Planning an adventure always sounds full of excitement, a daring-do attitude and just a hint of spontaneity. However, planning a trip into the inhospitable reaches of Namibia puts one on the edge of one's seat. We had avoided dwelling upon the strong probability of getting deeply and irretrievably stuck in the fine, red sands of the Namib desert, that stretches for 81,000 km, or of running out of water in probably the oldest and most deceptive deserts in the world...

Tignes is a group of villages that form a high-altitude ski resort in the French Alps, near the Italian border. With nearby Val d’Isère, it’s part of the Espace Killy ski area, linked by a network of lifts. Val Claret and Tignes Le Lac villages are lively hubs, with restaurants and shops. In summer, the area offers trails, golf and a bike park, plus ski runs on the Grande Motte glacier. Elevation: 1,810 m Area1: 81.63 km2 (31.52 sq mi)

The Aiguille du Midi (3,842 m / 12,605 ft) is a mountain in the Mont Blanc massif within the French Alps. It is a popular tourist destination and can be directly accessed by cable car from Chamonix that takes visitors close to Mont Blanc.