Teeming with wildlife and blessed with an inordinate amount of postcard-worthy scenery, coastal British Columbia is home to killer whales, grizzly bears, and plenty of steelhead trout. The trick is getting to them. At Nimmo Bay, a small resort on the headwaters of the McKenzie Sound (across from the north shore of Vancouver Island), helicopters are an integral part of the agenda. Lodgers jet off to fly-fishing trips in the Great Bear Rainforest, rafting jaunts down the Klina Klini river, whale-watching expeditions and sea kayaking sojourns on tranquil fjords. Bring an iPod to fly to your favorite tunes.

For more information: www.nimmobay.com

Rotorua, a city of more than 50,000 in the North Island’s Bay of Plenty region (New Zealand’s own Lake District), is ringed by several varieties of exotic geothermal activity, including thermal springs, mud pools and sulphur vents. The appropriately dubbed Volcanic Air Safaris offers trips to nearby Mt. Tarawera, a vast lunar crater which famously blew its top in 1886, resulting in the loss of over 150 lives. Patrons can also pay a visit to Whakaari or White Island, an active volcano island 20 miles off the coast, where they can experience its rumbling vents firsthand (from a prudent distance, of course) or wander through the ruins of an abandoned sulphur-mining town.

For more information: www.volcanicair.co.nz

A massive curtain of water that makes Niagara Falls look like a faulty spigot, Iguazu Falls spills over the border between Brazil and Argentina. The statistics (1.67 miles long, 6.5 million liters of water per second) pale in comparison to the experience itself, which can surround visitors with some 260 degrees of falling water. Helisul offers 35-minute tours that suspend patrons vertiginously over the Garganta del Diablo, or Devil’s Throat. While the undeniable environmental impact of helicopter traffic in this UNESCO World Heritage Site has led to some controversy, Helisul (which also offers flightseeing trips over Rio) has invested in relatively new, quiet helicopters.

For more information: www.helisul.com

, Cairns, Australia

Northern Queensland is the Costa Rica of Australia, a verdant tropical swathe that encompasses dense rainforests, blinding white beaches and the world’s single largest organism, the Great Barrier Reef. From the gateway city of Cairns, the GBR Helicopter Company swoops its patrons over the Coral Sea to an anchored pontoon in the middle of the reef, where they can go snorkeling, enjoy a catamaran ride or take a spin in a semi-submersible vessel. For the upscale and amorous, GBR offers special sunrise flights to a private Coral Cay (i.e., your own private island) for a light, mid-morning brunch.

For more information: www.gbrhelicopters.com.au

While they won’t be gone any time soon, the Juneau glaciers are definitely in retreat, and Era Helicopters offers two-hour trips to the still-spectacular series of ice fields just north of the Alaskan state capital. Patrons hover over four distinct floes, receive some pointers on glacier taxonomy, then touch down for a brief amble on the ice (special glacier walking boots are provided). The dogsled trip, a popular “soft adventure,” allows customers to spend some quality time with dozens of seasoned four-legged Itidarod veterans.

For more information: www.flightseeingtours.com

, Zambia

Colloquially known as “the smoke that thunders,” the massive cataracts of Victoria Falls spume a towering cloud that’s visible up to 30 miles away. While the spectacle of the Zambezi River emptying into the Batoka Gorge is undeniably jaw-dropping, a trip to the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe can also involve plenty of wildlife watching. The Zambezi Helicopter Company offers a 30-minute “game flight” that sweeps over Zambezi National Park after a tour of the falls—elephants, hippos, rhinos and giraffes abound.

For more information: www.shearwateradventures.com/helicopters/default.asp

There are dozens of helicopter tour companies to choose from throughout the islands, but the big kahuna is Blue Hawaiian (of “Jurassic Park” fame). The winner of a prestigious International Star Diamond Award (an accolade usually reserved for high-end hotels and cruises), BH offers tours of Maui, Kauai and the Big Island that zip clients over active volcanoes, lava fields and rainforest waterfalls. In addition, golfers can get a lay of the land of their favorite courses and beachgoers can scout out other resorts. On the island of Kauai, Island Helicopters boasts a perfect safety record.

Fore more information: www.bluehawaiian.com; www.islandhelicopters

, Arizona

This is the big one. More than 600,000 people take air tours of the Grand Canyon every year. There are six companies at the park airport in Tusayan, and several more based out of Las Vegas. Papillon, which has been flying for more than 40 years, offers 30-minute sweeps through the “Dragon Corridor” as well as day-length tours that land at the bottom of the canyon near an ancient Indian village. Sundance, which flies from Vegas, offers a champagne picnic below the crater rim that includes a flight over Lake Mead, Hoover Dam and the Las Vegas Strip.

For more information: www.papillon.com; www.helicoptour.com

The Malaysian state of Sabah occupies the northern tip of the storied isle of Borneo and features a series of spectacular mountain ranges, as well as some of the world’s oldest extant rainforests. The area is also home to Mount Kinabalu, the highest peak in Southeast Asia. A minor ecotourism boom has brought flight-seeing trips to the region, and Sabah Air (which led tsunami relief efforts to Banda Aceh) leads expeditions that fly over rice fields spotted with water buffalos, orangutan preserves, mangrove swamps and the great mountain itself.

For more information: www.sabahair.com.my/public/default.asp

Shortly after the Soufriere Hills volcano erupted in July of 1995, two thirds of the residents of the “Emerald Isle of the Caribbean” were forced to flee, and the capital city of Plymouth lay under 40 feet of ash. This wasn’t expected—the volcano had never erupted in recorded history. While Caribbean Helicopters leads a number of island tours from its base in nearby Antigua, the Montserrat tour is (not surprisingly) the most popular. Passengers get an up-close look at the “exclusion zone” of abandoned towns, ash flows, dried lava fields and the old airport, which was hit by a pyroclastic flow (i.e. avalanche of rock, ash and dust) in 1997.

For more information: www.caribbeanhelicopters.net/tour-index.html

Perhaps the most legendary historic route in the world, the Silk Road is actually a series of connecting routes that stretch 5,000 miles (over land and sea) from the Mediterranean to China. Though the term was coined in 1877 by a German geographer, the route has been used for thousands of years. Pictured above—a majestic view of China's West Lake.

This 220-mile journey, best done by car, traces the route the ancient Greeks took on their way to the site of the original Olympic Games. The road twists and turns through gentle rolling hills dotted with olive trees. Tony Perrottet, author of The Naked Olympics, which is about the origins of the games, says, “It’s hard to beat passing by villages and medieval monasteries that look like they haven’t changed for centuries.”

This nearly 6,000-mile, eight-time-zone-spanning railway is the world’s most popular historic train route. Traversing the sometimes severe landscapes of Russia, Siberia, Mongolia, and China, the Trans-Siberian is like “one big party” says Mary Morris, who made the journey for her travelogue Wall to Wall. Pictured above, the Trans Siberian Express traveling through a fall landscape.

First the Romans came and conquered the Nile River, cruising southward into Africa armed mainly with curiosity for what was beyond the known world. They’d stop to gawk at monuments and mummies. A couple millennia later, the Victorian British were back at it, navigating the Nile for the same reasons their traveling predecessors had. Pictured above, Ramses Temple and the Nile shoreline at Abu Simbel.

The Mississippi, the ultimate American river, is arguably the heart of America, says Mary Morris, whose recent travelogue traces her journey down the waterway. The 2,320 mile-long river stretches from the Land of 10,000 Lakes to the Big Easy, but Morris suggests boating the section between LaCrosse, Wisconsin and Dubuque, Iowa, where the lush beauty resembles other, exotic parts of the world.

This historic railway has become synonymous with luxury and exotic travel. Originally, the line went from Paris to Constantinople, but its ownership as well as routing has changed many times since then. Today the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is run by Orient Express Hotels, Trains and Cruises, and passengers can embark from London, Paris or Venice. The Istanbul route includes stops in Budapest and Bucharest, just like in old times when the trains were operated by the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits

The most famous Roman road was built in 312 B.C. and connected Rome to the south of Italy. Today it’s a great place for travelers to escape the chaos of the Italian capital. Writer Tony Perrottet says you can start in the Roman Forum and follow Via Appia Antica out of the city, passing by the famed catacombs, as well as ancient mausoleums. Today the millennia-old structures along the Appia share space with the modern-day mansions of Rome’s cultural and political elite.

You don’t have to be a Buddhist to enjoy this 800-mile-long pilgrimage route on the Japanese island of Shikoku. The lush natural beauty, jaw-dropping coast, and historic temples might be enough to lure the curious traveler, but as Don George says, “Walking the temple route is a pathway to the scenic and spiritual heart of Japan.” Pictured above, a stone gateway in Jinja, Shikoku.

This 51-mile rail line feels like a train ride to the top of the earth. And it almost is. With 550 bridges, 909 hairpin curves, and not a single tunnel, the route taken by the “Toy Train,” as it’s nicknamed, goes from Silijuri to Darjeeling in the Indian state of West Bengal. At times reaching elevations of 2,200 meters, the train line is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

This 95-mile trek, made up of old military routes, reveals Scotland at its best. Beginning in Glasgow, Scotland’s biggest city, and ending on the top of the 1,300-meter-high Ben Nevis, the West Highland Way is an ideal tapestry of nature and culture wrapped up in a series of well-marked hiking trails. Pictured above, a team of hikers scales the heights of Ben Nevis.

Hail one of the cute antique convertible taxis buzzing around the old city, and the driver -- a lovely young woman with a ponytail that whips in the wind, if you're lucky -- will zoom along the shorefront at 50 miles an hour.

On your left, Old Havana continues to decay elegantly. On your right, young Habaneros hang out on the seawall seeing and being seen. Faster than you can say "Guantanamera," you're pulling into the elegant Hotel Nacional with a screech of tires and a flourish. All for about $5 -- if you're a good negotiator. (Of course, American citizens shouldn't forget that the Cuban experience technically requires the blessing of the U.S. government.)

The ride from Hong Kong International Airport at Chep Lok Kok to Central Hong Kong is a marvel of civil engineering. Leaving the massive terminal, you soon find yourself racing over Kap Shui Mun Bridge on your way to the very impressive Tsing Ma Suspension Bridge -- at 4,500 feet, one of the longest bridges in the world and the longest auto/rail crossing.

Way down below you'll see lots of ship traffic navigating the fast-moving currents of the channel. Next comes the smaller Ting Kau Bridge, which links to the mainland, and from there it's a not-so-scenic trip across Kowloon and through one of the three cross-harbor tunnels to Central Hong Kong. Quite an eyeful for about $45.

A straight shot down 5th Avenue in the back of a yellow cab with an aggressive driver can feel like an amusement park ride (albeit one where English may not be the primary language spoken, but thanks to the city's grid system, that's usually not a problem). By day, he'll weave in and out of traffic while you watch landmarks such as the Plaza Hotel, St. Patrick's Cathedral, the New York Public Library, the Empire State Building and the Flatiron Building go by (not to mention Forbes HQ).

By night, he'll take advantage of the lighter traffic and synchronized traffic lights to achieve near warp speed before screeching to a stop at the brightly lit Washington Square Arch. Step into Mario Batali's Otto (1 Fifth Avenue) to recover with a glass of good red wine and a pizza.

Stick out your hand at the right time of day and five or more black-and-yellow taxis will cut across traffic to compete for your business. On this ride you start near the grave of Eva Perón (have coffee in one of the many pleasant cafes outside the cemetery gate) and cut through the Retiro, one of BA's most chic and European-style neighborhoods, on your way to Avenida Nueve de Julio.

Talk about a major thoroughfare: At 425 feet wide, it's said to be the world's widest street. As you're dropped off at the ornate Teatro Colón (take the tour), you'll notice the imposing Obelisk at the Plaza de la Republica. Huge though it may be, its scale shrinks in the middle of such a grand boulevard.

Sprawling Beijing is a great taxi city. Cheap, fast and numerous (there are 66,000), taxis are the best way to get around, especially when you discover how surprisingly small the subway system is. On this ride, you start at the big new hotel and shopping zone and zip past the old foreign legations (site of the siege of the Boxer Rebellion) until your taxi shoots right across the top of Tiananmen Square.

On your left is the vast plaza ringed by government buildings and Mao's impressive tomb. On your right is the bright red main gate of the Forbidden City, with the iconic image of Chairman Mao keeping a watchful eye over the square. Continue along to some of the old-style hutong neighborhoods, where you can hop out and continue your journey in a bicycle rickshaw with a guide who will show you around some of the city's rapidly disappearing back alleys.

Your taxi driver doesn't need your directions; after all, he has The Knowledge -- the comprehensive street sense that all drivers must possess to get a license. But to get a quick look at three centuries of London architecture and a feel for the bustle of the city, head along Oxford Street and turn onto the elegant curve of Regent Street.

After the flash of Piccadilly Circus and a bit of Haymarket, go around Trafalgar Square and down Whitehall, with British government buildings lining both sides. You'll head right for Parliament and Big Ben and then go over Westminster Bridge to the world's most impressive Ferris wheel. From its 443-foot pinnacle you can easily see the entire route you've just taken.

After beginning your ride, it's amazing how quickly the tiny candy-colored city of Reykjavik falls away and you find yourself cruising across a stunningly desolate landscape of treeless lava fields that tumble to the sea. Forty minutes later, you pull into a parking lot and spot clouds of steam rising from behind a small lava mountain. Head down the path carved through the lava for the soak of a lifetime. You can even continue right on to the airport when you're done. It's the perfect way to say goodbye (or hello) to Iceland.

You may find yourself in the back seat of a Mercedes as you take this relatively quick ride along some of Paris's most famous boulevards, an equally compelling trip by day or night. From the bustling tourist area just north of Notre Dame, you head west, with the majesty of the Louvre flashing by on your left and then the shopping arcades of the Rue de Rivoli on your right. At the majestic Place de la Concorde you pass the Hôtel de Crillon and then speed along the magnificent 1.25 miles of the Avenue des Champs-Elysees to the Arc de Triomphe. Stroll back to Louis Vuitton for an authentic taste of Parisian shopping madness.

In this pulsating city, 18,000 little yellow Fiats (called "taksis," appropriately enough) dart through traffic on the ancient hilly streets. This ride starts at busy Taksim Square and heads downhill along the main thoroughfare, Istiklal Caddesi, past countless shops and restaurants, with occasional views of the Bosphorus ahead and off to your left.

Crossing the Golden Horn on the Galata Bridge you can see the minarets of several mosques including the Hagia Sophia, but you'll lose sight of them as the car plunges into the narrow winding streets of the old town. Get out at the spectacular Blue Mosque, ignore the touts, take off your shoes and explore the awe-inspiring tile work inside.

In a city where, as Robert Benchley memorably noted, the streets are full of water, your taxi will be a boat. Sleek, private water-taxis are available at several spots throughout Venice, and the mahogany beauties are a primary means of transportation between Marco Polo Airport and the city center. These are unique and memorable taxis for a unique and memorable city, but be prepared to pay. Just note that it'll cost close to $100 for even a short ride, since rides from the railway station to a nearby hotel start at 60 euros).