The Journal
Stories from the long way round.
Field notes, route guides and honest essays from travellers spending a year — or a lifetime — circling the world.
19 results found
Solo Female Travel: Safety Without Paranoia
Practical habits that lower risk in any country, written by women who have travelled in most of them.
2 April 2026 · 7 min read
Vietnam North to South by Motorbike: The Complete Route
From Ha Giang's limestone loops to the Mekong Delta, riding Vietnam end to end is the journey of a lifetime. Here is how to do it safely.
2 March 2026 · 11 min
Thailand's Islands Beyond Phuket: Where to Go Instead
Koh Lanta, Koh Kood, Koh Phayam and the quiet islands where the longtail boats still outnumber the speedboats.
8 March 2026 · 8 min
Bali Beyond the Brochure: Sidemen, Munduk and the Quiet North
Skip the Canggu traffic and the Seminyak beach clubs. The real Bali starts where the tour buses stop.
20 March 2026 · 8 min
Laos by Slow Boat: Two Days Down the Mekong
The Huay Xai to Luang Prabang slow boat is Southeast Asia's most beautiful commute. Here is what to expect, hour by hour.
3 April 2026 · 6 min
Annapurna vs Everest Base Camp: Which Nepal Trek Is Right for You
Both are legendary. One might break you. An honest comparison of cost, altitude, crowds and reward.
16 April 2026 · 10 min
Sri Lanka's Hill Country Train: Kandy to Ella, the World's Prettiest Ride
Seven hours, tea country, and the Nine Arches Bridge. How to book, which side to sit, and where to break the journey.
28 April 2026 · 7 min
Hokkaido: Japan's Wild North by Car and Onsen
Volcanoes, drifting ice, and the best seafood in Japan — a one-week loop through the island Tokyo forgot.
19 May 2026 · 8 min
Palawan: Island-Hopping the Philippines' Last Frontier
El Nido's lagoons, Coron WWII wrecks and the underground river — planning a week on the world's best island.
2 June 2026 · 8 min
Kyrgyzstan: Horse Trekking to Song-Kul Lake
Three days on horseback to a 3,000-metre alpine lake, sleeping in yurts with shepherd families. The ultimate Central Asia adventure.
30 June 2026 · 8 min
The Pyramids of Giza: Practical Tips for Cairo
How to beat the crowds, avoid the scams, and actually enjoy Egypt's most famous ancient site.
4 August 2026 · 8 min
Namibia Road Trip: Sossusvlei, Swakopmund and Etosha
A two-week self-drive itinerary through deserts, coastlines, and wildlife parks in southern Africa's most surreal landscape.
6 October 2026 · 10 min
Cape Town on a Backpacker Budget
How to enjoy South Africa's most beautiful city for under 60 euros a day, from hostels to hiking trails.
20 October 2026 · 8 min
South Africa's Garden Route: A Self-Drive Guide
From Mossel Bay to Storms River, the Garden Route is one of the world's great coastal road trips. Here is the itinerary.
27 October 2026 · 9 min
Victoria Falls: Zambia, Zimbabwe and the Best Views
How to see the Smoke That Thunders from both sides of the border, and what to do beyond the viewpoints.
3 November 2026 · 8 min
Madagascar: Avenue of the Baobabs and Lemur Country
Why Madagascar feels like another planet, and how to plan a route from the baobab avenue to the rainforest reserves.
10 November 2026 · 10 min
Dakar and Gorée Island: A Cultural Introduction to West Africa
Music, markets, and history in Senegal's energetic capital and the nearby island that remembers the Atlantic slave trade.
17 November 2026 · 8 min
Jordan: Petra, Wadi Rum, and the Dead Sea
How to see Jordan's greatest hits without rushing, including the best Petra entrances and desert camps.
22 December 2026 · 8 min
New Zealand South Island: A Road Trip from Christchurch to Queenstown
Mountains, glaciers, fjords, and lakes — the ultimate two-week South Island itinerary for first-time visitors.
29 December 2026 · 10 min
New routes, fresh stories — straight to your inbox.
One email when a new post drops. No roundups, no noise.