What could be more ‘off the beaten track’ than a Jurassic archipelago off Europe’s most westerly point somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean? Part of Portugal, The Azores consists of nine islands, each characterised by dramatic landscapes that include volcanic peaks, cascading waterfalls and impossibly blue lagoons. It’s a visual feast of high definition colour at every turn, and you’ll love it if you’re into adventure tourism, whale watching, diving, surfing, and getting back to nature.

Don’t restrict your next North American wine-tasting road trip to Sonoma and the Napa Valley. Vancouver Island is located on Canada’s Pacific Coast, and winemaking here dates back to the 1920s, when they were making fruit wine with local berries. Today, they’re using grapes to make elegant cool-climate varietals such as pinot gris, pinot noir and Ortega, which is similar to muscat. Start at Comox Valley and sip a crisp, aromatic white at Titanic director James Cameron’s winery Beaufort, then follow the coast to Cowichan and the charming rural Saanich Peninsula.

Next stop, the country that does not exist! Transistria is a breakaway state that’s claimed by Moldova. The capital Tiraspol boasts a Stalinist charm, and you’ll need Transnistrian ruble, the local currency, to get around. No visit would be complete without knocking back the local Kvint cognac – some of the best in the former USSR according to connoisseurs – or a cold kvass (a traditional Eastern European fermented drink) with a plate of pelmeni dumplings.

Piercing the map between Austria and Switzerland, Liechtenstein is famous for being at once one of the world’s richest and smallest countries (it’s the sixth smallest in the world). Swing by for fairytale medieval castles in stunning alpine landscapes. You can cross the country in two hours, and some hiking trails offer views over the fence to both Austria and Switzerland!

Spot the big five and skip the safari crowds in Botswana. The Okavango Delta is a seasonal flood plain that’s home to Moremi Game Reserve. Here you can spot wildlife by day – via small plane, Jeep or canoe – then retreat to the luxe comfort of Sanctuary Chief’s Camp by night. Safari chic is alive and well here, and there’s no better place to dust off and enjoy a sundowner as the elephant, water buffalo, warthogs and birds congregate around the nearby waterhole.

The Gobi Desert stretches from Northern China to Mongolia, and while this vast arid region may seem uninhabitable to the untrained eye, the plains that were once traversed by Genghis Kahn are still home to nomadic herders. Temperatures range from -40°C in winter to 40°C in summer, so the best time to visit is late spring or autumn. Marvel at the Flaming Cliffs that glow red at sunset, and the dunes of Khongoryn Els that hum as the sand shifts in the wind.

If you prefer #desertlife with a robe and turn down service, escape to the breathtakingly remote oasis that is Amangiri. Set in Utah’s fabled canyon country with its iconic flat-topped rock formations called mesas, this modernist five-star getaway is completely at one with the landscape. The sleek concrete walls and walkways skirt the contours of the natural landscape, with vast desert vistas at every turn. The experience is informed by local Navajo culture, from the cuisine to the therapies at the spa and the connection with the desert.

Welcome to Mauritius – the happiest country in Africa, according to the World Happiness Report for 2021. What’s not to love about the vibrant Creole culture, white-sand beaches, mountainous interior and spice-laden cuisine that’s a mash up on Indian, Asian and French influences. Try Mauritian dim sum known as boulettes, street food gateau piment (fried chilli cakes) and all manner of curries with farata, the local equivalent of paratha. Check into the uber-stylish Salt of Palamar boutique hotel, which bears the playful post-modern stamp of designer Walala.

Don’t be put off by the underwhelming translation, the beauty of Estonia’s raba or ‘bogs’ is not to be underestimated. These deep glacial pools sunk into the peaty forest floor cover about a fifth of the country and play an important part in Estonian folklore. Take an early morning walk to Kakerdaja Raba, where the mist hangs low on the silent landscape. A pair of bog-shoes is recommended for when the boardwalk spits you out onto the wobbly, wet earth. Cold water enthusiasts should pack a towel, and an Estonian picnic would not be complete without black bread, kohuke sweets made from cheese curd, and cans of craft beer from Põhjala Brewery.

If you’ve ‘done’ Croatia, a new Adriatic coast crawl awaits in neighbouring Montenegro. Locals will point you towards the Budva Riviera, centred on the historic fortified harbour town of Budva that dips its toes into the Adriatic’s shimmering turquoise waters. There are 17 beaches, but the rooftop infinity pool at the Slavija Budva Hotel has uninterrupted views across the Balkan landscape – a tapestry of terracotta tiles, piney cypress and crystalline bays. A short drive south is Petrovac, where the Romans originally built their summer villas – they were onto something.

Paris, London, New York… some places are synonymous with fine dining, but the adventurous epicurean will want to point their culinary compass towards Slovenia, where one of the best restaurants in the world is tucked away in the countryside. Chef Ana Ros serves hyperlocal fare at Hisa Franko, set in the Soca Valley near the country’s western border with northern Italy. The menu is a postcard of the abundant alpine landscape: wild herbs, local mountain-raised lamb, honey and wild fruits matched with natural and biodynamic Slovenian wines by Ros’ partner sommelier Valter Kramar. Worth the detour.

There is no shortage of places to catch a magnificent sunset in this big ol’ world, but one for the bucket list is Lake Atitlan in Guatemala. Lonely Planet described this volcanic crater lake as “the closest thing to Eden on earth”. It’s a massive body of water, 130 square-km in size and 340m deep, surrounded by Mayan ruins, sleepy towns, ancient volcanoes and fern-studded valleys. Pack your sunnies, BYO drinks and jump aboard the public boat that departs from Panajachel at sunset.

Meaning ‘without noise’ in the local Berber language, Ouarzazate is an ancient town that emerges from the red sand between the Atlas Mountains and the Sahara Desert. The Moroccan equivalent of the Hollywood Hills, it has been the backdrop for many blockbusters including, Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator and Game of Thrones thanks to its well-preserved kasbahs and souks. Venture here to explore the old town and Berber way of life, or use it as a launchpad for excursions into the mountains, desert and oasis valleys.

If you’re looking to get away from it all, it doesn’t get more remote than the Outer Hebrides, which lie in the Atlantic Ocean off the west coast of Scotland. There are powder-white beaches and empty surf breaks – but don’t forget to pack your wetsuit! If you’d prefer to stay on terra firma, you can follow the dramatic coastline via the Hebridean Way, a 300km cycling route that covers 10 islands in the archipelago. Feast on smoked salmon, mackerel and scallops at Hebridean Smokehouse on the Isle of North Uist and enjoy the serenity.

Barcelona, Madrid… Asturias. Located where the wild mountains meet the wild sea in northwest Spain, Oviedo is the capital of this proudly autonomous region. Spoils of the sea and land feature on menus, from Michelin-starred establishments to seafood joints that jut out along the windswept coast. Try razor clams, Cabrales mountain cheese, roasted rabbit, peasant bean stews, and the local cider sidra.