Philippines

Glistening islands, cascading rice terraces and teeming cities: pat yourself on the back for picking the Philippines. See Spanish churches and sprawling slums as you career through Manila in a jeepney, hold your breath when you bus-ride into the mountains, and pinch yourself when you snorkel with whale sharks. Island hopping in the Visayas tops most people’s lists – choose the Chocolate Hills and tarsiers of Bohol, the windsurf resorts of Boracay and the beaches of Cebu, or venture into the jungles of Negros and experience the wilderness of Samar. Living in the volatile Ring of Fire, the English-speaking locals take life on the chin, adopting a happy-go-lucky charm that’s a huge part of the appeal.