Armenia itself is a former Soviet republic, in the mountainous Caucasus region between Asia and Europe. Among the earliest Christian civilizations, it's defined by religious sites including the Greco-Roman Temple of Garni and 4th-century Etchmiadzin Cathedral, headquarters of the Armenian Church. Armenia offers a range of winter sports activities. ...

The small Balkan country of Montenegro has rugged mountains, medieval villages and a narrow strip of beaches along the Adriatic. The Bay of Kotor, resembling a fjord, is dotted with coastal churches and fortified towns such as Kotor and Herceg Novi. The Durmitor National Park, home to bears and wolves, has limestone peaks, glacial lakes and the Tar...

Normandy is a region of northern France with a coastline that takes in white-chalk cliffs and WWII beachheads, including Omaha Beach, site of the D-Day landing. Just off the coast, the rocky island of Mont-Saint-Michel has a Gothic abbey. The city of Rouen, dominated by Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Rouen, is where Catholic saint Joan of Arc was execute...

​ Oliver's Travels has enhanced its ski offering in France with a selection of over 500 chalets in the French Alps. Destinations range from family-friendly alpine retreats in The Three Valleys to luxury chalets in Val d'Isere. The company is highlighting : Olivers Travels was launched in 2013, bringing together luxury villa specialists Simply Chate...

​ ICEHOTEL 34, where every room is a work of art, has opened in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden. (Images :Christopher Hauser) Its suites, sculptures, and halls are entirely made of ice and snow created by a group of international artists. ICEHOTEL, which first opened in 1989, is created anew every winter, of natural ice from Torne River, one of Sweden´s nation...

Kotor is a medieval walled town with a rich history and culture, located at the foot of Mount Lovćen at the southern end of Montenegro's Boka Bay. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1979. The site includes the old town of Kotor, its fortifications and the inner Bay of Kotor. As part of our recent tour of the Balkan countries we briefly ...