60 days in Asia & Africa Itinerary

With well over 1.3 billion residents, China represents the most populous country in the world, considered by many the cradle of civilization thanks to its history spanning many millennia. While a single trip to China rarely satisfies curious travelers, a well-organized tour reveals a land of awe-inspiring natural scenery, ancient monuments, and giant cities, where the diverse population includes almost 60 different ethnic groups speaking dozens of distinct languages. While many Westerners may know China mostly for its centuries-old tradition of martial arts, discerning travelers visit this vast nation for its outstanding cuisine, pristine landscapes, epic train journeys, and small towns of hardworking and genuinely hospitable people.

Thanks to its location in the Himalayas, tiny Bhutan's main tourist attraction is its stunning natural scenery. The last of the world's Buddhist kingdoms, this mountainous country boasts stretches of fertile land and a small population surviving on subsistence farming. Visitors seeking culturally enriching experiences take a trip to Bhutan to discover a mysterious and magic mountain kingdom where traditional Buddhism slowly and carefully accepts the developments of the modern world. Popular things to do in this "Last Shangrila" include bird-watching, hiking, and biking through some of the planet's least-spoiled wilderness areas, where commercial tourism still seems a concept from a distant future.

With everything from snowcapped mountains and vast grasslands to dense tropical forests, Nepal represents one of the world's most ecologically diverse destinations. A trip to Nepal takes visitors to an ancient land situated between India and China, both of which influence the region's culture, cuisine, and religious traditions. Despite the country's natural appeal, commercial tourism in Nepal remains a relatively new industry and most of the area lies unspoiled and undiscovered by foreigners. Ideal for travelers interested in pushing their physical abilities to the limit, Nepal contains most of the world's tallest peaks, including the legendary Mount Everest.

Underdeveloped and largely ignored by foreign visitors until the 1970s, Oman now represents one of the region's top vacation destinations, attracting tourists with its pretty beaches, impressive dunes, and friendly mountain villages. A tour of Oman allows travelers to discover a traditional Middle Eastern way of life, authentic cuisine, and thriving urban centers where centuries-old heritage meets every modern amenity under the sun. In a country of well-maintained roads, many visitors choose to drive from one city to the next, where a typical Oman itinerary will include World Heritage Sites, historic forts, modern beaches, and an eclectic dining scene.

For such a small country, Jordan boasts a surprising variety of natural landscapes and urban attractions. A trip to Jordan takes visitors on a journey back to biblical times, when sites like the Dead Sea and the ancient yet astonishingly well-preserved city of Petra seemed to be at the heart of world events. Although covered in rocky deserts, Jordan boasts a good network of roads, which makes sightseeing by car an easy way to discover many of the country's top highlights. Begin your tour of Jordan in Amman, the largest urban center and a major political, cultural, and economic hub of this Middle Eastern kingdom.

The land of pharaohs, pyramids, sphinxes, and papyrus, Egypt needs little by way of introduction. Visitors find more than a textbook readout of ancient history when visiting the country--the power, scale, art, and mysticism of its centuries-old culture bleed out from each landmark attraction and seep into the everyday life. Bustling markets, the slow-flowing Nile, the vast desert, and inspiring archeological sites often sit right alongside palaces of great excess and historical importance. All ensure you have plenty to see and do during your vacation in Egypt. In the wake of the Arab Spring in 2011, travel to certain areas where conflict and terrorism are deemed likely remains inadvisable for foreign visitors.