Places: 2013 - part two

8. Cambodia

Angkor Wat, a world-famous UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest religious monument in the world, is Cambodia's prime attraction for visitors. It has been neglected since the 18th century but is still remarkably well-preserved. Like many South-East Asian cultures, traditional Cambodian culture is rich in history and a step out of the everyday world that is sure to awe-inspire.

9. Maldives

The Maldives, I dare venture, are the very definition of paradise. Indeed, when I was looking for images to show you it was hard to decide if the ones that came up on Google were real or not. (Google 'Maldives' - go on, try it.) This cluster of islands are some of the world's most susceptible to rising sea levels - meaning that in time to come they may well be entirely underwater. With pure white beaches and crystal clear waters, what's not to love about the Maldives? This is a destination for those looking for the perfect beach getaway.

10. Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is an amazing country - in fact I just wrote a whole entry telling you why you should go. Sri Lanka is special to me, because it was here that I first discovered how much I truly loved travelling. It's a thousand different places in one island on the southern tip of India, with beaches, hills, culture, and everything you could want in a travel destination. It is not an exaggeration to say that Lanka was life changing for me - and if you decide to go, I hope it will be for you too.

11. Norway

Northern Norway is beautiful - located within the Arctic Circle, it is home to some of the most spectacular sights this Earth has to offer. In summer, you can experience the midnight sun, where the sky never gets truly dark but simply turns beautiful blazing shades of purple and pink on the horizon; in winter, the dark polar night are perfect conditions for spotting the aurora. South Norway is home to the world-famous Geirangerfjord and the Bergen Railway, one of the world's most spectacular rail journeys. There's really no reason you shouldn't be making your way to this amazing country.

12. Japan

Japan is a world of extremes - tradition meets technologically advanced metropolis. The LED-lit night streets of hustling and bustling Tokyo are a complete contrast to the gentle, traditional streets of Kyoto and its geishas and maikos, all set within the landscape of legendary Japanese hospitality. In the land of spring cherry blossoms, the country which gave us sushi and anime is an amazing place that everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime.

13. Egypt

Pharoahs, the Nile, the Pyramid of Giza and Sharm El-Sheikh are four of the top reasons why Egypt should be on your travel itinerary for this year. An out-of-this-world experience, Egypt is most well-known for desert sands and mummies of its ancient civilisation. Go riding on camel-back into the desert, have a Bedouin-style dinner, take a hot air balloon flight over the Valley of the Kings, or go snorkelling in the Red Sea waters off Sharm El-Sheikh.

14. Tunisia

Tunisia has long been the filming location of choice for many a Hollywood film; it boasts resorts to die for and is the real life inspiration behind Luke Skywalker's Tattooine. The Arab Spring risings of January 2011 have driven a great deal of tourism away from Tunisia, and although the situation is significantly calmer now travellers remain cautious in 2013. Half of Tunisian hotel beds remain empty, which means with every hotelier slashing prices to attract tourists there's never been a better time for the adventurous traveller to visit Tunisia.

Click here for part 1!