If there is one thing that anyone of limited vacation time should explore first in the country, it should be Palawan. Palawan is the Philippine’s last frontier, and as such, abundantly blessed by all imaginable attractions that a traveler could possibly wish for.

If you ever wonder if there is such a litter-free city in the midst of a jungle, all you need to do is set foot in Palawan’s capital, Puerto Princesa. White sand beaches are scattered in wanton abandon in this province, and so are karst limestone formations that rise out of emerald-turquoise waters yet unspoiled by commercial fishing and irreverence of the sea. Are you aching to get more action underwater? Drop anchor at Tubbataha Natural Reefs, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. How about a subterranean (mis)adventure? Try the recently proclaimed member of the New7Wonders of Nature, Puerto Princesa Underground River. Do you want to shake hands – or maybe just observe up close – one of the earliest aborigines of the Filipino people? Then visit the vanishing Batak tribe on northeastern Palawan. The list of possibilities could go on. With Palawan comprising more than 1,700 islands, the list of attractions and activities might as well be endless.

As the northernmost province of the Philippines (and the smallest too), Batanes has easily escaped the Filipinos’ imagination for wanderlust because they did not know there was Eden there! Batanes has only come to national attention when brave adventurers started coming back from these islands of far north and shared tales of rapture and longing at the sight of Batanes’ pristine and rugged landscapes, idyllic rolling pastures, nature-compatible architecture, and a distinct culture suggesting Austronesian and Taiwanese ancestry. Rising out the blue Pacific Ocean and China Sea, Batanes is more than postcard-worthy. The unspoilt natural beauty is more than just skin-deep: The Ivatans, as the people of this province are called, are famed for their culture of honesty, a rare value reflected in unmanned “Honesty Cafe” where shoppers can just come in, serve themselves or pick up needed merchandise, and leave their payments in a drop box.

You haven’t seen the Philippines if you have only been exploring its capital city, Manila. Travel to the country’s south and you will see that (almost) crime-free urbanization, discipline and cleanliness can all coexist in one place in the very region reputed to be the political hotbed of the Philippines. That place is Davao City in Mindanao. It is the embodiment of a livable city, the gold standard (outside of Palawan’s Puerto Princesa) of how a city should be. Davao has three categories of adventure for the intrepid (and the faint of heart) traveler: wildlife, ‘mild life’ and colorful life.

Davao City is home to the Philippine’s highest peak, the almost-3,000-meters-above-sea-level Mt. Apo. It is also home to the rare Philippine Eagle, bred here in captivity. Being a city, Davao offers all the ‘mild life’ pleasures to tourists who may be used to creature comforts back home: night life is thumping yet safe, and shopping can be fun yet budget-friendly. Davao’s ‘colorful life’ can be summed up in its ‘Kadayawan’, a thanksgiving festival inspired by Davao’s ‘lumad’ (ethnic tribes living at the foot of Mt. Apo) when they give thanks to their deities after a bountiful harvest. Chavacano, Davao’s dialect, is a variant of the only Spanish-based Creole spoken in Southeast Asia.

This landlocked province in Northern Luzon has long been a tourism favorite. It was the site of the original Filipino pride, the rice terraces, before they were eclipsed by Palawan’s subterranean river. There is more to Mountain Province though than meets the eyes: A traveler who looks closely enough might chance upon coffins hanging on mountainsides containing even the recently deceased. This rather unique burial practice is mostly found in Sagada where natural rock formations – above and below ground – abound.

Bohol is the Philippine’s “chocolate” factory for its carefully scooped mounds of earth rising out of the plains by the thousands, known to everyone as the Chocolate Hills (because the green grass wither in the summer). It would have been less mesmerizing if there are only a dozen of them, but these perfect creations of natural phenomena spread out for miles and miles that you cannot believe the hills were an accident of nature. Beyond the hills, Bohol is also fringed with the requisite white sand beaches that easily rival Boracay’s. These beaches are rather touristy, so one can enjoy the comforts of civilization while enjoying the gifts of nature. For a romantic day trip, tourists can wine and dine at the Loboc River after they ‘play’ with the tarsiers.

A destination of choice for investors (outside of Manila), Cebu attracts talented labor pool from all over the country and is well-equipped with the necessary infrastructure to keep pace with the demands of the foreign market. Culturally, Cebu has one of the most colorful religious festivities in the Philippines, being the first province that Magellan landed on when the Spanish arrived in 1521, an achievement of the Crown represented by Magellan’s Cross. It also doesn’t hurt that off the coast of Cebu lies some of the most delectable beaches in the country.

If there is one place in the Philippines where Spanish architecture remains intact and well-preserved on a citywide scale, it is in the city of Vigan in the province of Ilocos Sur. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Vigan boasts of cobblestone streets that have been first laid down when the Spanish arrived in 16th century, and colonial houses complete with furniture from that era. Everywhere a visitor looks, he or she is transported to a world that is barely surviving in other parts of the country – all the more important to tick off Vigan on your bucket list.

Long before ‘CamSur’ came to Filipino attention as a tourist destination, Naga, its capital, is already famous as the home of the miraculous “Lady of Penafrancia.” Today, CamSur is better known for literally making waves in the surf- and wakeboarding arena. Caramoan Islands off the coast of CamSur came to media attention when “Survivor” chose it at its Philippine location. Even with this worldwide endorsement, Caramoan remains barely explored and retains an obvious natural charm that gives “getting lost in the wild” a new meaning.

All over the world, there are only a few places said to be highly concentrated with whale sharks. Donsol, Sorsogon, once a lethargic fishing community, rose to tourism prominence when pods of whale sharks or “butanding” were “discovered” off its shores in 1998. Locals have seen these whale sharks for over 100 years, but believed they could harm when approached. A chance encounter with a diver proved otherwise. Since then, Donsol has become a mecca for “butanding” watching and even interacting (although you would be well-advised to keep distance from these gentle giants of the deep for reasons of keeping them truly wild.)

Popular to Filipinos as the home of authentic chicken “inasal” (grilled chicken), Bacolod, Negros Occidental’s capital, entices visitors with more than just a generous helping of juicy “pechopak” (chicken breast and wing) and garlic rice. Home to the majestic – and active! – Mt. Kanlaon, Negros Occidental delights travelers of all colors and stripes with jaw-dropping views of the volcano’s summit, breathtaking vistas of the Sulu Sea from Sipalay to the south, and well-preserved Spanish-era mansions in Silay to the north. It also doesn’t hurt to come during the wildly bacchanalian MassKara Festival in mid-October, when the province’s full colors are showcased without reserve. More than the painted smiling faces of Bacolod, the true gem of Negros Occidental lies in its varied geography and natural wealth hidden in its jungles and excavated from its bosom. The real deal-maker however is its people – warm, welcoming and generous, even in the face of adversity.

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The latest buzzword in the capital is néo-bistro (new bistro), a small, casual address serving outstanding cuisine under the tutelage of a talented (and often ‘name’) chef. Take Christian Constant’s Les Cocottes, a stone’s throw from the Eiffel Tower, or Jadis, hidden on a little-known street in middle-of-nowhere. Tables are jammed as tight as ever, dishes of the day are still chalked on the blackboard, and cuisine is just as simple except for one new ingredient – a creative twist.

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Seven million people visit it annually but few disagree each visit is unique. From an evening ascent amid twinkling lights to lunch at 58 Tour Eiffel in the company of a staggering city panorama, there are 101 ways to ‘do’ it. Pedal beneath it, skip the lift and hike up, buy a crêpe from a stand here or a key ring from the street, snap yourself in front of it, visit it at night or – our favourite – on the odd special occasion when all 324m of the tower glows a different colour.

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The dramatic play of tides on this abbey-island in Normandy is magical and mysterious. Said by Celtic mythology to be a sea tomb to which souls of the dead were sent, Mont St-Michel is rich in legend and history, keenly felt as you make your way barefoot across rippled sand to the stunning architectural ensemble. Walk around it alone or, better still, hook up with a guide in nearby Genêts for a dramatic day hike across the bay.

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Name-brand Champagne houses like Mumm, Mercier and Moët & Chandon in the main towns of Reims and Épernay, are known the world over. But – our tip – much of Champagne’s best liquid gold is made by almost 5000 smallscale vignerons (winegrowers) in 320-odd villages. Dozens of maisons (Champagne houses) welcome visitors for a taste, tipple and shopping at producer prices, rendering the region’s scenic driving routes the best way to taste fine bubbly amid rolling vineyards and drop-dead-gorgeous villages. Our favourite: tasting in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger and lunch at Le Mesnil.

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If it’s aristocratic pomp and architectural splendour you’re after, this regal valley is the place to linger. Flowing for over 1000km into the Atlantic Ocean, the Loire is one of France’s last fleuves sauvages (wild rivers) and its banks are a 1000- year snapshot of French high society. The valley is riddled with beautiful châteaux sporting glittering turrets and ballrooms, lavish cupolas and chapels. If you’re a hopeless romantic seeking the perfect fairy-tale castle, head for moat-ringed Azay-le- Rideau, Villandry and its gardens, and less visited Beauregard.

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The Vallée Blanche is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. You won’t regret the €70-odd it costs to do the more than 20km off -piste descent from the spike of the Aiguille du Midi to mountaineering mecca Chamonix – every minute of the five hours it takes to get down will pump more adrenalin in your body than anything else you’ve ever done. Craving more? Hurl yourself down Europe’s longest black run, La Sarenne, at Alpe d’Huez.

This is a top experience reserved strictly for sunny days and those who like looking at the world through rose-coloured glass. Be stunned and inspired by the sublime stained glass in Paris’ Ste-Chapelle, one of Christendom’s most beautiful places of worship. Then head out of town to Chartres, where you can’t get bluer blue than the awesome stained-glass windows of Cathédrale Notre Dame de Chartres. Leave with the true blue of so-called ‘Chartres blue’ firmly imprinted in your mind.

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The Dune du Pilat is a ‘mountain’ that just has to be climbed. Not only is the coastal panorama from the top of Europe’s largest sand dune a stunner – it takes in the Banc d’Arguin bird reserve and Cap Ferret across the bay – but the nearby beaches have some of the Atlantic Coast’s best surf. Cycle here from Arcachon and top off the heady trip with a dozen oysters, shucked before your very eyes and accompanied by crepinettes (local sausages).

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It is impossible to drive this dramatic trio of coastal roads, each one higher and more hairpin bend–riddled than the next, without conjuring up cinematic images of Grace Kelly, Hitchcock, the glitz of Monaco high life, and scandalous royals – all to the standing ovation of big view after big view of sweeping blue sea fringing Europe’s most mythical coastline. To make a perfect day out of it, before leaving Nice, shop for a picnic at the morning market on Cours Saleya.

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That first glimpse of La Cité’s sturdy, stone, witch’s-hat turrets above Carcassonne in the Languedoc is enough to make your hair stand on end. To properly savour this fairy-tale walled city, linger at dusk after the crowds have left, when the old town belongs to its 100 or so inhabitants and the few visitors staying at the handful of lovely hotels within its ramparts. Don’t forget to look back when you leave to view the old city, beautifully illuminated, glowing in the warm night.

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This is one of France’s most emotional journeys. The broad stretches of fine sand and breeze-blown bluffs are quiet now, but early on 6 June 1944 the beaches of northern Normandy were a cacophony of gunfire and explosions, the bodies of Allied soldiers lying in the sand as their comrades in-arms charged inland. Just up the hill from Omaha Beach, the long rows of symmetrical gravestones at the Normandy American Cemetery & Memorial bear solemn, silent testimony to the horrible price paid for France’s liberation from Nazi tyranny.

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This Unesco World Heritage Site near Nîmes in southern France is gargantuan: 35 arches straddle the Roman aqueduct’s 275m-long upper tier, containing a watercourse that was designed to carry 20,000 cu metres of water per day. View it from afloat a canoe on the River Gard or pay extra to jig across its top tier. Oh, and don’t forget your swimming gear for a spot of post-Pont, daredevil dives and high jumps from the rocks nearby – a plunge that will entice the most reluctant of young historians.

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No region is more of a market-must than this one. Be it fresh fish by the port in seafaring Marseille, early summer’s strings of pink garlic, melons from Cavaillon all summer long or wintertime’s earthy ‘black diamond’ truffles, Provence thrives on a bounty of fresh produce – grown locally and piled high each morning at the market. Every town and village has one, but those in Carpentras and Aix-en-Provence are the best known. While you’re here, stock up on dried herbs, green and black olives marinated a dozen different ways, courgette flowers and oils.

Impossibly perched on a rocky peak above the Mediterranean, gloriously lost in back country, fortified or château-topped… southern France’s portfolio of villages perchés is vast, impressive and calls for go-slow touring – on foot, by bicycle or car. Most villages are medieval, built from gold stone and riddled with cobbled lanes, flower-filled alleys and hidden squares silent but for the glug of a fountain. Combine a village visit with lunch alfresco and you’ll never want to leave.

The red-and-white checked tablecloths, closely packed tables and decades-old bistro decor could be anywhere in France. It’s the local cuisine that makes bouchons in Lyon unique, plus the quaint culinary customs, like totting up the bill on the paper tablecloth, or serving wine in a glass bottle wrapped with an elastic band to stop drips, or the ‘shut weekends’ opening hours. Various piggy parts drive Lyonnais cuisine but, have faith, this French city is said to be the gastronomic capital of France. Dine and decide.

Bright white by day, all aglow after dark, this new star of the northern France art scene is on the tip of everyone’s tongue. A provincial cousin to the well-known Centre Pompidou in Paris, this modern art museum was designed by a world-class, Japanese–French duo of architects and is as much architectural gem as exhibition powerhouse, easily on a par with Bilbao’s Guggenheim and London’s Tate. Part of the experience is a designer lunch, aka edible art on a plate, at the museum’s La Voile Blanche.

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Pedalling past open fields dotted with the world’s greatest concentration of mysterious megaliths gives a poignant reminder of Brittany’s ancient human inhabitation. No one knows for sure what inspired these gigantic menhirs, dolmens, cromlechs, tumuli and cairns to be built – a sun god? Some phallic fertility cult? You decide. To top off the Breton experience, stop for crêpes and cider at Crêperie au Pressoir, a traditional long house in Carnac set amid a circle of menhirs.

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It is one of France’s most popular drives – and for good reason. Motoring in this far northeast corner of France takes you through a kaleidoscope of lush green vines, perched castles and gentle mistcovered mountains. The only pit stops en route are half-timbered villages and roadside wine cellars, where fruity Alsace vintages can be swirled, tasted and bought. To be truly wooed, drive the Route des Vins d’Alsace in autumn, when vines are heavy with grapes waiting to be harvested and colours are at their vibrant best.

1. Bangkok

As the political, economic, cultural, culinary, and spiritual capital of Thailand, Bangkok features both old-world charm and modern convenience. Invariably, every Thailand holiday includes a visit to the kingdom’s capital city, Bangkok, or Krung Thep, “the city of angels” as it’s known to the locals. Many first-time visitors to the city are overwhelmed by its sheer size; others by the vast number of attractions scattered about the city, the result of more than two centuries of rapid development following the city’s founding in 1782. Today Bangkok is a cosmopolitan, 21st century city of more than ten million inhabitants.

2. Chiang Mai

Thailand’s “Rose of the North” contains both cultural and natural diversity, a multitude of attractions, and welcoming hospitality. Chiang Mai literally means “new city” and has retained the name despite celebrating its 700th anniversary in 1996. King Meng Rai the Great, a very religious leader who founded many of the city’s temples, created the city as the capital of the Lanna Kingdom around the same time as the establishment of the Sukhothai Kingdom. Chiang Mai not only became the capital and cultural core of the Lanna Kingdom, but also the center of Buddhism in northern Thailand.

3. Phuket

When travelers to Thailand talk about sea, sun and sand, Phuket is often the first place that comes to mind. Catapulted to international attention by the James Bond movie “The Man with the Golden Gun” back in 1974, the entire area today boasts many hotels and resorts, which offer all sorts of tourism facilities for travelers.

4. Ayutthaya

Once considered the most spectacular city on Earth, the ruins of the capital of the Kingdom Ayutthaya are now a major tourist attraction easily accessible from Bangkok by car, train, or boat as either a daytrip or overnight excursion. A regional power for 417 years, the ancient city its apex in the 16th century, when the Kingdom’s territory extended into and beyond present-day Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar. Ayutthaya had diplomatic relations with Louis XIV of France and was courted by Dutch, Portuguese, English, Chinese and Japanese merchants.

5. Kanchanaburi

Kanchanaburi has become a major tourist destination, with a focus on the outdoors due to its magnificent landscape and charming beauty. Only two hours from Bangkok, Kanchanaburi is accessible by road or rail, and is popular for fishing, rafting, canoeing, mountain biking, bird-watching, star-gazing, golfing and elephant and jungle trekking. The area boasts several well-known waterfalls, caves that were once inhabited by Neolithic man, national parks, tranquil rivers, virgin forests, and several large reservoirs.

6. Krabi

a province on southern Thailand’s Andaman coast, is an almost otherworldly region of labyrinthine archipelagos, where islands seem to erupt vertically out of the sea and secluded beaches are only accessible by colorfully adorned long tail boats. Krabi’s myriad of bays and coves have sheltered pirates, merchants, and sea gypsies for thousands of years and archaeological evidence indicates that Krabi was originally inhabited as early as 25,000 – 35,000 years ago.

7. Ratchaburi

Ratchaburi’s premier attraction is the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, a destination visited by a large percentage of tourists who visit Bangkok. Vendors in the market sell their wares by paddling boats along Ratchaburi’s canals. Every morning, hundreds of boats crowd the market, paddled by women in straw hats. For a few hundred baht visitors can hire their own boats and explore the canals while shopping for everything from vegetables and fruits to freshly-cooked noodles and souvenirs.

8. Chon Buri

Chonburi, Bangkok’s nearest seaside town, is located on the eastern coast of the Gulf of Thailand, about 50 miles from the capital. The area boasts abundant natural resources, making it a popular coastal province among Bangkokians who seek a weekend. Particularly popular is the seaside resort of Pattaya, though Chonburi’s smaller, quieter seaside towns are also quite popular with foreigners and Thais alike.

9. Sukhothai

Founded in the 13th century, Sukhothai, which literally means “Dawn of Happiness”, was the first truly independent Thai Kingdom and enjoyed a golden age under King Ramkhamhaeng, who is credited with creating the Thai alphabet. The superb temples and monuments of this great city have been lovingly restored, and Sukhothai Historical Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is popular with travelers, particularly on those occasional nights the park when the park remains open and the graceful Buddhas are illuminated by lights.

10. Phang nga

Phang Nga province renowned for its beautiful land, spectacular bay, amazing islands and good diving. Most famous is Phang Nga Bay National Park, a geological wonder filled with islets, sunken caverns, and startling rock formations rising vertically out of the sea. The bay is extremely sheltered and therefore ideal for expeditions on sea kayaks to explore the many fascinating caverns and islands throughout the bay.