A is for apple, the Big Apple, and I fell in love at first bite. Whenever you step out onto the streets of Manhattan, there’s a rush of excitement and I still feel that thrill each time I go. Yes, New York is hectic, crowded and rarely quiet but also exciting, bewitching and full of life. With avenues that are canyons and buildings as tall as redwoods, this is a man-made version of the American dream landscape, waiting for you to relish its energy. So come with us on an alphabetical tour of our favourite things about New York.

You can walk around it or fly over it. You can get right up close to it or admire it from afar. You can watch it change colour from brown to red to purple to black. How ever you choose to interact with it, Uluru will never cease to astound and impress you. But this vast rock isn’t just a natural wonder at the heart of Australia, it’s also a cultural icon in the hearts of Aborigines. Formerly known as Ayers Rock, Uluru is one of the largest monoliths in the world but, rather like an iceberg, most of it is underground. The top 348 metres is visible above ground, with around 2.5km hidden beneath the red sand.

He was casually munching when I first saw him. I was maybe ten metres away, close enough to see his strong features, but he seemed oblivious to my presence; in fact, he seemed oblivious to everything apart from the leaves he was eating, almost as if he was chilling out after a long day. And then he turned and looked straight at me. A close encounter with a mountain gorilla is one of the world’s most rewarding experiences but fewer than 100 people a day can visit these wonderful animals in their natural habitat, the rainforests of Rwanda. And getting to see them is no walk in the park.

Galloping on horseback like Genghis Khan across golden dunes, the endless expanse before me, the wind in my hair. And when night falls, stargazing in the desert before snuggling up in a cosy yurt. That was how I pictured my Mongolian adventure. And it’s what I got. Almost. True, the unusually hot temperatures prompted my pony to take a dip in a waterhole so I had to unexpectedly do the same. But amid this vast empty space that was not made to inhabit people, I would find an impressive silence and inner peace.

Mokoro is a word you’ve probably never heard but once you’ve sat in one, you’ll never forget it. This low dug-out canoe is skilfully steered through lush wetlands, with you sitting at the front, camera at the ready.  There will be wildlife galore but this isn’t any African safari, it’s a unique way to see one of the last natural habitats for many endangered species. It’s a haven of peace and a photographer’s paradise. It is the Okavango Delta in Botswana.

Once you’re on a Scenic cruise, you’ll only have one question: is it a private yacht, a cruise ship or a boutique hotel? The answer is easy: it’s all three. The sleek ship, Scenic Eclipse, is small enough to go where others can’t but large enough for you to have room to breathe. The itineraries are designed to combine inspiring adventures with indulgent relaxation so you get the best of both worlds. The experience is like no other cruise we’ve been on, where luxury and discovery go hand in hand. 

Sitting on your deck with your feet dangling in your pool, listening to the waves lapping on the nearby sand, that’s when it hits you: your first Laucala Island moment. Each guest has their own personal variation, but for everyone it’s that moment when you let go and relax into this tropical paradise. This private island resort in Fiji is the ultimate escape from everything. Here you can switch off and recharge, indulge and enjoy yourself, or simply breathe. Once you’re here, you’ll never want to leave; once you leave, you’ll always want to come back.

It was love at first sight. I’m not sure how Rio felt, mainly because it has so many admirers that one more was just another body on Copacabana beach. But I’ve been a Carioca at heart ever since I lived in the ‘Marvellous City’. Not only because Rio is literally in the heart of every Ca-rio-ca (or resident of the city) but mainly thanks to the vital combination of sun, samba, beaches and football. But if you were to be a Carioca for a day, what would it be like? Here’s how to live like a real Carioca all day, from the essential elements through local favourites to the ultimate Rio experiences.