A trip to India without visiting Kolkata is like depriving you of the best. It is afterall a city that’s obsessed with food and boasts the most evolved cuisines. One of the other instant images that crosses the mind on mentioning the name – Kolkata – is sports, the country’s most electrifying sports loving community, be it cricket or football. The best way to explore the ‘City of Joy’ is on foot – enjoy the mixture of colonial architecture and rich culture while enjoying its delicious food. Early mornings before crowds swell on the roads are the best. Idol making workshops, the bustling flower market and a Hoogli sailing trip to spot Gangetic Dolphins are just some of the indulgences apart from an endless supply of Darjeeling tea.

Any visit to South Africa must include a visit to Johannesburg, the epicentre of the country’s cultural evolution. Here, visit the Apartheid Museum that recounts that 40-year racial system that was in place. Later head to ‘Soweto’ or South Western Township, once home to such global legends like Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu. Soweto is also vibrant enough to make you shake a leg and go on a wild shopping trip.

Care for more privacy and exclusive experiences, come, travel in moving luxury hotels in India aboard some of its iconic trains like the Palace on Wheels, Maharajas’ Express and the Deccan Odyssey. Stunningly luxurious comfort on board accompanied by butlers for each bogey (car), set against the traditional royal standard of hospitality and cuisines (with ‘live’ kitchens), and you will enjoy pampering at a different level. These trips are complete with guided excursions off the train on luxury coaches and local experiences.

The swanky Rajiv Gandhi International Airport is the first sign of modernity to have rubbed off on the Deccan’s Hyderabad with its significant Nizami influence. Driving through Gachibowli (the luxe IT, Financial district) might make you wonder if you are in London’s Canary Wharf. Despite its embrace of modernity, Hyderabad has retained its tryst with traditional heritage as is clear in the architectural style of its buildings, and, the unmistakable aroma of the iconic ‘biryani’ dish that fills the air in the city’s bustling centre. Irani chai, bun maska, haleem will all leave your heart bountifully full and immensely satisfied after a date with the expansive Golconda Fort.

Discover India’s last village before Pakistan. The Hunderman village which used to be on the path of the Silk Road has seen conflict from close quarters, often being the first point of impact. Authentic remnants of the 600-year old village in the form of old homes, war time collections of defense equipment, daily use material made of sheep wool, local leather and utensils are on display here. The last few people (and they are warm and friendly) who have seen several conflicts live nearby, allowing for interactions from where you can listen to jaw-dropping stories of survival and how they manage to keep their cultural traditions alive and intact. The Tourism Department-mandated local resident guide will narrate interesting insights on warfare he has seen with the help of a powerful telescope showing visuals of India’s last military checkpoint, and even from across the border – electrifying moments, these.

The House of Artisans (Qasr Al Hosn) is a world away from the vibes of the global city. The Sadu art (a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding) is a traditional Bedouin form of weaving of wool. Other types of ancient weaving using date-palm leaves can also be seen here. The toast of the experience here is the coffee ceremony.

Embark on an early morning walk of 8km through the wooded countryside that are at 2,000ft above sea level. Get a glimpse of Adam’s Peak; walk along hillsides towards Baker’s Falls (about 20meters high).

The iSimangaliso Wetland Park at KwaZulu-Natal is a UNESCO World Heritage park with a population of over 800 hippos making it the park with the largest concentration in South Africa. There are more than 1,200 Nile crocodiles too.

Near the Fossil Valley is the Hili Oasis where the Hili Archaeological Park provides evidence for an agricultural village that existed in the UAE. A walk through the beehive-shaped Bronze Age tombs at Al Ain’s Jebel Hafit Desert Park will take you through artefacts that shows Bronze Age trade links with ancient Mesopotamia (Iraq) and Indus Valley.

With more than 65,000km of waymarked trails across the country, an avid nature lover can explore virtually every corner of Switzerland. There are high-altitude trails for the daring, river walks or even family trails. While some are up the peaks, others can be done on water, and still others through vineyards. Trail running across mountain edges or from one to the other mountain or even along a glacier also make Switzerland an ‘active’ holiday destination.

The ‘Wild Coast’ is home to untouched nature trails including the Drakensberg mountains. Guides with information and insights about the local environment and wildlife are a tremendous source of exciting discoveries. The experience will not be complete without night halts in rustic huts or comfortable guesthouses along the way.

Come winter and the Aosta Valley gets a fresh coat of snow which makes skiing and cable car rides crossing glaciers unforgettable. During summers, these transform into exciting hiking trails around Mont Blanc and Parco Nazionale de Gran Paradiso. While at it, have your ear trained to listen to local language and dialects of the Franco-Italian valleys.