My honest guide to the best beaches in Northland / Te Tai Tokerau: Oke Bay, Whale Bay, Teal Bay, Baylys Beach, Maitai Bay, Uretiti, Mangawhai, Ninety Mile Beach and Matauri Bay, with current access, camping and beach-driving notes.
Where I would actually stay in Leh Ladakh in 2026: the best luxury, boutique, mid-range, budget and hostel options, plus why your first two acclimatisation nights are more important than usual.
My honest Kumano Kodo vs Nakasendo Way comparison after walking both: which hike is harder, which feels more immersive, how accommodation works, and which Japan walking route I would choose first.
The honest guide to what to do in Kii Katsuura after the Kumano Kodo: Nachi Falls, the tuna market, onsens, whale watching, where to stay, how long you need, and why the town makes sense after the trail.
The honest 48-hour Assos itinerary I would actually follow in Kefalonia: where to stay, what to do, where to swim, when to walk the castle, how to work in Myrtos Beach, and why you really want a rental car.
The honest guide to the Mount Batur sunrise hike in 2026: what it’s actually like, what it costs (mandatory guide fees, permit, hot springs), which operators are worth using, where to stay, and whether the 2am pickup is worth it. Spoiler: it is.
The 7 restaurants in Panjim that are actually worth your time – from Bombil’s lunch-only Goan thali (the best I’ve ever eaten) to Cafe Tato’s 1913 patal bhaji and the wood-fired bakery that’s been running since 1930. Updated 2026.
The 13 things actually worth your time in Sri Lanka – from sunrise on Sigiriya and the Kandy-Ella train through Adam’s Peak overnight, leopards in Yala, and crab at Asia’s top 50 in Colombo. Updated 2026 with current prices and honest editorial filtering.
The 5 hotels in Sigiriya worth your money – from Geoffrey Bawa’s iconic Heritance Kandalama luxury through private-villa romance at Water Garden, down to a $37/night infinity-pool budget pick. Real 2026 prices, honest pros/cons.
Moshi is more than the stop before Kilimanjaro – 13 things actually worth your time, from the Materuni coffee tour and Kikuletwa hot springs to the Mkomazi black rhino sanctuary and a properly-named Mount Meru day hike. Updated 2026.
