So the World Economic Forum has just released a list of the world's most and least tourist-friendly countries...but I'm not quite convinced by the results! Places like Iceland, New Zealand, or Morocco, came out on top as the friendliest countries in the world but Bolivia, Venezuela, and Russia all hug the bottom of the list....
As if you needed ANY more reason to go travel, but here's one more...travel apparently makes you more attractive to the opposite sex...
To us non-Aussies, one of the best things about Australia is its awesome beaches, which thanks to the equally awesome weather, can be enjoyed pretty much all year round! So if you're going to be down under this Jan 26th, why not celebrate the occasion by heading over to one of these 'beauties'!...
Uncover your Journey of a Lifetime…at the Adventure Travel Show! We are giving 2 lucky readers the chance to win a pair of tickets - just answer this easy question for your chance to win!
if you’ve got the urge to do something different in 2013 and want to see the world and push your physical limits at the same time, here are a few suggestions to get the juices flowing…
I've seen some weird and wonderful mountain roads and pathways during my travels - particularly in Asia - where I've thought 'how on earth did they build those'? And these ones are up there with the best of 'em!
Queenstown is famous for lots of things - winter sports, fergburgers, wine and generally having a bloody good time, but to get away from the adrenaline fuelled fun once in a while and get back to nature, pull on your boots and check out the Queenstown Trail...
We're very excited about 'Charley Boorman's African Adventure' which will be hitting our screens later this autumn and were lucky enough to catch up with him earlier this year to chat about his love for adventure and tips for overland travel...
Everybody deserves to experience their travel dreams for real but all too often, those dreams can turn into a nightmare, so here’s how to ensure you have a trip you’ll never forget, but for all the right reasons!
Going on holiday to the USA is an adventure in itself - but if you're an adrenalin junkie, you can make it even more thrilling. When I visited America I found there was something new to try at every destination I visited...
Last winter visitors to the Northern Lights were treated to spectacular Aurora displays... read our top ten tips to best experience the world’s greatest light show this autumn and winter..!
Would you love to go travelling, but are nervous or concerned about jetting off on your own? This isn't an unusual problem but don't dismiss it, as it can be an incredibly rewarding experience, albeit a little nerve-wracking at times! It's always nice to have someone to lean on every now and then, but just because you set off on your own, doesn't mean you have to stay that way...
A favourite destination for trekkers, Peru is a fascinating country with a rich culture that oozes natural beauty. Of course, when it comes to treks here, Machu Picchu trips top pretty much everyone's list - and reading our guide can tell you exactly why.
Following on from our Guide to Train Travel in China we wanted share with you our insights into how to organise your own visits to some of China’s must see attractions, without having to fork out for an organised trip!
Last month, Richard and I wrote about how to cope with Reverse Homesickness after travelling and one of our tips was to seek adventure closer to home. Well, this weekend we are pleased to announce that we are taking our own advice and heading off on a cycling adventure to the Isle of Wight...
In Part Two of our Guide to Train Travel in China we thought it may be useful to go into a bit more detail about the train journeys themselves and how to survive those never-ending miles and answer the question of Hard Sleeper or Soft Sleeper?!
One adventurer shares his experiences of his time in the Ladakh region of India. Trekking across the Changthang plateau, meeting the local nomads and creating memories that will last forever.
Booking tickets, finding stations and planning your route is much more straightforward than many travel agents and booking services would have you think, so to enable you to travel independently around China and avoid paying extortionate agency fees, we’ve put together a little Guide to Train Travel in China…
Ecuador is home to a diverse range of ecosystems, many of which need protecting for a variety of reasons. As a result, it's a real haven if you want to become a volunteer abroad and work on a worthwhile conservation project. Try to pick an initiative that really captures your interest; after all, you won't always be doing exciting things like caring for animals or surveying wildlife - sometimes it'll just come down to hard work and getting your hands dirty!
In the UK, if a landslide or river happened to break open the road and make it unpassable, it would probably take weeks for the authorities to sort it out. Not so in Nepal. These guys take this sort of thing in their stride! A few rocks and stones later, and voila! The road is fixed...
Over the past couple decades South America has gone from being a region that many people avoided to being one of the hotspots for travel. While this is great news for the local economies, to many travellers, the crowds quickly become tiresome. Thankfully, there are still a number of amazing spots on the continent that few people know of and even less visit. Here are my favourites.
If you're planning an adventure tour of Tanzania, it's well worth thinking about how you can make the most of your trip - after all, it could well be a once in a lifetime experience. Read our top tips on making sure you have experiences you'll never forget...
Many of us have dreams of jetting off to exotic locations and becoming a volunteer abroad, but few get to actually fulfil these ambitions. Those who do though might feel inspired by what will be revealed in this blog - the top destinations around the world for wildlife voluntary schemes.
With new aerial safaris and wildlife tours launching this year plus a dash of Hollywood glamour there has never been a better time to visit Western Australia...
Some practical tips for coping with reverse homesickness. We hope that whatever you are feeling and wherever you are in the world, these will help to fill that gaping hole that appeared in your life since you arrived home after an extended trip…
This month's photo flashback comes from Lhasa, Tibet - an inspiring place that we were fortunate enough to visit during our recent travels. On our last day in Lhasa we visited what is probably the most important temple in Tibet, Jokhang Temple and came across hordes of people outside the temple - most of the pilgrims were praying, chanting and 'prostrating' themselves on the ground...
Travelling as a couple can have its pitfalls, so we’ve put our heads together and come up with some tips for those of you who are thinking about taking the plunge and embarking on your travel dreams as a couple...
This Valentine’s Day we thought we’d take a quick look at ‘love’ around the globe and explore some of the different traditions that exist when it comes to displays of affection...
Those of us who live in the UK know that in an emergency you can dial 999 to get through to the police, ambulance service or fire brigade. But what about outside the Great British borders? This Saturday (11th February) marks ‘112 Day’, created to raise awareness of the European single number for emergencies....
Tommy and girlfriend Jessie set off on a 3000 mile bicycle trip from Rome to Home, averaging around 50 miles a day! Having never done anything on this scale before they certainly had their work cut out! As soon as we first heard about their trip, we just had to find out more, so we cornered them for an exclusive interview so that they could tell us all about what they got up to....
“There are cockroaches in the kitchen and the toilets smell like urine. It is noisy with doors slamming all night...”...“The hostel was rather noisy, so it's not a good choice if your sleep isn't rather deep”. Oh Dear. We resigned ourselves to the fact that we were in for a bit of a rough ride, before remembering that we had a secret weapon in our backpacks...the Ear Peace...
Untouched snows, uncrowded pistes, clear blue skies; all the things skiers dream about. If you really have a taste for the thrills offered by nature in her purest form, there are some other alpine activities emerging.
Celebrated annually on 26th January, Australia Day commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove in 1788 and the proclamation (at that time) of British sovereignty over the eastern seaboard of New Holland. In honour of this day, we’d take a brief look back at some of the best pics from our time Down Under!...
Dave Cornthwaite is a British adventurer, author and motivational speaker. Probably best known for his Expedition1000 project, an ambitious series of twenty five non-motorised journeys of at least 1000 miles in length, Dave has travelled the world, seeking adventure and raising money for charity in any way he can.
Without a doubt, one of the best things about travelling is just how much you can learn about the places you visit and the things you see along the way. We found ourselves continually fascinated by the history of every town, city and country we stepped foot in – it seemed that everywhere we went; there was a story behind every idiosyncrasy or landmark we encountered.
Ever heard the phrase “youth is wasted on the young”? Well whether you agree with this or not, it’s certainly true that the whippersnappers of the world aren’t the only ones entitled to fun, freedom or adventure! Finally, adults with a yearning for adventure and self-improvement are cottoning on to the fact that they are allowed to take time out to experience the world too...
Way back in January 2010, Richard and I made our way down to London in search of travel inspiration. We knew that we wanted to do something different, something bold and something exciting for the year ahead, but had no idea where to start. All of the amazing life-changing experiences we’ve had over the last year can all be traced back to the Adventure Travel Show, so in the hope that you can benefit from the inspiration it gave to us, we’re giving away a pair of tickets to the show in January.
Travelling between Indonesia’s best-known islands is a lot easier than most backpackers might think. Having done the trip myself, soon after finishing a stint teaching English in Vietnam, I found out just how straightforward it is. Looking to do the same? Here’s how I’d recommend tackling this epic adventure of booze, beaches and bare-naked Aussies!
You may know that Australia is home to 7 out of 10 of the world’s deadliest snakes, you might even know what a billabong is and you definitely know that Aussies talk a bit funny, but did you also know that Australia’s Royal Flying Doctor Service is the largest medical practice in the world? Here are a few more things you (possibly) never knew about our favourite land Down Under...
Siberia isn’t somewhere we all get to see. It’s a vast wilderness, home to stunning scenery and traditional culture. Taking the Trans Siberian railway gives travellers the opportunity to experience it for themselves, while enabling them to reach such far flung destinations as Vladivostok, Beijing, Korea or Japan.
Without a doubt, the best thing about camping is the freedom it offers, together with the unrivalled bliss of being ‘at one’ with the great outdoors. Wild Camping (or ‘free’ camping), gives you a taste of adventure that organised campsites simply can’t compete with; however many people are concerned about where they are or aren’t allowed to pitch up for the night.
You’ve heard of backpacking, campervanning, hiking and horse riding... you may have experienced bus travel; rail travel or even hitchhiked your way to adventure, but something you may have overlooked is the increasingly popular trend of cycle camping.
If you’re already fed up of the windy UK weather this winter (particularly those of you ‘up north’) then you’ll probably have started daydreaming about next summer already. But what if we told you that you didn’t have to wait 6 months for your sunshine fix and that a bright and sunny summer awaits you right now, just 12,000 miles away in New Zealand…
With the end of the year fast approaching it’s time to ask yourself whether 2011 lived up to your expectations. If not, why not make a pledge to ‘do something different’ next year and ensure that 2012 really is the year that you’ll never forget....
Now that many towns and cities across the UK have already celebrated their big 'Christmas Lights Switch On! we thought it was about time we started getting into the festive spirit too. To get us started, Amy from MapTheGap.co.uk has done some digging and given us a little insight into how some of our favourite countries celebrate Christmas...
A road trip really is the perfect way to see New Zealand in all her glory. Cruising up and down stunning coastal roads and twisty mountain passes for a month, gave Richard and I some of our most memorable moments. We thought we'd take you on a photographic journey to just some of the awesome places we visited on both the North and South Islands...
One of our favourite pics of our Australia trip! And possibly our entire trip. Sums up the Oz Bus 21 spirit in one photo I feel! Here is Rich, Chris and Ross toasting our arrival at Ayers Rock the only way they know how! Which iconic landmark has caused you to crack open the bubbly? We want to hear about it!..
Carrying on with our trip down memory lane where we shared the highs, lows and regrets we had during our 11 month overland trip, we have now turned our thoughts towards the places that affected us the most and the lessons we learned along the way...
A big thank you to everybody who took part in our recent market research – you have helped to shape the future of our website and for that we are eternally grateful. As a thank you for giving us your opinions on travelling, we entered you all into a prize draw to win a brand new digital camera and are now happy to reveal that the winner is...
Australia has been awarded as the “Best Country to Visit Worldwide” in this year’s British Travel Awards. The award, which is decided by nominations from travel industry professionals and then a public vote by over 700,000 Brits, has seen Australia finish ahead of European destinations Spain and Italy. Would you agree with this vote? If yes, what's your favourite place in Oz?..
When Richard and I first decided to go travelling we didn’t know quite what to expect... Whilst we imagined exotic beaches, vast landscapes, iconic landmarks and lots of beer; nothing could have quite prepared us for the roller coaster ride that our 11 months on the road would become.
Whilst fireworks on the 5th of November may be an English tradition, there are many other events held in various countries, where the night sky is lit up in spectacular displays of light. So to get us all in the mood for Bonfire Night, we thought we’d share with you a selection of some of our favourite firework photos from around the globe...
EVERYBODY who has been to Cambodia has no doubt been to Siem Reap and taken a trip up to nearby Angkor - the ancient city that served as the seat of the Khmer Empire between AD802 to 1351. Whilst it's most famous ruin is Angkor Wat, this was by no means our favourite. A few hours spent wandering the city will unearth some amazingly beautiful buildings which are often overlooked by visitors...
I can’t even describe to you just how gut-renching it was to look out of the aeroplane window and see Australia getting smaller and smaller beneath us. The four and a bit months we’d spent Down Under were full of the most amazing experiences we could ever imagine – we will never forget our time there...
China and South East Asia are one of the best regions in the world to travel overland, not least because you get to see, hear and feel much more of it than you would if you simply hopped on a plane to get from one city to the next. Going overland is easier than you may think – it just takes a little planning and experimentation to plot out a route...
This pic was taken as we were cruising up New Zealand's Haast Pass in Fred, our trusty 21 year old camper van. Looking out over Lake Wanaka we spotted about three rainbows beaming brightly above the clear blue waters and are proud that we were able to capture one of them on camera...
One of the joys of travelling is sampling local foods, wines and delicacies. Some local delicacies are unintimidating – but sometimes, they might not be that appetising. The traditional foods offered in some places might even test your gag reflex...
Next on our list were the Treasury Gardens, followed by Fitzroy Gardens, where we headed straight for Cooks Cottage. This cottage was constructed in 1755 in the English village of Great Ayton by the parents of Captain James Cook. Cook, as you probably know, is famous for being the first European to encounter the east coast of Australia...
Living life in the great outdoors surely refers to Australia. This vast continent of desert, gorges, rainforests, rivers, lakes, cliffs, beaches and snowy mountains is an outdoor lovers paradise. Australia really comes alive, and makes you feel alive, in the outdoors...
When I look back at this photo now I can't quite believe we had the nerve to walk around this! This was taken on a magical day back in August 2011 following a Kung Fu lesson with a Shaolin Monk at the footfills of a mountain.
In 2010 I was in two minds about whether to stop off in Fiji after a year backpacking in Australia and New Zealand. Thankfully I did - and I discovered that, if you’re prepared to get off your hammock and do some exploring, you can experience some incredible adventures…
We’ve spoken previously of Melbourne’s fantastic network of laneways and alleys which hide a host of treats for the more intrepid tourist – but many more of the city’s best kept secrets aren’t found around corners and back streets... instead, they are hidden high up in the sky in the form of funky rooftop bars.
As Vietnam’s premier beach destination and one of the country’s three UNESCO World Heritage sites, Hoi An is increasingly gaining popularity as a tourist destination. There is plenty to see and do around the city - but if you’re short on time then don’t miss these five fantastic attractions.
Our last post from our travels Down Under, left you in Melbourne city centre, following an awesome day of sightseeing where we photographed lots of street art, went up the SkyDeck and took a tour on the City Circle Tram. But believe it or not, there was still plenty more for us to see and do before hanging up our walking boots for the day!
One of the worlds most awesome places and a far cry from its 'nice but boring' image, Canada is a definite must for those of you who appreciate beauty, adventure and fun. MyDestinationInfo fills us in on Ontario...
A rich cultural history and a stunning geographical location makes Cape Town one of the most amazing places in the world to visit... Originally known as the ‘Cape of Good Hope’ during colonial times it is well known for its staggeringly beautiful landscape and incredibly diverse wildlife.
Having been in Melbourne for almost two months, we decided that we still hadn’t seen as much of it as we should have. So we thought we would plan some alone-time with the city and make a list of its ‘must see’ attractions in preparation for a day in the life of a tourist...
We wrote this post two months after we left London for our epic overland journey to Oz, so we thought that it's about time we shared our ten tips for overland travel with you!...
A look back at the lead up to our epic adventure and our own tips for "how NOT to plan a year long trip around the world!"..
Pakistan is one of Asia’s best kept secrets. As well as offering its visitors a host of sophisticated beach resorts and fascinating ancient sites and cities to wander through, Pakistan is also one of Asia’s premier trekking and expedition destinations
The ‘Roof of the World’. Nepal is a diverse and mountainous wilderness which offers remarkable diversity for a relatively small country. There really is something for everyone in Nepal and one visit to this mystical land is rarely enough...
An epic land spanning extensive mountain ranges, river valleys, forests and historic landscapes, China offers a multitude of mesmerising experiences that will remain in the hearts of her guests long after they leave...
Java is fantastically diverse with an impressive chain of volcanic mountains running from east to west, attracting adventure seekers from all over the world...
One of the world’s best preserved, pristine environments is rapidly shaking off its war-torn image and is fast becoming a Mecca for adventurous travellers...
The wild, untamed landscape of Cambodia, coupled with its fantastic heritage and warm friendly people, gives this country an edge that appeals to travellers from all over the world...
The Vietnamese are some of the friendliest, most spirited people you will ever meet and Vietnam has developed into an exciting country, that still too few people have had the pleasure of visiting...
This hugely popular country has quickly overtaken many traditional travel destinations as the number one venue for a relaxing get away or adventure holiday to beat all others!..
A land of culture, history and delightful landscapes, Hungary is still a somewhat undiscovered destination for many travellers but really is a fantastic place...
When you think of Austria you will more than likely imagine snow capped mountains, alpine meadows and sunny skies, but there is more to this distinctive country than meets the eye...
The Czech Republic is one of Western Europe’s most popular destinations and once you step out amongst the Bohemian delights it holds, it’s easy to see why...
Belgium is a facinating country with a long history of contrasting cultures and languages. It takes the best of its surrounding regions and blends them together...
Forget about just throwing another shrimp on the Barbie, sunbathing all day or hitting the surf in the early hours – while you can of course do all of this in Australia, this amazing country has so much more to offer!..
A vibrant land of art, culture and colour, Malaysia is a compelling place to visit with stunning scenery in the form of tropical rainforests, cityscapes, beaches and mountains. A hugely diverse multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multilingual society...
A land of culture, colour and spice, India and its vast landscape offers something to delight every kind of traveller or tourist. India is bursting with life on all sides, with mountains, valleys, beaches and bustling cities...
Welcome to Life’s Great Adventures, the website designed to inspire you to experience the adventure of a lifetime! Full of stories from our own epic adventures, along with hints and tips, great photos, inspiration and advice from fellow travellers around the globe!
For a real insight into planning and embarking on a trip around the world, follow Life’s Great Adventure’s travel blog – here you can read about everything we encountered whilst on our overland trip from London to Oz, the continents we crossed and the amazing sites we discovered!
Have a browse through our Destinations section and see if you can decide just where to begin your own great adventure!
You can also keep up to date by following us on Twitter or Facebook!