Cultural Taiwan: Top Five Unmissable Experiences
For a small island nation, cultural Taiwan has been punching well above its weight with the establishment of several world-class performance venues in only…
Elephant Sanctuary on World Elephant Day
To mark World Elephant Day on 12 August, Travel Begins at 40 interviews the World Animal Protection, formerly known as WSPA (World Society for the Protection of Animals), about what…
The LifeCo Detox Retreat in Bodrum
Intrigued by what all the fuss is about Eileen Wise embarks upon a The LifeCo detox retreat in Bodrum, Turkey, and comes back a totally rejuvenated woman. Maybe there was…
Travel Photography Tours: Getting to Know People
Nathan Horton has been running travel photography tours in Asia for more than a decade, he discuses the latest trends in the sector, arguing the case for responsible tourism and…
Almaty: the Coolest City in Central Asia
Johan Smits explores Kazakhstan’s former capital Almaty and discovers an overlooked city destination full of cafe culture and a respect for its former Soviet heritage waiting to be discovered by…
Female Explorer Elise Wortley: Woman with Altitude
Last November, Elise Wortley set out into the Indian Himalaya, following in the footsteps of legendary female explorer Alexandra David-Neél, who crossed the Himalayas…
Petra Jordan, Lawrence and Peace in Troubled Waters
Accepting an offer from the International Institute for Peace Through Tourism (IIPT) to visit Petra Jordan and Azraq Refugee Camp, Mark Bibby Jackson encounters a country with a rich history…
Trekking the Wakhan Valley, Tajikistan
Expecting nothing but the soaring mountains in the Pamir region of Tajikistan, Johan Smits gets far more than he bargained for when trekking the Wakhan Valley. “Some of these petroglyphs…
Druk Path Trek Bhutan, the Local Way
Vast landscapes and wide open skies are defining features of Bhutan and there are few better ways to see them than on the Druk Path Trek…
Sampling the Great Outdoors in Kyrgyzstan
Enjoying homemade cuisine inside a yurt, listening to old folk music and admiring the wonderful landscape of the great outdoors from the back of a horse, Johan Smits gets a…
Oman Holidays: A Leap into the Unknown
When considering a trip to the the Middle East, Oman holidays might not be top of your list, but as Mark Bibby Jackson discovers the sultanate has a rich culture…
Japan Travel: Glamping, Zip-cords and Samurai
On a mindfulness trip, Mark Bibby Jackson is surprised to discover the Japan travel scene confound all his expectations, and picks up a few tips towards enlightenment along the way…
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan: Back in the USSR
Johan Smits wanders through Bishkek where he encounters Bolshevik statues, a free election campaign and crafted ales. Before I set off to visit Kyrgyzstan’s quirky capital Bishkek, a former resident…
Slowing Down in the Sanatorium
Looking for a break from Dushanbe, Johan Smits unwinds in a Tajik mountain sanatorium – Soviet style. If someone asked you to sit naked on a bottomless chair and have…
Tajikistan Travel – Dushanbe Lost in Time
Johan Smits shares his fascination for an intriguing mix of old-world charm and bold new vision in Tajikistan’s curious capital, Dushanbe. The employee shoos us away with a mixture of…
Mongolia Travel: Staying in a Ger
In a country full of images of Genghis Khan and exoticism, Mongolia Travel has found its place firmly on the adventure travel map. Tegan Chapman travels there for a colourful…
Nepal Earthquake: Return to Nuwakot
After trekking in Nepal, Mark Bibby Jackson returns to Kathmandu to travel to the ancient capital of Nuwakot, itself devastated by the Nepal Earthquake 2015, to catch up with a…
The Lost Waterways of Kerala
With jet black hair that defies her age slicked back in a tight bun, the woman wrapped in a midnight blue sari smacks her lips over her gums. Pointing curiously…
Trekking in Tajikistan and the Fann Mountains
Our man in Central Asia, Johan Smits, travels to the Fann mountains to discover wonderful trekking in Tajikistan and even takes his parents along with him. Our hired minivan emerges safely…
Niseko Ski Japan 40-year-old Virgin
First-time skier, Mark Bibby Jackson decides to ski Japan, well past his fortieth birthday, when he really should know better, but finds the experience rewarding. I keep on hearing the…
Trekking in Nepal: Annapurna Revisited
In 1994, Mark Bibby Jackson first went trekking in Nepal, in 2017 he returned as a more mature traveller to discover the beauty of Annapurna unspoilt. Nepal has always held…
