Author MARY-ANN GALLAGHER takes her pick of some of the spectacular places to visit from her new book including Bavaria and Beijing

BEAUTIFUL BAVARIA
Bavaria is Germany's largest province, celebrated for its dark forests and limpid lakes, medieval villages and traditional beer halls.

One of the best ways of exploring the region is to follow the 260-mile Romantic Road, a spectacularly scenic route from Würzburg to the Alpine town of Füssen.

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One of the last Bavarian kings, "mad" Ludwig II (1845-86), built numerous fairytale castles high in these forested peaks, including the Schloss Neuschwanstein located just outside Füssen. He conceived of the castle as a homage to the Romantic operas created by his friend and composer Richard Wagner.

Its gleaming turrets and spires provided the inspiration for Sleeping Beauty's castle in Disneyland and the castle played a central role in the children's movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Expedia (0871 226 0808/www.expedia.co.uk) offers seven nights at the four-star Familotel Sonnenhof Grafenau from £277pp (two sharing), room only.

Price includes return flights from Gatwick to Munich with easyJet. Excursions to the royal castles of King Ludwig II, including the Linderhof and Neuschwanstein, from £42pp. Departing September 8.

Bavaria Tourism: www.bayern.by

CLIMBING THE WALLS
The Great Wall of China is not a single entity but a network of several enormous fortified walls and trenches that snake across the arid hills of northern China.

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Begun almost 3,000 years ago to keep foreign invaders at bay, they were expanded and strengthened over the centuries. Most of what survives was built under the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Contrary to popular belief, the wall isn't actually visible from space but it is still the largest man-made structure on Earth.

If possible, try to visit the more remote sections and avoid tourist honey-pots like Badaling.

Kuoni Travel (01306 747 008/www.kuoni.co.uk) offers seven nights at Hotel Novotel Beijing Peace with a full-day wall tour from £1,031pp (two sharing), B&B.

Price includes return BA flights from Heathrow to Beijing and transfers. China National Tourist Office:
020 7935 9787/www.cnto.org.uk

BANFF HIGHS
The Canadian Rockies are renowned for their pristine beauty and scenic splendour, and much of the magnificent mountain range is protected in a series of national parks.

Of these, Banff is the oldest, the most famous and, at around 2,500 square miles, one of the largest.

The mountain town of the same name attracted the first tourists in the 19th century, when a small resort grew up around some natural hot springs. Nowadays visitors also come for the world-class skiing, hiking, fishing, canoeing and a host of other activities.

Despite the enormous number of visitors who descend on the park throughout the year, it is always possible to escape the crowds and soak up one of the world's most unspoilt wildernesses.

Canadian Affair (020 7616 9933/www.canadianaffair.com) offers a seven-night Rocky Mountain Getaway including a two-day excursion on the Rocky Mountaineer from Vancouver to Banff and six nights in Banff from £1,199pp (two sharing) half-board. Price includes return flights from Gatwick to Vancouver, returning from Calgary. Canadian Tourism Commission: 0870 380 0070/www.canada.travel

FALLING FOR IGUAÇU
Twice as high as Niagara and more powerful than Victoria, the spectacular Iguaçu Falls straddle the border between Argentina and Brazil.

Unlike other famous waterfalls, Iguaçu is not formed by one continuous curtain of water but by 275 thunderous cataracts that plunge in an enormous arc into canyons below.

The name comes from an indigenous phrase meaning "great water" and the dramatic waterfalls have featured in numerous films including The Mission and the Indiana Jones franchise.

Although most of the falls are on the Argentine side of the border, Brazil counters with some of the most picturesque scenery in the area. For pure romance visit the falls at night when you might be lucky enough to see a silvery moon rainbow.

Hayes & Jarvis (0871 664 0246/www.hayesandjarvis.co.uk) offers seven nights in Rio de Janeiro and Iguaçu Falls from £1,099pp (two sharing), B&B.

Price includes five nights at the Promenade Princess Copacabana, two nights at the Hotel Bourbon Cataratas, excursion to Iguaçu Falls and return flights with BA from Heathrow. Departing September 6.

Brazil Tourism: 020 7399 9000/www.braziltour.com Dream Destinations by Mary-Ann Gallagher is published by Quercus, price £14.99.