Tired of the Taj? If queuing under the hot sun for hours to be rushed past an architectural icon is your idea of fun, you'll love the Taj Mahal. If you prefer to linger, soak up the atmosphere and not be hounded by aggressive touts, however, head to Humayun's Tomb in Nizamuddin, Delhi.

When ferrying from the UK to France, it's tempting to stay close to the Channel, to coast through Normandy or hook west to Brittany. The joy of driving off the ferry at Calais or Dunkirk, however, is that all of France is just hours away. So why not consider heading south to discover Lyon, the city that claims French culinary supremacy?

Easy-going and spectacular, Nicaragua is also ecologically rich. It boasts the; largest area of primary-growth rainforest north of the Amazon, six active volcanoes and more than 500 miles of carefree coastline, peppered with sunny surf tows and tranquil beaches. Tourist interest has grown in recent years as the country has begun to normalise after years of political unrest and some terrible natural disasters; and today, the largest country in Central America is also one of the safest.

I'm suspended horizontally, trussed up like a turkey and pointing face-first down a mile of zip wire, the longest in the northern hemisphere. And when the safety line is yanked free, there's no turning back.  Zip World opened recently in the dramatic setting of the world's oldest and largest slate mine, Penrhyn Slate Quarry, by Snowdonia National Park.

It was the legend of Dracula that first drew my attention to the forest-clad mountains and creepy castes of Transylvania, but I soon discovered that the region has much to offer beyond the sinister fairytale.  So, I head to Dracula country and more than haunted castles and vampires.

Anyone who has seen the movie Sideways will know that exploring California's wine regions will be a trip of a lifetime before you've even packed your bags. The Golden State not only has some of the most exciting pinot noirs on the planet, it is home to artisan towns, epic scenery, great wildlife, welcoming locals and, of course, fascinating wineries.

Morocco's cities are impossibly exotic. North African culture bumps up against all the quirks and traditions of the Middle East, leaving travellers caught up in haggling sessions for carpets, tripping over snake charmers' baskets, drinking scalding mint tea or getting lost in dark, maze-like souks. From the capital to the coast, there's plenty to discover in the urban hubs across the country. Here's our pick of the top spots to see.

In the film Hostel, the director Eli Roth depicted Slovakia as a dirty, dangerous war-torn country brewing with evil. Horny backpackers were particularly vulnerable, not only from the devious women who'd lure them to an early death for a few korunas, but also the young ruffians who'd kill for a mobile phone - or even a piece of chewing gum.

Gastronomy, golf, beaches, nature and history: the tourist attractions of the Costa del Sol are undoubtedly some of the most complete in the world. Malaga province may be the smallest in Andalucia in terms of size, but because of its situation and its climate, it is hard to beat.  The location is fundamental in understanding the success of the Costa del Sol as an international tourist destination. It is the European Mediterranean coast which is closest to the Atlantic, but it is also south of the great Guadalquivir valley.

Few adventures still stir the soul like the great American road trip. This near-mythical experience seems to go to the very heart of the world's third largest country - the Mustang, the Charger, the Bronco all being cars that conjure up the spirit of riding horseback across wild, unchartered land - and hitting the road is the embodiment of freedom in the land of the free.