It’s a universal truth: the turning of the fall foliage is one of the world’s most enchanting natural phenomena, and in the US, it comes in many different iterations. You can drive beneath the amber canopies of New England, watch fiery maples take over the vistas of the northern midwest, or marvel at the golden …
When it comes to bucket list adventures, Australia, New Zealand and the island nations of the South Pacific deliver them in spades. Follow New South Wales’ coastal road for a classic road trip inspired by the surfers of the 1960s or walk Tasmania’s mountains with Indigenous storytellers. Perhaps you’d rather cruise New Zealand’s fjords at sunrise, …
It’s a wonder Île de Ré exists. For starters, this French island is crêpe-flat (and its beaches are the same color as pancake batter). When the swell comes rolling in along the west and south coasts – this is the Atlantic Ocean after all – it’s difficult to comprehend how the sea doesn’t swallow the …
Ask ten experienced hikers to nominate the best treks in the world and they’ll give you ten different answers. Some treks are incredible because of the scenery. Some routes are epic because of the almost superhuman levels of effort and endurance required to reach the endpoint. For some trekkers, it’s all about the destination. For …
There is never a bad time to plan your dream trips, and Asia is full of those fantasy-inducing journeys that live rent-free in our imaginations. Will you wander the lavish palaces of India or trek through the jungle in Borneo or the mountains of Nepal? Perhaps a foodie tour of Southeast Asia is more to …
There’s nothing quite like bathing in the blissfully warm, mineral-rich waters of an onsen on a trip to Japan. For generations, both locals and visitors have flocked to these ancient hot springs to rejuvenate mind, body and spirit. And one place in particular stands out for experiencing Japan’s most famous contribution to holistic healing. Wakayama …
With rugged trails and blazingly colorful neotropical life, Panama’s national parks are some of the best in the world. Its highlands are steeped in rambling coffee fincas, thunderous rivers and waterfalls. Its coastline boasts kaleidoscopic coral reefs and epic swells that have drawn daring wave-seekers since the 1970s. And if all that sounds unbelievable, there …
Geographically, Perth (Boorloo in the Nyungar language) may be one of the most isolated cities in the world, but don’t expect some sleepy backwater. It’s laid-back, yes, but within this relaxed setting is a thriving city full of fun things to do and fascinating attractions to explore nearby. When you’re in Perth, it’s the rest …
Ah, Central America – that great S-bend of land joining Colombia to Mexico. With two coastlines squiggling up the Caribbean Sea and the wild Pacific in a 1770km (1100-mile) medley of coral gardens, frothing waves and emerald-coast jungles laden with howler monkeys, there’s hardly a more beach-heavy region on earth. No matter whether you’re searching …
Nick Ray is the author of the Phnom Penh and Siem Reap chapters in the 14th edition of Lonely Planet’s Cambodia guidebook scheduled to be released in September 2025. Some Cambodians wryly observe that Cambodia has three seasons – hot, hotter and hottest – but in reality, there are distinct dry and wet seasons that define the harvest …