Travel

Australians love nothing more than to tell everyone how great Australia is. Many repeat the phrase “Australia is the greatest country in the world” like a broken record. Should they?

Azerbaijan, the so-called ‘Land of Fire’, with its glittering capital Baku, is a nation trying to promote a new image for itself on the global stage. I’m not sure it will succeed.

Surrounded in mystery and isolation, the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan has only opened up its beauty to tourists in the last couple of decades. Anyone who visits is in for a treat.

Chile is one of the most beautiful and geographically diverse places on the planet. For good reason: it’s really long. In terms of natural beauty, it takes the top spot in Latin America in my view.

The next global hegemon won’t be a democracy. While the West has been fighting among itself, China has been positioning itself as the world’s next leader. What is it like?

From the pristine Caribbean beaches of its northern coast, to the vibrant streets of Medellin, and trekking to the country’s ancient ‘Lost City’, Colombia packs a punch.

Ethiopia is one of the most diverse countries on the planet, providing a combination of African, European, and Middle-Eastern influences. The result is breathtaking.

The Faroe Islands are peppered with lush green valleys, imposing basalt cliffs, and waterfalls plunging into stormy oceans. If you like the scenery from Game of Thrones, visit.

Ever tried a silent meditation retreat? I didn’t think so. Well, a ‘10-Day Silent Torture Prison’ would be more accurate name for it, as I discovered in Northern India.

The island of Bali is a complete travel destination. Surf, party, or get off the beaten track – there’s truly something for everyone. It’s popular for a reason.

When you tell people you are going to Iraq, they look at you funny. Perhaps rightly, given the troubles it has faced. Not so for the Kurdistan region, which is a pocket of calm.

It might seem obvious to most. But it took a much longer trip to Italy for me to fully fall in love with it.

The Ivory Coast’s main metropolis is Abidjan. Nestled between lagoons and waterways, it doesn’t look like a city typical of West Africa. There is a sense that it’s going places.

Japan is my favourite travel destination on the planet. My love for the country grows with each visit. There is something magical and mystical about this land. You have to visit.

It’s hard to talk about Kazakhstan without mentioning Borat, the character created by Sacha Baron Cohen. As the saying goes, any publicity is good publicity.

Madagascar is not all lush rainforests and talking lemurs, which was a big surprise to me when I visited. It is dusty, red, and dry; a truly wild island.

The Marshall Islands are tiny slithers of life, stranded in the middle of the seemingly endless Pacific Ocean. Few places on earth feel as remote; because few are.

There are few beaches on earth as pristine as those in Mauritius. It really is paradise. But like many things in life, paradise doesn’t come cheap. Mauritius is hard to visit on a budget.

Of over 600 islands in Micronesia, Pohnpei is one of the most beautiful. It’s simply bursting with life. It seemed like I was viewing everything in technicolour when I visited.

Mongolia is both green and serene. In visiting this magical land, you are met with lush landscapes, dotted with ger huts (yurts) and horses. Lots of horses.

Myanmar is one of the most varied Southeast Asian countries. It has red deserts, lush rainforests, and tranquil lakes. And annoying ‘traveller’ types, like me.

Namibia is one of my favourite African countries. It has raw, barren, and natural beauty unsurpassed anywhere else in Africa. If you don’t like heat and sand, it might not be for you.

The Pacific islands of Nauru and Kiribati are two of the most remote and least visited countries in the world. One is paradise. The other is a dystopian nightmare come to life.

The Pacific islands of Nauru and Kiribati are two of the most remote and least visited countries in the world. One is paradise. The other is a dystopian nightmare come to life.

There are few words that can describe the enigma that is ‘The Democratic Peoples’ Republic of Korea’. So I like to use ‘Silly Korea’. It’s the strangest and saddest place on the planet.

The beaches of Palau are some of the most alluring on earth, as well as some of the most successfully protected. It’s as close to paradise as it’s possible to get.

Portland, Oregon, is a millennial utopia. There are few places on earth with as many craft breweries, independent coffee shops, and kombucha brewers. It’s my favourite US city.

The tiny, volcanic Portuguese island of Madeira packs a punch. A trip to Madeira will take you to perhaps the most enchanting island in Europe.

Rwanda has a tragic history. But a much brighter future. How have Rwandans managed to overcome the darkest instincts of the most dangerous of apes, humans?

We all know about Saudi Arabia’s many shortcomings. But things are changing. The country is liberalising. It hopes to be a global tourist superpower. Will it succeed?

Is there more to Scotland than haggis, lochs, kilts, and nationalist stereotypes? Overwhelmingly yes.

Freetown is a wild and chaotic city. Yet beauty prevails. Stunning mountains give way to beautiful, palm tree-covered beaches, in one of the region’s most charismatic cities.

Seoul is an impossibly large metropolis and the most space-age place I’ve ever been. Particularly when you compare it to its neighbour to the north.

What Suriname, Guyana, and French Guiana lack in reputation, they make up for in intrigue. South America’s ‘forgotten’ countries have a lot to offer.

What Suriname, Guyana, and French Guiana lack in reputation, they make up for in intrigue. South America’s ‘forgotten’ countries have a lot to offer.

What Suriname, Guyana, and French Guiana lack in reputation, they make up for in intrigue. South America’s ‘forgotten’ countries have a lot to offer.

Switzerland has a reputation for being very boring indeed. But if beauty on this scale is boring, I’ll take it.

Taipei, the booming capital city of Taiwan, is a true melting pot of Chinese and Japanese influences. It has a confusing history.

Tajikistan stands out in Central Asia for its dramatic mountain landscapes. Its scenery is breathtaking, rugged, and surprising. Who cares if most people haven’t heard of it?

Tasmania is a remote, rugged island that feels more like Scotland than Australia. It offers a breathtaking alternative to nearby New Zealand, and for a Brit, feels like home.

Despite their ‘woo woo’ reputation, silent retreats can be transformative. Everyone should try a retreat at least once.

My snobbish views about Lanzagrotty and Tenerife couldn’t have been more wrong. These islands are special.

The stunning and curious Pacific Islands of Samoa, Fiji, and Tonga are rife with pretentious water, rugby, and sexism. And some nice beaches, to boot.

The stunning and curious Pacific Islands of Samoa, Fiji, and Tonga are rife with pretentious water, rugby, and sexism. And some nice beaches, to boot.

The stunning and curious Pacific Islands of Samoa, Fiji, and Tonga are rife with pretentious water, rugby, and sexism. And some nice beaches, to boot.

Turkmenistan is the lesser known of the world’s two main personality cults. The other being North Korea. It’s a stupendously weird nation. There is nowhere on earth quite like it.

The Jurassic Coast is one of the best examples of the UK’s rich history and beautiful scenery. A trip to Dorset is well worth it, even when international travel is allowed again.

For a trip into the heart of America and the history of this “tremendous” nation, look no further than Trumpland, aka the Deep South of the United States. Visiting is quite a ride.

Having driven from New York to San Francisco in 2011, I thought it was time to do it again. Except this time, going the ‘wrong way’ around. I loved it.

Having driven from New York to San Francisco in 2011, I thought it was time to do it again. Except this time, going the ‘wrong way’ around. I loved it.

Uzbekistan is one of the most underrated travel destinations in the world, with beautiful desert scenery and an abundance of historical artefacts. I’ll excuse the dodgy food.

Vanuatu is regularly ranked as the happiest place on earth, whilst simultaneously being one of the countries most prone to natural disasters. Go figure?

Travelling in Zimbabwe is not easy. But you will be rewarded with raw, barren, and beautiful natural scenery and incredible wildlife. And of course, the monumental Victoria Falls.