Opening the World to Deaf Travelers with Lily Yu

Zoe Lodge

The creator of Deaf Journey strives to make travel more accessible, one destination at a time. 

Gamcheon Culture Village in Busan, Korea.

When Lily Yu and her husband, Daniel Heidemeyer, both deaf individuals, began sharing travel photos on social media in 2018, she didn’t expect it to grow into a viral movement and a new career opportunity. What began as a private account for friends and family soon evolved into Deaf Journey, a travel media brand focused on sharing accessible guides, amassing over 100,000 followers across Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube and her blog.

Yu’s mission goes far beyond that of a typical content creator focused on travel. As a deaf traveler, she’s become a leading advocate for accessible travel, working to ensure that deaf and other disabled individuals are considered and included in every part of the travel experience, from hotel rooms to museum tours. “I want to make sure traveling is accessible for the deaf community,” Yu says. “That means having interpreters, flashing light fire alarms and visual doorbells in hotels, and captions or transcripts in museums and tours.”

Yu was raised on the East Coast and is a graduate of Gallaudet University, America’s only liberal arts university for the deaf. She began her travel content journey by posting photos from her trips for close friends. “People would ask, ‘How did you find that place?’” she said. “So I kept sharing, and then my husband and I created a public account. That’s when Deaf Journey really began.” Since then, the couple has traveled across all 50 U.S. states, partnered with nearly 40 tourism boards and visited 54 countries. Her husband often handles videography, while Yu takes the lead on editing and blogging. “I love writing and sharing stories that not only inspire but also educate,” she said.

Traveling while deaf presents unique challenges. Yu pointed out that travel accessibility tends to focus on mobility, including ramps, elevators and wheelchair access, but often allowing deaf-specific needs to fade into the background. “Hotels might have accessible rooms for wheelchairs, but nothing for deaf people. When we’re showering, we can’t hear someone knocking or a fire alarm going off,” she said. “I give advice to hotels about things like flashing light signals, visual doorbells or providing video relay services with interpreters.”

Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul, Korea.. Courtesy of Lily Yu.

From the sweeping beauty of national parks to hidden small-town charm, Yu's adventures have offered a broad view of the diverse travel landscape available within the United States. She described the natural beauty of Hawaii, noting the islands as one of her favorite destinations within the U.S. However, Yu was also surprised by smaller cities like Boise, Idaho, and Bentonville, Arkansas. “Boise had amazing food and outdoor activities. Bentonville really impressed me with its modern art museums and bike trails,” she said. “Every place is different, and that’s what makes traveling here so special.”

While visiting every corner of the U.S. was her first major travel goal, Yu is now setting her sights globally. She’s already visited 54 countries and has noted Japan as a particular champion of accessibility. “In Japan, even the soda cans have braille,” she says. “Crosswalks have both visual lights and floor indicators, which are helpful for blind travelers too. And in hotels, you can select your language on digital screens to communicate. I’ve never seen that level of accessibility before.” Yu also shared how museums in places like Ireland and Boston have become exemplary leaders in the world of accessibility. “During our trip to Ireland, the Guinness Storehouse provided us with an iPad featuring an International Sign interpreter. I’m also fluent in International Sign, which is different from American Sign Language (ASL). In Boston, there was a deaf guide giving an ASL tour. That kind of access makes a big difference.”

Yu with a capybara at Zoo to You in Paso Robles, California. Courtesy of Lily Yu.

Yu’s vision for Deaf Journey is not just to document her own experiences as a deaf traveler and content creator, but also to provide ease for future travelers. She’s passionate about providing accessibility tips, raising awareness on social media and consulting directly with businesses. “I think spreading awareness is key,” she says. “We need to educate hotels, airlines, museums and tourism boards on how to be more inclusive. And we need to share both the positives and the gaps, what works and what doesn’t, so we can keep improving.” Yu also emphasized the importance of using respectful and inclusive language. “We prefer to be called ‘deaf,’ not ‘hearing impaired,’” she said. “That term feels outdated and even offensive within our community.”

After conquering all 50 states, Yu’s next challenge is tackling the rest of the world, one accessible destination at a time. “I haven’t made a full plan yet,” she said. “TBut I’m hoping to partner with more tourism boards internationally. There’s still so much work to do.” With every post, blog and video, Lily Yu is proving that travel doesn’t have to be outside of the realm of possibility for disabled adventurers. It can, and should, be made accessible for everyone.

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Zoe Lodge

Zoe is a student at the University of California, Berkeley, where she is studying English and Politics, Philosophy, & Law. She combines her passion for writing with her love for travel, interest in combatting climate change, and concern for social justice issues.

Photographing the World With Laura Grier

Zoe Lodge

A peek into the fascinating life and career of a travel photographer.

Laura Grier in Peru. Courtesy of Laura Grier.

Having visited over 100 countries across all seven continents, photographer Laura Grier has hardly been chained to a desk throughout her career. Raised by two parents in the CIA, Grier was exposed to global travel at a young age. She spent part of her youth living in Jakarta, Indonesia, where her parents encouraged her to embrace travel and global living. She always knew that she didn’t want to spend her life in an office, and her dream career was something of a treasure hunter. “I was always interested in being sort of an Indiana Jones-like archaeologist, or a Jacques Cousteau marine biologist,” Grier said. “I’ve always been really interested in exploring the world and knowing more about it in general.” Her avenue to do so ended up being photography, which has enabled Grier to visit 101 countries and all seven continents to date. She hit the 100 mark last year, visiting 10 new countries on a road trip through Eastern Europe, primarily the former countries of Yugoslavia. Now, Grier’s work is concentrated around her social enterprise, Andeana Hats, and leading philanthropic group trips. “I’m bringing a group in September to Greenland and Iceland, meeting about 25 people, doing thought-provoking conversations, fun adventures, and photo shoots along the way.”

Grier discovered her passion for photography at 13 years old, after realizing she disliked being confined to a lab in science class. Encouraged by her mother, she pursued photography as a creative outlet and career path, eventually earning a dual degree in photojournalism and art photography from Syracuse University. Studying abroad in London and Florence deepened her love for travel, and she began photographing weddings in Europe while visiting her sisters. Offered a CIA job after college, she instead moved to Los Angeles, working at a photography studio and bartending to support side shoots. She launched a wedding photography division, eventually breaking into celebrity and destination weddings, which propelled her career into extensive global travel. “I love it because it's never the same thing. Like, that whole idea where I can't be stuck in an office and do the same thing every day—this is definitely the perfect kind of job for me,” she said. “It's never the same assignment or place you're going to or whatever, but it is a hustle.”

National Geographic brought Grier to Peru, which she noted as being one of her favorite destinations due to the country’s diversity, both in landscape and culture. “There are not many places in the world I like going back to, and I go back to Peru over and over,” Grier said. “It has anything you could possibly want. There are mountains that look like the Swiss Alps, the Amazon jungle, the most incredible ruins and culture, and deserts that look like the Sahara.” She recounted her first visit to Peru, where she had a “magical experience” swimming with pink Amazon river dolphins and piranhas at the Treehouse Lodge, nestled deep in the Amazon rainforest.

Laura Grier on a hike in her travels. Courtesy of Laura Grier.

Grier also holds a certain fondness for the places she has visited that are virtually untainted by human development, such as the Galapagos Islands or Antarctica. “Going to Antarctica was really, really special for me,” she said. “It was so mountainous and so pristine and the water was like nothing I’ve ever seen anywhere else in the world. It’s kind of magical to see that much vast, untouched land.” Grier visited Antarctica on a cruise, joining a small fraction of the population who have visited the remote continent. “There aren’t many places left on the planet where animals aren’t afraid of you,” she said, impressed by the almost complete lack of human impact. She had a similar experience when visiting the Galapagos Islands, saying, “It’s that same feeling [as visiting Antarctica] where you’re really part of nature.”

Upon establishing herself as a travel photographer, Grier reconnected with National Geographic, where she had previously worked. She began shooting for Novica, National Geographic’s artisan catalog, sparking her next big project, shooting “vanishing crafts” worldwide. Her work with artisans through National Geographic led her to an entirely new endeavor in Peru, which has become one of the most impactful places that Grier has visited in her career. Seeing an opportunity to share a cultural craft with the world, Grier and a friend launched a social enterprise called Andeana Hats to support female artisans in Sacred Valley, Peru, who have limited income opportunities, selling their handcrafted hats abroad and returning a much more significant profit to the artisans than they would have received through National Geographic or other large-scale artisan catalogs.

A group wearing hats and intention bands in Peru. Courtesy of Laura Grier.

The hats and their “intention bands,” which are decorative bands that carry unique designs and meanings derived from the Quechua language, help keep Indigenous Peruvian culture and history alive. “It first started off as what I thought would be a pretty simple passion project, and now it's taking over my house and my…everything,” she said. “I'm flying all over the world and doing markets and schlepping hats and meeting with artisan groups and it's really fun, but it's a lot of work.” Despite the challenges, Grier finds fulfillment in her work, knowing it creates a positive impact by benefitting these female artisans directly. Through it all, her career seems to keep circling back to National Geographic, the organization that shaped her path early on. “It’s funny because it just keeps on coming back full circle to National Geographic.”

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Zoe Lodge

Zoe is a student at the University of California, Berkeley, where she is studying English and Politics, Philosophy, & Law. She combines her passion for writing with her love for travel, interest in combatting climate change, and concern for social justice issues.

The Case for Slow Travel

While many travelers hope to get the most out of their journey with faraway plane rides, consider slowing down and finding your way to the road less traveled. 

Walking on the beach at Møns Klint. Libby Scaperotta. 

In the spring of 2022, I studied abroad in Copenhagen. My friends and I took advantage of the amazing public transit and metro system to get nearly everywhere. So, when it came time to plan an adventure to the limestone cliffs of Mons Klint, we didn’t even consider renting a car. Instead, we quickly opened our phones to the public transit app to route our trip the night before. 

It’s the next morning, and the clock strikes 4:55 a.m. My roommate and I bounced out of bed, hopping into the clothes we had laid out the night before and grabbing our pre-packed bags before heading next door to knock on the neighbor’s apartment. With some begrudging groans from the boys next door, in under 10 minutes we were out the front door and headed toward the metro station. 

Our journey began with a metro ride, two trains and two buses. After being dropped off and walking a short distance to the next bus stop, we waited patiently for what we thought would be the last leg of our trip, which never came. We had miscalculated a seasonal closure of part of the route’s timing. This led to the eight of us walking the last three kilometers of the trip on a beautiful sunny day in the Danish countryside. We walked among neighborhoods with quaint homes, beside farm animals and through pastures until we were dropped off at the magnificent cliffside of Mons Klint. 

A friend walking along the backroad in the Danish countryside during our adventure to Mons   Klint. Libby Scaperotta.

We repeated this process backward at the end of the day. But, as we waited at bus stops and train stations while the sun set, we giggled, shivered, danced and dreamed of a large pizza. 

Although this journey to Mons Klint would have taken probably a quarter of the time had we just rented two cars for the group, the day’s adventure was unforgettable. 

When traveling, we often try to maximize our two weeks of paid time off with ambitious plans to travel far by plane or private vehicle. 

Yet, I am here to convince you to try slower travel. Try taking public transit instead of driving and see where the adventure may lead you. Or, try slowing down on your backpacking trip and volunteer in an area instead of packing up so quickly. 

Traveling slowly is not only less costly for your wallet but also for the environment. My first introduction to a flight emissions calculator was a deeply upsetting experience that made me reconsider how I fly. Slower travel, which emphasizes public transport or staying in one place, may be a better option for eco-conscious travelers who hope to explore while still being mindful of their carbon footprint. 

If you are interested in slowing down your travels, I highly recommend a volunteer experience or work exchange. These will allow you to stay in one place and save on accommodation and meals while immersing yourself in an area’s pace of life and community. From there, you may be able to take short day trips or weekends away in areas that you may have never otherwise explored. There are several platforms that my friends and I have used to find and plan work exchanges: WWOOF, Workaway and Worldpackers. 

You can even integrate slow travel into your daily life. Grab your local public transit card and explore the destinations you may get to by bus or train! You might find a sweet town, a new beach or an adventure within arm’s reach. 

Slowing down can be good for you and the earth. And, it may even allow you to decide for yourself if exploring the road less traveled does make all the difference.

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Libby Scaperotta

Libby is a recent graduate from Middlebury College, where she studied Environmental Policy and Geography. She enjoys travel, photography, and spending time outdoors with people she loves. She plans to pursue a career dedicated to environmental work and wishes to share important stories that may inspire action. 

North-East India’s Women-Only Market

Manipur’s Mothers’ Market is a world of resilience and resistance, where tradition, activism, and community converge in unexpected ways.

I decide on the Ima frying whiteish dough balls over a stand-alone stove and gas canister. ‘Aloo,’ she smiles and gestures to the wooden bench next to a young man slurping a leafy soup. Seconds later, this plump woman serves me a lunch of grilled fish, unidentifiable green veg, those fried potato balls, banana leaf, rice, and then, despite my protests, several second helpings.

The Imas are lined up behind their gas stoves, enticing the locals with their jokes and salty fish dishes. Sitting opposite, in front of stacked ceramic pots, are two more, warming their hands over the burning embers of a square metal pot. My host, Suporna Devi, is one of over 4000 women who congregate daily, in Ima Keithel, Manipur’s main market, selling everything from temple paraphernalia to locally-caught eels.

But, unlike the rest of India, here men are forbidden from trading. Passed down the generations, a stall at Ima Keithel, meaning ‘Mothers’ Market’, is highly coveted and provides the local Imas with an important source of income. Spilling out of the market buildings, encroaching on the roads, under the concrete flyovers, women are everywhere, selling produce. Some are eating, some reading, some sleeping. Many are chatting.

Believed to date back to the 16th century, the origins of Ima Keithel are unclear. Sandwiched between Myanmar and the Indian state of Assam, Manipur has long been forced to fight the Burmese and Chinese to retain its autonomy. A forced labour system, called Lallup Kaba, sent the men far from home to fight these wars, leaving the women at home to cultivate the land and sell the produce, possibly fostering this peculiar phenomenon.

For thousands of years Manipur remained an independent kingdom and a crossroads of trade and cultural exchange until it was conquered by the British in 1891. The golden, oval valley fringed by misty blue hills was famously called ‘the Jewel of India’ by India’s first prime minister. It is home to a diverse mix of tribes, who ethnically share more with groups in Burma than with the rest of India. Several hard day’s travel from Delhi, Manipur feels like a faraway land compared to India I’ve come to know; somewhat familiar, but yet not. A unique language and alphabet add to my disorientation.

The two large market buildings sit in the commercial heart of Imphal, a dusty, grey city, home to as many motorbikes as people. Mornings see the city enveloped in a heavy, December mist, which she usually manages to shed by lunchtime. Most ladies are sitting under bright shawls: many baring two pale vertical lines on their foreheads, meeting on the nose: the mark of local Hindus. I feel the weight of eyes as I circle the floor. But smiles are soon reciprocated with smiles, and many proudly remove their glasses to strike a poise for my camera. Before long, I fall foul of the sly sales pitch of an unassuming mother and daughter. Several tea-towels later, I note to myself this is still India.

When I reach Suporna Devi’s stall, I am thankful for the rest, and we are soon conversing, in a broken fashion, through Hindi, her third language. She has worked here for over 20 years, she tells me, inheriting the pitch from her aunt. Pointing to a poster, emblazoned with hammer and sickle, she exclaims, “this is not just a marketplace, but also a place of protest!”

The revolutionary slogans spray-painted to the outer walls point to a more complex story, and I have started to research Manipur’s matriarchal society. Since at least the early 20th century, the Manipuri women have been wielding a strong influence over political and social matters of the state, with Ima Keithal at the centre of the movement. The market developed as a place not only of trade, but as a centre for gathering, a source of the latest news, a place to discuss ideas. The mothers of Ima Keithel started credit unions, lending to women who wanted to started businesses, and mentored them in the process.

As she ladles yet more rice onto my plate, Suporna suggests I visit the Nupi Lal (Women’s War) monument in another part of central Imphal. This is a memorial to Imas who fought the British rulers in the 1930s over attempts to export local rice to British battalions in other territories. Locally rice became scarce, the price spiralled and the Manipuris began to suffer. The Imas protested, peacefully, but were met with attempts to sell the market buildings. They refused to relent and eventually military and police forces were unleashed against the unarmed females. Although the export policy was eventually repealed, many women lost their lives in the struggle.

During the Second World War, Manipur became a battleground for the war between the British and Japanese: this part of India is scarred with war graves. With the independence of India, a ravaged Manipur was absorbed into the new country, unleashing a seemingly indefinite cycle of violence and insurgency as anti-Indian and ethnic groups fought over differing visions for the state’s future. From 1980 until today, most of the state has been classified as a ‘disturbed region’ by the Indian government, a ruling designed to give the Indian Army additional powers to help them maintain public order. In practice, it has granted them immunity from prosecution for a range of heinous crimes.

Despite the departure of the British, for the Imas of Manipur, the oppression continues and their imaginative responses evolve. From torching liquor stores and fining drunk men, to protesting, naked, outside an Indian army base against a case of rape and murder by the armed forces, their actions are undoubtedly radical in a country where the majority of women have little say in domestic or societal affairs. Today, they are continuing to hold out against the talons of globalisation: recent attempts by the local government to replace the market with a modern supermarket were derailed by round-the-clock sit-ins by the Imas. Again they succeeded.

After a few days of loitering around Imphal, chatting and drinking chai, I decide it is time to leave the Imas. Several check where I am going, who with, and most importantly, have I eaten yet? I gesture to the fish section at the back of the market and they nod approvingly. After my last meal, I ask Suporna if she enjoys her work in the market. She smiles and says, “This is not just my work. This is my life.” I tell her I am leaving. “Vapis ana,” (come again) she says, and goes on frying her potato balls. I heave on my backpack and head for the bus.

How to get there: I took the bus from Guwahati, Assam. It was an uncomfortable, although beautiful journey that crossed through the hills of Nagaland on the way. There are also direct flights from Delhi, Calcutta and Guwahati. Imphal makes a convenient stop if travelling overland from North-East India into Myanmar through the recently opened Moreh-Tamu border crossing.

Where to stay: The Hotel Nirmala has decent rooms starting at 850 INR. Aheibam Homestay is a good budget option.

Where to eat: The stalls of Ima Keithel, of course. And the Luxmi Kitchen does a mean thali.

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Eileen McDougall

After a decade working in London, Eileen swapped flashy buildings for a notepad and camera and set off for Asia. She fell in love with India, and it was here she started to write about her travels and the culture she was becoming immersed in. She is at her happiest on a bus alone heading off to somewhere new but seems to spend most of her time near mountains, mainly the Himalayas.

Train Ride the Sahara: Mauritania’s Hidden Adventure

One of the world’s least-visited countries, Mauritania is home to a travel experience like none other, inviting daring travelers to embark on an unpredictable journey through the desert.

The desert nation of Mauritania attracts only around 30,000 visitors a year, making it one of the least visited countries in Africa and around the world. The country is not seen as a highly desirable travel destination due to the fact that it is only about 0.5% arable land and one of the least densely populated nations in the world. Mauritania is also one of the poorest countries worldwide, unable to provide the infrastructure required to accommodate more traditional forms of tourism.

However, Mauritania boasts a unique attraction that is rising in popularity among thrill-seeking travelers — a famous iron ore train. Its contents — the iron ore — account for half the country’s exports and are critical to its GDP. The train is known as “the Backbone of the Sahara,” due to its national and day-to-day significance in the lives of locals who rely on the train for personal transportation and its goods. The train is one of the longest in the world; the length of the car itself spans around 1.5 miles and the track stretches over 400 miles across the Sahara. Beginning in the mining town of Zouerat, the train stops again in Choum, where most travelers board. Then, across the next 17 hours, laden with iron ore, the train makes its way to the port city of Nouadhibou, where it empties and sets back to Zouerat. 

The train runs daily, but not on any sort of fixed schedule, requiring no bookings or tickets. It’s hardly a passenger vehicle, as only one of the three daily trains has a paid passenger car attached. Many climb aboard one of the cargo wagons and ride alongside the ore for free. 

The journey has been popularized in recent years by travel blogs and social media. The author of One Step 4Ward, Irish travel blogger Johnny Ward, has even begun to manage trips to Mauritania, leading groups on the train. Ward claims that he has completed the journey seven times, more than any foreigner on the planet. On his blog, he describes the expedition as difficult and cold but also as “one of the best travel experiences of your life.”

Another blogger, the author of Plug Me In Project, described the conditions of riding the train. They emphasize the importance of bringing goggles, gloves, a sleeping bag, a blanket and a face covering — necessary protections against the iron ore dust and frigid nightly temperatures. He wrote about the friendliness of the locals who showed him around the capital city upon arrival and guided him to the station. 

The blog Sophie’s World highlights the thrilling yet unpredictable nature of visiting Mauritania as a tourist.  She notes that it’s important not to make the journey alone, particularly as a female traveler. She also emphasizes the level of respect required for the locals in order to have an enjoyable experience. 

Mauritania is home to one of the most unique travel experiences that the world has to offer, for those who dare to embark on the journey of a lifetime.

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Zoe Lodge is a student at the University of California, Berkeley, where she is studying English and Politics, Philosophy, & Law. She combines her passion for writing with her love for travel, interest in combatting climate change, and concern for social justice issues.

6 Treasures of Tunisia, From 'Star Wars' to Desert Oases

Tunisia is a country in North Africa, a region known as the Maghreb, that is similar in culture, history and religion to Morocco and its neighbor, Algeria. Tunisia is one of the most visited countries in Africa – it is a popular vacation destination for Libyans, Algerians, the French, Germans and the British. The country’s official language is Arabic, but the local Tunisian Arabic dialect,darija,, and French are also commonly used. The majority of Tunisians are Muslim, though a small Jewish community lives on Djerba, North Africa’s largest island.

The tiny country offers a variety of landscapes – beaches, mountains, the desert, woods and salt pans – that are sure to appeal to all types of travelers. The museums and ancient Roman ruins are sure to appeal to history buffs, and die-hard “Star Wars” fans will be interested to know that many scenes on the planet Tatooine were filmed in Tunisia. Be ready to enjoy dishes flavored with harissa, a spicy red pepper paste that has recently become popular in the U.S., along with plenty of seafood and Maghrebi staples such as couscous and syrupy doughnut-like bambalouni and zlebia.

Minerals from Atlas Mountain runoff give Chott el Djerid its pink hue. Vinzenz Mühlstein. Public Domain. CC0

1. Chott el Djerid

The fictional planet Tatooine from the “Star Wars” saga was named after Tataouine, a desert city in Tunisia. Although no scenes were filmed in the real Tataouine, many of the first “Star Wars” film’s scenes were filmed in cities all over Tunisia. One of the most notable scenes of Tatooine is of Luke Skywalker’s home, the exterior of which was filmed in Chott el Djerid, the Sahara’s largest salt pan. A chott, or salt lake, stays dry for the majority of the year but fills intermittently from infrequent rainfall and during the spring thaw when water runoff from the Atlas Mountains floods the basin. The dissolved minerals from the Atlas Mountains give Chott el Djerid its otherworldly cotton candy pink color.

Remains of the Lars Homestead on one of the “Star Wars” movie sets in Chott el Djerid. Stefan Krasowski. CC BY 2.0.

Ancient Berber underground homes in Matmata, Tunisia. Tanya Dedyukhina. CC BY 3.0.

2. Matmata

When “Star Wars: A New Hope” was released in 1977, Matmata, a small Berber village in southern Tunisia, became famous for its underground cavelike homes where some of the local residents still live.  (The Berber, or Amazigh, are an ethnic group native to Northwest Africa, particularly the Maghreb.) The interior of Luke Skywalker’s home was filmed in the courtyard of Hotel Sidi Idriss, an underground hotel in Matmata. The hotel is open year-round, and is a must-visit for any die-hard “Star Wars” fan. For those who are not “Star Wars” fans but still want to visit the cave dwellings, the Musée Berbère de Tamezret (about six miles from Matmata) is a great alternative option.

The dome of the Great Mosque of Kairouan houses the mihrab, or structure that points out the direction in which Muslims pray. Colin Hepburn. CC BY-SA 2.0.

3. Kairouan

Kairouan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is considered by some to be the fourth holiest site in Islam, after Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem. The city, founded by the Umayyads in 670, is the most ancient Arab-Muslim center in the Maghreb. Kairouan began as a military camp, but soon became an important center for Islamic scholarship, religious sciences, and art. The city contains many mosques, but the most important is the Great Mosque of Kairouan, also known as the Great Mosque of Uqba. The mosque contains a courtyard and a prayer hall, as well as a 105-foot  minaret that bears resemblance to a Syrian bell tower or an ancient Roman lighthouse.

Another site that cannot be missed when visiting Kairouan are the Aghlabid Basins, a sophisticated feat of engineering and the largest hydraulic installation of the Middle Ages. Originally, there were 16 pools that provided water for Kairouan, but today only two reservoirs remain. Nearby, Kairouan’s souk has countless vendors who sell everything from snacks and jewelry to carpets and leather goods.

The Chebika oasis lies at the bottom of the Djebel el Negueb Mountains. Remi Jouan. CC BY-SA 3.0.

4. Chebika

Built on what was once a Roman military post, Chebika is a small village that sits right above a palm oasis at the foot of the Djebel el Negueb, which are part of the Atlas Mountains. At the top of the mountain, one can see the oasis, the village, and Chott el Gharsa, a salt lake that lies near the Algerian border (and served as a movie set for “Star Wars: The Phantom Menace” and “The English Patient”). Visitors can hike up the canyon to a small waterfall where they will be greeted by a beautiful view of bright green palm trees standing starkly against the mountainside.

Hôtel Bou Fares and storefront in Sidi Bou Said. Allain Muller. CC BY-SA 2.0.

5. Sidi Bou Said

Sidi Bou Said is known for its blue and white theme, common to other Mediterranean-region cities and towns. The beautiful cerulean doors, shutters, gates and decorative balconies against the whitewashed buildings mirror the bright sky and the Mediterranean Sea which lies below the cliffside town. Sidi Bou Said was established as a religious sanctuary in the 13th century by Abu Said al-Baji, after whom the town was named. The palace Ennejma Ezzahra, finished in 1921 by French painter and musicologist  Rodolphe d’Erlanger, is now a museum one can visit to see the beautiful architecture, view paintings by the baron, and see a treasure chest that was reportedly once owned by Suleiman I of the Ottoman Empire. Within the palace is the Centre des Musiques Arabes et Méditerranéennes (Center for Arab and Mediterranean Music), which houses a collection of musical instruments and art, and acts as a concert venue.

Traditional blue door in Sidi Bou Said surrounded by purple bougainvillea. Benrais. CC BY-SA 3.0.

Korbous was frequented by the ancient Romans of Carthage as a health resort. Patrick Giraud. CC BY 3.0.

6. Korbous

If you enjoy spas and natural hot springs, head for Korbous – a single street clinging to a cliff face on the west coast of Cap Bon. The mineral-rich hot springs of Korbous have been a popular spa and health resort since the time of the ancient Romans of Carthage, as evidenced by an inscription on display in the National Bardo Museum in Tunis. Korbous was not a popular spa destination until the 19th century, when Ahmed Bey, the last Ottoman leader of Constantine, had the hammam, or Turkish bath, built. In addition to the hot springs, mud from Aïn Kanassira, rich with minerals, is used to treat arthritis, various skin diseases and other health issues.

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Asiya Haouchine

Asiya is an Algerian-American writer who graduated from the University of Connecticut in May 2016, earning a BA in journalism and English. She was an editorial intern and contributing writer for Warscapes magazine and the online/blog editor for Long River Review. She is currently studying for her Master’s in Library and Information Science. @AsiyaHaou