Floating 780 miles across the Bay of Bengal from Kolkata, this port city in the Andaman archipelago is the splash-down point for the Mahatma Gandhi National Marine Park. Diving, snorkeling and glass-bottom boat trips provide views of rare corals and marine life. On shore, family-friendly Gandhi Park offers amusement rides and a nature trail. Nearby Viper and Ross islands contain historical remnants of British rule, while Corbyn's Cove has remains of Japanese bunkers at its palm-lined beach.

A town literally carved into the volcanic rock, Goreme is the gateway to the Goreme National Park, a vast UNESCO World Heritage Site that houses spectacular 10th- and 11th-century cave churches. The park itself is known for its chimney rock formations and is very popular with backpackers. It’s also a great area to sample Turkish cuisine and wine.

Romance seems to waft through the air on Capri, accompanied by the scent of lemon blossoms and fresh sea air. Leave the car on the mainland and join the masses who use water transport to flock to this dramatic Italian isle in the Bay of Naples. The luminescence of the Blue Grotto, the striking Faraglioni rocks and Palazzo al Mare add to the magical spell. Snorkel from Marina Piccola beach on the island's south side, believed to be the spot where Odysseus nearly succumbed to the Sirens' song.