Western Australia
You could do the classic Sydney-to-Brisbane route in two weeks, but far more unusual and adventurous is a west-coast jaunt from Perth to Broome. The rugged landscapes, dazzling water and idyllic lagoons mean the miles pay dividends. Use Greyhound (greyhound.com.au) buses if you're on a budget or, for more freedom, hire a car.
Spend a relaxing day exploring Perth's Kings Park and Art Gallery (artgallery.wa.gov.au), then take a ferry to the lively port of Fremantle for the afternoon from the Barrack St Jetty. Start your adventure in style at the Eight Nicholson hotel (00 618 9382 1881; 8nicholson.com.au", rooms from £90) [all prices are for a double room unless otherwise stated] in Subiaco, the city's 'it' zone on the western side.
Head north to Cervantes to see the Pinnacles rock formations at Nambung National Park, then to Geraldton, the last big town on the route. From here, take a flight over the sprawling, uninhabited coral outcrops of the Houtman Abrolhos Islands, from around $130 per person per hour with Geraldton Air Charter (00 618 9923 3434; geraldtonaircharter.com.au).
Next stop is Monkey Mia on the Peron Peninsula, where wild dolphins swim up to the shore. The Dolphin Resort (00 618 9948 1320, monkeymia.com.au) has beds from £10 in cabins or safari-style canvas 'condos'.
The port of Carnarvon is the next logical stop and a good base for hiking the gorges of the Kennedy Range. In Carnarvon, Outcamp (00 618 9941 2421) is a friendly family-run B&B. Onward to Coral Bay for snorkelling amid the colourful fish of the Ningaloo Reef - the Bayview Coral Bay (00 618 9385 6655; coralbaywa.com) has dorms (£8 for a bed), cabins and rooms - and Exmouth for whale-watching. The Ningaloo Club (00 618 9948 5100; ningalooclub.com; £10) has safari tents, pool, beach access and free bikes.
Next, head into the rocky red landscapes of the Pilbara. It takes a day to reach Port Hedland. Check out Karinji National Park, 250km south of Port Hedland, where deep gorges create a playground of rock pools and waterfalls. From here push through to Broome. The eight-hour drive will be forgotten when you see the vivid town, with its red cliffs, white sand beaches, turquoise waters and green mangroves. The historical sites will keep you busy and the Temple Tree B&B (00 618 9193 5728; broometempletree.com.au; £50) is worth booking ahead for its yummy breakfast under the frangipani tree. All that's left is to fly back to Perth for the long trip home.
· Return flights from London to Perth, including internal flight from Broome, cost from £846 with STA Travel (0871 230 0040; statravel.co.uk), flying with Royal Brunei and Qantas.
Vietnam to Laos
Travelling from Hanoi in Vietnam south to Vientiane in Laos, you'll explore charming towns, jaw-dropping mountain regions and tranquil rivers, eating fantastic food and meeting warm people as you go. Arranging transport is easy enough - either hire a private minivan or taxi for each leg, or rely on the bus service.
Hanoi is a hectic, charming city that retains a sense of history. Lose yourself in the Old Quarter markets and art galleries; see Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and the temples. Try the fantastically gaudy pagoda-style Dragon Hotel (00 84 48 292954; dragonhotelvn.com; £20), devoutly Chinese in character with a fish pool.
In Hanoi, book an overnight boat to Halong Bay, where cliff-edged islands with caves and beaches are the perfect place to relax and kayak. Then, via Hanoi, head in the opposite direction on an overnight train to Sapa, a charming village with views of Vietnam's highest mountain, Fansipan.
Stay at the luxurious yet solar-powered Topas Eco Retreat (00 84 20 872404; topas-eco-lodge.com; £40), which has bare stone walls, wooden beams and a pick-up service from Sapa. Trek to local villages and up Dragon's Jaw Hill before returning to Hanoi for the bus to Que Son, where there is a border crossing into Laos. From here, take a taxi or shared minibus to Phonsavanh for the Plain of Jars, a crater-riddled landscape covered in chest-high urns said to be 2,000 years old. Auberge de la Plaine de Jarres (00 856 61 312044; £20) is a classy lodge with two-room cabins and a great restaurant.
Working your way south, the next must-see stop is Luang Prabang, the former royal capital, which is now a Unesco World Heritage Site. It's packed with ornate temples and shrines, surrounded by mountains and crossed by the Nam Khan and Mekong rivers. Stay in one of the many gorgeous boutique hotels in renovated mansions, such as the Villa Santi (00 856 71 252157; villasantihotel.com"; £45).
Vang Vieng is the adventure capital of Laos and popular with backpackers. They rave about floating down the Nam Xong river on a tractor inner tube from Pak Pok, 4km away, stopping off at bars and islands on the way. Villa Nam Song (00 856 23 511016; £25) is a stylish ranch-style riverside hotel with great views.
Finally there's a three-hour bus or taxi ride to Vientiane, the small, chilled-out capital on the banks of the Mekong, with a handful of interesting sights and lots of cosmopolitan cafes. Check out Pha That Luang, a Buddist monument with an impressive golden spire, quirky Xieng Khuan park (an hour's tuk-tuk ride out towards the Thai border) with its weird sculptures, and the morning market (Talaat Sao) for fabrics and handicrafts.
The Hotel Day Inn (00 856 21 223847; visit-laos.com/hotels/dayinn; £10) is a tropical Fifties-style, mid-range pad 10 minutes' walk from the river.
· Sta Travel (0871 230 0040; statravel.co.uk) has flights from London into Hanoi and out of Vientiane, via Bangkok, from £721 on Thai Airways
Nicaragua to Costa Rica
According to Tom Hall at Lonely Planet, this route is 'pretty edgy and cool', and the current favourite for diehard backpackers. It covers a small distance, so there are no long slogs, and buses run several times a day between the destinations.
Fly into Managua, Nicaragua's sprawling lakeside capital. Its setting - surrounded by extinct volcanoes and crater lakes - will set the tone for adventure. Check out the Museo Sitio las Huellas de Acahualinca (for its 6,000-year-old footprints), the Museo Nacional and the Catedral Nueva, and shop for handicrafts at the Roberto Huembes market. Managua is the best place to splash out on a decent hotel; book ahead for the Hotel Los Robles (00 505 267 3008; hotellosrobles.com; £50) a colonial villa with antique furniture and a tropical garden.
From the Mercado Mayoreo bus station travel to Masaya, a province densely populated by the descendants of indigenous Chorotega people, whose skills have made the area famous for crafts and culture. Pick up a cotton hammock in the market then take a bus to the Parque Nacional Volcan Masaya for a day's hiking around the active volcano and crater lakes. The Hotel Volcan Masaya (00 505 522 7114; £20) has air con and great views. By bus, travel to Granada, a beautiful city of colourful colonial homes on Lake Nicaragua. Spend a few days here, kayaking on the lake to the 354 basalt islands called Las Isletas, which are covered with mango trees and birds, but consider also a day out to the sleeping Volcan Mombacho, where you can hike through cloud forest and coffee plantations.
Drag yourself away to Rivas, a bus ride south on the isthmus that separates Lake Nicaragua from the Pacific. The two conical mountains on Isla de Ometepe are evidence of the volcanic activity that created the connection between North and South America. The Hotel Cacique Nicarao (00 505 045 3234; £15) is friendly, with decent grub. On the island, hike Volcan Concepcion from Moyogalpa - the Casa Familiar (00 505 569 4240; £10) offers the best rooms - then chill out on the lake beaches.
If there's time, stop at San Juan del Sur, a small fishing town on a sweeping bay - try the lovely wooden Villa Colonial hotel (00 505 568 2539; £10). Finally, head down to Penas Blancas to cross the border into Costa Rica. You can take a bus straight to San Jose in four hours, or head to the Parque Nacional Santa Rosa, a stretch of tropical rain forest and the surf mecca of Central America. You'll have to kip outside the park in the Hacienda Los Inocentes (00 506 679 9190; losinocenteslodge.com; £20) - a cattle ranch-turned-ecolodge. San Jose is a five-hour bus ride away, and though it's not a great-looking city, it's cosmopolitan and loves to party. Wander along the Avenida Central, people-watch in the parks then join the josefinos to drink and dance the night away. Try the Mexico Bar, next to the Barrio Mexico church on Calle 16 in Central San Jose - it's upscale and popular with locals, and you may catch some live mariachi music. The Hotel Milvia (00 506 225 4543; novanet.co.cr/milvia; £35) is a Caribbean-style, 1930s plantation house hotel, with Costa Rican art on the walls.
· STA Travel (0871 230 8512; statravel.co.uk) has flights from London into Managua, out of San Jose, via Madrid from £698 on Iberia.
Spain to Morocco
Morocco will form the meaty part of your adventure and the most exciting and romantic way to arrive is by the old-fashioned route across the Strait of Gibraltar by ferry into Tangier. A few days in Spain makes a relaxing start. Get a cheap flight to Malaga, a city with leafy boulevards, beaches and a great Picasso Museum (00 34 952 602731; museopicassomalaga.org). Sweat out your work stress in the Banos Arabes (00 34 952 212327; elhammam.com) hammam, before a night of tapas in the bars between the Calle Carreteria and the Plaza de la Merced. Molina Lario (00 34 95206 2002; molinalario.warwickhotels.com; £70) is a stylish boutique hotel by the beautiful cathedral with a small rooftop pool. Take a bus to Tarifa for a laidback day or two on the white sandy beach. Funky Moroccan-style bars are more prevalent here than in Morocco: try Souk (00 34 956 620708), and stay at La Sacrista (00 34 956 681759; lasacristia.net), a refurbished 17th-century inn with doubles from £65 a night.
After a 35-minute crossing from Tarifa the ferry (0871 222 3312; directferries.co.uk) dumps you in the hectic port of Tangier. Explore the thrilling medina, try a pastilla (pigeon in pastry) in the garden at Raihani, 10 Rue Ahmed Chaoki, and stay at the luxurious El Minzah Hotel (00 212 39 935885; elminzah.com; £75).
Next, take a bus or taxi to Chefchaouen, a magical village in the Rif mountains with a maze of pretty pale blue buildings, hippyish cafes and markets. Casa Hassan (00 212 39 986153; casahassan.com; £50) is one of many traditional homes turned into hotels. It has a lovely terrace, archways and lanterns.
Take a bus from here to Fez, for shopping and soaking up the atmosphere. Choose from one of many lovely riads, such as Le Palais d'Hotes (palais-hotes.com; £70) with a pool surrounded by candlelit pillars.
Then it's another bus to the village of Tanaghmeilt to visit the Cascades d'Ouzoud in the Atlas mountains, offering an enticing glimpse of Berber life. Locals are very friendly, often inviting visitors to drink and drum with them at the top of the falls under the stars. Riad Cascades d'Ouzoud (00 212 23 429173; £50) has gorgeous doubles with lanterns and rugs.
Hop on another bus to Asni, where you can hike the rugged path up Mount Toubkal. The Kasbah du Toubkal (00 212 44 485611; kasbahdutoubkal.com; £50) is a luxury choice. Take the bus back to Marrakesh, and chill out in a riad with a pool, such as El Cadi (00 212 24 378655; riyadelcadi.com; £65). The markets, bars and restaurants will have you spellbound for another day or two.
· Flights to Malaga from London, returning from Marrakesh cost around £70 with Easyjet (0871 244 2366; easyjet.co.uk).
Egypt to Syria
5Cairo will blow your mind, and if you're willing to let it blow your budget too, stay in the opulent Oberoi Mena House (00 202 33 773222; oberoimenahouse.com; £150) on the doorstep of the pyramids at Giza. Then head to the Sinai Peninsula. There are buses, but it's a 470km trip to Sharm El Sheikh, and for around £50 you can fly with Egypt Air (0207 734 2343; egyptair.com).
Sharm is great for diving and snorkelling; Na'ama Bay has a lovely beach, and you can take a day trip to St Catherine's National Park to see the religious buildings with Mount Sinai towering above. The Iberotel Lido (00 20 69 360 2603; www.iberotel-eg. com; £60 half-board) has a rooftop pool.
To travellers' favourite Dahab next (by bus), for beach cafes and bazaars. Stay in the Bedouin village Assalah. The Nesima (00 20 69 364 0320; nesima-resort.com; £40) has dome-shaped bedrooms and a palm-fringed pool.
Take a bus to Nuweiba to catch a boat to Aqaba in Jordan. Aqaba is backed by rugged golden mountains and desert, with palm-lined beaches, forts and the ruins of the ancient Islamic city of Ayla. It's a good base for exploring the dunes of Wadi Rum and Petra, so book a few nights at the Al-Zatari Hotel (00 962 32 022970; £15).
Take a four-hour bus trip to Amman, where you should focus on museums, wine bars and mosques and not expect mystical souks. The smart Bellevue Hotel (00 962 6461 6144; bellevue.com.jo; £80) has a sauna and ice-cream shop. Check out the ruins at Jerash and the castles in the north, then head up to the Syrian border at Der'a (you'll need to have arranged a visa in advance). From here go (by bus or taxi) to Damascus to explore the bazaars, coffee-houses and ancient city walls. Hotel Afamia (00 963 11 222 9152; afamiahotel.com; £37) has simple rooms.
· STA Travel (0871 230 0040; statravel.co.uk) has flights from London to Cairo, returning from Damascus, with BMI from £319 (this new route launches 7 November).
Win your own adverture
STA Travel is offering readers the chance to win a backpacking adventure, including a pair of flights from Heathrow to Cairo, returning from Damascus, with BMI on its new route, plus one night's accommodation in Cairo and one in Damascus. Simply answer this question: What is the name of the famous artefact that Jean-Francois Champollion used to decipher ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics?
Send your answer, with your name, address and daytime phone number, to: Escape Competition, The Observer, 3-7 Herbal Hill, London, EC1R 5EJ, or by email to escape.competition@observer.co.uk. Entries must be received by midnight on Sunday 23 September 2007. One winner will be selected at random to win the prize.
Terms and conditions apply. Please see our competitions page for full details, including full details of the prize on offer. Prizewinner seats are subject to availability and black-outs will apply at peak travel times. Tickets are non-refundable, non-transferable, and non-endorsable. No cash alternative is available. The travel periods cannot be extended beyond the expiry date stated on the prizewinner letter. Once tickets have been issued they are valid for the flights/dates shown only. Lounge passes and upgrades are not permitted with these tickets. The prizewinner must pay all taxes and is responsible for their own visa, passport and insurance requirements. Accommodation is subject to availability. Transfers are not included. Travel cannot be taken before 7 November 2007. If the prize is not claimed by the date stated in the prizewinner letter, it is void. Open to all UK residents 18 years or over, excluding employees and agencies of Guardian News and Media, or employees or agencies of STA Travel, its companies or their family members.
