Travel in Afghanistan

A thin sliver of land on the western edge of the South American continent, Chile offers a wealth of landscapes to explore. This country stretches across the Andes mountain range, to the Atacama Desert, and boasts 4000km of Pacific Ocean coastline. Caro Bohets says on Facebook that the colourful houses of Valparaíso are a must-see.

Panama is the perfect vacation destination for adventure lovers, culture and history buffs, and, naturally, beach bums – its biodiversity, rich coastlines and unfathomable islands have to be seen to be believed.

Work isn’t just professional for Fatima Popal, it’s personal since she’s the CFO of Popal Restaurant Group, the boutique, family-run hospitality group founded by her parents Shamim and Zubair Popal. After fleeing their home country of Afghanistan over three three decades ago due to the Soviet invasion and decamping in Washington, D.C., the pair channeled their creativity into entrepreneurial endeavors. In 2003, they unveiled their first concept, Georgetown’s Cafe Bonaparte, a Parisian-inspired cafe that immediately charmed locals with its old-world design and imaginative crepes.

Major UK and international artists have donated work to an online and live auction supporting the British charity Freedom from Torture. The 13th edition of the charity’s biennial art auction, Drawing a Line Under Torture is currently online, with a live auction of twelve artworks to take place at an invite-only private view on 6 November at Sotheby’s New Bond Street, London.

Last weekend following a sweeping two-year renovation, Washington, D.C.’s National Museum of Women in the Arts reopened its doors. There’s lots of new updates awaiting, such as a meticulously restored roof and facade of the historic 1908 building that once was a masonic temple; easier accessiblity; and thought-provoking exhibits in expanded spaces like The Sky’s the Limit, which displays 33 large-scale sculptures and installations from 13 women artists around the world including Shinique Smith, Joana Vasconcelos, and Sonya Clark. What’s remained unchanged is the institution’s steadfast mission in championing women in the arts—which it’s done since being founded in 1987 by philanthropist and art collector Wilhelmina Cole Holladay.

Sri Lanka may be known as the teardrop isle (due to its distinctive shape), but the country’s refreshingly straightforward visa system shouldn’t be a source of too much anguish for travelers. 

It wasn't exactly a vacation, but it was still summer.

Afghanistan’s first ever female tour guide is launching a second virtual tour with Untamed Borders, after the success of her first online sessions, showcasing Herat.

With its incredible range of spectacular scenery, Pakistan offers some truly epic road trips. With a rented car and driver – or your own wheels – you can drive the world’s most dramatic mountain highway, follow historic invasion and trade routes, drift between Sufi shrines and desert forts, or follow the mighty Indus River from the high mountains to the Arabian Sea. 

Cricket is the most popular sport in India and has a huge fan base. Beyond just being a sport, it is deeply embedded in the nation’s culture, evoking intense emotions from the masses over the victories and losses of their favorite teams: 90% of the global cricket fandom consists of Indians, highlighting the cricket craze in the country. 

Japan has been knocked off the top spot for the world’s most powerful passport for the first time in five years.

Tech startups involved in the travel industry raised nearly $118 million this week.

Singapore has unseated Japan as the country with the most powerful passport, based on the latest International Air Transport Association data that shows the most ease of access to other countries for travelers. 

Deep in the Panamanian jungle, Venezuelan migrant Franca Ramirez was scrambling to reach higher ground as a rushing river broke its banks, he said, when something caught his eye: a group of young men, snapping photos of the landscape.

Trucks and trains may have replaced the camel caravans of old, but there are still many joys to be had from simply getting around in Uzbekistan, from the stunning Soviet-era decor of Tashkent’s magnificent metro to overnight train trips across the Central Asian steppe. 

For most travelers, entering the vast diversity of Ecuador’s Cuatro Mundos ("Four Worlds": the Pacific Coast, Andes, Amazon and Galápagos) requires nothing more than arriving with your passport.

America’s breadbasket, ripe with green fields and grazing dairy cows, is known for its simple but hearty dishes. But if you think the Midwest’s menu boils down to the traditional staples of cheese curds and bratwurst, then think again.

It takes about 20 million steps to walk around the world, not to mention several years of commitment as well as determination, stamina, trekking gear, and a state of mind that few of us can imagine.

St Lucia is the ultimate island getaway for adventurers, lovers, or anyone who just wants to spend their days relaxing on multiple tranquil beaches.

The Banff Mountain film festival opens the door to the inspiring stories of people who simultaneously confront their physical and mental limits and the elements. And with this year’s festival featuring films on a lawyer running ultra marathons to help women in Afghanistan, a mountain-biking family living with disability, and the first woman to kayak down a 30-metre waterfall, there’s more than a hint of activism over environmental and equality concerns.

Central Asia often gets a bad deal – seen as bleak and boring with a cuisine to match. But make the journey to this oft-overlooked part of the continent and you'll be rewarded with striking scenery, surprisingly tasty food and some of the world's friendliest people. Here, we bust the unfairest myths about Central Asia.

While working for an NGO in Kabul, British expat Marc Perry went to explore the precipitous Panjishir valley in northeastern Afghanistan.