TravelWise with Phil Blizzard

"Talking to Adrian Hayes is an adventure in itself " says Phil Blizzard with this episode taking you, via your "Airpods'  from the comfort of your 'zone' to the frozen, almost,  vertical rock face close to the 8,586m summit of Kanchenjunga in the Himalayas.

Adrian Hayes is heading back to the Himalayan 8000m giants with an expedition to attempt the majestic Kanchenjunga - the little known, 3rd highest mountain in the world, located on the Eastern Nepal and Indian border.  We start by talking about the preparations  for the expedition and the challenges to be faced.

In this conversational journey  we reflect on his previous major expeditions and his collection of world records - including the Three Poles Challenge. Climbing Mount Everest and walking to both the North & South Poles!  Which, when talking about bringing up a teenage daughter he said "was more demanding than summiting  Everest and reaching the two poles "!

Our common connection with the Middle East comes into the conversation - with my memories of him dragging car tyres across the beaches of Dubai for some reason or other! How the UAE and the delightful Oman offers so much to adventurers. Plus recollections of 'The Soldier of Arabia - David Neild'  and so much more, including the special affiliation Adrian has with the Gurkha regiment.

Adrian also talks about his other life  - that as a professional speaker - human development and what adventuring brings to that table, and vice versa. 

Finally a concluding piece which Adrian Hayes has provided about the forthcoming expedition.

‘Kanch’ rises to a height of 8,586 m (28,169 ft); is huge, remote, steep and technical, with a near vertical rock face near the summit and, above all, the longest summit push of any 8000 m mountain on Earth. The fact that there are only approx. 25 climbers attempting it this year, compared to the hundreds that will shortly be on Everest, testimony to it being one of the least climbed 8000ers. 

It has always held a special place with me, being located in my former Gurkha regiment’s recruiting heartlands of Eastern Nepal; having first seen it in the early 90s on a welfare trek whilst serving in the Brigade; and long having ambitions to climb it. On the trek in I will be visiting 7th Gurkha Rifles pensioners and their families gathered for their annual reunions in the Gurkha Welfare Trust Welfare Centres of Phidim and Taplejung - a role I undertook in 2022 which was one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had in the country.

It’s 18 years since I climbed Everest, 10 years since summiting K2 and nine since our aborted attempt on Makalu (the 5th highest mountain in the world). And following last year’s return to high altitude mountaineering and our ‘warm up’ attempt of the difficult Pumori (7181 m), I have been preparing and planning ever since - the joys, total absorption and complete focus of a major goal!


For further information visit www.adrianhayes.com

TravelWise podcast with Phil Blizzard and in this vignette epsiode we link up with travel and tourism expert Gemma Greenwood who is in Sydney, Australia. In this episode Gemma takes us away from  the city centre and it's iconic tourists magnets - Bondi Beach, the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House.   Her 'Off The Beaten Track' recommendation is the beachside town of Cronulla. Listen to find out why!

TravelWise vignettes are short, snappy podcasts less than 10 minutes in duration, featuring all the essential information you need to know about a particular destination and this is what you will hear from Gemma.

Check out the latest episode in the TravelWise vignette series - short and snappy podcasts that are less than 10 minutes long.  All the essential information you need to know about a particular destination or in this episode a featured airline & flight!

Phil Blizzard checks  out the flydubai service from Dubai to U-Tapao, Pattaya International Airport, Thailand.  Recorded on board the Boeing 737-  MAX 8 you will get information on the seat layout, the meal service and in-flght entertainment and digital services.

For more information visit www.flydubai.com

Check out the latest episode in the TravelWise vignette series - short and snappy podcasts that are less than 10 minutes long.  All the essential information you need to know about a particular destination or in this eposode a featured hotel!

Phil Blizzard checks-in to Al Hamra Village Hotel to check-out what they offer since their refurbishment. 

For more information about the hotel and their current room rates visit  https://alhamra.ae/hospitality-al-hamra-village-hotel/

TravelWise onboard the Star Legend luxury yacht in the Mediterranean for the inaugural 'Legendary Winter in the  Mediterranean' cruise. 

Join Phil Blizzard on board  Star Legend, from Windstar,  as he explores the luxury yacht as it sails from Rome to Barcelona.  He talks to key members of  staff about the facilities,  the various dining options, entertainment and the shore excursions available at ports of call along the way,  This boutique yacht has just over 300 passengers per sailing!

Ports on the cruise include Civitavecchia, Rome and Livono for Pisa in Italy, Nice  and Marseille in France and the arrival port of Barcelona, Spain.

Phil concludes this episode with Janet Bava, Chief Commercial Office, Windstar  and some exciting news about future 'Legendary Winter in the  Mediterranean' cruises for Winter 2024/25

If you are someone who is looking at a boutique cruise experience which is personal and friendly and takes you  to the less-visited places than this is the travel expereince for you.

For further information about this cruise and the others operated by Windstar contact www.CruiseMaster-ME.com 

Travel Wise from Phil Blizzard - News, Views & Interviews, along with travel tips to enhance your journey.

Phil Blizzard is onboard Star Legend, a luxury small yacht from Windstar, for his TravelWise podcast and to experience their debut 'Legendary Winter in the Mediterranean' cruise. In this interview he talks to Janet Bava, Chief Commercial Office who provides a profile of Windstar Cruises, the small ships they operate and their various cruises, along what can be expected for passengers on a 'Legendary Winter in the Mediterranean' cruise.  TravelWise - the 'Legendary Winter in the Mediterranean'  experience with Phil Blizzard will be the next episode in this mini series.

TravelWise with Phil Blizzard attends the the sell-out Mid Wales Tourism Conference, held at the Metropole Hotel and Spa, Llandrindod Wells and talks to key stakeholders at the event.  

Tourism and hospitality businesses across Mid Wales are being encouraged to work with Visit Wales to bring more international visitors to the region

 Mid Wales is recognised for its culture, adventure, landscape, history and heritage and is being  marketed by Visit Wales to countries France, Germany, Netherlands, USA and Ireland.

In this the third episode of the TravelWise  World Travel Market Trilogy series  the focus is on two major tourism projects in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - first its AlUla which has been described as a living museum of sandstone outcrops, historic developments, and preserved tombs . But with a 'jam packed' events and activity calender it is more than that as I discovered when I spoke with Melanie D'Souza, Executive Director of the Royal Commission for AlUla .   So in this podcast discover the extraordinary heritage and more of AlUla. The other stopping off point is the Red Sea - a phenomenal project in the Kingdom, now coming to life with the opening of luxurious accommodation as highlighted by John Pagano, CEO, Red Sea Global, along with their philosophy of regenerative tourism.

In this the second of the TravelWise  World Travel Market Trilogy series  we have a focus on aviation as I take off with Saudi Arabia's start up airline - Riyadh Air where I talk to Vincent Coste, CCO  about their plans and how starting from scratch in the digital era is a big  advantage to both the airline and it's future customers. Next on my WTM  fight path is a stop over at the Kingom of Saudi Arabia's legacy carrier - Saudia. The focus here is their rebranding and the use of technology, including AI, to enhance the customer experience.  Final destination in this aviation special is Air Mauritius and the latest news regarding their UK - Mauritius route. New airport, new aircraft and new daily service.

In this the first of the TravelWise  World Travel Market Trilogy series  we have a focus on Dubai as I talk to two brothers, both CEOs and both leaders of key tourism and hospitality entities.   The  brothers are  Fahad Kazim, CEO,  Millennium Hotels & Resorts, Middle East & Africa and Issam Kazim, CEO, Dubai Tourism. Both attended the World Travel Market,  London to promote  Dubai by meeting key players from across the world in this major tourism event.

In the second episode of the World Travel Market Trilogy the focus will be aviation and the third part with feature the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.