routes will serve the New York City metro area through Westchester County Airport (HPN) with flights to the Los Angeles area via Van Nuys (VNY) and London, by Stansted Airport (STN).

According to the release, an Argus Platinum-rated charter company is "responsible for all aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance-related matters." BARK, meanwhile, the release said, is "focused on creating and delivering a world-class air travel experience for dogs and their people."

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After booking a trip online, users will be contacted by a BARK Air concierge, who will gather information about each dog and their human’s travel plans.

On the day of travel, pets and their human counterparts will arrive at the airport 45 to 60 minutes before takeoff, when the dogs will mingle with other canine companions as their owners dine on meals prepared by onsite chefs.

Next, dogs will be greeted by BARK Air concierge, who will "help them settle into their experience through socialization and dog-centric cabin preparation," per the release. They will also have access to various aids, the company added, including "calming treats, noise-canceling ear muffs and calming jackets to ensure a stress-free and enjoyable flight."

Once onboard, BARK-branded treats, snacks and "surprises" will be offered to the dogs, and they will be "served their beverage of choice during ascent and descent to ensure they do not experience any ear discomfort commonly caused by changes in cabin pressure," BARK said.

“When we started BARK in 2011, we were on a mission to disrupt the dog space and create products designed for dogs and their humans. We are excited to take the insights we’ve learned over the years to create an experience that is truly dog-first, which is drastically different from just accepting dogs — from the ground to the skies,” said Matt Meeker, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer at BARK.

“We believe this initiative will elevate awareness of our brand’s mission and values, introduce more dog lovers to the BARK family, and help enrich the lives of dogs and their people around the world," he added.

In a statement of his own, Zahir Ibrahim, Chief Financial Officer at BARK, echoed those sentiments, stating, “We believe this initiative will raise awareness of BARK’s mission in a cost-effective manner. Given we are not committed to booking flights far in advance, we have a lot of flexibility to opportunistically charter flights during times of high demand."

"In parallel, we believe the additional traffic to BARK.co will raise awareness of our full offering, benefiting our core business in the long term," he continued.

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'Harmful Cosmic Radiation' Will Pass Close to Earth 'Tonight'?

The april 8, 2024, total solar eclipse gave new life to old fears., anna rascouët-paz, published april 8, 2024.

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As the April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse approached, Snopes' inbox began to fill up with a familiar claim that "tonight," cosmic rays would pass close to the Earth, endangering those who leave switched-on personal electronic devices close to them. The text of these " copypasta " messages was nearly identical in every case:

Tonight from 12:30 am to 3:30 am do not forget to turn off your cell phone, tablet, computer, etc. and place it very far from your body. Singapore TV announced this news. Please tell your relatives and friends. Tonight, from 12:30 am to 3:30 am, our planet will have very high radiation. Cosmic rays will pass very close to the earth. So please turn off your cell phone. Do not leav the equipment close to your body, as it may cause terrible damage. If you don't believe you can check on Google and NASA BBC News. Send this message to all the people important to you. Everyone is in danger, take care of yourselves.

This viral message, which we last  fact-checked in 2017 , is a hoax that has been circulating online since at least 2014. It's been debunked repeatedly since, by outlets such as Agence France-Presse in 2021 , which noticed it was being shared widely in Thailand. In 2019, Vishvas News also addressed this claim when it was spreading in India.

Where Do Cosmic Rays Come From?

Cosmic rays have two sources. One type of cosmic ray originates from supernovas , which are massive stars that "die," collapsing on their own gravity, and then turn either into black holes or neutron stars. As they go through this process, the supernovas hurl charged particles — protons and electrons — through space. These particles go so fast, they can penetrate easily through matter. The second source of cosmic rays is the sun. Solar flares and other solar events can also emit charged particles that reach Earth. 

The good news is that Earth's magnetic field protects us from these cosmic rays, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA):

The Earth is shielded by a magnetic field that makes the charged particles bounce from pole to pole, creating two gigantic donut-shaped belts populated by energetic electrons and protons. The magnetosphere deflects cosmic rays and protects us from solar flares. Sometimes, cosmic radiation does reach us, but without creating any harm, just like other low levels of radiation we are regularly exposed to. 

This video by the television program Nova explains it well: 

How Exposed Are We?

The average human is exposed to 3.5 millisieverts of radiation per year, according to the IAEA, only 10% of which is due to cosmic rays. A far larger proportion of such radiation comes from medical exams like X-rays, mammograms, or CT scans, the agency says. There are other natural sources, including radon , which the soil emits in certain areas.

Our level of exposure to cosmic rays varies, because the higher up in space we find ourselves, the more exposed we are. For example, we are more exposed to cosmic rays on high-altitude flights that pass over the poles. This is of particular concern to airplane crews on long-haul flights, a risk about which the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a warning to airline employees.

People who travel into space are even more at risk of harmful radiation. NASA also warns its employees about the risk of cancer potentially cause by that radiation, among other things:

Radiation exposure incurred during space exploration is one of the greatest threats to an astronaut's health. The associated risks include, carcinogenesis, degenerative tissue effects, central nervous system effects, and acute radiation syndromes. The radiation environment outside of Earth's protective atmosphere is comprised of energetic protons and heavy nuclei that pose a hazard to living organisms. The damage caused by energetic nuclei has been shown to produce distinct biological damage compared with radiation on Earth, leading to large uncertainties in the projection of health risks and obscuring evaluation of the effectiveness of possible radiation countermeasures.

But as long as we stay on Earth, and thanks to our planet's magnetic field, cosmic rays do not ordinarily pose a significant threat to human health, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control .

Cosmic Radiation: Why We Should Not Be Worried . 12 Apr. 2021, https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/cosmic-radiation-why-we-should-not-be-worried.

'FACT CHECK: Post Asking People To Switch Off Phone Due To Cosmic Rays Is Fake'. Vishvas News , 26 June 2019, https://www.vishvasnews.com/english/society/fact-check-post-asking-people-to-switch-off-phone-due-to-cosmic-rays-is-fake/.

[email protected]. 'Missing Link Found: Supernovae Give Rise to Black Holes or Neutron Stars'. Www.Eso.Org , https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2401/. Accessed 8 Apr. 2024.

Kasprak, Alex. 'FACT CHECK: Will Dangerous Cosmic Rays Pass Close to Earth "Tonight"?' Snopes , 24 May 2017, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/dangerous-cosmic-gamma-rays/.

'Old Hoax Circulates on Thai Social Media Warning People to Turn off Mobile Phones Due to Harmful Cosmic Rays Passing Earth'. Fact Check , 12 Mar. 2021, https://factcheck.afp.com/old-hoax-circulates-thai-social-media-warning-people-turn-mobile-phones-due-harmful-cosmic-rays.

Space Radiation - NASA . 16 Mar. 2023, https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/esdmd/hhp/space-radiation/.

US EPA, OAR. Health Risk of Radon . 14 Aug. 2014, https://www.epa.gov/radon/health-risk-radon.

What Aircrews Should Know About Their Occupational Exposure to Ionizing Radiation . Federal Aviation Agency, Oct. 2003, https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA423589.pdf.

What Is Solar Activity? - NASA . https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/what-solar-activity/. Accessed 8 Apr. 2024.

By Anna Rascouët-Paz

Anna Rascouët-Paz is based in Brooklyn, fluent in numerous languages and specializes in science and economic topics.

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U.S. restricts travel for Israel staff as Iran attack fears rise

The United States has restricted travel for its staff in Israel , as fears grow of an imminent retaliatory attack by Iran .

The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem issued a security alert Thursday restricting its employees and their family members from personal travel outside the greater Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Be’er Sheva areas until further notice “out of an abundance of caution.”

The warning comes as Israel’s military vowed it would defend the country and respond, with expectations mounting that Tehran will soon strike back for the attack on its embassy in Syria that killed a number of senior commanders. The exchanges have raised fears that the Israel-Hamas war that has devastated the Gaza Strip could escalate into a wider conflict.

Israel never claimed responsibility for the airstrike on its rival’s consulate in Damascus, but Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said earlier this week that Israel “must be punished and it shall be,” for what he considered an effective attack on Iranian soil.

The U.S. has promised support for its ally in the face of Iranian threats and worked to persuade Tehran to avoid significant escalation, but Israel has signaled its readiness for whatever retribution may be coming.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Thursday that a direct Iranian attack will require “an appropriate Israeli response” against Iran, while an Israel Defense Forces spokesperson, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, said that the country was “alert and highly prepared” for a variety of scenarios.

“Whoever harms us, we will harm them,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also said Thursday as he visited an air base. “We are prepared to meet all of the security needs of the state of Israel, both defensively and offensively,” he added.

The growing tensions in the Middle East come as Palestinians in Gaza marked somber Eid celebrations this week amid severe food shortages despite Israeli promises to allow more humanitarian aid into the enclave. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday that famine in Gaza was “imminent,” after USAID Administrator Samantha Power said a day earlier that it was “credible” to assess that famine had already begun in the territory.

More than 33,600 people have now been killed in Gaza, the enclave’s Health Ministry said, in the six months of war since the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7, which killed an estimated 1,200 people.

The militant group’s political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, said Hamas was still seeking a cease-fire deal despite the deaths of his three sons in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza earlier this week, but talks to secure a truce and the release of remaining hostages remain deadlocked .

It remained unclear whether Iran’s retaliation would come in the form of a direct attack or through some of the web of Tehran-backed groups that have already waged attacks from Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen in recent months.

Tehran has so far avoided direct confrontation with Israel or Washington. But Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said Thursday that “legitimate defense with the aim of punishing the aggressor” was a necessity in the wake of the consulate strike, accusing Israel of targeting diplomatic premises in violation of international law, according to Iranian state-run news agency IRNA.

The Pentagon said Thursday that top U.S. commander for the Middle East, Gen. Michael “Erik” Kurilla, had moved up his trip to Israel so he could meet with Israeli military leadership and discuss “current security threats.”

President Joe Biden said Wednesday that Iran was threatening to launch a “significant attack on Israel,” and that the U.S. commitment to Israel’s security against threats from Iran and its proxies remained “ironclad” despite growing criticism from Washington of its ally’s actions in Gaza.

The White House also said Thursday that the U.S. has communicated to Iran that it had no involvement in the strike in Damascus, and warned Iran not to use this attack as a pretext to escalate further in the region, or to attack U.S. facilities or personnel.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken has held telephone conversations with his Chinese, Turkish and Saudi counterparts “to make clear that escalation is not in anyone’s interest” and that countries should urge Iran not to escalate.

“We have also engaged with European allies and partners over the past few days and urged them as well to send a clear message to Iran that escalation is not in Iran’s interest, it’s not in the region’s interest, and it’s not in the world’s interest,” spokesman Matthew Miller said Thursday .

British Foreign Minister David Cameron said he had made it clear to his Iranian counterpart that the Islamic Republic must not draw the Middle East into a wider conflict.

“I am deeply concerned about the potential for miscalculation leading to further violence,” Cameron said on X .

France warned its citizens Friday to “imperatively refrain from travel in the coming days to Iran, Lebanon, Israel and the Palestinian Territories.” German airline Lufthansa and its subsidiary Austrian Airlines, the only two Western carriers flying into Tehran, extended a suspension of flights to the Iranian capital.

Yuliya Talmazan is a reporter for NBC News Digital, based in London.