MALDIVES

The Maldives archipelago has a near-mythic reputation as a tropical idyll. Here people come to swap quotidian stresses for white sand, warm sea and wild reefs. Only 187 of its 1,192 islands are permanently inhabited – typically by small towns and fishing villages – while the rest have been left to nature or transformed into exclusive resorts.

Malé, the dense, populous capital, is the only sizeable city here, and the gateway to the archipelago. With its busy markets, gleaming mosques and national museum, it’s also one of the best places to gain a glimpse of Maldivian culture. From here, most visitors will fly or set sail to their resort island of choice – either for a full-length holiday, or as an extension to round off a visit to nearby destinations such as India or Sri Lanka.

While pure, palm-fringed relaxation is the motivation for many, you can be as active as you wish; islands across the archipelago offer superlative snorkelling, kayaking and fishing, and hundreds of marine species call the tropical reefs home.