Read our latest stories written by World Journeys’ team and collaborators. Learn about our favourite destinations and special highlights, including vibrant cultures, exquisite cuisines and the rich and unique scenery in our world.
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Rock the Kasbah!
What is a wadi? A medina? World Journeys’ Kate Couling gives meaning to these and other common Arabic terms used throughout North Africa and the Middle East.
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Talking about Cuba
For travellers looking for a destination that is charming yet challenging in equal measure, let me tell you about Cuba. Beautiful colonial architecture, colourful classic cars, swaying palm trees and free-flowing rum are all there, along with the sense that you’ve somehow woken up in a different era. On the flip side, Cuba’s economic situation…
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The Colours of Alaska
My memories of travel to Alaska are awash with colours, all distinctly beautiful and varying with the seasons. The glaciers, wide open spaces, mountains, wildlife, island-dotted coastlines and extensive backcountry of “The Last Frontier” offer unforgettable experiences whether you choose summer or winter, land or sea. In the nearly endless daylight of summer’s midnight sun,…
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More than blossoms – springtime Japan
For many, a bucket list experience is to visit Japan during the springtime ‘sakura’ (cherry blossom) season, but there is so much more to see. Each year in late March, World Journeys operates a small hosted group to experience it all – Cherry Blossom Japan. It all begins in Tokyo, with the contrasting experiences of…
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My Morocco
Morocco offers the traveller a unique blend of culture, history, cuisine and natural beauty. Essentially, it’s my kind of travel. From the bustling city of Marrakech to the vast expanse of the Sahara Desert and the coastal town of Essaouira, there’s no shortage of fascinating places to explore. Starting with Marrakech, it’s a vibrant city…
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Cape Town to Dar es Salaam
My adventure aboard Rovos Rail was a long time coming. Having booked for 2020, it only became possible to climb aboard in 2022. My chosen route of Cape Town to Dar es Salaam takes just over two weeks to wend its way from South Africa to Botswana, Victoria Falls, Zambia and finally Tanzania. Quite the…
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Wild Scotland
When you think of Scottish cities, Edinburgh and Glasgow will probably come to mind. But the country has so much more to offer its visitors, especially for those looking for picturesque landscapes, wildlife and fascinating history amongst the some 790 harsh and often remote islands that lie in Scottish waters. Along with 70 fellow guests,…
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Africa on the Horizon
‘Enforced downtime’ is a very glass-half-full way of describing the life of a travel agent in recent times. With business on hold late last year, one of World Journeys’ friends Pam Hardy, of YOU Travel, Levin, seized the opportunity to head back to her favourite destination – Africa. Thrilling wildlife encounters, luxurious safari camps and…
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For the Love of Lions
Where is the best place to see lions? Asking me about my favourite place to see lions is like asking me to choose a favourite child. From the wide-open plains of the Masai Mara to the waterways of the Okavango Delta, there are some incredible safari camps and lodges who make it their mission to…
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Memories of Mana Pools
Zimbabwe was the first African country I visited and, as a result, it has always held a special place in my heart. Victoria Falls, Hwange National Park and Lake Kariba are all ‘must-sees’ but Mana Pools National Park actually ranks above all of them as one of my favourite places – not just in Zimbabwe,…
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I Have Loved It All
As is the case with many travel-nuts, my early days were peppered with jaunts around the country, and an immersive exchange experience to Tahiti. Learning to bargain was eye-opening, particularly in French, igniting in me an intense curiosity about our incredible world, its landscapes, cultures and languages. After studying linguistics at university, I told my…
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A Latin Affair
Growing up in Christchurch, my desire to travel was first awakened when our next-door neighbour travelled to Kingston, Jamaica for the 1966 Empire (Commonwealth) Games. He worked for an airline, and I thought “how amazing”! I decided then and there, at the age of 12, that tourism was going to be my future. So I…