Things to Do

When I first laced up my boots for the randonnée mythique dans la cordillère Blanche, I knew I was stepping into one of those hikes that leaves a small scar on your expectations of travel: you return home and nothing quite matches the clarity of high-altitude mornings, the sculpted glacial valleys, and the sense that every switchback is a page from an old mountaineer's diary. In this guide I’ll walk you through everything I learned on the...

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I wake before dawn when I know the river will be at its most forgiving. There’s a particular hush along the Ouse that feels like an invitation: the buildings’ reflections unfurl perfectly on glassy water, and the first pale light paints the stone and timber in soft, forgiving tones. From a riverside room at Fevershamlodge Co, you don’t need to rush to the quay — you can craft a calm, considered photoshoot from the comfort of your own...

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When I first decided to walk the GR54, I wanted a clear, practical plan — something that felt like an itinéraire complet du tour de lOisans en 5 jours, not a vague wish. After several scouting trips, careful route-testing and evenings spent comparing mountain huts and weather windows, I built a 5-day loop that balances big alpine passes, wild valleys and sensible daily distances. Below I share that full itinerary, step-by-step advice, kit...

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I still remember the first time I stepped into the mist of Coorg — locally known as Kodagu — and felt the soft damp of the hills press down like a welcome. I’d come hunting for green valleys, coffee aromas and living traditions, and what I found was a landscape that calls you to slow down: to listen to birds, to taste single-origin filter coffee at sunrise, and to meet people whose culture is braided into the land itself. In this piece...

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There’s a particular hush that settles over the Ouse in the early morning — a softened light, birdsong punctuating the quiet, and the city’s stones still holding the cool of night. When I plan a morning by the river, I aim to stretch that hush into something unrushed and restorative: a sunrise walk, a riverside breakfast, and a slow transition into the rest of the day. Below I’ll take you through a step‑by‑step itinerary I use...

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I have a soft spot for places that still feel a little undiscovered, where the trails are quiet and the views demand you slow down. Over recent years I’ve returned several times to the Balkans to découvrir les randonnées sauvages en Albanie, and each trip has left me with fresh routes to recommend, practical tips refined by experience, and a bigger appetite for this rugged country. In this piece I’ll share the best treks, logistical...

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When I first set foot on Bali, I was immediately struck by how the island's landscapes and rituals are braided together—mountain trails leading to remote shrines, fishermen offering flowers before dawn, and village processions that stop traffic with impossible grace. If, like me, you want to explorer les traditions et temples de Bali rather than just tick off a list of sights, you'll discover a travel experience that feeds both curiosity and...

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When I first planned a trip to Madeira, I had one clear aim: découvrir la maison natale de Ronaldo à Madère. That phrase — which I kept repeating as I organised trains, flights and a rental car — felt like a promise to myself to step gently into the childhood world of a global icon. Visiting Cristiano Ronaldo’s birthplace in Funchal is not about chasing celebrity in a kitschy way; it’s about understanding how place and memory shape a...

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There’s something deeply comforting about slipping from a brisk riverside walk into a warm, book-lined lounge where the light is soft, the chairs invite you to linger and the kettle (or espresso machine) is ready to oblige. Over the years I’ve tried to find the best cosy corners of York for reading, remote work and warming up after a long stroll along the Ouse — and I keep coming back to a handful of favourites that balance atmosphere,...

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I can never resist a river at dusk. In York, the River Ouse has a way of softening the city’s edges and inviting you to wander — and over the years I’ve learned a handful of riverside routes that locals rely on for quiet, atmospheric sunset strolls. These are the paths I choose when I want to clear my head after a busy day of scouting hotels or testing menus for the site. Below I share my favourite hidden walks, practical tips for timing...

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