It’s 100% true: Scotland is filled with dramatic craggy mountain ranges, miles of open road and dozens of white-sand beaches that really do rival those found in the Caribbean (trust me, I used to live in the Cayman Islands). Wondering where to go in West Scotland? A road trip around the west coast is a wonderful way to soak up the nation’s most outstanding locales, sample some of the freshest seafood you’ll ever taste, and immerse yourself in a little Scottish history. Driving is a pleasure in this part of the world, with spectacular views at every turn. Not got the time or the budget to spend ..read more

El Salvador is fast becoming a popular spot on the backpacker trail. In 2021, I spent two weeks there and had absolutely no idea what to expect. It turned out to be one of my favourite countries for both its wonderfully friendly locals and the ‘untouched’ feel it still possesses. From towering volcanoes to world-class surfing to coffee plantations as far as the eye can see, the smallest country in Central America is jam-packed with things to do. Read on for where to go in El Salvador.   Jump straight to: El Tunco San Salvador Santa Ana Suchitoto Ruta de las Flores   El Tunco ~ 2 da ..read more

Making new friends and reflecting on trips gone wrong We’re back with another edition of Travel Unravelled, answering questions from and giving travel advice to our community of global travellers! This time, we look at how to come out of your shell and make friends at your hostel, for those travellers who are a little shy. We also reflect on what happens when trips don’t go as planned, and whether you can ever rule a place out completely based on a bad experience.   I love travelling and making friends from different places, but I am a naturally shy person. I want to push myself out of m ..read more

There are many reasons to look after our planet and, of course, the freedom to keep exploring wonderful places is a reason high on many backpackers’ lists. The United Nations adopted 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) in 2015 to work on social, economic and environmental issues. It may be no surprise to hear that Northern Europe is top of the charts in SDGs with Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Austria as the top sustainable countries leading the way in creating a more sustainable world. So, what’s so great about these sustainable countries? Are they worth a visit on your next trip? W ..read more

You’re a solo-travelling man and you’re about to embark on a grand adventure. But rather than being like Bear Grylls parachuting into a forest, or one of those angry people in SAS: Who Dares Wins, you feel a bit nervous. Heck, you might feel homesick, fed up, exhausted, doubtful, lonely, just all-round sad. I’ve experienced them all. At one point on my travels, I had them all in one go, and then got food poisoning so spent 48 hours shuffling and sobbing between my bed and a toilet. But there are peaks and troughs. You’ve just got to remember the peaks. So if you’re a trough, here’s how to clim ..read more

Vivid colours, camels and elephants, delicious food, and an ancient history… If Rajasthan isn’t on your travel bucket list, you need to add it now. Commonly known as the “Desert State”, the area spans across Northern India’s Thar desert. It’s packed with a rich variety of wildlife, as well as beautiful Havelis, hill forts and palaces. You could easily spend months exploring this diverse region, but if you only have two weeks, here is our list of what to do in Rajasthan.   Jump straight to: Day 1-6 – Jaipur Day 6-9 – Jodhpur Day 9-14 – Jaisalmer   Day 1-6 – Jaipur Jaipur, or the Pi ..read more

Seoul has been on most of our wanderlists for a long time, but have you heard about Gyeongju? This chilled-out city has always been a travel hotspot for Koreans, but the rest of the world is just catching on to all the incredible things to do in Gyeongju. As Korea’s ancient capital, you can’t walk far in Gyeongju without stumbling upon a national treasure, and you’ll soon see why it’s nicknamed the ‘museum without walls’. But despite all this history, Gyeongju stays cool – you can find palaces, royal tombs and Buddhist temples right next to unique cafes, innovative cocktail bars and creative l ..read more

Being an undiagnosed neurodivergent solo traveller made me feel like I was exploring a different planet from my peers. We might follow the same map and end up at the same landmarks, but every traveller has a very different journey. Mine began at 27 when I booked a one-way flight to Tokyo. Like many others before me, I chose this unexpected path because I was already lost. The truth is that, although I grew up with depression – a common theme among neurodivergent kids – hope had always driven me forward. I believed I’d find a career and a home and feel like I belonged somewhere. But, of course ..read more

The Galapagos is a bucket list destination for most of us. Where better to be immersed in nature than the archipelago made famous by Darwin?! Understandably, it’s a pricey place and due to requiring a return flight, visitors have a finite amount of time there. As a result, I did a heck of a lot more planning than I usually do. I was ready to live out my itinerary, be at one with the wildlife and was content with the fact that it probably wouldn’t be a social spot. How wrong I was! You can absolutely go solo travelling in the Galapagos and have an awesome social experience too.   So if you ..read more

Israel’s self-proclaimed non-stop city is hedonistic, cosmopolitan, and modern, with a casual seaside vibe and plenty of “east meets west” charm. With sandy beaches, buzzing markets, world-class restaurants, and a nightlife scene that can easily rival London, New York, or Berlin, Tel Aviv manages to be both effortlessly cool and undeniably unique. It’s also notoriously expensive, even winning the not-so-coveted title of “world’s most expensive city” a few years back. But while it’s true that the city has won the hearts of billionaires and stars like Madonna and Quentin Tarantino, you don’t nee ..read more