Not to be mistaken with the larger lake of the same name on the River Shannon, Lough Derg in Co. Donegal is a renowned place of pilgrimage. A traditional three-day pilgrimage takes place each August, but the Lough is open to visitors (including anglers!) year-round. The Lough is composed of over 30 islands and inlets, the most famous of which is Station Island - it is said that when St. Patrick traversed Ireland converting kings to Christianity, Jesus appeared to him here and revealed the entrance to Purgatory! The Lough's name comes from the Irish word "dearg" (red) as a local legend holds that a local mortal once called the magic powers of the lake to transform a worm into a vicious cow. Once defeated, the red blood of the cow changed the colour of the rocks (which are in fact sandstone) to red.

Toted as the surf capital of Ireland, make sure to catch some waves at Bundoran's surfing classes and rentals. Beginners should stick to the beach of Rossnowlagh, while seasoned surfers should make their way to the world-class waves at The Peak.

The capital city of St Thomas — Charlotte Amalie — only about 10 minutes away from both It will take you about 10 minutes to reach downtown from the Havensight cruise pier and Crown Bay Marina. Take a stroll down the cobbled alleyways, climb the steep stairs for glorious views and admire West Indian furnishings in historic homes. Since its founding by Danish settlers in 1681, the town has evolved from a colonial trading post to one of the busiest duty free ports in the Caribbean.

If you would like to see what paradise is like, you should take a day trip to Koh Nang Yuan, which is an island located only a few hundred meters from Ko Tao and linked to two other islands by a limb of white sand. Here you can unwind free from all cars and hustle, but also snorkel in beautiful waters.