Published 4th Jul. 2022
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We’ve all seen footage of Earth from space – that humbling, faraway view of our little blue and green planet – but few of us Earthlings have experienced this phenomenon firsthand. It’s said that when astronauts go into orbit and look down on Mother Earth, they experience a life-changing sense of perspective and mental clarity, coined the ‘Overview Effect.’ Described as a cognitive shift in awareness after seeing our planet free of borders and boundaries, the Overview Effect is the uncanny sense of understanding the big picture. With space tourism, or ‘Astrocations’, set to be the next big trend in travel, we may one day be able to enjoy the Overview Effect for ourselves, but it will be a while before this exciting new style of travel enters the mainstream, so we’ve made it our mission to find some experiences that can mimic that effect. From diving the depths of our oceans to climbing great heights and losing yourself in remote wildernesses, these trips all promise to challenge your perception of yourself, the world and your place within it.
Namibia has one of the lowest population densities in the world, so it’s entirely feasible to lose yourself (metaphorically) and cast off from the modern world. Travel through the vast Namib Desert to the Damaraland Region, where you can spend a few nights at a remote mountain camp set in the foothills of the Grootberg massif. Explore the remote wilderness on foot, with only the basic necessities and an expert local guide to show you the way; it's the ultimate opportunity to reconnect with the natural world and enjoy a small taste of the Overview Effect. You'll have the chance to try your hand at ancient bush skills - from learning how to make a fire from scratch to identifying animal tracks – and there are ample wildlife-spotting opportunities including lions, cheetahs, rare desert-adapted elephants and black rhinos.
Ladakh is one of the hero destinations of our Pin Drop Travel collection - a portfolio of tranquil holidays designed to meet the growing demand for peace and quiet in the wake of the pandemic. On a 12-day trip into the very north of India, eschew the ever-present noise of the modern world for traditional rural life. Venture deep into the mountains and seek out authentic Tibetan Buddhist communities. Highlights of the trip include a three-day trek and sharing sunrise prayers with the Buddhist monks of Thiksey monastery; learning the basic tenets of Tibetan Buddhism as you meditate with Buddhist monks; joining the locals for a Bhutanese puja (ceremony); and being introduced to a mystical Indian oracle to witness her communicate with the spirits.
The fabled white desert of Antarctica is a truly alien landscape, the vastness and evolution of which is a stark reminder of the earth’s fragility. Spend time on an expedition vessel and enjoy the wondrous wintery views as your captain expertly pilots your ship through ice-filled fjords and along the coastline of the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula. During the day, leave the expedition vessel and make landfall in the dinghies. Accompanied by your expert guides, visit spots which show off the best of the Antarctic environment from enormous glaciers and ice shelves to penguin colonies and beaches covered with elephant seals. Come evening, enjoy lectures and presentations from the experts on board, as well as the spectacular views from the ship's lounge which may just leave you feeling like you’ve experienced a touch of the Overview Effect.
A pristine coral reef, stretching two miles off the coast of Tahiti, has recently been discovered as part of a global seabed-mapping mission led by UNESCO. At depths of 30 metres, the reef appears to be undamaged by pollution which affects shallow-water reefs. The discovery is a wonderful reminder of how much lies beneath that has yet to be explored. Under the expert guidance of our diving specialists at Original Diving, set off on a 21-day diving adventure around the idyllic islands of French Polynesia. Declared a Marine Mammal Sanctuary in 2002, it offers protection to 16 different species of whales and dolphins. Snorkel with humpback whales in the waters around Moorea - one of the few spots on earth where this is possible - discover the abundant fish life and coral in Tikehau and dive the Tiputa Pass in Rangiroa, one of the most famous dive sites in the world which is home to bottlenose dolphins, eagle rays and great hammerheads. Finish the trip in Fakarava, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve that has been protected for more than 40 years, creating a healthy ecosystem which is home to plentiful marine life, including jaw-dropping numbers of grey reef sharks.
Practical advice and inspiration for your next trip
Southeast Asia is a favourite for first-time travellers – safe, welcoming and easy to explore. Yet all too often, Cambodia is the casualty of the Indochina loop, with many simply dropping in to see the (admittedly awe-inspiring) Angkor before moving swiftly on. On my first visit, I was guilty as charged. But my return visit changed everything. Cambodia, I realised, has come of age. It’s no longer the ‘add-on’ destination, but a country that demands time, rewards curiosity and offers depth, warmth and discovery at every turn.
29th October 2025 - Cambodia Travel Inspiration
This article originally featured in the first edition of our magazine, Original Traveller. The world’s first tourist destination; Egypt has attracted the great and the good for more than four millennia. Tom Holland charts the ebb and flow of the country’s time travel. Egypt is where tourism began. Perhaps this is hardly surprising. By the 5th century BC, when the first tourist guide to Egypt was written, pharaonic civilisation was already more than two and a half millennia old.
29th October 2025 - Egypt Travel Inspiration
For those of us who don’t have to adhere to the constraints of the school holidays, we have a wide choice when it comes to choosing what season to travel in. Though the summer remains a top choice, thanks to the good weather across much of the Northern Hemisphere and the general societal norm of treating ourselves to a break at this time, the so-called ‘shoulder season’ is becoming ever-more popular.
28th October 2025 - Travel Inspiration
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