Wanderlust: Off the Page

When you hear the name Qatar, you might think about the 2022 World Cup, or picture a business hub, or even have some trepidation about visiting. This episode is here to blow away those pre-conceptions and reveal the real Qatar; and, spoiler alert, it’s way better than you might think. 

Taking us there are photographer Will Gray, who at the time of recording had just come back from an assignment in Qatar for Wanderlust; Hazel Plush, a regular Wanderlust contributor and Middle Eastern travel expert; and Siham Haleem, a local freelance guide who has been showing off Qatar to travellers for more than 13 years.

Highlights include:

• Getting the low-down on the ultimate itinerary for experiencing capital cuty Doha’s rich cultural offerings.

• Visiting Souk Waqif to sample local delicacies, and learn the “delicate dance of the haggle”.

• Exploring Qatar’s UNESCO World Heritage site, Khor al Adaid, the Inland Sea, one of the most beautiful and unique eco-systems in the world.

• Going to the Shahaniya Racecourse where thoroughbred camels are ridden by robots, not humans.

• Discovering the art installations, historic sites, and unbounded beauty of the desert.

• Connecting with the people of Qatar, described by our guests as one of the most hospitable and welcoming in the region.

FIND OUT MORE

Check out VisitQatar.com more information

Check out more of Will Gray’s photography on Instagram @willgrayphotography, and his website william-gray.co.uk

Connect with writer Hazel Plush on Instagram @hazel.plush, and her website hazelplush.co.uk

You can book Siham Haleem as your Qatar guide. He recommends searching ‘Siham Haleem Qatar Guide’ on Google to connect directly. His Instagram is @siham_qatarguide

WANDERLUST MAGAZINE

Wanderlust is the UK’s leading independent travel magazine which has been taking the road less travelled since 1993. Find out more at wanderlustmagazine.com

Become a Wanderlust Club Member to join our community of serious travellers for just £35 a year (or about $50). This will get you six beautiful collectible issues, exclusive member- only competitions and events, access to our entire online archive back to 2010, and heaps of other benefits.

This episode was produced by Armchair Productions, the audio experts for the travel industry. Aaron Millar hosts the show and produces it.  Find our other shows at armchair-productions.com

The Amazon rainforest is the largest tropical rainforest on Earth, encompassing more than 2 million square miles and seven South American countries. Brazil is home to the largest swathe with roughly 60% of the total area, and is arguably the most accessible too, with some of the best and most varied adventure opportunities on offer.

Seeing the Amazon with your own eyes is rightly on the bucket list of many travellers. But with so much to see, it’s hard to know where to start.
In today’s episode, Wanderlust contributor Alex Robinson, who has been to and written about the Brazilian Amazon numerous times, shares his top tips for where to go, what to see and how to get the most out of this once-in-a-lifetime trip.
If you’re curious about one of the great wonders of the natural world, or dreaming of where to go next, this is your ultimate guide to the Brazilian Amazon.

Highlights include:

- Discovering the city of Manaus, your gateway to Amazon adventures.

- Exploring the state of Amazonas, Brazil’s largest state and almost entirely
covered in lush green tropical forest.

- Finding out the most authentic and sustainable ways to connect with indigenous
communities, including the best eco-lodges and river tours.

- Learning about the food and culture of the historic city of Belém, in Pará.

- Partying at the Boi Bumba festival in Parintins - the carnival of the Amazon, as
exuberant and colourful as Rio carnival.

- Taking the road less travelled to lesser-known places including the white sand
beaches of Alto do Chao, and Ilha do Marajo - a Denmark sized island where the
police ride buffalo.

FIND OUT MORE

You can find out more about everything mentioned in this episode at visitbrasil.com

Connect with Alex Robinson on Instagram @alexrobinsonphotography

Alex’s top tips:

- Manaus hotel - Casa do Bispo
- Indigenous led Amazon cruises -The Earth Trip
- Alter Do Chao treehouse hotel - Casa do Arvore
- Belém Hotel – Grand Mercure

WANDERLUST MAGAZINE

Wanderlust is the UK’s leading independent travel magazine which has been taking the road less travelled since 1993. Find out more at wanderlustmagazine.com

Become a Wanderlust Club Member to join our community of serious travellers for just £35 a year (or about $50). This will get you six beautiful collectible issues, exclusive member- only competitions and events, access to our entire online archive back to 2010, and heaps of other benefits.

This episode was produced by Armchair Productions, the audio experts for the travel industry. Aaron Millar hosts the show and produces it; Charles Tyrie does the audio editing and sound design. Find our other shows at armchair-productions.com

“The Florida Keys are a real mixture of the Caribbean and of the United States…actually, I’m doing them a disservice saying that. The Keys definitely have their own distinct personality.”

In today’s episode we’re heading down to the Florida Keys, the southernmost destination in the US. This charming archipelago of islands, sprawling from the southern tip of Florida’s peninsula, are home to a vibrant array of wildlife and abundant natural attractions, from pristine coral reefs to luscious mangrove forests. They’re also chock full of rich cultural history, artistic heritage, and culinary traditions…be on the lookout for one of the most unique uses of a Key Lime imaginable.

To explore the islands, host Aaron Millar interviews Wanderlust’s own founding editor Lyn Hughes about her recent visit there. The episode also features clips from the new podcast, The Florida Keys Traveler, which was recorded on location and which immerses listeners in the sounds and voices of the Keys.

Read Lyn’s full article about her time in the Keys at https://www.wanderlustmagazine.com/inspiration/florida-keys-of-my-imagination/.

Find more of Wanderlust and subscribe at wanderlustmagazine.com. 

Wanderlust: Off the Page is produced by Armchair Productions, the audio experts for the travel industry. Find more at armchair-productions.com. You can also find the full series, The Florida Keys Traveler, anywhere you find podcasts.

From rainforests to high peaks, crashing surf to the greatest wildlife show on Earth,
when you travel to Ecuador you get four worlds in one.

In today’s episode, we’re going to be exploring the natural beauty, culture, and food of this varied South American country through the lens of its four distinct eco-systems: The Andes, The Amazon, The Pacific Coast, and The Galapagos.

Named after the equator it straddles, Ecuador may not be on your bucket list yet, but after listening to this episode we guarantee you’ll want to bump it up the list.

Joining us today are three local experts: Ecuador tourism expert and representative of Ecuador’s Ministry of Tourism, Santiago Granda; Rebecca Braak, the founder of Rebecca Adventure Travel, a B Corp-certified tour operator based in Ecuador; and award-winning Ecuadorian chef, Alejandra Espinoza, founder and head chef at Somos restaurant in Quito.

Highlights include:

 - Discovering Quito, one of South America’s most beautiful cities: what to see,
where to eat and how to have the perfect start to your trip.
 - Finding out about the best sustainable tourism initiatives in the Andes, and how
you can connect authentically with local communities.
 - Hearing why the little visited Pacific Coast of Ecuador makes the perfect beach,
surf and foodie break.
 - Learning about indigenous culture in the Amazon rainforest, and how you can
experience it in the most sustainable and authentic way possible.
 - Finding out how to make the most of your Galapagos trip, and what makes this
tiny archipelago one of the most unique travel experiences on the planet.
 - Getting the expert low-down on the ultimate 2–3-week Ecuador itinerary.

FIND OUT MORE

You can find out more about everything mentioned in this episode at Ecuador.travel

Discover authentic B Corp certified Ecuadorian adventures at
rebeccaadventuretravel.com

Alejandra Espinoza restaurant is Somos, in Quito. somos.rest

WANDERLUST MAGAZINE

Wanderlust is the UK’s leading independent travel magazine which has been taking theroad less travelled since 1993. Find out more at wanderlustmagazine.com

Become a Wanderlust Club Member to join our community of serious travellers for just £35 a year (or about $50). This will get you six beautiful collectible issues, exclusive member- only competitions and events, access to our entire online archive back to 2010, and heaps of other benefits.

This episode was produced by Armchair Productions, the audio experts for the travel industry. Aaron Millar hosts the show and produces it, along with Jenny Allison, and Charles Tyrie does the audio editing and sound design. 

Find our other shows at armchair-productions.com

In the hit UK TV show Race Across the World, teams of two people compete against each other to cover vast distances of the planet using any means other than air travel. The catch is, they’re not allowed mobile phones, or credit cards, and the only money they’re can carry is what the cost of a flight would have been. In order to win, they have to beg, blag and charm their way instead.

It turns out, series 3 champions Tricia Sail and Cathie Rowe are very good at all three.

In this episode of Wanderlust: Off the Page we follow the pair on a more than 16,000km journey across Canada, getting a unique behind-the-scenes insight into the highs, lows and hilarities of life on the road with next to no money and even less of a clue.

From Vancouver, we’ll race north to the islands of Haida Gwaii, the wild frontiers of the Yukon and the frozen arctic of Churchill. We’ll visit the Rocky Mountain towns of Jasper and Banff, discover the vast prairies of Saskatchewan, the European flair of Quebec and much more.

Canada is one of the largest and most varied countries in the world, and this is,
perhaps, the ultimate journey across it all. But it’s also a story about throwing away the guidebook, turning off the mobile phone and embracing the surprises, and mishaps, of true adventure travel.

“If we didn't have to ask for lifts,” Cathie says. “Or work because we didn't have enough money, we wouldn't have met the people that we met along the way who just blew our minds with their generosity, and their willingness to help.”

Get ready to Race Across the World …

“I've come to the theory if you're going to regret anything, regret something you've done, rather than something that you haven't done. Because you don't know what's going to happen tomorrow. Get that bucket list, put it in front of you and just do it.” – Trisha Sail

DISCOVER CANADA
You can find more about every place discussed in this episode at destinationcanada.com

CONNECT WITH TRICIA AND CATHIE
Instagram: @triciaandcathie

TRUE TRAVELLER
This series is brought to you by True Traveller insurance. Protect your trip at truetraveller.com

WANDERLUST MAGAZINE
Wanderlust is the UK’s leading independent travel magazine which has been taking the road less travelled since 1993. Find out more at wanderlustmagazine.com 

Become a Wanderlust Club Member to join our community of serious travellers for just £35 a year (or about $50). This will get you six beautiful collectible issues, exclusive member- only competitions and events, access to our entire online archive back to 2010, and heaps of other benefits.

This episode was produced by Armchair Productions, the audio experts for the travel industry. Aaron Millar hosts the show and produces it, along with Jenny Allison, and Charles Tyrie does the audio editing and sound design. Find our other shows at armchair-productions.com

If you're not yet familiar with Saskatchewan, Canada's province known as 'The Land of Living Skies,' prepare for a journey off the beaten track...and into the wilderness.

Saskatchewan is renowned for its variety of landscapes, from the prairie grasslands of the south to the mist-shrouded boreal forests of the north. And as a place where people have lived and thrived for millennia, the indigenous perspective continues to shape Saskatchewan's culture.

So today, we're looking to dig into the heart and soul of this wild province to find out -- directly from the locals -- what makes it so special. Host Aaron Millar will be interviewing local travel writer Ashlyn George, Jodi Holliday from Tourism Saskatchewan, and acclaimed indigenous Chef Jenni Lessard from the Indigenous Culinary Alliance of Associated Nations. 


VISIT SASKATCHEWAN

If you want to learn more and plan your own trip, visit TourismSaskatchewan.com.

You can find more of Ashlyn George's work on her website at TheLostGirlsGuide.com, and you can learn more about Chef Jenni Lessard on her website at JenniLessard.com.

ABOUT WANDERLUST

Wanderlust is the UK’s leading independent travel magazine which has been taking the road less travelled since 1993.

Become a Wanderlust Club Member to join our community of serious travellers for just £35 a year (or about $50). This will get you six beautiful collectible issues, exclusive member- only competitions and events, access to our entire online archive back to 2010, and heaps of other benefits.

This episode was produced by Armchair Productions, the audio experts for the travel industry.

On Scotland's longest continuous coastal path, you'll find 117 miles of cobalt seas and verdant hills. You'll see dolphins leaping from the waves and gannets diving from the skies. You'll sample freshly grown fruits from over 500 farms and delight in rich ice creams in charming small towns. You'll kneel by tidal pools teeming with life and wander through ancient castles soaked in history.

The Fife Coastal Path is full of delights for all ages and tastes -- for however many hours or days you want to explore. The path is divided into five primary sections, each of which boast their own regional specialties and charms.
 
And to learn more, Aaron Millar is chatting with travel writer Robin McKelvie and Sarah-Jane Latto of the Fife Coast and Countryside Trust. Both Robin and Sarah-Jane share their own favorite pockets along the path -- including the best spots for a cold plunge, a cliffside picnic, and a meditative nature stroll -- and discuss how to get the most out of any visit.  

VISIT FIFE
If you want to learn more and plan your own trip, visit WelcomeToFife.com. You'll find gems along the way such as:

• Novelli's @novellis.icecream
• Anstruther Fish Bar AnstrutherFishBar.co.uk
• The Wee Chippy:  TheWeeChippyAnstruther.co.uk
• ...and many, many, many more!

ABOUT WANDERLUST
Wanderlust is the UK’s leading independent travel magazine which has been taking the road less travelled since 1993. 

Become a Wanderlust Club Member to join our community of serious travellers for just £35 a year (or about $50). This will get you six beautiful collectible issues, exclusive member- only competitions and events, access to our entire online archive back to 2010, and heaps of other benefits. 

This episode was produced by Armchair Productions, the audio experts for the travel industry.

Are you looking to plan an unforgettable trip in 2024? Whether you're looking for suggestions on specific destinations, or you're simply eager for some general travel inspiration, this episode is for you. Join Wanderlust's travel experts for handpicked favorites around the world.

From walking safaris in India to the white-sand beaches of New Caledonia, from sizzling Korean barbecue to food festivals in Quebec, the 2024 Hot List is full of destinations for every interest. 

Join Wanderlust's Editor in Chief George Kipouros, Founding Editor Lyn Hughes,  Digital Editor Jess Reid, Associate Editor Gareth Clark , and Special Features Assistant Editor Laura Field as they highlight some of their favorite travel destinations and experiences on Wanderlust's annual Hot List for 2024. You'll hear them discuss everything from visiting ancient shrines in Japan to enjoying the vibrant beaches of Mexico. And if you haven't caught the travel bug already...you certainly will by the end of the episode! 

ABOUT WANDERLUST 

Wanderlust is the UK’s leading independent travel magazine which has been taking the road less travelled since 1993. 

Become a Wanderlust Club Member to join our community of serious travellers for just £35 a year (or about $50). This will get you six beautiful collectible issues, exclusive member- only competitions and events, access to our entire online archive back to 2010, and heaps of other benefits. 

This episode was produced by Armchair Productions, the audio experts for the travel industry. 

You might not know much about Azerbaijan - but after today's episode, you'll be booking your flights for this small yet incredibly culturally rich country.

Azerbaijan contains a wealth of history, culture, and geography, boasting  cities old and new as well as soaring mountain ranges, brightly colored lakes, and mossy forests. From doing a homestay with a family in a Silk Road village to taking horses out across the Caucasus Mountains, there's so much to do in this gem of the Caspian Sea. 

And in today's episode, host Aaron Millar will interview travel writer Mark Elliott, who's been visiting and writing about Azerbaijan for over 25 years. He'll guide us from the vibrant city of Baku through the High Caucasus, through Silk Road country and into the Lesser Caucasus and the lush greenery of the south. Along the way, you'll discover everything from Turkish food in Baku to the little-known area of Nakhchivan, which you can only reach by plane. 

You can find more of Mark's work on Amazon or the Caspian Post, or look for his articles in Wanderlust. 

Find more of Wanderlust and subscribe at wanderlustmagazine.com. Wanderlust: Off the Page is produced by Armchair Productions, the audio experts for the travel industry. Find more at armchair-productions.com. 

Germany is a combination of uber cool and timeless tradition, with stunning landscapes and buzzing metropolises. Tourists flock to the Bavarian Alps, the Black Forest, the Rhine castles and the happening cities of Berlin and Munich, but this diverse country has so much more to see. 

So in today's episode, follow along on our journey through Germany's unique heritage sites. Host Aaron Millar will interview travel writer Andrew Eames, who will guide us through Northern Germany from the Baltic Sea on the east coast to the North Sea on the west coast.

Along the way we’ll uncover fascinating UNESCO heritage sites, quaint baroque towns, fairytale castles, recently unearthed ancient fossils, and a string of vacation islands. Yes, Germany has islands with spa resorts and perfectly placed beach towels. This will be a fantastisch journey! 


You can find more of Andrew's work on his website, andreweames.com. 

Find more of Wanderlust and subscribe at wanderlustmagazine.com. Wanderlust: Off the Page is produced by Armchair Productions, the audio experts for the travel industry. Find more at armchair-productions.com.