When I first went on holiday, I was 18 years old and on the lookout for the perfect beach. You know the sort: powdery white sand and clear turquoise water set against a blazing blue sky. In those early years of travel, I saw beautiful beaches in Barbados, Tunisia, Thailand, Mexico and Dubai, but none were quite the same as the brochures and billboards. The post The best beaches we’ve ever seen appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
The private island of Baros in the North Male atoll of the Maldives is one of our favourite places on Earth. We first visited in 2012 on a press trip with flights, accommodation and all excursions included. The post Snorkelling Baros Reef in the Maldives appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
While most will – and do – complete these hikes unscathed, the trails can be perilous enough that a spot of bad luck, small mistake or slight miscalculation can leave you seriously injured – or even dead. Exposure, crevasses, avalanches – all the usual threats can be found on America's most dangerous hikes. But there are also a few wildcards in here that can turn a walk in the park into a dice with death. Huckleberries anyone? The post Not for novices: America’s most dangerous hikes appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
While most will – and do – complete these hikes unscathed, the trails can be perilous enough that a spot of bad luck, small mistake or slight miscalculation can leave you seriously injured – or even dead. Exposure, crevasses, avalanches – all the usual threats can be found on America's most dangerous hikes. But there are also a few wildcards in here that can turn a walk in the park into a dice with death. Huckleberries anyone? The post Not for novices: America’s most dangerous hikes appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
Nature has many fearsome wonders – earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis – but none so fearsome as the most active volcanoes in the world. These hellish peaks feature in tales of ardour and heroism, loom over humble settlements and whisper threats of violence and destruction. Though potentially lethal, they hold a magnetic beauty that thrillseekers find irresistible. The post Most active volcanoes in the world appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
This year has been a life-changing one for us. Three-and-a-half years after we moved to the country, we took the decision to move back to London. We missed our friends and family too much and, after two years under the pandemic, knew it was important to be close to them. And, so, in February, we sold our house and moved 240 miles across the country. We are now settled in our new home in East London and happier than we’ve ever been, despite the change in our finances (hi, London prices). Things feel settled, but, of course, being inveterate travellers, we are never settled for long. The post 12 Christmas gifts for travellers appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
This year has been a life-changing one for us. Three-and-a-half years after we moved to the country, we took the decision to move back to London. We missed our friends and family too much and, after two years under the pandemic, knew it was important to be close to them. And, so, in February, we sold our house and moved 240 miles across the country. We are now settled in our new home in East London and happier than we’ve ever been, despite the change in our finances (hi, London prices). Things feel settled, but, of course, being inveterate travellers, we are never settled for long. The post 12 Christmas gifts for travellers appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
As travel writers, we're often asked about our favourite travel apps. For a long time, we stuck to old and reliable apps that performed prosaic functions like looking up locations or booking accommodation. The post 20 best travel apps to download in 2024 appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
The 'roof of Africa' was the first high-altitude mountain I climbed. At 5,895m (19,340ft), Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania, is Africa’s highest peak and while I had some hillwalking behind me, I had no prior experience of high-altitude trekking. I opted for the cheapest and quickest route to the summit via the Marangu AKA the 'Coca-Cola' route. The post Which is the best Kilimanjaro climbing route? appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
A canyon large enough to influence the weather, a hotbed of volcanic activity and an eerie desert landscape home to one of the hottest places on Earth. Yes, American national parks boast some of the most astounding natural wonders on the planet. The post Ranked: best American national parks for wildlife watching appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
Whether you're curious about nature, wildlife, culture, anthropology or language, Ecuador, one of the most diverse countries in the world, seems to have it all. Despite its relatively small size compared local giants such as Brazil and Argentina, Ecuador, is home to an astounding array of wonders that include picturesque colonial towns and cities, Amazonian rainforest, the spectacular peaks of the Andes and of course, the fragile yet almost mythological Galápagos Islands. We learnt more and more interesting facts about Ecuador with every day spent passing through its unique and varied lands (and seas). The post 30 interesting facts about Ecuador appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
It was five years ago that I first came across a big wall climber. A tiny speck on the side of a gigantic granite wall, the climber was bivvying in Yosemite National Park, the Holy Land of big wall climbing. I couldn't comprehend how someone could sleep tacked onto the side of a wall, suspended thousands of feet above the ground, sometimes in treacherously windy conditions. I was reminded of this special breed of people by the recent film Meru which follows three world-class climbers on their efforts to scale the mountain's imposing Shark's Fin. The high-altitude and Alpine climbing on display is impressive of course but it's the big wall climbing on the near-featureless Shark's Fin that is really mind blowing. The post 20 most stunning big wall climbs from around the world appeared fir...