Richard Collett
Award-Winning Travel Writer.
Welcome to Travel Tramp
Hello there, I’m Richard, the Travel Tramp. Award-winning blogger, professional travel journalist and published author.
I’m on a quest to explore the world through its borders and boundaries.
Borders have shaped the world around us. Migration is the defining topic of the 21st century, and I’m here to answer the deeper questions about politics, history and identity we’re confronted with when we travel. Why is Cyprus divided? Why are there so many breakaway territories in the Caucasus? And why is Muslim-Chinese food so popular in Kyrgyzstan?
You’ll find stories of guerrilla fighters, micronations and refugees, as I build a database of cartographic curiosities and geopolitical oddities. All the things that make travel so fascinating.
Richard Collett, January 2025.
My latest book
Along the Borders: In search of what divides and unites the British Isles chronicles my multi-year journey along Britain’s ancient and modern boundaries.
From the Welsh Marches and the Irish land border to Kent’s coast and the most northerly isles of Shetland; join me as I explore Britain’s history and modern identity through its borders, boundaries and frontiers.
Published by Penguin Random House and available now.
richard@travel-tramp.com
Richard is an award-winning travel journalist. Richard’s travel stories, guides and photography have been published by BBC Travel, Atlas Obscura, Lonely Planet, Culture Trip, The Independent, and many more publications. Richard’s debut book, Along the Borders, was published by Penguin Random House in April 2026.
Latest Features
I Visited Pizza Hut and KFC in Baghdad, Iraq. Here’s What Happened.
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...
12 Things to Do in Van, Turkey
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 lake in...
10 Historic Casinos You Can Visit in the USA
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...
Award Winning Travel Writing
The Best of Travel Tramp
Travel Stories
Long form narratives, character driven stories, photographic journeys and deep dives into the world’s curious destinations.
Unusual Destinations
Breakaway territories, micronations, remote islands, abandoned places, dark tourism, emerging destinations and second cities. Learn how to travel off the beaten track with Travel Tramp.
Borderlines
Geography, politics and history shape the borders around us. Why do borders exist where they do? What makes a country a country? How many nations are in the UK? Learn how geopolitics and history define how and where we can travel.
richard@travel-tramp.com