Rajasthan & Sri Lanka

Set in the Rajasthan province of northwest India, Udaipur is a famously pretty city, centred around seven lakes and featuring a very impressive collection of palaces, including the iconic Taj Lake Palace Hotel. An unusually good area for walking, mountain-biking and horse-riding and with some fantastic forts in the vicinity.

Set in the Rajasthan province of northwest India, Jodhpur is a large and historic city, which is centred around one of the largest and most impressive forts in the country. The adjacent walled city contains a mazy network of famously blue-coloured lanes and alleyways, as well as a large traditional market.

Set in the Rajasthan province of northwest India, Jaipur is a large city which contains a wealth of historic buildings (including the renowned Amber Fort), as well as an impressive artisan tradition and lively street scene. A very popular stop on the famous Golden Triangle route, along with Delhi and Agra.

Set in the Rajasthan province of northern India, Ranthambore is an iconic national park, best known for its lovely scenery, romantic ruins and impressive Bengal tigers, as well as a wide range of other wildlife. The reserve is easily combined with the popular locations like Agra, Jaipur and Udaipur.

Set in the Uttar Pradesh province of northcentral India, Agra is a large and rather ramshackle city, which happens to contain some of the most impressive historic architecture in the world, centred on the remarkable Taj Mahal. A very popular stop on the famous Golden Triangle route, along with Delhi and Jaipur.

Set in the northwest of India, Delhi is a vast and sprawling city, a ragtag collage of thousands of years of successive empires and a major powerhouse of the modern economy. Although there is plenty of local colour, most international visitors treat the place as little more than a transit stop on the way to more exotic and less hectic locations. A major base for luxury trains.

Set in northcentral Sri Lanka, Anuradhapura is a relaxed town which is home to an enormous complex of historic ruins, with various sacred buildings including the renowned Bodhi Tree Temple, a place of great pilgrimage amongst Buddhists.

Set in the centre of Sri Lanka, Knuckles is a mountainous conservation area, whose dense cloud forest harbour a remarkable number of endemic species. The reserve is little-visited, but does offer some interesting walking trails, whilst the surrounding tea-plantations contain some interesting accommodation options.

Set in the east of Sri Lanka, Gal Oya National Park is a relatively small conservation area, best known for motorboat safari to view elephants swimming between the various islands in the huge reservoir.

Set in the southeast corner of Sri Lanka, Yala is the largest and best-known national park in the country, famously home to elephants, leopards and sloth bears, as well as having some decent beaches. The area also has a surprisingly good range of safari accommodation.

Set on the south coast of Sri Lanka, Tangalle is a pleasant fishing port, lined either side with some lovely beaches, which feature an unusual mix of accommodation from intimate boutique guesthouses to enormous beach hotels and a major golf resort.

Set on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka, Galle (pronounced 'gorl') is an historic port, centred on an impressive Portuguese, Dutch and British fort, a lovely place to explore and with some really authentic accommodation options.