1. Laugavallalaug Hot Spring (or Hot Pot), Highlands of East Iceland. Iceland is famous for a lot of things and all things thermal head that list. The highlands of Iceland are a beautiful but wild place and this is one of those times that most people will want to take a tour. The one that comes to mind is traveling with Bliss Mobil. This is the luxury way to take a trip in the highlands, with luxury RV's specifically created for overlanding a country like Iceland. You can choose from a variety of sizes and styles of RV and there will always be a support group with you as you make your way along your route.
That being said, you can always make other arrangements for traveling in the highlands. I've done it on a budget just by taking the bus to a stop and renting a farmhouse in the interior; hiking on day trips from that location and then returning to Reykjavik. So don't think you have to book a luxury tour.
The thing about finding a natural hot spring in the highlands is that these are the most pure and natural settings. The Blue Lagoon (If you can find it open between volcanic eruptions) is fine. The local pool complexes and seaside hot tubs are great. But, if you want to visit a truly natural setting hot spring, Laugavallalaug is a great spot, because not only do you have a strictly natural view, you have a waterfall to see and swim under.
https://guidetoiceland.is/travel-iceland/drive/laugavallalaug
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsbNhK2Kpw8
https://anywhereweroam.com/iceland-highlands/
2. The Hebron Dual Tours, Jerusalem, Israel. That's right, I said it. I know it's dangerous to visit Israel these days, but that always provides a conundrum for me. How can you understand anything without learning about it first hand?
There are a couple of companies that provide the Dual Tour; one of them is AbrahamTours, but there are more. This gives you a day with the morning on the Israeli side and the afternoon on the Palestinian side. Sounds like a true adventure, right?
I believe that tolerance is only gained through education and understanding. This tour provides meetings and visits to different areas that allow you to learn about both sides of this age old controversy. It gives you the chance to make up your own mind about the issues that this part of the world live with 24/7 365 days a year. I highly recommend it as one of the most educational tours you'll ever take.
https://www.abrahamtours.com/tours/hebron-tour/
https://www.musement.com/us/jerusalem/hebron-dual-narrative-tour-48668/
https://www.arwtravels.com/blog/hebron-dual-narrative-tour-most-divided-city-middle-east
https://www.gojerusalem.com/items/994/Hebron-Dual-Narrative-Tour/
3. Mount Entoto Natural Park and Kuriftu Resort and Spa, Bishoftu, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. That's a mouthful, but basically what I'm talking about is an amazing natural area with more activities and magnificent views than you can possibly imagine, and all not far from Ethiopia's capital.
The spa is everything you can imagine from luxury services and luxury accommodations to adventure and nature. There's a hotel, and there's also camping facilities (more along glamping). You can take part in so many excursions and activities, you'll never run out of things to do. And all in a natural African setting that is unmatched.
You can zip line, hike, go off roading with ATV's. You can do watersports and the list goes on and on. You can also spend your time getting a massage or hot stone therapy amongst so much more at the spa on site. It's a great way to be pampered and be in the middle of nature with amazing views, and all just outside Addis Ababa.
https://www.hotels.com/ho602587424/kuriftu-resort-spa-bishoftu-debre-zeyit-ethiopia/
https://www.brilliant-ethiopia.com/hotels/luxury/kuriftu-resorts
4. The Hargeisa Money Market, Hargeisa, Somaliland. If this isn't one of the most unique markets I've ever heard of, wow. Most of the time when we visit a market in a foreign country, we look at crafts, produce and groceries, clothing and art. It's a way of life for the traveler. Most of us who travel visit a market to get an idea of the city we've just landed in. What do they eat? What do they wear? It's a good way to get acquainted with your vacation venue.
The Hargeisa Market is unique, and to be fair, came to exist out of inflation. There was a time when $1 got you 10,000 Somaliland Shillings. That's a crazy exchange rate. Nowadays, Somaliland has gone quite digital, so if you have service while in the country, ZAAD is the service that you can use right on your phone. You can exchange money, and pay with ZAAD. It's similar to Google Pay or Ally Pay in China.
However, if you want that cash experience, you'll certainly have it at the market. You will find vendor after vendor with piles of money just waiting to make a deal. You'll also feel really rich when you need a wheelbarrow to take your currency with you. It's not a lot of value, and that's why there are no thieves robbing the vendors in the market. The Somaliland Shilling is virtually worthless, but a trip to the market can be a hoot. Just remember, it would take over 100,000 Shillings to buy a Big Mac meal, so it's pretty much just for fun.
https://saxafimedia.com/money-kilograms-unique-market-somaliland/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QjCBRrd9p4
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20170912-the-surprising-place-where-cash-is-going-extinct
5. The Mud Volcanos of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan is home to the world's largest concentration of mud volcanos. They have half of the entire world's known mud volcanos and they also have some of the largest mud volcanos. They are scattered around the country, but the country is small and the landscape is one of a kind. I say, enjoy the car rental and take some day trips while visiting Baku.
Some of the larger volcanos are Boyuk, Kanizadag, and Toraghai. The volcanos emit mud, obviously, but some of them shoot flames into the air on a regular basis. They're mostly found in the desert, because it's a desert country.
If you enjoy natural phenomena, this is a great place to visit. If you love volcanos, it's a must see. There are several places to see them, so take your pick.
https://azerbaijan.travel/explore-mud-volcanoes-near-baku
https://nature.new7wonders.com/wonders/mud-volcanoes-azerbaijan/
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/azerbaijan-mud-volcanoes/index.html
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/mud-volcanoes-of-azerbaijan
And there you have it. I found some weird stuff this week, but I would love to see any bit of it I hope you agree and find an adventure that suits you listed here. I'll be back soon with more potential adventures and some good advice. In the mean time, pick an adventure and enjoy!
