Eastern Caribbean

Cherry red roofs, yacht-sprinkled bays and a sophisticated French flavour all add to the gorgeous Caribbean allure of Gustavia. The island's capital rolls around a horseshoe-shaped harbour, where gleaming yachts hover and fancy boutiques, bars and restaurants fizz with life and clinking cutlery. Head up to red and white Gustavia Lighthouse to look down over the revered waters, which attract many a celebrity guest and diving enthusiast to these shores. View less Christopher Columbus was the first European to discover this volcanic island in 1493, giving it the name St Barthelemy in honour of his younger brother. The island has a unique history as a Swedish colony, following a deal with the French King Louis XVI to exchange the island with Sweden for better trading rights. It was returned to French control in 1878 and is now a French Overseas Collectivity. Learn more of the Swedish legacy at Fort Karl - which sits on a 29-metre-high hill above Shell Beach. The fort now lies in ruins, but you'll meet wandering iguanas, and the views down of sweeping sea and emerald coastline are some of the island's finest. Down below, a delightful spread of tiny pebbles and shell fragments are scattered like confetti and lapped by crystal-clear water. A little exploration uncovers countless other glorious beaches and natural wonders. Colombier Beach is a little out of the way but cradles silky-smooth sands and typically turquoise waters. If you have chance, find somewhere to settle and sip fruity rum cocktails as the sunset flares across the waves.

Beach masterpieces of silky white sand and sparkling water shifting from turquoise to royal blue welcome you to idyllic Grand Turk. Underwater ramparts of coral teem with vibrant marine life, while tranquil beaches reward with a haven of relaxation. Discover relentless Caribbean beauty as you taste the wonders of this tiny, tooth-shaped island paradise. Part of the Turks and Caicos islands group, an enchanting string of islands that share jaw-dropping natural beauty, Grand Turk is a truly divine Caribbean escape. View less Your first port of call is always likely to be the blissful sand beaches that roll down to that trademark intense sea. Governor's Beach is a vision of pink sand, lapped by teal waters and a perfect rendering of your most lavish imagination. Submerge into the warm waters or shelter from the sun below soaring casuarina trees. Pillory Beach is another favoured option, nestled a little further to the north. Wade out along the shelf of sand, and part clear seawater that dances with twinkling sunlit patterns. Take your pick from the islands' blessing of beaches, or strap on a snorkel to float for hours amid the bright tones and curious displays of life below the surface. Graceful stingrays slide through the waters at Gibbs Cay, and you can wander among huge queen conch shells, strewn over its sands. Later, sunset will burn and boom above, as you taste fresh barbecued snapper, mahi-mahi and lobster platters. The stunning coral reefs that attract keen divers from across the globe have been far less welcoming to ships historically, and the wrecks that rest on the seabed attest to their hull-shredding credentials. Flashing out warnings, and standing tall since 1852, Grand Turk Lighthouse is a true icon of this island. Wild donkeys and horses may join you as you roam below the rusting, cast-iron tower, which gazes out protectively over the North Reef.