Take unique adventures around the world with minimal organisation
Great bursts of wind rattle the straps on my rucksack. Rain pelts against the clean sleeves of my shell jacket and drips over the front of my hood. It's cold, contrary to the heat wave of the last few months, so my hands withdraw from the freezing chill to the lukewarm conditions inside my pockets. ... This is only day one.
Kite-surfers dance across the horizon at Portland's entrance like they are swinging colourful flags of post-lockdown freedom. This is a giant adventure playground - but not everything is open. This was Portland, Dorset, in summer 2020, between the lockdowns.
I’m standing in a rusting playground. There is an intact Ferris wheel to my right. I half expect to hear children shriek for their parents as their carriage climbs higher – then I remember where I am.
I am a travel journalist, BCJ 2020 graduate and I hold a current International News Syndicate pass. I also take my own photographs. A selection of these is available here as part of my portfolio. Please do not share or download these without request. Please contact me at louise.sopher[at]theadventuresplanned[dot]com for any freelance requests.
This is an Adventures, Planned itinerary for 5 days of kayaking and wild camping in the Saint Anna archipelago, which is aptly nicknamed, 'Kayak Paradise.' The itinerary includes a day for arrival and transport to the starting location, and an optional 2-3 days of exploration in Stockholm at the end of the trip.
Portland in Dorset, UK, is a tied island at the southernmost tip of the Jurassic Coast. It's a haven for outdoor activity that's surrounded by striking cliffs and beautiful but often rough seas. As the COVID-19 lockdown eases, let's take a look at what's open this month.
Cameron Highlands, 2010. I've made an unlikely friendship with the gardener at the hotel. What happens next challenges the culture I have grown up in, and I learn a new skill - eating with my hands. 'No, you're not doing it right. Here, I'll show you.' He grabs a handful and shoves it in my face, pushing his thumb towards my mouth. 'That's how you do it.'
The lockdown is still in place in most countries around the world, and it looks like it's going to be some time before we're allowed to travel without restrictions. We also still need to isolate for coughs and high temperatures. To make life a little easier, here are a few ideas to make the most of the time.
It looks like it might be a while before we are allowed to travel abroad. However, all signs are pointing towards the lockdown coming to a gradual end. When it is safe to do so, here's a guide to help you explore a little more locally.
Travelling solo offers a level of independence and adventure that can be hard to find on group trips. It puts me in situations - normally hilarious, sometimes precarious - that I wouldn’t otherwise enter. I'm also a woman living in a society in which many people still think it's 'brave' to travel alone. I've never liked stereotypes. But these days social media means that researching potential adventures is easier than ever before. Here's a list of 7 useful resources for solo female travellers to learn from, socialise in, join, or just be aware of. Because we're not necessarily brave, and we're not boring. We're part of this massive, adventurous community. And as Caitlin Moran writes in 'How to Be a Woman,' we're really just some of 'The Guys', just humans, 'in this together.' We shouldn't need gender-specific travel advice - but until society dispels the fears we're told to have, and until all cultures treat women equally, it helps to have a few tips and tricks from the other guys.