Nepal is a captivating destination that has been attracting travelers for decades, thanks to its welcoming Buddhist population, medieval city centers adorned with temples, remarkable national parks teeming with wildlife, and some of the planet's most stunning natural scenery. Nepal is particularly renowned as a top trekking destination, offering a variety of trekking options, with the Annapurna region being one of the most popular. Regardless of your chosen trekking route, you'll have the chance to meet amicable locals in charming villages and enjoy comfortable accommodations in local tea houses along the way.
India is an extraordinary tapestry of vibrant colors, vibrant chaos, captivating sights, melodious sounds, and enticing aromas that will enrapture every sense at every turn. This remarkable country boasts a rich cultural heritage that spans centuries and has been influenced by a diverse array of rulers, including the Rajputs, Mughals, English, and Portuguese. India's culture is a harmonious blend of various religions, traditions, and customs, with a profound influence on music, dance, architecture, and cuisine. The result is a destination that stands in a league of its own. Whether you seek to fully immerse yourself in local traditions, luxuriate in opulent palaces, embark on a thrilling journey through national parks in pursuit of majestic tigers, or savor the tranquility of a cruise along Kerala's enchanting backwaters on a converted rice barge, we are here to help.
Bhutan is a land that proudly boasts a truly distinctive and meticulously preserved history and culture. Its inhabitants are known for their gentle nature, and their way of life is profoundly intertwined with their Buddhist beliefs. Throughout Bhutan, you can hear the soothing chants of Buddhist monks resonating in the numerous monasteries. Families sustain themselves by cultivating their own vegetables and tending to their livestock. The country's breathtaking landscapes, awe-inspiring architecture, and timeless customs are a true delight. However, what leaves the most indelible mark on visitors is the people themselves – they are known for their generosity, kindness, tranquility, and, above all, their palpable happiness.
The Maldives is an archipelago comprising over 1,100 islands, which are scattered across 26 picturesque coral atolls. Here, you'll find turquoise crystal lagoons brimming with vibrant marine life and dazzling coral formations, creating an ideal setting for snorkeling and diving enthusiasts. The pristine, secluded white sand beaches are a hallmark of this paradise, and many resorts provide special packages for honeymooners, birthday celebrations, and anniversaries. There is a range of exquisite resorts, accessible via a boat ride or a short float plane transfer from Male, the capital.
Seemingly remote and unattainable, the Seychelles, a captivating island nation in the Indian Ocean, possesses an exotic allure that often finds its place on many travelers' bucket lists. If you're fortunate enough to be in the midst of planning a visit to the Seychelles, whether it's a port of call on a cruise or a direct flight to Mahe, you're in for a visual feast that will overwhelm your senses with its extraordinary beauty.
For those with a week or more to spare for exploration and relaxation, our recommendation is to explore the main island of Mahe, embark on a short ferry ride to Praslin Island, and perhaps continue your journey to La Digue Island. The Seychelles offers a plethora of luxury resorts and secluded hideaways, making a visit to a private island a tantalizing possibility for that once-in-a-lifetime dream vacation.
The enchanting island nation of Mauritius serves as the perfect destination for unwinding and recharging. With its warm, turquoise waters offering a wide range of watersports and fishing opportunities, and a wealth of luxurious resorts spread across the island, you'll find an abundance of options for where to stay and how to spend your time. The air is filled with the delightful fragrances of aromatic flowers, vanilla, and bountiful sugar cane fields. Over the centuries, the blend of diverse cultures has given rise to a delightful fusion of cuisines that you can savor both at local markets and within the comfort of your hotel.
Thanks to the movie that shares its name, the world is now familiar with the adorable native residents of the island nation of Madagascar. In this remarkably vast and unspoiled island, the lemur population alone encompasses over 70 different species, alongside numerous other unique wildlife and plant species that have evolved independently from the external world. While the tourist infrastructure remains somewhat undeveloped, meaning you won't come across a Starbucks, this is precisely why you should consider a visit to this land of abundance before it becomes a mainstream destination.
The Islands of Tahiti are world-renowned for their white-sand beaches, stunning turquoise lagoons and varied landscapes ranging from coral atolls to volcanic mountain peaks. Each island offers a variety of accommodation experiences from luxurious resorts with overwater villas, to family guesthouses, to sailing via private charter or scheduled cruise. The Islands of Tahiti offers visitors the space to relax and reconnect.
Clustered into five archipelagos: the Society Islands, the Tuamotu Islands, the Gambier Islands, the Marquesas Islands, and the Austral Islands, The Islands of Tahiti have a delightful blend of Polynesian and French cultures, and a consistently tropical climate. Each of the 118 islands and atolls feels distinctive, with local customs and traditions that differ from one another.
Rarotonga - or the Cook Islands - lies halfway between New Zealand and Hawaii, boasting an idyllic climate, endless adventure, romance and pure relaxation. It's the accessibility and ease of everything that makes Rarotonga so different from other South Pacific island destinations. Just 32 km in circumference, you can drive around the island in 45 minutes. With a wide range of scenery, activities, accommodation, restaurants and cafes, no matter where you are or what you want to do, the whole island is your playground.
Underwater, on the water or deep into lush tropical landscape, the freedom and ease of exploring a little paradise is what sets Rarotonga apart in the South Pacific. Lagoon cruises, fishing, diving, guided mountain hikes, storytelling cycling tours, buggies, quadbikes or 4WD trips inland – they’ve got it all. The diversity of the breathtaking natural terrain means you can craft your ideal itinerary. Fast or slow? Laidback, culturally enriching or full throttle adrenaline? The only limit is how you choose to define your perfect holiday.
For the truly adventurous in spirit, the undeveloped sister islands have a remote, unspoiled appeal for the explorer in all of us. After Rarotonga and Aitutaki, seven sister islands make up the rest of the Southern Group and six more islands lie to the north. Some are accessible by local flights, all are accessible by boat occasionally. Off the beaten track, and spread over 700,000 square miles of the South Pacific Ocean, their uniqueness and timelessness are their own reward.
Bula! Fiji is more than friendly, smiling people and 333 beautiful tropical islands. The readers of Travel + Leisure magazine voted Fiji "one of the top 5 romantic destinations in the world". Add to that world class diving and surfing, adrenaline-pushing adventure activities, pristine, un-crowded beaches and inspiring cultural traditions that date back hundreds of years and you'll find that Fiji offers a varied palette of unforgettable experiences for all types of travelers. Fijians are some of the friendliest people on the planet and the warmth of the wide smiles and enthusiastic ‘Bula’ (hello) that greets you wherever you go, are small indications of the pure joy with which they embrace life.
Fiji is a dream destination of white isles, clear seas and pristine rainforest. Explorers will find a high standard of affordable accommodation, where they can do almost anything in this paradise whether it be surfing, soft coral diving, deep sea fishing, shark diving, jet boating, zip lining, sailing or simply finding the perfect spot on a beach. The beautiful coral islands tick to their own gentle rythm and the genuine warm 'Bula' welcome of song and smiles will soon put guests in the right frame of mind. Fiji islanders are naturally friendly, cheerful and fun loving people and seek to draw visitors into their culture.
According to Fijian legend, the great chief Lutunasobasoba led his people across the seas to the new land of Fiji. Most authorities agree that people came into the Pacific from Southeast Asia via the Malay Peninsula. Here the Melanesians and the Polynesians mixed to create a highly developed society long before the arrival of the Europeans.
The European discoveries of the Fiji group were accidental. The first of these discoveries was made in 1643 by the Dutch explorer, Abel Tasman and English navigators, including Captain James Cook who sailed through in 1774, and made further explorations in the 18th century.
