Travel guides where every destination tells a story

Story Bridge spanning the Brisbane River with the city skyline behind on a sunny day

Brisbane Travel Guide: South Bank, Koalas and the Brisbane River

Plan a Brisbane trip: South Bank and its city beach, world-class galleries, CityCat ferries, koalas at Lone Pine, Mount Coot-tha views and easy island day trips.

Australia27°28′ S · 153°02′ E

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Every guide is filed by continent and country. Search for a place you already have in mind, or start with a region.

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Ruined street in Villa Epecuén lined with bare dead trees and collapsed concrete and brick walls in Argentina

Argentina37°09′ S · 62°49′ W

Villa Epecuén, Argentina: The Drowned Town and How to Visit

Villa Epecuén was a salt-lake resort that sat under water for about 25 years. Here is how to reach it from Carhué, what to see and how to visit respectfully.

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Low sun over the shore and old lots of Bombay Beach on the Salton Sea, California

USA33°21′ N · 115°44′ W

Bombay Beach and the Salton Sea, California: How to Visit

Cheongungyo and Baegungyo stairs leading up to the gate of Bulguksa Temple, Gyeongju, South Korea

South Korea35°51′ N · 129°13′ E

Gyeongju Day Trip from Busan or Seoul: Silla Capital Guide

El Misti, a snow-dusted volcano, rising above Arequipa and its terraced valley in southern Peru

Peru13°32′ S · 71°58′ W

Cusco or Arequipa: Which Peruvian City to Visit First?

Australia, coast to coast

Sydney
Melbourne
Brisbane
Perth
Adelaide

All Australia guides

Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge silhouetted at sunset, seen from the sandstone rocks at Mrs Macquarie's Chair

Australia33°52′ S · 151°13′ E

Sydney Travel Guide: Harbour Icons, Beaches and Day Trips

Flinders Street Station in Melbourne lit up at night with its dome and clock tower

Australia37°49′ S · 144°58′ E

Sydney vs Melbourne: Which Australian City Should You Visit?

Australia27°28′ S · 153°02′ E

Brisbane Travel Guide: South Bank, Koalas and the Brisbane River

Perth city skyline at sunset reflected in the Swan River, seen from South Perth

Australia31°57′ S · 115°52′ E

Perth Travel Guide: Beaches, Fremantle and Rottnest Island

Yellow road signs warning of camels, wombats and kangaroos for the next 92 km on the Eyre Highway, Nullarbor

Australia25°16′ S · 133°47′ E

Australia Travel Guide: Visas, Seasons, Distances and Costs

Adelaide city skyline and the white Adelaide Festival Centre reflected in the River Torrens on a clear day

Australia34°56′ S · 138°36′ E

Adelaide Travel Guide: Culture, Food, Beaches and Wine Country

Sydney Opera House sails in front of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and city skyline across the harbor

Australia25°20′ S · 131°02′ E

Must-Visit Destinations in Australia: A First-Trip Bucket List

Orange slipper lobsters, known in Australia as bugs, on ice at a seafood counter in the Sydney Fish Market

Australia33°52′ S · 151°13′ E

Australia’s Finest Restaurants: A Food Lover’s Guide by City

Satellite-image world map on the Mercator projection with an oversized Greenland and Antarctica stretched along the bottom

Were We Lied To? The Truth Behind World Maps and Their Distortions

We grow up believing that maps show the world as it truly is. They don't, and the reasons change how you picture every place you plan to visit.

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Travel, holiday, experience

Three ways into the blog: the explorers, the dream locations, and the destinations that turn trips into stories.

Meet the voices behind Explore Venture World

Our editorial team is made up of travel writers and editors from different cultures, each bringing a unique perspective to every destination. Together, they tell authentic stories that go beyond maps and landmarks.

Akira Nomura

Editor

Asian culture specialist · Destination guides
Carlos Mendoza

Editor

Cultural travel · Urban destinations
James Walker

Contributor

Global travel · Destination guides
Jonas Weber

Editor

Architecture, history · Cultural landscapes

Field notes from every continent

Hidden hot springs, lost cities and night markets. 136 stories, filed by where they happen.

Argentina37°09′ S · 62°49′ W

Villa Epecuén, Argentina: The Drowned Town and How to Visit

USA33°21′ N · 115°44′ W

Bombay Beach and the Salton Sea, California: How to Visit

South Korea35°51′ N · 129°13′ E

Gyeongju Day Trip from Busan or Seoul: Silla Capital Guide

Peru13°32′ S · 71°58′ W

Cusco or Arequipa: Which Peruvian City to Visit First?

Korčula Old Town on its peninsula with terracotta roofs, walls and a bell tower above the Adriatic

Croatia43°10′ N · 16°26′ E

Hvar or Korčula: Which Croatian Island to Choose

Chefchaouen and the Rif Mountains at sunset, seen from the Spanish Mosque hill, with blue and white houses below

Morocco35°10′ N · 5°16′ W

Chefchaouen from Fes: Day Trip or Overnight?

Lenin bust facing Soviet-era apartment blocks and a glacier at Pyramiden, Svalbard

Norway78°39′ N · 16°20′ E

Pyramiden, Svalbard: Visiting the Abandoned Soviet Town

Ogimachi village and its thatched gassho-zukuri farmhouses seen from above, with green mountains behind, Shirakawa-go, Japan

Japan36°15′ N · 136°54′ E

Shirakawa-go Day Trip from Takayama or Kanazawa: A Practical Guide

Derelict ships standing on dry ground at the Moynaq ship graveyard in Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan43°46′ N · 59°02′ E

Moynaq and the Aral Sea Ship Graveyard: How to Visit

Matera Sassi at blue hour, stone houses lit against a darkening sky

Italy40°40′ N · 16°36′ E

Matera or Alberobello: Which Southern Italy Town to Visit

Abandoned houses half buried in sand at Kolmanskop ghost town in the Namib Desert near Lüderitz, Namibia

Namibia26°42′ S · 15°14′ E

Kolmanskop Ghost Town, Namibia: How to Visit From Lüderitz

Large weathered Standard Stamp Mill building on a hillside above Bodie, California

USA38°13′ N · 119°01′ W

Bodie Ghost Town, California: How to Visit

Roofless stone houses and a ruined church climbing the hillside at Kayaköy ghost village near Fethiye, Türkiye

Türkiye36°35′ N · 29°05′ E

Kayaköy Ghost Village Near Fethiye: How to Visit

Veliki Slap, the tall waterfall of the Lower Lakes in Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia

Croatia44°53′ N · 15°37′ E

Plitvice or Krka: Which Croatian Waterfall Park to Visit

Turtle Tower on a small island in Hoàn Kiếm Lake in central Hanoi, Vietnam

Vietnam21°02′ N · 105°51′ E

Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City: Which Should You Visit First?

Orange sand dunes of Erg Chebbi near Merzouga in southern Morocco under a clear sky

Morocco31°06′ N · 4°01′ W

Sahara Desert Tour from Marrakech: Merzouga or Zagora?

Terraced stone-faced pyramid at Caral with the Supe Valley mountains behind, Peru

Peru10°54′ S · 77°31′ W

Caral, Peru: Oldest City in the Americas, Day Trip From Lima

Melbourne's Southbank Bridge and the Yarra River at sunset with city towers behind

Australia37°49′ S · 144°58′ E

Melbourne Travel Guide: Laneways, Coffee and the Great Ocean Road

Crowds crossing the Shibuya scramble intersection at night under glowing billboards in Tokyo

Japan35°40′ N · 139°42′ E

Tokyo or Osaka: Which City Should You Base In First?

Mountains and clouds mirrored in a thin sheet of water on the Salar de Uyuni salt flat in Bolivia at sunrise

Chile22°55′ S · 68°12′ W

Uyuni or Atacama: Which South American Desert Trip to Choose

Gray stone roofs of Gjirokaster stepping up the hillside toward the castle in southern Albania

Albania40°05′ N · 20°08′ E

Gjirokaster Day Trip From Saranda: Stone City and Blue Eye

Stone walls and roofless houses of the abandoned medieval town of Dvigrad near Kanfanar, Istria, Croatia

Croatia45°08′ N · 13°51′ E

Abandoned Places in Croatia: Dvigrad and Istria's Ghost Villages

Large wooden theater at Humberstone ghost town under a clear blue Atacama Desert sky

Chile20°12′ S · 69°48′ W

Humberstone Ghost Town: How to Visit From Iquique

Craco ghost town on its rocky spur in Basilicata with the square tower above abandoned stone houses

Italy40°23′ N · 16°26′ E

Craco Ghost Town: Guided Tour and Day Trip From Matera

Snow-covered Denali rising above green tundra and a braided river in Denali National Park, Alaska

USA64°12′ N · 149°30′ W

How Big Is Alaska? Alaska vs Europe on the Same Map

Red fishing houses along the water at Reine in Lofoten with steep mountains behind in golden evening light

Norway68°12′ N · 14°30′ E

Svalbard, Lofoten or Iceland: Which Arctic Trip Fits You?

Red brick church tower and ruined houses of the old town of Belchite in Aragón, Spain at sunset

Spain40°28′ N · 3°45′ W

Abandoned Villages in Spain: Ghost Towns You Can Visit

Whitewashed chapel beside a ruined schist house in the abandoned village of Drave, Portugal, at sunset

Portugal39°24′ N · 8°12′ W

Abandoned Villages in Portugal: Ghost Towns You Can Visit

Shaman Rock rising from the blue water at Cape Burhan on Olkhon Island, Lake Baikal, Russia

Russia53°30′ N · 108°12′ E

How Deep Is Lake Baikal? Depth Compared to Major Lakes

Angel Falls plunging down the cliff of Auyán-tepui through mist in Canaima National Park, Venezuela

Venezuela5°58′ N · 62°32′ W

Angel Falls vs Niagara Falls: Height, Volume and Visiting

The arched stone Stari Most bridge over the green Neretva River in Mostar with hills behind

Bosnia and Herzegovina43°21′ N · 17°49′ E

Mostar Day Trip From Dubrovnik: Is It Worth It?

Abandoned concrete apartment blocks of Matsuo Mine on a hillside in autumn, Hachimantai, Iwate

Japan36°12′ N · 138°15′ E

Abandoned Places in Japan You Can Visit: Haikyo and Ghost Towns

Abandoned stone houses and fortress of Anavatos climbing a rocky hill on Chios

Greece39°04′ N · 21°49′ E

Abandoned Villages in Greece: Ghost Towns You Can Visit

Terracotta roofs of Kotor's old town below a church tower, with the Bay of Kotor and mountains beyond

Montenegro42°25′ N · 18°46′ E

Kotor or Dubrovnik: Which Old Town Is Worth Your Time?

Red clock tower and yellow walls of the Pena Palace in Sintra against a blue sky

Portugal38°48′ N · 9°23′ W

Sintra or Cascais? How to Choose Your Lisbon Day Trip

Terracotta rooftops of Lisbon's Alfama district spilling down toward the Tagus River

Portugal38°43′ N · 9°08′ W

Where to Stay in Lisbon: Best Neighborhoods for Every Trip

Aït Benhaddou ksar in Morocco, red earthen houses above a green river valley with olive trees

Morocco31°03′ N · 7°08′ W

Aït Benhaddou and Ouarzazate Day Trip from Marrakech

Roussanou Monastery on its rock above green hills, with the Meteora pillars rising behind it, Greece

Greece39°43′ N · 21°38′ E

Meteora Day Trip from Athens: Monasteries, Hikes and Sunset

Seaside houses and wooded hills seen from the water at Naoshima in the Seto Inland Sea

Japan34°28′ N · 134°00′ E

Naoshima Art Island Guide: Benesse, Chichu, Teshima and Ferries

Morning light over the terraced Colca Valley with the river and winding roads in southern Peru

Peru15°37′ S · 71°59′ W

Colca Canyon Guide: Condors, Arequipa Route and the 2-Day Trek

Gergeti Trinity Church on a green ridge above Stepantsminda with the Caucasus mountains rising behind it

Georgia42°40′ N · 44°39′ E

Kazbegi Day Trip from Tbilisi: Military Road and Gergeti Trinity

The Nho Que River winding through the deep Tu San Canyon seen from the Ma Pi Leng Pass, Ha Giang

Vietnam22°49′ N · 104°59′ E

Ha Giang Loop Guide: Motorbike Route Through Dong Van Karst Plateau

A hiker descends a stone path with railings along the PR1 ridge between Pico do Arieiro and Pico Ruivo, Madeira

Portugal32°46′ N · 16°58′ W

Madeira Levada Walks: A First-Timer's Guide to the Best Hikes

Turquoise lake at the foot of a curtain of small waterfalls in Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia

Croatia44°53′ N · 15°37′ E

Plitvice Lakes Day Trip: Routes, Entrances and Boardwalks

Turquoise travertine pools on the terraces of Pamukkale at sunset, with trees and old stone walls on the ridge beyond

Türkiye37°55′ N · 29°07′ E

Pamukkale and Hierapolis Guide: Travertines, Thermal Pools

Autumn forest and white limestone peaks above a mountain valley in the Albanian Alps near Theth, Albania

Albania42°24′ N · 19°46′ E

Theth to Valbona Hike: Albanian Alps Guide to the Valbona Pass

Stone terraces and ruins of Choquequirao on a green mountain ridge above the Apurímac canyon in Peru

Peru13°24′ S · 72°52′ W

Choquequirao Trek Guide: Peru's Inca Site Without the Crowds

Jiankou Great Wall winding along a green mountain ridge north of Beijing, China

China40°26′ N · 116°30′ E

Jiankou Great Wall Hike: A Guide to Beijing's Wild Wall

Village Bay on Hirta in St Kilda with the abandoned village above the shore and green hills behind

Scotland57°49′ N · 8°35′ W

How to Visit St Kilda: Scotland’s Abandoned Island Village

Long turquoise Lovatnet lake between steep green mountains near Loen, Norway, seen from Mount Hoven

Norway61°50′ N · 6°56′ E

Lovatnet Lake, Norway: Turquoise Water, Glacier and Loen Guide

The Hajar Mountains rising around the Hatta Dam reservoir near Hatta, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

United Arab Emirates24°48′ N · 56°07′ E

Hatta Day Trip from Dubai: Dam, Kayaking and Mountain Trails

Al Noor Island and the Al Majaz waterfront in Sharjah

United Arab Emirates25°21′ N · 55°23′ E

Sharjah Day Trip from Dubai: Museums, Heritage and Souqs

Nagasaki's harbor and hillside neighborhoods lit up at night from Mount Inasa

Japan32°45′ N · 129°53′ E

Nagasaki 2-Day Itinerary: Hashima, Peace Park, Glover Garden

Sangay volcano in Morona Santiago province, Ecuador, with forested slopes below the cone

Ecuador2°19′ S · 78°07′ W

Upano Valley, Ecuador: Ancient Amazon Cities and How to Visit

The Amphitheatre ridge on the Drakensberg escarpment in South Africa

South Africa28°45′ S · 28°54′ E

Tugela Falls Hike: Chain Ladders, Routes and Season Guide

Kelimutu crater lakes seen from the rim at sunrise, Flores, Indonesia

Indonesia8°46′ S · 121°49′ E

Kelimutu Lakes Guide: Sunrise, Moni and How to Get There

White Calatrava buildings and a turquoise pool at the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, Spain

Spain39°28′ N · 0°23′ W

Valencia Travel Guide: Old Town, City of Arts and Sciences, Paella

The lit-up city of Hakodate and its curving shoreline seen at night from the summit of Mount Hakodate

Japan43°04′ N · 141°21′ E

Hokkaido Travel Guide: Sapporo, Otaru, Furano and Shiretoko

The Matterhorn rising above the village of Zermatt in the Valais Alps on a clear summer day

Switzerland47°03′ N · 8°19′ E

Switzerland Travel Guide: Lucerne, Interlaken, Zermatt, Trains

The Great Dune and salt-crusted ridges of Valle de la Luna near San Pedro de Atacama at dusk

Chile22°55′ S · 68°12′ W

Chile Travel Guide: San Pedro de Atacama, Santiago and Valparaíso

Layered sea cliffs and the round stone O'Brien's Tower at the Cliffs of Moher on the Clare coast

Ireland53°21′ N · 6°16′ W

Ireland Travel Guide: Dublin, Wild Atlantic Way, Cliffs of Moher

Grand Harbour and the honey-colored fortifications of the Three Cities seen from the Upper Barrakka Gardens in Valletta

Malta35°54′ N · 14°31′ E

Malta Travel Guide: Valletta, Mdina, Gozo and Comino

Dead camel thorn trees in the white clay pan of Deadvlei beneath huge red dunes in Namibia

Namibia24°44′ S · 15°18′ E

Namibia Travel Guide: Sossusvlei, Etosha and the Skeleton Coast

Angkor Wat's towers silhouetted against a pale dawn sky and reflected in the pond in front of the temple

Cambodia13°22′ N · 103°51′ E

Cambodia Travel Guide: Angkor Wat, Siem Reap and Phnom Penh

Aerial view of the three limestone towers of Tre Cime di Lavaredo rising above a green valley in the Dolomites, Italy

Italy46°25′ N · 11°51′ E

Dolomites Travel Guide: Tre Cime, Seceda and Lago di Braies

Delicate Arch standing alone on a slickrock bowl in Arches National Park, Utah, seen from the viewpoint

United States37°18′ N · 113°02′ W

Utah National Parks Road Trip: Zion, Bryce, Arches and More

Neon signs and crowds along the Dotonbori canal in Osaka at night

Japan34°42′ N · 135°30′ E

Osaka Travel Guide: Dotonbori, Osaka Castle, Street Food, Day Trips

Massive sandstone walls and bastions of Mehrangarh Fort above the city of Jodhpur, Rajasthan

India26°55′ N · 75°47′ E

Rajasthan Itinerary: Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur and Jaisalmer

Aerial view of the Ala Archa gorge in Kyrgyzstan with a glacier-capped peak above a braided river

Kyrgyzstan42°52′ N · 74°34′ E

Kyrgyzstan Travel Guide: Bishkek, Issyk-Kul, Karakol and Song-Kol

Kotor's old town and fortress walls beside the Bay of Kotor under steep mountains in Montenegro

Montenegro42°25′ N · 18°46′ E

Montenegro Travel Guide: Kotor, Budva, Durmitor and Tara

Porto's Ribeira district and the Dom Luís I Bridge crossing the Douro River seen from above

Portugal41°09′ N · 8°38′ W

Porto Travel Guide: Ribeira, Port Wine Cellars and the Douro Valley

Pico del Teide rising above green slopes and clouds on Tenerife in the Canary Islands

Spain28°17′ N · 16°38′ W

Tenerife Travel Guide: Teide, Anaga, Masca and the Best Beaches

Chania's old Venetian harbor with its stone lighthouse and the waterfront buildings on Crete

Greece35°14′ N · 24°49′ E

Crete Travel Guide: Chania, Knossos, Samaria Gorge and Beaches

Red fishermen's cabins and houses beside the water at Reine village in Lofoten, Norway

Norway60°23′ N · 5°19′ E

Norway Fjords and Lofoten Travel Guide: Bergen to Geiranger

Traditional wooden sailing boat crossing the sunset sky off the harbor of Stone Town, Zanzibar

Tanzania6°10′ S · 39°12′ E

Zanzibar Travel Guide: Stone Town, Beaches and Spice Tours

Stepped stone platform at the Monte Albán archaeological site near Oaxaca City with an agave plant in the foreground

Mexico17°04′ N · 96°44′ W

Oaxaca Travel Guide: Food, Mezcal and Monte Albán

Bicycles parked on a brick bridge over a calm canal lined with tall houses in Amsterdam

Netherlands52°22′ N · 4°54′ E

Amsterdam Travel Guide: Canals, Museums and Day Trips

The long yellow facade of Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna across its grounds

Austria48°12′ N · 16°22′ E

Vienna Travel Guide: Palaces, Coffeehouses and Day Trips

Edinburgh Castle on its rock above the rooftops and streets of the Grassmarket in Edinburgh, Scotland

Scotland55°57′ N · 3°11′ W

Edinburgh Travel Guide: Castle, Royal Mile and Day Trips

Panorama of the Hong Kong skyline and Victoria Harbour seen from Victoria Peak

Hong Kong22°19′ N · 114°10′ E

Hong Kong Travel Guide: Victoria Peak, Dim Sum and the Islands

The pink facade of the Casa Rosada facing the Plaza de Mayo in central Buenos Aires

Argentina34°36′ S · 58°23′ W

Buenos Aires Travel Guide: Tango, San Telmo and Day Trips

Hot air balloons drifting over the rock valleys near Göreme in Cappadocia at dawn

Türkiye38°39′ N · 34°50′ E

Cappadocia Travel Guide: Göreme, Balloons and Underground Cities

Positano's beach and pastel houses climbing the hillside on the Amalfi Coast, Italy

Italy40°38′ N · 14°36′ E

Amalfi Coast Travel Guide: Positano, Ravello and the Path of the Gods

Elephants walking on the plain of Amboseli National Park with Mount Kilimanjaro rising behind them

Kenya1°24′ S · 35°01′ E

Kenya Safari Guide: Maasai Mara, Amboseli and a 7–10 Day Route

Limestone island and turquoise lagoon in Bacuit Bay near El Nido, Palawan, Philippines

Philippines11°11′ N · 119°24′ E

Philippines Travel Guide: Palawan, El Nido, Coron and Cebu

El Castillo, the stepped pyramid of Kukulcán, rising above the grounds of Chichén Itzá in Yucatán, Mexico

Mexico20°58′ N · 89°36′ W

Yucatán Peninsula Travel Guide: Chichén Itzá, Cenotes and Mérida

The Colosseum in Rome lit at dusk with a deep blue sky behind its arched outer wall

Italy41°54′ N · 12°30′ E

Rome Travel Guide: Colosseum, Vatican, Trastevere and Food

The Acropolis and Parthenon rising above Athens rooftops, seen from Philopappos Hill

Greece37°59′ N · 23°44′ E

Athens Travel Guide: Acropolis, Plaka, Food and Day Trips

Pura Ulun Danu Beratan, a Hindu water temple with tiered meru shrines on Lake Beratan in the Bali highlands

Indonesia8°25′ S · 115°11′ E

Bali Travel Guide: Ubud, Beaches, Temples and a 9-Day Route

Curved brick building of Plaza de España in Seville with towers, a canal and a bridge in late afternoon light

Spain37°23′ N · 5°59′ W

Seville and Andalusia Travel Guide: Alcázar, Flamenco, Day Trips

Hungarian Parliament Building with its neo-Gothic spires and central dome beside the Danube in Budapest

Hungary47°30′ N · 19°02′ E

Budapest Travel Guide: Thermal Baths, Parliament and Ruin Bars

Charles Bridge in Prague with its Gothic bridge tower and statues crossing the Vltava River

Czech Republic50°05′ N · 14°26′ E

Prague Travel Guide: Old Town, Castle, Beer and Day Trips

The pyramids of Giza rising above the desert plateau near Cairo, Egypt

Egypt30°03′ N · 31°14′ E

Egypt Itinerary: Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, the Nile and the Pyramids

Marina Bay Sands hotel towers beside the Central Business District skyline of Singapore

Singapore1°21′ N · 103°49′ E

Singapore Travel Guide: Gardens, Hawker Centres and Neighborhoods

Rio de Janeiro skyline with Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado seen from the top of Sugarloaf Mountain

Brazil22°54′ S · 43°10′ W

Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide: Beaches, Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf

Turquoise Moraine Lake below the jagged Valley of the Ten Peaks in Banff National Park

Canada51°11′ N · 115°34′ W

Banff and the Canadian Rockies Travel Guide: Lakes, Hikes, Road Trip

Brooklyn Bridge and the Lower Manhattan skyline seen from Brooklyn Bridge Park, New York City

United States40°43′ N · 74°00′ W

New York City Travel Guide: Neighborhoods, Food and a 4-Day Itinerary

Tower Bridge crossing the River Thames in London at golden hour

United Kingdom51°30′ N · 0°08′ W

London Travel Guide: Landmarks, Neighborhoods and Day Trips

Wat Arun's illuminated central prang beside the Chao Phraya River at night, with a passing tourist boat

Thailand13°45′ N · 100°30′ E

Bangkok Travel Guide: Temples, Street Food and Day Trips

Towers and facade of Gaudí's Sagrada Família basilica in Barcelona against a blue sky

Spain41°23′ N · 2°10′ E

Barcelona Travel Guide: Gaudí, the Gothic Quarter and Beaches

Golden evening light on the stone houses of the Sassi di Matera with the cathedral bell tower rising above

Italy40°40′ N · 16°36′ E

Matera Travel Guide: The Sassi, Cave Churches and Basilicata

The Blue Mosque with its cascading domes and slender minarets rising above Sultanahmet in Istanbul

Türkiye41°00′ N · 28°59′ E

Istanbul Travel Guide: Old City, Bosphorus, Food and Neighborhoods

Geunjeongjeon throne hall at Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul under a blue sky

South Korea37°34′ N · 126°59′ E

Seoul Travel Guide: Palaces, Neighborhoods, Food and Day Trips

The rock-cut facade of Al-Khazneh, the Treasury, framed by the sandstone walls of the Siq in Petra, Jordan

Jordan30°20′ N · 35°27′ E

Petra and Wadi Rum Travel Guide: A 5–7 Day Jordan Itinerary

Table Mountain and Lion's Head rising behind Cape Town, seen across Table Bay from the beach at Blouberg

South Africa33°55′ S · 18°25′ E

Cape Town Travel Guide: Table Mountain, the Peninsula and Winelands

Colorful 17th- and 18th-century townhouses and wooden sailing boats along the Nyhavn canal in Copenhagen

Denmark55°41′ N · 12°34′ E

Copenhagen Travel Guide: Neighborhoods, Food, Cycling and Day Trips

Cone of Arenal Volcano rising above green forest near La Fortuna, Costa Rica, with clouds around the summit

Costa Rica9°45′ N · 83°45′ W

Costa Rica Travel Guide: Arenal, Monteverde, Beaches and Wildlife

Conical dry-stone trullo roofs with whitewashed pinnacles in the Rione Monti quarter of Alberobello, Puglia

Italy40°47′ N · 17°14′ E

Puglia Travel Guide: Trulli, Baroque Lecce and a Salento Road Trip

The three tiled madrasas of the Registan in Samarkand under a clear blue sky, with turquoise domes behind

Uzbekistan39°39′ N · 66°58′ E

Uzbekistan Silk Road Itinerary: Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva

Balconied houses above the brick arches of Abanotubani in Old Tbilisi, with Narikala fortress walls rising behind

Georgia41°43′ N · 44°50′ E

Tbilisi and Georgia Travel Guide: Old Town, Food and Day Trips

The ruined brick chedi of Wat Chedi Luang in Chiang Mai's Old City, with naga stairways and prayer flags under a blue sky

Thailand18°47′ N · 98°59′ E

Chiang Mai Travel Guide: Old City Temples, Food and Day Trips

The yellow Clock Tower gate set in the stone walls of Cartagena's old town, with colonial buildings behind it

Colombia10°23′ N · 75°29′ W

Cartagena, Colombia Travel Guide: Walled City, Getsemaní and Islands

Bled Island with its white church tower on Lake Bled, Bled Castle on the cliff behind and the Julian Alps beyond

Slovenia46°03′ N · 14°30′ E

Slovenia Travel Guide: Ljubljana, Lake Bled and the Julian Alps

White Ottoman-era houses of Berat's Mangalem quarter climbing the castle hill above the Osum River in Albania

Albania41°20′ N · 19°49′ E

Albania Travel Guide: Tirana, the Riviera, Berat and Gjirokastër

Sigiriya Rock Fortress rising above green forest and distant hills, seen from Pidurangala Rock in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka7°52′ N · 80°46′ E

Sri Lanka Itinerary: Two Weeks from Sigiriya and Kandy to Galle

Jemaa el-Fnaa square in Marrakech at sunset, crowded with market stalls, with the Koutoubia minaret on the skyline

Morocco31°38′ N · 7°59′ W

Marrakech Travel Guide: Medina, Souks, Gardens and Day Trips

The green and blue lakes of Sete Cidades in their volcanic crater on São Miguel, seen from the Vista do Rei viewpoint

Portugal37°44′ N · 25°41′ W

Azores Travel Guide: São Miguel, Terceira, Pico and Island Hopping

White sand and clear turquoise water at Furuzamami Beach on Zamami Island in Okinawa's Kerama Islands

Japan26°13′ N · 127°41′ E

Okinawa Travel Guide: Naha, the Kerama Islands and Ryukyu Culture

Dubrovnik's walled Old Town and Old Port seen from the hillside, with red roofs and the open Adriatic beyond

Croatia43°30′ N · 16°26′ E

Dalmatian Coast Itinerary: Zadar to Dubrovnik by Road and Ferry

Red and yellow Dragon and Tiger Pagodas with their dragon and tiger entrances on Lotus Pond in Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Taiwan22°38′ N · 120°18′ E

Kaohsiung Travel Guide: Pier-2, Lotus Pond and Night Markets

Fourvière basilica lit up on its hill above Saint-Jean Cathedral and the Saône River in Lyon at night

France45°46′ N · 4°50′ E

Lyon Travel Guide: The Old Town, Traboules and Bouchons

Guggenheim Museum Bilbao's titanium curves beside the Nervión River, with Louise Bourgeois's spider sculpture Maman

Spain43°16′ N · 2°56′ W

Bilbao Travel Guide: The Guggenheim, the Old Town and Pintxos

Aerial view of the Dubai skyline with Burj Khalifa rising above Downtown and the Sheikh Zayed Road towers

United Arab Emirates25°12′ N · 55°16′ E

Dubai Travel Tips: Things to Do, Best Time and Local Rules

St. Mary's Basilica and the Main Market Square in Kraków at dusk, with café umbrellas and a lit fountain

Poland50°04′ N · 19°56′ E

Kraków Travel Guide: Old Town, Wawel, Kazimierz and Day Trips

Forested limestone karst islands rising from calm water in Ha Long Bay, northern Vietnam, at dusk

Vietnam16°03′ N · 108°12′ E

Vietnam Travel Guide: A North-to-South Itinerary from Hanoi to Saigon

Arlington Row in Bibury, a line of steep-roofed stone weavers' cottages above a green meadow in the Cotswolds

United Kingdom51°50′ N · 1°50′ W

Cotswolds Travel Guide: Best Villages, Walks and How to Plan a Trip

Turquoise Peyto Lake surrounded by forest and snowy peaks in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

Canada51°26′ N · 116°11′ W

Discover the Wonders of Canada: A Traveler’s Guide

Elephants grazing in green Amboseli grassland with snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro rising behind

Africa2°20′ S · 34°50′ E

Discover the Wonders of Africa: Must-See Places and Experiences

Colorful houses of Positano stacked up a steep hillside on the Amalfi Coast in southern Italy

Italy41°54′ N · 12°30′ E

Explore the Enchanting Wonders of Italy: A First-Timer’s Guide

Turquoise water and swirling white sand of Hill Inlet and Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island, Queensland

Australia16°55′ S · 145°46′ E

Queensland Beyond the Gold Coast: Reef, Rainforest and Islands

Calm blue water with floating ice between snow-covered mountains in the Lemaire Channel on the Antarctic Peninsula

Antarctica64°49′ S · 63°29′ W

Antarctica Travel Guide: Wildlife, Seasons and How to Get There

White houses and blue domes of Oia on the cliffs above the Santorini caldera, seen from a boat

Greece36°23′ N · 25°28′ E

Exploring Santorini: Things to Do, Best Time and Travel Tips

Green aurora borealis over snowy boreal forest and a glowing tipi near Yellowknife, Northwest Territories

Canada62°27′ N · 114°22′ W

Aurora Hunting in Canada’s Arctic: Where and When to See It

Unrestored Ming Great Wall climbing a steep forested ridge at Jiankou north of Beijing

China40°26′ N · 116°34′ E

Abandoned Parts of the Great Wall of China: Wild Sections Guide

Crowds eating at food stalls under strings of flags inside Gwangjang Market in Seoul

South Korea37°34′ N · 126°59′ E

South Korea Night Markets: The Best Street Food and Where to Find It

Mount Fitz Roy and its granite spires above Laguna Sucia in Los Glaciares National Park

Argentina & Chile49°20′ S · 72°53′ W

Undiscovered Glaciers and Mountains in Patagonia Beyond the Crowds

Follow the journey

Short films, first looks and routes from the road, before they become guides.

Travel guides where every destination tells a story

Brisbane Travel Guide: South Bank, Koalas and the Brisbane River

Browse the atlas

New guides

Villa Epecuén, Argentina: The Drowned Town and How to Visit

Bombay Beach and the Salton Sea, California: How to Visit

Gyeongju Day Trip from Busan or Seoul: Silla Capital Guide

Cusco or Arequipa: Which Peruvian City to Visit First?

Australia, coast to coast

Sydney Travel Guide: Harbour Icons, Beaches and Day Trips

Sydney vs Melbourne: Which Australian City Should You Visit?

Brisbane Travel Guide: South Bank, Koalas and the Brisbane River

Perth Travel Guide: Beaches, Fremantle and Rottnest Island

Australia Travel Guide: Visas, Seasons, Distances and Costs

Adelaide Travel Guide: Culture, Food, Beaches and Wine Country

Must-Visit Destinations in Australia: A First-Trip Bucket List

Australia’s Finest Restaurants: A Food Lover’s Guide by City

Were We Lied To? The Truth Behind World Maps and Their Distortions

Travel, holiday, experience

Explorer Teams

Dream Locations

Travel Destinations

Meet the voices behind Explore Venture World

Akira Nomura

Carlos Mendoza

James Walker

Jonas Weber

Field notes from every continent

Villa Epecuén, Argentina: The Drowned Town and How to Visit

Bombay Beach and the Salton Sea, California: How to Visit

Gyeongju Day Trip from Busan or Seoul: Silla Capital Guide

Cusco or Arequipa: Which Peruvian City to Visit First?

Hvar or Korčula: Which Croatian Island to Choose

Chefchaouen from Fes: Day Trip or Overnight?

Pyramiden, Svalbard: Visiting the Abandoned Soviet Town

Shirakawa-go Day Trip from Takayama or Kanazawa: A Practical Guide

Moynaq and the Aral Sea Ship Graveyard: How to Visit

Matera or Alberobello: Which Southern Italy Town to Visit

Kolmanskop Ghost Town, Namibia: How to Visit From Lüderitz

Bodie Ghost Town, California: How to Visit

Kayaköy Ghost Village Near Fethiye: How to Visit

Plitvice or Krka: Which Croatian Waterfall Park to Visit

Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City: Which Should You Visit First?

Sahara Desert Tour from Marrakech: Merzouga or Zagora?

Caral, Peru: Oldest City in the Americas, Day Trip From Lima

Melbourne Travel Guide: Laneways, Coffee and the Great Ocean Road

Tokyo or Osaka: Which City Should You Base In First?

Uyuni or Atacama: Which South American Desert Trip to Choose

Gjirokaster Day Trip From Saranda: Stone City and Blue Eye

Abandoned Places in Croatia: Dvigrad and Istria's Ghost Villages

Humberstone Ghost Town: How to Visit From Iquique

Craco Ghost Town: Guided Tour and Day Trip From Matera

How Big Is Alaska? Alaska vs Europe on the Same Map

Svalbard, Lofoten or Iceland: Which Arctic Trip Fits You?

Abandoned Villages in Spain: Ghost Towns You Can Visit

Abandoned Villages in Portugal: Ghost Towns You Can Visit

How Deep Is Lake Baikal? Depth Compared to Major Lakes

Angel Falls vs Niagara Falls: Height, Volume and Visiting

Mostar Day Trip From Dubrovnik: Is It Worth It?

Abandoned Places in Japan You Can Visit: Haikyo and Ghost Towns

Abandoned Villages in Greece: Ghost Towns You Can Visit

Kotor or Dubrovnik: Which Old Town Is Worth Your Time?

Sintra or Cascais? How to Choose Your Lisbon Day Trip

Where to Stay in Lisbon: Best Neighborhoods for Every Trip

Aït Benhaddou and Ouarzazate Day Trip from Marrakech

Meteora Day Trip from Athens: Monasteries, Hikes and Sunset

Naoshima Art Island Guide: Benesse, Chichu, Teshima and Ferries

Colca Canyon Guide: Condors, Arequipa Route and the 2-Day Trek

Kazbegi Day Trip from Tbilisi: Military Road and Gergeti Trinity

Ha Giang Loop Guide: Motorbike Route Through Dong Van Karst Plateau

Madeira Levada Walks: A First-Timer's Guide to the Best Hikes

Plitvice Lakes Day Trip: Routes, Entrances and Boardwalks

Pamukkale and Hierapolis Guide: Travertines, Thermal Pools

Theth to Valbona Hike: Albanian Alps Guide to the Valbona Pass

Choquequirao Trek Guide: Peru's Inca Site Without the Crowds

Jiankou Great Wall Hike: A Guide to Beijing's Wild Wall

How to Visit St Kilda: Scotland’s Abandoned Island Village

Lovatnet Lake, Norway: Turquoise Water, Glacier and Loen Guide

Hatta Day Trip from Dubai: Dam, Kayaking and Mountain Trails

Sharjah Day Trip from Dubai: Museums, Heritage and Souqs