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Oberoi MV Vrinda The MV Vrinda hosts a luxurious dining room, sumptuous cabins and even traditional dance performances © Oberoi Hotels & Resorts The Oberoi MV Vrinda is small enough to thread its way through Kerala’s backwaters – and to offer a wonderfully personal...

If you haven’t yet uncovered all that it has to offer, we’ve picked ten of our favourite things to do in Hyderabad. From its ancient tombs and historic fort to its luxurious hotels – and its signature biryani – here’s what you shouldn’t dare miss. Charminar The Charminar is...

Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve Koshi Tappu is a wetland haven for hundreds of bird species Located in the lush Terai region of southern Nepal, the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve comprises a beautiful stretch of wetland habitats. The smallest national park in the region, Koshi Tappu...

THE TAJ MAHAL “A teardrop on the cheek of eternity,” one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site: there’s no arguing that the Taj Mahal is one of the most iconic structures on Earth. If you’re planning a trip to Agra, the landmark is simply...

1. THE HIMALAYAS ARE FULL OF MAGIC, MYSTERY, AND SOME OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SCENERY ON EARTH. 2. TREK THROUGH THE HIMALAYAS, AND YOU’RE SURE TO COME ACROSS STRANDS OF COLOURFUL PRAYER FLAGS FLUTTERING IN THE WIND. 3. THAT RAINBOW PALETTE EXTENDS TO THE TRUCKS THAT WEND THEIR WAY...

1. LALBAGH BOTANICAL GARDEN One of the most impressive green spaces in India, the was first commissioned by local ruler Hyder Ali in the 18th century. Today, it’s host to annual flower shows, features more than 1,000 species of flora, and is a perfect urban oasis. 2. KRISHNA...

you can expect to traverse rivers and old growth forests, tour monasteries and temples, and catch glimpses of Everest and Kanchenjunga through the clouds. For those looking to truly get away from it all, nowhere will feel quite so foreign. Below, we’ve selected some of the most...

AJMER Ringed by the Aravalli Mountains and with the beautiful Ana Sagar Lake at its heart, Ajmer has plenty of natural beauty to recommend it. Among Rajasthan’s most important pilgrimage sites for Muslims, the city is also home to the Sharif Dargah, a sacred shrine that doubles...

The allure of the Andaman Islands is undeniable. A far-flung archipelago at the edge of the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea, the islands are rich with evocative associations. Think: ancient tribes, cerulean seas, antique forests, volcanic nature, and exotic wildlife. Our...

1. SPLIT YOUR STAY The Maldives offers a wealth of destination-worthy, five-star resorts—so why stay at just one? Depending on the duration of your trip, split your getaway between two (or more) hotels—preferably ones that are located in different atolls—so you can see as much of...

Although you’ll want to luxuriate in its historic atmosphere for longer, set aside two or three days for an unhurried excursion. There are so many places to see in Hampi, and The Ultimate Travelling Camp’s opulent tented  is a very comfortable base to return to after a full day...

PEACE PAGODA The Darjeeling Peace Pagoda is one of 80 similar stupas around the world dedicated to peace. They are inspired by a Buddhist monk from Japan—a friend of Mahatma Gandhi who wanted to instil global harmony after World War II. True to its name, this Darjeeling temple is...

MUMBAI If Mumbai is the queen of Indian street food, Chowpatty Beach is the palace kitchen. Pani puri is the crowning glory here—the crispy pockets are stuffed with tangy chickpeas, potato and chutney. For something more substantial, pav bhaji is the ultimate...

TRIYOGA As yoga’s sister science, it’s a given that London’s most established yoga franchise offers Ayurvedic treatments, too. Triyoga has outposts across the capital, with rather lovely treatment rooms in each. While the menu is admittedly limited, it includes the greatest hits:...

Odisha, magical Orissa is a small state in eastern India that bridges the coastline between Andhra Pradesh to the south and West Bengal to the north. While Andhra Pradesh is home to bustling cities like Hyderabad, and West Bengal hosts frenetic Kolkata as well as scenic...

TIGER SPOTTING IN CHITWAN Straddling the border with India, Chitwan National Park is a trove of tigers, rhinos and leopards, not to mention the flurries of birds and butterflies., set in the heart of it, is an exclusive base for a Nepal Fall asleep to the sounds of the wilderness...

1. THE RED FORT DELHI Nestled in Delhi’s clamorous heart, the Red Fort’s tremendous scale and soaring sandstone walls imbue it with visual splendour. Built under Shah Jahan and considered the apex of Mughal architecture and design, this UNESCO World Heritage Site now contains a...

GOING TO BED CEREMONY, MEENAKSHI TEMPLE The psychedelic towers of Meenakshi Temple make this one of the most vivid attractions in south India. Appreciating the fine detail of its rainbow-painted stucco gopurams in full daylight is a must, however the temple is best visited after...

SHOP FOR SILKS Varanasi’s artisans are famous for their rich silk brocades. Head to the Muslim quarter, whose narrow lanes are lined with stalls selling reams of gilded, jewelled colours. Many of the fabrics are produced here, and silk stalls are interspersed with tiny tailors’...

SOUTH GOA Among the best beaches in Goa is Agonda. This serene stretch is serviced by a row of charming beach huts and little else. The shoals of hawkers that patrol many of Goa’s beaches are notably lacking here, so you can roll out a sarong or stroll along the lip of the...

URBAN HOTELS IN INDIA 1. THE TAJ MAHAL PALACE, MUMBAI There’s more than one Taj Mahal in India. Glamorous Mumbai is home to The Taj Mahal Palace, one of the best luxury hotels in India, whose opulence challenges that of Mumtaz’s original. Having hosted kings, presidents and...

PUSHKAR Although it rose to guidebook fame for its loud and colourful camel fairs every autumn, Pushkaris more important among pilgrims for its ghats, which step down into the holy waters of the tranquil Pushkar Lake. A must-visit on any  spend a few moments soaking up the...

A MINI NOTEPAD Not just visually stunning, the Subcontinent is a trove of inspiration and wisdom. Whether it’s poetry inspired by the landscape, snippets of overheard conversations, or precious moments of enlightenment, every person and place in this land inspires. Take along a...

How to Travel to Iran for Americans, British and Canadians – Updated for 2019 Written originally in 2017, this post is updated for travel to Iran in 2019. If you have corrections to make or experiences to share, and especially if you have experienced American travel to Iran – we...

A Guide to Responsible Travel in Amsterdam. As someone who lived and worked in Amsterdam for nearly seven years, it seems ironic that the first time I write about sustainable travel in Amsterdam – or about Amsterdam at all for that matter – is after I have left. Despite having...

There’s always been something that has drawn me to the sleeper train journey. Perhaps the idea of boarding in one city and waking up to the next, gently lulled to sleep by the rocking motion of the carriages on the rails. The reality of course is often a little...

Why Stay in a Cabin in Sweden? Sweden is well known for its great outdoors and beautiful nature. And although forestry is important to Sweden as an industry, it is one of the only countries in the world to buck the trend of de-forestation and actually plant more trees every year...

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I have to pinch myself to remind myself of how many wonderful travel opportunities there are on my doorstep. Take continental Europe for example. I’ve been lucky enough to be able to live in different parts of Europe all of my life, but it...

Slovenia Itinerary: Two Weeks of Eco Friendly Travel in Slovenia. I went to Slovenia with few expectations but a couple of assumptions.  Assumptions that I’m happy both turned out to be wrong. My first assumption was that ten days would be sufficient to explore much of...

A Quick Guide to Cascais, Portugal. Cascais is to Lisbon what Brighton is to London. Except without the shingle, better weather, and arguably much more striking views. Oh, and a slightly more upgraded version of fish and chips ? Cascais, Portugal is located about an hour to the...

Choosing the Best Train Journeys in India We don’t keep it much of a secret that hopping on a train is our favourit-est way to travel, especially in India, where you can be assured of smiles, lots of people, great views, and probably a spot of adventure along the way....

Mauritius off the Beaten Path. The beautiful island of Mauritius, a “tiny” drop off Africa in the Indian Ocean is a favourite of coffee-table glossy travel magazines and honeymooners. Famous for its sparkling clear waters, luxurious all inclusive resorts, never-ending infinity...

Jordan Itinerary: The Best of Jordan in 10 Days (or More). Jordan is one of the best countries to explore in the Middle East – not only is it one of the most stable countries from a security and politics standpoint, but it is also home to some of the most impressive treasures of...

I haven’t always agreed with the above quote. After all, what’s wrong with a quick escape to get some sun? But then again, Johnson may have a point… The second most visited city in the world, London needs no introduction. In fact, it used to sit firmly at in top spot until...

Why Tour Italy by Train? Mention Italy, and images of red Ferraris (or other glamorous cars) tearing around winding coastal roads, or perhaps a Fiat cinque cento quietly bumbling through the cobbled streets of small Italian towns…. but the real romance of Italy is train...

Since I started traveling to further-flung places about a decade ago, I’ve often felt a reluctance to go back to the same country or place twice.  I remember long, slow train journeys—of the best kind—and waking up to blood red skies wrapped in mountains. Back then, I...

TO HELLFIRE AND BACK: TRAVELLING THE THAILAND – BURMA RAILWAY. The “Death Railway ” was built during World War Two between 1941 and 1943 with the aim of linking Thailand to Myanmar (Burma) by rail so that Japanese forces, who had invaded Thailand at the time, could move weapons,...

PERFECT 2 WEEK SRI LANKA ITINERARY (OR LONGER!) + SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL TIPS Sri Lanka has been getting much attention of late, and for good reason. This previously tumultuous land is now peaceful, welcoming, good-value and most importantly: Home to some of the most...

ISLAND CASTAWAY AT FLOWER ISLAND ECO RESORT PALAWAN. Playing Castaway at an Eco Resort in Palawan When I decided to go and stay at Flower Island Eco Resort, Palawan, I didn’t expect that I’d be playing desert island castaway by myself for a few days.That’s the...

That’s the thing with Voluntourism; it’s an industry that prays on peoples’ good intentions, philanthropy, and desire to do something good, give something back.  It also however prays on our collective ignorance, and often assumption that we might be in a better place to...

From Kolkata to Dhaka by Train. Standing in the bustling and almost steaming waiting room of Kolkata (Calcutta)’s Railway Reservation Centre, it began to look like my dream of travelling out of India by train was not going to happen. It was also clear, that being in the...

In Search of the Best Eco Lodges in Costa Rica. There are few countries in the world that conjure a stronger image of ecotourism, perhaps, than Costa Rica. Home to howler monkeys swinging between tree top canopies, macaws colourfully displaying their rainbows of feathers, and...

Living in Toronto: Our Experiences If home is where the heart is, the decision to up and move to a new town, city, country or continent is not one to be taken lightly. After all, what we derive our sense of home from is hard to define, and a concept that perhaps becomes ever more...