Uzbekistan

You´re thinking of taking a trip this summer. And you don´t want to sit on the beach with a Budwaiser in your one hand and a slice of pizza in your other. You want something different. Something new. You want to go somewhere and really feel like you got to know the people, the culture, the landscape. Well, have I got the way for you to travel. Why not make it active and at the same time really experience the place you are visiting? Bike, walk, run, or kayak at your own pace... through the Ancient Silk Road, ancient cities of Uzbekistan, big desert with camels...

No country in Central Asia seems to have it so good as Uzbekistan. The region's cradle of culture for more than two millennia, it is the proud home to a spellbinding arsenal of architecture and artefacts, all deeply infused with the raw, fascinating history of the country. there was a Hall of Fame for Central Asian cities, Uzbekistan would own the top-three entries: Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva. Conjuring up images of knife-twirling dervishes, serpentine desert caravans and architecture that blends with the sand and other attractions, which include dazzling bazaars, ancient fortresses like the one at Nurata, and an impressive array of largely unsung natural attractions, and the hiking and adventure-sport opportunities of Chimgan.

Our Top Picks For Uzbekistan:
1 Samarkand
The breathtaking Registan leads a formidable cast of larger-than-life Timurid architectural gems.
2 Bukhara
Exquisitely preserved holy city boasting stunning 15th-century medressas, awesome B&Bs and fascinating history.
3 Quirky Cultural Gems
Cultural Gems Carmen for a dollar at Tashkent's Alisher Navoi Opera & Ballet Theatre and Central Asia’s greatest art collection in Nukus’ Savitsky Museum.
4 Khiva
The last independent khanate frozen in time amid the desert.
5 Crafty Uzbekistan
Silk in Margilon, ceramics in Rishton, suzani (silk and cotton coverlets) in Shakhrisabz and everything under the sun in Bukhara.

Slovenia....

Slovenia has a wealth of attractions to rival a country many times its size. Resting between the Alps and the Adriatic and poised above – but not a part of – the Balkan peninsula, Slovenia has been blessed with incredible natural beauty and has welded a great number of outside influences - from Roman and Venetian to Germanic and Hungarian - onto its Slavic core. The result is a physical and cultural alloy that is wholly distinctive and distinctly precious.

Slovenia has been dubbed many things – ‘Europe in Miniature’, ‘The Sunny Side of the Alps’, ‘The Green Piece of Europe’ – and they’re all true. The place abounds in top-notch things to see – the stunning Julian Alps, the beautiful but busy Lake Bled and the more relaxed Lake Bohinj, the karst caves of Postojna and its lovely sliver of the Adriatic around Piran. Then throw in historic towns like Ptuj and cities like Ljubjana, both with unforgettable architecture, museums and a unique energy all of their own.
In the land of the great outdoors the list of activities on offer here is almost endless. Throughout the year you’ll encounter locals engaged in decidedly active pursuits – canoeing and kayaking in spring, swimming and water-skiing in summer, hiking and climbing in autumn, and skiing and snowboarding in winter.
And then there’s what I consider to be Slovenia’s greatest single attribute: the Slovenes themselves. The typical personality is quietly conservative but deeply self-confident, broadminded, tolerant and very friendly and hospitable.

Our Top Picks For Slovenia:

1 Lake Bohinj
An idyllic unspoiled Alpine lake beneath Mt Triglav

2 Logarska Dolina
The most beautiful Alpine valley, with flat meadows ringed by rocky peaks

3 Sempeter
An almost complete Roman-era necropolis with 1st century tombs

4 Bogojina
A flower-bedecked village with a wonderful church designed by Jože Plečnik

5 Ptuj

A gem of a town, steeped in medieval history

6 Pleterje Monastery
An ancient abbey with silent monks

7 Adlesici
enia’s folk ‘heart’ where you are most likely to hear traditional music

8 Kocvski Rog
Virgin forest where bears and the ghosts of Partisans roam

9 Ljubljana
Slovenia’s ‘Beloved’ capital with fine architecture and greenery

10 Predjama Castle
Perched in the mouth of a hilltop cavern is the most dramatically placed castle anywhere

11 Skocjan Caves
A vast underground cavern with a raging river running through it

12 Franja Partisan Hospital
The secret WWII Partisan hospital, a memorial to courage and humanity.

Hungary

There is no place like Hungary. Situated in the very heart of Europe, this kidney-shaped country can claim a unique place in the continent's soul. Doubters need only listen to the music of Franz Liszt and Bela Bartok, view the romantic Danube River as it dramatically splits Budapest in two or taste the nation's unique (and paprika-infused) cuisine to be convinced. Hungary's impact on Europe's history and development has been far greater than its present size and population would suggest. Hungary abounds in things to see and do, and those with special interests - fishing, horse riding, botany, bird-watching, cycling, thermal spas, Jewish culture - will find a treasure-trove here.
It is a place that is enticing and inspirational, and able to offer both originality and quality. Hungary is conveniently located in the very heart of Europe, and is well served by affordable transport links. It offers a plethora of attractions: bold and intricate architecture, beautiful and varied scenery, and a colorful cultural heritage of music, dance and art.
There is a rich culinary tradition too, one that extends well beyond cauldrons of goulash, and some excellent wines produced in 22 regions. Choose Hungary for that special event - and relax in the knowledge that everything is on the safest and most professional of hands...

Vienna..

Vienna... with its splendid historical face is easily recognised. Its grand imperial palaces and bombastic baroque interiors, museums flanking magnificent squares and, above all, the Hofburg - where the Habsburg rulers lived, loved and married into empires. It is Europe's most dynamic urban spaces. Just a stone's throw from Hofburg, the MuseumsQuartier houses some of the world's most provocative contemporary art behind a striking basalt facade. Outside, a courtyard buzzes on summer evenings with throngs of Viennese drinking and chatting. Nearby, restaurants brim with imbibers enjoying the pleasures of wine and food, while across the yard a museum cafe pulsates with beats.

Our Top picks on Vienna:

Anchor Clock:

The Anchor Clock was built between 1911 and 1917 after the plans of the painter Franz von Matsch. It is situated on the oldest square of Vienna and represents a typical Art Nouveau design.

Belvedere Palace:

The two magnificient palaces on the Belvedere grounds lie in the middle of a splendid park. They were constructed for Prince Eugene of Savoy by J.L. von Hildebrandt, a famous Baroque architect.

Burgtheater:

The Burgtheater is situated in the first district. In 1741 Empress Maria Theresia handed an unused dance-house over to the theatre-company Sellier. Since then, this building was used as a theatre.

Danube Tower & Danube Island:

If you want to enjoy a magnificent view over Vienna this is the right place to go. The Viennese affectionately call the tower "Concrete needle". It is 352 meters high and was built within 20 months!

Haas House:

Haas House is one of the most exciting buildings in Vienna and the city's pride. Images of St. Stephen's Cathedral reflected by the straight glass facade of Haas House are a popular motif.

Hofburg:

The Hofburg was orignially a medieval castle, but today only the castle chapel remembers of its medieval past. The Hofburg was extended to a magnificent residence when the Habsburg's power increased.

Naschmarkt:

There is quite a number of markets where you can buy fresh vegetable and asorted tidbits. But Naschmarkt is arguably more than that: it is a Viennese institution dating back to the 16th century.

Ring Boulevard:

The Vienna Ring Boulevard is 4 kilometres long and circles the city centre. The construction of the Ring Boulevard was initiated by Emperor Franz Joseph I in December 1857.

Vienna Opera House:

The Vienna Opera House is situated in the frist district of Vienna at the southern end of the Kärntnerstrasse. August von Sicardsburg and Eduard van der Nüll built the Court Opera House from 1861 to 1869.

Sicily

Sicily... more of a sugar-spiked espresso than a milky cappuccino. Sicily will reward you with an intense bittersweet experience rather than anything lightweight and frothy. In Sicily it seems as though the sun shines brighter, the shadows are darker, and life is lived full on and for the moment. Overloaded with art treasures, Sicily possesses some baffling social topography. Brace yourself to reconcile baroque architectural beauty in Catania with modern squalor in Palermo, artistic excellence with moral ambivalence and the rational with the sensual. This is an island to be visited with an open mind - and a healthy appetite; one factor remains a constant, and that is the uncompromisingly high quality of the cuisine.

Our Top Picks for Sicily:-

Egadi Islands
Go diving in the translucent waters off the Egadi Islands.

Cattedrale Di Monreale
Be dazzled by Sicily's most spectacular cathedral – shimmering with mosaics, it will leave you

breathless.

Palermo
Admire the varied Admire the varied thronged markets of this fascinating city.

Western Sicily
Check out the food and wine in the charming towns of Trapini, Erice, and Marsala.

Aeolian Islands
Love the volcanic beauty of Lipari,Vulcano,Salina,Panarea and smoking Stromboli.

Catania
Stay up enjoying Catania's nightlife and rise early for the amazing fish market.

Syracuse
Immerse yourself in the history and sheer aesthetic delight of this gorgeous and recently renovated city.

Noto
Gawp at the stunning baroque cathedral, in action again after 11 years of renovations.

Modica
Be seduced by Modica's age-old charm, flamboyant baroque architecture and fabulous food.

Ragusa
Explore still-quiet Ragusa – even though it's so beautiful we'd like to keep it a secret.

Vietnam

Welcome to another world, a world where the colours are more vivid, the culture is richer, and the history more compelling. This is the world of Vietnam. Nature has blessed Vietnam with a bountiful harvest. With soaring peaks like Hoang Lien mountains and a killer coastline, with beaches like Quy Nhon and Nha Trang, Vietnam is simply stunning. Blanketed from head to toe with a patchwork of emerald-green rice paddies, timelessly tended by peasant women in conical hats, etc.

The rumble of a million motorbikes, the cries of hawkers and the buzz of business transactions are as ever-present as the tinkle of the past in the pagodas, and the swish of the scythe. Modern Asia meets medieval Asia. For culinary adventurers, Vietnam is a treasure trove of more than 500 different dishes. It's a wonderful world of pungent herbs and secret spices. Dip delicate spring rolls in nuoc mam, a fish sauce that is as compulsory as ketchup for the Vietnamese. Or play 'down-in-one' with xeo (rice wine), the whisky of the mountains.

Sapa
Swoon at the valley views from this rugged mountain retreat, a home to a wealth of minority peoples and a base for exploring the Tonkinese Alps.

Halong Bay
Experience nature at its outrageous best, where hundreds of limestone peaks tower above the shimmering seas, a karst system with a difference.

Hanoi
Steeped in history, pulsating with life, bubbling with commerce, buzzing with motorbikes and rich in exotic scents, this is a captivating capital.

Mai Chau
Go native with an overnight stay in a traditional Thai stilt house, amid the lush valleys.

Ninh Binh
Encounter rural life from this country town, surrounded by ancient temples, limestone crags, nature reserves and endless paddies.

Hué
Intellectual, cultural and spiritual heartbeat of Vietnam, the old imperial capital offers historical, spiritual and culinary stimulation.

Hoi An
Spared from wartime devastation, Hoi An’s cobbled lanes and historic buildings make for a magical and memorable stop.

Quy Nhon
Access beautiful beaches and amazing Cham architecture from one of the coast’s less touristy cities.

Nha Trang
Beach culture to the max, this is the place to chill out, party hard or dive into the turquoise depths.

Dalat
A completely different view of Vietnam, this mountain town combines the French Alps with plenty of Bohemian cool.

Cat Tien National Park
Lush refuge for city dwellers with ample hiking and bird-watching opportunities, plus elephants, crocodiles and the endangered Javan rhino.

Mui Ne
Action or inertia, take your pick, this place is made for surfing (wind, board or kite) or blobbing on the beach.

Ho Chi Minh City
Vietnam’s commercial heart, a riverside metropolis of old and new with world-class restaurants and bars, and buzzing, seductive energy.

Mekong Delta
Watery world of bustling river towns and sleepy villages, floating markets and tasty fish served by uber-friendly locals.

Phu Quoc
White-sand beaches and little development make for a magical tropical getaway on this forested island gem.