With 35 miles of glorious coastline along Sardinia’s northern shore, Costa Smerelda (or Emerald Coast) was created as a getaway for the rich and famous by Prince Karin Aga Khan IV in the early 1960s. Sailing, waterskiing, scuba diving, golfing, shopping, fine dining and partying are some of the area’s best activities. Hotel prices can be exorbitant, but that’s no problem for the area’s wealthy visitors, even less so since many arrive in their own private yachts. Porto Cervo is the main town.

Napoleon tried to occupy La Maddalena, and who could blame him? The largest town on the largest island of the Maddalena Archipelago, La Maddalena is renowned for its beautiful beaches and its national park. Hire a private boat to explore the surrounding uninhabited islands, or just relax on the café au lait sands of Spalmatore Beach.

Corsica is a weird and wonderful island, replete with gorgeous beaches and breathtaking mountains. Bonifacio, a harbour city on the southern tip, is rich with history. Check out the prehistoric Araguina-Sennola caves and the Genoese towers, and be sure to take the train through the mountains to the beach—a spectacular adventure. Biking, hiking, rafting and diving are popular activities.

Ajaccio, Corsica's main city, is fun to visit at any time of year. But if you're a secret (or not-so-secret) Napoleon Bonaparte groupie, plan to be there on August 15 and join the celebration of the birthday of Ajaccio's most famous son. Casa Buonaparte, Napoleon's family home and birthplace, is worth a visit, as is the town cathedral. Or just enjoy the Corsican sun.

The Ladakh capital city of Leh lies near the eastern parts of Jammu and Kashmir, on the crossroads of the historic "Silk Route" from Sinkiang to West Asia and to the plains of India. The humbling monasteries of Shey, Hemis, Alchi, Thikse and Lamayuru will nurture your spiritual needs, and the landscape of Leh provides for a number of adventure activities including mountaineering, white-water rafting and trekking along the Markha Valley.

Laid out by British architect Edwin Lutyens, the Indian capital is a striking modern metropolis. A gracious contrast to Old Delhi's winding streets, the grand avenues and stately buildings of New Delhi are rich with history and culture, from Gandhi's Delhi home (and the site of his assassination) to the tomb of Humayun, a complex of Mughal buildings reminiscent of the Taj Mahal. Chaotic traffic is best left to the locals. Negotiate a good price for taxis or travel on the new Delhi Metro.

Mumbai (formerly known as Bombay), India, is famous for its chaotic streets. For bargains and people-watching, outdoor bazaars top the list of attractions. Popular waterfront destinations are Marine Drive, where visitors go to watch the sun set over the Arabian Sea, and the carnival-like Juhu Beach. More sightseeing options are the Gandhi Museum, in the leader's former home, and the cave temples of Elephanta Island. For tranquillity, Mumbai has many religious sites, lakes and parks.

Situated on the banks of the river Godavari, the city of Nashik, also known as Nasik, is a major Hindu pilgrimage center. Nashik is a bustling township with a blend of the ancient and the modern. Scattered across the city are numerous forts and majestic temples that vie for space with factories and other symbols of Modern India. The Kumbh Mela is the major attraction of Nashik. Occurring once every twelve years it draws innumerable devotees to the city. Other attractions around the city include - Pandavleni Caves, Muktidham Temple, Kalaram Temple among others. Day excursions to Shirdi, Someshwar, Wani are also very popular.

Love garlic? You’ll love the food in Pune. Unlike other cuisines of the subcontinent, Pune cuisine relies heavily on the aromatic bulb. Soothe your palate with sweets like bhakarwadi, a pastry rolled with coriander, tamarind and sesame seeds, or cool off with a thick milkshake made with dried fruit.

East meets West in this sun-soaked state, where Indian culture intertwines with Portuguese influences left over from a 500-year occupation. The beaches have long served as a magnet for serene hedonists. To the north, the tourist-centric scene is prevalent, with an international flair that is now skewing more hip than hippie. Travel south for stretches of unspoiled sand and an escape from large resorts. Temples, mosques and wildlife sanctuaries provide diversions from the beach.

Known as both the "Garden City" and "The Silicon Valley of India," Bangalore (officially "Bengaluru") is a techie’s paradise, boasting the highest concentration of IT companies in the country. When you’re done geeking out, there are plenty of gardens, museums, natural features, palaces and temples to fill your dance card. Visit Vidhana Soudha, Cubbon Park and the Ulsoor Lake of Bangalore, well known for its beautiful locales and boating facilities. Bangalore is also a major centre of Indian classical music and dance, and of vivid, cutting-edge nightlife.

The people of Tamil Nadu consider providing food to others a service to humanity. Thus the service in the state capital, Chennai, is first-rate. Treat your senses to some of the richest South Indian flavours in traditional dishes like sambar, rasam, fish curry or kootu. And don't forget to have a cup of full-bodied Tamil coffee, enhanced with chicory—no visit is complete without it.