Travel Guides

Quintessentially Aussie, this land of scorched red desert, secret canyon trails and awe-inspiring skies is easily accessible despite its remoteness that spans 6.5 million square kilometres.Exploring the outback is one of the top activities for any traveller who heads out on a trip to Australia. Start from Adelaide and drive north on the Explorer Highway, or fly into Darwin and go south through ancient, tropical landscape. Whichever route you take, you will see some of Australia’s most incredible natural wonders on your Aussie outback adventure.

Practically every visitor to Peru wants to visit Machu Picchu. For some, the experience would not be complete without completing the four-day Inca Trail that winds through the mountains leading to the mystical ruins. The Inca Trail is the original Machu Picchu trek that has become extremely popular and is always fully booked well in advance. Now, many trekkers opt for alternative treks to Machu Picchu. This is a guide to the classic Inca Trail as well as some of the best alternatives in the Sacred Valley.

Most visitors to Peru head straight for Cusco to visit Peru’s premier tourist attraction, Machu Picchu. Cusco was the ancient capital of the Inca Empire and is the present-day base for exploring the Sacred Valley. However, the more adventurous travellers continue on from Cusco to the jungle town of Puerto Maldonado, the gateway to the Madre de Dios region on the border with Bolivia and Brazil. Nowadays, it is not too difficult to travel from Cusco to Puerto Maldonado and the two main options are a bus journey or a short flight. Before you leave, please check out some of the top things to do in Cusco.

Taking a road tour in Australia on one of the most iconic coastlines in the world should be on any traveler’s bucket list. Road-trip adventures are always epic, but this Great Ocean Road route ups the ante with dramatic overlooks, craggy cliffs, and spectacular emerald water. You’ll need to travel 243 km to take in all of the Great Ocean Road’s attractions.Dotted along the route are several quaint fishing towns which serve as perfect pitstops for soaking up the local culture. Or you can excite your adrenals with a number of adventure activities found on the beaches and in the national parks of the region. Starting in Torquay and finishing at Allansford, if you’re looking to follow a Great Ocean Road itinerary, here are some of our recommendations for what to see on the Great Ocean Road.

Peru’s famous trekking trails need no introduction. But as the country’s primary trekking destination, the Cordillera Blanca region exerts an inexorable pull. It has something for every ability, from relative novices to elite technical mountaineers. The gateway to this outdoor wonderland is the town of Huaraz, also a convenient stop for organizing guides and provisions. Since the Cordillera Blanca is firmly on the itinerary of many who make the trip to Peru, there are several good transport connections from Lima to Huaraz and travelling between the two should present no significant difficulties. If you don’t have your own transport, the two easiest options are either to fly or to take a bus.

The only thing better than spending the day surrounded by spectacular natural beauty is combining that experience with a glass of the world’s finest vino. The Colchagua Valley, one of Chile's best wine regions, allows travellers to do just that — take in the great outdoors whilst sipping on a glass of mouth-watering Chilean wine.Known as Chile’s Napa Valley for the stance this region has taken to promote wine tourism in the country, Colchagua Valley boasts some of the best wineries in the country and thus, some brilliant red wine varieties. Located just a short drive from Santiago, you can either take a day long wine tour in the valley or choose to extend it to weeks during your trip to Chile. Discover the art of turning a bunch of grapes into excellent bottled wine at Colchagua. To get started, here are 5 wineries in Colchagua Valley you must visit:

Cape Town is rated as one of the top tourist destinations in the world, and comes as a natural choice for most travelers on a trip to South Africa. Situated on the southwest coast of the country, it is a haven of exquisite natural beauty and offers a lot of things to do. Nestled between Table Mountain and the Cape Harbour, the city offers stunning views from almost any vantage point. Some of the top attractions in the area include the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Table Mountain, Robben Island, Signal Hill and Chapman’s Peak, to name but a few.Visitors who travel to Cape Town are spoiled for choice with activities ranging from sightseeing to shopping, hiking, surfing, nearby safaris and wine-tasting. Wine tasting in Cape Town includes visits to centuries-old wineries, rich with folklore and historic artifacts, as well as tastefully modern establishments catering to a young, yet discerning, international crowd. Here are our top seven establishments to visit for wine tasting in Cape Town.

Of all the alternative treks to the Inca Trail, the Quarry Trail to Machu Picchu is perhaps the least known. A far cry from the classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, on this trek you are unlikely to see any other tourists for the duration of your trip. This is an option that will appeal to those who enjoy being different and who want to attempt a trek that few others will even have heard of.

A trip to Costa Rica just wouldn’t be complete without a visit to its most iconic volcano. Inspiring school science projects for years, Arenal Volcano stands majestically as a perfectly symmetrical cone puffing steam into the clouds. While the active Arenal Volcano is the most popular attraction here, Arenal Volcano National Park is actually home to two volcanoes. The other, Cerro Chato, is considered extinct and has long been a destination for adventurous tourists.Sightseeing around the volcanic wonders becomes all the more interesting as you discover the fascinating ecology of the park. Covered by a mixture of vibrant tropical rainforest and open grasslands, this park is rich in flora and fauna due to its fertile landscape. Plan a day trip or stay for a few days. Either way, this national park and the surrounding town of La Fortuna offer plenty of interesting areas to explore.

Looking for a quintessential adventure tour in Costa Rica, but short on time? Or perhaps you’d like to balance your next trip with a mix of land and sea exploration. No matter your travel plans, make sure to visit Manuel Antonio National Park. Lush tropical rainforests, picturesque beaches, mangroves, lagoons, and colorful reef make this destination an excellent bet to sample some of Costa Rica’s unique treasures.Though this park is the country’s smallest among the national parks of Costa Rica, it is packed with rich biodiversity and history. Wildlife is abundant and the vistas are grand. Definitely bring a camera to capture the blissful moments; with scenery this iconic, you might just find yourself making postcards! To help you discover the many gems hidden in this park, read this overview of sites, activities, and tips for visiting.

Rising 1,086m above Cape Town, Table Mountain is the city’s most recognizable landmark. The mountain and its famous plateau look over the city like a strong, silent, protective guardian. But Table Mountain is more than just a representation of Cape Town; it’s also home to an immense amount of flora and fauna, native only to the area. Table Mountain’s abundance of biodiversity coupled with its one-of-a-kind landscape creates a truly awesome experience for visitors.Known for the incredible view of the city the mountain avails from its top, it is definitely a rewarding experience to hike up Table Mountain from the ground below to its sky-scraping height, which is also possible to reach via an easy cable car ride. Platteklip Gorge trail is the most direct and popular trail up the mountain and has been included in our list of best hiking trails in Cape Town. There are also three other trails you can take leading to the top of Table Mountain. Choose as you please.

A trip to South Africa is perfect for anyone who enjoys glorious sunshine, has a knack for adventure, and wishes to explore diverse cultures. The country has so much to offer — from big five safaris, scenic road trips, rewarding multi-day hikes and treks, to whale watching and magnificent golfing opportunities. Hence, it doesn’t come as a surprise that it has been listed as one of the top 10 holiday destinations for 2018. For those who are already planning a trip to the country and wondering where to go in South Africa, here is a guide to some of the South African holiday destinations (in no particular order) that you should not miss.

Can you imagine anything more adorable than an island filled with penguins? Isla Magdalena makes this heart-warming image a reality. Located in the Strait of Magellan, Isla Magdalena (or Magdalena Island in English) is the main part of the Penguins Natural Monument and sits on the Chilean side of Patagonia, on the boundaries of the Tierra del Fuego National Park.The penguins that live on this island have been luring in tourists for some time now. Hundreds of them are scattered in all directions and they have no fear of the humans that walk among them. The effect of this is that visitors can walk across the island whilst simultaneously taking in the views and getting up close and personal with some of the cutest creatures on earth.

Along Lasseter Highway is a magnificent sandstone monolith standing more than 340 meters high and shining bright red. This is Uluru, the red heart of the Australian continent. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has a rich connection to Australia's indigenous culture in the past. Just 16 km away is the Kata Tjuta, another geographical wonder, made up of 36 conglomerate rock domes that have existed for 500 million years. The entirety of Uluru Kata-Tjuta National Park stretches around 1,300 square kilometers of arid land ecosystems that are home to vast species of flora and fauna only found in dry settings. The park is open all year round, excluding areas closed for privacy of the indigenous families residing there. Tourism is a flourishing industry here, while locals promote their cultural and natural heritage with a unique combination of Aussie hospitality and stunning landmarks. If you're planning to visit Uluru Kata-Tjuta National Park, you're in for a treat. Here are the top things to do in Uluru, from the thrill of the great outdoors to the laidback viewing of the setting sun.Highlights Hike around Uluru and get close to the red rock's unique geographical marvel Discover Australia's Anangu culture by paying a visit to the park's cultural center Go camping outside the premises of the park or stay in five-star luxury accommodations nearby See the Wakagetti Dancers perform around a bonfire Lowlights Fires are common in this arid location, usually occurring when storms arrive in hot weather The park is isolated from public facilities

What is the best way to combine a love for water, wildlife, and adventure? Diving, of course! Around the world, scuba diving and snorkeling are popular activities for travelers, and in Costa Rica, this is no exception. With pristine water and a diverse collection of reefs accessible from both of the country’s coasts, diving and snorkeling in Costa Rica offers awe-inspiring adventures into the aquatic world.