In 2017, during a long trip through Asia, I asked Peter a question: if you could see only five countries before you die, what would they be? My rule was that he couldn’t choose countries he had already visited, nor stateless territories (e.g. Antarctica). Fast forward seven years and he has seen four out of five countries on his original list, so I asked him to come up with a new one. Given that he has been to 100 countries and all seven continents, it wasn’t easy – but he managed it. The post The countries we most want to see appeared first on Atlas & Boots ..read more

It’s easy to see why Cornwall is one of the UK's most popular holiday destinations. The historic county has over 300 miles of jaw-dropping coastline boasting rugged cliffs and golden beaches, quaint fishing villages and bustling ports while inland, dramatic moors and ancient forests are waiting to be roamed. The post Best views in Cornwall: 12 Instagrammable spots appeared first on Atlas & Boots ..read more

The best hikes in Northumberland National Park reveal an underappreciated, but utterly delightful expanse of English countryside Adorning the ancient rolling hills between the Scottish border and England’s industrial northeast is Northumberland National Park. It is England’s most northerly national park, Britain’s least visited and, with a population of just over 2,000, it is the least populated national park in England and Wales. The post 12 best hikes in Northumberland National Park appeared first on Atlas & Boots ..read more

In theory, an expert diver should be writing this post. Logically, he or she could tell you what to expect, give you insider tips and prepare you for the challenge ahead. That said, I have one distinct advantage over the experts: I know just how hard it is for nervous first-timers. The post How to pass the PADI Open Water Diver course appeared first on Atlas & Boots ..read more

We began our month-long trip through Central America with a brief jaunt to the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. It was my first visit to this part of the world and I was keen to visit to see the ancient Maya ruins of Chichén Itzá – my seventh world wonder – and dive into the region's famed aquamarine cenotes (freshwater sinkholes). The post Best things to do in Yucatán State: a 4-day itinerary appeared first on Atlas & Boots ..read more

Our selection of the best hikes in Dartmoor National Park showcase the finest of England’s wildest landscape. I’ve always had a fondness for Dartmoor. I first visited as a child on a family holiday and I’ve been returning regularly ever since. Famous for its wild, open moorland and craggy granite tors (free-standing rocky outcrops that rises abruptly from their surroundings), it is one of the few genuinely wild places left in England. Tucked away in England’s southwest, with 368 wild square miles to explore, Dartmoor National Park is home to some of the finest hiking in England. With an excell ..read more

On a map, North Sentinel Island looks like any other idyllic spot in the Indian Ocean. Fringed with beaches and crystal cobalt waters, it lies in the Andaman archipelago of the Bay of Bengal. North Sentinel Island, however, is unlike any other. It has been described as ‘the hardest place in the world to visit’, ‘the world’s most dangerous island’ and home to ‘the most isolated tribe in the world’. The post North Sentinel Island: a timeline of the world’s most isolated tribe appeared first on Atlas & Boots ..read more

On a map, North Sentinel Island looks like any other idyllic spot in the Indian Ocean. Fringed with beaches and crystal cobalt waters, it lies in the Andaman archipelago of the Bay of Bengal. North Sentinel Island, however, is unlike any other. It has been described as ‘the hardest place in the world to visit’, ‘the world’s most dangerous island’ and home to ‘the most isolated tribe in the world’. The post North Sentinel Island: a timeline of the world’s most isolated tribe appeared first on Atlas & Boots ..read more

The legend of Jaipur is that it’s India’s first planned city. Historians will tell you that the city’s founder – scholarly prince Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II – was passionate about astronomy, mathematics and science, that he studied European cities and collected maps from all over the world. They will tell you that he and esteemed architect Vidyadhar Bhattacharya planned every detail of the city, from the orientation of the gates to the script above each building – all based on Vastu Shastra, an ancient Hindu architectural system that incorporates nature, sunlight and symmetry. That is the leg ..read more

As Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken made history as the first astronauts to launch to orbit on a privately-owned spaceship, the world took pause to watch. Given the turmoil of our times, one observer quipped, 'Congratulations to the Astronauts that left Earth today. Good choice.' The post The most stunning natural phenomena on Earth appeared first on Atlas & Boots ..read more