Fall Costa Rica to Cape Town Trips to inspire

Trek ancient pilgrimage routes, explore ruined temples and see life and death on a holy river - here are five epic itineraries perfect for adventurous travellers. Words: Dom Tullet

CITY LIFE LEEDS

Buoyed by a year-long festival of culture in 2023, Yorkshire's economic powerhouse has become a hive of creativity with shops, food and events that give a nod to the city's industrial past while looking to the future

CITY LIFE ACCRA

Ghana's beachside capital has become one of the most exciting places in Africa for artists and grassroot creative enterprises, with studios and galleries filling the gaps between raucous clubs and bustling markets

HONEY HUNTERS

The Gurung ethnic group has been collecting wild honey in the Himalayan foothills of Nepal for centuries, risking their lives to harvest the sticky combs from cliff nests using ancient techniques handed down through the generations. The honey hunters will leave their village with porters to carry their food, water and equipment, and head into the forest to face the largest honeybees in the world

IN THE FOOTPRINTS OF THE ANCESTORS

On the beaches of remote Western Australia, where the sea is the same colour as the sky, the next generation of Aboriginal gameledes (custodians) have reclaimed their heritage and are using tourism to showcase their customs and knowledge to travellers in meaningful ways

ISLAND SPIRIT

Downtown Kingston is in the throes of a creative rebirth, while across the country, Jamaica's farmers and fishers are carving a new path, with enterprises such as a floating clubhouse and waterfall retreats. Six decades after independence from the British, this Caribbean island nation is looking to a brighter future

THE GREEK ISLANDS

GREECE'S NUMEROUS ISLES ARE BEST KNOWN FOR THEIR IDYLLIC BEACHES, TOES-IN-THE-SAND TAVERNAS AND LAIDBACK PACE OF LIFE. BUT FOR THOSE WILLING TO EXPLORE A LITTLE FURTHER, CLOUD-CIRCLED CLIFFTOP VILLAGES, LOCAL MARKETS STOCKED WITH MOUNTAIN HERBS AND SECRET STRETCHES OF SAND AWAIT. THERE'S A GREEK ISLAND TO SUIT EVERY TRAVELLER IF YOU KNOW WHERE TO LOOK

EAT DUNDEE

Come for the pies and cake, stay for the locally brewed IPA, spiced gin and a bounty of fish and fresh game, all ingredients in Dundee's current culinary renaissance

PICASSO The making of an icon

50 YEARS SINCE PICASSO'S PASSING, EXHIBITIONS AROUND SPAIN DELVE INTO THE ARTIST'S LIFE

COPENHAGEN DESIGN FOR LIFE

Taking the title of World Capital of Architecture for 2023, the Danish city is a model of sustainable urban living

THE DRINK : Remarkable rums

MATURE AND DIVERSE IN STYLE, SIPPING RUMS REPRESENT THE SPIRIT AT ITS MOST COMPLEX. WORDS: THE THINKING DRINKERS

Oman

If you head southwest from Muscat into Oman's interior, you'll find Ad Dakhiliyah, a jagged, mountainous region dotted with mud villages and luscious oases, where cardamom-infused coffee, soft dates and dark halwa are the sweet symbols of Omani hospitality

FJORDS FARMS & FISHERMEN

In the sparsely populated Eastern Region of Iceland, in the fjord of Berufjörður, farmer Auja Stefánsdóttir and her family serve up a traditional feast of distinctly Icelandic dishes

VOLCANIC VICTORIA

The terrain of southwest Victoria is home to some of Australia's best and most abundant produce. Dormant volcanoes are planted with vines, eels swim in crater lakes and the bush is a 'supermarket' stocking everything from wattleseed to warrigal greens

DECONSTRUCT CASSOULET

With more than one town laying claim to this bean-and-meat stew, its exact origins are unclear. But one thing is certain - the dish is a centuries-old French classic

UP IN SMOKE

On the east coast of Scotland, the residents of Arbroath and the neighbouring village of Auchmithie are striving to keep a famous culinary tradition alive - smoking racks of split and salted haddock over hardwood, in the same way they have for centuries.

Gourmet getaways

All great weekends away need a crowning moment an activity that forms the heart of the trip. It could be an exhibition, a hike, or a night at the opera. But why not put your taste buds first? Europe is full of iconic restaurants, with menus bursting with creativity places to save up for and plan a short trip around. So from Massimo Bottura’s Modena tavern to Raymond Blanc’s Oxfordshire mansion, here’s our pick of the best.

WHERE TO EAT

From South West France to South Wales, there are many places to try cassoulet, whether traditional or with a twist

ALBERT FRANCH SUNYER - THE PIONEER

AT HELSINKI ZERO-WASTE RESTAURANT NOLLA, CHEF ALBERT FRANCH SUNYER DEDICATES HIMSELF TO BEING ENVIRONMENTALLY AWARE AND CELEBRATING LOCAL PRODUCE IN ALL ITS FORMS. WORDS: LOUISE LONG

On the menu

FROM AN IRANIAN DESSERT IN NEW YORK TOA VEAL STEW IN SALZBURG, HERE’S OUR PICK OF SOME OF THE WORLD'S BEST NOODLE DISHES

Know your noodles

WHETHER BULKING OUT A BROTH OR TAKING A DESSERT TO THE NEXT LEVEL, NOODLES ARE A VITAL INGREDIENT IN COUNTLESS GLOBAL CUISINES.

MY LIFE IN FOOD - SHANIA TWAIN

The Canadian singer on hearty stews, living in Switzerland and the joys of a good tomato

Winter Hiking

Head for the hills this season, whatever the weather, with our pick of the best winter walking gear

Water, Wheels Wildlife

History and adventure make Shrewsbury an ideal getaway with teens

CONNEMARA

This region on Ireland’s wild, western coast has long inspired artists and poets. Discover its dramatic scenery on an epic road trip

Best of the world 2023

From epic landscapes and cultural reawakenings to conservation initiatives and family favourites, National Geographic Traveller's Best of the World list is back with 35 destinations that should be on your radar for 2023. Across five categories - adventure, culture, nature, family and community - our list highlights some of the most exciting and exceptional experiences on the planet. With 25 selected by the global editors of National Geographic Traveller, and an additional 10 from the UK edition

Meet the Adventurer – Sebastião Salgado

The celebrated brazilian photojournalist has returned home to focus on environmental restoration in Vale do Rio Doce

How I got the shot

In our December 2021 issue, Renato Granieri captured the importance of tradition in the himalayan country. He tells us the story behind this image of the paro Tshechu Festival

Best of The World 2023 – Istanbul

For centuries, coffee has percolated through the veins of Turkey's cultural powerhouse. Times have changed, but even in the face of fast-evolving trends, locals are holding on to the traditions that surround this humble, ancient drink

Best of The World 2023 – Guatemala

Perched 5,000ft above sea level in Guatemala's central highlands, Lake Atitlán is one of the country's most magnificent natural wonders. It's a region of dazzling views, where blue waters are flanked by steep hills and three towering volcanoes, their slopes thickly forested with pine trees. Dotted around the shoreline are a dozen towns, home to communities of indigenous maya. Here, locals practise ancient crafts and traditions that have been handed down through families for generations