Disputed countries and territories around the world worth visiting

PALESTINE

Palestine, which includes the Gaza Strip, West Bank and East Jerusalem, is recognised by the UN and many countries as a sovereign nation, but is mostly under Israeli control. Though hotly contested and often in the news, the West Bank packs in an astonishing cultural and religious heritage, is easy to get around, and has an increasing number of tourist hotels.

Jerusalem is the highlight, containing prominent religious sites such as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Christian), Dome of the Rock (Moslem) and Western Wall (Jewish). Other cities worth visiting for their bazaars, coffeehouses and old towns include Nablus, Hebron and Jericho, whose ruins date back 10,000 years.

Bethlehem hums with religious fervour as Christian sects jostle along the pilgrim route, but also offers great souks and street art. Ancient Mar Saba monastery in the Judean desert is astonishing. See travelpalestine.ps

See also: Why you should visit Palestine

NORTHERN CYPRUS

The northeast of Cyprus is recognised as independent only by Turkey but operates as a de facto nation, separated from the rest of Cyprus by the Green Line border. Northern Europeans come to seek sun and beaches. Prominent old towns are Girne/Kyrenia, Famagusta and Lefkosa/Nicosia.

Settlers from major ancient Mediterranean cultures have influenced Cyprus, including Greeks, Phoenicians, Persians and Romans. The result is abundant archaeological sites, brooding tombs, crumbling Venetian fortresses, Byzantine chapels and fusion cuisine. Ancient Salamis is an entire ruined city.

The mountains offer great hiking, wonderful in spring when wildflowers bloom. Bird populations flourish, since Cyprus lies at the crossroads of migration routes between Europe and Africa. Eagles circle in the sky overhead, turtles breed on the beaches, and you may spot mouflon (curly horned wild sheep) or rare griffon vultures. See welcometonorthcyprus.co.uk

KOSOVO

About two-thirds of UN members recognise this Balkan country, which declared independence in 2008. That makes it Europe's newest nation, yet it receives only a trickle of tourists despite bargain prices and the convenience of the euro (though Kosovo isn't an EU member).

People are friendly, the culture a blend of medieval Serbian and Ottoman influences, and much of the food Turkish in origin. A highlight is medieval Prizen, a huddle of old terracotta-roofed houses, Ottoman-era hammams and several churches, all topped by a castle and fronted by a river.

Capital Pristina is youthful, arty and filled with cafes but otherwise unexciting, so get into the countryside for charming towns, abundant Orthodox monasteries (some World Heritage listed) and lovely hiking. A 192-kilometre hiking route links Kosovo with Albania and Montenegro. Go in winter and you can ski at Brezovica. See beinkosovo.com

See also: The new 'old Europe' is a land of blood and honey

MARSHALL ISLANDS

Nobody argues that this UN member and Pacific archipelago of just 54,000 inhabitants is a country. It's an odd one, though, with a Compact of Free Association with the United States that allows its citizens to live there, and hands responsibility for defence to the US armed forces. US government assistance underpins the economy, which runs on American dollars.

Its most famous island is Bikini Atoll where atomic bombs were tested in the 1940s and 1950s. Some 20 naval vessels sunk in the testing are now available to scuba divers, including the Japanese battleship Nagato and aircraft carrier USS Saratoga. It's the only place in the world where you can scuba dive to a sunken aircraft carrier.

Other attractions are the glorious Laura Lagoon and reef on Majuro Atoll, and deep-sea fishing for yellowfin, sailfish and marlin off Arno Atoll. See visitmarshallislands.org

See also: Ten countries you (probably) haven't visited - but should

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