Varanasi is the holiest of holy cities in Hinduism and Jainism. It is full of meaningful and powerful experiences if you know where to look. The Death and Rebirth Walk reveals the spiritual underpinnings of Varanasi. The walk is a simple concept: an expert, certified guide picks you up at your hotel in the evening and from there you venture into the depths of the city by foot.
Some two hundred years ago, Ladakhi craftsmen built Stok Palace high up in the mountains in northern India. Today, the Palace is a heritage hotel, managed by the very same royal family for whom it was built. Architectural brilliance and precious legacy are the tenets of this Himalayan gem, an immersive and privileged experience of Tibetan culture and traditions.
Delani is an impressive character. He has the build of the Māori warrior, his bulging arm muscles are a testimony to his craft: here’s a man that can shape a 2-ton piece of wood with his hands! His solemn Māori semblance pierces you with honest looks, he is utterly unpretentious. A master artist, he opens his mouth to speak, and from it comes a deep, syncopated voice.
I am on a safari at Pench National Park, in Central India, right in the geographical centre of the country. Pench is a forest of deciduous trees, mainly teak. It is home to tigers, leopards, wild dogs, jackals, deer and peacocks. It is very appealing to naturalists because it is practically unknown to tourists. There is an opportunity for more intimate encounters, especially with the tiger.
Amit Sankhala is one of the most renowned names in Tiger Conservation. Using travel as a powerful tool to aid India’s big cat, he has become an innovative force in luxury travel, shifting the focus from exploitation to deeply rewarding wildlife experiences. He is, by all rights, this generation’s Tiger Man of India.
This tale is about running 6 marathons in 6 days in the desert of Arabia; a tale about achievement travel, about my own need to challenge myself and to find the limits of my own capabilities. In that sense, it is not just about running in the desert, but also about embarking on an experience that it is life enriching. To understand the Arabian desert, and to taste its elemental forces.
This tale is about running 6 marathons in 6 days in the desert of Arabia; a tale about achievement travel, about my own need to challenge myself and to find the limits of my own capabilities. In that sense, it is not just about running in the desert, but also about embarking on an experience that it is life enriching. To understand the Arabian desert, and to taste its elemental forces.
Some places of pilgrimage have drawn the human spirit for centuries. The churches of Lalibela in northern Ethiopia are holy for Ethiopian Christians. These mysterious, rock-hewn churches are marvellous and intriguing. They speak of a world where the sacred is palpable, redemption, perhaps, at hand.
I am travelling in Mustang, the ancient Himalayan Kingdom of Lo, on nothing but a mountain bike. I cycle through the Kali Gandaki and the feet of Annapurna. I am heading to Lo Matang, the capital, following the ancient road of caravans. As I go deeper into Mustang, I leave the main paths and enter a journey of self-discovery.
The Fortress of Kuelap fulfills all the requirements for a just-do-it-before-word-gets-out holiday. These ruins are testimony of a pre-Incan culture that was conquered by the powerful Incan Empire. The fortress dates to the 6th century and once was the stronghold of “The Warriors of the Clouds”. Mysterious enough?
