The rolling hills of Coorg (locally known as Kodagu) are as tranquil and as picturesque as they’ve always been. Here, the mountains and the rivers, along with forests of rosewood, plantations

The paragliding in the twin destinations of Bir and Billing is regarded as the best in the world (next only to the site at Lake Como, Italy). Glide on the famous ‘thermals’ around here

For variety and beauty of scenery, there’s little to beat Wayanad, astonishingly lush even by Kerala standards. The storied peak of Chembra looms out of the mist to stand watch over this pleasantly co

Wedged between the Himalayan nations of Nepal and Bhutan, serene Sikkim lies at the foot of the immense Kanchenjunga, the world’s third highest peak. Thundering rivers, forests of magnolia and cardamo

Squeezed between Bhutan to the east and Nepal to the west, the mountain state of Sikkim lies at the base of the mighty Kanchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world. Rumbling rivers, verdant v

The town of Dharamsala is the base for a number of treks that cross the rocky Dhauladhar range, into the valley of the Upper Ravi and Chamba district. This is prime hiking terrain, the place to be

Cross the Rohtang La Pass and the landscape undergoes a vivid transformation, from valleys of lush green to mountains of different shades of brown, blending into high desert, suspended glaciers and

Sheltered Kinnaur offers beauty and stunning mountain panoramas. It’s famous for its pretty slate-roof houses, woods of pine, towering peaks – and acres of apple orchards (Himachal’s most famous expor

Rishikesh presents a trip that’s high on adrenaline and enlightenment – a unique blend of adventure, spirituality and yoga. Located in the foothills of the Lower Himalayas, in the Tehri

The charming if now tumbledown (and often polluted) hill town of Darjeeling is an important tea-cultivating centre. More obviously, it is a welcome retreat from the clammy heat of the plains.

A curious mix of the old, the new and the new-age, prosperous and cosmopolitan Pune epitomizes the face of modern India, with its 21st-century industry (IT), trappings of modern consumer culture, s

An ice -topped mountain near the Equator? Yes! At 5895m (19341ft), Kilimanjaro is Africa’s tallest peak besides being an iconic African image. Emerging from the scrub-carpeted coastal plains,

Despite the ascent losing much of its cachet – with every Tom, Dick and Hari eager and ready to attempt the daunting climb, ‘Everesting’ has become a massive industry, often bligh

Located 14km from Manali in Himachal Pradesh, Solang Valley (8500ft) lies on the western bank of the River Beas. It has a number of hotels and other accommodation options available nearby – and also t

Located out in the Atlantic, the isolated Azores is 1564km directly west of Lisbon, Portugal, and 3900km off the North American coast. This chain of nine islands, all volcanic in origin, was coloni