Краткое описание: Nothing quite prepares you for your first trip north and that tingle of expectation as you plot a route, pore over those glossy photos and scare yourself silly with tales of frozen flesh and cavernous ice fissures. Going ‘up north’ requires a little more planning than most trips, though you’ll probably be surprised by the modernity of the facilities available. The time of year you go will impact immensely on the size of your rucksack, of periods of perpetual day or night will determine your activities and the uncertainty of the weather may hamper even the best-laid plans.

Краткое описание: Let’s face it, Greece is a hugely popular destination. While this may be sustainable in the quieter time of the year, from June to September Greece receives an enormous influx of travellers and tourists. While this may be a bonanza for the country, this annual influx puts great strains on the infrastructure, the environment, the often fragile flora and fauna and even the Greek people themselves.

Mega-destinations like Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes and Corfu often struggle to house and feed visitors and manage their detritus. The building of new developments often clashes with eco-minded organizations. In a similar vein, champions of fauna often fight losing battles with this relentless push for expansion.

Краткое описание: Britain is perfect for exploring, for acting on a whim, for having an adventure, for doing exactly what you want to do. Find a delightful village as you’re touring the coast? Check into that friendly inn overlooking the harbour. See a dramatic castle on the skyline? Turn off the road and stroll round dramatic battlements. Love the hip hotel in the city? Stay another night. Or two. Sure, you’ll make some plans in advance - especially if time is tight - but you can leave things to chance as well, enjoying the excitement that only freedom can provide.

Краткое описание: The range of travellers who visit Goa, from first timers to package tourists to hard-core adventurers, is a testament to its widespread appeal and the relative ease of travelling here. Goa’s size means that you don’t have to stress about planning a route or slicing your days into units to see and do everything; if you don’t like where you are, you can relocate to the other end of the state in a couple of hours.

Краткое описание: With centuries of practice, Germany has come quite close to perfecting its tourism infrastructure. Backpackers, families and jetsetters will all find their needs and expectations met. Room and travel reservations are a good idea during peak season (summer and around holidays), but otherwise you can keep your advance planning to a minimum.

Краткое описание: Sitting at one of the earth’s great crossroads, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan occupy a mountainous zone on the southern flank of the mighty Caucasus mountains. Here two continents meet between two seas and many worlds commingle at a frontier between Islam and Christendom - all under the watchful gaze of three bigger, much more powerful neighbours: Russia, Turkey and Iran.

Краткое описание: Some parts of France are tried-and-tested, bona fide ‘dream destinations’ and as such require planning weeks, if not months, in advance in order to snag the best room in the house: be it a castle, a tree house or a golden stone mas (farmhouse).

Other areas scarcely score a sentence in newspaper travel sections and as such are perfect for travellers happy to fly by the seat of their pants with no itinerary or advance booking to speak of. Whatever your budget - France allows you to spend a farthing or a fortune - travel is straightforward and generally free of bad surprises.

Краткое описание: Travel in Finland is a pleasure. Buses and trains run on time, tourist offices are eager to please and full of at-your-fingertips information, and you can get by easily enough without even dipping into a Finnish dictionary. It’s not a cheap destination, but neither are prices as elevated as sometimes imagined, and accommodation in particular can be excellent value, with hotels chopping their prices in summer and at weekends.

Краткое описание: Blessed with some of the warmest people on the planet and a genuine zest for tourism, Fiji lends itself to all genres of travel. Honeymooners, divers, backpackers, families, bird-watchers, adventurers, independent travellers and tour groups all flock here to make the most of the stunning landscape and abundant sunshine. Luxury beachside resorts and private transport cater to tourists looking for pure R&R with minimum effort. But it’s also easy to get off the tourist trail and explore the archipelago independently, regardless of your age or budget.

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