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Crampons and caviar

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Palawan Province, Philippines

The country's largest province is also its last frontier: a protected archipelago of 1,768 islands, located between the South China Sea and the Sulu Sea. Intrepid travelers can discover its unique wilderness by swimming across the Danao, a volcanic lake, and boating along Puerto-Princesa, the longest underground tributary in the world and one of two UNESCO World Heritage sites in the region. The 18-day journey costs $4,600, airfare not included. Future adventures include Mozambique and Mongolia. www.pioneerexpeditions.com

© Doug McKinlay / Lonely Planet Images

The Sahara, Libya

Isolated for 36 years, the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya is back in the international fold. This 13-day journey with Mountain Travel Sobek, a northern California-based firm, takes visitors from the capital, Tripoli, along the Mediterranean to the 2,000-year-old city of Sabratha, and then into the cinnamon-colored Sahara. There are six departures in as many months starting in November at $5,030 per person, not including airfare. www.mtsobek.com

© Glenn van der Knijff / Lonely Planet Images

Les Cerniers, Switzerland

Located on top of a glacier-topped couloir at an altitude of 4,921 feet in the Swiss Alps, Whitepod is a ski resort unlike any other. No more than 10 guests at a time stay in a smattering of ecochic geodesic domes high above the ski resort of Villars. There's no running water or electricity, but plenty of luxe creature comforts: wood-burning stoves, sheepskin rugs, 14-tog duvets, Tilley lamps and iPod speakers. While Whitepod's expert guides and instructors help guests cut first tracks into the powder, owner and host Sofia de Meyer whips up champagne fondue and hearty pot à feu for guests above. Rooms (including guides, instruction, meals, ski passes and transfers from Geneva) from $265 per night. www.whitepod.com

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Gobi Desert, Mongolia

Take three days to explore the country's southernmost province, a panorama populated by Bactrian camels, Argali mountain sheep, and saker falcons. You'll sleep in traditional-style tents called gers and wake up to skies that would put Montana's to shame. The rest of the 15-day itinerary with International Expeditions ($3,798 per person) includes visits to Mongolia's largest lake, Lake Hovsgol, located amid serrated mountains and a coniferous taiga forest. www.ietravel.com

© Michael Gebicki / Lonely Planet Images

The North Pole

Since 1991, Quark Expeditions has been leading a half-dozen Arctic adventures each year, the pièce de résistance being the 16-day journey from Murmansk to the pole aboard the Russian nuclear icebreaker, the Yamal. The $18,995 trip (airfare not included) entitles passengers to a twin cabin ($24,995 for the suite) and a host of luxuries: a heated indoor swimming pool, exercise room and sauna. The journey includes a day-long crossing of the Barents Sea, three days of travel through the Polar Ice Pack and a day at the pole before the return journey through Franz Josef Land, where spotting polar bears, Arctic fox and beluga whales is a breeze. www.quarkexpeditions.com

© Paul Bernhardt / Lonely Planet Images

The Seven Seas

Forget sailing the Eastern Shore, the Long Island Sound or the Great Lakes. To do something truly unforgettable and liberating, join 17 others for the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. At more than 35,000 miles, the race will take some 10 months to complete. And considering that fewer people have circumnavigated the globe in a yacht than have climbed Mount Everest, you can be a part of an elite group with those rarefied bragging rights. The entire journey -- which starts in southern England, goes to South America, around the horn of Africa, through Asia, across the Pacific, through the Panama Canal and across the Atlantic -- costs $56,193. But you can also opt for each of the seven legs, which cost anywhere from $6,379 to $7,805 (plus $5,533 for training and kit). Among the ports of call for the 68-feet yachts are New York, Durban, South Africa, and Singapore. www.clipper-ventures.com

© Paul Bernhardt / Lonely Planet Images

Mozambique

After decades of war, this former Portuguese colony is firmly back on the map -- at least for intrepid travelers. Five-star hotels and lodges abound, and these are the perfect places from which you can launch a journey to the Quirimbas archipelago, an unspoiled paradise of wildlife on the island nation's northeast coast. Jakera Adventures offers 12-day journeys led by wildlife photographer Paul Kerrison, first by kayak or traditional dhow through this astonishing waterscape dotted with pristine coral, and then by four-wheel drive through the savanna, speckled with 112 species of birds, including mangrove kingfishers and Madagascar bee-eaters. The journey costs $7,350, including meals, lodging and equipment but not airfare. www.adventure-kayaking.com

© Ralph Lee Hopkins / Lonely Planet Images

Iceland

Discover the island aboard an Icelandic SuperJeep: a specially modified Ford Excursion with a six-liter, 400-horsepower engine, 44-inch partially inflated studded tires and the latest safety and navigation equipment -- which despite weather, will safely bring you face-to-face with this island's dramatic landscapes, including the Geysir geothermal area, Gullfoss waterfall and the amazing Blue Lagoon. The three-night SuperJeep Weekend Safaris start from $1,187 and include airfare between the U.K. and Keflavik as well as three nights accommodation in rooms with private facilities; entrance to the Blue Lagoon; two guided 8-10-hour SuperJeep excursions and airport taxes. www.discover-the-world.co.uk/iceland

© Simon Richmond / Lonely Planet Images

Silk Road, Central Asia

Follow in the footsteps of Alexander the Great and Marco Polo as you discover Central Asia's five ex-Soviet 'Stans: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan. The 18-day journey ($8,980 without airfare) begins in the steppes of Kazakhstan and moves west to the shores of the Caspian Sea in Turkmenistan. Since the region was virtually unexplored, you'll see everything from Kyrgyzstan's Saka petroglyphs to Kazakhstan's Zenkov Cathedral and Uzbekistan's Bibi Khanym mosque. While the trip does have a city-hopping flavor, there are plenty of opportunities for naturalists to explore, especially Kazakhstan's Aksu River and Kyrgyzstan's Ala-Archa Gorge, native land of the increasingly rare snow leopards. www.zeco.com

© Jon Armstrong / Lonely Planet Images

Somerville, Tennessee

How about sky diving? Not the regular variety from a couple of thousand feet -- a 30,000-foot jump. That's exactly what Incredible Adventures peddles. The firm, which organizes outrageous daredevil lunacies like flying MiG jets over Moscow, swimming with sharks and air-combat scenarios, offers thrill seekers HALO: a high-altitude, low-open 30,000-feet dive from its base outside Memphis. The $3,495 tandem outings (travel and accommodation not included) are the highest civilian dives ever recorded.www.incredible-adventures.com

Not-So-Dangerous Destinations

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Pakistan

There's no denying that some parts of Pakistan are tough prospects for even the most intrepid travelers. The western tribal region is the rumored safe haven of Osama bin Laden; and Karachi, in the south, continues to see its share of violence. But Lahore, just a few hours southeast of the capital, Islamabad, has roots that run deeper than current geo-political clashes. This city of six million was not only the ancient capital of the Mughal empire, but also the capital of the ethnic Punjab state, divided during the creation of India and Pakistan in 1947. Try to visit during Basant, an annual festival known for its "killer kites." For two days each spring, the sky is filled with colorful crafts flown by rooftop pilots determined to bring down their neighbors' kites. Stay alert, though—the falling string is razor-sharp and known to injure to unlucky pedestrians.

For more information: Pakistan

© Paul Kennedy/Lonely Planet Images

Colombia

FARC rebels still hold parts of Colombia's jungles, but recent years have seen conflict and violence steadily diminish, and the days of cocaine mogul Pablo Escobar running Medellin like a fiefdom are history. Colombia is quickly emerging as a "normal" country—one whose well-policed and safe capital city bursts with world-class dining, shopping and nightlife. A recent advertising campaign claimed that "the only risk is wanting to stay," and it seems to be the truth. Major cruise lines (from Princess to Disney) are again using Colombia's breathtaking seaside city of Cartagena as a port of call. Tourism numbers have doubled in the last four years, but the "new" Colombia is still Latin America's best-kept secret.

For more information: Colombia

© Jeff Koyen

Bangladesh

Like Pakistan, Bangladesh is a young country with a very long history. The former East Pakistan (and before that, part of the British Empire) sits between India and Myanmar, and below Nepal and China—and all four countries' influences are evident in the food, dress and even architecture. The Sundarbans wetlands in the southwest and Cox's Bazaar in the southeast are the country's main tourist attractions. The latter is famous for its beach on the Bay of Bengal—said to be the longest in the world, at 75 continuous miles. The landscape is unusual but fetching—the wide, white sands and rows of fir trees conjure both coastal Maine and Bermuda, the water is warm and famously shark-free. Local developers are responding to increased tourism (mostly from India) with several new luxury properties, including the Seagull Hotel, where the Presidential Suite costs $250 per night.

For more information: Seagull Hotel

© iStockphoto.com/Robert Bremec

Ethiopia

Most Americans know Ethiopia for the famines and subsequent unrest that killed more than one million people in the mid-80s. Twenty years later, Ethiopia isn't exactly prosperous, but travelers are welcomed with open arms and safe passage. One of several countries that bills itself as the "Cradle of Mankind," this landlocked nation in northern Africa is naturally a big drawn for archaeology buffs. The rock-hewn churches of King Lalibela, who ruled in the 12th century, are included on most itineraries. Bet Medhane Alem is the largest monolithic rock-hewn church in the world, but the cross-shaped Bete Giyorgis (Church of St. George) is more famous for being carved down into the ground.

For more information: Ethiopia

Libya

Momar Qadafi still rules this Islamic Republic in North Africa, one of our 10 Not-So-Dangerous Destinations, but since he renounced terrorism and opened up his country to Western tourism a few years ago, travelers have raved about the riches of this little-visited country. Don't expect much nightlife in Tripoli, but its elegant mosques and bustling souks are enough to keep you busy. The long Mediterranean coast is home to spectacular ruins bearing the stamp of Phoenician, Roman, Greek and Byzantine civilizations. Inland, the Libyan Sahara is a vast expanse of oasis towns, silky horizons and remote villages that time forgot. In the far south, the Tadrart and the Acacus mountains are home to the world's largest collection of ancient cave paintings and rock engravings. Why spend another vacation staring at the French Masters when you can go all the way back to the masterpieces of the Berbers and Troglodytes?

For more information: Libya

© Jeff Koyen

Cambodia

No tourists ventured to Cambodia during the madman reign of Pol Pot in the '70s. Even after he was driven from power, Pot's jungle insurgency delayed his country's return to normalcy by at least a decade. But Cambodia has since reclaimed its proper role as a "must" on the Southeast Asian travel circuit. The country is at peace. Sure, there are still areas dotted by landmine warning signs, but if you use common sense, there's no reason you shouldn't find Cambodia as safe as Thailand. The countryside is lush, the capital city is colorful and the ancient temples of Angkor Wat are Southeast Asia's finest.

For more information: Cambodia

Bosnia & Herzegovina

The fighting has been over for more than a decade, but the words "Bosnia and Herzegovina" still scare away travelers who prefer to stick with nearby Croatia and Slovenia. But as a tour through the scarred but charming towns and monasteries of Bosnia prove, Croatia and Slovenia aren't the only Yugoslavia successor states with something to offer. Bosnia offers plenty to do without dwelling on the country's tragic recent past. Any tour of the "heart-shaped land" should include visits to the Adriatic seaside resort of Neum, the stunningly rebuilt Ottoman bridge in Mostar, and the 16th-century dervish monastery at Tekija. For hikers and nature-lovers, Sutjeska National Park is home to one of Europe's last remaining primeval forests as well as Maglic Mountain, Bosnia's highest peak at more than 7,000 feet.

For more information: Bosnia & Herzegovina

Tajikistan

This hospitable country of seven million offers opportunities galore for alpine mountaineering (93 percent of the country is surrounded by mountains), rock climbing, hiking, high-level walking tours and horse or camel riding. After a multiple-day tour of breathtaking peaks and gorges, relax alongside Tajikistan's numerous mountain lakes and lush valleys. After recharging, explore the country's rich store of rare Zoroastrian, Buddhist, Hindu and Christian ruins. Even in the capital, Dushanbe, high-end hotels are few. Most travelers arrange homestays with Tajiks when they arrive, or they coordinate their trip through an agency. The latter option can ease the visa process, too; though the requirements change, foreigners often need a letter of introduction from a Tajikistan-based company.

For more information: Tajikistan

Nicaragua

Like Cambodia, Nicaragua's reputation for violent civil war outlasted the war itself—by decades. Though the pro-Marxist Sandinistas haven't really gone away (they were recently re-elected under a different party name), the lure of capitalism proved too strong to resist. Traveling across this volcanic country is now safe and cheap, even on the public buses, and luxury hotels are popping up at every stop along the way. On the Pacific coast, beach towns like San Juan Del Sur are booming with new hotels and restaurants eager for greenbacks and euros. But the true gem of Nicaragua is Granada, the quiet colonial town whose cobblestone streets and horse-drawn carriages are being stubbornly dragged into the 21st century. Nearby, the stunning Ometepe Island was created when two volcanoes merged in the center of Lake Nicaragua.

For more information: Nicaragua

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