Friday, July 31, 2015

Best time to go to Peru

Having previously written about the Highlights of Peru, the best times to visit Peru, in this order, are:

1) April & May: travelling during this season you will avoid the busy summer months.  It is also the dry season but because it is right after the green (wet) season, you would get plenty of flowers blooming

2) September & October: travelling during these months you are again avoiding the busy summer months.  As you are further into the dry season, your chances of getting rained on are slim.  And with Inca Trail permits going on sale in February, your chances of scoring a permit are highest for these months as you are able to book months ahead of time.

3) June, July, August: these are busy summer months as families with children in school are forced to travel during these months.  As this is in the middle of the dry season you will be almost assured of good weather.  

4) November - March: this is the wet season.  It is not a great time for trekking (in fact, the Inca Trail is closed in February), but it is a fine time for sightseeing.  The crowds of summer are gone and landscapes are lush and green.

If you want to trek the Inca Trail, you should book at least 5 months ahead of time in order to get a permit, and even further ahead of time for popular months (June through October).


Related posts
Highlights of Peru
Inca Trail & its alternatives
Interesting Peru Articles
Best hikes, walks and treks in South America
Peru Reading List

Thursday, July 30, 2015

Oman, Yemen, Bahrain, Kuwait & Qatar articles

Here are some great articles and links relating to travel in Oman, Yemen, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar.


Food & drink
Frankincense Ice Cream in Salalah, Oman
Eating boiled camel leg in Oman


Kuwait
Top things to do in Kuwait


Oman
The sounds of Oman's culture shift
In Oman innovation meets tradition
Dune bashing in Oman
Oman's underground playgrounds
Oman's sleepy Musandam peninsula
The tranquil shores of Oman
The welcomed stability of Oman 
Along Arabia's east coast
First 24 hours in Muscat 
25 Amazing places to visit in Oman 
Searching for Arabian leopards in Dhofar, Oman
Top 5 desert adventures in Oman
In Thesiger's tracks - rediscovering Oman
Why you should visit Oman now
An aromatic travel guide to Oman
Where to Shop for Silver in Muscat and What to Look For
A Middle East 'Island' in the Middle of the Desert



Photo esssays
The beauty of Oman
The dunes of Qatar 
The seas of Arabia 
Oman photos


Qatar
A shopaholic's guide to Doha
Going global in Doha
Living in Doha
 A perfect day in Doha
Qatar's hidden culture heartbeat
Souq Waqif, Doha's resilient market
The local side of Doha 
The end of cheap oil


Wildlife & nature

Top 6 Arabian wildlife experiences
Searching for Arabian leopards in Dhofar, Oman


Yemen
Yemen's mysterious island
Top things to do in Yemen




United Arab Emirates articles

Here are some great articles and links relating to travel in United Arab Emirates.


Abu Dhabi
The world's most welcoming mosque 
Living in Abu Dhabi 
Abu Dhabi takes on the art world
The world's fastest roller coaster 
Al Ain, desert oasis
Abu Dhabi like a millionnaire
UAE's grandest mosque
A local's guide to Abu Dhabi
Stopover in Abu Dhabi 
First 24 hours in Abu Dhabi
Top 6 adventures in Abu Dhabi
7 Things to do for free in Abu Dhabi
Falconry in Abu Dhabi 
Camel beauty contests 
The Desert Oasis Outside of Abu Dhabi 
An inside look at Abu Dhabi
Beyond the glitz of Abu Dhabi


Dubai
What to eat at a Dubai iftar
My city - Dubai
The rise of Dubai's variety clubs
The most lucrative horse race
Ibiza nights in the Middle East
In Dubai, spring is a time for polo
Searching for the alternative Dubai
Brunch gets civilized in Dubai 
Dubai's industrial arts scene 
The highest tea in the world
Dubai's luxury shopping scene
A day in Dubai
Affordable Dubai
Indie shopping in Dubai 
Changing tides in Dubai 
Dubai's authentic local cuisine 
Living in Dubai
Vestiges of historical Dubai
Dubai's first national park 
The Dubai museum
Top 10 ways to burn cash in Dubai
Dubai's eclectic skyline
A perfect day in Dubai 
Dubai - stopover city guide
I started muttering to myself in Dubai
Dubai - a brief encounter
Sudden City 
Layover makeover in Dubai
The best restaurants, cafes, museums, and sights in Dubai
My five: Dubai restaurants 



Food & drink
What to eat at a Dubai iftar
Brunch gets civilized in Dubai 
Dubai's authentic local cuisine 
My five: Dubai restaurants



Photo essays
Dubai's soaring skyline 
New heights in Abu Dhabi 
Dubai in pictures 
Abu Dhabi
The seas of Arabia 
Camel racing
Dubai sights
Dubai city life



UAE
Along Arabia's east coast
The end of cheap oil
A Middle East 'Island' in the Middle of the Desert


Wildlife & nature

Dubai's first national park 
Top 6 Arabian wildlife experiences


United Kingdom articles

Here are some great articles and links relating to travel in the United Kingdom.


Active & adventure
Walking Shakespeare's Way
Five one-day bike trips from London 
Hiking Wales's storied coastline 
Mini guide to activities in Wales
A coasteering weekend in Northern Ireland  


Belfast & Northern Ireland
What is the best way to see Belfast
Is this the UK's best kept secret
My Favorite Place in Northern Ireland: Giant’s Causeway
Giant's Causeway, Dark Hedges, and Sheep Galore 
A coasteering weekend in Northern Ireland 
A short break in Newcastle 
3 Great walks in Northern Ireland
The wanderlust guide to Wales 


Channel Islands
The Channel Island's surviving lore


Cornwall, Devon, Dorset & the south coast
England's own Jurassic Park
Mini guide to coastal Devon 
Seven secret beaches in the South West 
7 Must visit fishing ports 
Cornwall's top 5 ancient sites
Top 10 things to do in Cornwall
5 Unmissable places in Devon 
A short break in Tresco, Isles of Scilly 
Cornwall Road trip 
Wineries With an English Accent


Cotswolds, Stratford & Oxford
Oxford behind the lens
Walking Shakespeare's Way 
Five secret Shakespearean gems in Stratford-Upon-Avon 
Oxford's best foodie spots 
Stonehenge


Food & drink
Is this the world's best breakfast
Never order whisky on the rocks 
A meal worth going to prison for 
A must-visit mile for beer lovers 
Mini guide to pubs in London
Scotland's gourmand pilgrimage
High altitude dining in London 
The sophisticated flavours of Wales 
The wild taste of Wales
Wineries With an English Accent
Oxford's best foodie spots 
A fresh take on British tea 
10 Foods you must try in Scotland 


Lake District & Yorkshire
Mini guide to Lake District pubs
Five hidden hems in Yorkshire 
Five things you must do in the Lake District 
Lake District by electric bike


London
Inside London's secret brotherhood
10 Travel tips revealed
London's 200 year old hidden canal 
A must-visit mile for beer lovers  
In London - lunch in the loo
Mini guide to pubs in London
High altitude dining in London 
Five one-day bike trips from London
Mini breaks from London 
6 Adventurous ways to see London 
Runnymede, a traveller's guide 
London's best walks: Regent's canal 
London's best gig venues
The best of London
10 Free things to do in London 
Free London
Must do's in London
London for kids
Tower of London
Destination London 
36 hours in South-East London 
London south of the river (before Brexit)


Photo essays
Giant's Causeway, Dark Hedges, and Sheep Galore 
Photographer's view of Scotland 
Oxford behind the lens
Your England photos 
UK National Parks
London life
Your London
Cotswolds
Wales
Scotland
England
Scottish Islands
Hiking in Cornwall


Scotland
Never order whisky on the rocks
As rugged as Hollywood gets
Photographer's view of Scotland  
Where Norway meets New Zealand 
Scotland's gourmand pilgrimage 
Mini-guide to nightlife in Glasgow 
Short break in Dumfries and Galloway 
The islands at the edge of the world 
Short break in Wild Scotland 
The best of Scotland 
Short break in Glasgow 
Scottish Island obsession 
10 Foods you must try in Scotland 
One Week in Scotland: Where to Stay, Play, and Drink Whisky
Things To Do in Edinburgh
Dundee: A New Cultural Capital for a New Scotland
Edinburgh packs a punch
On the Nordic trail in Scotland


Wales
Britain's most bizarre village? 
Hiking Wales's storied coastline
The sophisticated flavours of Wales
Mini guide to activities in Wales
The wild taste of Wales
8 Free things to do in Cardiff
The wanderlust guide to Wales


Ireland articles

Here are some great articles and links relating to travel in Ireland.


Active & Adventure
A coasteering weekend in Northern Ireland 

3 Great walks in Northern Ireland
10 adventurous things to do in Donegal
Top 10 activities along the Wild Atlantic Way  


Atlantic Coast
The Wild Atlantic Way
Where Irish eyes are surfing 
Ireland's outlying islands 
In Mayo, classic Ireland holds on 
Mini guide to County Galway
10 adventurous things to do in Donegal
The halcyon charms of County Mayo 
Top 10 activities along the Wild Atlantic Way 
My Favorite Place in Ireland: The Wild West
Ireland's land of fertile rock
36 hours in Galway


Belfast & Northern Ireland
What is the best way to see Belfast
Is this the UK's best kept secret
My Favorite Place in Northern Ireland: Giant’s Causeway
Giant's Causeway, Dark Hedges, and Sheep Galore 
A coasteering weekend in Northern Ireland 
A short break in Newcastle 
3 Great walks in Northern Ireland


Cork
Exploring Ireland's food capital
Insider's guide to County Cork 
Where to Eat, Sleep, and Play in Cork


Dublin
An unlikely food revival
The best of Dublin for free 
Mini guide to drinking in Dublin 
A literary pilgrimage in Dublin 
Dublin as a city of words 
Dublin's recessionary restaurants 
Europe's largest capital park 
Dublin's Viking heritage
Haunted Dublin
Day trips from Dublin
A local's guides to Dublin's pubs
A toast to Dublin's sights 
Finding modern Irish food in Dublin 
Dublin's literary scene 
First 24 hours in Dublin 
10 Things to do for free in Dublin 
The best of Dublin
I love Dublin  
Dublin guide


Food & drink
Dublin - an unlikely food revival
Guinness's new rivals 
An Irish whisky revival 
Mini guide to drinking in Dublin 
Dublin's recessionary restaurants 
A local's guides to Dublin's pubs
Finding modern Irish food in Dublin 
Whiskey, a newcomer's guide 
Slow food along the Shannon 
Top 10 food and drink 
10 Foods you must try 
A Guide to Ireland's Best Craft Beers and Ciders 


Galway & West Coast
36 Hours in Galway


History
Who was the real St. Patrick
Top 10 historic sites in Ireland


Ireland
Rediscovering Ireland
Traditional Irish music spots 
Top 10 Ireland experiences
Ireland in pictures
Best of Ireland
5 Things to do in Ireland
12 Gaelic weekends in Ireland
Top 10 falls things to do in Ireland 
The adventure travel guide to Ireland
In Ireland, All Yeats, All Year



Killarney & SW Ireland
A town ruled by a goat
Horseriding, hiking and wildlife watching in Connemara 


Photo essays
Ireland's castles
Ireland's most picture perfect spots
The best of Dublin
Your shot - Ireland
Historic sites
Scenes from Ireland
Irish manor houses 
Driving Ireland coast to coast 
Giant's Causeway, Dark Hedges, and Sheep Galore



Poland and Belarus articles

Here are some great articles and links relating to travel in Poland and Belarus.


Art & culture
Auschwitz
Historical sites near Kraków


Belarus
Belarus travel guide
Belovezhskaya National Park 
Ten reasons to visit Minsk


Gdańsk
A perfect day in Gdańsk
Can you take a weekend break in Gdansk, Poland for under £100? 



Kraków




Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Netherlands, Belgium & Luxemburg articles

Here are some great articles and links relating to travel in the Netherlands, Belgium & Luxemburg.


Active & adventure
Amsterdam on wheels
Biking through Amsterdam
6 Tips for cycling Amsterdam
How to cycle the Netherlands without a map
Skating through the Netherlands 
How to Bike Like an Amsterdammer


Amsterdam
Amsterdam the Dutch way
Amsterdam must-do's 
Living in Amsterdam 
Mini guide to Amsterdam 
Mini guide to Amsterdam's canals
Spoking the fire in Amsterdam
Amsterdam on wheels
Biking through Amsterdam
Amsterdam for every budget
Amsterdam's cosiest cafes
A perfect day in Amsterdam
Amsterdam for children
Cafe culture in Amsterdam
6 Places every family should visit in Amsterdam 
The cat boat of Amsterdam
6 Tips for cycling Amsterdam
Insider's guide to Amsterdam 
We’re visiting Amsterdam and want to go biking. Where should we go?
A Tour Through Amsterdam’s Secret Gardens


Ardennes & Luxemburg
Mini guide to the Ardennes


Antwerp, Bruges & Ghent
Waffles in Antwerp
Museum documents madness in Ghent
A cultural tour of Bruges
Navigating the waterways of Bruges
Insider's guide to Antwerp 


Belgium
Best of the low countries


Brussels
Living in Brussels
Brewing of love in Brussels 
Budget or blow-out: Brussels 
7 Things to do for free in Brussels 
 10 Reasons to Visit Brussels Right Now


Coastal Netherlands
West-Frisian islands - sculpted by the sea


Delft, Rotterdam, The Hague & Utrecht
Rotterdam angle by angle
Rotterdam's downtown revival
The Hague peace crawl 
Musical destinations: Rotterdam 
A Brief Guide to Utrecht (It's More than a Mini Amsterdam)


Flowers & bulbs
Flower route road trip


Food & drink
Brewing of love in Brussels 
Cafe culture in AmsterdamAmsterdam's cosiest cafes
These Are the Best Chefs in the Netherlands, and This is What They're Cooking 


History
Tourism in the trenches


Netherlands
Best of the low countries
8 Reasons to visit Holland 
How to cycle the Netherlands without a map


Photo essays
Amsterdam style
Charming Amsterdam
Slide Show: A New Amsterdam

Russia & Ukraine articles

Here are some great articles and links relating to travel in Russia and Ukraine.


Arts & culture
Arts explode from Soviet shackles
Russian summer 
After Fashion Week: How Moscow Does Street Style


Carpathians & Western Ukraine
Curative waters in the Carpathians 


Chernobyl
Toxic cuisine in Chernobyl
A day trip to Chernobyl
Chernobyl - unlikely tourist spot
5 Things I wish I'd known before visiting Chernobyl
Long-Term Study Shows What's Happening To Wildlife Around Chernobyl


Crimea & Black Sea coast
My city: Odessa
Ukraine's odd beach paradise 
A portrait of Odessa 
A jewel in two crowns
Russia’s Pitch to Vacationers: Crimea Is for Patriots



Food & drink
Ukraine's coffee brewing roots
Ukraine's culinary delights


Golden Ring & rural Russia
Journeying back in Russian history
Wolves & Vodka 



History & culture
Inside the Kremlin Walls
Remnants of Russia's past
The legacy of the Soviet Union
The bookends of Russia's history 
Hitler's Ukrainian bunker revealed 
Ukraine's pagan holidays



Kiev
Mini guide to Kiev
Weekend in Kiev


Moscow
Inside the Kremlin Walls
On the road: Moscow
The dated future of Russia's Star City
Peeking into Star City
One day in Moscow
Living in Moscow
Moscow's Bolshoi theatre returns
Remnants of Russia's past
The legacy of the Soviet Union
Mini guide to Moscow
Top 10 Moscow attractions
Moscow in pictures
Moscow's Red Square
A perfect day in Moscow
Contemporary creative Moscow
Fancy a cheap meal in Moscow?  Try the exotic disco 
Moscow must do's
Kremlin & Red square
Moody Moscow
Moscow monuments
A Moscow of Dancing Feet, Under an Iron Fist


Northern Lights
Snapping the northern lights
Hunting the aurora
Best of the northern lights
60 Second guide to the northern lights
How to shoot the Northern Lights - a tutorial


Photo essays
Moscow in pictures
Ukraine in pictures 
St. Petersburg photos 
St. Petersburg sites 
St. Petersburg
Moody Moscow
Moscow monuments 
Your shot: Russia
Russia photos


Russia
The best of Russia
Exploring Russia's federal republics 
A crash course in Russian weirdness 
Russian summer
Your shot: Russia
Russia photos 
The Souvenirs to Buy (and Those to Skip) in Russia
Etiquette 101 - Russia
8 Perfect Days in Russia


Siberia & Kamchatka
Five days in Russia's Ring of Fire
A train to nowhere in Siberia
On the road: Ulan Ude 
Lake Baikal's highlights 
A trans-Siberian journey 
Riding the virtual trans-Siberian 
4 Stops you must make on the trans-Siberian railway 
The cauldron, Kamchatka 
10 Stops on the trans-Siberian railway 
A fiery tour of Kamchatka
A guide to the ultimate train journey


St. Petersburg & Karelia
Living in St. Petersburg
My city: St. Petersburg 
White nights in St. Petersburg 
Mini guide to St. Petersburg
Back to the future in St. Petersburg
A train to Karelia  
A writer's guide to understanding St. Petersburg 
A winter's tale in Karelia 
From Russia, with love 
St. Petersburg photos 
St. Petersburg sites 
St. Petersburg
Royal replicas: Peterhof or Versailles?
Where to Go in St. Petersburg



Wildlife & conservation
Russian refuge




Friday, July 24, 2015

Norway and Denmark articles

Here are some excellent links to articles and media related to travel to Norway and Denmark.


Active & Adventure
A camping and hiking weekend in Norway
Finding "friluftsliv" in Norway 
Dog-sledding in Norway 
What It's Like to Snorkel With Orcas in Norway


Arctic, Lapland & Lofoten
Viking whalers
Go now - midnight sun, Arctic circle
Hunting the aurora in northern Norway
Adventure on the Lofoten 
Go now - Tromsø
Spring begins with reindeer games
Musical destination - Tromsø
The perfect trip - Arctic Norway


Culture & history
Scandinavia's Sami reindeer herders 
Tales from the bog 
Instant expert - the Vikings


Copenhagen
I love Copenhagen 
Copenhagen photos
10 Things to do for free in Copenhagen 
Mini guide to eating in Copenhagen
What Copenhagen can teach the world
Day trips from Copenhagen
Copenhagen's grit & gastronomy
Copenhagen with kids
Living green in Copenhagen
The king of Scandinavian design
Copenhagen throughout the year
Living in Copenhagen
Copenhagen on a plate
Copenhagen's bohemian alter-ego
15 Reasons to love Copenhagen
Budget or blow-out: Copenhagen
How to get cozy in Copenhagen
Top 10 free things to do in Copenhagen
In Copenhagen, Skip Noma and Eat Here Instead


Denmark
Denmark guide
My secret happy place - Denmark
A dynamic weekend in Denmark
Lego heaven in Denmark 
Breaking away in Denmark


Fjords and coastal Norway 
Coastal Norway
Short break: Ålesund
Travel icon; Sognefjord 
Driving Norway's Golden Route 
Mini guide to Bergen & the fjords 
Musical destinations - Stavanger 
How to See Spectacular Views of Norwegian Fjords


Food & drink
Danish beer & civet poo coffee
Mini guide to eating in Copenhagen
Copenhagen's grit & gastronomy
Copenhagen on a plate
Budget or blow-out: Copenhagen
In Copenhagen, Skip Noma and Eat Here Instead


Northern lights
Photography tips to snapping the northern lights
Hunting the aurora in northern Norway
Best of the northern lights
Novel ways to see Norway's northern lights
Snapping the northern lights
Hunting the aurora

60 Second guide to the northern lights
How to shoot the Northern Lights - a tutorial


Norway
Top 10 summer experiences 
Norway guide 
The best of Norway 
The perfect trip: Norway



Oslo
Free things to do in Oslo 
10 Things to do for free in Oslo 
Mini guide to Oslo


Photo essays
Norway
Your shot - Norway
Copenhagen photos
The unforgettable roof of Norway 
A land of vertigo inducing views


Svalbard / Spitsbergen
National Parks of Svalbard
Ice Paradise
Rushing for the Arctic’s Riches
Polar bear chasing in Svalbard
The unexpected walrus
An Arctic summer adventure
Life in the frozen, fragile Arctic
An expedition to the Arctic
Norway's northernmost frontier
Drawing near to the North Pole


Wildlife & conservation
A quick guide to the 'Black Sun' starling murmurations in Denmark 
Polar bear chasing in Svalbard
The unexpected walrus



Thursday, July 23, 2015

Sweden and Finland articles

Here are some great articles and links relating to travel in Sweden and Finland.


Active & adventure
Dog sledding in Sweden's arctic 

Finland's native Sami adventures



Culture & history
Sami - The People Who Walk With Reindeer

The Vikings
The Finnish sauna experience
Sweden's winter Sami festival
Celebrating summer in Sweden


Finland's coast & interior
Oulanka National Park
Snowsports & saunas
The world's biggest wilderness
A wilderness weekend in Finland
A portrait of summer in Finland
Mobiles take flight in Finland
Isolation in Oulanka
Cruising Finland's lakes
Island hopping in Finland


Food & drink
How to forage for free in Finland
Post card from Helsinki Sweden's stinky tradition
The Best Coffee Shops For a Fika Break in Visby
Food lover's guide to Stockholm


Göteborg & Sweden's West Coast
Insider's guide to summer in West Sweden
West Sweden's best kept secrets
Gothenburg's culinary scene
Best of the West - Sweden by the Sea


Helsinki
48 Hours in Helsinki
Mini guide to design in Helsinki
Helsinki's innovative design scene
Post card from Helsinki 
36 Hours in Helsinki


Lapland & the Arctic

Dog sledding in Sweden's arctic
Snoozing in the original ice hotel
Walking with the reindeer in Sweden
Spring begins with reindeer games
The perfect trip: LaplandEmbracing the wilderness in Lapland 
Mini guide to Finnish Lapland
A long journey home


Malmö & the south
Hipster Malmö in a day
Why You Should Get Out of Copenhagen and Visit Malmö


Northern Lights
Snapping the northern lights
Hunting the aurora
Best of the northern lights
60 Second guide to the northern lights
How to shoot the Northern Lights - a tutorial


Photo essays
An Arctic summer adventure
Embracing the wilderness in Lapland
Stockholm's rooftop tour
Celebrating summer in Sweden


Scandinavia
Midnight sun, Arctic circle


Stockholm & the Baltic
Where to find family fun in Stockholm
10 Things to do for free in Stockholm
A personal tour of Stockholm
A secret isle
My city: Stockholm
Visby, Sweden's summer time haunt
Voices of Stockholm
Mini guide to design in Stockholm
Living in Stockholm
Stockholm's enduring style
Here comes the sun
The Best Coffee Shops For a Fika Break in Visby
5 Things you must do in Stockholm
Swedish Islands Offer an Escape From Stockholm
Food lover's guide to Stockholm


Wildlife & nature
The name giver - Linneus
A long journey home