Philippines

On arrival in Manila you'll be struck by the intense blend of heat, pollution and incense. Sadly, you're more likely find open sewage than the nilad flower on the banks of the river Pasig, but look up at the skyline and you'll see yet more signs of this remarkable country's renaissance.

The Philippines' extensive coastline offers boundless opportunities for scuba diving, snorkelling, sailing and windsurfing. Quirkier options include visiting the mystical hanging coffins of Sagada, where coffins adorn seemingly unreachable rock faces so that the deceased can be touched only by nature.

In town, try to catch a communal taxi, a jeepney: sadly a dying breed but never were the words 'gaily-coloured' so appropriate. In the mountains, life proceeds at a statelier pace, regardless of the centuries. A visit to Banaue is well worth the effort. The ancient rice paddies carved deep into the mountainside are simply breathtaking.

Though much of the Philippines' rain forest has disappeared, green travel hasn't limited the options: the Callao Caves in Peñablanca will draw gasps of carbon dioxide, and canoe rides from the Magdapio Falls are a must for white-water addicts.