Marina Beach is one of the longest urban beaches in the world, stretching about 13 kilometres along the Bay of Bengal, boasting a lively atmosphere with numerous vendors selling food, refreshments, and souvenirs. The beach is also home to the Marina Lighthouse, which offers panoramic views of the city and the sea. Nearby, you can find the Chennai Marina Aquarium, which showcases marine life, though it is more modest compared to large aquariums.

Climb up the canyon or go for a hike to cross suspension bridges and marvel at waterfalls and nature. Or — for something as rewarding but a lot less physically demanding — have a seat in the unique Air Canyon system, which catapults you straight over the canyon and allows you to observe the surroundings from a bird's perspective. The canyon is located on Highway 138, just 5 minutes from the Sainte-Anne Basilica, so both can be done within the same day.

The favelas are Brazil's gloomily famous shanty towns. Once a shelter for war veterans and freedmen, they have now become the symbol of social and economic inequalities in the country. A guided tour of these communities represents a unique opportunity to understand the locals' living conditions, their challenges and their daily struggles. If you have the chance, visit the famous favela named Rocinha to discover a whole different side of Rio de Janeiro. Visits are only recommended as part of a supervised guided tour and may be unsafe to do on one's own.

Not to be mistaken with the larger lake of the same name on the River Shannon, Lough Derg in Co. Donegal is a renowned place of pilgrimage. A traditional three-day pilgrimage takes place each August, but the Lough is open to visitors (including anglers!) year-round. The Lough is composed of over 30 islands and inlets, the most famous of which is Station Island - it is said that when St. Patrick traversed Ireland converting kings to Christianity, Jesus appeared to him here and revealed the entrance to Purgatory! The Lough's name comes from the Irish word "dearg" (red) as a local legend holds that a local mortal once called the magic powers of the lake to transform a worm into a vicious cow. Once defeated, the red blood of the cow changed the colour of the rocks (which are in fact sandstone) to red.