Why we travel
World-renowned travellers reveal the journeys that made the biggest impact on their lives
A host of household names reveal how travel has shaped their lives. From encounters with locals to gruelling expeditions, some destinations have the ability to transform us. Join us as we celebrate power of place.
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What they're eating in Dublin
Black winter truffle ice cream and lightly-seared Connemara scallops are on the menu in the Irish capital, where beloved dining spots include Michelin-starred The Greenhouse and cosy wine parlour Loose Canon.
A journey through Lewis and Harris, the wild heart of Scotland's Outer Hebrides
The island of Lewis and Harris is home to an unfathomable number of shades of blue, from the sea to the sky. Perhaps that’s what calls so many natives back to the Scottish isles. And why the world wants to get its hands on their famous tweed.
Five salads from around the world, perfect for summer
From Burmese shredded chicken and Syrian-style halloumi to the smoky spices of India, these five salads by celebrated cookbook authors offer a taste of something different this summer.
The reality of travel in the post-lockdown era
As the UK eases travel restrictions to certain countries, and destinations start reopening for business, we answer your questions about bookings, flights, hotels and attractions. What’s the reality of travel as coronavirus lockdowns are lifted?
The emerald edge of Ireland: the ultimate coastal road trip through Kerry and West Cork
County Kerry and neighbouring West Cork are bastions of Celtic culture, their five Atlantic peninsulas — jutting into the ocean like an outstretched hand — home to historic monasteries, storied islands and otherworldly seascapes. Tracing this shoreline on a wild, week-long road trip showcases Ireland’s southwest corner at its most rugged, ancient and surprising.
WHAT'S NEW
How to spend a weekend in the Brecon Beacons
Take it slow through South Wales and discover endless trails over moor and mountain, coaching inns creaking with history, ghostly goings-on and moody landscapes to make the heart sing.
How I got the shot: photographer Christopher Wilton-Steer on capturing Zanzibar’s vibrant street life
Christopher Wilton-Steer's affinity for the characters and blend of cultures that make up Stone Town, the vibrant capital of Tanzania’s laid-back Zanzibar Archipelago, shine through in his recent assignment. He takes us behind the scenes.
Meet the adventurer: Jessica Nabongo on the lessons learnt from visiting 195 countries
In October 2019, travel entrepreneur and photographer Jessica Nabongo became the first documented black woman to visit all 195 UN member states, travelling to 89 countries solo. She talked to us about extreme destinations and new adventures.
A beginner’s guide to foraging for wild ingredients in the UK
Foraging responsibly and discovering the world of wild food is one of the simplest and most effective ways to reconnect with nature. We speak to foraging experts for advice on starting out in the UK.
No-fly travel
Without wings: 11 no-fly adventures for 2020
Whether you'd like to travel responsibly or want to reduce your carbon footprint from flying, these 2020 overland trips have no flying involved.
Photography
Photo story: the autumn ritual of wild horse herding in Iceland's Kolbeinsdalur Valley
The snow is falling lightly in the Kolbeinsdalur Valley. Everyone is waiting; anticipation lies heavy in the air. A distant rumble of hoofs breaks the silence and over the horizon, right on cue, a herd of more than 500 wild horses thunders into view. Welcome to Laufskálarétt, Iceland’s biggest annual horse round-up.
National Geographic Traveller (UK)
The power of place
Travel has the potential to profoundly change us. This issue's collection of stories is testimony to the transformative, magical power of travel.
Photograph by AWL Images
This issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK) celebrates the reasons we choose to travel. We asked Pico Iyer, Levison Wood, Christina Lamb, William Dalrymple, Emily Chappell, Robert Macfarlane, Ade Adepitan, Felicity Aston and many more household names to reveal the places they hold dearest and the travel experiences that have shaped their lives.
Whether it’s a wild encounter, a meeting with someone new, or simply a moment of realisation that your place in the world isn’t quite what you thought it was, travel has the potential to profoundly change each of us. As part of this issue’s cover story, their collection of stories — spanning destinations as diverse as Delhi, Tibet, Afghanistan Alaska, Botswana and the UK — is testimony to the transformative, magical power of travel.
Plus, we discover Ireland’s storied southwestern peninsulas, round up some of the best experiences across the Indian Ocean, spend a long weekend in the Brecon Beacons and explore Cyprus’s culinary prowess in the changing coastal city of Limassol. Our photo story looks at the time-honoured leathercraft tradition in Marrakech, weaving through the souks and tanneries. Meanwhile, urban stories this issue include Bilbao, Saint-Tropez and Mumbai.
Read more in the Jul/Aug 2020 issue — SUBSCRIBE TODAY
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The Jul/Aug 2020 issue of National Geographic Traveller
Photograph by Slawek Kozdras; Getty; Nico Avelardi; Karolina Wiercigroch (clockwise from top left)
Destination guides
Food and travel
The latest stories from National Geographic Traveller Food
Where to go, what to see and how to explore the world by way of its unique culinary experiences.
Editors' picks
Nine chefs and food writers share their summer favourites
Sate your wanderlust and be transported from your kitchen to a place in the sun. Here, culinary experts including José Pizarro and Romy Gill share the beloved summer flavours they’ll never forget.
Meet the makers: the Greek co-op putting traditional spoon sweets on the map
In Vizitsa, one of the Greek villages that have dotted Mount Pelion’s slopes since antiquity, the women-run Esperides Co-operative uses the region's abundant orchards to create traditional Greek spoon sweets with a secret local ingredient.
The pioneer: chef Abigail Mbalo's culinary revolution in Cape Town
From her restaurant in Cape Town’s Khayelitsha — somewhere she’d sooner not refer to as a township — Abigail Mbalo produces sumptuous riffs on the cuisine of her hometown.
Events
The National Geographic Traveller Food Festival 2021
Experience the world through food and travel.
Seven cocktails from around the world and when to drink them
Our guide to which cocktails to drink at various times of the day spans the world of mixology, from pomadas to pisco sours. Whether you’re abroad and wish to order like a local, or mixing up a tipple at home, there’s lots to be learned from global drinking cultures.
A neighbourhood guide to Mumbai
Mumbai’s spectacularly diverse neighbourhoods are home to everything from glitzy Bollywood studios to grand architecture and a national park that’s famed for its leopards.
Renowned chef Philippe Chevrier’s inside guide to Geneva’s culinary scene
TWISPER ambassador Philippe Chevrier, head chef at Geneva's Michelin-starred restaurant Domaine de Châteauvieux, developed a deep appreciation for food from a young age. He tells us about this love of cooking, and where he goes for an excellent meal out.
Notes from an author: DBC Pierre on drama, exploration and freedom in Norway’s High Arctic
The Svalbard archipelago, staging point for many expeditions to the North Pole, is a place of extremes. But there’s something going on here that isn’t in the literature: an elusive freedom that empowers, and a love of community that inspires.
Alice Morrison on making a home in Morocco’s High Atlas mountains
Travel has the capacity to change each of us profoundly. Author Alice Morrison remains enthralled to a memory of visiting a small family compound high up in the mountains of Morocco, while training for an ultra marathon.
Photo story: the souks, tanneries and timeless leathercraft traditions of Marrakech
Moroccan tanneries are renowned for their quality and craft, and nowhere is the deep-rooted heritage of leatherwork better experienced than the Red City. The story of Marrakech’s leather-making tradition embodies the city’s thriving cultural identity.
Photo Gallery
Photo gallery: the souks, tanneries and timeless leathercraft traditions of Marrakech
Moroccan tanneries are renowned for their quality and craft, and nowhere is the deep-rooted heritage of leatherwork better experienced than the Red City. From raw skins to colourful, expertly crafted goods, the story of Marrakech’s leather-making tradition is one that embodies the city’s thriving cultural identity.
The ultimate hotel guide to Saint-Tropez
High-end hideaways, chic townhouses and plush hotels hidden in the pines — it’s all here in the Côte d’Azur’s ritziest resort.
How to plan a walking tour through literary Oxford
Alice, Aslan, Lyra and Lord Voldemort — literary tales abound on a walking tour of the City of Dreaming Spires.
A taste of Pembrokeshire, from local gin to crab rarebit
Across the Welsh county of Pembrokeshire, producers and chefs are upping their game, elevating fresh, seasonal and local ingredients to the very top of the menu.
Where to eat in Whitstable, Kent
First-rate seafood is a given, but on the charismatic Kent coast you’ll find Michelin stars and craft beer too. Whitstable's ready supply of oysters once sated the appetites of the Roman Empire, and it continues to innovate today with modern bistros, bars and takeaway picnics.
Five wild and enchanting gardens to experience in England and Wales this summer
Cascading over hillsides and extending towards the sea, these botanical marvels — from Cornwall to Conwy — showcase the enchanting colours of England’s landscapes, and make for an inspiring day out.
How Chardonnay has shaken off its oaky reputation around the world
Chardonnay is leaving behind its reputation for heavy oakiness, as wine producers around the world create lighter, fresher versions. We round up the best bottles to try.
How to experience the culinary traditions of Bilbao, the heart of Spain's Basque Country
Renowned for its art and riverfront architecture, Bilbao is a city of chattering markets, long nights and football-mad locals, but it also knows a thing or two about good food and drink.
Five ways to use figs, by the renowned chefs at Honey & Co
Figs liven up both savoury and sweet dishes. Sarit Packer and Itamar Srulovich, the chef-owners of Honey & Co cafe and the authors of several bestselling cookbooks, share five ways to use this versatile fruit, from an unusual pizza topping to a homemade jam.
Explore history and healing in some of Europe’s oldest spa towns
From Karlovy Vary in the Czech Republic to Malvern in the UK, we round up some of the most intriguing hot spring destinations in Europe — places replete with long-held wellness customs, and grand 18th- and 19th-century architecture.
Six new novels to transport you overseas this summer
From Sri Lanka to Chile, Havana and Paris, journey around the world with fictional tales that conjure a crackling sense of place.
