Meet your new favourite holiday destinations

It may be famed for its glitzy skyscrapers and vibrant food culture, but Singapore is also an unlikely wildlife haven. Venture beyond the city to enjoy treetop walks through the rainforest, explore wildlife reserves and dive among colourful coral reefs. Remember to look up in the rainforest, as you may catch a glimpse of playful long-tailed macaque monkeys scampering through the canopy. Keep a close eye on your belongings though – these cheeky creatures have been known to steal food from unsuspecting tourists.

A much rarer sight is the endangered black-and-white Raffles’ banded langur, first discovered by Sir Stamford Raffles almost 200 years ago. Head out after dark and you could spot the large eyes of the Malayan colugo, also known as the Malayan flying lemur, which glides from tree to tree looking for fresh leaves to eat. And a playful rival to the macaque monkey is the palm civet, a cat-like animal with a black patch across its eyes that makes it look like a bandit. Even the pigeons in Singapore are more glamorous than their European counterparts, with the male pink-necked green pigeon a striking mix of colours. The distinct yellow of the black-naped oriole makes it easy to spot, while crimson sunbirds are as vibrant as their name suggests, and the blue-eared kingfisher could out-dazzle a sapphire.

The Okinawa islands seem to drip into the Pacific Ocean from the southern tip of Japan, almost closer to the Philippines than the country that claims them. While two-thirds of Japan is made up of volcanic, mountainous landscapes, the subtropical south promises powder-soft beaches, aquamarine seas and awe-inspiring biodiversity. The waters are home to humpback whales, clownfish and coral reefs, while on land the yamaneko wild cat stalks the undergrowth and crested serpent eagles fly high. Of the more than 160 islands that make up the archipelago, just 49 are inhabited.

The cuisine is a mix of indigenous traditions and Chinese influences, from the trade envoys that used to visit the former kingdom. In fact, the balanced diet here is so healthy that Okinawans have some of the longest life spans in the world, with the islands dubbed ‘land of the immortals’.

The Greeks first brought wine to Croatia more than 2,500 years ago, and its fresh Pinot Noirs and crisp Rieslings are local favourites – yet still mostly unknown outside the country. You may be familiar with Zinfandel but did you know it is one of the country’s many indigenous grape varieties? Trace the Adriatic coast and you will soon discover that Croatia’s finest wine regions often command privileged spots in the country’s most jaw-dropping scenery. Istria, the upside-down pyramid of a peninsula in the north, is famous for the red Teran and white Malvazija wine varieties and its charm has earned it the moniker ‘little Tuscany’. From Split you can explore the certified home of the aforementoned Zinfandel with a Princess Cruises tour and just north of Dubrovnik, on the precipitous slopes of the Pelješac peninsula, Croatia’s most prized red Dingač wine is crafted. It’s an exhausting job exploring the steep vineyards, but the sea views and rich, robust wine served by winemakers are more than worth the effort.