Far Far Away Travels (2025)

26/07/2022

Easter Island
Tucked away in the southeastern Pacific, the Polynesian Easter Island is both remote and historically significant. The enormous Moai statues are undeniably the top attraction here, lending an air of history and mystery to this far-away island. Over 800 statues designed like humans with over-sized heads dot the island.

They were created by the Rapa Nui many centuries ago, and each is believed to have taken at least a year to hand-craft.

But there’s more to Easter Island than the Moai statues. There are some excellent beaches, remote caves, ancient petroglyphs, and hiking and cycling routes too! Diving into the island culture with a traditional Rapa Nui dancing show is truly memorable.

25/07/2022

Cappadocia
Situated in Central Anatolia of Turkey, Cappadocia is best known for its fairytale landscape of unusual formations resembling chimneys, cones, mushrooms and pinnacles. Natural processes such as ancient volcanic eruptions and erosion have all sculpted these odd formations over the ages, with some of them rising as much as 130 feet (40 meters) high. However, thousands of years ago, mankind added remarkable touches to the landscape by carving out houses, churches and underground cities from the soft rock.

Inhabited as early as 1800 BC, Hittites and other residents chiseled out underground tunnel complexes, seeking safety from invading Persians and Greeks. Much later in the 4th century AD, Christians, fleeing out of religious persecution from Rome, sought refuge in Cappadocia’s tunnels and caves. Today, the region’s natural wonders and historic sites all make it a popular destination.

22/07/2022

Patara is home to one of Turkey's best beaches
Travel through ancient history on the Turquoise Coast
Yes, Turkey’s Mediterranean coastline between Fethiye and Antalya is full of beautiful places for sun, sea and sand vacations, but it’s also dappled with evidence of the ancient civilizations that once populated the area. The seaside ruins of Patara (which boasts one of Turkey’s best beaches too) and Phaselis are particularly picturesque, and the rock tombs of Myra are especially impressive. The Antalya Museum offers good insights into the region’s history. Explore by sea on a gület cruise, on foot along the Lycian Way hiking path or by driving the scenic (but winding!) coastal roads.

21/07/2022

Dominica
If you want to spend your holiday sunbathing on sandy beaches then Dominica isn’t for you, but if exploring valleys with thick jungle-like vegetation and hiking to the top of mountain peaks sounds more like your thing then this is definitely a destination worth considering.

The island was nicknamed “the nature island” and it’s not hard to see why – Dominica has natural hot springs not far from the capital Roseau, gushing waterfalls surrounded by rainforest, and bountiful hiking trails. Pack your hiking boots and take on the 115 mile Waitukubuli Trail!

Go snorkeling off the island’s rocky shores and visit the Boiling Lake that changes color and bubbles away deep within a volcanic crater.

20/07/2022

Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head State Monument, Oahu
Waikiki, with its beautiful stretch of oceanfront beach, is Hawaii's biggest tourist attraction. A suburb of Honolulu, Waikiki is popular for its big resorts, dining, entertainment, and shopping.

The Waikiki Historic Trail includes historic markers made of surfboards, inspired by Waikiki's own Duke Kahanamoku, an Olympic gold medalist swimmer and avid surfer.

The boardwalk, known as the Waikiki Beach Walk, is lined with cafes and entertainment venues, while Kuhio and KalaKaua Avenues are where the bulk of the area's restaurants and boutiques can be found.

Diamond Head State Monument sits at the end of the crescent-shaped beach, creating a distinctive profile on the coastline. It was once an important vantage point for the island's coastal defense, and a steep hike to the top brings you to the old bunkers and artillery control station and rewards your efforts with panoramic views.

19/07/2022

Musée du Louvre

In a stately palace that was once a royal residence, the Louvre Museum ranks among the top European collections of fine arts. Many of Western Civilization's most famous works are found here, including the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci, the Wedding Feast at Cana by Veronese, and the 1st-century-BC Venus de Milo sculpture.

The collection owes its wealth to the contributions of various kings who lived in the Louvre. Other pieces were added as a result of France's treaties with the Vatican and the Republic of Venice, and from the spoils of Napoléon I.

The Louvre displays around 35,000 artworks, including countless masterpieces. It's impossible to see it all in a day or even in a week. Take a private guided tour or focus on a shortlist of key artworks for the most rewarding experience.

18/07/2022

Vancouver Island
Although it is less than a two-hour ferry ride from the mainland, Vancouver Island can seem a world away. Most people head to Victoria, BC's capital city, for sightseeing and culture, but if you head north into the wild and remote landscapes, the island holds some unexpected and unforgettable experiences.

Nature lovers can hit the best hiking trails on Vancouver Island and set themselves up at some beautiful camping locations. Those looking for more comfort can always turn to one of the island's lodges or resorts.

One of the island's most incredible sights are the old-growth forests of giant trees, some more than 1,000 years old. Within day-tripping distance of Victoria are the ancient trees of Eden Grove, near the town of Port Renfrew. If you are heading up island, you can also wander through Cathedral Grove, not far from the town of Port Alberni, or go all the way out to Tofino to see even more huge trees.

15/07/2022

Cyprus is so far south into the Mediterranean it feels more Middle Eastern than its EU membership might suggest – and the same goes for its climate. And so, with the sun still warming sand and sea at this time of year, it’s tempting to flop onto a Paphos beach and be done with it. But those who let their gaze wander inland, to the Troodos Mountains, will find grand, painted churches; vineyards sown into flinty hillsides; and boutique suites sprawling through honey-hued stone houses – as at Apokryfo, an elegant, Cyprus-meets-Cotswolds set-up in sleepy Lofou village.

15/07/2022

Seville, Spain
An easy city destination rich in sunshine, shady courtyards and napkin-strewn tapas bars, Seville has the ability to transport visitors to an instant summer. For old-world kicks, explore the Alcázar, the opulent Mudéjar palace, or flag down a horse-drawn carriage outside the Gothic cathedral. But carve out time, too, for the city’s flipside: to be uncovered at Un Gato en Bicicleta, an unapologetically cool bookshop/café/ceramics studio; or at Delimbo, a gallery that’s home to graffiti and graphic design. Come nightfall, the pavements are busy with people picking at small plates and sipping sherry outdoors. November? Could’ve fooled us.

15/07/2022

One of the southernmost Greek islands, Crete enjoys a warm climate well into winter. And with peak-season crowds all firmly stuck in term-time, this is an excellent chance to explore an underrated charmer in all-too-rare repose. Admittedly, Crete’s not a secret, but you needn’t travel far from the well-worn track to find unspoiled villages with locals happy to invite you to the party (an evening in a taverna always feels like one). By day, hike the monumental Samaria Gorge, where soaring cliffs shade a rugged, chamomile-scented trail. Or find Elafonisi, the pristine pink beach. Also at the western end of the island in Chania, the new, adults-only design hotel Domes Noruz has smart rooms with sea views and outdoor tubs.

13/07/2022

Reynisfjara Beach, Iceland
Iceland could basically be on another planet. Just look at this black sand beach framed by basalt columns near the village of Vik on the country’s south coast.

13/07/2022

Ronda, Spain
This Andalucían city stands atop El Tajo gorge, which the Guadalevín River flows through. A jaw-dropping bridge connects the 15th-century “new” town from the old city that dates back to Moorish rule.

13/07/2022

Ipanema Beach, Brazil
There’s a reason Rio de Janeiro’s famous coastline is one of the most photographed landscapes in the world. It’s always summer on the endless stretch of sand framed by the Two Brothers Mountain.

13/07/2022

It should come as no surprise that year after year, the gliteratti heads out to the glamorous region in Northern Italy (which also recently made appearances in The Morning Show, Succession, and House of Gucci). Between exploring the remnants of medieval villages, the opulent villas, and of course, the gorgeous lake, it's no wonder that the locale never goes out of style.

13/07/2022

One could argue that Palm Beach is to Eastern Florida, as Cannes is the Riviera. It's been the vacation home and haunt of Swans—with a capital S— for the better part of a hundred years.

12/07/2022

July and August are the busiest months in French Polynesia. Hold out until September and, as well as having more overwater bungalows to choose from, the weather’s still heaven. No heavy rains until November; none of the later months’ humidity to force on the air-con. Just blue, blue lagoons and the kind of peace you only find at the end of the world. Though it’s the very picture of paradise, locals call Bora Bora “boring boring”. For a quick culture dose, head out of your resort and visit the pearl farms of quiet Taha’a, or meet the blue-eyed, giant sacred river eels of lush Huahine (but maybe leave it to your guide to feed them).

12/07/2022

Tourist-spotting is easy in San Francisco: just look for the people dressed for summer, teeth a-chattering. The City by the Bay is prone to chill winds and bracing fog, particularly in the summer months. September, though, is when the California dream kicks in, all clear blue skies and certified sun. Soak up those cherished rays with the tech wunderkinds in so-hot-right-now Mission district, where flamboyant sunbathers fill palm-dotted Dolores Park, and weekend brunchers order ‘organic pop tarts’ in the courtyard of a converted Art Deco movie palace, Foreign Cinema. Or do as the proper locals do and head across the Golden Gate Bridge to Napa and Sonoma. The vineyards seldom look better than when soaked in autumn’s warm glow.

12/07/2022

They call it the Paris of South America, but Buenos Aires has long tangoed to its own beat. Nothing feels quite like wandering the tree-lined streets of its largest barrio, Palermo, past rainbow-hued street art and bohemian coffee haunts, quirky galleries and fashion boutiques. It’s more seductive still in September, when the cold winter is easing off, but still-thin crowds largely comprise fun-loving locals and expats. Life-changing steaks and chic cocktail bars beckon at every corner; new – and hard-to-get-into – speakeasy Uptown BA recreates a New York Subway station. On the bright side, low-fare long-haul airline Norwegian just launched a direct flight from Gatwick, so there should be plenty of pesos in your pocket for bribing the bouncer.

12/07/2022

Ever seen those envy-inducing Instagrams of ‘influencers’ posing in kaleidoscopic hammocks while happily pegged into the soothing shallows of an impossibly emerald sea? They were probably taken on Isla Holbox, a drowsy, barefoot island at the northern tip of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, long touted as ‘the new Tulum’. Yet Holbox is still so hard to reach that it hasn’t quite lived up to that characterisation: it still has no designer yoga studios or restaurant waiting lists, and its roads remain unpaved. The island can only be reached via passenger ferry from Chiquila, a three-hour drive from Playa del Carmen, which makes it a reliable place for going off-grid. There’s nothing to do but live the simple life of the 2,000 people who reside here year-round. In August, large pods of whale sharks gather offshore, adding yet more natural splendour to a wonderfully quiet scene.

12/07/2022

Leave the southern shore to the package-holiday people and explore the Greek islands’ best-kept secret: Zakynthos’ splashy side. One of the stars here is the all-suite Olea hotel: all whitewashed minimalism, dangling rattan pod seats and natural, earthy tones. It almost blends into the sleepy hillside where it sits, surrounded by jagged mountains, fragrant pine forests and serene, sandy shores. Yes, it sizzles here in August, but that’s what the hotel’s extravagant, lake-like pool is for — not to mention the Ionian’s cooling waves. In fact, in these circumstances, booking one of the Olea’s swim-up suites makes sense.

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