This Trio Set Out to Explore Unmapped Waters in Brazil’s Amazon and Found a Rare Dolphin Population Instead
Marine scientist Charlie Young and her husband Alexis Girard D’Hennecourt completed the first fully documented 320‑mile (514‑km) descent of the previously unmapped Rio Cuiuni in Brazil’s Amazon. After a severe drought forced a shift from a dugout canoe to a motorized craft and a 37‑mile trek on foot, the team built a wooden canoe, Ainora, to navigate the remote waterway. During the 16‑day journey they recorded close to 100 sightings of the endangered pink river dolphin, or Boto, in just ten days. Their data provide a rare glimpse into a habitat that may serve as a stronghold for the species.
Sunbathing? No Thanks. I’d Rather Carve a Gargoyle. Why Are We Craving More Creativity on Our Vacations?
Travelers are swapping traditional sun‑bathing holidays for hands‑on workshops, from gargoyle carving in Paris to yurt building in Kyrgyzstan. Data from GetYourGuide and YouGov show a 126% rise in class bookings for 2024‑25 and a 9,900% surge in Google searches...
In Photos: How Is Kerala’s Houseboating Scene Navigating Its Heavily Touristed Backwaters?
Kerala’s backwater houseboat industry has exploded, with Alleppey hosting roughly a thousand vessels and daily tours ranging from $70 budget trips to $700 luxury suites. While the sector supplies vital off‑season jobs and drives tourist spending in canal‑side villages, rapid...
Is Scotland a Balanced Blueprint for Set-Jetting Tourism?
Screen tourism, or “set‑jetting,” is reshaping travel demand, with Scotland emerging as a premier destination. A VisitScotland study shows one‑in‑five visitors cite film, TV or literature as their travel trigger, generating roughly $218.8 million in 2023. Iconic locations like Blackness Castle...
Greenland’s Sleeper Hit? Urban-Arctic Streetwear. Here Are the Fashion Designers to Follow (and the Shops to Visit)
Urban‑Arctic streetwear has become Nuuk’s defining style, merging cold‑weather functionality with contemporary street aesthetics. Pioneering designers such as Bibi Chemnitz, co‑founder of Outdoor Greenland, and Mala Johnson of Bolt Lamar are turning traditional Inuit garments like anoraks into high‑tech, globally appealing...
“No Bookings at All”: Ravaged by Conflict, How Are Business Owners in the Middle East Navigating Their Shattered Tourism Industry?
The ongoing US‑Israel‑Iran conflict has pushed tourism in the Middle East to the brink of collapse, with hotels reporting 70‑75% cancellations and some businesses receiving only a handful of bookings in a year. Entrepreneurs like chef Fadi Kattan in Bethlehem...
Against a Backdrop of Sexism, Stereotypes and Low Pay, These Indian Women Are Forging Their Careers in Tourism
Indian tourism, long dominated by men, is seeing a surge of women in visible, leadership roles. Initiatives like Pink City Rickshaw Company now employ over 30 women drivers and have completed more than 1,300 tours, while Intrepid’s women‑only expeditions showcase...
I Took a Solo Railway Trip Across the Largest Landlocked Country in the World
Writer Kate Bettes embarks on a 26‑hour, 2,485‑km train journey from Almaty to Oskemen, traversing Kazakhstan’s vast steppe on a Soviet‑era platzkart carriage. The trip showcases the country’s 16,000‑km rail network, communal travel culture, and lingering Russian influence. Along the...
Extreme Climber Alex Honnold Says ‘Backyard Travel’ Is for Everyone
Alex Honnold’s new series *Get a Little Out There* takes viewers on a ground‑level tour of Nevada’s public lands, from Great Basin stargazing to turquoise mining and UFO museums. The show underscores that adventure doesn’t require distant peaks, emphasizing free,...
Be Your Own Gondolier in Venice with This Female-Run Rowing Organization
Row Venice, a female‑run nonprofit founded by veteran rower Jane Caporal, teaches tourists the traditional stand‑up rowing technique known as voga alla Veneta using historic batele boats. The organization preserves a dwindling craft—only ten batele survive, with four operated by...