Краткое описание: In many ways, Nepal is a dream destination. Travel can be as cheap as you want, but all the comforts are there for when you want to spend a little more and there’s not much advanced required. Pick up a visa on arrival and just rock up to Thamel to join a rafting trip leaving the next day. Still, spending some time leafing through this book and browsing the web will guarantee you don’t miss any of the fantastic things on offer and ensure you are on top of the frequently changing security situation.

Краткое описание: Naples is a double-shot espresso. Caught in the shadow of a snoozing Mt Vesuvius, it fronts each day with fatalistic intensity. Teeming streets explode with high theatrics: lovers fight passionately, drivers dodge skilfully and counterfeit-Prada salesmen keep an eye out for police. From the hissing craters of the Campi Flegrei to the graphic ruins of Herculaneum and Pompeii, drama defines the details.

But Italy’s hyperactive underdog is more than just mayhem and thin-crust margherita pizzas. This former regal diva boasts three royal palaces, a superlative archaeological museum, art collections spanning from the classics to Jeff Koons, and an ancient centro storico (historic centre) bursting with secret frescoed chapels and citrus-filled cloisters. Not bad for a city more renowned for bling-clad mafiosi.

Краткое описание: Burma or Myanmar? While questions are being raised on whether to visit, the very name of the country is another doozey. In 1989 the government changed the official name from the Union of Burma to the Union of Myanmar. The country has in fact been called “Myanma” in local parlance since, at least, the time of Marco Polo in the 13th century. The term ‘Burma’ is a British-made moniker, based on the majority ethnic group, the Bamar (or Burmans or Burmese). The government, at least on the surface, prefers “Myanmar” because it’s more inclusive of the many ethnic groups. More importantly, it distances the country from the colonial period. At the same time as the country was renamed Myanmar, many town and street names were changed as well.

Краткое описание: You must, of course, have endless expectations about what you’ll discover on your Bavarian adventure. Palaces straight out of fairy tales, strapping lads in lederhosen, onion-domed churches, beer halls where big-bosomed wenches juggle platters of roast pork, romantic valleys shrouded in fog and backed by the fierce verticality of the Alps. And they’re all here, in truth. But they’re only part of the mythology.

Bavaria can be as broad-minded as a view from the Zugspitze on a clear day and as narrow as the cobbled lanes threading through Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Its capital, Munich, is sexy, sophisticated and self-confident. It will seduce you with its irresistible joie de vivre, a trove of cultural delights and a relaxed flair that’s prompted some to call it Italy’s northernmost outpost.

Краткое описание: Mozambique is a vast country - over three times the size of the UK - with internal flights that don’t always coordinate and a still-adventurous road network, so you’ll need to give some thought to which areas you’d like to visit. After narrowing down your main interests, there’s little point in setting a rigid itinerary, as chances are you won t be able (nor want) to stick to it anyway.

In major cities and tourist areas along the coast, all budgets and travel styles are catered for. Here, you’ll find an ever-expanding selection of midrange and upscale accommodation options, and good flight and bus connections, but expect prices to be generally higher than elsewhere in the region.

Краткое описание: Sunlight glints off the golden domes and catches your eye. The ancient, patchwork-patterned church is right in front of you, but you almost miss it because you are walking with your head down, shielding your face from the wind and employing all efforts to avoid slipping on hidden patches of ice. A steely-eyed babushka, laden with a heavy fur coat and an oversized shopping bag, still manages to negotiate the precarious pathway faster than your inexperienced feet.

Краткое описание: For most visitors, Morocco is primarily a tourist destination, and visitors are beginning to reap the rewards of the huge infrastructural projects driven by the government to meet King Mohammed Vi’s plan to attract 10 million tourists by the year 2010. Although rumours suggest that the date might be pushed back by a couple of years, recent years have seen an almost exponential rise in visitor numbers.

Morocco continues to tread a cautious path into the 21st century, facing up to the challenges imposed both by its official willingness to embrace globalisation and its deep traditional roots.

Краткое описание: Mix up vast landscapes of empty deserts, snowcapped mountains, dramatic gorges and sparkling lakes. Sprinkle in the felt homes of the nomad and the cry of an eagle. Add Buddhist temples, mysterious ruins, abundant wildlife and legendary hospitality. Then top it all off with a conqueror who started with nothing and ended up changing history.<br /><br />If this description perpetuates your belief in an untouched country, then you also need the scoop on the new Mongolia. Add to the above internet caf&#233;s, herders chatting on mobile phones, Manhattan-style cocktail bars, eco-yurts and vegetarian caf&#233;s.

Краткое описание: The use of the term “Middle East” is almost as complex as the history of the region itself. The expression first appeared in English at the start of the 20th century and had replaced the term “Near East” by the middle of the century. In some languages, such as German or Russian, the region is still referred to as the “Near East:. In a cultural sense, the name “Middle East” can be used only in relation to the Arab world, but it’s generally also applied to the non-Arabic lands of Israel, Turkey and Iran. In terms of geography, ‘Middle East’ means primarily the Levant (the eastern shore of the Mediterranean) and the Persian Gulf States (the Arabian Peninsula, Iran and Iraq).

Краткое описание: Apart from a few logistical matters, your pretrip planning will consist of the pleasurable pastimes of tracking down a great read, surfing the Net to learn other travellers’ tales and the odd trip to your video store to find classic Middle Eastern movies. Most types of journey are possible regardless of your budget and can range from the highly active to lazing by the sea.