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Bhutan, the Middle East, South America - there are few limits for truly robust travellers looking for somewhere well off the beaten track.
And tour operators with contacts worldwide are ensuring that the route from Chek Lap Kok to Machu Picchu, Persepolis or Thimpu is trouble free and as luxurious or inexpensive as travellers could wish.
'There are three areas that are especially hot this year,' said Chang Theng Hwee,  founder of Country Holidays which is based in Central, with other offices in Singapore, Beijing and Shanghai.
'In the Middle East, travellers are heading for Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Iran. Peru and Ecuador are the must-sees of South America, while closer to home Bhutan is a real pristine gem.
'Most of our customers are well travelled and looking for somewhere that's untouched by mass tourism. They want to shop in a bazaar that's not infested with scores of other tourists, and go to an archaeological site where they'll be able to take a photo without having to wait for loads of other visitors to get out of the way.'
While long-haul and more remote destinations can be more expensive than countries closer to home, what they provide in the way of experience greatly justifies any extra cost.
'Bhutan charges a minimum of US$200 per person per night, of which 35 per cent goes to the government,' Mr Chang said.
'But the fee includes hotel accommodation and meals as well as guides, so compare that to what you might pay to stay in somewhere like New York.
'Plus if you want to enjoy a real five-star experience, there are upmarket hotels run by such groups as Aman, Como and Taj in Bhutan, so it really is a case of deciding just how much you want to spend.'
The present range of adventure holidays allows travellers to take it relatively easy or indulge in a more strenuous break. A train runs to the pre-Columbian Inca site of Machu Pichu, or there is the option of trekking along an ancient trail, much of it carved out of rock, and camping for four nights along the way. Either method of getting to Machu Pichu provides an unrivalled experience in one of the remotest parts of the planet.
'It's important to remember that kids enjoy something like this too. I took my three children - who are aged from eight to 13 - trekking in the foothills of the Annapurna range in Nepal and we then went to a jungle lodge in the Terai where they were able to go on safari and ride elephants, so it was fun for all the family,' Mr Chang said.
One of the other top destinations around the world this year is Croatia, which attracts Europeans primarily for its beaches and Asians because of its magnificent ancient cities such as Dubrovnik. Reckoned to be like Greece or Italy before the advent of mass tourism, Croatia provides a huge dose of history and culture as the Romans, Venetians, and Habsburgs all left their mark in architecture, culture, food and music. The country has a strong Central European flavour, together with a magnificent Mediterranean setting and a tangibly Slavic soul. Highlights include the Plitvice Lakes National Park and the Unesco World Heritage site of Diocletian's Palace.
Another intriguing destination is the newly emergent republic of Uzbekistan, in Central Asia, which enjoys the most interesting historical and architectural legacy of all the 'Stans' which were freed from Soviet domination in 1991. Due to its location, the land of the Uzbek people has always been at the crossroads of migrations and invasions and, as a result, different cultures and civilizations were brought to the region. The Silk Road passed through what is now Uzbekistan, bringing prosperity to such cities as Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara, which are dotted with minarets, mausoleums and mosques from bygone days. 
Nowhere on earth is ringing the changes quite like Russia, where the legacy of the Tsars, Peter the Great, Ivan the Terrible and, more recently, Lenin and Stalin is still strongly evident as the country - now at its most welcoming - undergoes a rapid metamorphosis. Moscow remains the epicentre of power and nowhere more so than within the Kremlin (which is no longer out of bounds to visitors), while St Basil's Basilica and the city's ornate metro stations are as wondrous and impressive as when they were built.
The city of St Petersburg exudes a totally different charm, with scores of imposing edifices from the European Renaissance period, and a wealth of world-class museums and palaces.
At the wilder end of the scale, Ethiopia has attracted a lot of bad press in recent years, however it is now starting to attract a more audacious type of tourist. As the only country in Africa never to have been colonised by the European powers, Ethiopia retains much of its colourful and ancient heritage. The legendary land of the Queen of Sheba, it boasts centuries-old churches hewn from rock and some of the world's earliest Christian archaeological sites. The country is also the source of the Nile, and home to many stunningly beautiful national parks. 
Tanzania presents a different portrait of Africa, and is chiefly popular for its safaris. Top spots include the Rift Valley's Lake Manyara, the volcanic crater of Ngorongoro and the plains of the Serengeti which provide the greatest wildlife spectacle.
Cuba - one of the last bastions of old-style Communism - is full of contradiction and surprises. Time seems to have stood still on this Caribbean island, with its beautiful colonial architecture and a nostalgic aura set among an awesome mountainous interior and white sand beaches. Outside the capital of Havana, there are remote towns Baracoa, Santiago De Cuba, Trinidad and Santa Clara.



Find yourself on the road less travelled