Between the lines

TAKE THE SLEEPER TRAIN TO THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS TO STRIKE OUT ON AN ADVENTURE THROUGH SOME OF THE WILDEST, MOST REMOTE TERRAIN IN EUROPE

SOUTH AFRICA

THE RAINBOW NATION OFFERS A WEALTH OF UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCES BEYOND THE SAFARIS FOR WHICH IT’S JUSTIFIABLY FAMOUS. THERE'S A WORLD-CLASS FOOD AND WINE SCENE, UNIQUE ART AND CULTURE AND INCREDIBLE NATURAL WONDERS... AND THAT’S JUST FOR STARTERS

Jerusalem artichokes

THESE TASTY TUBERS CAN BE USED IN MORE THAN JUST SOUPS.

WHERE TO EAT

Delicious versions of moussaka appear on menus across Greece and further afield, from Cyprus to Glasgow

Savouring traditions

From slow food in northerly Sheki and Lekit to the tea plantations of Lankaran down on the country's southern tip, When it comes to food and drink, Azerbaijan continues to keep the old ways alive. Words: Emily Lush. Photographs: Karolina Wiercigroch

Sarawak's restaurant revolution

From durian flowers to bamboo chicken, the traditional dishes of Malaysia's largest region are being championed by a new generation of chefs and restaurateurs.

Turin

Piedmont's capital has a connection with chocolate dating back centuries. Today, across the city you'll find skilled confectioners creating everything from truffles and pralines to gelato

A SOUP WITH A STORY

For centuries, kitchens in Nova Scotia have been churning out chowder, a creamy soup that lends the Maritime province a proudly preserved culinary identity. Discover its myriad variations along the Chowder Trail, which weaves through this rugged corner of Atlantic Canada

MOUSSAKA

It may be a Greek classic, but this hearty layered dish hails from beyond the country's borders - and its present form is a surprisingly recent innovation

RODRIGO PACHECO THE PIONEER

AT HIS ECUADORIAN RESTAURANTS, CHEF RODRIGO PACHECO USES NATIVE INGREDIENTS GROWN IN REWILDED FORESTS OR SOURCED FROM INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

NICK GRIMSHAW

The broadcaster and author on the joys of a chippy and his Dish podcast with chef Angela Hartnett

Scandi flavours

In Denmark, Sweden and Norway, simple ingredients go a long way. Nature's bounty is celebrated in the region's classic dishes and provides inspiration for a new generation of chefs drawing on forest-foraged mushrooms and berries, along with local fish, wild game and a rainbow of seasonal vegetables. From traditional cake tables to seafood safaris, here's how to get a taste of Scandinavia

MILAN

There's always something fresh to discover in the northern Italian city, from a new hotel in a converted seminary to a cultural hub with contemporary art and a rooftop restaurant

LOS ANGELES

The US city has roots in Latin America - and is still shaped by its influence at every turn, from architecture to food trends

ON CLOUD NINE

Scattered across the Arctic, in boggy moorland and on mountain slopes, the cloudberry appears for just a few weeks a year. It's so rare and precious, it's often called 'Arctic gold'. And, while it grows wild across the Arctic Circle and Norwegian Vesterålen archipelago, the specific locations where it thrives are a closely guarded local secret

A LAND OF STORIES

THE OPENING OF THE PELJEŠAC BRIDGE IN SOUTHERN CROATIA MEANS IT'S EASIER THAN EVER TO HEAD OUT ALONG THE COAST ON A ROAD TRIP FROM SPLIT TO DUBROVNIK, TAKING IN ANCIENT STONE VILLAGES, UNDERWATER WINE AND PIRATE LEGENDS

WALKING TALL

Just two hours from Marrakech, the valleys of Morocco's High Atlas Mountains are home to incredible scenery, traditional Amazigh villages and a network of excellent and uncrowded hiking trails

THAILAND

Its palm-fringed bays and warm waters may be world-class, but there's much more to do in Thailand than many expect - from slow island exploration and cave meditation in the south to hands-on farm experiences and craft workshops in the north

RIO DE JANEIRO

Few cities are as naturally spectacular as Rio. Flanked by the Atlantic and Guanabara Bay, backed by jungle-furred peaks and strung together with miles of creamy sand, this is a place of singular beauty. The beachside neighbourhoods are the obvious areas to stay: legendary Copacabana, quieter Leme and trendier Ipanema, the gateway to Rio's western beaches. Don't write off inland, though. over the past decade, a new, boutiquestyle hotel scene has emerged. High above the historic centre, Santa Teresa is Rio's boho bastion. Directly below is nightlife-central Lapa. Whether on the coast or mid-city, Rio's hotel scene gives you the best of both worlds.

Georgina Miller

THE BRITISH FREE-DIVING CHAMPION ON HER FAVOURITE DIVE DESTINATIONS AND FINDING PEACE BENEATH THE WAVES

STOUR VALLEY

One of the most scenic corners of Essex is its border with Suffolk, formed by the art-inspiring River Stour

MUNICH

COMBINING HIP BAKERIES, CONTEMPORARY ART SPACES AND EMERGING DISTRICTS, GERMANY'S THIRD-LARGEST CITY HAS A YOUTHFUL SPIRIT

GO THE DISTANCE

Celebrate Disney's centenary by visiting some of the destinations behind its much-loved films

A new classic

A TRAIL WEAVING THROUGH A WILD COASTAL STRETCH OF THE SOUTH ISLAND IS SET TO JOIN NEW ZEALAND'S LIST OF GREAT HIKING ROUTES

Where the wild things are

The jungle-clad region of Sarawak on the island of Borneo is a destination designed for adventure, from its prehistoric caves to its colonies of orangutans.

HOW CAN AI HELP YOU PLAN A TRIP?

WITH AI INCREASINGLY BECOMING PART OF OUR LIVES, EXPERTS WEIGH IN ON THE BEST WAYS TO USE TOOLS LIKE CHATGPT FOR TRAVEL AND HOW TO AVOID BEING DUPED BY FALSE FACTS.

RIVER SWIMMING

Stories about the polluted state of the water in British rivers are rarely absent from the news - so how can you know where is safe to swim?

UNITED STATES Take the ultimate Florida road trip

Discover the secrets of the Sunshine State on a road trip that combines buzzing beach towns with wetland adventures and wildlife encounters

ON THE GAU CHO TRAIL

Deep in the heart of Patagonia, at the southern tip of Argentina, gaucho guides saddle up to lead horseback adventures through dramatic mountain passes and over the endless rolling pampas

The west rides again

IN THE FOOTHILLS OF THE SIERRA NEVADA MOUNTAINS, TUOLUMNE COUNTY OFFERS AN INTRODUCTION TO THE NATURAL WONDERS OF CALIFORNIA, ALONGSIDE A WEALTH OF QUIRKY GOLD RUSH TOWNS AND HOLLYWOOD FILM SETS PRIMED FOR A COMEBACK