The Himalayan mountain range is an absolutely enormous stretch, running from Pakistan in the west, through India, Nepal and Bhutan to China in the east. The word ‘Himalaya’ derives from ancient Sanskrit and means ‘abode of snow’, and the range is home to nine of the highest 10 peaks in the world. You might be …
Adventure Travel
If you’ve been following along on Instagram you will have seen that I’ve just returned from an incredible 3-day trip to Iceland. Actually, ‘incredible’ doesn’t do it justice. It was an unforgettable, once in a lifetime, ‘tell-it-to-the-grandchildren-in-50-years-time’ kind of incredible. I was away for a long weekend and it was actually only 36 hours spent …
Admittedly, I am usually not one to go to the same place twice when it comes to travelling. Not because I never love anywhere enough, but because my favourite thing is to go where I have never been. There’s only one exception to my rule and that’s if I go from a new perspective. For example …
It was this time last year I was busily planning my trip to Iceland which I took in October. Early October was the perfect time to visit Iceland thanks to the blue skies, chilly but bearable temperatures and a light scattering of snow that dusted the ground. Iceland immediately became one of my favourite places …
Hiking in the Grand Canyon was the highlight of my Trek America journey. Taking a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon was amazing but being inside the canyon, touching the rocks and seeing it transform as we hiked lower was incredible. It’s that moment when you’re exhausted and sweating, your heart is pumping so hard …
On Monday I revealed one of my many travel confessions; I’m the most antisocial snowboarder that ever lived. I hate seeing other people on the slopes and will happily hog an entire run if it means I won’t knock anyone flying or go flying myself. If you ever see me snowboarding, stay away because I …
“Trust your feet and let your legs take your weight,” my guide shouted from beneath me. Trust my feet? ‘Trusting my feet’ was a totally new concept for me. I can trust my hands because they’re bendy and flexible and they’re right there in front of my eyes but my feet are just ugly stumps …
Pulling into a rocky car park next to a smooth lake, we were surrounded by nothing but high walls formed from volcanic rock. There was a bright, white peak glimmering in the distance but nothing to suggest that the third largest glacier in the world was on the other side of the wall. I was …
In theory, Iceland shouldn’t be this beautiful. Iceland is a harsh, lonely country. It’s volcanic and rugged with vast spaces of desolate land. There are very few trees and it can be hard to differentiate between the grey of the cloud and the grey of the earth. The land is flat for miles and …
Climbing Mount Kinabalu was the highlight of my trip to Borneo. It was tough but it was worth each and every step towards the summit. I loved the way the scenery changed every few hundred meters and the sense of achievement when we reached the top was unbelievable. Watching the sunrise from above the clouds …
Today Anne shares her review from Yab Yum Resort in Goa, India. So secret is Yab Yum Resort, there are no roadside signs indicating its existence. Even the main gate has no sign, nor does the beach pathway indicate that you have arrived at your destination. Like the Illuminati, it seems this place wants …
Sure, anyone can go to Cornwall or Devon surfing. But what’s the fun in following the beaten track? If you’ve a bit more grit to your grin and a tad more industry to your spirit, then about-turn on your kitten heels, my friend. Saltburn by the Sea, Cleveland, is riding a new wave of surfing …
Hanoi is an assault on the senses. Women sheltering from the sun in full length anoraks buzz around on mopeds in 40 degree heat, beeping to announce their presence. Freshly barbecued pork crisps and sizzles on food carts at every turn, and tropical birds hang in cages above shop windows, shrieking for their freedom. There …
I would say the key to a successful adventure or trip away is usually in the planning beforehand. Researching and planning ensures you make the best use of your time and money, so that you aren’t faffing around when you get there and you aren’t being ripped off either. But it’s not just hotels, road …
While I was travelling in Australia I spent six months working on a scuba diving island called Mackerel Island. Before this, I’d never intended to learn to scuba dive because: a) I’m a total wuss b) I’m not very good at swimming c) I’m scared of fish d) It’s expensive e) I hadn’t realised how …
My video and Living Room Tree House review from an incredible weekend staying in a tree house in Powys, Wales. This weekend I had the chance to make a childhood dream come true and stay in a real tree house! You may be picturing a rickety shack in the trees but Living Room tree …
TrekAmerica is currently running an amazing competition to win a 3-week tour around the USA (with flights included!) They’ve giving away a spot on their Westerner 3 tour which looks absolutely incredible. Find out more about the prize and how to enter the competition here. Since TrekAmerica launched this competition I’ve had so many readers …
A couple of weeks ago I popped over to Austria, to the gorgeous ski town of Kitzbühel, for a spot of spring skiing. Yep, skiing can totally happen in March and April time. I enjoyed a couple of days of sunshine, snow and fun in the mountains where I learned that this region has some …
There’s something about the Yukon that just gets under your skin. While I was there I heard the same story over and over again, from countless people. “I came for a week, for a holiday,” they’d say with a shrug. “That was twenty years ago.” “So what made you stay?” I’d ask, and they’d simply …
Stepping out of the airport at Male was like stepping into a holiday brochure – you know the kind of brochure where you’re sure every photo must be highly edited because there’s no way the ocean could be that blue. Someone’s upped the saturation here, right? That turquoise ocean was directly in front of …
I’m wandering along a sandy, white beach backed with heather covered cliffsides, with rolling green countryside in the distance. There’s barely a soul to be seen, and the crash of waves on the beach is hypnotising. Sounds amazing doesn’t it? Well it is, but there’s just one problem. It is bucketing it down, and I …
Contrary to every one else’s thoughts, this breakfast at the Crimson Hotel was my favourite on the trip so far. Freshly scrambled eggs, some diced potatoes, and a light fluffy pancake with a couple of strips of well cooked bacon drizzled maple syrup! YUM… At 7.45am we were fed and ready to leave Jasper town …
Our Wednesday began at 8.30am where we met our fellow adventurers in the lobby and together, we headed on a 15 minute drive to Downtown Edmonton. To all of our delights, we were welcomed with a cup of coffee from Nomad Espresso and a selection of breakfast dishes from Northlands Truck 1879… Breakfast poutine (UNREAL), …
Day 3 in Canada had us venturing out of Edmonton and onto Jasper. We left our hotel at 7.45am to get a head start on the 4.5 hour journey through Jasper National Park to our first activity of the day – the Sulphur Skyline Hike. As you can see it’s a STUNNING drive, with some …
So many love the idea of an adventure but not half of us really know how to have one. For me, going on an adventure means starting with an idea of where you want to go or what you want to achieve, but being completely open to things going wrong in the knowledge that really, it’s the …
There is nowhere on earth quite so peaceful as an empty ski slope. The snow wraps itself around like the mountain like a thick layer of bubble wrap making everything softer, quieter, gentler and even more beautiful than you could possibly imagine. The snow takes away the sharp edges, the mismatch of colours, the dirt …
Flying over the Grand Canyon in a helicopter has to be on almost every travel lover’s bucket list. Not only do you have the incredible experience of seeing the Grand Canyon from the skies but you also get to ride in the most fun form of transport possible, a helicopter! I’d been in …
Before snorkelling in Champagne Reef in Dominica I couldn’t get the image of myself snorkelling in an actual pool of champagne out of my head. I was imagining that first sip of champers where the bubbles hit your nose before they hit your lips and you smell that fruity, spicy, alcoholic tang. And then the …
Hiking in Yosemite National Park was another of the incredible highlights from my time in the US. I know I’ve said this about virtually every place I visited with Trek America but it’s true! I love hiking so I was so excited to visit Yosemite. Yosemite is the second oldest national park in the US …
I visited Dominica last year and I feel like I haven’t shown this gorgeous little island enough love. Seriously, I can’t even begin to tell you how much I loved my time there. It’s a Caribbean island for adventurous people, what’s not to love about that!? So today I’m going to tell you about all …