Jewel of the verdant peninsula of Istria, Pula is the province’s largest city and forms a dramatic gateway to the seductive, crystalline waters of the Adriatic. Situated at the southernmost tip of the area, known as ’the new Tuscany’ for its bright medieval hilltop towns and ancient ruins, Pula boasts a rich and varied cultural heritage. The city is bordered by national parks, remarkable for their astounding unspoilt natural beauty, and is celebrated for its wonderfully preserved Roman amphitheatre and forum.

Colombo is the financial and cultural centre of Sri Lanka, an enchanting island lying off India's southern tip. These city folks go about their daily business with a cheerfulness born of optimism in this noisy and traffic-congested metropolis. But despite being known as a chaotic city, Sri Lanka's capital offers a handful of attractions for first-time visitors, including old colonial buildings, breathtaking religious temples, a beautiful shore, and flavourful food.

Called "the Flower of the East" by the Venetians, Zakynthos is still one of the lushest and most-loved Greek islands, with green hillsides covered with flowers in spring and early summer, steep cliffs dropping to dazzling turquoise waters, and some of the country's best beaches.

Think of picture-perfect, long sandy white beaches framed by a lapping marine-blue ocean, lush rainforests with cascading waterfalls, vibrant flora and fauna, and under the ocean, the most amazing colourful gardens you could imagine: this is Samoa, the last unspoilt paradise in the world.