Omo Valley, Ethiopia

Editor’s letter

Examining animal dung and termite mounds at 8am was

SAFARI WITH A DIFFERENCE

Africa’s wildest sights aren’t seen through the windows of a jeep. Set off on foot, in the saddle, by paddleboard, boat or even in a hot air balloon to encounter the most authentic and exciting new safari experiences the continent has to offer

THE BEST ACTIVE AFRICAN ADVENTURE S

Where to …

HOT AIR BALLOONING OVER THE HERDS

Maasai Mara, Kenya

Are there too many safari vehicles in KENYA’S MAASAI MARA?

Are there too many safari vehicles in KENYA’S MAASAI

WATCHING FROM A WILDLI FE HIDE

South Luangwa, Zambia

Alternative SAFARI ADVENTUTRES

Male gelada monkey, Simien Mountains National Park

THE WILD ZONE BEYOND THE WALL

The sparsely populated stretch of Northumberland north of Hadrian’s Wall is a place where creatures of feather and fin vastly outnumber people, where dark skies, ancient holy lands and mysterious cairns put human existence into a humbled perspective

SOUTH AFRICA LUXURY GARDEN ROUTE AND SAFARI

From beaches and cities to vineyards and wildlife, this self-drive Journey showcases the diversity of South Africa. Discover it all with Flight Centre, official provider of reader offers for National Geographic Traveller (UK)

KYUSHU

Steeped in natural beauty, the Japanese island of Kyushu has many treasures, with plenty to see in Kagoshima, Miyazaki and Kumamoto

Changing faces, shifting landscapes

Tohoku may have been devastated by an earthquake and tsunami, but recovery in theis off-the-radar region has been swift. This is an intruiging land of national parks, ancient forests and hot springs, where traditions and modernity blend seamlessly

A TASTE OF THE REAL JAPAN

Less than 30 minutes from Tokyo, Kanagawa Prefecture is a coastal region rich in nature, gastronomy and historical sites. It’s also set to host the final of the forthcoming Rugby World Cup 2019™

IZU: Where reality beats fiction

In 1600, after English sailor John Blackthorne washed

COSTA RICA

MACAWS SQUAWK AND MONKEYS CHATTER ON A HIKE THROUGH THE OSA PENINSULA — A WILD CORNER OF THE COUNTRY WHERE A LONGSTANDING TRADITION OF GOLD PANNING STILL SHIMMERS IN THE RICH AND VERDANT LANDSCAPE

SAN FRANCISCO

For all its shiny Silicon Valley gloss, San Francisco is still pioneer country — an undulating urban frontier ruled by extremes

TURIN

The birthplace of Italian icons Lavazza and Fiat, Turin has always been an innovator. And with its old factories turned into living art parks and shopping centres, this northern powerhouse is still living up to its trailblazing reputation.

Editors’ picks

We’ve been here and we’ve been there, and our team have found a few things we thought we’d share

Matera, Italy

Sunrise is always the best time to explore a city and

BEYOND THE SILK SCREENS

Think you know Warhol? Catch this epic exhibition, bringing together 350 works that aim to pin down the innovative pop artist

NEW CAMBODIA HOTELS

A series of luxury openings in the Southeast Asian country is tempting travellers to all corners of the kingdom

ALL IS BRIGHT

Travellers come from far and wide to catch a glimpse of Mother Nature’s greatest light show, and there’s a wealth of new ways to see the ever-elusive aurora

DOWN & DIRTY

Keen to venture off road, tackle tough terrain and learn some essential 4x4 driving techniques? Take the wheel and get stuck in

AT THE TABLE

Long Island-based chef Stephan Bogardus offers his tips for dining on the region’s North Fork

SEAFOOD TRAIL

From langoustines to lobsters, Sweden’s west coast serves up fine seafood in picture-perfect fishing villages. Words: Tamsin Wressell

WHERE TO STAY

Be it a hip motel or a traditional inn, few US cities embrace tradition quite as well as the retro New Mexican capital

SLIDE INTO CHRISTMAS

As the festive season fast approaches, we’ve picked some of our favourite Yuletide ice rinks for all the family to enjoy

CORK

Ireland’s second city takes first place when it comes to independent shopping, with quirky markets, vintage grottos and foodie pit stops aplenty. Here’s our pick of where to go

places to shop

Exploring museum shops is a bit of an occupational

STAY AT HOME

Sitting pretty on the south coast, this rural beauty has it all, from monkey business to picture-perfect coves

ON THE MAP

This season’s collection of cartographical curiosities make great stocking-fïllers for the itchy-footed or armchair traveller

TRAVEL GEEKS

SPONSORED BY PONANT CRUISES

NEW SOUTH WALES

The Australian Outback conjures all manner of evocative images, but none more inspiring than Bathurst and New South Wales’ most screwball car race

I AIN’T AFRAID OF NO GHOSTS

The Stanley Hotel in Colorado may have inspired Stephen King’s horror novel The Shining, but the spirits haunting its rooms today are a well-behaved bunch

NOT FOR THE FAINT HEARTED

There are hairpin bends and near misses on the way up, but the view from Monte San Costanzo is ample reward

Most read

From hand luggage rules to top family attractions — here’s what you’ve been consuming online

VILNIUS

Bold, buzzing and reborn — there’s nothing like a winter

FIFE

Fife is connected to neighbouring regions by six bridges, but when it comes to food, it’s gloriously self-sufficient, with meat, tatties, oats, just-caught shellfish, and unique seaweeds just some of its hyper-local treasures. Words: Audrey Gillan

LIMA

High-end eats, cutting-edge street art, exquisite colonial-era mansions reimagined for bright new creative age: Peru’s capital is no longer a traveller’s backwater but a Latin American luminary. Words: Michael Parker Stainback

BUDAPEST

Modern touches and classical architecture meld together like nowhere else than in the Hungarian capital, meaning a wealth of affordable grand hotels in some of Europe’s most opulent surroundings. Words: David Whitley

Exploring MACAO through food

Just 40 miles from Hong Kong, Macao has a unique Portuguese-Chinese culture. The Portuguese arrived here in the 16th century and their influence can still be seen throughout the destination, in everything from the architecture to the food. As well as delicious Chinese and Portuguese options, the local Macanese cuisine — reputedly the world’s first fusion cuisine — combines influences from China, Portugal, India, Africa and Southeast Asia. With 2018 designated as the Macao Year of Gastronomy, there’s never been a better time to visit — and dine

ASK THE EXPERTS

NEED ADVICE FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP? ARE YOU AFTER RECOMMENDATIONS, TIPS AND GUIDANCE? THE TRAVEL GEEKS HAVE THE ANSWERS…

MOST VISITED CITIES

THE NEWLY RELEASED MASTERCARD INDEX LOOKED AT 162 CITIES ACROSS THE WORLD, REVEALING LAST YEAR’S TRAVEL TRENDS AND FORECASTS FOR 2018, BUT WHICH PLACES ARE ON THE RISE AND FALL? WORDS: ESAN SWAN

WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT ANIMAL WELFARE

WE ALL LIKE TO THINK WE’RE ANIMAL LOVERS, BUT ARE WE SUPPORTING WILDLIFE CRUELTY WHEN WE TRAVEL? WORDS: JAMES DRAVEN

7 ways to SURVIVE LIKE A SÁMI IN THE ARCTIC

A NEW TOUR IN NORTHERN SWEDEN IS LETTING TRAVELLERS IN ON THE SECRETS OF SCANDINAVIA’S INDIGENOUS REINDEER HERDERS, FOCUSING ON FORAGING SKILLS AND ANCIENT KNOW.HOW. COULD YOU SURVIVE IN THE ARCTIC?

Tech traveller

TECHNOLOGY REPORTER FOR.BBCCLICK AND AUTHOR OF WORKING THE CLOUD, KATE RUSSELL PICKS THE LATEST INNOVATIONS

LOYALTY PROGRAMMES

MANY AIRLINES HAVE THEM, BUT WHAT EXACTLY ARE FREQUENT-FLYER PROGRAMMES, AND HOW CAN YOU BENEFIT? WORDS: DAVID WHITLEY

A RETURN TO THE NATURE ISLAND

HURRICANE MARIA WAS THE WORST NATURAL DISASTER IN DOMINICA’S HISTORY. A YEAR ON, THE ISLAND IS BOUNCING BACK THANKS TO VOLUNTOURISM PROJECTS SUCH AS THE REBUILDING OF THE WAITUKUBULI NATIONAL TRAIL. WORDS: NIGEL TISDALL

CAN YOU BEAT A FEAR OF FLYING?

IT’S THOUGHT TO AFFECT AROUND ONE IN 10 PEOPLE AND CAN SEVERELY LIMIT LIFE CHOICES, BUT A FEAR OF FLYING IS SOMETHING MANY TRAVELLERS OVERCOME, WITH PATIENCE, GUIDANCE AND PRACTICE. WORDS: JULIA BUCKLEY

IN THE NEXT ISSUE

Our annual Cool List is back again, identifying the

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