The three tiny teardrop islands of Gili lie just Northwest of Lombok, Bali’s more rugged sister island in Indonesia. They have been growing ever more popular amongst backpackers over the last 10 years, but due to their remote location and under-developed circumstance, are still fairly unknown by other tourists.
Though it is their under-development that gives the Gili islands their charm, and cements them as three of the most beautiful paradise islands in the world!
Read MoreTo quote Lonely Planet, “Europe is a patchwork of more than 40 compulsively individualistic countries and is a dazzling and spectacular place to explore. With an endless variety of cultures and attractions, travelers can jump in almost anywhere to join the party.”
While there are hundreds of activities across Europe to keep your adrenaline pumping, here are 6 of the most epic you should try within your lifetime.
Read MoreOne of the most well known ancient attractions on earth – Stonehenge remains a mystery to this day.
The pre-historic monument is a stone circle made of massive standing stones, built somewhere between 3000 and 1600BC. In the middle ages, they thought it was built by magic, though it has been estimated that the construction of Stonehenge required more than thirty million hours of labor.
Read MoreFor backpacking travelers like me, luxury hotels are a dream. Egyptian cotton, silk pillows, and the finest Italian Frette. It would be amazing to rest my head in luxury everywhere I go.
For right now these spectacular hotels remain active on my bucket-list, though who knows, sometimes dreams do come true! Here are 4 of the most luxurious accommodations around the world of which I would love to organize a stay if money was no object!
Read MoreValencia was once the capital of the Valencia kingdom and is currently the third largest city in Spain. It is close to the Mediterranean Sea, right on the Rio Turia bank, in Huerta De Valencia. Visitors flock here to enjoy the bustling streets, beautiful churches, and a local climate which is milder than many expect from a town in Southern Spain.
There are plenty of amazing tourist attractions to see in Valencia, though you will want to consider the following options first, as these are the attractions not to miss.
Read MoreThe United States is a country full of awe-inspiring natural wonders, and come Wednesday we take to the road to experience them all (well, those situated on West Coast anyway)! Offering travelers an incredible variety of diverse and inspiring landscapes, breathtaking locations, and powerful panoramas, America truly is the land of dreams.
As such, here are 15 spectacular west coast destinations to visit before you die. Add them to your bucket list, and why not combine them all into one epic road-trip in a drive from the bottom to the top?!
Read MoreLos Angeles hotels are incredible. They’re lavish, fashionable, modern, and chic, and if you’re lucky and know where to look, most modern LA hotels will even throw in a rooftop pool.
Hotel pools in Los Angeles are an art form, and the hotels which have made this list go well beyond a space for simply swimming laps.
Taking a dip is for hotel guests only, so don’t miss out on your chance to book one of these fabulous Los Angeles hotels while in town. With California’s charmed climate and year-round sun, swimming pools are a great way to spend your day no matter what time of year in which you choose to stay.
Read MoreYou’re in the market for your next vacation and wondering where to go. You’re thinking forest trekking, dramatic Andean peaks, and a cobbled historic downtown. Perhaps somewhere in Colombia! If the pin on your map points to the tropical climate of Bogota, then this guide is for you.
These are the top 5 things to do in this beautiful Latin American city.
Read MorePart of the charm of rural Bavaria is exploring the small villages that are spread out around the countryside. A scenic hour and a half drive from Munich, for instance, will take you past farms, forests, rivers and enormous wind turbines.
While there is much of the Bavarian countryside to explore, one small town does rise above the rest, and with it’s charming architecture, colorful houses and ancient castle ruins, Kallmünz is a medieval town which should not be missed.
Read MoreIt’s the ultimate rush of adrenaline – strapping yourself to a beautiful stranger and skydiving from a perfectly good plane 12,000 ft in the air; an ultimate bucket list item you’re sure to never forget.
There are only a few seconds of initial terror – the moment you realize your body is plummeting towards the ground at around 200 kph. Though everything after that is pure pleasure, and the feeling of weightlessness as you soar above some of the most spectacular scenery in the world is better than any high which exists in substance form on earth.
The following are the best places to skydive around the world, including my personal favorite, Interlaken, Switzerland.
Read MoreAre your travel plans bringing you through Vancouver this season? Perhaps you’re catching a flight with a long layover, or are one of those lucky travelers taking an Alaskan Cruise with a 24 hour stop in British Columbia. If so, there are plenty of ways to explore Vancouver without putting a large dent in your pocketbook, and plenty of amazing sites and attractions to fill a day.
Here are a few suggestions for those wanting to take in some of the amazing sites and attractions in downtown Vancouver in a day.
Read MoreOne of the premiere tourist attractions within the UK, Cornwall attracts a wealth of Brits and international visitors alike. A charming county with a slow paced lifestyle and laid back atmosphere, tourists flock here to relax, to soak up the sun (it has the most in Britain!), and to enjoy and explore some of the UK’s finest natural attractions and outdoor activity scenes.
Cornwall combines beautiful surf spots, gorgeous gardens, cliff top walks and beautiful weather. It offers visitors the chance to take a stroll along the beach, indulge in a bit of wave watching, and then head back to a tradition pub to enjoy a pint with friends beside a glowing log fire.
Though this Cornwall is highly publicized, and these attractions and draws are very well known. So to add, here are 5 things you probably didn’t know about Cornwall.
Read MoreAustralia is a goldmine when it comes to bucket list experiences – an enormous country blessed with a variety of different landscapes, activities enough for multiple trips, and attractions for absolutely every taste.
Whether you are a competitive tanner, diver, surfer, backpacker or wildlife enthusiast, Australia has a bucket-list experience for you.
Read MoreCan a single film motivate you to experience all of this and more? Can one documentary inspire you to walk 500 miles?
Walking the Camino: Six Ways to Santiago is a 90 minute documentary which provides up-close look at the ancient spiritual pilgrimage known as the Camino de Santiago, or Way of St. James.
Following the journeys of six modern-day pilgrims as they walk 500 miles and cope with blisters, exhaustion, and loneliness along the way, this documentary successfully captures the universal themes of this physically challenging, spiritually nourishing, and profoundly enlightening journey, and offers a very realistic insight into what a traveler attempting the Camino should expect from the journey.
Read MoreIt was one of those incredibly rare moments in life which makes you feel like truly one of the elite. Stretched out by a lavish outdoor pool surrounded by romanesque arches lined with towering palms, I had the terrific weather and a sprawling pool deck completely to myself.
Arizona is known for it’s terrific weather, and there is something about the combination of a brilliant blue sky and the warmth of the desert sun which induces a state of happiness and relaxation like no drug ever will.
Though with the expansive grounds to myself, the day was even more beautiful, allowing me to indulge in fantasies of living the high life; a life of the rich and famous where secluded decedance and private luxury retreats with mountain views are part of the normal everyday.
Read MoreIt’s often fun, picturing a destination you’ve never been to. You imagine the atmosphere, smell it’s scents, and taste imaginary flavors. You picture it’s cities, construct ideas of street scenes, and imagine the people you will inevitably meet. You create a complete picture in your mind before you even arrive.
In my mind, Hong Kong was a concrete jungle, packed with modern skyscrapers; the Asian version of New York City. Though after having actually arrived, I’ve since realized it’s much more than just that.
Read MoreMyanmar is a country of contrasts. The traveller’s eye sees glittering temples, women in brightly coloured headscarves, and fishermen rowing with one leg while standing on the other. But dig deeper and you’ll find that Myanmar is a country with a dark past and her people have endured the worst.
While travelling through Myanmar we learned that the country and her people had a lot to teach us.
Truth be told, we didn’t know much about Myanmar’s recent history before deciding to travel there. But upon reading Emma Larkin’s Finding George Orwell in Burma before our departure, we were suddenly aware that the Burmese people had been through hell.
Read MoreCosta Rica is an incredible country, offering long stretches of deserted white sand beaches, dense jungles filled with a rich diversity of exotic wildlife, lush rain-forests, raging rivers, towering volcanoes, and smiling communities.
The beaches really are second to none, the scenery is phenomenal, the country boasts wildlife you have never before encountered, and all inclusive Costa Rica luxury resorts are world-class. On top of all of this though, Costa Rica has an adventurous activities scene which rivals that of New Zealand!
Read MoreThe capital of New Zealand, while Wellington is a small city, it is an incredibly cool little capital, and exudes a large amount of character.
From the world’s best coffee, to scenic views which will blow your mind, a unique and cozy bar scene, and accessibility to both the North and South Islands, Wellington is one of those city’s you really shouldn’t miss.
There are many, many reasons why you should travel to Wellington, New Zealand, and here are just a few reasons why.
Read MoreCombining volunteerism with travel is one of our favorite ways to explore the globe, though it’s absolutely vital to choose a project which makes a genuine difference to the community and society as a whole.
Realizing that this is now an industry which can turn a profit, some companies and organizations are ignoring the long-term effects of volunteering on host communities, and as such there is now a lot of cynicism about those who want to become an international volunteer to “do good”.
We speak to Stephen Knight today about volunteering in Latin America, and the importance of ethical volunteerism.
Read MoreScotland is one of those rare countries in the world with landscapes so diverse you could travel for months and still not have seen it all! From the highlands in the north with dramatic moors, rolling hills, rugged coasts and dazzling lochs, to the Scottish borders alongside England which boast medieval castles and manor houses, there is no doubt that Scotland is one of the world’s most beautiful and historically fascinating countries.
There is a definite and very distinctive medieval and magical quality about Scotland, and there are attractions to appeal to travellers of all ages and interests.
Read MoreI was standing at 13,642 feet above sea level, and staring out at the panorama of an alpine wonderland of ice, snow and rock. The peaks of Swiss alps rose through the sea of clouds in front of me, and glacial valleys covered in the purest white snow lay out ahead.
I was standing at the top of Europe atop the summit of Jungfrau; easily my favorite Ice Cold Adventure to date!
Read MoreDubai is an absolute haven for foodies, and visitors from all over the world flock here for some of the finest restaurants on earth. And with over 200 different nationalities represented, the choice in this truly multicultural destination is often overwhelming.
From world-class food festivals to international food chains, gourmet dining in Dubai Marina Restaurants, and small “mom and pop” restaurants serving authentic cuisine from all around the globe, Dubai really has something to suit all tastes.
These are our top tips for eating out in Dubai.
Read MoreRio De Janeiro is a legendary city. And with good reason.
The physical beauty of it’s beaches and mountains is unsurpassed, and it’s cinematic cityscape is the ultimate picture perfect postcard.
It’s shops and restaurants are full of delightful surprises, and the relaxed vibe of its people is infectious. Luscious rainforest fronts onto the deep blue sea, and the seductive sound of the samba pulses through the city late into the night.
“Tack on one of the sexiest populations on the planet and you have an intoxicating tropical cocktail that leaves visitors punch-drunk on paradise.”
Read MoreWhaling is an issue which is plaguing the international media, and the current saga surrounding the Faroe Islands Grindadrap is headline news. Few would have missed the recent media circus and international outrage surrounding the killing of pilot whales in the Faroe Islands, a practice known locally as the Grindadrap.
Hundreds of pilot whales are slaughtered every year on Faroese shores, and the international community sits horrified as gruesome images circulate depicting the bloody scene.
International organizations rush to the islands to intervene, though many volunteers arrive on the islands ill equip to operate a successful campaign, relying heavily on media hype for facts, and with little understanding of, or willingness to understand, the Faroese culture.
They fail to realize that it is only when you understand something that you can effectively seek to change it.
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I am Megan Jerrard, professional travel blogger/journalist with a focus on adventure, discovery, immersion and inspiring you to explore!
