Beaches

The only place to see the whole palm shape from above: the observation deck on level 52 of The Palm Tower, 240 metres up.

Selfies with lifelike wax figures of film stars, athletes and leaders – including a full Bollywood zone – on Bluewaters Island.

65,000 marine animals in the ruins of 'Atlantis': glass tunnels and chambers of sharks, rays and jellyfish at Atlantis, The Palm.

Stand in waist-deep water at Atlantis and meet a bottlenose dolphin up close – touch, play and learn with a marine mammal specialist.

The world's largest waterpark: 105 slides and attractions, a 1 km private beach and river rapids at Atlantis, The Palm.

See the Palm, the Burj Al Arab, the World Islands and the Burj Khalifa from a helicopter – shared seats or a private charter.

Scuba or snorkel in a 60-metre-deep pool built as a sunken city – no certificate needed for the discover dive.

Fly up to 150 metres above the sea behind a speedboat, with JBR, Ain Dubai and the Palm spread out below.

One ticket for a Yas Island park of your choice: Ferrari World, Warner Bros. World, Yas Waterworld or SeaWorld.

Home of Formula Rossa, the world's fastest roller coaster (240 km/h), plus 40 rides and attractions under the giant red roof.

The world's largest indoor theme park: Gotham City, Metropolis, Bedrock and Cartoon Junction, with Batman, Superman and Looney Tunes rides.

Eight ocean realms under one roof, with the world's largest aquarium tank, dolphins, penguins and rides.

More than 40 rides and slides themed on an Emirati pearl-diving legend, including a suspended water coaster and a huge wave pool.

Abu Dhabi's oldest building: an 18th-century coral-stone watchtower and fort that became the ruling family's home, now a museum.

A museum-city under a vast dome of patterned light on Saadiyat Island, with art from every civilisation and loans from the Louvre in Paris.

Southeast Asia's only Universal Studios park: 7 themed zones, Minion Land, Transformers and Battlestar Galactica – add a Universal Express pass to skip the regular queues.

Unlimited views over the harbour, the city and Sentosa: one round trip on both the Mount Faber Line and the Sentosa Line, covering all five cable car stations.

Come face to face with manta rays, sharks and jellyfish at Sentosa's giant aquarium, now expanded and reopened as the Singapore Oceanarium.

Feel the rush of freefall without jumping out of a plane: two skydives in one of the world's largest indoor wind tunnels, with full training and an instructor in the tunnel with you.

Race down one of four winding tracks through Sentosa's rainforest in a gravity-powered luge cart, then ride the Skyride chairlift back up for sea views.

A full day island-hopping by speedboat from Phuket: Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon and Viking Cave on Phi Phi Leh, snorkelling stops, lunch on Phi Phi Don, and the white sands of Khai Island.

Speed through Phang Nga Bay's towering limestone islands: canoe into hidden lagoons at Hong Island, see James Bond Island, have lunch in the stilt village of Koh Panyee and swim at Naka Island.

The world's largest wooden castle: a seaside temple carved entirely by hand, without metal nails, visited with a multilingual guide, by day or in the evening.

A day trip to Koh Larn (Coral Island): speedboat from Bali Hai Pier to Tawaen Beach, a beach chair and guide, lunch back in Pattaya and hotel transfer – with snorkeling, jet ski, parasailing or sea walker options.

Three nights in a 4-star Phuket hotel with the island's three big experiences already arranged: the Phuket FantaSea show, a day at the Phi Phi Islands and a morning at Tiger Park. Every transfer is private, from the airport pickup to the drop on the last day, and each evening is yours for the beach. ₹74,000 for two adults, and you can add more.

Five nights, two cities, private transfers throughout: three nights at Sunset Beach Resort in Patong, Phuket, then two in Pratunam, the heart of Bangkok shopping. Phi Phi, Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon and Bamboo Island by speedboat, the Phuket City Tour, Tiger Kingdom and the Siam Niramit show in Phuket; Safari World & Marine Park and a Chao Phraya dinner cruise in Bangkok, with Indian buffet meals. Priced for a group of 6, triple sharing.

Beach days, golden temples and Bangkok lights in one trip. Two nights in Pattaya and three in Bangkok in four-star hotels with breakfast, with the big experiences already arranged: the Alcazar Cabaret Show, a speedboat day on Coral Island, the Sanctuary of Truth, a Chao Phraya dinner cruise, the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun, and a full day at Safari World. Every road transfer is in a private air-conditioned vehicle, from the airport pickup to the airport drop. ₹92,000 for 2 adults (₹46,000 per person).

Two nights in Krabi and three in Phuket in four-star hotels with breakfast: Thailand's two best beach bases in one trip. Island-hop around Krabi's four islands by longtail boat, cross to Phuket by private car, spend a day at the Phi Phi Islands by speedboat with lunch, and tour Phuket's Big Buddha, Old Town and viewpoints. Airport pickup and drop are private. ₹92,000 for 2 adults (₹46,000 per person). Flights are not included.

Three nights in Cebu and two on Bohol's Panglao Island in four-star hotels with breakfast. Tour Cebu City's Spanish-era landmarks, swim under the turquoise Kawasan Falls, take the fast ferry to Bohol for the Chocolate Hills, the tiny tarsiers and a lunch cruise on the Loboc River, and finish with island hopping off Panglao. Airport pickup and drop are private. ₹1,16,000 for 2 adults (₹58,000 per person). Flights are not included.

Three nights in a four-star hotel in Hanoi's Old Quarter and one night on a four-star cruise in Ha Long Bay. See Hanoi's landmarks on a guided city tour, watch the water puppet show, then sail among the limestone islands of Ha Long Bay with a cave visit, kayaking and all meals on board. Airport pickup and drop are private. ₹88,000 for 2 adults (₹44,000 per person), or ₹94,000 with a Vietnam e-visa (₹47,000 per person). Flights are not included.

Five nights in a four-star beach resort in Mauritius with breakfast and dinner every day, and the whole island covered in three full-day tours: the north with Port Louis and Pamplemousses Garden, the south with Grand Bassin, the Chamarel waterfall and the Seven Coloured Earths, and a speedboat day to Ile aux Cerfs with lunch. Airport pickup and drop are private. ₹1,38,000 for 2 adults (₹69,000 per person). Flights are not included.

Four nights built entirely around what families actually need on a Singapore trip: theme parks, a proper safari, and enough breathing room between activities that nobody melts down by day three.

A city-and-beach split that gets the temple-and-market energy of Bangkok out of the way first, then hands you off to Phuket or Pattaya for island-hopping and a slower pace.