I was surprised to find Pizza Hut and KFC in Baghdad, Iraq. I tried both, to see which fast food treats they had to offer! There are almost 20,000 pizza huts in 105 countries, and a staggering 30,000 KFCs located in 145 countries worldwide. Given the vast...
From seeing the famed Whirling Dervishes to exploring mystic Sufi history, here are the best things to do in Konya, Turkey. Konya is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Turkey, and yet, even as the 7th largest urban area in the country, I know very few...
From hiking the Lyrcian Way to cracking a cold Efes beer on the beach, here are the best things to do in Kaş, Turkey. Located within a sheltered harbour surrounded by rugged cliffs and jagged peninsulas on Turkey’s Mediterranean shores, Kaş is fast making a name...
From beachfront beers overlooking the Atlantic Ocean to safari tours of Pongara National Park, here are the best things to do in Libreville, Gabon. “Gabon is like a big village,” said Ghislaine Bouassa, a Gabonese tour guide. “And Libreville is just...
From exploring the scenic shores of Lake Van to gorging on the city’s famous breakfast, here are the best things to do in Van, Turkey. Van is a little-visited city on the eastern edge of Turkey. Overlooking the scenic shores of Lake Van (the largest freshwater...
From late nights in Vegas to the shores of Lake Tahoe, here are the best historic casinos to visit in the USA. The history of humans and gambling is compelling. The Mesopotamians invented dice games millennia ago, the Chinese were playing cards centuries back and the...
In Senegal, a cultural ethos of community, respect and hospitality known as ‘Teranga’ is inspiring a new wave of community-led conservation in the Saloum Delta. “Tres jolie!” Ismail Adiame said happily as he piloted the long wooden Pirogue along the...
In Belize, new cultural initiatives are helping tourists to connect with the country’s Garifuna past, while also helping the Garifuna to preserve their history. By Richard Collett ‘But it was not quite the end. Dumped on a distant shore, the few hardy...
From freshwater diving in the Bay of Bones to hiking the High Scardus Trail, here are the best things to do in Ohrid, North Macedonia. “Lake Ohrid is one of those places on the earth that make you feel as if something fateful awaits you. As if you were always meant to...
Whether your catching the bus or taking the high speed train, here’s everything you need to know about travelling from Istanbul to Ankara. Turkey’s two most important cities are incredibly well connected by public transport, including regular buses and...
Along the Borders chronicles my multi-year journey along Britain's borders, boundaries and frontiers. Published by Penguin Random House, and available now!