Yasawa Islands sits majestically to the north of the Mamanucas Archipelago, and are much less commercially orientated than their southern cousins. They are consisting of 16 larger islands and dozen of smaller ones. They are impressive islands, with breathtaking beaches and enchanting fishing villages, which provide an opportunity to observe the traditional way of life. These islands offer plenty for everybody, from fabulous beaches and clear lagoons to exclusive resorts for the well-heeled. Photo by: msdstefan

The islands have been a popular cruise destination from the 1950s, but land-based tourism was forbidden. Since then the popularity of the islands has been growing and they moved from back-packer heaven to mainstream destination. New development is unavoidable, but the wonderful island scenery has not been touched and there is more than enough coastline to go around. Resort are tend to be isolated. most of the island villages are without electricity or running water. But there is fresh water everywhere, so the locals know how to survive. Photo by: ryanocerous1979

Indeed many of the resort are owned and operated by friendly islanders, retaining a rustic charm that combines with the majestic scenery to ensure the visitors Yasawas feel because they discover the real ‘South Pacific’. Photo by: Alasdair Milne

When to go: Any time, there is no specific period hot and dry conditions predominate, with cool nights. Population: 6,000. Getting there: From Lautoka by fast catamaran (2-4 hours) or seaplane (20 minutes). Arrange it all upon arrival at Nadi International Airport. Photo by: ryanocerous1979

The Los Roques Archipelago is one of the world’s biggest National Marine Parks, and lies 145 km due north of La Guaira, the mainland port for Caracas. About 50 coral cays and sand bars are arranged in a huge lagoon, but it’s only from the air you get true idea of its scale – it covers the same area as the whole of Virgin Islands. Photo by: Márcio Cabral de Moura

The isles are shielded from eastern currents by a 24 km coral reef running from north to south and the second reef, running 32 km from east to west. They form a pristine environment that attracts only the most discerning visitors, who come in their own boats or yachts in search of solitude and tranquility, or in small groups by light aircraft, often just for a day, from Caracas or elsewhere on the Venezuelan mainland. The islands residents came from Isla Margarita and are descendants from 110 families. Photo by: Márcio Cabral de Moura

They will welcome you as temporary family members, and you will find that, along with the old style of manners, they still use the old ways of fishing to catch lobsters, king conch and Spanish mackerel. Los Roques is a countless transmutations of blue and green beauty and sharing the natural vibes of a totally unspoiled ecosystem. Photo by: Márcio Cabral de Moura

When to go: Year-round. Between July and September storms makes the water less suitable for scuba-diving. Population: 1,500. Getting there: By light aircraft from Caracas or by boat from Isla Margarita. You should know: There are no words to describe the sense of peace you get in Los Roques. Photo by: Márcio Cabral de Moura

Isla Grande is where Panamanians escape for the weekend to get rid of the city system. You jump in a car or bus, and in two hours you swap Panama City for snorkelling in the Caribbean, on the maze of coral reefs that mark the edge of the Portobelo National Park. Photo by: ursucookie

Isla Grande is on 166 m from the mainland. Although it’s thick with tropical flowers, coconut palms and greenery, the largest of the islands in the area and the easiest and cheapest to get to, nobody went until the potholes in the road from Portobelo were repaired. By the time that happened, La Isla was safe from either ribbon development or high-end exclusivity. There are still no roads on the island – just a walkway that merges bars, markets, street vendors, small restaurants and few hotels. Big part of the island isn’t even accessible, because it’s carved up into half a dozen private estates, and apart from the path across its centre, you enjoy its charms from the waterline. Photo by: lburgee

Isla Grande is your chance to do a full-on tropical Caribbean island, with excellent reefs, and turquoise waters. It’s so lovely and people are so happy to be there. You’re expected to join in; and often you will find one or more communities that has always lived there. Make sure you’ve got food, drink, music and good fellowship to help your day go well. Photo by: perkele_cold

When to go: Any day of the week, any time of the year. Population: 200. Getting there: By car or bus from Sabanitas or Portobelo, to La Guaira, then by water taxi for a five minutes ride to the island. Photo by: Mikecron

Cocos Islands are discovered in 1609, they were settled and owned by a single family from 1872 until the Australian Government acquired them in 1978. A pristine white beach is so typical of the beautiful Cocos Islands. The 27 coral islands are formed into two large, heavily vegetated atolls. They are the only atolls that Darwin ever visited but the coral ecosystem remains intact – and you can still see in their pristine conditions, exactly why they played such an important part in his theory of evolution.

North Keeling, set apart from the other islands, isn’t even inhabited, but you can come across extreme rarities like the Cocos buff-banded rail, robber land crabs, and both green and hawksbill turtles among other wonders, under its protection as Pulu Keeling National Park.

The Cocos islanders live on Home and West Islands, both given over to copra and coconut plantations that only add to their tropical glamour. There is no tourist industry at all. Wild place populated with divers and kite-surfers. However there are facilities for visitors, sponsored by the islanders who take in personal interest everyone who come. If you happen to be there, you are welcome to participate in the school fete, sports day or concert night. The tradition of hospitality is both, Australian and Malay.

The islanders, as much as the islands themselves, have retained a form of unpolluted innocence, and share a mutual respect that visitors immediately respond to. These islands are a dreamscape worthy to travel for.
When to go: Year-round. The winds last from April to September. But between that period the islands is second home for professional kite maniacs. Rain is most intense between March and July and usually falls in the evening after long sunny day. Population: 446. Getting there: By air, from Perth, to West Island, Cocos Islands. Photos by: Christian Bartens

Parque Tayrona is truly a magnificent natural park located at the Caribbean coast of Colombia. The Park covers an area 300 square kilometres in size. Off the coast are a number of coral reefs, and nearby is the archaeological site. This little delightful spot is located about 30 minutes from the city of Rodadero, with beautiful beaches and hammocks to rent. Park Tayrona is about 45 minutes East of Santa Marta.

The park covers some 30 square kilometres of maritime area in the Caribbean sea and some 150 km² of land. One nature reserve where there is an incredible variety of dry and wet tropical forests, coral reefs and seagrass beds. The park boasts fascinating wildlife including black howler and “titi” monkeys, red woodpeckers, iguanas and jaguars.

Places of interest include Canaveral (camping area), Neguange, Arrecifes, El Cabo beach, Playa Linda and La Piscina . Arrecifes is centrally located to explore many of Park Tayrona’s beaches. The scenery is breathtaking: verdant jungle sloping down to meet the Caribbean sea at white sandy beaches. Most beaches right next to the camping grounds are relatively unsafe for swimming due to heavy currents.

Bahia Cinto, Parque Tayrona- Nested within the Tayrona Park, this hideaway bay with exclusive bungalows serves as an ideal base for diving in the Tayrona Park.

La Piscina- La Piscina is mostly a place to swim and hang out.

The accommodation is very natural: you can enjoy traditional camping hammocks between palm trees and overlooking the majestic mountain. Or private, two storey huts perched on a hillside overlooking the sea. Tayrona Park has just one genuine hotel, called “Eco-habs”.

The great watery abyss of Lake Baikal is a huge rift valley in the heart of Siberia formed some 25 million years ago. It is both the oldest and the deepest lake in the world, containing around 20 per cent of the planet’s fresh surface water. Olkhon, one of the largest lake islands in the world, is the geographical, historical and spiritual heart of Baikal, divided by a treacherous narrow strait, near the lake’s deepest point of 1, 637m. Photo by: Gunnar Geir Pétursson

There are plentiful traces of human habitation on Olkhon from as long as 13, 000 years ago; 143 archeological sites have been discovered – rock paintings, burial mounds, settlements, defensive walls and sacred places. The island is steeped in native myth and legend. Photo by: Oh mon héros [Aka Suleiman Poher]

This beautiful island is 730 sq km in area and 72 km long, a wild prehistoric landscape of taiga, steppe, salt lakes and sand dunes, formed by the earth’s shifting tectonic plates. There is one proper village, Kuzhir, and a single main road run the length of the island. The rocky cliffs along the western shore enclose deep bays with sandy beaches, where you can camp in a yurt and go kayaking and fishing. You really are in the wilderness here, there are no power and telephone lines, no cell-phone receptions, and the only electricity is from domestic generators. Photo by: Oh mon héros [Aka Suleiman Poher]

When to go: The peak of the tourist season is from mid-June to mid-August when the weather is warm and dry. Population: 1, 500. How to get there: A bus suns five days a week between Irkutsk and Kuzhir, Olkhon, an 8-hour trip including the ferry crossing. You should know: Lake Baikal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Photo by: Timoty_moscow

Cabo de la Vela is a headland in the Guajira Peninsula in Colombia with an adjacent small fishing village. Facing the Caribbean Sea and Venezuela in the northern most part of South America. The department capital city is Riohacha.

Cabo de la Vela is the most visited tourist destination of La Guajira. It has paradisaical beaches and an excellent landscape.This truely special region is well worth a visit. From Riohacha you have to go by car over to Cuarto Vias then up through Uribia to Cabo de la Vela probably another 70/80 km.

There’s over 60 guesthouses  in Cabo de la Vela – all offer pretty basic accommodation in either cabanas with beds or in hammock. Seafood is the number one and only option and lots of beach restaurants have fresh langostas and fish on the menu.

Just as the Guajira is the ideal place for adventure tourism. Camping, bicycle tours, water sports, cultural exchanges, dances and festivals in the region.

It is a nice place and the sunset in Cabo de la Vela is amazing!

Mchenja Bush Camp is a seasonal luxurious bush camp on the banks of the Luangwa River, Zambia. Mchenja means ebony tree and is definitely one of the perfect destinations to enjoy a walking safari. The camp has combined stays at the true safari experience with the ultimate in luxury. Set amongst massive ebony tress with lovely views of the river the Luangwa Valley has been regarded as one of Africa finest wildlife reserves.

Mchenja consists of five stylishly designed tents on raised platforms under thatch. The central area is focused around a large plunge pool, looking over the Luangwa River, which houses the bar and lounge. The rooms are incredibly luxurious, with free standings baths, outdoor en suite shower and inside bath. 

The setting of the camp is incredibly spacious offering guests the opportunity to stroll around camp or simply relax under the shade of a tree, right on the banks of the Luangwa. Game drives and walking tours safaris are offered. Days are punctuated by succulent lunches and dinners as well as tea just before the evening safari. They are generally lasting between 3 and 5 hours and are led by a fully qualified guide. Then unwind with some South African wines, or even some of the rarest champagnes.

2009 Rates: $600 – $700
2010 Rates: $580 – $650
Closed 10 Nov to 31 Jan & 1 Apr to 20 May

As the name speaks this is a truly beautiful island. A combination of a rugged coastline, attractive fishing villages and white sandy beaches, has made it a magnet for summer tourists. In July and August the population can increase ten-fold, all crammed into 84 sq km. However, even in peak times, it is possible to lose oneself on the island of contrasts. The south-west coast is a true wild land, while the sheltered eastern side can feel positively Mediterranean in spite of its Atlantic location. Photo by: HCLM

The island is famous for more traditional pleasures of any vacation on the Brittany coast; swimming, boating, fishing, cycling and hiking. It also houses a collection of attractive lighthouses, most notably Le Grand Phare on the west coast, La Citadelle Vauban and many more. Photo by: Patrick.Raymond

The island also attract the attentions of the world’s best artists. Inspired by its natural splendour, Monet, Van Gogh and Henri Matisse amongst others produced some of their finest work here. The island is said to have inspired the Op Art movement of the 1950s when the Hungarian-born artist Victor Vasarely visited and was inspired by the atmosphere there. Photo by: HCLM

Belle Ile boasts one of the best hiking routes in Europe. The spectacular 95 km coastal path takes about a week to complete and there are walkers’ hostels and campsites en route. Photo by: Olivier Cochard-Labbé

When to go: Spring and autumn are less busy. Population: 5,250. How to get there: By ferry from Quiberon (year-round) or from Vannes ( summer only).

In the heart of Poole Harbour, opposite the town of Poole in Dorset, lies Brownsea Island. The Brownsea is wholly owned by the National Trust, and may be visited by the public. All of the Brownsea is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and northern end is leased to the Dorset Wildlife Trust as a Nature Reserve. Photo by: pixel_boy

Brownsea is a place of many habitats, and is home to a wealth of wildlife and plants. It contains saltmarsh, reed beds, freshwater lakes, heathland, peaceful pinewoods, and a brackish lagoon. It is one of the last heavens of the indigenous red squirrel – probably due to having no competition from the grey variety – and there are many non-native sika deer and rabbits. The island has wonderful birds in summer and avocets in winter. Photo by: danny george

You should know: In 2007 the Sunrise Camp, brought together 310 young people from 155 countries to celebrate the Scouts‘ 100th anniversary. At the exact moment that Scouting had begun 100 years previously, every Scout in the world, all 28 million of them renewed their Scouting promise. Photo by: martin97uk

The Svalbard Archipelago lies north than Alaska and is northernmost part of the kingdom of Norway, lying about half way to North Pole. There are three large islands in the Svalbard Archipelago – Spitzbergen, Nordaustlandet and Edgeoya and the Gulf Stream current sink close to them. The islands are rugged and desolate, with around 60 per cent of the land covered with glaciation. Photo by: Paul Zizka

The mountains there look like steep piles of rubble, with peaks jutting out of all angles. Some are covered in snow all year round, there are no trees on the islands, but the warm season brings many Arctic flower into bloom, make parts of the islands into colorful meadows. Photo by: _Zinni_

Being so far north, Svalbard gets the midnight sun from 20 April to 23 August, although the sun itself may be hidden by fog. The polar night, when the sun does not rise above the horizon at all, is from 26 October to 15 February. Most visitors stay away during this period, unless they are there to see the Northern Lights. Photo by: _Zinni_

Most visitors come there to explore the raw climate, see the midnight sun and try their luck at some of the exciting  activities – snowmobile trips, kayaking, ice cave exploration, dog-sleding, skiing and horse riding. The tourist board organize many tours and activities, some of which include one or more nights of wilderness camping. Anyone staying outside the main settlement is required to carry a rifle, and know how to use it.

When to go: April to August. How to get there: Fly from Oslo or Tromso to Longyearbyen, or go on an organized cruise. Photo by: _Zinni_

The Isles of Scilly are the most westerly part of Britain. An archipelago of 140 islands, with nothing between them and the USA, they are blessed with a benign climate, despite recieving gale force winds during winter. There are five main inhabited islands; St Mary’s beingthe most developed. Clement weather produces early flowers, and flower growing remains a considerable industry. The Scillies were designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1975. Photo by: JC Richardson

Tresco, the second largest island, is also much visited, thanks in large part to the fabulous Abbey Gardens. St Martin’s, the third largest island, is very unspoilt. Here you can find Bronze Age burial chambers and the remains of a 5th century chapel. Daffodils and Amaryllis Belladonna are grown commercially. but it’s the gorgeous beaches and crystal waters that most people come for. Photo by: khanrizzi

St Agnes, the most southwesterly island, is popular with its lovely coastline, white sand beaches, coves and rock pools. Photo by: Adam and Debbie Purser of Classic Sailing

Small and quiet, Bryher is peppered with pre-historic sites. Covered in a blaze of grose and wild flowers in spring and summer, it’s another paradise. Bryher makes a perfect gateway from the stresses of modern life, its coastal path offering fabuluos views of the rocky shoreline and across the water to Tresco. The Scilly Isles offer something for everyone.

When to go: Anytime but best between April to November. Population: 2,153. How to get there: By plane, helicopter or boat from the mainland. Photo by: Swiv

Great Blasket is the largest of six islands that lie to the west of the Dingle Peninsula, Eire. The islands are uninhabited, expect during the summer months, when three people live on Great Blasket; one is a waver and the other two run the cafe and youth hostel. The island is hilly, about 6 km by 0.8 km wide, and is home to donkeys and seabirds. Photo by: tbennett

What is left of Great Blasket’s village is situated on the north east of the island. In the 1920s and 30s the young people could bear the privations of life there, no longer, and they began to leave for the mainland and further afield. Those who remained struggled on, growing a few vegetables and living their traditional life. By 1953/54 even these few people had to admit defeat. In the last few years some of the stone cottages on the island have been renovated, and visitors can come to explore the place and stay there for a night or two. Photo by: bubba2tish

When to go: April to October. Population: Uninhabited, expect in the summer. How to get there: Ferries run from the mainland every two hours. Photo by: tbennett

Photo by: monaco obbediente

The Pearl of Oresund is a tiny dot in the spirit between Sweden and Denmark, 8 km off the Danish coast and just 4.3 km from Sweden. It is only 7.5 sq km, a shelf that slopes downward south to north from its highest point at 45 m just 5 m above sea level. The island is incredibly fertile farmland with rich clay topsoil on layers of shifting sand and clay. Photo by: bjaglin

When you go ashore from the ferry at Backviken, the grassy slopes of the celebrated Backfall cliffs rise straight out of the sea 40 m high, giving amazing views over the Oresund to the Danish and Swedish coasts. Kyrkbacken, the oldest and largest harbour with yachting marina, is a pretty village with a fish smokery. There are sand beaches near both harbours. Photo by: joningic

Ven is lovely island for camping and cycling holidays. Paths cut through the fields and copses so that you can wander freely everywhere. Coastal walks take you along some hair-raising cliff tops where you will see dramatic landslips and down to curious rocky shores full of marine life. Artists and craftmen have been attracted there by the inspiring anture and peaceful atmosphere. The bucolic surroundings, sea views, lively harbours, and sense of history make it an ideal palce for anyone seeking a relaxing island break. Photo by: WanderingJapanese

When to go: May to September. Population: 371. How to get there: Ferry from Landskrona on the Swidish mainland several times a day, and from Helsingborg and Copenhagen in the summer only. You should know: Bikes can be hired on the island, so there is no need to travel with one. Photo by: michal_kozlowski

The biggest lake in South America and the highest navigable lake in the world, lies at 3,810 m, its 196 km length spanning the Andean border between Peru and Bolivia. Lake Titicaca is the cradle of Inca civilization and Ilsa del Sol is the Incas’ holiest site. Today most things about lake Lake Titicaca are at odds with the modern, technological and politician world. The Aymara people who farm Isla del Sol grow barley, quinoa wheat, potatoes and maize on harsh, rocky terrain. Photo by: Jessie Reeder

The island is part of Bolivia, but power and ownership simply don’t matter when you are actually there. It’s the resident Aymara who guard the spiritual continuum of the place. Their fishing, fields and alpaca herds allow no development of tourist amenities or roads, and the way of life is indifferent to visitors who pace and race. Photo by: Shane Bourke

When to go: October to March, when the days are warmer. Nights are always cold. Population: 5,000. How to get there: By ferry boat, via several of Titicaca’s islands, to/from Puno (Peru) from/to Guiaqui (Bolivia). Backpackers can reach the small Bolivian lakeside village of Copacabana bu bus or car, then take an open boat for the 1-hour ride to Isla del Sol. Photo by: Phillie Casablanca

Photo by: Marc Shandro