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25 SEPTEMBER 2003
Sherpa teahouses – Himalayas
Two thousand and three marked the 50th anniversary of the first ascent of Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Ten-zing Norgay. While every year a handful of brave souls make the journey to the peak in their footsteps, many opt for the next best thing by exploring the Himalayan valleys. Here, they marvel at the awe-inspiring scenery, haggle in the bazaars and enjoy the traditional hospitality of the Sherpas, whose homeland this is. You may even have the chance of visiting the schools and hospitals founded by Hillary, who so admired the skills, bravery, and loyalty of the Nepalese people. There are no five-star hotels on this route; instead you'll stay in friendly little teahouses known as bhattis. Once simply local inns, they're now open to tourists and still run by Sherpa families who'll provide tasty meals and tales galore.

Longhouses – Borneo
Built on stilts above the river, the traditional 980-foot-long Iban longhouses of Borneo are home to an entire village. Western visitors are welcome to stay as part of a pre-planned tour – you can't just turn up, as that's considered bad manners. The longhouses are hives of activity, with children playing, women working and men gossiping. Don't expect western comforts such as air-conditioning, however. Your hosts will be delighted with gifts – sweets, cosmetics and, yes, Beckham soccer shirts. They've heard about him even there! Once accepted, you'll find the people are as curious about you as you are about them. You'll learn about their rituals, their education and life in the rainforest. They may take you out along jungle trails and you could find yourself sharing rice wine with some of the old headhunters.

Trulli – Italy
Unless you've been to Puglia – in the heel of Italy – you won't have seen anything quite like Trulli. These unique round houses are built of stone with thick walls and a conical roof. No one knows how the strange constructions originated – maybe it was to keep cool in the long hot southern summer or perhaps the conical roof helped the occupants collect precious rainwater. Scattered around the countryside, several trulli have recently been restored with traditional materials and Italian flair. They're clustered near the historic centre of Cisternino where there's a market for vegetables, fruit and cheese and enough trattorias to keep you away from the kitchen stove. Sandy beaches (the nearest are 20 minutes away) stretch unspoiled from Bari to Brindisi, and Puglia's relaxed pace, well away from mass tourism, promises an authentic taste of Italy.

REPORT: JILL CRAWSHAW