DiscoverA Brighter Wayto Travel

Dubai is one of the easiest long weekends from Pakistan, with direct flights from Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and other cities taking around two to three and a half hours. Start with the classics: the view from the top of the Burj Khalifa at sunset, the fountain show at Dubai Mall, and an evening abra ride across Dubai Creek to the gold and spice souks of Deira.

The best weather is from November to March, which is also when fares and hotels are in highest demand, so search early for winter school holidays and New Year. Summer brings lower fares but very hot days: plan indoor sights for the afternoon and the beach or desert safari for the evening.

• ~2.5 h direct from Karachi
• Best: Nov to Mar
• Currency: UAE dirham

Kuala Lumpur combines the Petronas Twin Towers, huge malls and some of Asia's best street food with easy day trips to the Batu Caves and the cool Genting Highlands. Many travellers add a few days on the islands of Langkawi or Penang, both a short domestic flight away.

Flights from Pakistan usually connect through a Gulf hub or fly direct on selected days, so compare total journey time as well as price. Malaysia is warm all year; the west coast islands are driest from November to April, while the east coast is best from March to September.

• Direct or one stop
• Warm all year
• Currency: Malaysian ringgit

Istanbul spans two continents: spend your first days around the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, the Grand Bazaar and a Bosphorus cruise, then fly or take a night bus to Cappadocia for a sunrise balloon flight over the fairy chimneys. The Aegean coast around Izmir and Antalya adds beaches in summer.

Spring (April to June) and autumn (September to November) bring mild weather and fewer crowds. Istanbul Airport is also a major connection point, so a Turkey trip can be combined with onward flights to Europe on the same ticket.

• Spring and autumn are ideal
• Big hub for Europe
• Currency: Turkish lira

Fly into Bangkok for temples, river boats and night markets, then continue to the islands: Phuket and Krabi for the limestone bays of Phi Phi and Phang Nga, or Koh Samui on the Gulf side. Domestic flights are short and frequent, so a city-and-beach trip fits easily into ten days.

The Andaman coast (Phuket, Krabi) is at its best from November to April; Koh Samui is often drier from January to August. Book island hops on the same dates as your international flights to avoid long waits between connections.

• Bangkok + islands in 10 days
• Andaman: Nov to Apr
• Currency: Thai baht