Stunning Himalayan scenery and a traditional culture that permeates throughout your whole visit – a visit to Bhutan is a great experience and one that is anchored in the Bhutanese prides in maintaining its traditional culture, environment and people’s happiness rather than focusing on purely economic factors. This extends to the tourist industry where the minimum spend of USD250 and a strong government hand restricts some of the more commercialised downsides of the industry and makes it feel like you’re stepping back in time to this slightly forgotten Himalayan kingdom
You’ll have to go with an agency (and pay the minimum spend of USD250 per day), but considering you don’t have to travel as a group, can arrange your own itinerary and the $ includes everything other than flights, it’s a good deal. We went with Swallow Tail Travels on a 7 day / 6 night trip for USD1400, who we would recommend. This is the itinerary
Raja Ampat is, in my opinion, the best scuba diving in the world (very closely followed by the Galapagos). When combined with the stunning tropical paradise it is situated in and its remoteness leading to fewer fellow tourist numbers, it places it right near the top of any world travel experience, let alone purely scuba diving
I’ve experienced it in 3 very different ways – 1. Staying in very basic local homestays that are dotted around the Central Raja Ampat islands and represent the cheaper option (US$900 for a week including all diving costs), and the focus of this review; 2. On a live-aboard yacht, again in the Central area but with the luxury and flexibility for traveling to more remote spots with the yacht (US$4,500) – see the entry Live-aboard diving trip through Raja Ampat for more details; 3. Staying at the famous Misool Eco-resort based in South Raja Ampat that is within its own protected marine reserve (US$5,500) – see A week diving at Raja Ampat’s Misool Eco-resort
The key question comes down to how much you’re prepared to spend. If on a tighter budget, the homestays really are super cheap (USD900 including for all diving is a crazy cheap price even for SE Asia) and in a glorious setting right on the beach, but they will be some of the most basic accommodation you will have stayed in. We went for this first time round as we were short on cash and, whilst it was at times difficult to sleep, it gave us that real Robinson Crusoe feeling in . . . well . . . paradise
If an adventurous diver, Raja Ampat, however you do it, is a must
Japan is my favourite country to travel through. A big call I know. Whilst it may get pipped by some of the bigger countries when it comes to natural vistas and cultural pursuits, there are three things that cement it as number one:
- The people and surrounding culture is one of respect, politeness and calm – just travelling through Japan you find your blood pressure dropping, being more considerate and the pleasures that come with this
- Stuff works in Japan – it’s not just the trains being on time to within the second, it’s everything! I know there is something wonderfully memorable about travelling with a few hiccups as part of the adventure., but there is also something rather pleasant about having a country like Japan to explore knowing it’ll be super easy (and safe)
- The food! I know the French think they are the best in the world. They are not
There’s a lot to see, but if you have a week, I’d recommend this itinerary which lets you see 3 highlights of Japan and with a bit of adventure thrown in
Tasmania is one of the jewels of Australia for its rugged remoteness, world-class natural landscapes, unique history and fewer tourist numbers compared to some of the other famous sites. It also has the added benefit of being far smaller than some of the other parts of Australia, which makes it ideal for a week-10day road trip. The itinerary below gives you the highlights of this wonderful little island
3 high level tips:
- Could do in a week? You could do this itinerary in a week by shaving off Port Arthur and the Tamar Valley, but it will feel a little rushed. 10 days far better . . . and don’t make the error most people make which is dropping the west coast – it is the highlight of Tasmania
- UNESCO rate Tasmania – the high scores give an idea for just how impressive Tasmania is, and in particular the West Coast. But don’t only take my word for it. UNESCO have 10 potential criteria for a site to be designated World Heritage, with only one of the criteria needed to be met. The Tasmanian Wilderness Area in the south west part of Tasmania meets 7 of the 10 criteria which, alongside Tai Shan in China, places it at the top of all sites in the world. Really is quite a remarkable place to visit
- Tasmania or South Island New Zealand? The two are often compared as they’re relatively close and similar sizes which, considering the world-class natural landscapers of the South Island, gives you an idea of the quality on offer in Tasmania. Broadly, I’d say that the South Island just nudges it from a natural sites point of view based on its snow capped mountains, glaciers and fjords, but Tasmania clearly wins from a cultural significance point of view and might just shade it based on its more compact size for a roadtrip and its lower fellow tourist numbers
One of the most adventurous and genuinely off-the-beaten-track journeys I’ve ever done was travelling through northern Burma from Myitkyina to Mandalay, using a patchwork of river boats, trains and buses. Even by Myanmar standards, this felt remote – slow travel through places that, at the time, had barely registered on the tourism map. As travel becomes increasingly streamlined and predictable, experiences like this are becoming rare. Northern Burma offered something that’s now almost extinct: the feeling of moving through a place on its own terms, rather than on a tourist conveyor belt.
When you include the breathtaking views of the mountains, the chance to see the real local villages along the mighty Irrawaddy River, and the old echoes of the former colonial past, this is a truly a truly Wow travel experience and one that can easily be combined with a 2 weeks itinerary for the highlights of Burma.
I’ve listed more detailed tips below, but three key ones:
1. Is it dangerous? The north, like many other parts of Burma, has seen continued trouble in the the form of various low-level uprisings through to full-blown sustained armed conflict in the three states you’ll be passing through (Kachin, Shan and Sagaing). The danger level varies depending on the latest with the state of the country. As of 2026, it isn’t safe to visit. But things can change quickly.
2. The route can change. The ferry ride from Bhamo and Katha to Mandalay is one that seems to be consistently fine, but the bus / ferry route from Myitkyina to Bhamo seems often to be closed off. Obviously you need to check into this before you set off (I asked locals even in Yangon who were able to answer me very quickly), but even if you get stuck when you arrive you have options of the train from Myitkyina to Katha and exclude Bhamo, or just simply to fly.
3. Enjoy while you can! This part of Burma is still largely untouched by the growing tourism wave that has hit the 4 key tourist destinations in the rest of the country (Yangon, Mandalay, Bagan and Inle Lake). Enjoy it while you can!
The drive from Adelaide to Darwin through the Red Centre is one of the great road trips – not because every stop is amazing, but because of the sheer scale, isolation and sense of adventure that comes from driving through the middle of Australia.
There are some excellent highlights along the way – Uluru (Ayer’s Rock), Kata Tjuta (the Olgas), and Kakadu in particular – but the thing you’ll remember are those huge empty roads, red desert landscapes, strange outback towns and the feeling of being a very long way from anywhere.
It’s a big one – nearly 4,000km / 2500miles of driving. If you like road trips and big landscapes, this is a classic and one of the highlights of this amazing country.
In a nutshell:
- Distance: 3,800km
- Time needed: 10 days
- Start and finish: Adelaide to Darwin
- Best for: Landscapes, adventure, iconic Australia
- Highlights: Uluru, Kata Tjuta, Kakadu
- Difficulty: Long distances but easy driving
Yes its super busy, yes its the definition of commercialisation, yes its often endless queues of people, but despite all that, its just a fun experience. The famous spots like the Universal Studios, the thrills of the ever-growing rollercoaster parks, the amazing waterparks – they’re all great and worth the visit alone. But the highlight by far for me was the attention to detail that the Disney parks and their surrounding venues provide. Yes it is mass tourism, but where on the planet does it quite this well?
It was years since my last visit, so only a short travel entry and a few key tips:
- Try to go just after it pours it down with rain in the morning. The main group of fellow tourists will typically avoid using up their full day pass, but you’ll find the reduction in queue numbers worth it, and its when many of the locals go.
- I’d recommend all the Disney places – Magic Kingdom, EPCOT Centre, Hollywood Studios, Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon.
- Others that are great – Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios.
- Further afield definitely worth it – Bush Gardens (full on rollercoasters) and the Kennedy Space Centre.
- If have time – SeaWorld.
- If you’re into Disney – consider staying in one of the Disney Hotels. They are basically an extension of the Disney experience, often done just as well as the parks.
God its cheesy, but fun and would be magical with kids.
