556 articles tagged with solo travel
Standing at the edge of the Li River as dawn broke over Yangshuo's otherworldly karst peaks, I realized why this landscape has inspired Chinese artists for centuries. The ethereal mist dancing between limestone towers, cormorant fishermen casting nets in golden...
The taxi winds up steep switchbacks as Medellín reveals itself in the valley below, a sprawling metropolis nestled within the emerald embrace of the Andes. Twenty years ago, my editorial desk at National Geographic received pitches about this city that...
The Red River winds like a slow-moving ribbon of molasses through Grand Forks, North Dakota—a place I'd admittedly never considered for a solo adventure until a chance conversation with a farmer at the Marseille market about his childhood home. His...
The first time I stood at the base of the Bridger Range, I closed my eyes and just *listened*. Beyond the expected whisper of pine needles dancing in Montana's summer breeze, there was something else—a distinct mountain melody that felt...
Standing before the Library of Celsus as the early morning light caressed its ancient façade, I felt that familiar tingle of excitement that only comes when perfect light meets perfect history. After decades in hot restaurant kitchens, trading my chef's...
Standing on the shores of Sitka Sound at midnight, watching the celestial dance of stars reflected in the still waters below, I was reminded why this remote Alaskan outpost has captivated me for decades. As an astronomer who has gazed...
When I first arrived in Rishikesh after a grueling 36-hour journey from Rochester, I was immediately struck by the fascinating juxtaposition of urban infrastructure and spiritual serenity. The suspension bridges connecting the two banks of the Ganges create a unique...
Stepping off the plane at Hong Kong International Airport, I was immediately struck by the precision of movement all around me. As someone who's spent her life between Frankfurt's methodical efficiency and the more relaxed pace of my mother's Mexican...
While I'm not exactly the demographic this guide targets, my extensive travel experience and analytical approach to risk assessment make me uniquely qualified to address the concerns of solo female travelers heading to Chennai. After my recent weather-pattern research trip...
When the opportunity arose to participate in a judicial conference in Pakistan last fall, I knew this wasn't just a professional development opportunity – it was a chance to expand my daughter Amara's worldview. Traveling as a single father means...
Standing atop the Continental Divide overlooking Butte, Montana, I found myself caught between two worlds—much like my own cultural heritage. Below me sprawled the remnants of America's copper mining past, a landscape both scarred and beautiful, while the surrounding mountains...
Standing at the edge of Buenaventura's harbor, where the dense Colombian Pacific rainforest meets the sea, I couldn't help but feel the layered history beneath my feet. This port city, often overlooked by travelers racing to Colombia's more Instagram-famous destinations,...
As the train wound its way through mist-shrouded tea plantations toward Kandy, I found myself instinctively checking the window latches—once a safety inspector, always a safety inspector! *Alte Gewohnheiten sind schwer zu brechen*, as my Oma would say. But two...
When most travelers think of Rotorua, New Zealand, their minds immediately conjure images of bubbling mud pools and explosive geysers. As a research scientist who's visited this geothermal wonderland three times now, I've discovered there's a remarkable urban renaissance happening...
The moment my boots touched the pristine snow of Kiruna, I felt that familiar rush – the one that comes when you're about to embark on something both ancient and extraordinary. Swedish Lapland in winter isn't just a destination; it's...
