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Author Archive for Craig Burkinshaw

Craig Burkinshaw is Founder of Audley Travel. Audley Travel is a tour operator offering tailor-made trips around the world. All of Audley Travel’s country specialists have travelled extensively or lived in the areas they specialise and continue to visit regularly as part of their role. They will not only show you the highlights but include many of the lesser-known, authentic experiences on offer. Audley care deeply about the places they travel to and work hard to ensure they have a positive impact on the wildlife and communities. All trips are carefully built based around your specific interests, tastes and budget.

7 celebrations around the world

By Craig Burkinshaw on Mar 01, 2018 in Africa, Asia, Australia, Bhutan, Brazil, Canada, Europe, Events, Japan, North America, Oceania, Regions, South Africa, South America, Travel Miscellany, United Kingdom, Western Europe, Worldwide

It seems like every day, somewhere in the world, a celebration of some form is underway. Many of these festivals are known around the globe and form the crux of a trip to that destination. Others are more low-key, local affairs that you may just stumble upon while out and about. Here are seven celebrations

5 of the best places to visit in 2018

By Craig Burkinshaw on Feb 21, 2018 in Africa, Asia, Brazil, Indonesia, Mauritius, New Zealand, Oceania, Regions, South America, Zimbabwe

In 2018, some countries will celebrate big milestones in style. Elsewhere, certain regions are opening up to visitors with an array of new tours and experiences. And, due to recent political developments, there’s a decidedly optimistic mood surrounding other countries, making them more accessible and more appealing than ever before. The Taranaki region, New Zealand

5 great reasons to visit northern Peru

By Craig Burkinshaw on Nov 07, 2017 in Peru, Regions, South America

Northern Peru has been neglected by Western visitors for years, often overlooked for the more developed south, and the lure of Machu Picchu. But the times they are a-changin’, and Peru’s little-known north is rapidly becoming one of South America’s up-and-coming destinations. Some of Audley’s Peru specialists recently took a trip to the region, and

5 active experiences in Southern Africa

By Craig Burkinshaw on Oct 02, 2017 in Adventure Travel, Africa, Food and Drink, Leisure Travel, Namibia, Regions, South Africa, Speciality Travel, Travel Miscellany, Zambia

A safari doesn’t have to mean spending hours sitting still in a vehicle. Across Southern Africa, there are an increasing number of experiences that get you up and moving, trying out new ways of exploring the landscape, culture and wildlife of your chosen destination. From cycling between vineyards in South Africa’s Cape Winelands, to horse

5 of the best luxury camps and lodges in Tanzania

By Craig Burkinshaw on Sep 14, 2017 in Accommodation, Adventure Travel, Africa, Camping, Leisure Travel, Real Estate, Regions, Speciality Travel, Tanzania

With some of Africa’s biggest parks and reserves filled with all manner of game and birdlife, a rich Maasai culture, and landscapes that change from great bulky mountains to deep calderas and vast stretches of grassland, Tanzania is everything you’d imagine an African safari destination to be. But experiencing these things doesn’t have to mean

7 surprises of the Silk Route

By Craig Burkinshaw on Aug 10, 2017 in Adventure Travel, Asia, Attractions, China, Going Out, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Regions, Road Travel, Speciality Travel, Uzbekistan

The Silk Route has connected the East with the West for over 2,000 years, acting as a catalyst in the development of China, India, the Middle East and Europe. It wasn’t just goods such as silk and spices that were traded along the route; ideas, religions, and even diseases were passed on, shaping many countries’

Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad

5 of the most memorable steam train journeys around the world

By Craig Burkinshaw on Jul 14, 2017 in Africa, Asia, Colorado, Europe, India, Japan, North America, Oregon, Rail Travel, Regions, Speciality Travel, United Kingdom, USA, Western Europe, Zambia

The great puffs of steam, the deep chug of the engine and the screech of the whistle as your train pulls out of the station. The romance of a steam train journey never fades, and it’s the same wherever you go. Here we’ve put together some of the most memorable steam train journeys you can

Lights, camera, action: 7 ways to go behind the scenes

By Craig Burkinshaw on Jun 14, 2017 in Africa, Asia, Cambodia, Celebrities, Egypt, India, Japan, Louisiana, New Zealand, North America, Oceania, Regions, Travel Miscellany, USA, Vietnam, Worldwide

Visual effects in film may have advanced dramatically, but most directors still choose to shoot in real locations, taking advantage of some of the world’s most dramatic landscapes or filming in period settings that add authenticity to a scene. There’s something quite special about seeing these pseudo-fantasy locations in real life, adding an extra dimension

Top 5 highlights of Cuba, beyond Havana

By Craig Burkinshaw on May 09, 2017 in Attractions, Caribbean, Cuba, Going Out, Regions

Thought it may seem dwarfed by its greatest frenemy, the USA, Cuba is deceptively large. It takes around 12 hours to drive from Havana to the second city, Santiago de Cuba, on the island’s southernmost coast. Fortunately for anyone looking to explore beyond the capital, internal flights are becoming increasingly available, making hitherto far-flung towns

7 highlights of northern Thailand

By Craig Burkinshaw on Apr 10, 2017 in Africa, Asia, Attractions, Going Out, Regions, Thailand

For all the familiarity of Thailand’s powdery beaches and Bangkok’s glittering skyline, look north and you’ll find somewhere quite different. Northern Thailand was largely an independent region until the beginning of the last century, a bastion for hill tribes each with a distinct identity. We’ve selected our highlights of the region, taking you from the

11 places to see street art around the world

By Craig Burkinshaw on Mar 10, 2017 in Africa, Asia, Attractions, Australia, Chile, China, Colombia, Europe, Events, Featured, Going Out, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Oceania, Pacific Islands, Regions, Singapore, South Africa, South America, Travel Miscellany, Western Europe

The term ‘street art’ was coined during the 1980s, when graffiti began to transcend spray-can tags, becoming a specialised craft. Much of the artwork is unsanctioned, but communities around the world have begun to see the value in these visual bursts of life. We’ve compiled some of our best recent street-art discoveries across the globe,

Pierre, Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Hong Kong

5 amazing luxury dining experiences

By Craig Burkinshaw on Feb 14, 2017 in Africa, Asia, Australia, China, Food and Drink, Going Out, Hong Kong, Oceania, Regions, Restaurants, South Africa, Travel Miscellany

Some meals aren’t easily forgotten. They might raise the standards in terms of the food quality and inventiveness, the restaurant’s outstanding location or the high levels of service. These dining experiences make us feel that little bit more special, even if just for an evening. We’ve selected five stand-out dining experiences to enjoy on your

India's 3 best luxury trains

By Craig Burkinshaw on Jan 11, 2017 in Asia, India, Rail Travel, Regions, Speciality Travel

Journeying through India can be a heady mix of dust, noise and crowds. Step on board a train and you enter a world of attentive service, gilded dining cars and parlour games in the bar. Once only used by maharajas and dignitaries, a selection of trains now run itineraries from three to seven nights to

5 travel experiences you didn’t know existed

By Craig Burkinshaw on Dec 08, 2016 in Accommodation, Africa, Argentina, Asia, Attractions, Canada, Food and Drink, Going Out, India, Morocco, North America, Rail Travel, Regions, Road Travel, South America, Speciality Travel, Travel Miscellany, Zimbabwe

Much of the joy of travel stems from experiencing something new, stumbling upon the unexpected and seeing a place in a new light. While seeing iconic sites is all part of your journey, the best memories often come from trying things that are out of the ordinary. Here, we’ve listed five experiences that you may

Top 6 wildlife experiences in Central America

By Craig Burkinshaw on Nov 11, 2016 in Belize, Central America, Costa Rica, Mexico, Nicaragua, North America, Regions, Worldwide

Costa Rica has a well-deserved reputation as a dream wildlife-watching destination. A quarter of the country is protected land (national park or reserve) and these wildernesses shelter many endangered or threatened animal and bird species, including the rare resplendent quetzal. It’s not the only country in Central America for wildlife encounters. Whale enthusiasts should head

Our pick of India's palaces-turned-hotels

By Craig Burkinshaw on Oct 31, 2016 in Accommodation, Asia, Hotels, India, Regions

India’s succession of powerful dynasties and empires has a complex story, but each leader had one thing in common – a fondness for decadent architecture. Expensive to run and almost impossible for their builders to maintain, many of these important palaces have now been lovingly turned into befittingly opulent hotels. We’ve chosen some of the