Travel Podcasts, Discovered
Simon Calder, travel correspondent of The Independent and former BBC producer, Mick Webb, discuss the world of travel and delight in travellers' tales.
94 most recent episodes displayed below
Visit website →Professor of philosophy, Emily Thomas, is today's guest. Our discussion includes the importance of cannibalism for John Locke's theories, an eighteenth century pile-on involving Mary Wollstonecraft's life and Emily's thoughts on her recent trip to Ma
Dr Andrew Stevenson, senior lecturer in psychology at Manchester Metropolitan University discusses his book "The Psychology of Travel" published by Routledge. Types of traveller and different ways of travelling are on the agenda.
Discover declassified train carriages, how to walk in the shoes of others and enjoy a race across Europe to Leipzig. And Simon leaves the podcast.
Aided and abetted by listeners, we present some suggestions of how to navigate Paris, where to stay and what to see.
The accordion music was provided by Accordion-music-clean.wav by eyenorth -- https://freesound.org/s/482213/ -- License: Attribution
We discuss football journeys, near and far, and hear from fans who have stretched the limits of credible travel to get to a match abroad.
We ask if this label really means anything, and continue to probe the EES database debacle and the axolotl conundrum. Plus, the latest in our search for the perfect guided tour.
On College Green in London's Westminster, surrounded by historic buildings, we talk to Frances Linzee Gordon about what it takes to become an elite, Blue Badge Guide, and the challenges that lie in wait when you begin working. Find a guide who suits
Authentic dragons, astonishing temples, beguiling coastlines and great food. Find out whether one of the region's 11 countries floats your boat.
We mull over the concept of over-tourism, its causes and effects as well as some remedies. Why not try the place next door, for instance?
We shine a light on the world's many and varied straits- not just that one. Are they an underappreciated geographical feature?
We explore the delights- natural, culinary, architectural and cultural- of the colourful Mexican state of Oaxaca.
We plot a route across Mexico's mighty metropolis, taking in its many marvels
We consider the perils of venturing off venturing off the beaten track, talk to an adventure tour organiser facing up to current hazards in Venezuela, Iran and now Greenland, and we meet..... the axolotl.
Do you recognise this flag? It's one of the destinations that Simon found out about at the Adventure Travel Show in London. We discuss real travel adventures where the guide books run out as well as less challenging but still unusual places away from
We assess the past year in travel and anticipate the next one, with thoughts on destinations and technology as well as the giving of some self-indulgent travel presents.
Amazing travel experiences in which the laws of time are challenged , castles like "pastry shops for the soul" and the glacial progress of the new European Exit/Entry System.
We chat about the Sagrada Familia, the National Monument of Scotland and confront the brave new world of "frictionless travel" as promised by facial recognition technology
We discuss Spain's wealth of dramatic castles- the best to visit, the best to stay in and the one where you'll find the best pastries
Simon reports on his recent journeys to Lebanon, Northern Cyprus and Moldova. Also, we discuss the timeless allure of castles.
We try to make sense of the new entry /exit system that will affect UK travellers to Europe's Schengen area: what is it? when will it start? what will it mean for travellers, apart from delays?
Join us for a brief but steep hike through the Pyrenees in the footsteps of exiles and refugees and the hoofprints of sheep, cows and isards.
Join Simon and Mick on the nearest thing to a hill climb that South London can offer. But will it be a suitable rehearsal for their forthcoming trek in the Pyrenees?
We get to grips with two very different travelling dilemmas: can you get to the middle of nowhere and how can you combat the trickery and duplicity of car hire firms?
We track down traditional Spanish houses, search for great Airbnb's and report on a green ferry service across the Channel-by yacht.
We showcase listeners' anecdotes about bewildering showers, linguistic confusions and unexpected strandings. Thanks to Ginger Hendee for the photo (on Unsplash)
Simon enjoys Lithuania and falls prey to creeping delays and dynamic currency conversions during a whistle stop European tour. Meanwhile Mick takes part in a race across southern England- accidentally.
An underwhelming new dawn for our railways, an inadvertent phone error by an airport boss and the unveiling of a "slow" race across the world.
We talk about the challenges of settling into French village life, review races across the world and wonder why we need a new airline linking the UK with the USA.
Join Simon on his tour of beautiful Croatian Islands and share your thoughts on holiday souvenirs, Voyages a trois and "Trevi Fountain wishes" for ways to make travel better.
Electricity blackouts, cancellations, widespread delays............We discuss how to hedge your holiday bets in an era of chaos and confusion. The photograph is of a work by the Argentinian artist, Pablo Suarez.
Enjoy our guide to the varied and often surprising charms of the country at the heart of Europe, and just a train ride from the UK.
One of the delights and challenges of a trip abroad is deciding where to eat. We discuss listeners' opinions on what to look for and what to avoid!
Mike Parker, author of the best selling "Map Addict," joins us to share his love affair with maps and his thoughts on the politics of cartography and the strong feelings that it provokes.
Author and professor, Jean Mcneil, joins us to talk about her new book, Latitudes, and leads us into some of the world's great wildernesses. Danger, adventure and thought-provoking reflections pepper the book, which is published by Barbican Press
Which country should you choose for your first visit to South America? We assess the attractions and weigh up the pros and cons of four big-hitters: Brazil, Colombia, Argentina and Peru.
We discuss legendary music museums, Chinese airlines, sustainable breakfast buffets and the pros and cons of travelling with donkeys. Thanks to Florian Giorgio for his photo on Unsplash
Foragers take on anti-foragers in the great breakfast buffet debate, we continue the train limerick challenge and feature a topical update on romantic destinations. The website for info on the Robert Louis Stevenson trail is chemin-stevenson.org and
We welcome Mark Smith, well known as "the man in seat 61" to discuss the bicentenary of the first official railway journey, a gift from the UK to the world. Mark's guide to rail travel is at www.seat61.com And thanks to Roland Lösslein for his photo
We discuss the possible impact on travel to the USA of the impending Donald Trump presidency while Simon reports from Florida on the often fraught interaction between humanity and manatees. With thanks to NOAA for the photo of a manatee and her calf.
Simon and Mick share their favourite travel moments from 2024- best views, meals and cultural encounters- before looking forward to 2025. Happy New Year, fellow travellers!
We talk to Dylan Harris, founder of Lupine Travel, about his tour company, how they decide on their destinations and what it's like to organise trips to "no-go" areas like the Darien Gap, Yemen and Afghanistan.
Simon recounts tales from his recent trek through Nepal's Lumba Sumba pass and, inspired by Rome's Trevi fountain we launch a strand of travel wishes!
Simon Calder and Mick Webb compare their recent lofty experiences in Nepal and La Gomera respectively.
We wonder if Brown Bears are good or bad for tourism, hear listener Sally Naylor's tale of her split-second travel decision and discuss whether the world is becoming too samey.
Philosopher and travel writer, Professor Emily Thomas, joins us to provide a cerebral take on motorways and their service areas.
Thanks to David Dixon for his photo of the M 40 services on geograph.org.uk/photo/3299492
We look back at the last 5 years of travel, at the changes, the experience of Covid and Brexit and at the best and worst of the 200 podcasts that we've made since 2019
We look back at the recent holiday season and mull over the highlights and headlines. What should we learn from them?
Our guest is Gordon Stone, editor of "Strider," the magazine of the Long Distance Walkers' Association. We discuss good treks, good preparation and staying safe in hazardous conditions. And we reminisce about our great and not-so-great experiences.
Taking bikes on trains, tussling with tensators and the trouble with tea bags. We share our, and listeners', tales of travel's challenges.
We welcome weather presenter Jo Wheeler to discuss the part the wind plays in our travels. Should we pay more attention to its wily ways? And what on earth is a "medicane" ? Follow Jo on X @weatherdolly and send us a voice note to YouShouldHaveBeenTh
We unveil the charms of this multinational and multicultural peninsula: food, drink, landscapes, historical sites and modern attractions. Is it the perfect holiday destination? Meanwhile, the great tea debate rumbles on.
We hear what people look forward to most about coming home from a holiday
And discuss the challenges facing the new government when it comes to travel, transport and tourism
We enjoy the perfect day's walk along the Vanguard Way in southern England, taking in the forest haunts of Winnie the Pooh along the way. Plus a warning to travellers about the latest travel scam.
We discuss the merits of visiting Australia in the wake of Mick's trip to the less fashionable West and North of this vast country. On the agenda: strange pronunciations, marvellous marsupials, loud and lovely birds and the very important distinction
We reveal some truths about the legendary Orient Express, including who was responsible for "murdering " it. Plus more travel miracles and updates for summer tourism. With Simon Calder and Mick Webb
We discuss the controversial new tax on day visitors to Venice and look ahead to the charms and challenges of this summer's travel, including the best month to make your get away.
We explore the contrasting attractions of dark tourism for eclipse chasers and disaster seekers, while Simon tries not to miss his flight from New York. The website mentioned is dark-tourism. com.
We delve into "Type 2 fun" and discuss some places that might be considered necessary evils on the way to more enjoyable destinations. Like the Central American city in the photo.
Our guest is Mike Mackay Richards, author of "The Travelling Ape." Mike has visited 155 countries and has a perhaps surprisingly upbeat view of people and most, if not all, places. He advises us to get out there and enjoy the world rather then "veget
We muse on the weeks travel headlines about Air Traffic Control chaos and plunging planes, while Simon reports from the vast Berlin Travel Show where the whole world of travel is revealed.
We talk to Jonny Bealby, founder of the adventure travel firm, Wild Frontiers, about his life as a traveller and businessman. On the agenda: his favourite countries, most terrifying experiences and the item that he won't travel without. Website: www.
Simon recounts the tale of his unbelievably cheap Irish journey and Dylan Harris of Lupine Travel reveals the rewards and challenges of running an adventure travel company.
We discuss listeners' thoughts on when their holiday really starts: as the front door closes, as you clear airport security, the train/plane/ferry begins to move.... ? With particular thanks to Cathy Adams of Times Travel and filmmaker, Ben Garfield
We showcase the strange restrictions encountered by listeners on their travels and compare our own recent visits to intriguing islands.
We hear listeners' tales of passport nightmares while Simon exposes a documentary faux-pas in a current Channel 4 drama series.
The wait is over. Here are the solutions to our "12 Days of Travel" Christmas Quiz.
The final destination makes a fitting conclusion to the 12 part quiz. Find the place then work out what connects all the answers.
We're in the heart of Europe for today's destination, the 11th of the 12 days.
A lesser-known, UNESCO-recognised delight is the tenth destination of the quiz. Can you work it out?
We go offshore for today's destination, the ninth in the series of 12 mini podcasts
Guess the destination one, a very popular European city, in the eighth of our mini podcasts.
The clues should lead you to a European port, the seventh destination.
Head for the Balkans to find this city, the sixth of our twelve destinations. Can you see a link emerging between these places?
The clues will reveal the fifth of the twelve destinations. It's in England!
Can you work out today's destination? A well-visited location with a well-loved building
Test your travel know-how and guess the third destination.
The second mini podcast of the quiz. Guess the destination and try and work out the link between all 12 places.
Test your travel know-how with the first mini podcast of our 12 part Xmas Quiz.
We Talk to Dr Jane Wilson-Howarth about the new edition of her book, Staying Healthy When You Travel. Expect advice on what to pack, what to expect in different destinations and what to do if you fall ill abroad. The book is published by Fox Chapel P
We discuss the pros and cons of airport lounges and hear more from Pat Yale on the delights of slow travel to Turkey, including the unexpected charms of Belgrade. With many thanks to Nicola, Amanda, Laura, Nick, Gordon Stone and Pat Yale (@patyale on
We ask some of the questions that aren't being asked in Dubai at COP 28 and suggest one or two answers.
Travel meets football in our guide to the 2024 Euros. Discover where to go, when to book and what to see in Simon Calder's essential guide to next year's football feast across the length and breadth of Germany.
Chris Christou joins us from the lovely Mexican city of Oaxaca to discuss his podcast- "The End of Tourism" - and his ideas about "radical hospitality." We also feature listeners' tales of entertaining experiences of changing money. Chris' website is
Simon visits two of the industry's major get togethers to take the pulse of travel. Amongst the delegates, he meets Iceland's First Lady and the man who aims to put Airbus 380's back in the skies.
Writer Pat Yale joins us to talk about the pleasures of travelling
overland from the UK to Turkey as well as what it's been like to live in the country for the past twenty five years. Pat's new book, "Following Miss Bell: Travels around Turkey in the
Simon and Mick conclude their walk across the Ariège in the French Pyrenees and ruminate on the challenges and the rewards of mountain walking
Simon and I share the audio diary of our trek across a remote area of the French Pyrenees, the wild and woolly Ariège - yes, it is famed for its sheep. On the agenda are physical challenges, human errors aplenty and entertaining encounters with human
We continue our attempt to divine the future direction of travel, assisted by listeners.
We break out our crystal ball and hypothesise about the shape of travel in thirty years time. VTOL aircraft, jetpacks, autonomous vehicles, affordable rail travel ........ maybe.
We try to make sense of the mayhem endured by holidaymakers during this summer's busiest month for travel. Planes, boats and trains, all have been affected. Who is to blame, do we ever learn from previous mistakes and how bad is the UK, compared with
We discuss the many, very accessible charms of the small country that is becoming a surprise travel hit. With thanks to Vonne of Brasserie Vonne in Balham, South London, for joining us. brasserievonne.co.uk
We discuss "bustling" markets, "palm-fringed" beaches and "towering" peaks with professor of philosophy, Emily Thomas from Durham University. Do clichéd travel descriptions add to our understanding of other places or quite the reverse? Plus an interv
Simon joins the competitors and organisers of Lupine Travel's Trans-European Race at the start line in London's Trafalgar's Square. It's a bizarre medley of mystery and travel challenges, all on public transport. So who on earth would spend their hol
We welcome to the show Michael Motamedi, chef, digital nomad and influencer, who tells us what it's like to entrust his family's travel plans to a digital guide called Guide Geek. And we compare AI's take on Mykonos with a human view of it as a holid