Since the advent of tourism here in the 1970s, the Maldives managed a one island, one resort policy and managed to keep visitors separate from the inhabited islands. Running a smooth operating machine, tourists were transported by seaplane or speedboat to their packaged holiday. Now with more mid-market options adventurous travellers are discovering the islands, for the first time being able to stay at guest houses, springing up all over the country and to travel outside designated 'tourist zones'.

Hanging like a tear-drop from the southern tip of India, Sri Lanka is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Ringed by a necklace of palm-fringed beaches, its mountainous interior rears up in a jungled hinterland roamed by elephant and leopard, rising finally to the cool highlands that grow the country's famous tea.

Indonesia’s tourist heavyweight is to the east of the capital. Though the rest of the archipelago is Islamic (in a relaxed sort of way), Bali is a Hindu enclave: a devout little gem of religious deference and tradition, feted by surfers, beach-lovers and cultural tourists alike. Fed by honeymooners and tourists from all over the Western World, Bali absorbs 90% of all visitors to Indonesia. Good. That means fewer elsewhere.

Vietnam boasts stunning landscapes – the karst outcrops of Halong Bay and the hilltribe-settled mountains around Sapa spring to mind – as well as beaches, charming colonial towns, the fascinating villages of the Mekong Delta and lush national parks.Windsurf at Mui Ne, chill on tropical Phu Quoc Island, roam the historic streets of Hoi An, delve into the Viet Cong tunnels at Cu Chi and settle in for a water-puppet show in capital Hanoi – and those are just the headline acts.

A cultivated country with something exciting to offer every traveller. Cambodia is still less visited than its neighbours Thailand and Vietnam, but the iconic Angkor Wat – a fascinatingly complex stone temple that is the world’s largest religious monument – draws visitors in their thousands.Cambodia’s charms though are not confined to Angkor Wat. In Angkor alone there are more than 290 other temples.

Demand a deserted tropical beach all to yourself? Done. Want rainforests, mountains, ancient tribal villages and terraced rice paddies? No problem. Won’t leave the house for anything less than world-class diving? Sorted.Made up of more than 7,000 tropical islands, off-the-beaten-track Philippines is the second-largest archipelago in the world and has the answer to any travel diva’s most outlandish demands.

Mulitcultural, many-faceted, misunderstood – Malaysia is a country as spectacularly varied as its peoples and wildlife.Peninsular Malaysia stretches south from Thailand to Singapore and Indonesia, and blends the best of all three: superb beaches and idyllic islands (try the Perhentians for diving and clean sand, Langkawi and Tioman for resorts); diverse cultures – Dutch-, Portuguese- and Chinese-influenced Melaka, colonial Georgetown and the tea plantations of Cameron Highlands,

South-East Asia’s powerhouse city state, Singapore is a bustling modern metropolis and a common stopover for travellers.Famous for its shopping and its food, Singapore is also a great introduction to Asia. Clean, ordered and affluent, here you can dip your toe into Chinese, Indian and Malay culture with none of the hassle.You don’t have to be a retail junkie or foodie to have fun in Singapore. Non-shoppers can potter around the mosques and cafés of the Arab quarter,

Azure waters lap the edges of sugar-sand beaches. Sizzling food fills street markets with mouth-watering smells. Palaces glitter and temples inspire. Elephants splash through lakes and waterfalls pockmark spinach-green rainforests.Travel in Thailand offers countless life-changing experiences.

From the classical rubble of Athens and Rome to the castles of southern Spain, the pomp of Victorian London to the vineyards of Champagne, the ideas and institutions of Europe have spread to every corner of the world.Nowhere has such a density of iconic, art-and-architecture-packed cities. Barcelona, Granada, Venice, Palermo, Paris, Avignon… between them Spain, France and Italy could easily fill a year of weekend breaks. And for longer stays, there are numerous historic regions to explore at leisure

Remote, rugged and absolutely remarkable, New Zealand is top of many travellers’ wishlists. If it wowed you on the big screen in Lord of the Rings, New Zealand will knock you with the force of an All Blacks prop forward when you actually visit.The two main islands – North and South – have different characters. North Island is warmer, with more rolling hills, beautiful beaches and some seriously sulphurous volcanic goings-on: visit Rotorua for the best thermal bath or Tongariro National

Mauritius boasts some of the most dazzling beaches in the world. Renowned for its clear blue waters and white sands, beaches such as Belle Mare and Trou aux Biches make Mauritius a haven for sun worshipers. But if you’re after more than just sun bathing, you’ll be surprised by how much the island has to offer.