52 days in Europe, Asia, South Pacific & United States Itinerary

Shaped like a teardrop and located just below the southern tip of India, lush Sri Lanka boasts some of the greatest biodiversity in the world. Unless you time your Sri Lanka holiday for monsoon season, you can expect bright blue skies and plenty of sunshine, perfect for exploring tropical forests, historic temples, colonial forts, and many other buildings dating back to Dutch rule. Popular things to do in Sri Lanka include swimming, sailing, and surfing, though a growing number of visitors come here just to eat their way around the country. Greatly influenced by nearby India, the national cuisine also features many elements of European cooking--a result of the Dutch and Portuguese colonial years. Of course, a trip to Sri Lanka would not be complete without a cup of its world-famous Ceylon tea.

An unusual blend of a developing nation and the modern world, Malaysia ranks as one of the richest countries in Southeast Asia, its prosperity largely resting on thriving high-tech industries. Malaysia vacations remain a more affordable alternative to the expensive tourism in some neighboring countries. Take a trip to Malaysia to explore busy cities filled with colonial-era architecture, tranquil tea plantations supporting a large portion of the local population, and dozens of scattered islands happily evading the worst aspects of mass tourism. While there may be fewer visitors, there's no shortage of fine beaches, mangrove estuaries, and verdant rainforests filled with exotic wildlife.

One of the most coveted tourist destinations in the Philippines for eco-tourists and those wishing to get away from city life, Palawan Province offers a variety of virgin beaches and lush rainforest vegetation sheltering untouched wildlife. Pristine beaches with turquoise waters and lagoons offer great opportunities for swimming, scuba diving, and snorkeling, while a number of spectacular karst formations fringed with tropical vegetation hide many limestone caves. A tour of Palawan Province usually includes a visit to the famous UNESCO-protected underground river and a reef marine park, or trekking to a lake atop a volcano crater. The island also includes a wildlife sanctuary with indigenous and exotic beasts, as well as a crocodile farm amid the mangroves. A number of natural science museums and Baroque Catholic churches add a cultural dimension to any Palawan Province holiday.

A province of Indonesia, the island of Bali remains one of the world's top tourist destinations thanks to its beaches, diving spots, and resorts. Take a trip to Bali to discover the island's smiling and famously hospitable locals--perhaps the biggest treasure of this tropical paradise. More than just another fun-in-the-sun getaway, Bali also reveals a rich history and varied geography of mountains, rugged coastal areas, sandy beaches, thriving rice terraces, and stark volcanic hillsides that seem transported from another planet. A Bali tour uncovers some of the world's best surfing spots, as well as a deeply spiritual local culture and globally significant archeological attractions.

Located at the heart of the Central Pacific, Fiji is an archipelago of 333 islands and hundreds more tiny islets, many of which are uninhabited. The land masses range from vast Viti Levu, mountainous and covered in green jungle, to private desert islands available for rent. With bountiful sunshine, white sand beaches, tranquil oceans, and lush rainforest, it is no surprise that ecotourism in Fiji thrives. Local culture combines indigenous Fijian, Indo-Fijian, Asian, and European influences in a vibrant mix, with many of the smaller islands still retaining a strong element of traditional island life. Explore the countless pockets of paradise to find your favorite.

More than the country of car-packed streets seen in TV shows and movies, the United States of America is a complex and diverse home to over 300 million people living in a wide range of landscapes and climates. From its big-city skyscrapers to its sprawling natural parks, the country's ''melting pot'' combines many ethnic groups that share a strong sense of national identity despite their cultural differences. A country of road trips and big blue skies, the United States harbors orderly cities filled with restaurants, parks, museums, and innumerable sightseeing opportunities, as well as pristine natural areas perfect for a holiday in the great outdoors. To see as much as you can of this diverse land quickly, drive over some of the more than 6 million km (4 million mi) of highways leading through deserts, mountain peaks, fertile fields, and giant urban centers.