Pole to Pole - 18 Jun, 2009, 18:48
Rude, weird and strange: airport names & codes

From Batman to Bloodvein, Wee Waa to Wuhu, cheap flight site Skyscanner has scoured its database of over 10,000 airports in search of cheap laughs. All are genuine though, and recognised by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Deals - 15 Jun, 2009, 13:49
Elegant Resorts: effortless luxury holidays

Forget the credit crunch. When it comes to stylish travel at the top of the market, there's one tour operator that can match your dreams. Elegant Resorts.

Europe - 15 Jun, 2009, 13:27
Tracking Wiltshire's latest crop circle
It's a bumper year for Britain's crop circles. After two wet years 2009 started early with six crop circles kicking off the season in April – and nine more in May. Jack Barker sets off in search of June's third: the Yatesbury 'dragonfly'.

Asia Pacific - 15 Jun, 2009, 13:11
Hopes and dreams: life in Vietnam
Teacher-trainer and serial volunteer Sezgi Yalin gets well below the surface of modern Vietnamese society as she explores Hanoi and reflects on the purpose of life.

Americas - 15 Jun, 2009, 12:46
Ready for adventure? Cancun can
Now we've all got swine flu there's no reason to steer clear of Mexico. And at the country's leading resort Lucy Komisar finds there is plenty to do.

Americas - 15 Jun, 2009, 12:20
Tracking an active Guatemalan volcano
It's not so hard to find an active volcano, says Ron Goodden, if you look along the faultline that threads through Central America. In Guatemala he climbs Pacaya, stepping clear of red-hot lava streams. 

Europe - 15 Jun, 2009, 11:54
Falling in love with a Lap dog
A husky-drawn sled is the best way to travel across the frozen landscapes of Norway's north. In a journey through Lapland Patricia McCormack's heartstrings are twanged by a dog called Princess.

Americas - 15 Jun, 2009, 11:45
Guilt-free in Grenada
Working as a trolley dolly gives Heather Blackhall the chance to get blissed-out in the Caribbean. In the time it takes her plane to turn around she takes a bite out of Tobago and gets to grips with Grenada.

Americas - 15 Jun, 2009, 11:29
Living the dream in Sucre
The Bolivian town of Sucre barely features on the 'Gringo Trail'. Mark Kennedy meets two reformed backpackers who aim to change all that.

Deals - 22 May, 2009, 13:28
Cheap holiday deals to Egypt from the UK
As the British flee the mighty Eurozone, it's becoming obvious that Egypt is not so far away and, says Ross Fraser, is an outstanding and inexpensive destination.

Africa - 22 May, 2009, 12:55
On the move in Mozambique
In darkest upcountry Mozambique, Chris Stein rattles around the small coastal towns of Inhambane Province, where a man called Armando shares a day in his life.

Central Asia - 22 May, 2009, 12:16
Asia overland: from Tashkent to Hanoi
I would be too easy to just fly to Vietnam: and from Cameron Sumpter's native New Zealand, Uzbekistan isn't even on the way. His public-transport journey crosses the 'Stans (Uzbek, Kyrgyz, Kazakh) and the endless provinces of China.  

Deals - 21 May, 2009, 11:20
Team travel gets competitive
The best thing to come out of the 2004 Global Scavenger Hunt is Competitours, says CEO (and janitor) Steve Belkin. Competitours sends groups into Western and Central Europe to undertake off-the-wall team video challenges:Sight-seeing becomes sight-DOING.

Central Asia - 21 May, 2009, 11:08
Deep in a hammock on a river in Laos
There are worse places to be than on a riverside in northern Laos, says JoAnne Harris celebrating a very small birthday.

Europe - 19 May, 2009, 23:19
A villa in Spain for €49? Be quick: draw ending soon
Spanish property shifts slowly just now, so one British expat has put his dream villa - in an acre of sunny Andalucia - up for grabs in a Midsummer draw. Forget national lotteries and their lousy, state-managed odds. Dreams can come true in rafflles like this.

Americas - 19 May, 2009, 22:00
Wrestling with Bolivia's buried past
A reputation for trading the finest cocaine has done little to help an economy based on dirt. It is silver miners and cholitas, says Tom Clifford, that might drag Bolivia from the past into the future.

Europe - 19 May, 2009, 21:54
Norway on two cross skis
There's magic in backcountry Norway, says Carl Thompson, as he heads off across a snow-covered winter landscape, by car, on cross-country skis, and pulled by dogs.

Asia Pacific - 19 May, 2009, 21:25
At last: Australia gets a rainmaker
Hester Pollock seems to have turned into a rain goddess, bringing floods to Botswana, rain to Melbourne and downpours to Sydney. By Brisbane she's beginning to tire of being wet. Just don't come back to the UK.. I hear Mali is nice..

Europe - 19 May, 2009, 21:06
Cycling with a purpose through southern Spain
These days you have to pedal the extra mile to raise money for charity. Steve Gershon pedals off from Malaga on La Vuelta, Action Medical Research's annual mass-bicycle challenge.

Americas - 19 May, 2009, 20:52
Prewar America's cold Pacific shoulder
Many Chinese and Asian immigrants to 'Gold Mountain' washed up in the port of San Francisco. Daniel Métraux looks around Angel Island Immigration Centre and feels a wave of sympathy.

Europe - 11 May, 2009, 17:26
All at sea in Seaham Hall Hotel
Andrew McFetrich finds himself some way out of his comfort zone when he and his credit card find themselves sharing a bed a five-star hotel in Northern Ireland.

Europe - 11 May, 2009, 11:33
An American road trip through Scotland and Ireland
It's always surprising - and sometimes alarming - to hear how difficult Americans find it to drive in Europe. In spite of a state of pretty-continual terro Joe Tash manages to cover plenty of miles across the northern (dark) bits of the UK in winter.

Central Asia - 11 May, 2009, 11:18
Celebrating Vesak in Sri Lanka
Far from Sri Lanka's troubles, Preethi Burkholder finds an atmospheric peace in their annual celebration of the Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death.

Asia Pacific - 10 May, 2009, 23:26
Japan: a trade show perspective.
Ever wondered what it's like to arrive in a trade show in Chiba, tasked with selling a product with no Japanese translation? Cultural barriers abound as Malcolm Teasdale gives a hint of just how it feels: even his massage goes wrong.

Europe - 10 May, 2009, 23:04
Switzerland on a budget
Short of cash? Robyn Mayo has some advice on how to visit the land of banks on the cheap. First hint: wait till you're invited and stay with friends.

Central Asia - 10 May, 2009, 22:32
Thy Kingdom Come: rock art in India
The Ajanta Caves are perhaps the most important of all India's heritage site. Dipanjan Sengupta is blown away by this remnant of the country's Buddhist era.

Asia Pacific - 10 May, 2009, 22:23
Conversations with Aung San Suu Kyi
Alan Clements' new book recording the thoughts and emotions of Burma's imprisoned leader brings Asia's longest political tragedy to vivid life for David Calleja. 

Americas - 10 May, 2009, 22:05
In the shadows of the Mayas: eastern Guatemala
The small town of Flores, built on a lake island, is best known as the nearest urban centre to the famous ruins of Tikal. Joel Hauer says it's worth a visit in its own right. 

Americas - 10 May, 2009, 21:41
Dude ranching in Wyoming
City dwellers Roger and June Lowe find the Klondike Ranch near Buffalo fulfills their inner-cowboy dreams.

Asia Pacific - 10 May, 2009, 21:19
Agroturism, Ubud-style
There's not likely to be anything too strenuous about the half-day rice-planting experience laid on by the Four Seasons Sayan, but Putu Indrawati makes farming in Bali sound quite idyllic. Just don't try to sell it to Indonesian farmers.

Editorials - 5 May, 2009, 17:35
If pigs could flu...
Seasoned media watchers sigh as newspapers and governments hype the threat of Swine Flu, as if only they can save the world. The Association of European Tour Operators can only watch as an industry in crisis weathers one more blow.

Africa - 4 May, 2009, 20:10
A snapshot of life in rural Tanzania
In the Kilombera Valley of central Tanzania, Mark Gillies reads the history of a family in the fading photos of a family album, and makes his own contribution to a shambas survival.

Americas - 22 Apr, 2009, 14:17
A gentle landing in Bolivia's La Paz
A bus with torn seats and broken windows does little to discourage Emily Watson, as she thunders from Bolivia's salt-flats to its captivating capital.

Pole to Pole - 16 Apr, 2009, 22:38
UK to Australia - overland
Committed carbon-saver Barbara Haddrill lives in Wales. So when she was asked to be bridesmaid at a wedding in distant Australia, she decided to travel there by land. David Ellis reports.  

Asia Pacific - 16 Apr, 2009, 22:13
Insights into Cambodia's Khmer Rouge past
Sezgi Yalin talks to some of the survivors of Cambodia's savage social revolution, and in the tales of suffering she learns the reality often hidden behind this new nation's welcoming smiles.

Americas - 16 Apr, 2009, 21:46
Finding Colombia's 'Cuidad Perdida'
Shoes sucked off by mud and endlessly wet, endless jungle don't deter Myles Pizzey as he treks to Colombia's archaeological highlight, a truly 'Lost City'.

Central Asia - 16 Apr, 2009, 21:26
The random hazards of travel in Northern India
From argumentative rickshaw-wallahs to trains outpaced by cattle, Colin Rowlands reflects that the most interesting part about travelling in India isn’t where you go but how you get there.

Asia Pacific - 16 Apr, 2009, 20:53
The Art of the Korean School Lunch
There's a skill to negotiating the daily meal, says Jon Wick after learning to negotiate the etiquette of eating in South Korea while still smiling brightly.

Central Asia - 16 Apr, 2009, 20:46
A touch of the Borats in northern Kazakhstan
When his ancient ambulance breaks down in northern Kazakhstan, Tom Bristow is pitched into a night of local hospitality he may never forget. I'm not sure whether to be more worried by the nettles or the cucumber...

Europe - 4 Apr, 2009, 16:22
Exploring Norway's Arctic seas
Most reasonable beings would think twice before venturing off Norway's coast to look for whales. Alice Atkinson-Bonasio is made of sterner stuff.

Asia Pacific - 4 Apr, 2009, 15:54
Uncovering Vanuatu
Marooned in the waters of the South Pacific, Vanuatu is truly a world apart. Sally Cook steps into a country where white-sand beaches don't tell the whole story: poverty is pervasive in this very traditional island society, and nothing is about to change in a hurry.

Europe - 4 Apr, 2009, 15:41
A drinker's guide to downtown Berlin
Germany's superheated nightlife gets the thumbs up from 'Weekend Warrior' Tadhg Peavoy, who finds the cost of a flight easily outweighed by reasonably-priced beer.

Americas - 4 Apr, 2009, 15:10
Amongst Mexico's drug wars
Chihuahua State, and Rachel Fitch finds an uneasy calm on the streets - as well as nine coffins.

Europe - 4 Apr, 2009, 15:04
Strolling round Riga
Latvia's laid-back capital finds favour with Givana Zilli, who explores the city at a gentle pace.

Asia Pacific - 4 Apr, 2009, 13:49
Bringing Aung San Suu Kyi to a Cambodian school
The notion of democracy is still wobbly in southeast Asia, but it starts on the ground. David Calleja does his bit to bring a world perspective on Burma's should-be leader to his students in Cambodia.

Americas - 4 Apr, 2009, 13:37
Underneath the 'City of Silver'
In the colonial era, Bolivia's economy was built on silver from Potosi, but while the Spanish grew wealthy hundreds of miners died. Matt Scott discovers that 500 years on the industry has barely changed. 

Deals - 4 Apr, 2009, 13:27
Will travel survive the recession?
Well it will if you believe Club Med. Lois Kettlewell reports on a survey of UK consumers that says most will keep their foreign holidays if they possibly can.

Americas - 4 Apr, 2009, 13:09
A road trip to Vermont
Keith Perkins has plenty of time for reflection as he drives two taciturn teenagers up Route 4 to get to the ski slopes of Vermont.

Central Asia - 4 Apr, 2009, 13:02
Learning Chinese to fluency: possible or not?
Learning Asia's most influential languages can present something of a challenge, says Antonio Graceffo in Taiwan as he struggles to get through a phrase book, let alone a novel.

Americas - 4 Apr, 2009, 12:33
Curious about Cañar
Most Gringos in Ecuador head straight through the city of Cuenca, because that's in all the guidebooks. But that's Tyrel Nelson's home, so he heads off to a less visited destination.

Europe - 4 Apr, 2009, 12:26
Musing on Michelangelo
Primed by Irving Stone, Eric D. Lehman finds Michelangelo is his constant companion on his travels around Italy. 

Central Asia - 4 Apr, 2009, 02:54
Packaged pleasures in Sri Lanka and the Maldives

Not one tour operator, but two, are required to match Brian Fisher's requirements on a three-week holiday in two 'drops in the ocean' of southern Asia.

Americas - 29 Mar, 2009, 23:10
Raising begging standards in Mexico
On a Mexico City subway Rachel Fitch sees begging taken to a new level. Could this be an example for the UK's sagging urban infrastructure? 

Europe - 29 Mar, 2009, 19:16
Freeloading through Finland
Making the most of a little-known hospitality exchange programme, John M Edwards goes on a hunt for ancient civilisations above the Arctic circle as he couch-surfs his way around Finland. 

Asia Pacific - 29 Mar, 2009, 18:34
When in Korea, drink like a Korean
...and suffer the consequences. Jon Wick gets a lesson in binge-drinking from his fellow teachers on a 'Friendship Trip' - and a night to remember - but it's the poisonous dinner that tips him over the edge.

Europe - 29 Mar, 2009, 18:26
Bound for Bohinj
Charlie Bowman discovers peace and tranquility - as well as a few beers - in the hills of Slovenia.

Europe - 29 Mar, 2009, 18:09
Milan for a band
The Canadian band 'Rush' have a true fan in Julian Salanki, who flies to Milan to see them play.

Americas - 15 Mar, 2009, 15:55
Essential fiestas in Antigua, Guatemala
Earthquakes are the least of your worries in Central America's fieriest state. Claire Morris says it's the constant fireworks and fiestas that keep Guatemala on edge.

Americas - 15 Mar, 2009, 15:30
A Pilgrimage Through New Mexico
On a road trip through New Mexico Catherine Parker finds her vision of America takes a new slant when she meets members of the 'low rider' community.

Europe - 14 Mar, 2009, 16:59
Snow and survival at the northern tip of Sweden
Few people live in Lapland, where the northern tips of Sweden and Norway merge - and even fewer visit. Undeterred, Jon Yeomans simply hops on a train, and braves the snowdrifts to explore.

Americas - 14 Mar, 2009, 16:28
Captivated by Colombia
Being held captive is so last century. These days South America's naughty-boy state has tamed its violence - but not it's charm. Despite paranoid warnings Sally Cook finds a warm Latin welcome and a vital, colourful society.

Africa - 14 Mar, 2009, 16:18
Voices from Zululand
Though many predicted the end of Apartheid would bring civil war, it's the sounds of reconciliation that echo through South Africa. Mark Gillies meets two tribes learning to listen. 

Central Asia - 14 Mar, 2009, 15:04
Wisdom and healing in the mountains of Ladakh
The ancient Himalayan kingdom of Ladakh is cut off, by snow, for eight months of each year. In summer Huw Wyn finds it blooms into life, and in its philosophical culture he discovers healing therapies that might even work.

Deals - 23 Feb, 2009, 22:34
Canadian Flight & Holiday Deals from UK
FlyGlobespan gets you quickly and inexpensively from the UK to Toronto, Canada's greatest city, with loads to see and do.  

Asia Pacific - 23 Feb, 2009, 22:24
Finding a bit of Filippino paradise
The Philippines have some of the best beaches in the world. Jon Wick finds heaven on the island of Boracay.

Central Asia - 23 Feb, 2009, 22:02
Sunderbans surprises in delta Bangladesh
In one of the world's most populous nations, Rob Horsefield finds peace amongst the tranquil, tiger-filled mangrove swamps of the Sunderbans, and delta life at its best.

Europe - 23 Feb, 2009, 21:37
Hitching to cold-war Hungary
Julian Salanki's journey to Hungary might have happened years ago, but it brings back the distinctive flavours of a golden age for European adventures, when the Iron Curtain still stretched across the continent.

Americas - 23 Feb, 2009, 21:17
Rowing across Lake Titicaca
There are plenty of ways to travel across Lake Titicaca, but most of them, very sensibly, use an engine. Ever keen to spot a bargain, Julie Dupuis strikes a deal with a local ten-year-old and sets off in a rowboat.

Editorials - 17 Feb, 2009, 22:17
Repatriation costs soar: be very insured
The cost of repatriating travellers taken ill abroad has reached an all-time high - and if you're not properly covered it could cost mortgage money to fly home. Holidaymakers face being stranded overseas for not reading the small print according to specialist travel insurers AllClear.

Asia Pacific - 17 Feb, 2009, 21:29
Finding the past in modern Shanghai
China's headlong rush to modernity is at its most dramatic in the city of Shanghai. Joanne Gerber finds that the past is being rapidly buried under high-rise symbols of the country's economic growth.

Europe - 17 Feb, 2009, 20:11
Counting the Krone in a Norwegian winter
Trondheim is a gateway city for Norway's chilly secrets. Alice Atkinson-Bonasio flies in and fights through the pasta to find some fishy surprises.

Deals - 12 Feb, 2009, 10:51
Cheap Holiday Deals In Majorca from the UK
For UK travellers Majorca is one of the most popular Mediterranean islands. Ross Fraser says there are plenty of deals to make getting there inexpensive - and easy.

Africa - 12 Feb, 2009, 10:16
Timbuktu for you: going with the flow
It's never easy to get to West Africa's iconic town, perched on the edge of the Sahara Desert. A two-day boat journey along the Niger River gets Gayle Bentham into the perfect state of mind to appreciate Timbuktu's remote appeal.

Africa - 12 Feb, 2009, 09:37
A night under the stars in Egypt's Western Desert
Most visitors to Egypt stay close to the Nile. But Swapnesh Banerjee takes off to the oasis town of Bahriya and the White Desert beyond for a taste of the eastern Sahara's desert beauty.

Americas - 11 Feb, 2009, 16:39
Catching some clouds on Canada's 'Sunshine Coast'
The tourist board sells British Colombia's Pacific shores as 'The Sunshine Coast'. Not in the rain it isn't, finds Jane Cassie, but she has a great visit despite the weather.

Americas - 11 Feb, 2009, 16:11
Empty-nest lessons from a teaching stint in Mexico
Eliza Migdal tried to spend some time abroad all the years she was raising a family, but it wasn't till her babies had flown the coop that she managed a spell teaching in Oaxaca. This is what she learned.

Asia Pacific - 11 Feb, 2009, 15:57
Cambodia, carefully planned
When Brian Fisher decides to travel round Cambodia he decides to use a local tour operator. But this carefully-observed account suggests perhaps he should be one.

Americas - 28 Jan, 2009, 09:49
Cycle diaries from the "Andes Trail"
Forget the Tour de France. Wilbert Bonné takes part in an 11,000km cycle race running the length of South America - and thinks everyone should give it a go.

Asia Pacific - 27 Jan, 2009, 17:04
Moo than a pet: meeting a Cambodian rental cow
In rural Southeast Asia ownership of a cow brings luck and raises status. David Calleja examines how every big bovine can transform domestic life, and meets the NGO bringing progress to the paddies with the great Cambodian rentacow lottery.

Europe - 27 Jan, 2009, 16:57
Hangovers and hogmanay in Edinburgh
While most call it New Year's Eve, in Scotland they celebrate Hogmanay. Natalie Gowans takes a train north to Edinburgh to find out if wearing a kilt really does make a difference.

Europe - 27 Jan, 2009, 16:10
All Quiet on the Western Front
Tim Bush's journey to the battlefields of the Second World War is part motorbike Oddyssey and part journey into the past. At the place where his late father fought and died, he collects a bottle of soil and, perhaps, a small trace of Walter to bring home to Australia.

Americas - 27 Jan, 2009, 15:57
Steep and deep on the slopes above Kamloops
Jane Cassie finds snow aplenty when she skis the Sun Peaks Mountain Resort in Canada's British Colombia.

Europe - 27 Jan, 2009, 15:47
Down with the outcasts on a Polish train

There are plenty of surprises for Andrew Hodgson on a sleepless overnight rail journey from Krakow to the Baltic.

Europe - 27 Jan, 2009, 15:28
Changing times in Amsterdam's red light district
Luscious tempresses or trafficked tramps? Kees Kaldenbach explores the brightly-lit windows of Holland's sex centre and examines the changing regulations that aim to bring an industry to its knees.

Africa - 25 Jan, 2009, 18:08
All-push power on a Senegalese taxi

The road between Dakar and Tambacounda is littered with wrecked cars, abandoned and ruthlessly stripped for spares. So when Tamara Braunstein has to get out of her shared taxi and push it's hardly surprising she should fear the worst.

Central Asia - 25 Jan, 2009, 17:47
Sleep disturbed by Diwali dynamite

India's Diwali celebrations see the country at its most exuberant - and noisy. Edward Morgan finds the already traumatic experience of a long-distance bus journey made even worse by a series of roadside explosions. 

Europe - 25 Jan, 2009, 17:35
The ups and downs of Fuerteventura
The Canary Islands might have a reputation for sun and sangria, but Kieran O'Mahony finds another side to Fuerteventura when he heads off to explore its desert inner landscapes by bicycle.

Americas - 25 Jan, 2009, 10:17
See New York like a local, in Brooklyn and Queens
Forget Manhattan, says Julius Hinks. If you want a taste of New York at its most raw and authentic, stay in Brooklyn and Queens. 

Europe - 25 Jan, 2009, 10:08
A weekend in Milan
Sam Bower finds Italy's capital of style effortlessly impressive, as he tries to enjoy a weekend without emptying his wallet.

Europe - 21 Jan, 2009, 14:07
Europe's last frontline on Cyprus' inner border.
One country, two nations. Max le Grand sparks a dipolomatic incidentette as he crosses the 'Green Line' that separates Turkey and Greece in a borrowed car.

Europe - 21 Jan, 2009, 13:48
A stroll back in time on Cordoba's cobbled streets
Southern Spain, and Patrick Macgougan finds the charm of Andalusia at its strongest in the ancient city centre of Cordoba.

Asia Pacific - 19 Jan, 2009, 18:47
Adrift on Atauro, an island paradise in East Timor
Even aid workers don't usually get much beyond Dili in the breakaway republic of East Timor. When he takes a slow boat to a small island Matt Crook finds he's got the place pretty much to himself. 

Central Asia - 19 Jan, 2009, 18:04
Holy Cow!
It's not news that Indians venerate their cows. But a chance encounter on the banks of Pushkar Lake gives Sezgi Yalin the chance to find out more about their spiritual significance.

Editorials - 19 Jan, 2009, 17:23
Bad Trips: travails of the traveller
John M. Edwards says the only good trips are bad trips, especially when even our guidebooks are “survival kits.” Welcome to the world of disaster and distress!

Americas - 19 Jan, 2009, 17:06
Winter in New York
The 'Big Apple' captivates Tabitha Wrigley - to a degree. Amid the histrionics she finds plenty to do for one visit, but not, perhaps, a second.

Americas - 11 Jan, 2009, 19:44
Adrift in Dominica
Forget the Dominican Republic, says Natasha Were. If you want a blast of the Caribbean at its most laid-back and unspoilt, go to the smaller, less-visited island of Dominica.

Americas - 9 Jan, 2009, 11:16
Getting robbed in Central America - at last!
David McCoy had to fall silent when other travellers told of theft and robbery. Until he gets thoroughly turned over in Nicaragua, that is, and left in his socks. Now he too has a great tale to tell.

Europe - 30 Dec, 2008, 18:19
Luxembourg! We've got hills!
Luxembourg is rarely regarded as one of Europe's highlight destinations, but Kevin Guertler finds a few unexpected delights.

Asia Pacific - 30 Dec, 2008, 16:50
A great white Australian adventure
It's perhaps not the best moment to cheer cage-diving in Australia, as these majestic pelagics menace kayakers and chew up snorkellers, but Amy Wager finds her expedition from Adelaide a thrilling experience – and nobody dies.

Asia Pacific - 21 Dec, 2008, 16:51
From soldier to motorcycle guide in modern Vietnam
An ex-soldier breathes life into Vietnamese war-zones as David Calleja takes an easy-rider tour through America's colonial past.

Europe - 16 Dec, 2008, 10:31
Florence with your future mother in law (perhaps)
A first visit to Italy's Renaissance heartland is made somewhat traumatic for Tom Foxley, as he struggles to control his newest relative.

Americas - 16 Dec, 2008, 10:12
An Afternoon in Azogues
In the highlands of Ecuador, Tyrel Nelson reflects on life, death and South American cemeteries.

Americas - 16 Dec, 2008, 09:55
Ode to a Canadian hotel room
Never has a guest been so inspired by budget accommodation as Nancy Spiewak, who pens a lyrical review of Room 801, the Sylvia Hotel, Vancouver, British Colombia.

Europe - 16 Dec, 2008, 09:10
Grey Welsh Slate
A visit to Wales proves a somewhat damp but still uplifting experience for Mark Gillies.

Europe - 9 Dec, 2008, 11:20
Cycling gently through Alentejo
Life moves more slowly in rural Portugal. Leanne Meier freewheels through an economic backwater and discovers a rich local culture.

Central Asia - 9 Dec, 2008, 11:00
Nursing the Shan

Burma's regime continues to displace its people. Antonio Graceffo reports from a private NGO at Loi Tailang, on the Thai border, that provides medical treatment against the odds: saving lives on a shoestring.

Africa - 9 Dec, 2008, 09:52
Politely fleeced by sinners from Senegal
Tamara Braunstein feels a certain nostalgia for old-school muggers when she finds, in Senegal, her cash is endlessly sliced by a petty series of West African scams.

Americas - 9 Dec, 2008, 09:40
No silence in El Silencio
Time spent working on a Costa Rican farm gives Lucy Lacock a series of vivid insights into life amongst the grass roots of Central America's most forward-looking country.

Africa - 3 Dec, 2008, 13:45
Dicing with death on a Manoutsa Mountain hike
Forget health and safety laws. Jo Pitches finds thrills aplenty on a hike in upcountry South Africa.

Central Asia - 27 Nov, 2008, 19:30
Random reflections from a Chinese tour
Between the Olympics and the earthquakes, Mike Mannetta quickly finds his feet on a journey through China.

Asia Pacific - 27 Nov, 2008, 19:13
You'll need a compass in a land of no left or right
Christian Wawrinec finds Indonesian customs thrown into sharp relief by the Balinese reliance, not on left or right, but on taking points of the compass from tiny landmarks that may - or may not - exist. This adds a certain frisson to his search for an ATM.

Europe - 27 Nov, 2008, 18:59
Cycling Slovenia - along with the Burja
If you're heading off for a cycle ride around Slovenia there's something to be ready for, says Kieran O'Mahony. It's not just the fact that you have to ride up and down endless mountains: it's also your constant companion, the bone-chilling 'Burja' wind.

Asia Pacific - 27 Nov, 2008, 18:45
Taiwan's martial arts: now heading west
As world power shifts east, one of Taiwan’s last remaining Monkey Masters wants to fight in the K-1 and UFC to show the world the power of traditional Chinese martial arts. Antonio Graceffo reports.

Africa - 22 Nov, 2008, 17:15
When safaris stall
The Aberdares National Park in northern Kenya is something of a magnet for experienced travellers. But unlike the dryer regions it often rains. There's not a gin and tonic in sight as Cameron Fergus' African safari runs into the mud.

Europe - 22 Nov, 2008, 15:38
Blown around on the Dalmatian coast
Christian Cummins finds the Mediterranean proceeds at a slower pace in Croatia's 'Capital of Cool'.

Americas - 22 Nov, 2008, 13:41
Idol moments under Guatamala's volcanos
Central America's active volcanos provide a powerful backdrop for mountain villages and ethnic markets. Lyn Fox explores a society in transition and also upsets a local god.

Editorials - 22 Nov, 2008, 12:44
Being an American abroad
From Europe to Africa, Tamara Braunstein finds being an American means travelling with baggage.

Asia Pacific - 28 Oct, 2008, 10:21
To the summit of Mount Fuji
Japan's most distinctive icon isn't just part of the view. Jonathan Yeomans says it's also a challenging but rewarding climb.

Europe - 28 Oct, 2008, 09:58
A big thaw in Russian Relations
Siberia was traditionally the Soviet Union's place of exile. But Max le Grand heads out to Lake Baikal and finds an open welcome in the freezing plains. 

Europe - 28 Oct, 2008, 09:43
Santa celebration or cultural pollution?
Helping to set up a 'Santa Experience' industry in northern Lapland, Patricia McCormack wonders whether this seasonal mini-book really brings benefits to the local inhabitants.

Africa - 28 Oct, 2008, 09:30
Secrets of survival in the African bush
A Wildlife Conservation course teaches Jo Pitches self-reliance and survival skills in the wilds of South Africa. But when hunger strikes will she have to call on the nearest smoker to help light her fire?

Central Asia - 28 Oct, 2008, 09:12
Travelling in China - the hard way
At the Chinese border Ian Pithouse has his Lonely Planet guide confiscated by officials. This is far from a disaster in my book and opens up an original succession of accommodation misadventures.

Americas - 28 Oct, 2008, 08:07
Starting the year at Ingapirca
Ecador's leading pre-Colombian ruins prove a tempted alternative to teaching English in Quito for Tyrel Nelson - but getting there is another matter.

Central Asia - 25 Oct, 2008, 19:29
Hopping off the life cycle in Varanasi
If you're going to die in India there's no better place than on the banks of the Ganges. Sezgi Yalin finds a new generation going up in smoke.

Europe - 16 Oct, 2008, 10:27
Quickly into Kosovo
The world's youngest country proves something of an enigma for Anne-Sophie Redisch, as she explores Pristina.

Central Asia - 13 Oct, 2008, 17:59
Settling on a perfect sari
Even in India, a girl's gotta shop. Lizzie Hobbs finds getting the right sari is only the first element of dressing in style. Of course you then need shoes and bangles, and of course they've got to match... 

Africa - 13 Oct, 2008, 17:21
Different dramas on Egypt's Nile
Kolby Granville excapes from the Nile's persistent fellucca-trip hawkers to find a friendlier Egypt on a Nubian Island.

Americas - 13 Oct, 2008, 11:27
Vulcaneering: lava nut summits Ecuador's liveliest peak
Lonely Planet said climbing Ecuador's Tungurahua Volcano would be 'suicidal'. This was all the encouragement Colin Baker needed - but he nearly proved them right.

Americas - 13 Oct, 2008, 11:08
Close to the edge in El Dorado
Working as a musician is apt to take you to unexpected places. For Karen Phillips in Mexico a fiesta gig leads to a terrifying mountain road and an El Dorado without gold.

Africa - 13 Oct, 2008, 02:08
A taste of Zanzibar
It might be impractical to follow up this restaurant review, but Lucinda Tikwart finds The Tower Top is a top Stonetown nightspot for anyone passing through Tanzania.

Europe - 13 Oct, 2008, 01:42
Diary of a Bosnian survivor

When Dario Pasalic was a child he fled war with his parents. A return visit to Bosnia stirs old memories and in the city of Dubrovnik he finds hope for the future.

Africa - 29 Aug, 2008, 10:52
A night out in Dar es Salaam
Tanzania's not all dust, degradation and existence in Tanzania these days. Now there is money too, says Mark Gillies, as he smartens himself up for a night on the town.

Asia Pacific - 28 Aug, 2008, 12:30
Taiwan - more than just another China
Amid all the hype surrounding the Olympics, China's breakaway republic of Taiwan is often overlooked. Michelle Witte gives an insight into a largely hidden world.

Central Asia - 28 Aug, 2008, 12:16
Thinking yourself peaceful in backwater Kerala
Anya Kinneavy finds transcendental peace in the quiet surroundings of rural South India.

Central Asia - 28 Aug, 2008, 12:09
Leaving the Land of Osh
The flight from Bishkek to Osh gives Isaac Stone Fish and early taste of life in Kyrgyzstan.

Asia Pacific - 28 Aug, 2008, 11:53
Meandering up the Mekong
Keith Perkins finds that Vietnam's rural heartland seems lost in time.

Americas - 28 Aug, 2008, 10:22
A touch of Cuba in downtown Miami
Little Havana resident Macrui Dostourian runs through the attractions of Florida's most famous ethnic enclave.

Africa - 28 Jul, 2008, 11:00
Muppetting around the South African bush

Safari and volunteering work make a happy mix for Jo Pitches in the African bush - until she meets the resident monkeys.

Central Asia - 28 Jul, 2008, 10:34
Tibet goes offline
Internet chat keeps Sezgi Yalin in touch with her friends in Tibet - some of the time. But silence is ominous in China's buttoned-down colony.

Asia Pacific - 28 Jul, 2008, 10:20
Shark Diving - Aussie Style
There's a long tradition of taunting Great Whites off the coast of South Africa: trailing fishfood then diving in cages. In Australia Roderick Eime finds the experience subtly different.

Editorials - 28 Jul, 2008, 10:05
House-sitting: how smart gypsies can surf the world
For a four-week holiday or longer travel opportunity, house-sitting can be a real option. Marcus Wilder reports on a freeganomic website linking home-owners and wannabe home-sitters.

Asia Pacific - 28 Jul, 2008, 09:57
Caving in the Cooks
It's not enough for Emily Nixon to reach the remote Cook Islands. She decides to get further off the beaten trail by exploring underground.

Asia Pacific - 27 Jul, 2008, 19:53
Kool Korean Kuisine

You can hardly move for features extolling the many cuisines of the Far East, but one is largely overlooked. Rob Mcgovern sets the record straight with a paen of praise for Korean cuisine.

Americas - 27 Jul, 2008, 17:42
Mad about Michoacan

While other parts of Mexico might have their charms, Lee Patton finds Michoacan, usually overlooked and not in many guide books, fiesta central and a great place to be.

Central Asia - 22 Jun, 2008, 21:49
Just another day in a Nepali village
Volunteering as a teacher in Nepal brings Sezgi Yalin a new enlightenment, as she settles into the slow pace of a small mountain village.

Africa - 22 Jun, 2008, 21:26
Overnight in Kruger
Eric Williams finds South Africa's most famous park still has some surprises for the keen wildlife hound.

Africa - 15 Jun, 2008, 17:42
Gun and trap amnesty pays off in Zambia
Max Le Grand discovers how a generation of convicted hunters have become conservationists of the wild in the North Luangwa Valley.

Central Asia - 14 May, 2008, 11:32
Living like a Rajasthani Princess
Straddling India's gender divide, Sezgi Yalin finds food for thought - and the beginnings of change - in today's lifestyles of 21st century Rajasthan.

Asia Pacific - 12 May, 2008, 15:28
Drinking the China Sea
Antonia Graffeco takes a gruelling surf-rescue course in the Philippines, and finds that swimming is the easy bit.

Central Asia - 12 May, 2008, 15:12
Beguiled by Bhutan
The world's most isolated kingdom works its magic on Alice Moura, as she takes in the country's highlights on an organised tour.

Europe - 12 May, 2008, 12:22
Ireland's musicians "don't wear tight pants"
Auyon Mukharji finds the Ceilidh is such an intrinsic part of Ireland's traditional heritage that even his mother - who thinks playing an instrument is the first step down towards drugs, vice and death - might even approve.

Europe - 12 May, 2008, 12:08
Adventures in Albania

As the 21st century settles across Europe, there's one country still stuck in a pre-industrial timewarp. Matt Pointon hops across the water from supertouristed Corfu and steps into another world: Albania.

Americas - 24 Mar, 2008, 21:37
Argentina's Pampas: just a big walk
The great expanses of South America don't faze Lorraine Jenkin. She sets off across the world's greatest flatlands alone - and on foot.

Europe - 24 Mar, 2008, 21:14
Following E M Forster's footsteps through Florence
Arrival, by sleeper train is now the ultimate way to greet Italy's most famous Renaissance city, says Christian Cummins, but he still meets the ghosts of 'A Room with a View' on each twisting turn of the narrow streets.

Editorials - 24 Mar, 2008, 21:03
Surfing - for beginners - in ten easy steps
It's not easy to learn how to surf - not least in the modest waves that lap the UK coast. Professional surfer Chris Thomson says it's well worth the effort and offers ten top tips to riding the waves.

Central Asia - 24 Mar, 2008, 20:44
Crossing Tibet on a very small motorbike
Most big-trip travellers go hopelessly over-equipped. Navpreet Amole travels through Tibet on a local-sized motorbike to discover the reality behind the headlines of China's - now-infamous - cross-border population dump. 

Americas - 24 Mar, 2008, 19:25
Celebrating Ambato's 'fruit and flowers'

Small-town Ecuador bursts to life in an exuberant festival of the annual harvest. Tyrel Nelson is a fascinated bystander.

Americas - 19 Mar, 2008, 18:34
Losing religion in American churches
Lyn Fox says church sucks - and not just as a cheap rhyme on his name - as he looks back on his religious experiences across the US.

Europe - 19 Mar, 2008, 18:04
Herding students around Europe's highlights
when Angela D. Stancar is offered a free holiday in Europe she jumps at the chance. Only one problem: she has to accompany five (or more) American students. Hormones and tiramisu, it transpires, are a potent mix. 

Central Asia - 19 Mar, 2008, 17:57
Finding a hidden valley in northern Yunnan
Amid China's relentless tourist boom, Sascha Matuszak finds the minority cultures of the Shaxi Valley still holding on to a traditional way of life.

Europe - 19 Mar, 2008, 17:42
Testing Britain's healtcare system
Aussie Mun Jong flies into the UK with his pregnant wife, only to find the 'reciprocal healthcare agreement' trumpeted by the British government proves to be nothing of the sort.

Asia Pacific - 6 Mar, 2008, 22:33
In the shadow of Bangkok's Sky Train

From elephants to ladyboys, Rachael Wilson discovers the rich variety of life on Bangkok’s Sukhumvit Road.

Central Asia - 6 Mar, 2008, 22:23
Cabbages and culture for the Chinese New Year
Chris Mackins discovers that China's New Year celebrations in Chungchen, a provincial region of the world's fastest-changing society, brings him a new taste of a country on the move.

Europe - 6 Mar, 2008, 22:12
Exploring Madeira's hidden levadas
High in the mountains of Madeira, Anthony Toole finds the irrigation channels of the colonial Portuguese form unique routes into the heart of a rural culture.

Americas - 6 Mar, 2008, 21:59
Dominica: one project that preserves the people
A pioneering example of eco-tourism at its best attracts the attention of Meghan Ward during her visit to Dominica: and even Hurricane Dean has done little to sweep it away.

Asia Pacific - 5 Mar, 2008, 23:26
Pudding your way around Southeast Asia
Some people travel in search of culture. But in Cambodia Anneli Thomson's primary interest is ... dessert.

Americas - 5 Mar, 2008, 22:55
A second look at Quito's churches
Tyrel Nelson finds Ecuador's capital has some unexpected surprises he'd missed on his first visit: not least a vertigo-inducing climb up its Basilica's tower.

Central Asia - 5 Mar, 2008, 22:48
Finding your place in India's caste system
Half-American and more than half Indian, Gita Tewari finds herself emotionally torn as she tries to find her place in Asian society.

Asia Pacific - 18 Feb, 2008, 22:20
Sinking with Mr Friendly amongst Thailand's islands
A persistent hotelier distracts John M. Edwards as the Gulf of Thailand gets the better of his boat, and he starts to sink in warm waters.

Central Asia - 18 Feb, 2008, 21:58
Travelling through India - with a magic Nepalese wand
Given as a gift by a grateful Nepalese school, a bamboo staff transforms Sezgi Yalin as she travels through India.

Central Asia - 18 Feb, 2008, 21:41
A lonely stroll through Ulaanbaatar
Ghenghis Khan might have had his millions, but by choosing the cold month of February to visit Mongolia, Matthew Crawford finds he has the place to himself.

Asia Pacific - 15 Feb, 2008, 12:59
Sitting on the Doc of Vietnam
Chau Doc, Vietnam, and Louis Dai prowls the night for distraction while he waits to cross over the border into Cambodia. But amidst whores, gangsters and transvestites, he's the first to be thrown out of a bar.

Europe - 15 Feb, 2008, 12:35
Jumping off France's 'Pont du Diable'
Tourists, tumbles and a torn ligament: Susan Benton has a great time in St. Guilhem in the Languedoc Roussillon Region. But it's not her who tombstones the Pont du Diable. That'll be her husband.

Central Asia - 15 Feb, 2008, 12:23
The painful dilemna of Tibetans without passports
In Dharmasala, India, Sezgi Yalin discovers China's occupation of Tibet has left a people in limbo, surviving without passports in a world where personal documentation isn't so much a government imposition but more a fundamental right. 

Europe - 15 Feb, 2008, 12:14
Austria's mountain landscape - on two wheels
Tired of soggy ski runs, lifts and queues, Christian Cummins sweated it out on a mountain bike to find the real Austria.

Europe - 15 Feb, 2008, 11:10
In Ischia
The island of Ischia's volcanic past is long gone: pastel buildings and friendly locals charm David Hourani on a summer visit.

Central Asia - 9 Feb, 2008, 09:39
Casualties of War on the Burmese border
Whether you call it Burma or Myanmar, the casualties of Asia's most brutal dictatorship don't stop at the border. Antonio Graceffo finds a motorcycle accident in the tribal zone gives him a new sense of how life hangs by a thread for an undocumented people. 

Asia Pacific - 1 Feb, 2008, 20:55
Party time in upcountry Cambodia

A lively engagement party gives Noël Dunn telling insights into the lives and dreams of rural Cambodians.

Africa - 1 Feb, 2008, 20:38
Ghana's slave coast castles
Africa's western coast saw millions of slaves transhipped into boats and used, generally, to build the New World. Sean Kelly finds traces of the slave trade mouldering over the Atlantic.

Africa - 1 Feb, 2008, 20:30
Another unsung death in rural Zimbabwe
You can't blame inflation, but life in Zimbabwe has never been cheaper. Kesse-Sky Buchanan visits a rural clinic and finds few signs of hope.

Americas - 30 Jan, 2008, 00:21
Hallucinogenic frogs key to an Amazon trip
Downriver from Iquitos, Aaron Smith hires a Vietnam vet to give him advice on drugs, including those squeezed from a small toxic frog, stretched on a rack. For a vegetarian, this was a brave - if not foolhardy - adventure.

Africa - 30 Jan, 2008, 00:08
Fifteen rules for girls in Morocco
A Moroccan shares, with Jessica Leving, the 15 golden rules for an American girl in Africa. Most are true anywhere, though I'm not sure about rule six. Present company excepted...

Americas - 29 Jan, 2008, 23:39
Settling in to Bequia
Airplanes, taxis and a stomach-churning ferry make Mari Suyama's journey to Bequia something of a trauma. Once she's settled down to Caribbean speed, however, it's quite another story.

Europe - 29 Jan, 2008, 23:27
Scotland's greatest 'Munro', Ben Nevis
Scottish mountaineer James Barnet recounts a fog'n'rain'n'snow'n'all ascent of one of Britain's biggest bumps.

Asia Pacific - 29 Jan, 2008, 23:12
Malaysia's jungle railway
Thailand to Singapore by train? Paula Denny takes the local service, and rises before dawn to clack across three countries in a tropical, palm-heavy haze.

Europe - 29 Jan, 2008, 23:00
The hidden history of sport in Rome

If you doubt the Italian obsession with sport, just look at the Colosseum: even the big religions struggle to match this monument to athletic entertainment. Matthew Genner finds the love of sport just as central to the Romans of today.

Asia Pacific - 22 Jan, 2008, 23:20
Tricks of travel in the new China

The only way to experience China is by public transport. Paul Haire is something of an expert on the various travel options.

Central Asia - 22 Jan, 2008, 22:40
Pushkar Lake: the place to go for filth and deception
One of India's holiest places does little to melt Anne Hay. After being buffetted by beggars and trailed by touts she eventually has to buy back her shoes, respectfully removed, from a pint-sized thief.

Americas - 22 Jan, 2008, 22:23
Never trust a man for the size of his monkey

A trip into the Ecuadorian Amazon provides plenty of surprises for Sarit Reizin. The worst bit, probably, is when he turns into a ghost.

Americas - 22 Jan, 2008, 21:33
Finding values in backstreet Peru
Doug Klostermann strays off the Gringo Trail to discover another Cusco, where he helps pioneering Peruvians improve the lot of the poor and learns quite a lot about life.

Europe - 22 Jan, 2008, 21:29
From Sheep to Shyrdak – Making felt in Kyrgyzstan
Borat doesn't visit Kazakhstan and makes a fortune. Author Saffia Farr goes to Kyrgyzstan and learns how to make - er - felt.

Europe - 22 Jan, 2008, 21:11
Raising the bar in central Siberia
Novosibirsk, Siberia, is not a city many westerners will be familiar with. Dara Hallinan says it's well worth a visit, if just for one very special jazz club and several shots of vodka.

Europe - 22 Jan, 2008, 21:04
In northern Finland, Lapland lives

There's life bamongst the ice, finds Patricia McCormack as she flies north to Finland and beyond into the heart of an ancient culture: the Lapps.

Americas - 22 Jan, 2008, 20:01
A Chinese ghost in California
It's a bit strange that America, as the world's most dynamic economy, should be littered with ghost towns, but few are stranger than the mining camp built in the wake of the Opium Wars. Daniel Metraux reports.  

Americas - 15 Nov, 2007, 01:11
Jamaica at full speed
For many visitors from Europe, the Caribbean Island of Jamaica comes as something of a shock. Richard Sayers takes the Reggae culture in his stride.

Central Asia - 15 Nov, 2007, 01:02
Kumbh Mela, the largest gathering in the world
The greatest religious procession takes place every year in Allahabad: Andrew Wang finds himself caught up in the human Tsunami that is Kumbh Mela. 

Europe - 14 Nov, 2007, 23:39
A Wimp in Wonderland
Lappland, land of Santa, is well under very very cold through the winter months. Will music journalist Jo Pitches find any welcome from the rock band Lordi can warm her attitude to Finland? 

Central Asia - 14 Nov, 2007, 23:23
Don't worry, chicken curry: calm in Kashmir
Despite it's fearsome reputation, Sezgi Yalin finds a warm welcome and a peaceful experience in the contested region of Kashmir.

Europe - 14 Nov, 2007, 23:13
Under St Kilda's blue blue skies
The Outer Hebrides are born for adventure. James Macletchie boards a boat with a difference to cruise Scotland's wildest coast.

Asia Pacific - 14 Nov, 2007, 23:06
Penguins, pink gins and pimms...
Expect the unexpected if you decide to play rugby in Hong Kong. Nick Reilly cruises down to the Hong Kong Sevens.

Europe - 14 Nov, 2007, 22:29
1000 years in Budapest
Hungary's capital is rich in history, but there's so much more to discover in this fascinating city, says Kathleen Hegedus-Beeksma.

Editorials - 3 Nov, 2007, 13:41
"A travelling fool is better than a sitting wise person"
With this Mongolian Proverb, Adam Jacot de Boinot introduces his latest collection of words from around the world, special terms that distill different cultures and encapsulate regional differences. 'Toujours Tingo', an ideal travel stocking filler.

Central Asia - 3 Nov, 2007, 13:33
Career opportunity on Nepalese buses
Don't waste your gap year filling the pockets of some travel organiser. Ross Adkin says you'd be better off collecting tickets on a bus in Nepal. Though it does help to be small..

Central Asia - 3 Nov, 2007, 13:23
A Taoist Adventure
TEFL teacher Sharon Lockwood finds a Chinese friend is the key to getting around Central China.

Americas - 3 Nov, 2007, 12:37
Meeting the Queen of Tonalá
Even now Mexico is a fairly male-dominated society, but Doug Bower finds an early example of girl power in Jalisco's distant past.

Asia Pacific - 3 Nov, 2007, 12:15
Finding peace in Korea's mountains
Fresh into a new job teaching English in a busy Asian city, Matt Awalt finds a climb in the mountains soothes his soul. 

Central Asia - 3 Nov, 2007, 12:11
A modern girl's guide to trekking Nepal
A hair-dryer isn't normally part of a trekker's kit - not least because there's nowhere to plug it in - but Anisha Patel brings her own particular girl power to the higher Himalayas.

Europe - 3 Nov, 2007, 12:00
Chilling out in Arctic Norway
Not many people know the Svalbard Peninsula - or even where it is - but geologist James Barnet tests the metal of a surprisingly beautiful landscape, fringed by the Barents Sea.

Middle East - 17 Oct, 2007, 23:21
A challenging encounter with Iran
Sezgi Yalýn finds her meeting with Esfahān, a spirited and insightful Iranian woman, is a highlight of her time in Iran. The fulcrum of America's 'Axis of Evil' clearly has hidden depths.

Americas - 17 Oct, 2007, 23:06
Not quite Che Guevara
A motorbike tour of Chile and Argentina turns into a frantic, freezing chase for Mark Lynch, as he learns Spanish fast and endures emergency root-canal surgery. Personally I think he did well to survive.

Asia Pacific - 17 Oct, 2007, 22:44
Slipping into the Singapore 'hole'
It's not easy to predict what friends and relatives understand from your travel tales. Jenni Stembridge finds no-one's remotely interested that she's been flicked by a ping pong ball hurled from a Thai stripper's not-so-private parts: all her family want to talk about is her 'Singapore Hole'.

Americas - 17 Oct, 2007, 22:25
Bigger is better on Canada's cycle trails
The Veloroute des Bleuets covers 272km of Quebec: a good reason, I'd have thought, to stay well clear or rent a car. But Kathleen Hegedus-Beeksma climbs into the saddle and finds fresh fruit and a warm Canadian welcome makes it all worthwhile.

Europe - 17 Oct, 2007, 22:20
A day-tripper's time in Portofino
In Portofino, Deery Walker says it's useless to pretend you're any more than a tourist. But, somehow, this doesn't matter. 

Americas - 17 Oct, 2007, 22:10
Discovering Iguaçu's hidden side
Missing out on most superlatives, the famous waterfalls that straddle the border with Brazil and Argentina (for the search engines, variously spelt Iguazzu Iguassu) are generally agreed to be the world's 'Overwhelmingest'. There are also smaller beauties. Kathleen de Azevedo takes a quieter walk through the surrounding National Park.

Central Asia - 17 Oct, 2007, 21:48
Just don't go to Osh!
If you're planning a trip to Central Asia, Henry Steel and Nicolas Niarchos have a couple of bits of advice. One is watch out for the helicopter rides, while another is - especially in middle Uzbekistan - watch out for melons.

Asia Pacific - 17 Oct, 2007, 21:12
Falling out of love at 13,000 feet
Mount Kinabalu, Malaysia, is an undoubted natural wonder. But why, asks Lisa McCallum, does her (then) boyfriend expect her to share her desire to climbi one of Asia's highest peaks?

Central Asia - 8 Oct, 2007, 14:59
Strolling the streets of Luang Prabang
John Mead escapes the Lao Republic's tourist crowds by taking to the hills through a Hmong heartland.

Americas - 8 Oct, 2007, 14:53
Finding love in Merida
On Mexico's Yucutan Peninsula Rick Beaty gets stalked by a hawker and menaced by souvenir salesman: a chance incounter with a beautiful woman is all that saves his memories of Merida. 

Asia Pacific - 2 Oct, 2007, 10:37
Shackled by the Neck

Antonio Graceffo finds that Burma’s Long Neck Karen Hill Tribe choose to eke out a living in a tourist village rather than go back to a civil war that borders on genocide.

Asia Pacific - 1 Oct, 2007, 03:17
A taste of Saigon
For a foodie, Southeast Asia is paradise. Lisa Pettersson settles in to a leisurely tour of Vietnam's culinary highlights.

Americas - 1 Oct, 2007, 02:55
Racing the Amazon, crew report 2007
A J Rivera gets sucked in to joining the Iquitos Amazon River Race and - despite being about the oldest contestant with some of the youngest crew - helps his team to a moral victory.

Middle East - 15 Sep, 2007, 14:02
Wild nights in the Syrian desert
Marika Hill camps out at a Syrian beauty spot, and meets with the nomads who call this desert home.

Europe - 15 Sep, 2007, 11:49
One hotdog and a psychedelic Jesus, please.
Summer is festa time in Malta: Grant Hackelton takes the pulse of a vivid Mediterranean culture.

Central Asia - 15 Sep, 2007, 10:46
Teaching Tibetan monks English
As a TEFL academic from Cyprus, Sezgi Yalýn was uniquely qualified to seize an opportunity when a monk asked her assistance to set up a language school on the roof of the world: a small but vital step to weaken the Chinese tyranny.

Americas - 31 Aug, 2007, 23:11
Breakfasts in America
The USA is big but not noted for its character cuisine. John Westwood tracks across 48 states to find impressive ways to start each day.

Europe - 31 Aug, 2007, 10:53
Learning the Burano air-stitch
While tourists flock to Murano, Eliot Stein finds a warmer welcome on Burano island, a hidden side of Venice that shelters some of Italy's oldest traditions.

Europe - 31 Aug, 2007, 10:36
The mad cows of Cadbury Castle
You might expect to find ghosts at Britain's historic monuments, but Eric Bryan gets a bigger fright when he meets Cadbury Castle's new residents - and finds they have four legs.  

Americas - 31 Aug, 2007, 09:40
Organic Ecuador: even houses grow on trees
The Finca Sarita is an organic farmstay in Ecuador: Dale Shaddick finds it's a perfect place for a laid-back South American idyll.

Central Asia - 31 Aug, 2007, 08:58
Rats in the wardrobe: X'ian on the cheap
Travelling on a budget lets Jemima Price see more than just the Terracotta Warriors in her journey through central China.

Middle East - 31 Aug, 2007, 08:26
Tales from the road: Libya to Sweden - overland
Anneli Sundqvist

Africa - 13 Aug, 2007, 09:39
The simple charms of a plastic cake
An invitation to a child's birthday party in a Cape Town township shows Stephanie Katz a side of South Africa few visitors take the trouble to see.

Africa - 3 Aug, 2007, 20:35
Volunteering in Kenya
Not many people get to East Pokot: even the Kenyans think it's a cattle-rustling danger zone. Erin Richards doesn't just visit, but stays to work in an orphanage.

Asia Pacific - 3 Aug, 2007, 20:18
Ducking jets in American Samoa
When a friend comes to visit Sarah Deprin on the Pacific Island of Tutuilla it's a natural challenge to help her relax, at least until she's sarong savvy.

Asia Pacific - 3 Aug, 2007, 20:08
Hey, UNESCO, hands off Angkor Wat
Cambodia's greatest relics, the Khmer Capital of Angkor Wat, is being trashed by the conservationists, says Jesse Wright. Let it crumble in peace.

Europe - 3 Aug, 2007, 19:49
Make space for Greece's turtles
Greece has some of Europe's most popular beaches, especially amongst nesting turtles. Lucy Westmore says there's space for both, if humans take care.

Europe - 19 Jul, 2007, 13:13
Mayhem and madness at Pamplona's bull-run
As the health and safety movement damps down Europe, Lucinda Worlock discovers a part of Spain where sanity is suspended, every year, for Pamplona's Running of the Bulls.

Africa - 19 Jul, 2007, 12:48
Travels with a tender tummy
West Africa proves a challenge to Heather Daniel's delicate digestion: months after her volunteering visit there's still a tension in her relationship with her stomach. 

Africa - 12 Jul, 2007, 20:40
Ground down by Egypt's Capital
Cairo proves a city too far for Mel Cullen: like it or loathe it, she chooses the latter. Being blonde and beautiful isn't always an advantage. 

Europe - 12 Jul, 2007, 20:32
Glastonbury rules

It's sold as the world's largest greenfield festival, but it's better known for its rain and mud. Elizabeth Heritage takes part in the Glastonbury Festival and this is her story.

Africa - 12 Jul, 2007, 20:06
Delta dreams in the Okavango Delta
Botswana's natural world proves something of a revelation to Eric Williams, who's more used to fields of waving corn. He reports on a very African safari.

Americas - 12 Jul, 2007, 09:51
On the road in Costa Rica
Casting caution to the winds, Lee Patton rejects advice to rent a four-wheel drive to explore Central America: a compact, he finds, is quite up to Costa Rican roads.

Africa - 12 Jul, 2007, 09:42
Hammam heaven in Marrakesh
Best keep your mouth shut in a Moroccan hammam, says honeymooning Charlotte Baird: you never know when the next bucket may be flung.

Americas - 12 Jul, 2007, 09:33
Fishing around on Lake Chelan
Trawling for trout on Washington State's deepest lake lands A T Allan quite a catch: anglers will share his excitement.

Africa - 17 Jun, 2007, 21:32
Down on the farm in upcountry Africa
A working farm in southern Tanzania teaches expat explorer Mark Gillies a great deal about subsistence and survival in East Africa.

Americas - 17 Jun, 2007, 21:26
Life's that much better in Belize
Central America's most laid-back - and helpfully Anglophone - country settles Brian Birkenstein down to Caye Caulker speed.

Europe - 17 Jun, 2007, 21:19
Letting go on the Ligurian coast
Toni Giarnese finds more than a little of La Dolce Vita on a strolling hike around Italy's Mediterranean shores.

Americas - 17 Jun, 2007, 21:09
The bus that thinks it's a train

Ecuador's train system is something to experience but not, according to Richard Free, something that should be thoroughly relied on.

Europe - 17 Jun, 2007, 21:04
Waffling about Antwerp

Belgium's beer doesn't do much for Lane Clark-Bonk, and nor do the shps. She's focussed on one thing: a perfect Belgian waffle.

Europe - 17 Jun, 2007, 17:38
Death and destruction in the Dardanelles
The echoes of the First World War stirs Keith Rhoades on a visit to the battlefields of Gallipoli.

Asia Pacific - 5 Jun, 2007, 22:00
Cruising off the beaten trail in Fiji
Take one unspoiled Pacific Island, add a luxury cruise vessel, and you'd expect a cultural disaster. Not so, says Tony Adams, as he sips kava with the village chief.

Asia Pacific - 5 Jun, 2007, 11:48
Wind, wine and surf in Australia's southwest
It's a windy day in Margaret River, but that doesn't dent Rhys Stacker's pleasure as he returns to Western Australia's ultimate southern hideaway.

Europe - 5 Jun, 2007, 11:39
Italy watches as two Americans fight
Brenda Yun's romantic pilgrimage to the Sistine Chapel prove too culturally demanding for her feckless boyfriend: in ten easy stages her relationship breaks up.

Central Asia - 5 Jun, 2007, 11:04
Signs of change at the end of the hippy trail
Melissa Cullen finds signs of change in Kathmandu, Nepal's capital, as it gears up for a new wave of travellers.

Middle East - 5 Jun, 2007, 10:48
Iran's call to prayer seems louder in Yazd
The provincial town of Yazd proves less relaxing than expected to Manfred Elian, as he tries to doze next to one of Iran's loudest muezzins.

Asia Pacific - 5 Jun, 2007, 10:32
The Japanese monks who mummify themselves
Mummified dead monks are relatively commonplace, but Ken Jeremiah finds a little-known trend as he mixes with the corpses at Japan's Dainichibô Temple in Yamagata: the holy men had mummified themselves.

Central Asia - 5 Jun, 2007, 10:21
Fried rice on the road in rural China
Long-distance bus travel thrills Will Dewees with its random selection of fast-food breaks, but he finds a real gem at an insignificant crossroads between Yanyuan and Dazu.

Americas - 19 May, 2007, 14:30
Lessons learned in El Salvador
Ten years of travel in El Salvador is distilled in Tanya Snyder's tale of two days helping with the country's transition to a peaceful present.

Editorials - 10 May, 2007, 11:47
Free-ish raffle for 10 Majorcan homes
Leading Majorcan hotelier George Scott is raffling the ten apartments and villas that make up one of this two luxury hotels, with tickets that can be redeemed – at full face value – by guests at his two properties. The odds aren’t at all bad either: read on.

Africa - 8 May, 2007, 18:19
Driving the Plymouth to Banjul Challenge
John Ironmonger skirts the Sahara in a clapped-out Renault 5, as he follows the Eurobanger Route through Morocco, Mauritania and Senegal.

Central Asia - 5 May, 2007, 20:38
Getting lost in Laos
A hand-made map proves insuffient for Peter Flatters, as he heads off for an independent day-trek in Laos. It turns out to take quite a lot longer.

Central Asia - 29 Apr, 2007, 00:25
The unexpected hazards of charity in China
A good Samaritan would have a hard time in China, judging by Sharon Lockwood's tale of a western doctor who tries to help after a traffic accident.

Europe - 29 Apr, 2007, 00:09
Cold, dark and expensive. It must be Iceland
Don't believe the negative press. Jennifer Price says there's a lot to like about Iceland: you can't do much about the winter daylight hours but there are ways around the cost and visiting in winter has some unexpected advantages.

Central Asia - 26 Apr, 2007, 23:25
Buying guns in Pakistan's Afghan hinterland
It's hardly your average retail therapy, but Manfred Elian finds armaments aplenty in the mountains of Pakistan. Buy now, shoot later, welcome to Babel.

Americas - 26 Apr, 2007, 23:16
Rafting the Rio Naranja
Katie Ahlman pushes her envelope on Costa Rica's most dangerous river - in flood - and lives to tell the tale. We hate to think what's next on her adventure programme.

Asia Pacific - 26 Apr, 2007, 23:01
Every new wife needs a Pacific test-dive
Most people have their honeymoons after their wedding. Brad Butler takes his bride to Tahiti first, in case they don't get on. By the sounds of it Moorea comes good, and we assume the sound of bells will follow.

Africa - 26 Apr, 2007, 22:50
From mainland Africa to an Indian Ocean isle
A trip to Tanzania proves something of a learning curve for Richard Lawrence, as he travels from Dar Es Salaam to Zanzibar.

Africa - 26 Apr, 2007, 22:39
At home in De Hoop
George Edwards finds Africa's beauty at its best in the understated reserve of De Hoop, half-hidden along the Garden Route.

Americas - 26 Apr, 2007, 22:35
Tracing the USA's lost civilisations
Central Colorado, and in the Mesa Verde National Park Jamie Friesen finds the ruins left by the Anasazi people mark out a civilisation just as important as the Incas of Latin America, but much less known.

Europe - 26 Apr, 2007, 22:05
Even in the Rain, Ljubljana is Luminous
If you need a souvenir, buy a dragon. Susan Cava finds Slovenia's capital has a charm that defeats the worst weather central Europe can throw.

Asia Pacific - 26 Apr, 2007, 21:59
Ti-ni Plod-pai (‘It is safe here!’, in Thai)
A father who lives in Thailand makes Gary Davis something of an expert on Asia's ultimate tiger, with tales and insights into a rather admirable society.

Europe - 11 Apr, 2007, 16:31
Navigate or die: kayaking the Adriatic
The journey from Italy to Croatia is too easy by ferry: Shane Braddock unpacks his kayak, totally unsupported, and starts to paddle.

Europe - 11 Apr, 2007, 16:12
It shouldn't happen to a pilgrim
Following St James' route acrss Europe Spain can be hard on the legs, but Babette Gallard's decision to travel on horseback meant her progress was more eventful than reflective.

Europe - 11 Apr, 2007, 16:04
Bringing a blast of Irish music to Lanzarote
It's not clear how Kiwi Sean Hoskins finds himself playing traditional Irish music in Dublin: even less how the band get invited out to play a gig in the Canaries. After a shaky start on their first world tour the 'Bad Examples' make a good one.

Central Asia - 11 Apr, 2007, 15:55
From Beijing to Base Camp
The new train across the tundra makes the journey from China's capital to Everest's Base Camp a breeze. Shame it has to trample across Tibet. Daniel Allen makes speed across Asia.

Europe - 11 Apr, 2007, 15:31
Crazy in Croatia
It may not quite match New York, but the city of Zagreb makes quite an impression on Susan Cava.

Americas - 11 Apr, 2007, 15:24
Central America's 'Chicken Busses'
Nathan Richards, back home in the UK, pays tribute to the rackety transport that got him around Central America, the Chicken Bus.

Central Asia - 11 Apr, 2007, 15:12
Linking to Himalayan valleys
Steer clear of Nepal's 'cola treks': Rob Paton and Clare Holdsworth finds plenty to crow about as they take a local route that links the Khumbu and Gokyo valleys.

Asia Pacific - 9 Apr, 2007, 10:36
Home sweet jail
Puerto Princessa, the Philippines and Antonio Graceffo finds an innovative prison changing the lives of those on trial and serving sentences.

Americas - 6 Apr, 2007, 11:11
The great Amazon raft race
Time to get your entries in for September's three-day panic paddle down the world's greatest river , starting in Iquitos, Peru. There's a separate prize for Gringos, says Michael Collis, as the village teams cover 130 miles pretty damn fast.

Central Asia - 30 Mar, 2007, 10:50
In love in India

Romance blooms amongst the ancient stones of Mandu, as Gifty Sahany finds an unlikely scent of France.

Americas - 30 Mar, 2007, 10:37
Venezuela's democratic alternative
Social activist John Drewery visits Venezuela to see democracy in action, on a political tour organised by Global Exchange.

Asia Pacific - 29 Mar, 2007, 22:52
From the Hippie Trail to the Millie Circuit
Overland Asia has changed. Carter Young, probably a hippie, watches the flood of young 'millies' sweep across a continent.

Editorials - 29 Mar, 2007, 21:36
As travel fades into the memory..
Formula One desk-driver Andrew McFetrich remembers his travelling past, but can't see his travelling future. Will some kind employer give this man the sack?

Europe - 29 Mar, 2007, 21:22
Oh My! The Minarets!
Toral Pattni heads out to Turkey to teach English, but learns a lot about an ancient culture, how not to buy a carpet and a surprisingly effective way to derail Istanbul's most drunk Lotharios.

Africa - 29 Mar, 2007, 21:02
Dinosaurs, fossils and Levis in northern Malawi
Africa's friendliest state still holds plenty of surprises. Melissa Aberle-Grasse finds a history stretching back to a time before man.

Americas - 29 Mar, 2007, 20:49
A coffee break in upcountry Guatemala
There's plenty Laura Fitch learns on an eco-tourism project in a coffee farm, but still struggles to get her tortillas up to standard.

Central Asia - 29 Mar, 2007, 20:42
A girl's guide to Delhi
Adrift in India, Fenella Richards finds it a challenge to cut through the barriers that keep her apart from the Asian experience.

Central Asia - 29 Mar, 2007, 20:33
Changing planes at Beijing Airport
Peter Tapsell's travels in Mongolia are easy, compared with his experiences of making a flight connection in China's biggest airport.

Europe - 29 Mar, 2007, 20:28
Under Poland's forest canopy
UNESCO protects it, but Ben Lerwill finds that the Bialowieza Forest seems to appreciate the occasional visit.

Central Asia - 29 Mar, 2007, 20:00
Kebabs, Kashgar and the Karakoram Highway
Chinese Turkestan, and Daniel Allen travels through Xinjiang Province, discovering a land lost in time.

Europe - 25 Mar, 2007, 19:10
Repping in an Alpine ski resort
All names have been changed in Victoria Trott's account of life at the chalet coalface: just as well, as things turn out.

Asia Pacific - 25 Mar, 2007, 17:49
At one with the Iban
Down amongst the tribes of Sarawak, Peter Murphy finds that although their headhunting days are long in the past, in the heart of Borneo countless traditions remain untouched.

Europe - 25 Mar, 2007, 17:41
In love with Lüneburg
As Lower Saxony's only town to escape wartime bombing, Lüneburg is something of a German gem, says Mariko Suyama.

Central Asia - 25 Mar, 2007, 17:34
A first-time modelling assignment in China
When Paul Haire lands a modelling contract, he doesn't expect to be dumped down a manhole. But Beijing is full of surprises and, after all, This Is China.

Asia Pacific - 25 Mar, 2007, 17:15
Sizing up Sydney
Danish geek Ray Heap sets out to fix Australian computer systems: not an easy job but someone's got to do it.

Africa - 25 Mar, 2007, 17:04
Canoeing Zambia's Lunga River
There are several safe ways to travel through Zambia's wilderness regions, but a canoe is not one of them. Mark Gillies takes the wild route through Africa's hinterland.

Central Asia - 18 Mar, 2007, 20:14
Sacked - and slighly drunk - in downtown Beijing
Not every day can be a triumph, and Paul Haire's first unemployed night in the dynamic, thrusting capital of China starts badly and ends worse. Oh well, at least he finds some Tiger beer.

Central Asia - 18 Mar, 2007, 19:54
Meeting a cow amongst Udaipur's lakes
In the impossibly romantic setting of India's honeymoon district, Mike Thompson finds a part of the country that's very easy to like.

Central Asia - 18 Mar, 2007, 19:41
Journey up China's Li River
Bruised by his anecdotes being trumped by 'Travel Goons', Sam Mellor finds his river-gypsy cruise along an offbeat Chinese river means he can now tell a tale that few can match.

Americas - 18 Mar, 2007, 19:27
Falling out of love with Che
Viva Fidel! A real hero takes over from the motorbiking image for Bob Finch as he travels through Castro's Cuba.

Europe - 18 Mar, 2007, 18:33
Learning lessons - fast - in Athens
There's a knack to travelling around Greece's capital, finds Victoria Trott as she takes a couple of days to explore.

Americas - 14 Mar, 2007, 09:20
Jamaica's plantation past
At Rose Hall, the Caribbean's savage colonial history is repackaged for a new generation of gawping tourists. Emilia Ljungberg is not impressed.

Central Asia - 10 Mar, 2007, 14:52
Bumper Cars in Wuhu China
Driving in China brings back fairground memories for a suitably nervous Leanna Adams, and reflects a very different way of life.

Asia Pacific - 10 Mar, 2007, 14:28
Top end trouble in Australia's far north
Magnetic termites, bushfires and a goanna on a riverbank: all part of Australia's Northern Territory, says Anthony Toole.

Americas - 10 Mar, 2007, 14:17
A delicate balance on the Galapagos Islands
Darwin's laboratory of nature off Ecuador's Pacific coast is a haven for wildlife and cruising tourists. Richard Free examines the Galapagos' past and prospects for the future.

Central Asia - 10 Mar, 2007, 13:30
Trekking as a matter of life and death

While tourists in Goretex flounce across Nepal's Himalayas, for Tibetan refugees crossing these mountains is often a matter of life and death. Here a sixteen-year-old girl tells of her trek to escape her Chinese-occupied homeland.

Europe - 10 Mar, 2007, 13:25
Cheerleading the Tour de France
The world's premier cycle race, and Rob Ingham finds himself cheering with the Gauls on the streets of France.

Europe - 10 Mar, 2007, 13:09
Trudging in the footsteps of the ancient Scots
Walking the Great Glen Way proves a challenge, but a rewarding one, to Emma Reuvers - though she never does get to see the Loch Ness Monster.

Central Asia - 10 Mar, 2007, 13:05
Beijing, China's capital war-zone
Firecrackers and rockets give Rob Mcgovern a rather warmer welcome to China than he expected when his travels coincide with the lunar new year.

Asia Pacific - 10 Mar, 2007, 12:55
Kyushu, tranquil island off mainland Japan
Alan Deegan finds peace and plenty beyond the major cities of Asia's economic powerhouse.

Americas - 10 Mar, 2007, 12:51
Chickens in church
Chiapas, Mexico, and James Matthews finds the collision between indigenous religions and the Catholic church throws up some unexpected rituals.

Europe - 10 Mar, 2007, 12:42
On top of Wales
When she climbs Snowdonia, Adele Moore feels she's reached the roof of the Welsh world.

Central Asia - 11 Feb, 2007, 16:10
When mother meets India
India: the dirt, the beggars, the flies. Skye Hohmann is still adapting to her changed environment when it gets suddenly stranger: her mother flies out to visit.

Europe - 11 Feb, 2007, 11:38
Celebrating Waitangi Day in London pubs
New Zealand's infamous treaty might be political back home, but not to Kiwi expats in the UK. Elizabeth Heritage reports from the frontline of a memorable pub-crawl.

Europe - 11 Feb, 2007, 11:29
Into Finland's strange linguistic hinterland
Europe's far north, and David Brown discovers the country that gave the world Nokia has some other surprises up its sleeve. Starting with a language from hell where even the word for simple... isn't.

Central Asia - 11 Feb, 2007, 11:06
Mongolia: a good place to learn to ride?
The land of Genghis Khan isn't obviously a place for first-time horse-riders, but Peter Tapsell seems strangely calm about the prospect. On the flight out, at least.

Europe - 11 Feb, 2007, 10:56
Running with Pamplona's Bulls
Macho fun or a quick route to eternity? Shane Braddock takes to the streets of Pamplona for Spain's San Fermin Festival, and tries to keep clear of marauding cattle.

Americas - 11 Feb, 2007, 09:54
Dominican Republic, an unsung gem
Two years working for a charity in the Caribbean gives Chris Courth an alternative insight into a country best known for all-inclusive resorts. 

Central Asia - 3 Feb, 2007, 14:46
India at Prayer
Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, and Unni Krishnan finds a society transfixed by the Ardh Kumbh Mela, one of the world's greatest religious festivals.

Europe - 3 Feb, 2007, 14:21
Cycling Mount Ventoux
Personally, when I see a mountain that's the last moment I reach for a pushbike. Clare Holdsworth is made of sterner stuff and pedals her way around the south of France.

Central Asia - 3 Feb, 2007, 14:12
Lost in Laos
Lao PDR - please don't rush - has got to be one of the most tranquil travel destination in Asia. Lisa Ashley Warshaw takes her time.

Europe - 3 Feb, 2007, 13:59
On the piste in Slovenia

Most Brits don't even know where Slovenia is: Ian Middleton finds this is something of an advantage when he finds he's got the ski-slopes to himself.

Americas - 31 Jan, 2007, 22:05
Highs and Lows in the Mountains of Guatemala
Guatamala's mountain highlands are at the heart of the traditional Indian culture. And a very good place for a trek, says Laura Fitch. 

Africa - 31 Jan, 2007, 17:40
Paris to Dakar - by bike
“The Sahara on a bicycle, is that possible?” September 06, and 25 cyclists think so, pedalling from the Eiffel Tower towards Dakar. Rob van der Geest was there.

Americas - 24 Jan, 2007, 20:10
A hard path into Ecuador's Amazon
Why fly into the Amazon? Luminita Cuna goes by foot and boat. Rather her than me: but at least this means she experiences the real rainforest, in all it's bitey, wet glory. 

Americas - 24 Jan, 2007, 19:38
Death and destruction on Montana's roads
'Reasonable and Prudent' used to be quite exact enough a speed limit in on of America's most laid-back states. These days roadside crosses are part of a campaign to keep road mortality down, says Brian Hodges.

Africa - 24 Jan, 2007, 19:02
Hopping around Africa's mountain gorillas

Virunga Mountains, on the border between the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and Rwanda, and Grant Hackleton finds national borders become irrelevant to the resident gorilla population.

Europe - 24 Jan, 2007, 17:16
Weekending in Prague
Douglas Hutchinson finds the Czech Capital a fascinating destination for a short blast of Central European culture.

Middle East - 21 Jan, 2007, 19:06
Greetings from Hizbollah country
Between bombs, David Brown strolls from Israel to Lebanon. In the Middle East's most cosmopolitan society he finds plenty of signs of war but also a determination to survive.

Central Asia - 21 Jan, 2007, 18:25
Tracing China's Yellow River
Daniel Métraux finds one of China's greatest rivers provides a narrative of a nation in transition.

Americas - 21 Jan, 2007, 18:12
Climbing Panama's highest peak
Few people climb Volcán Barú, one of the highest of the chain of volcanoes that form Central America's rugged spine. Anthony Lye strikes a lone trail to the summit.

Asia Pacific - 21 Jan, 2007, 16:52
Charmed by New Caledonia
Annet Mahanani finds a strange beauty - and traces of colonial France - in some of the South Pacific's remotest islands.

Europe - 20 Jan, 2007, 18:32
Yorkshire's Abbeys explored
The abbeys and cathedrals of medieval catholicism are amongst the most impressive buildings in Europe: Christy Nicholas discovers some prime examples in England's underrated county of Yorkshire. 

Asia Pacific - 20 Jan, 2007, 18:19
Fourteen hours - and £14 - in Kuala Lumpur
Even on a limited budget, Melissa Cullen finds plenty to like about Malaysia's capital city.

Europe - 18 Jan, 2007, 18:29
Seeing Europe on the super-cheap
When it comes to travelling, the pampered brits are now too pampered. Selene Rabane interviews a 24-year-old Estonian, Fee Tamm, who travels with nothing at all.

Central Asia - 17 Jan, 2007, 22:26
They play football differently in upcountry China
Dalian, a city in the northeast of China, and Sam Mellor books tickets for a soccer match against a visiting team from Japan. His landlady fears for his life but he survives the experience and returns impressed.

Europe - 10 Jan, 2007, 00:47
Squatting your way through Spain's Balearics
Formentera in Mediterranean Spain and Abha Malpani has a cunning plan. Cut costs by dossing where she can. Hardly a formula for a quiet weekend away but a succession of strange men with homes of their own provide a vivid insight into island life.

Americas - 9 Jan, 2007, 23:53
Rio's seething underclass
Brazil's most glamorous city has a startling underclass. Chris Wirth gets below the tourist image to explore its dangerous favellas.

Central Asia - 7 Jan, 2007, 19:43
The Capital of Nowhere
David Brown takes the bus from Odessa to Moldova – and discovers there’s a country in the way: Transinistria. 

Europe - 6 Jan, 2007, 13:31
Battling through the Baltics
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania fit into an easy itinerary for Edward McSweegan as he discovers the hottest destinations in a newly-enlarged Europe.

Asia Pacific - 5 Jan, 2007, 08:30
China and Japan disagree on WWII
Daniel A. Metraux discovers two rival museums, Beijing's Marco Polo Bridge and Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine, present very different versions of recent history: a worrying divergence between two world superpowers.

Europe - 3 Jan, 2007, 15:55
Tasting Croatia's finest wines
Waves of European empires have left the Dalmatian Coast awash with fine vineyards, says Shane Braddock as he explores the mainland and island-hops the Adriatic.

Americas - 2 Jan, 2007, 12:18
Pottering into Paraguay

Lawrence Kay strays off the 'Gringo Trail' to explore Latin America's least-visited country. 

Europe - 2 Jan, 2007, 12:10
Barging around France
Some of France's luxury barges are stultifyingly formal. Not the Barge Nilaya, says Barry Moss, after a wonderful week on the water.

Americas - 2 Jan, 2007, 12:04
The Colors of Cusco
High in the Peruvian Andes, Eric Lehman finds traces of the Inca culture still vivid after years of Spanish occupation.

Asia Pacific - 2 Jan, 2007, 11:48
Climbing to the top of Vietnam

Independent bushwalkers Clare Holdsworth and Rob Paton decide to conquer Vietnam's highest peak. Mount Fansipan proves a challenge and their experience might help anyone following in their steps.

Europe - 2 Jan, 2007, 11:42
Sarajevo's Tunnel Museum
Wandering through the Ottoman streets of the Bosnian capital is all very well, says Phil Brown, but 'the tunnel' is essential to understand the country's recent history and culture.

Americas - 2 Jan, 2007, 11:34
Kayaking New York
America's first immigrants arrived by sea, points out Shane Braddock, which makes a kayak the ideal way to explore Manhattan's coastal heritage.

Africa - 2 Jan, 2007, 09:36
Chaos in Cairo
Egypt's capital is best known for its pyramids, but Annika Dash finds an entrepreneurial world beyond its headling sights.

Editorials - 22 Dec, 2006, 10:20
Learning languages, the easy way
Khmer, Chinese, Thai, Spanish, Korean... I've lost count of how many languages Antonio Graceffo can speak. This is his guide to mastering communication fast and effectively.

Europe - 22 Dec, 2006, 10:00
Postcards from Poland
Since the EU ‘floodgates’ opened, thousands of Poles have been moving to England in search of work. Never one to do the obvious, Glenn Standish heads the other way.

Europe - 22 Dec, 2006, 09:38
Peace in Crimea
Tatar palaces, Turkish fortresses, magic stalactite caves, lush sub-tropical mountains, miles and miles of beaches and a mellow coastal climate: Alex Welsh finds the Crimean part of the Ukraine is a quite uncharacteristic introduction to Russia.

Editorials - 21 Dec, 2006, 17:27
A guide to world crime
Make the world's conmen work harder this year: make them think of something new. Arya Kazemi provides a geographical breakdown of the traditional scams played on travellers.

Central Asia - 21 Dec, 2006, 17:16
Crossing the Torugart
Travelling by bike gets you into some out-of-the-way places. Tim Barnes finds his travels brought to a sudden halt in Kyrgyzstan as he runs into trouble on the Chinese border.

Asia Pacific - 21 Dec, 2006, 17:11
Cambodia's hidden horrors
Despite the brutal genocide of the Khmer Rouge regime, Anne Katharine Wales finds signs of hope amongst the traumatised survivors.

Central Asia - 21 Dec, 2006, 17:03
The darker side of India's spirtual heartland
Amongst the burning pyres of Varanasi, Sten Muchow finds he's easy pickings for the city's human vultures,

Americas - 13 Dec, 2006, 10:59
Cruising the deepest Amazon
Benjamin Carlier worked as tour leader in South America, but the highlight of his stay was this trip from Porto Velho to Manaus, 1,500km on the Rio Amazonas.

Asia Pacific - 12 Dec, 2006, 19:01
A campervan route to the heart of Australia
To get to the remote wilderness region of Kakadu a mobile home is the only way to go, says Anthony Toole after an epic journey that barely rattles the crockery. 

Americas - 12 Dec, 2006, 18:54
How to get arrested at US airports
As the western world descends into paranoia, there's no easier place to run into trouble than the aiports of America. Luckily there's a lawyer around to help: Gregory Caplan, defense attorney, outlines the major risks.

Americas - 12 Dec, 2006, 18:26
A bus-traveller's impression of Argentina
The sheer size of South America's second-largest country makes a big impression on Lawrence Kay, as he structures his visit using the overnight bus network.

Central Asia - 12 Dec, 2006, 18:13
A long road to Mcleod Ganj
It's a long way from Delhi to Himachal Pradesh, but Cameron Karsten's in no hurry, as he gently makes his way from the international airport to a local bus.

Asia Pacific - 12 Dec, 2006, 17:17
An Englishman falling from the sky
As a Pom, I'm not sure I'd choose Australia to try sky-diving. Just too many people who might be tempted to make sure the parachute never opened. Matthew Williams is made of sterner stuff, and jumps from a plane over Mission Beach.

Europe - 11 Dec, 2006, 10:44
Rome does it again
Italy's capital weaves her charms over Annet Mahanani, in town for her seventh visit.

Africa - 8 Dec, 2006, 12:13
Meeting Rwanda's biggest residents
Central Africa, and Charlie Hall meets some endangered mountain gorillas in 'The Land of a Thousand Hills'.

Europe - 8 Dec, 2006, 11:30
Fishing around Poland's second city
A night out in Krakow teaches Mira Lotfallah a lot about Polish society but also quite a bit more about herself.

Europe - 8 Dec, 2006, 11:22
Finding perfection on the Dalmatian Coast
Annika Dash finds peace on the Croatian island of Hvar where the water is crystal clear, the locals are friendly and the sun never seems to stop shining.

Central Asia - 8 Dec, 2006, 11:15
Wheeling and dealing on China's Silk Road

Kashgar, far to the west of mainland China, and Chris O'Brien finds one of the world's oldest and largest markets still has lessons for traders today.

Asia Pacific - 8 Dec, 2006, 10:54
Exploring the Cook Islands
There are surprises in store for Sarah Gwynn when she takes a hop across the Pacific to Aitutaki.

Middle East - 8 Dec, 2006, 10:45
Saudi Arabia: a 1980's insight

This expat's view of the Kingdom in the '80's by Glenn Standish shows there's no copy too old for the pages of Travelmag! Still, we don't get much from this part of the world so here it is.. 

Asia Pacific - 7 Dec, 2006, 22:08
Chiang Mai's Vulture's Egg
In the capital of northern Thailand, Eliot Ballar