Life is in the detail

The people in Colombia are unbelievably friendly – you get a very different reception here compared to elsewhere in South America.

Emily - Original Traveller

Emily Dundas

Original Travel Expert

I have extensive travel experience throughout South America and South Africa.

My travels

Travel Things I Want To Do Before I Die

Go surfing in Indonesia
Visit New Orleans
Explore Argentina - particularly Buenos Aires and Patagonia
Spend time on a game reserve in Laikipia, Kenya

Best Moments

Skydiving over Plettenberg Bay in South Africa - completely terrifying up until the moment the parachute opened (when I no longer felt like I was plummeting to my death) and I could enjoy the incredible views of the coast.
Being in Seville for the Semana Santa - a totally crazy religious festival in the build up to Easter that involves huge, elaborate floats from various churches being carried around the city. It's even more amazing at night when the whole thing is candle-lit.
Stargazing in the Salt Flats of Bolivia - the sheer number of stars you could see made it worth lying outside in the sub-zero temperatures.
Staying in Coffee Bay in South Africa, which is around two-hundred miles from the nearest city, and surfing on a completely deserted beach every day.
Climbing Pidurangala Rock in Sri Lanka at sunrise

Toughest Travel Moment

The Lost City Trek in Colombia - five days trekking in the intense heat of the Colombian jungle with a guide who spoke virtually no English. But it was all made entirely worth it when we reached the incredible, and almost completely deserted, ruins of the Lost City, which pre-date Machu Picchu but have a fraction of the visitors.

Weirdest Travel Moment

Being served guinea pig in Peru, which arrived cooked but still completely whole (feet and all). Not sure it's something I would order again.

Explore my blog posts

The Best Travel Podcasts

These days it seems like there's a podcast for everything, and anyone who's anyone seems to have launched their own podcast during lockdown. So to save you wading through the sea that is the podcast library, here are our top picks for the best travel podcasts for when you need a dose of escapism...

Leaf-Peeping: The Best Autumn Destinations in Europe

It's no secret that North America does autumn well, and we have previously written about our favourite spots across the continent to admire the 'fall' colours. This time around, we are going to look into the best autumn destinations in Europe that are perfect for a spot of leaf-peeping...

The Best Travel Series to Keep us Inspired to Travel

If 2020 has been good for anything, it's boxsets. At the very least, lockdown has given us plenty of time to catch up on all of those shows we've been meaning to watch for years, but never quite got around to. What 2020 has not been good for, on the other hand, is ticking off destinations…

The Best of Both Words: Holidays to Hotels with Villas

In this 'new normal' of travelling in a post-lockdown world, we will all have to take into account things we would never normally consider when booking a holiday. Do we want to sit crammed in next to strangers on an aeroplane for hours, or would we rather stick to our own 'bubble' and drive…

Alternative European City Breaks

With most European countries just a stone's throw away, it can feel like us Brits already know our neighbours like the back of our hand. Well, we are here to tell you otherwise. If you're in the mood to shake up your travel plans, read on for a round up of our alternative European city…

How To Be More Nordic - The Original Travel Guide

Did you know there are 22 IKEA stores in the UK, but only 20 in Sweden? An embarrassment of riches, you could say and a sure sign of how much we Brits want to be like our Nordic cousins. Stereotypically progressive, blonde haired happy people who hike mountains and eat fish they (probably)…

Read On! Where You Should Travel Based On Your Favourite Book

Who, on Wednesday night, found themselves desperately gluing everything from cardboard boxes to colanders to their sprogs (or grandsprogs) in preparation for dressing up on World Book Day? While we're undeniably jealous that it's only the kids that get to dress up as their favourite…

Woman Up - Our Best Destinations for Female Solo Travel

When it comes to travel, flying solo can be an incredibly liberating experience. With no travelling companions to cater to, you're free to craft the holiday you've always dreamt of whether you're after a slick city getaway, an adventurous escape or an idyllic island-hopping trip. Travelling…

2020s Most Immersive Filming Locations You Need to Visit

Are you sitting comfortably, with your mobile phone turned off and popcorn in hand? Good, because now we want you to throw all of those things out the proverbial window and grab your hiking boots/oar/moustache comb (all will become clear). 2020 is set to be a blockbuster year in terms of…

Our Favourite European Walking Holidays

We're all about embracing a slower pace of life here at Original Travel, and what better way to do that than on a walking holiday. Venture into the great outdoors and spend your days ambling (or marching, depending on your chosen walking pace) through some of Europe's most beautiful scenery…

Romantically Unromantic - Our Favourite Unusual Getaways for Couples

We love any excuse to celebrate, but as our name 'Original' Travel suggests, we aren't much into clichés - especially when it comes to Valentine's Day. Over the years, we've compiled a list of our favourite unusual experiences that are perfect for couples who want a romantic getaway with a…

Capital Idea - the Best Capital Cities Around the World

Does your ideal holiday involve spending your days weaving through winding streets, coiffing coffee and local eats at hidden restaurants and immersing yourself in a completely new city? Then you've come to the right place. Here is our definitive list, which took much refining, of our…

Our Top Christmas Destinations for 2020

You're down to the final slice of Turkey and fighting over the last mince pie but instead of feeling sad that Christmas is over, why not book yourself an epic holiday for Christmas 2020? It may seem a long way off, but trust us when we say that places start getting booked up fast. So seize…

Dry Jan... Literally! Our Top Desert Destinations for 2020

Dry January sounds a little… well, dry. But if the lack of 'moonshine' is already getting you down, we're here to show you that dry doesn't have to be dull. Let us wet your appetite with some of our favourite holiday destinations which also happen to be some of the driest places on Earth…

Our Favourite Alternative Summer 2020 Destinations

This summer, swap your usual European beach break for an alternative holiday with the inevitable braggability factor that comes with going somewhere a little more niche. Whether you're tempted by a traditionally 'winter' destination such as Swedish Lapland or fancy exploring a lesser-visited…

Bring Out Your Inner Columbus - Our Favourite Americas Adventure Cruises

The word 'cruise' may conjure images of tourists crammed onto vast ships, spilling out into the ports of seemingly unsuspecting Mediterranean towns in a manner similar to that of the Great Wildebeest Migration, but we'll let you in on a little secret… we love a cruise. Well, when we say…

Our Top 2020 Sabbatical Destinations

There's a big old world out there (we would know) and if you've decided to take the plunge and go on a sabbatical, deciding on where you want to visit with your precious (and well deserved) time off can be daunting. Our advice: decide what you want to achieve and let that drive the…

Late Summer Sun on the Turkish Coast

It's safe to say that the 'wellness' trend has slightly taken over the world of late, and while we're certainly not opposed to a detox-style holiday, we're also partial to a slightly more indulgent one. In the spirit of inclusion, we say why not do both with a 'detox-retox' holiday? After a…

Oh-Man! Why You Should Spend Christmas in Oman

Dashing through the sand, on a one-humped camel train, through the wadis you go, laughing all the way… about the fact you've managed to escape the Great British Christmas rush. If you'd rather swap Brussels sprouts for beach scenes, Oman fits the 'Chirstmas getaway' bill perfectly with its…

Europe? Safari? Why Not! Check Out Our 'European Big Five'

Who's just tuned into the Beeb's and David Attenborough's latest wildlife wünder-watch, Seven Worlds, One Planet? An amazing reminder that you don't need to travel to the other side of the planet to see spectacular beasties when there are so many on our doorstep in Europe. Safari and Europe…

Born To Run - Where to Run Around the World

The idea of going for a run on holiday might sound like your idea of a living nightmare, but hear us out. Running can be the perfect way to explore a new place while gaining a totally new perspective of your surroundings. Getting up bright and early and heading out for a run can give you the…

Where You Should Go Skiing, Based On Which Friends Character You Are

Remember that episode of Friends where Rachel wants to take everyone skiing, but the car breaks down and they never arrive? If she had booked a ski trip through Original Travel, we guarantee she'd have arrived on time, glass of Prosecco in hand, ready to hit the slopes the next morning.…

'Hot 'N' Cold' - Last Minute Winter Breaks

Words rarely fail us here at Original Travel. However, sometimes the best descriptions come from the great lyricists of our time - namely, Diana Ross, ABBA and…err…OutKast? Whether you want to chill out or turn up the heat, here are some of our favourite destinations for a winter break, and…

Take Note! Our Favourite Places to Hear Live Music

Shakespeare famously wrote 'if music be the food of love, play on'. This particular phrase opens 'Twelfth Night', with Orsino musing that an excess of music might cure his love obsession in the same way eating too much food cures one's hunger. Well, Shakespeare might have been on to…