Off Road Adventures (2024)

09/03/2022

Siquijor, Philippines

For decades, Siquijor has remained largely untouched by outside influence, thanks, in no small part, to its persistently spooky reputation. Whispered about as ‘The Island of Witches’ (witches being a firmly European concept thrust upon locals when the Spaniards settled in the 16th century), Siquijor is known for its ‘wise people’ and healers who source materials from the land to create their mysterious concoctions.

But a slow glug of curious travellers are making their way to this petite island, coaxed in by its pristine rivers, waterfalls, lagoons and thick jungle bloated with fruit bats. The island can be easily circumnavigated by bicycle, and you’ll find plenty of snorkel spots at which to cool down among the corals. There’s little by way of hotel development, but the options that do exist – most notably Coco Grove Beach Resort and some sound glamping and treehouse operations – are unfussy and comfortable. As a result, the island is rarely busy, although you might bump into a few blow-ins at Cambugahay Falls, taking long-exposure shots of the rapids.

09/03/2022

Birmingham, UK

As host city for the 2022 Commonwealth Games, Birmingham will be girding itself for an influx of athletes and sporty spectators next year. But a tidal wave of increasingly impressive food offerings are positioning the UK’s ‘second city’ as a prime spot for gourmands too, going beyond its famous ‘Balti Triangle’ to showcase cult burger joints, experimental fine-dining spots and trad, white-tablecloth stalwarts.

There are currently five Michelin-starred restaurants in Brum (more than any other city in the UK, outside of London), from Purnell’s – where best-of-British dishes sit alongside ‘Brummie tapas’ and Bournville honey cake – to buzzy Indian fine-dining spot Opheem, which places Orkney scallops on its progressive seasonal menu alongside lamb pau and cod korma. But it’s hole-in-the-wall spots such as Bonehead on Lower Severn Street and Digbeth burger house Original Patty Men (given the celebrity seal of approval by Drake) that lend Birmingham the sort of gastronomical nuance otherwise found in heavy hitters such as Copenhagen and Paris.

09/03/2022

Menorca

When Swiss art magnates Hauser & Wirth planted their flag on Menorca’s historic Isla del Rey in summer 2021, they gifted the island the sort of heavyweight credentials that have made the existing outposts bona fide cultural lodestones.

The new art centre, which hosts its exhibitions in the repurposed outbuildings of a former naval hospital, also comprises an outdoor sculpture trail that tiptoes carefully around the archaeological remains of a sixth-century basilica. Although well used to reviving centuries-old gems, the gallerists had to navigate challenging terrain, a lack of electricity and a barrage of building restrictions. The result, however, is a secluded arty idyll, which will draw legions of aesthetically inclined travellers to the UNESCO Bisophere Reserve.

09/03/2022

Jamaica’s beating heart has remained somewhat overlooked by holidaymakers, not least because of its long-held rough-around-the-edges rep. But the dynamic capital is shrugging off its unsafe image, claiming a new identity as a spirited cultural hub overflowing with multicultural restaurants, world-class galleries and carnivals to rival the spectacles of Rio.

And 2022 poses a prime opportunity for Jamaica, as the year marks the country’s 60th anniversary of Independence. Festivities will be held throughout the island all year and, come August, the Jamaica Carnival (Bacchanal) will flood the streets with feather headdresses, floats and stirring steelpan drums.

Out of town, hidden cultural enclaves cling like limpets to the land. School of Vision – an active commune and guest house celebrating Rastafarian culture – is reached via a short, sharp trek into the Blue Mountains; visit on the Saturday sabbath and you’ll be welcomed by a glorious cacophony of Nyahbinghi music, dancing and drumming.

09/03/2022

Almost 100 years ago, news of the most remarkable archaeological discovery had the world in its thrall. On 26 November 1922, British Egyptologist Howard Carter took the chisel his grandmother had bought him for his 17th birthday and chipped open the door to the hidden Tomb of Tutankhamun, gifting the world the most significant and best-preserved pharaonic tomb ever to be found in the Valley of the Kings. Almost 100 years before that, Jean-François Champollion announced his breakthrough in deciphering the mysterious Rosetta Stone, cementing the foundations of our modern understanding of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs.

There are quiet, powerful stories gaining traction here too. The annual Guardians of the Nile festival, organised by Nubian woman Koma Waidi, continues to empower the marginalised community group, with boat races held to preserve and commemorate Nubian heritage.

09/03/2022

After spending years painstakingly rebuilding itself after Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans found itself thwarted once more by Ida in 2021. But this is not a city whose spirit is easily hushed, and its lion-hearted residents are emerging from the detritus with big ambitions and steely-eyed focus.

Next year will see the return of multiple much-missed events, not least the enlivening spectacle of Mardi Gras, which leaves the streets scattered with doubloons, masks and rainbow-bright beads. In late April, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival will make sweet music; in summer, Essence Festival will celebrate the very best of Black culture; while in November the Bayou Bacchanal will once again pay homage to all things Caribbean, with soca beats, pounding dancehall and tempting fusion cuisine.

09/03/2022

Once perhaps best known for pillaging and philanthropy – thanks, by disparate turns, to its Viking history and lofty Nobel Peace Center – Oslo has spent the past two decades carving out its niche as a city that is demonstrably dedicated to a greener future.

The capital, tucked neatly into the head of the Oslofjord on the south coast of Norway, has been passionately transforming its waterways and neighbourhoods to create a truly sustainable eco-haven. Recently labelled the ‘Electric Vehicle Capital of the World’, it’s not content with small measures, and the entire city has pledged to become carbon neutral by 2050.

Being green here is easy – bristling swathes of virgin forest known as Oslomarka encircle the capital, providing a wild playground for residents and visitors who stomp its hiking trails or plough through powder snow on cross-country skis. This human use of the forest is considered a crucial part of efforts to conserve it, and projects such as Friends of the Earth Norway’s eventyrskoger (fairytale forests) programme encourage people to spend time in its wilderness, exploring their own identity and emotions.

07/03/2022

Raja Ampat Islands, Indonesia
Raja Ampat is a chain of some 1,500 islands off the western coast of West Papua. The views here are downright prehistoric: jagged lava peaks clad in green jungle; palms sprouting out of sheer cliff walls; mist drifting in and out of deep canyons.

07/03/2022

Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
Southwest Bolivia's Salar de Uyuni is the largest salt flat in the world, and is about as surreal as landscapes come. When dry, the flat is a sheet of blindingly white salt tiles. During the wet season, the shallow lake mirrors the sky, creating a dreamy illusion of infinity.

07/03/2022

Trolltunga, Norway
Any Pinterest or Instagram user has probably seen a photo of Trolltunga ("Troll's Tongue), Norway's undeniable photography darling. The protruding rock sits about 2,300 feet above Lake Ringedalsvatnet, tempting travelers to inch out to the edge. Unfortunately, Trolltunga has fallen prey to "death by popularity" and local organizations have called for tourist caps to protect the site. But even if you don't get your once-in-a-lifetime profile picture on the rock's edge, you can still soak up some epic fjord views from the surrounding mountain area.

07/03/2022

Zakynthos, Greece
Far less crowded than sister islands Mykonos and Santorini, Zakynthos has some of the most beautiful beaches in the Greek Isles—namely, Navagio Beach. Sheltered by cliffs, Navagio is only accessible by boat, and draws its name (“Shipwreck”) from a freighter that ran aground, was abandoned, and still rests in the beach’s white sands today.

02/03/2022

Don’t give up on your ski season aspirations just yet. You may have to forfeit the traditional après-ski scene, but it’s still worth hitting the mountain for some socially distant downhill-ing. Salt Lake City’s newly renovated international airport is the gateway to no less than 11 resorts, and driving is always an option as well, making these slopes the most viable pick in America for both easy access and a breadth of alpine experiences. Powder Mountain and Park City Mountain each claim to be the biggest ski resort in the country, so wide open spaces won’t be an issue should you want to slalom mask-free. If you have your quarantining bubble in tow, try smaller Snowbasin, where six luxury day lodges can be reserved for full-service gourmet dining and drinking; it’s as though you’re the only ones on the mountain. Utah’s superior snowfall means that you’re likely to sneak in some serious powder through all of April at places like Alta if you’re hesitant to venture out now.

02/03/2022

The dramatic and desolate desert landscapes of Jordan have enticed explorers to trek through its unforgiving landscapes for millennia. But what most travelers don’t know is that it’s more accessible than you might think; unlock the area’s hidden gems and Bedouin culture via Wadi Rum, a must on every intrepid traveler’s bucket list.

Planning a comprehensive trekking tour through this historic, otherworldly landscape is highly advised and the best way to explore the very setting that scenes from the film Lawrence of Arabia were staged.

02/03/2022

Often overlooked, Mancora, Peru is home to the tranquil Mancora Beach and the beautiful stone, wood, and mud boutique hotel, KiChic. Once the personal home of the owner, Kichic is now a destination in and of itself for visitors to retreat and unwind with yoga, fish for the daily catch, and dining on nutritious, pescatarian and vegetarian soul food. Naturally, all the dishes here feature locally produced ingredients and flavors such as coconut and gomasio.

23/02/2022

The capital city of Hawaii, Honolulu is surrounded by beautiful scenery, including Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head mountain. Honolulu is also home to the Pearl Harbor Historic Site, the Navy base bombed by Japan during World War II, leading America to enter the war.

23/02/2022

Few places in America have better weather than San Diego. It’s a good thing, too, since there’s a lot to explore outdoors in this southern California city. Try your hand at surfing in the Pacific Ocean on some of America’s best beaches, or enjoy the ocean from a distance at Sunset Cliffs Natural Park.

23/02/2022

Palm Springs is a resort city in the Coachella Valley desert. Beginning in the 1920s, the city was a popular place for movie stars to escape Hollywood and relax. With an average of 354 days of sunshine per year, visitors can enjoy golfing, hiking, horseback riding, swimming, and tennis.

23/02/2022

No city in America packs as many monuments and museums into one area as Washington, DC. From the Thomas Jefferson Memorial to the World War II Memorial, Washington has enough free! attractions to keep you busy for several weeks. In the spring, the cherry blossoms around the Tidal Basin draw millions of visitors from around the world.

23/02/2022

The most famous San Francisco site is the Golden Gate Bridge. Opened in 1937, it still ranks among the top 10 longest bridge spans in the world. Beyond the bridge, San Francisco has beautiful ocean views and one of the largest Chinatowns in the world. Just a ferry ride away is Alcatraz Island, the former federal prison.

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