Where do you want to go?

Japan pairs neon-lit megacities with silent cedar forests and centuries-old temples. Fast trains make it one of the easiest countries in the world to travel end to end.

Thailand delivers street food, island beaches and golden temples on one of the best value budgets in the world.

Italy is a country of layered cities, coastal villages and food worth planning a whole trip around. Rome alone holds three thousand years of history within walking distance.

Spain has the range to support very different trips: Moorish Andalusia, the green Atlantic north, Catalan modernism and two island groups. High-speed rail links the major cities in a few hours, making a multi-city trip practical without a car. Interior summers are extreme, so timing matters more here than in most of Europe.

France covers Atlantic surf coast, alpine valleys, Mediterranean beaches and a dense network of historic cities within a few hours of each other by train. The TGV network makes a multi-city trip realistic without a car, while the countryside regions reward slow driving. Food and wine are regional rather than national, so the route you choose changes what you eat.

Portugal offers Atlantic coastline, tiled hillside cities and some of western Europe's friendliest prices.

Greece is really two trips: the classical mainland, and an island system of six main groups with very different characters. Ferries make island-hopping straightforward but slow, so most itineraries pick one group rather than crossing between them. Spring and autumn give the best mix of open businesses, swimmable sea and manageable crowds.

Vietnam runs 1,650 km from the karst bays of the north to the Mekong Delta, with distinct climates, cuisines and histories along the way. Internal flights and the reunification railway make a north-to-south route practical in two weeks. Food is the strongest single reason to go, and it changes markedly every few hundred kilometres.

Mexico covers Maya and Aztec archaeology, colonial highland cities, two very different coastlines and one of the world's strongest food cultures. Domestic flights and comfortable long-distance buses make a multi-region trip realistic in two weeks. Conditions vary sharply by state, so route planning matters more than in most countries.

Indonesia spreads more than 17,000 islands across three time zones, from Sumatran rainforest to the reefs of Raja Ampat. Most trips pick one or two islands: Java for volcanoes and temples, Bali for culture and beaches, Flores and Komodo for boats and wildlife. Domestic flights and ferries do the long-distance work.

Türkiye covers Greek and Roman ruins on the Aegean, Ottoman cities on two continents, volcanic valleys in the centre and a Mediterranean coast of beaches and mountains. Domestic flights and long-distance buses make a two-week loop realistic. Food changes noticeably between regions, from Black Sea to south-eastern kebab country.

Iceland concentrates glaciers, active volcanic zones, waterfalls and black-sand coast along a single ring road, which is why self-drive dominates. It is one of the most expensive countries in Europe, and costs are driven mostly by accommodation, food and vehicle hire. Weather and road conditions change hourly, so itineraries need slack built in.