Phnom Penh demands your attention from the moment you arrive. Vibrant, exciting and utterly unpredictable are just a few words to describe Cambodia’s capital. It’s a city of stark contrasts: slick SUVs share the road with old-world cyclos; visitors can relax in a posh cafe and think they are in Paris, or join the locals at a pop-up stall selling fried noodles.

Nestled in the foothills of the Phu Pasak mountain range of southern Laos, the ancient ruins of Wat Phou, a UNESCO-listed World Heritage site, have a special atmosphere to them, inspiring serenity and bliss in those who walk the sacred grounds. In addition to the site’s clear historical appeal, a trip to the ruins is essential for anyone with spiritual inclinations: the calm surroundings, the inherent mysticism and few visitors make it a great place to meditate.

THIS ARTICLE IS AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH AND PORTUGUESE. Nestled into the southeastern coast of Brazil, the island of Vitória promises visitors immersion in the quiet beauty of the Atlantic coastline while simultaneously experiencing the electrifying buzz of contemporary and cosmopolitan Brazil.

With so many destinations in the WHL Group’s ever-expanding network, we have an incredible wealth of local travel information at our fingertips. Through the Inside Word, our local partners – all travel experts – share their top tips on what to do, what to eat, where to party and where to shop in their necks of the woods. This month, we hear from Kate Webb about local travel in Malawi from the inside.

THIS ARTICLE IS AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH AND INDONESIAN. At the heart of Indonesia’s South Sulawesi territory lies the vibrant provincial capital of Makassar. Formerly known as Ujung Pandang, the city has for centuries made its mark in Indonesian history as a bustling port. Today it’s a sprawling metropolis, still rich in history and culture – a perfect gateway from which to discover the rest of South Sulawesi and East Indonesia.

Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, in northeastern Brazil, is an area of appeal for both the traveller on a quest for adventure and the vacationer in search of peace, quiet and balance. From 4×4 excursions on 10-meter high sand dunes to quiet walks on the beach and dives in the crystal-clear waters of the Blue Lagoon, travel in Lençóis Maranhenses has something for the nature lover inside all of us.

The long-tail boat featured here is a super-sized version of what is now becoming a traditional means of water transport in Thailand. Long-tail boats are named for their unusual appearance, with the propeller mounted on a drive shaft that extends several metres beyond the rear of the boat, giving it a ‘long-tailed’ appearance.

Through the Inside Word, local travel experts share their top tips on what to do, what to eat, where to party and where to shop in their neck of the woods. This month, we find our way to the heart of Siem Reap, Cambodia, at the threshold of Angkor Wat.

A herd of elephants stomped across the wide-open plain while a family of giraffes craned their necks for a mid-day snack. As I stared out the window onto the lush green plain, it hit me: This is Africa! My first wildlife sighting in Botswana came before I had even touched down in the Okavango Delta. I took the elephants and giraffes grazing below our Cessna as a sign of things to come.