Just 60 kilometers north of Luxor, nestled along the Nile’s west bank, lies one of Egypt’s most underrated treasures: the Dendera Temple Complex. While tourists flock to the Valley of the Kings and Karnak, Dendera offers a quieter, more mystical experience—complete with star maps, secret crypts, and the only known depiction of Cleopatra VII with her son Caesarion.

In the shadowy early hours of the morning, while most of the world is still wrapped in dreams, there exists a place in East Java where fire glows an electric blue, sulfur dances in the air, and the earth itself seems to breathe. Welcome to Kawah Ijen, one of the few places on this planet where you can literally chase fire in the dark—and not get burned.