Global Editorial Director of Condé Nast Traveller Divia Thani joins Tanya Rose to share her travel secrets this week.
In this episode, Divia unpacks why India is both an amazing and challenging place to visit, why she loves visiting Saudi Arabia and recalls her profoundly transformative experience …Global Editorial Director of Condé Nast Traveller Divia Thani joins Tanya Rose to share her travel secrets this week.
In this episode, Divia unpacks why India is both an amazing and challenging place to visit, why she loves visiting Saudi Arabia and recalls her profoundly transformative experience attending the Kumbh Mela religious festival…
Plus, Divia discusses how she ended up going to university in rural Pennsylvania and shares her top tips for perfectly packing your suitcase every time.
Don’t forget to follow @travelsecretsthepodcast and remember, you can watch all of our episodes on YouTube.
Places mentioned:
Nigeria
London, England
Dehradun, India
Mumbai, India
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Brandon, Pennsylvania, United States
AlUla, Saudi Arabia
Neom, Saudi Arabia
Ikoyi, London, England
Vietnam
The Ganges, India
Kasauli, India
Lanka, India
Chapters
00:00 Intro
10:24 Secret 1: Number 1 travel destination everybody should go to
17:29 Secret 2: Most unexpected travel experience
23:19 Secret 3: Most Over or Underrated travel experience
31:12 Secret 4: Best Food & Drink while travelling
In this final episode from Saudi Arabia, I travel from the peaceful Red Sea town of Yanbu to vibrant Jeddah – and end the journey at the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival near Riyadh.
Along the way, I meet generous locals at a night market, stay with a kind CouchSurfing host, and visit the world's tal…In this final episode from Saudi Arabia, I travel from the peaceful Red Sea town of Yanbu to vibrant Jeddah – and end the journey at the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival near Riyadh.
Along the way, I meet generous locals at a night market, stay with a kind CouchSurfing host, and visit the world's tallest unfinished skyscraper, the Jeddah Tower, now standing eerily still in the desert.
The trip ends in true Saudi style – surrounded by majestic camels competing in a beauty contest with millions at stake. This country has surprised me in every way.
See pictures and read more on https://www.theradiovagabond.com/257-saudi-arabia/more
In this episode, my travel partner Cynthia and I explore Al Ula in northwestern Saudi Arabia – where ancient culture meets cutting-edge architecture.
We stroll through Old Town's 1,300 mudbrick houses, chat with a modern young Saudi woman named Dalal, and marvel at Maraya, the world's largest mirro…In this episode, my travel partner Cynthia and I explore Al Ula in northwestern Saudi Arabia – where ancient culture meets cutting-edge architecture.
We stroll through Old Town's 1,300 mudbrick houses, chat with a modern young Saudi woman named Dalal, and marvel at Maraya, the world's largest mirrored building shimmering in the desert.
We also test our luck (and our rental car) in the sand again – with a dramatic sunset rescue by friendly locals.
As Saudi Arabia opens up to visitors, this mix of hospitality, history, and high-tech design feels like a glimpse into the country's future.
See pictures and read more on https://www.theradiovagabond.com/254-saudi-arabia/more
In this episode, we leave Riyadh behind and head for "The Edge of the World" – a jaw-dropping cliff where the desert drops into infinity.
With only vague directions from a CouchSurfing friend ("Go to the mosque… don't die"), my travel buddy Cynthia and I set out on a 4,000 km road trip across Saudi…In this episode, we leave Riyadh behind and head for "The Edge of the World" – a jaw-dropping cliff where the desert drops into infinity.
With only vague directions from a CouchSurfing friend ("Go to the mosque… don't die"), my travel buddy Cynthia and I set out on a 4,000 km road trip across Saudi Arabia. We encounter rare desert rain, camel caravans, endless dunes, and the unexpected kindness of strangers.
The journey leads us through Hail and into Al-Ula, where we stand face-to-face with the ancient beauty of Elephant Rock – and, of course, get stuck in the sand.
See pictures and read more on https://www.theradiovagabond.com/251-saudi-arabia/more
Join me on an unforgettable journey across Saudi Arabia – from the futuristic capital Riyadh to the dramatic Red Sand Dunes where my travel partner Cynthia and I got repeatedly stuck.
Along the way, we discover a country transforming itself through Vision 2030, meet warm and curious locals, and exp…Join me on an unforgettable journey across Saudi Arabia – from the futuristic capital Riyadh to the dramatic Red Sand Dunes where my travel partner Cynthia and I got repeatedly stuck.
Along the way, we discover a country transforming itself through Vision 2030, meet warm and curious locals, and experience the blend of old traditions and bold modernization that defines the new KSA.
We explore everything from a stressful airport check-in and a not-yet-running metro to quad biking in the desert and sunset reflections in Riyadh's Nabd Al Riyadh.
See pictures and read more on https://www.theradiovagabond.com/248-saudi-arabia/more
Today, I’ve got a special episode from The Elements of AlUla, a travel docuseries produced by Armchair Productions. The company was founded by Aaron Millar, who you may know as the host of The Armchair Explorer podcast.
In this series, Aaron is going to take you on a journey into the heart of one …Today, I’ve got a special episode from The Elements of AlUla, a travel docuseries produced by Armchair Productions. The company was founded by Aaron Millar, who you may know as the host of The Armchair Explorer podcast.
In this series, Aaron is going to take you on a journey into the heart of one of the most ancient kingdoms on Earth. Located in the northwestern corner of Saudi Arabia, Alula is an oasis in the desert, layered in 200,000 years of human history.
Until recently, it was closed to outsiders, and to this day, only a handful of visitors have ever been. In this immersive documentary recorded on location, we’ll take you to the heart of one of the great wonders of Arabia and give you a glimpse of what it feels like to be there for real.
Highlights Include:
Exploring the ancient city of Hegra. Built by the same people who built Petra in Jordan, Hegra is every bit as spectacular, but only visited by a handful of intrepid travelers.
Visiting Jebel Ikmah, a library of ancient inscriptions carved into stone that reveal life in the desert more than 2,000 years ago.
Riding Arabian horses to petroglyphs in the desert (and nearly falling off).
Meeting a herd of overly friendly camels, with a taste for microphones.
Learning from rawis, local storytellers, about the history of the incense road, a vast trading route that passed through Alula and changed the face of Arabia forever.
Resources:
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ExperienceAlula.com
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Armchair Productions
Armchair Explorer Podcast
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Our Bucket List episodes showcase the greatest travel experiences on the planet. Today, we’re going to the deserts of Arabia to go stargazing with the Bedouin and learn their secrets of the stars.
This episode is about learning to see the stars through the eyes of a people who have lived in the Ara…Our Bucket List episodes showcase the greatest travel experiences on the planet. Today, we’re going to the deserts of Arabia to go stargazing with the Bedouin and learn their secrets of the stars.
This episode is about learning to see the stars through the eyes of a people who have lived in the Arabian desert for thousands of years, and whose very existence, and survival,l was shaped by the night sky.
Recorded on location in our immersive documentary style, this episode is a chance to hear the Bedouin’s stories of the sky. For it is through those stories of love, tragedy and revenge that they passed down the secrets of ancient astronomy. When we look at the night’s sky we see fiery distant suns and orbiting planets. When they look at it, they see poetry, and the whole gamut of human experience written into each far off sparkling light.
Let’s set the scene: We have travelled for two hours into the El Harameal desert, from the oasis town of Alula, in Saudi Arabia, a place that few outsiders have seen before. Blankets and pillows are laid out in the sand, night has fallen, and a young Saudi woman named Badrea begins to speak…
FIND OUT MORE
If you enjoyed this episode, check out our full documentary series which we recorded on location: the Elements of Alula. Our first three episodes: water, earth and air were out last year. It was an incredible trip filled with ancient heritage sites, insane adventures, Arabian horses and one hot air balloon crash that turned out to be the most we’ve laughed on any trip.
Find out more about the destination at ExperienceAlula.com. Check out @experiencealula on Instagram, Facebook and X for more inspiration and ideas.
CONNECT WITH US
If you enjoy the show, please subscribe on whatever podcast player you’re reading this on right now. Go on, do it. It means you get to choose what episodes you listen to, rather than the algorithm guessing (wrongly) and kicking us off your feed.
Following the show on socials will definitely maybe bring you good travel karma!
Instagram: @armchairexplorerpodcast
Facebook: @armchairexplorerpodcast
Mentioned in this episode:
Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world
This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com.
For advertising or sponsorship opportunities across the network, see the link below.
Voyascape Podcast Network
Check out the Smart Travel Podcast
This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel at the Link below:
In this series, we’re going to take you on a journey into the heart of one of the most ancient kingdoms on Earth. Located in the northwestern corner of Saudi Arabia, Alula is an oasis in the desert layered in 200,000 years of human history. But, until recently, it was closed to outsiders, and to thi…In this series, we’re going to take you on a journey into the heart of one of the most ancient kingdoms on Earth. Located in the northwestern corner of Saudi Arabia, Alula is an oasis in the desert layered in 200,000 years of human history. But, until recently, it was closed to outsiders, and to this day only a handful of visitors have ever been.
If you haven’t listened to our three-part on location documentary series, the Elements of Alula, scroll back in the feed and check it out: hot air balloon crashes, stargazing with bedouins, curious camels with a taste for microphones … It's a lot of fun.
But today, we’re sharing a special bonus episode from that series. Because AlUla was closed to outsiders for so long, the archeology that’s happening there is unearthing incredible treasures we had no idea even existed. Jonathan Wilson: Arts and Culture Administration Senior Manager at the Royal Commission for AlUla is going to share some of those secrets with us today.
And just to set the scene: we’d just got back from an afternoon riding Arabian horses through the desert. It was an incredible experience, but it was hot - so we stepped inside Jonathan's office where archeologists were working day and night to document the treasures of this lost kingdom of alula … this is the tour he gave us, and the interview we did afterwards.
FIND OUT MORE
Our on-location documentaries are designed so that you can experience everything we did in this episode. Find out more at ExperienceAlula.com. Check out @experiencealula on Instagram, Facebook and X more inspiration and ideas.
CONNECT WITH US
If you enjoy the show, please subscribe on whatever podcast player you’re reading this on right now. Go on, do it. It means you get to choose what episodes you listen to, rather than the algorithm guess (wrongly) and kick us off your feed.
Following the show on socials will definitely maybe bring you good travel karma!
Instagram: @armchairexplorerpodcast
Facebook: @armchairexplorerpodcast
Armchair Explorer is produced by Armchair Productions. Aaron Millar wrote and presented this episode show, Jason Paton did the audio editing and sound design.
Mentioned in this episode:
Check out the Smart Travel Podcast
This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel at the Link below:
Smart Travel Podcast
Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world
This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com.
For advertising or sponsorship opportunities across the network, see the link below.
SheerLuxe Founder and CEO Georgie Coleridge Cole joins Tanya Rose to reveal her travel secrets this week.
In this episode, Georgie shares her new love of sailing holidays, why she believes the English seaside is overrated and how a trip to Saudi Arabia sparked a new direction for her business.
Plus,…SheerLuxe Founder and CEO Georgie Coleridge Cole joins Tanya Rose to reveal her travel secrets this week.
In this episode, Georgie shares her new love of sailing holidays, why she believes the English seaside is overrated and how a trip to Saudi Arabia sparked a new direction for her business.
Plus, Georgie discusses her hatred of packing and tells the story of the time she got stranded in Mexico without her phone or any money…
Don’t forget to follow @travelsecretsthepodcast and remember, you can watch all of our episodes on YouTube.
Places mentioned:
Hong Kong
The Peninsula, New York
One&Only Palmilla, Mexico
Cornwall
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Doha, Qatar
Daphne’s, London
Langan’s Brasserie, London
Soho Mews House
Trinity, London
The River Café, London
Les Vallées, France
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.more
On today’s destination special, we’re going to be discovering a country which, for the longest time, was out of reach for travellers, Saudi Arabia, or Saudi as it’s now known. Within the travel industry Saudi has been front and centre for the past few years, with prominent features about its develop…On today’s destination special, we’re going to be discovering a country which, for the longest time, was out of reach for travellers, Saudi Arabia, or Saudi as it’s now known. Within the travel industry Saudi has been front and centre for the past few years, with prominent features about its developments in most of the major travel magazines; the world’s leading luxury hotel brands from Six Senses to Aman have been announcing impressive future openings across the country, and new tourist destinations are being developed from the Red Sea resort on the coast to Sindalah at NEOM…even a ski resort in the 3000m mountains. These are all offerings that have really intrigued the travel world, now that the doors are wide open.
To be honest, I’ve been conflicted about making this episode. I had preconceptions about the country, which I’m sure many of you may share, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about showcasing it with its own episode. However, I firmly believe in the power of travel as a force for good – tourism brings connection, understanding, and often positive change. And I also firmly believe you’ll find this episode really interesting. Because if you’re anything like me, you’re probably very curious about destinations that feel like uncharted territory, that we don’t know that much about yet. My goal is to give you more insight about the country from the travel experts who know it best so you can make up your own mind.
First, we’ll hear from adventurer, writer, and TV presenter Alice Morrison. Alice is like a real-life Indiana Jones – most recently, she’s been exploring Saudi for her BBC series Arabian Adventures: Secrets of the Nabataeans, where she delves into the mysteries of this ancient civilization. She’s also travelled extensively across Saudi as a solo female traveler, offering a unique perspective on what it’s really like to explore the country as a woman.
Then we’ll be joined by Isabella Craddock, former editor of Condé Nast Traveller Middle East and the founder and editor of Near+Far Magazine. Isabella has spent years exploring Saudi’s landscapes, cities, and hidden gems and she’ll share her favourite spots, latest travel news, and tips for making the most of a visit.
Destination Recap:
Alice Morrison -
• Riyadh
• Diriyah Gate, Riyadh
• National Museum, Riyadh
• AlUla
• Nabatean Tombs, Hegra
• Jeddah
• Prince Mohammad Bin Salman Royal Reserves
• Wadi Disah
• Banyan Tree Hotel, AlUla
You can find out more about Saudi by reading nearfarmag.com, and you can listen more to Alice's adventures in Saudi on her podcast Alice in Wanderland. The tourist board website is another great resource if you’re planning a trip.
Thanks so much for listening today. If you want to be the first find out who is joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram I’m @hollyrubenstein, and you’ll also find me on TikTok - I’d love to hear from you. And if you can't want until then remember there’s the first 13 seasons to catch up on.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.more
“I'm dangling 250-feet above a canyon, and I'm about to get dropped. This is what AlUla is all about. It's got desert treasures, it's got 200,000 years of history, but it's also got adventure. And we're going to start ours by soaring through the air. Are you ready? Let's do this …”
• Aaron Millar, …“I'm dangling 250-feet above a canyon, and I'm about to get dropped. This is what AlUla is all about. It's got desert treasures, it's got 200,000 years of history, but it's also got adventure. And we're going to start ours by soaring through the air. Are you ready? Let's do this …”
• Aaron Millar, host
In this series, we’re going to take you on a journey into the heart of one of the most ancient kingdoms on Earth. Located in the northwestern corner of Saudi Arabia, Alula is an oasis in the desert layered in 200,000 years of human history.
But, until recently, it was closed to outsiders, and to this day only a handful of visitors have ever been. In this immersive documentary, recorded on location, we’ll take you to the heart of one of the great wonders of Arabia and give you a glimpse of what it feels like to be there for real.
Each episode in the series explores the destination through the lens of a different element: the heritage of Earth, the community of Water … and today, the adventure of Air.
Highlights include:
• Flying over the UNESCO world heritage site of Hegra in a hot air balloon – only a handful of people have ever visited this ancient city. Even less have seen it from the sky.
• Climbing via ferrata to the top of a 250-foot canyon and then screaming all the way down.
• Off-roading on sand dunes through one of the most deserts in the world.
• Stargazing with Bedouins and hearing their legends of the stars, which they used as a map to guide them through one of the most inhospitable places on Earth.
FIND OUT MORE
Our on-location Immersion documentaries are designed so that you can experience everything we did in this episode. Find out more at ExperienceAlula.com. Check out @experiencealula on Instagram, Facebook and X for more inspiration and ideas.
CONNECT WITH US
If you enjoy the show, please subscribe on whatever podcast player you’re reading this on right now. Go on, do it. It means you get to choose what episodes you listen to, rather than the algorithm guess (wrongly) and kick us off your feed.
Following the show on socials will definitely maybe bring you good travel karma!
Instagram: @armchairexplorerpodcast
Facebook: @armchairexplorerpodcast
Mentioned in this episode:
Check out the Smart Travel Podcast
This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel at the Link below:
Smart Travel Podcast
Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world
This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com.
For advertising or sponsorship opportunities across the network, see the link below.
“… it’s incredible to get that picture of watching the caravans arrive on the horizon, and you don't know what they're going hold. You don't know what mysteries. People with strange languages, different clothes, and different smells. And they set up around the fire at night and play music you've nev…“… it’s incredible to get that picture of watching the caravans arrive on the horizon, and you don't know what they're going hold. You don't know what mysteries. People with strange languages, different clothes, and different smells. And they set up around the fire at night and play music you've never heard before; tell stories you've never heard before …”
In this series, we’re going to take you on a journey into the heart of one of the most ancient kingdoms on Earth. Located in the northwestern corner of Saudi Arabia, Alula is an oasis in the desert layered in 200,000 years of human history.
But, until recently, it was closed to outsiders, and to this day only a handful of visitors have ever been. In this immersive documentary, recorded on location, we’ll take you to the heart of one of the great wonders of Arabia and give you a glimpse of what it feels like to be there for real.
Highlights include:
• Exploring the ancient city of Hegra. Built by the same people who built Petra in Jordan, Hegra is every bit as spectacular but only visited by a handful of intrepid travelers.
• Visiting Jebel Ikmah, a library of ancient inscriptions carved into stone that reveal life in the desert more than 2,000 years ago.
• Riding Arabian horses to petroglyphs in the desert (and nearly falling off).
• Meeting a herd of overly friendly camels, with a taste for microphones.
• Learning from rawis, local storytellers, about the history of the incense road, a vast trading route, which passed through Alula, and changed the face of Arabia forever.
FIND OUT MORE
Our on-location Immersion documentaries are designed so that you can experience everything we did in this episode. Find out more at ExperienceAlula.com. Check out @experiencealula on Instagram, Facebook and X for more inspiration and ideas.
CONNECT WITH US
If you enjoy the show, please subscribe on whatever podcast player you’re reading this on right now. Go on, do it. It means you get to choose what episodes you listen to, rather than the algorithm guess (wrongly) and kick us off your feed.
Following the show on socials will definitely maybe bring you good travel karma!
Instagram: @armchairexplorerpodcast
Facebook: @armchairexplorerpodcast
Mentioned in this episode:
Check out the Smart Travel Podcast
This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel at the Link below:
Smart Travel Podcast
Check out all of our other travel podcasts from around the world
This podcast is part of the Voyascape Network, a collection of some of the world’s best travel podcasts. Explore more at Voyascape.com.
For advertising or sponsorship opportunities across the network, see the link below.
Saudi Arabia is a controversial place - one that for years was closed off to westerners without a special invite. But that all changed in 2019 with the announcement of a new tourist visa and a huge investment in infrastructure - beginning with the north-western oasis city of Alula. So far, most trav…Saudi Arabia is a controversial place - one that for years was closed off to westerners without a special invite. But that all changed in 2019 with the announcement of a new tourist visa and a huge investment in infrastructure - beginning with the north-western oasis city of Alula. So far, most travellers have been Instagram influencers, keen to get 'that' shot of Elephant Rock or the infinity pool at Habitas. But Wander Woman Phoebe Smith is determined to skew the surface glitz, head off pis...more
