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Close-up of Highland dancers performing in colorful kilts and argyle socks during a traditional Scottish Highland Games dance competition.

Highland Games: Strength, Skill & Scottish Heritage

Around 1040 AD, it’s said that King Malcolm III of Scotland was looking for the fastest man to be his royal messenger. So, he held a foot race up Craig Chonnich near Breamar. That day was more than just a win for a really fast Scot—it was, some say, the first iteration of the Scotland… Read More »

alpine parrot new zealand

A Nature Lover’s Paradise: New Zealand’s Flora & Fauna

A long, long time ago—about 80 million years—the islands that make up present-day New Zealand separated from the Gondwana supercontinent. That left the wildlife on board a few dozen millennia to do their own thing, resulting in an ecosystem like nowhere else in the world. That’s the main reason a New Zealand hiking tour feels… Read More »

two people hiking in New Zealand on a Great Walk in a mossy, green forest

New Zealand’s Great Walks: How to Pick the Best Track

Towering snow-capped peaks, volcanic landscapes, lush rainforests, glacier-carved valleys, and golden beaches—a diverse array of landscapes define New Zealand’s Great Walks. And if you love adventure and want a glimpse of the Kiwi heart, your visit would be incomplete without a day hike or tramp (a multi-day hiking trip) on one of the Great Walks.… Read More »

A lioness sits in profile in a gold field. She's one of the animals part of the Big Five.

The Big Five: Africa’s Most Iconic Safari Animals

There are many reasons to dream of an African safari tour, observing wildlife in their natural habitat among them. This is especially the case with the Big Five—lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, and rhinos. But with so many other incredible animals (Giraffes! Gorillas! Wild dogs!) on the African continent, why have these specific animals achieved such… Read More »

A Guide to Bhutanese Festivals

The chance to attend a Bhutanese festival (tshechu) is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity few outside the kingdom have. From the moment you enter the dzong courtyard, the energy is palpable as you find your place among locals dressed in their finest ghos and kiras, attending for both the religious merit and to join in the joyful… Read More »

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