Every journey is your own Ithaka

Dawn in the Serengeti and sunset in Zanzibar

Our first safari, and a whole world opened up. In the Serengeti we set off at sunrise and the plain was full of wildebeest and zebras, while a lion dozed on a rock very close to our vehicle. The Ngorongoro Crater felt like another planet. At the end came Zanzibar: the lanes of Stone Town and an outing on a dhow at sunset. A tip: the roads are dusty, so bring a hat and a scarf.

Iceland with light almost all night: waterfalls, icebergs and green meadows

I had not imagined that the light would last almost all night. Skógafoss with its rainbow, the black beach of Reynisfjara with its basalt columns and the icebergs drifting on the Jökulsárlón lagoon left me speechless. Our coordinator warned us about the dangerous waves on the beach and we kept our distance. Bring a waterproof jacket and layers: the weather changes by the hour.

Santorini, Naxos, Paros: the islands seen with new eyes

I am from Athens and thought I knew the Cyclades. And yet the sunset over the Santorini caldera, the lanes of Naxos with their bougainvillea and the fishing boats in the little harbour of Naoussa on Paros made me see them differently. I did not have to think about luggage or ferry timetables. The fish dinner by the sea on Naxos was one of the loveliest meals of the summer.

Machu Picchu in the clouds: a sight we will not forget

After Lima the programme took us first to the Sacred Valley, lower than Cusco, so we got used to the altitude gradually before Machu Picchu, and that made a real difference. On the morning of our visit, cloud filled the valley and the Inca citadel slowly revealed itself. I also remember the circular terraces of Moray and, at Pisac, a weavers' cooperative with llamas and alpacas. The group was warm and our coordinator thought of everything.

Hagia Sophia, the Grand Bazaar and balloons above Cappadocia

Istanbul won us over with Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, and we happily got lost in the Grand Bazaar among spices and brass lanterns. For a Greek, Istanbul – simply “the City” – always carries a special emotion. In Cappadocia we woke before dawn and watched the balloons rise above the rocks from the terrace of our cave hotel, tea in hand. It was one of the most beautiful sights of the trip.

A pilgrimage with calm, time for prayer and respect

I expected a tiring programme and found a rhythm that left room for prayer and silence. In Jerusalem we walked the narrow streets of the Old City and stood at the Holy Sepulchre, and on the Sea of Galilee the morning sun brought a deep calm. Our coordinator spoke respectfully about every place and every community. Bring comfortable shoes and something to cover your shoulders.