Inspiring Journeys

After a decade of journeys through South-East Asia and countless encounters with elephants in the jungles of Thailand the question of whether tourism is good for these graceful creatures is still an important one. Exploring the culture of elephants in Thailand makes for a wonderful journey, and if you chose with care, your travel dollar can greatly improve the lives of the elephants as well.

China's increasing middle-class growth is putting pressure on the traditional flavour of tourism across the country. In Yunnan there are still plenty of gems to be discovered, but expect to dig a little deeper to find them.

It's all about the rice. Rural life in Northern Vietnam is heavily focused on the production of rice grain, but there's more going on around the paddies than just planting and the harvest. Ethnic diversity and the history of a nation are a part of the landscape too.

In the far north of Sweden the glacial ice melts in summer and flows through a network of forests, rivers and lakes, The resulting wonderland of wilderness provides the perfect setting for kayaks, cabins and a taste of Swedish sauna.

Samburu National Reserve is not as well known as the big African game parks. There are no annual migrations, no balloon rides above the savannas and no eighteen wheeler trucks filled with Spanish overland tourists.

Images of this rugged coastline attracts international attention from travellers and photographers, but you don't have to be Ken Duncan to get a great shot. Taking your time to make the most of the inspiration at hand is one way to improve your pictures, the other is to take a professional with you.

Contrary to what you may have seen at the movies there are very few penguins that dance or sing, but Antarctica can boast over 10 million that squawk, waddle and bicker.

The Taj Mahal is singularly stunning and you'd have to be made of marble to remain unmoved by it's beauty. The same cannot be said of Agra's rickshaw drivers and their eagerness to lighten your wallet.

The Lares Trail is the most recent alternative to the Inca Trail, taking in the scenic altitudes north of Olantaytambo. It doesn't walk you into Machu Picchu with dawn views of the Sun Gate, but it does get you amongst the rugged ranges of the Andes to meet remote villagers and their farms. Trekkers can expect all the llamas you could ever want and maybe a few you didn't.