Singapore to Sulawesi

Once you have checked in the best way to combat jet lag is to hit the ground running and head out in buzzing Singapore. Our detailed destination Dossier recommends the best of the (extremely good) restaurants in the city.

Spend the next few days exploring the city, either on foot, by bike or the superslick Mass Rapid Transit (MRT). Eat your way around the different districts, from China Town to Little India, indulging in gastronomic gorging and street-eat snacking, popping into a few shops along the way because the city is known for its fab shopping as well. If you're in need of a bit of green, head to Orchard Lane, stop by the Botanical Gardens and stroll through the Gardens by the Bay. Spend evenings sipping cocktails in sophisticated rooftop bars while watching the night sky light up in glorious technicolour.

Located to the east of Borneo, Sulawesi is known for it simply superb diving and aside from the 50-odd dive sites in Bunaken National Park, you can also enjoy muck diving in Lembeh - meaning you get the best of both worlds. Whilst the coral is well preserved, the visibility generally good and the macro life abundant, don't expect to spot the big things. Instead, you'll be treated to a treasure of rare macro creatures, from the blue ringed octopus to the pygmy seahorse.

For the next four days you will be staying at Lembeh Resort. Once you have checked in, head to the restaurant to refuel on fresh local dishes, take a dip in the freshwater pool or simply relax in your room.

Easily accessed from the resort's shores and accessible at any time during your stay (either guided or unguided), the site descends to a maximum depth of 25 metres. Look out for the blue ribbon eel, black ribbon eel, twin spot goby and pygmy sea dragon to name but a few.

Spend your surface interval at the Genus Bar (located next to the dive centre) talking to the in-house marine biologist about your marine life sightings or simply browsing the library of identification books and dive magazines.

After refuelling on a fresh local lunch at the resort's restaurant, catch the boat to dive one of the local dive sites, or relax back at the resort.

Expect to see hairy frogfish, mimic octopus, wanderpus, flamboyant cuttlefish and vibrant nudibranch as well as a host of other extraordinary creatures. Be sure to take your camera with you for some truly spectacular photo opportunities.

Back at the resort, head to the photo centre to learn how to best capture these alien-esque species. Don't have a camera? You can rent one there. You can also take a range of photography courses.

You will then head to Lake Tondano, the largest lake in the region, for a delicious local lunch before heading back to the resort or seeking out a few more sights in the area.

Either catch the afternoon boat, dive the house reef or relax by the pool this afternoon. In the evening, embark on a night dive or sip sundowners at the pool bar while watching sunset.

Located on Pulau Siladen in the heart of Bunaken National Marine Park, the resort sits on a pristine white beach backed by tropical rainforest. You will be spending the next five days here.

Spend the afternoon relaxing at the resort, whether snorkelling on the house reef or visiting the spa. Take a romantic sunset boat tour towards Manado Tua volcano before indulging in a candlelit dinner on the beach.

Where Lembeh boasts muck diving, Bunaken is all about healthy coral reefs and fish. Specifically, there are over 400 species of coral and 1,000 species of tropical fish that call these reefs home; think moray eels, Napoleon wrasses, huge schools of tuna, eagle rays, several species of shark and turtles, various nudibranch and flamboyant (their name, not their dress sense) cuttlefish.

Spend the afternoon relaxing on the beach, snorkelling the house reef or sipping cocktails (or mocktails for the evening diver) by the salt water pool. Stick around to watch the sunset, which is truly sensational, or set out on a night dive to see the nocturnal species that lay claim to the reefs (look out for the rare Spanish dancer nudibranch).