Travel Guides
How to Get Your PADI Open Water Scuba Diving Certification
There are many reasons why I call myself a water baby. I learned to swim at age 4 and stayed with the same company until I was swimming competitively for them at aged 16. I then became a lifeguard where I actively worked in the position for 9 years, including countless jobs that took me all over the world, from Japan, China and the USA. In 2014 I then qualified to be a swim coach which is the main reason why I’m now based in the United Arab Emirates.
A Packing Guide for Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro
A packing guide that will save your life - quite literally.
After six months of planning, researching, training and spending all my mula on equipment and hiking gear, I felt ready to take on the roof of Africa. I remember my mum dragging me around all the typical sports and outdoor shops. ‘Soph, you’ll need a warm jacket, walking boots, gloves, backpack…’ - the list felt endless. To be fair, I was taking on my first, solo hiking challenge and I had to be ready.
Kayaking Day Trip to The World Islands, Dubai
Ever heard of The World Islands? I hadn’t either until moving to Dubai. The World Islands is an archipelago of small artificial islands in the Arabian Gulf. Dubai is famous for its man-made islands and land reclamation. The most famous examples of this are the Burj Al Arab and Palm Jumeirah, which are land extensions of the city connected to the mainland. This is where The World Islands are different. They’re located 4km off the coast of Dubai and the only way to get to them is by boat, helicopter or jet ski if you wish.
Staying in a Bubble Tent in Wadi Rum, Jordan
Have you ever wondered where the movies Martian, Transformers and Lawrence of Arabia were filmed? Wadi Rum is the answer – a Mars-like valley in southern Jordan. The whole landscape makes you feel like you’ve been transported to another planet. The red sand, giant rocks and the crisp starry skies are the stuff of dreams. To get the full experience of Wadi Rum, you can stay at glamping sites tucked away in the extensive desert – managed by Bedouins.
A Weekend of Adventure in Wales
Wales is famously known for its rolling hills, beautiful beaches, adventure holidays… rain and sheep.
Growing up, we had numerous family summer holidays in the Brecon Beacons, Barmouth, Tywyn and Snowdonia. Which are some of the most beautiful places in the UK.
Jordan 4 Day Itinerary
I’m not going to lie, I didn’t know Jordan existed until a couple of years ago. But now it’s one of the most incredible places I’ve ever visited! I spent 4 nights in Jordan with my partner at the end of November 2019, staying in a different place each night - The Dead Sea, Wadi Rum, Petra and Amman. Our trip consisted of staying in a bubble tent in the middle of the desert, walking 25,000 steps around Petra, floating at the lowest point on earth covered in mud and staying in a 4000-year-old cave.
A Night in a 4000 Year Old Cave, in Petra Jordan
Are you wanting to visit Petra and not sure where to stay? Instead of booking one of the many over-priced hotels, why not add a little adventure to your trip. For only around £20 a night, I have the perfect solution for you! The Hakuna Matata Cave in Little Petra is a 15-minute drive away from Petra’s main entrance.
40 Photos to Inspire You to Visit Jordan
From the bustling city of Amman to the deep history of Petra. From the Mars-like desert of Wadi Rum to the lowest point on Earth at the Dead Sea. Jordan has so much to offer. There’s no glitz and glam here - just thousands of years of natural gems that speak for themselves. I was introduced to Jordan at quite a late stage and I before I knew it, I was booking flights and accommodation. I am normally a huge travel planner, sometimes years in advance, in this case I didn’t have time to build expectations. And I’m glad I didn’t.
A Guide to Visiting The Grand Canyon
The best way to see the Grand Canyon is to hire a car, pack your walking boots and get ready for some of the best sunrises and sunsets you will ever see. That’s exactly what I did in the summer of 2015. Two days of incredible scenery, moments of calm and memories that I will cherish forever.
A Day Trip to the Krka National Park, Croatia
One of the most instagrammable spots on the planet - Krka National Park. If it’s not on your bucket list yet, add it now! In recent years, Croatia has been firmly placed on the map after revealing its natural beauty to the world. Endless waterfalls, mountains, lakes, rivers and beaches. Krka is now one of Europe’s most sought after destinations and attracts thousands of visitors every year.
10 Things No One Tells You About Working on a Cruise Ship
Out of all the trips I’ve been on, to everyone I meet, my time working on a cruise ship definitely proves to be the most interesting. 4 years on and I still get asked a lot of questions regarding ship life. Did you like it? Did you miss home? Were you allowed off the ship? I can answer these questions very easily - YES!
The Hidden Gems of Taiwan
Taiwan is one of the highest densely populated countries in the world, which makes you automatically think of stuffy cities and people everywhere. However, I don’t think of Taiwan like that at all. I have been fortunate enough to experience a lot of what the country has to offer, which is wide open spaces, natural untouched scenery and views to die for.
Mount Kilimanjaro - 8 day Machame Route
In this blog post, I’m going to give you MY experience on the mountain and an in-depth description of each day, trekking the Machame Route. I also have other blog posts on Kilimanjaro - Packing Guide for Kilimanjaro and 10 things I didn’t know before climbing Kilimanjaro. I climbed Kili at the beginning of September 2016 and still to this day, it’s THE best thing I've ever done. I booked the trek through STA Travel and G Adventures - I honestly can't recommend them enough!
An Epic USA West Coast Road Trip
The West Coast of the USA is one of the most popular road-tripping routes in the world. In this post, I will take you through a detailed description of the places I travelled to back in 2015. In just two weeks I drove over 2000 miles and visited Phoenix, Monument Valley, The Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Mammoth Lakes, Yosemite National Park, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego and everything in between.
6 European Cities in 6 Days
After partying in Slovakia’s capital, Bratislava for New Year’s Eve 2014. Instead of flying back to London, we decided that we would drive back through Europe, stopping off in various cities on the way.
The plan was to start off with breakfast in Bratislava, lunch in Vienna and dinner in Prague. Then spend a couple of days exploring Berlin and Bruges, and finally taking the Eurotunnel from Calais and drive up to London.