Rising Destinations

Dochula
Between Thimphu and Punakha. The pass offers panoramic 360 degrees views of the Himalayas and the ideal opportunity for your social media moment photographs.

Laya Village
The people of Laya have very distinct customs and culture from the rest of Bhutan due to their isolation. The highest village in the Kingdom at 3800m would make a stunning stopover for a trek through this picturesque region.

Semtokha Dzong
According to legend, this ancient fortress was built to stop an evil spirit who was harassing travellers in the region. Now visitors are sure to receive good blessings for their trip at the Dzong’s central Utse tower, the home of a large statue of Yeshay Gonpo or Mahakala, the main protective deity worshiped in Bhutan.

Tashichho Dzong
The seat of government since 1952, this Dzong played host to the lavish coronation ceremonies of the fifth King of Bhutan in 2008. The building underwent extensive refurbishment in the 1960s but still maintains its traditional character.

Trongsa Dzong
The largest Dzong in all of Bhutan, both the first and second Kings of Bhutan ruled the country from this ancient seat. Perched atop a rocky outcrop, with commanding views of the Mangde Chhu river, Trongsa Dzong can lay claim to being the most picturesque Dzong in all of Bhutan.

The Tiger's Nest Temple
One of the Kingdom’s holiest temples clings to a sheer cliff face some 900 meters above the Paro Valley. Unlike the Guru Rinpoche who supposedly flew up the mountainside on the back of a tigress, you will need to walk for 2-3 hours through lush pine forests to reach this heritage site.

National Memorial Chorten
This Tibetan-style buddhist building was built in honour of the third King of Bhutan and is the main focus of worship for many people in Bhutan’s capital city Thimphu.

Buddha Dordenma Statue
There are more buddhas in Bhutan’s capital Thimphu than there are people, because this 169-foot statue which was constructed in 2015, is actually full of 125,000 individual buddha statues. Costing almost $100 million to build, the depiction of Shakyamuni is cast from bronze and covered in gold.

Geysir
Located in the south of Iceland, the highly active Geysir Hot Springs area is home to boiling mud pits and geysers which can explode boiling water more than thirty feet into the area every few minutes.

Blue Lagoon pool
One of the world’s best spas, the Blue Lagoon was formed in the 1970s and its blue cloudy waters are rich in minerals which do wonders for your skin. It’s best to book your place weeks in advance of your trip to ensure you don’t miss out on a truly unique swimming experience.

Reykavík bars and culture
With winter nights that can seem endless, it’s no surprise that Iceland’s capital has fantastic nightlife. Be sure to sample the country’s excellent Schnapps selections at one the city’s cocktail bars or take a tour of local breweries to investigate the quality beers on offer.

Vatnajökull National Park
You could spend weeks exploring the largest national park in Europe, with walking trails to suit all abilities and guided tours through two of the region’s enormous glaciers.

Dynjandi Waterfall
Deep in the remote Westfjords of Iceland, this waterfall is beloved by locals because it looks like a bride has laid her veil across the landscape. It’s only a 15 minute walk to visit this waterfall, and on the way you pass six smaller waterfalls before taking in the majestic view.

The Laugavegur Trail
Walking along this 55km trail between June and September you will find multi-coloured mountains, hot springs, raging rivers and sparkling glaciers. It’s easy to see why this route is popular with locals and tourists alike.

Reynisfjara Beach
With its black basalt sea stacks reaching down to the ocean from a nearby mountain, and dark black sand underfoot, it’s easy to see why this beach is consistently voted one of the world’s most beautiful non tropical beaches.

Vatnajökull Ice Cave
A guided tour near Europe’s largest glacier will ensure you leave Iceland with some stunning holiday snaps. Local guides help you explore the best of this cold subterranean world, as each naturally forming cave is totally unique and only accessible for a limited time.

Ishigaki Island
This tropical paradise is famed for its sandy beaches and coral reefs. Manta rays are almost a guaranteed sighting for those who seek out the island’s scuba diving sites.

Kyoto
The old imperial capital and cultural heart of Japan, Kyoto has the very best of traditional Japanese culture. The city’s Kiyomizu-dera temple offers a commanding view of the city, which is especially picturesque during the cherry blossom season between March and April.

Wakayama Pilgrimage Trails
Join the thousands of pilgrims who make the journey through the mountains to the holy shrines at Kumano. The traditional guest houses along the way can provide a comfortable place to rest for the weary traveller.

Meiji-jingū Shrine
This tranquil shrine offers a place for quiet reflection in the heart of busy Tokyo. Its leafly gardens are frequently home to traditional Shinto weddings.

Onsen Hot Springs
This small town in the Northern Japan Alps, derives its name from the milky white spring water which fills its hot springs and public baths. The water, which is rich in magnesium and calcium, is believed to be good for stomach problems.

Mount Fuji Trek
Japan’s most iconic and largest mountain offers stunning views on a clear day for those daring enough to climb to its summit. It’s best to start your journey midweek to avoid the crowds of both locals and tourists alike, who all strive to reach the peak in time for sunrise.

Tsukiji, Tokyo Fish Market
A visit to Tsukiji is the best way to taste the freshest sushi in Japan’s capital. This historic quarter is neighboured by the sleek modern Toyosu Fish Market, which offers an alternative take on Japan’s favourite food.

Takayama
This historic town, situated in the mountainous region of Gifu Prefecture has retained its traditional style. It’s biannual Spring and Autumn festivals showcase the best of rural culture in a country dominated by modernity.

World’s End
The stunning Horton Plains finish at World’s End where the landscape suddenly falls away by more than 800m. The view on a clear day is breathtaking.

Anuradhapura
The sprawling ruins of this ancient religious site combines the best of old and new, with archaeological and architectural wonders playing host to buddhist ceremonies. Worshippers pray in crumbling temples as you explore the hidden delights of this most holy of cities.

Sigiriya Rock
Rising nearly two hundred metres over the neighbouring jungle, the rock fortress is decorated in frescos which are all that remain of an ancient civilisation. The climb is strenuous but the views from the top of the citadel make it worthwhile.

Galle
The second city of Sri Lanka offers colonial Dutch and Portuguese architecture and along the coastline, fishermen on stilts continue to fish in the traditional way.

Polonnaruwa
This ancient city was the beating heart of Sri Lankan life more than 800 years ago and the statues and ruins which dominate this area are a delight to explore.

Buduruwagala
The ancient temple has rock carvings of the buddha which are more than 1,000 years old. A pleasant hike through a region known for its varied birdlife.

Uda Walawe National Park
Hundreds of wild asian elephants roam this popular national park which is also home to leopards and water buffalo.

Sri Pada (Adam's Peak)
Sri Lanka’s holy mountain has been sacred to Buddhists, Muslims, Christians and Hindus alike since ancient times. The top can be quite busy between January and February as pilgrims seek blessings for the year to come.

Porto
Portugal’s second city is a world heritage city that is the lesser known, unspoilt treasure of the country. The city spans the Douro river and is the gateway to the Douro wine regions and producers of Port that are exported worldwide.

Lisbon
The seven hills which contain Portugal’s capital city are best explored by the network of trams which climb up and down its historic streets. Only a short flight from the UK, this city has a thriving nightlife and cultural scene.

Parque Natural da Ria Formosa
A protected coastal lagoon that is a paradise for bird watchers, as the wetlands and constantly changing sandbanks attract birds rarely seen elsewhere in Europe, including white flamingos.

Évora
The medieval city offers a glimpse into Portugal’s past. Roman ruins of a temple to the goddess Diana sit surrounded by Christian and Moorish architecture.

Sintra
Located near the city’s capital of Lisbon, this royal retreat is a fairytale style castle in pastel colours. Built by the Moors in the 18th century, the world heritage site offers stunning gardens and views to the sea and beyond.

Douro River
A cruise through Portugal’s port producing wine region offers four UNESCO World Heritage Sites along its banks. There are plenty of opportunities to seek out the region’s history, as well as enjoying the variety of port on offer.

Mosteiro de Santa Maria de Alcobaça
The baroque facade of this Catholic monastery belies the almost austere interior. Built by the first King of Portugal, the monks who lived here maintained a close relationship with the royal family until the 18th century.

Ilha de Tavira
The island lies a short boat ride from the southern town of Tavira and the white sandy beaches stretch for miles. Tavira is a well kept secret of the locals.

Taj Mahal
A short train ride from Delhi, this iconic mausoleum was built at the orders of Shah Jahan in memory of his favourite wife.

Ajanta Caves
The 30 buddhist prayer halls and monasteries which were carved from the rock in India’s Maharashtra state, were accidentally ‘discovered’ by a British army officer in 1819. The detailed artworks covering the walls are some of the best preserved in the world.

City Palace Jaipur
The sprawling Palace built for Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II dominates the city’s old town with its grand medieval architecture and regal prestige.

Kerala
A cruise through the waterways of Kerala allows you to explore the many cultural and culinary delights of the ‘Venice of the East’. The houseboats, or Kettuvallams, that used to carry spices or tea through the region’s canals now offer luxury accommodation.

Rishikesh
This gateway to the Himalayas styles itself as the ‘Yoga Capital of the World’ and has been popular with those seeking spiritual enlightenment ever since the Beatles visited in the 1960s.

Sun Temple Modhera
This intricately carved temple in India’s Gujarat region is one of only a handful dedicated to Lord Surya, the Sun God. A beautiful escape from the region’s biggest city, Ahmedabad, which is only a short train journey away.

Lamayuru, Ladakh
The remote monastery of Lamayuru in the north-east of India has an almost lunar landscape dominated by unusual geology and barren mountainsides. 150 monks are permanent residents of the Yuru monastery which has a rich collection of wall art and other artefacts.

Varanasi
One of the holiest sites in India for Hindus, a visit to Varanasi in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh is to experience the full range of life. It is very auspicious to die in the city and funerals are regularly held alongside marriages on the banks of the River Ganges.

Ha Long Bay
Limestone islands covered in tropical jungle rise out of the turquoise waters of this natural wonder. Best experienced by a cruise through the towering pillars, followed by bathing in its tranquil waters.

Sapa trekking
Originally established as a hill fort by French colonialists, Sapa is now the starting point for many stunning treks through the mountains which form Vietnam’s border with China. The region is home to three distinct hill tribes each with their own unique language and culture.

Phu Quoc Island
The largest island in Vietnam, Phu Quoc has white sandy beaches and local wildlife. The northeastern quarter of the island is a national park, dominated by lush rainforest and full of waterfalls for those willing to hike into its green interior.

Golden Bridge, Da Nang
Vietnam’s most recent tourist attraction, a giant pair of hands appear to suspend the golden bridge above the trees as though the mountain is cradling you in its embrace.

The City of Hue
The capital of the Nguyen Dynasty emperors gives a regal charm to this central Vietnamese city.

Cu Chi Tunnels
A remnant of the Vietnam War, thousands of meters of tunnels dug under the jungle floor offered shelter from extensive bombing by the Americans. Preserved for history.

Cat Tien National Park
This nature reserve in the south of the country promises the opportunity to get close to gibbons, crocodiles and an abundance of flora and fauna.

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park
A unique national park full of underground rivers and limestone caves which await intrepid explorers. Some of the caves could house an entire New York city block within their canavous halls (note the tiny people in the bottom right corner in the image above).

Sveti Jovan Bigorski Monastery
This 19th century orthodox monastery is perched on the side of Mount Bistra in the west of the country. Dedicated to John the Baptist, worshippers believe that the images of him painted on the building’s walls have healing properties.

Tikveš (wine region)
Wine has been produced in Macedonia since the Roman times but it’s only in the last decade that it has really started to compete with its northern european rivals.

Golem Grad (Snake Island)
A visit to see the ancient ruins on this unique island is not for the faint-hearted as grass snakes and venomous horned vipers have made it their home. It’s rumoured that these reptiles are guarding a vast treasure should you be brave enough to seek it out.

Ohrid Lake
Europe’s oldest and deepest lake boasts a picturesque coastline and historic seaside towns. The main town of Ohrid houses 365 different churches hidden along its cobbled streets.

Galichnik mountain village
High in the northwestern Macedonian mountains is the picturesque village of Galicnik, famed for its cheese and local customs. Each July, the Mijak people, who take their name from the tribes who first settled this region, hold a special marriage festival where everyone is welcome.

Kajmakcalan mountain church:
Mount Nidze on the most southern border between Greece and Macedonia is the highest point at 2521 meters. The church at Kajmakcalan commemorates the thousands of men who lost their lives in battles in the area during the two World Wars

Skopje
Macedonia’s capital city has undergone some rapid changes during its 2,500 years of history, much of which is reflected in its architecture. Over the past fifty years, the city has been modernised following a devastating earthquake which destroyed much of the old quarter. But these changes don’t take anything away from the enigmatic capital.

Stobi ancient town
This ancient city an important military outpost and capital city during both the Roman and Early Byzantine empires. Sitting at a cultural crossroads between two great rivals has left a powerful legacy including many detailed mosaics and the ruins of a large amphitheatre.

Torres del Paine Patagonia
The iconic national park takes its name from the three granite towers which dominate its skyline. A trek through this region will lead to glaciers which produce bright blue icebergs alongside green grasslands, home to the cousin of the llama, the ‘Guanacos’.

Chiloé
The mythical main island in this archipelago in Southern Chile has distinctive wooden churches built by Jesuit missionaries in the 17th and 18th centuries which are waiting to be explored. The local Chilote people build their homes on stilts and are welcoming to those willing to taste their highly prized seafood dishes.

Valle de la Luna, Atacama
The driest place on Earth, the Valley of the Moon in northern Chile, has an otherworldly quality with its white salt craters and rusty red rock cliffs. Local guides can take you into the salt caves where the crystals seem to sparkle like diamonds in your torchlight.

Santiago
The largest city in South America and Chile’s capital city, is surrounded by the snow-peaked Andes mountains. This vibrant metropolis has great dining, nightlife and an expanding arts scene.

El Tation Geysers
The northern Chile volcanic region is the largest geyser field in the southern hemisphere, offering 80 explosive geysers.

Rano Raraku, Easter Island
The Moai statues which are so distinctive to Easter Island were all made from the volcano Rano Raraku, and some 400 of them can still be found in the region today.

The Carretera Austral
Patagonia’s ultimate driving route snakes through snow capped mountains, glacial streams, raging rivers and isolated island communities with stunning scenery.

Marble Caves
Over 6,000 years, the glacial lake has carved out some truly stunning marble caves straddling the Argentina/Chile border. The distinctive blue colour of these ethereal worlds is best viewed between September and February when the ice melting from nearby mountains turns the water a bright turquoise.

Wat Pha That Luang
The most sacred buddhist monument in all of Laos, the large reclining Buddha in the country’s capital Vientiane, is believed by pilgrims to house the breastbone of the Buddha. Local legend tells how the large temple complex was built to protect the relic when it was gifted to the Kingdom in the 3rd century BC.

Vang Vieng
This small town is now a great place to visit if you want to take part in adventure sports. The area’s stunning scenery, with its jagged limestone, lends a beautiful backdrop to the hiking, cycling and rafting opportunities on offer.

Wat Phu
Located in the south-west of Laos, the 1,000-year-old ruins of Wat Phu are the finest examples of Khmer architecture that you will find outside of neighbouring Cambodia.

Plain of Jars
Thousands of iron age stone jars litter the landscape near the northeastern city of Phonsavan, and nobody knows why. Theories range from a local king wanting to celebrate a great victory, through to aliens invading ancient civilisations more than 1,000 years ago.

Wat Xieng Khuan Buddha Park
There are 200 different statues at this sculpture park in the country’s capital and the monk who created this attraction in the 1950s also studied Hinduism, so a few Ganesh and Lord Rama figurines add some variety.

Wat Xieng Thong
A holy site on the tip of the Luang Phrabang peninsular, is a fine example of Buddhist architecture and is also the setting for the coronation of Laos Kings.

Luang Prabang
A place to seek both spiritual and culinary enlightenment, the former capital city delights with its regal architecture and its wide variety of street food cuisine.

Kuang Si
Quite simply the most beautiful swimming spot in all of Laos. The Kuang Si falls are the biggest in the Luang Prabang area, with three tiers leading to a 50-metre drop.

Angkor Wat
Best seen at sunrise or sunset, Angkor Wat was reclaimed by the jungle and so escaped the vandalism which has blighted other ancient structures.

Tonle Sap Lake floating villages
The largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia is home to more than three million people, many of whom build their homes on stilts out into the water to accommodate the monsoon rains.

Mondulkiri elephant sanctuary
This small sanctuary allows you to walk and bathe with elephants whilst also supporting the local economy. This Cambodian NGO does not employ ‘volunteer foreigners’ to take paid work away from local people and is therefore a much more sustainable model for the future of conservation.

Banteay Srei
What this small holy site near Angkor lacks in size it more than makes up for in style, with some of the finest stone carvings on Earth beautifully preserved in its red rock interior.

Koh Rong and Southern Islands
As yet unspoilt by the large developments which have blighted the islands of neighbouring Thailand, the southern islands have a rustic charm which complements the unspoilt beaches and crystal clear water.

Angkor Thom
The last city of the Khmer empire slowly rises out of the jungle near the bustling city of Siem Reap. Allow several days to explore this ancient region.

Prasat Preah Vihear
Situated on a dramatic rocky outcrop on the border between Thailand and Cambodia, sits this Angkorian temple which is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva.

Phnom Penh, Royal Palace
The official residence of the Royal Family dominates the skyline in Cambodia’s capital city. Visitors should dress conservatively if they want to see the throne room and other bejewelled rooms which make up this private palace.

Simien Mountians
Steep highland ridges rising more than 3,600m above sea level and miles of lush green plateaus make this national park truly unique. Baboons, ibex and the Ethiopian wolf fight to survive in this beautiful but harsh wilderness.

Lalibela
Situated in the heart of Ethiopia, this traditional village is dominated by 11 medieval, monolithic, rock-hewn churches, which are beautifully decorated and which are still revered as a place of holy pilgrimage by Christians across Africa.

Harar
The holy Islamic city of Harar, in eastern Ethiopia, has many intricate mosques hidden within its narrow, maze-like streets. Africa’s mecca undergoes a transformation at night when wild hyenas stalk the streets. You can get up close to these fearsome predators at designated feeding sites throughout the city.

Abuna Yemata Guh
The world’s most inaccessible place of worship certainly lives up to its reputation, as to reach this holy Christian site you need to scramble up a sheer, cliff face. For those who can face the final and precarious walk along a ledge with a 200m drop, awaits beautiful frescoes depicting key scenes from Ethiopian life.

Tigray Mountains
The striking sandstone peaks which dominate this region provided sanctuary to the early founders of Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity. You can explore more than 30 remote churches hidden away in these remote peaks.

Addis Ababa
Africa’s fourth largest city is one of the best places to sample the wide variety of foods available in Ethiopia. The city’s Ethnological Museum showcases the rich diversity of this intriguing country.

Gonder
This walled fortress in northern Ethiopia, was once the seat of the country’s emperors and has fine examples of Portuguese, Indian and local architecture.

Coffee Forest Tour
In the western highlands of the country, the luscious forests are the original home to coffee. Many different coffee bean varieties still grow here and the reserve is UNESCO protected.