Phnom Penh demands your attention from the moment you arrive. Vibrant, exciting and utterly unpredictable are just a few words to describe Cambodia’s capital. It’s a city of stark contrasts: slick SUVs share the road with old-world cyclos; visitors can relax in a posh cafe and think they are in Paris, or join the locals at a pop-up stall selling fried noodles.

While the celebrated Christmas markets in Germany, Poland and Switzerland always crowd up for the holiday season, there are other well-established European markets slightly further off the beaten track that offer thinner crowds and beautiful locally made products. Eastern Europe in particular is a great place to check out the growing markets, while farther in the west of the continent, the funky holiday Christmas stirred up in Amsterdam is not to be missed.

With so many destinations in the WHL Group’s ever-expanding network, we have an incredible wealth of local travel information at our fingertips. Through the Inside Word, our local partners – all travel experts – share their top tips on what to do, what to eat, where to party and where to shop in their necks of the woods. This month, we hear from Kate Webb about local travel in Malawi from the inside.

THIS ARTICLE IS AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH AND CHINESE. Perched on the roof of the world is the astounding region of Tibet, one of those lands that most people only dream of visiting. whl.travel has partnered with Tibet Travel Professionals, which has been organising complete Tibet travel packages for foreign visitors since 2005, to ensure a memorable and hassle-free trip to this ancient realm.

With so many destinations in the WHL Group’s ever-expanding network, we have an incredible wealth of local travel information at our fingertips. Through the Inside Word, our local partners – all travel experts – share their top tips on what to do, what to eat, where to party and where to shop in their neck of the woods. This month, we wander the ancient byways of Fes, Morocco, one of the holiest cities in the Islamic world.

THIS ARTICLE IS AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH AND INDONESIAN. At the heart of Indonesia’s South Sulawesi territory lies the vibrant provincial capital of Makassar. Formerly known as Ujung Pandang, the city has for centuries made its mark in Indonesian history as a bustling port. Today it’s a sprawling metropolis, still rich in history and culture – a perfect gateway from which to discover the rest of South Sulawesi and East Indonesia.

Through the Inside Word, local travel experts share their top tips on what to do, what to eat, where to party and where to shop in their neck of the woods. This month, we find our way to the heart of Siem Reap, Cambodia, at the threshold of Angkor Wat.