STARRY, STARRY NIGHT

SEEK OUT THE MILKY WAY, SHOOTING STARS AND MAJOR CONSTELLATIONS IN WALES'S BEST SPOTS TO EXPERIENCE TRULY DARK SKIES

BEAUTIFUL GAME

If the FIFA Women’s World Cup inspires you to take a football-based break with the kids this summer, here are the cities to head to

WHERE TO STAY Sacramento

RESTAURANT-LED HOTELS CHAMPION THE FARM-TO-FORK ETHOS OF CALIFORNIA’S STATE CAPITAL

GLASGOW

Discover the work of 19th-century architect and designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh on a walking tour of his hometown

PERTH

A transformation of the Western Australian capital has seen a revitalised riverfront and laneways, cultural developments and closer ties with the port of Fremantle

JAIPUR

Step out onto the streets of Jaipur and art is all around you. From block printing to marble carving, for a real taste of the city’s spirit, there’s no better introduction than its craft scene

Camino de Santiago

PILGRIMS HAVE BEEN TRACING TRAILS TO THE SPANISH CITY OF SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA FOR CENTURIES. MODERN TRAVELLERS CAN FOLLOW THE TRADITION IN SEARCH OF THEIR OWN PERSONAL FULFILMENT

BEYOND THE SEA

The pinnacles and limestone cliffs of Sardinia’s Cala Goloritzé overlook the astonishing turquoise Tyrrhenian Sea. But coastal sights such as these are only part of the story on the eastern side of this Italian island, whose near impregnable interior is a place of untouched beauty and resilience

SHOW TIME!

Performance is part of the everyday in Florida and not just in its theme parks and glamorous major cities. The state’s attention-grabbing wildlife, including turtles, dolphins and one of the world’s rarest plants, demand centre stage, too

TAKING THE HIGH ROAD

The infamously inhospitable route from Chile’s Atacama desert to Bolivia’s otherwordly Uyuni salt flats has been upgraded. New lodges and guiding alternatives are reimagining this well-trodden andean journey. At the nose-bleed altitudes of the altiplano, Indigenous communities eke out a remote existence and rare wildlife stalks barren mountain plateaus

SAFARI

Africa’s wildlife is legendary, as much for the lions and giraffes as for being the preserve of big spenders. Yet for travellers with a sense of adventure, there are plenty of wallet-friendly ways to see the continent’s animals. From campervanning in Kruger and camping around water holes in Namibia to tracking gorillas from Ugandan community guesthouses, here’s how to make every penny count while enjoying Africa’s wildest encounters

NORTH AMERICA Dive into the South

The US is a melting pot of cultures and cuisines, which is most evident throughout the Southern States. From oysters to Orange Beach, spoonbills to the Smoky Mountains, here are some great reasons to visit the South.

CITY LIFE - OSLO

Urban regeneration, fjord life and friluftsliv - the concept of celebrating outdoor living regardless of the weather - make Norway's capital an appealing summer getaway. And this underappreciated city is having its moment in the sun

CITY LIFE - LISBON

Trams and tuk-tuks roller coaster through the hills of the Portuguese capital, a city of enticing lookouts, al fresco lunches and daring street art

The Big Trip - Silk Road overland

THE OLD TRADE ROUTES OF THE SILK ROAD GIVE TRAVELLERS ENDLESS OPTIONS TO EXPLORE CENTRAL ASIA, FROM LAKE-SCATTERED MOUNTAIN PLATEAUS TO ORNATE MAUSOLEUM COMPLEXES AND LIVELY CITIES PACKED WITH SOVIET ARCHITECTURE.

AUSTRIA Escape to the city

With a host of new openings and events in 2023, there's no better time to discover the variety and vibrance of Austria's cities.

MOTHER RIVER

Journey along the Mekong River through southern Laos, from the region's highest point on the Bolaven Plateau down to its lowest, the idyllic 4,000 Islands. Discover ancient Buddhist temples, rice paddies and spectacular waterfalls, and see how life is shaped by the 'Mother River'

Laurentides, Quebec Natural treasures

From the protected waterways of Mont-Tremblant to the epic trails of Montagne du Diable, embrace the natural terrain and adventure on the doorstep of Montreal, Canada.

A place in the wild

JOURNEY ACROSS SOUTHERN COSTA RICA AND DISCOVER ONE OF THE MOST BIODIVERSE COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD. HOME TO EXTRAORDINARY WILDLIFE SPECIES AND SOME GROUNDBREAKING ECO-LODGES, IT IS A PLACE RIPE FOR ADVENTURE, FROM WHITEWATER RAFTING AND JUNGLE TREKS TO BOAT TRIPS ACROSS TROPICAL WATERS THAT GLOW IN THE DARK

SUMMIT &SEA

Once an important hub for Indian Ocean trade, Oman today may be considered unassuming but its history is etched into some of the Middle East's wildest landscapes. A journey from Muscat through the Hajar Mountains and Musandam Peninsula reveals its charms, with canyons that rise to citadel mountains, and dhow-filled harbours leading to serrated shores

Amazon adventures

NATURAL BEAUTY, RICH CULTURE AND HIGH ADRENALINE AWAIT IN THE ECUADORIAN AMAZON RAINFOREST. WORDS: SJ ARMSTRONG

CITY LIFE: QUITO

Old-world charm meets cutting-edge cuisine and bohemian flair in Ecuador's lively capital, rewarding travellers who venture beyond the grand plazas and imposing churches of its UNESCO-awarded core

BACK TO BASICS

From the Andes to the Pacific coast, communities across Ecuador are busy bringing their ancestral culture into the 21st century. All over the country, they've set up projects to preserve elements of their identity, be it food, traditions or the nature around them - and have achieved this goal by opening their doors to travellers

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE

The wildlife of Ecuador's Galápagos archipelago is the stuff of legends, providing travellers with an endless showreel of bold, unique species in and out of the water. Now, thanks to the expansion of the Galápagos Marine Reserve in 2022, there's even more space for these animals to thrive

Raise a glass

PEDRO NAVARRO, CO-FOUNDER AND CO-OWNER OF SANTANA BREWING COMPANY IN QUITO, TALKS ABOUT THE COUNTRY'S GROWING CRAFT BREWERY SCENE

Cultural festivals

BORN OF A BLEND OF ANDEAN TRADITIONS, CHRISTIAN CELEBRATIONS AND AFRICAN ECUADOR'S FESTIVALS ARE AS UNIQUE AS THE NATION ITSELF SPIRITUALISM,

WHAT THEY'RE EATING IN GUAYAQUIL

With multiple venues featured in Latin America's 'best restaurants' lists, this port city is one of Ecuador's most exciting culinary destinations

ON THE TRAIL: IMBABURA

DISCOVER ECUADOR'S ARTS AND CRAFTS ON A ROAD TRIP THROUGH THIS ANDEAN PROVINCE, WHERE EVERY VILLAGE CHAMPIONS A DIFFERENT TRADE

Ecuadorian chocolate

KNOWN AS THE MOTHERLAND OF CHOCOLATE, ECUADOR IS HOME TO ONE OF THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS VARIETIES OF CACAO BEAN

MEET THE ADVENTURER - Amar Latif

THE GLASWEGIAN EXPLORER DISCUSSES SENSORY DISCOVERY AND MAKING TRAVEL MORE ACCESSIBLE TO BLIND PEOPLE