The Maldives is the ultimate picture-perfect destination. The sand really is that white and the sea really is that azure. But you still want to know the right place to go.

Wild deserts, prehistoric landscapes and lush valleys, Africa is the home of great wildernesses. The unknown for the Victorian explorers, the continent has been on the radar for discerning travellers for decades

Vowel-challenged Kyrgyzstan, tucked between the giants of China and Kazakhstan, is carpeted in rolling velveteen hills, studded with rocky outcrops, gorges and glaciers and adorned by immaculate mirrored lakes.

Spanning an eighth of the circumference of the planet, Indonesia is one of the world’s most diverse countries. From the stunning sunrise over Borobudur, a UNESCO world heritage site, to the extraordinary sea life off the coast of the islands to the east of Bali, the archipelago has an amazing richness on offer.

​Japan occupies a unique position in showcasing slick cities and sleepy verdant countryside; it’s a fully developed yet definitely ‘alien’ country. There is an allure to this fascinating and highly complex culture, but planning a holiday can seem daunting to a new visitor.

With a sophisticated, well-preserved culture and rolling velvet hills, meandering up to the distant snowy peaks of the Himalayas, the Kingdom of Bhutan has a draw like few others.