le journal

Madagascar is big—really big—and then there are the islands off the island, each one feeling more remote and magical than the last. It’s not your average family holiday, but for those with a sense of adventure, the rewards are endless.

Whale season is unforgettable—watching these giants breach just offshore leaves everyone wide-eyed, no matter their age. Diving with manta rays feels like drifting alongside underwater spaceships, while hikes after long, bumpy rides become the kind of adventures families still laugh about years later (“remember that jeep ride?”). Here, the unexpected always seems to be waiting around the corner.And that’s the beauty of it. Madagascar may test your patience with its distances and rough edges, but it gives back tenfold. It’s remote, raw, and wildly alive—a place where family memories are written in salt water, red earth, and endless horizons.

Forget what you think you know about Nepal as just a land of backpacking trails. There’s another layer here, one woven deeply with Tibetan Buddhism—fascinating, inspiring, and full of quiet lessons. Prayer flags flutter, temples hum with chants, and you feel as if you’re stepping into something timeless.

Up on the high plateau of the Himalayas lies the forgotten kingdom of Mustang, a place that feels like a secret whispered to travelers willing to wander further. Days can be spent hiking or biking along rugged trails, surrounded by landscapes that shift from raw cliffs to snow peaks.And then there’s the heart of it all: staying in the home of a Sherpa family. Evenings around the fire, meals shared together, yoga at dawn, meditation and ceremonies in small Buddhist temples—it’s intimate, grounding, and the kind of family travel memory that stays forever.

Start in Bogotá, a city that might surprise you. Think a buzzing food scene with chefs doing magic on every corner, and museums that sparkle—starting with Botero’s plump, playful masterpieces. It’s a city best explored with an open appetite and a little curiosity.

From there, hop a small plane into the Andes for some fresh-air thrills: hiking, mountain biking, rafting—the kind of adventures that leave you happily exhausted and a little muddy. Then it’s on to Medellín, once known for all the wrong reasons, now pulsing with creativity, color, and yes, another excellent food scene. It’s a city that wears its resilience on its sleeve.And finally, the coast. The Caribbean side of Colombia is two trips in one: island-hopping in Barú for lazy beach days, or heading to Tayrona, where jungle and sea meet in a way that feels wild, raw, and completely unforgettable.

Kick things off on safari, where the Big Five are right there, strutting across the savannah. Lions napping like oversized house cats, elephants marching like they own the place (they do), and if you’re lucky, a leopard making a grand entrance. Cue the gasps, the whispers, and about a hundred “did you see that?!” moments.Then swap bush for coastline drama with a heli-hop onto the Garden Route. Shark diving? Yep, but with marine biologists who know their dorsal fins from their data sheets, so it feels epic and ethical. Not your vibe? Stroll through the fynbos instead, where every flower is showing off like it’s Fashion Week.

Finally, land in Cape Town. Penguins waddling in Simon’s Town, e-scooters racing down Table Mountain, kayaks skimming the bay. Evenings are simple: good food, good wine, and the kind of laughter that only comes when you feel completely at home.

Going to see gorillas in Rwanda is something else entirely!!! The walk there is part of the adventure: winding paths, damp forest air, and a mix of excitement and nerves. And then, out of nowhere, you spot them—maybe a silverback lounging like he owns the place, or a baby tumbling in the vines. It feels raw, real, and a very humbling.In Kigali, the capital hums with energy—markets, art galleries, coffee shops, and a spirit of optimism that’s contagious.

Visiting the Genocide Memorial is deeply moving, and for teenagers especially, it becomes a powerful history lesson that lingers. It’s a place where the country’s painful past meets its extraordinary resilience, and you carry both with you.Then there’s Lake Kivu, where life slows to a gentle rhythm. Fishermen glide across the water, sunsets spill over rolling hills, and it’s the perfect pause after days of adventure. Rwanda is compact, welcoming, and endlessly layered—easy to travel, impossible to forget.

Start on the Atlantic coast, where Morocco’s long sandy beaches and steady breezes make it a fun spot for surfing. Whether you’re catching waves or just want to wander barefoot along the shore, it’s the perfect, easygoing introduction to the country.

From there, head into the Atlas Mountains, where everything slows down. Villages tucked into the hills welcome visitors with mint tea and open doors, and donkeys are more common than cars. This is the place for gentle hikes, riding through the countryside, or sitting back and watching mountain life unfold at its own pace.End with a mix of medinas, Marrakech or Tangier. In Marrakech, skip the chaos and lean into the fun side—vintage side car rides, cooking classes, secret courtyards. Tangier can be the finale: breezy, mysterious, and easier to navigate than Marrakech, with hidden corners that whisper old stories, o. yhe steps of Yves Saint Laurent.

The light in India feels almost magical—warm, golden, wrapping every moment in wonder. A family adventure begins in Delhi, where the train whisks you to the Taj Mahal. Seeing it at sunset, or again at sunrise, feels like stepping into a dream. With expert guides who turn history into story, even the youngest travelers feel part of the tale.Next stop: Jaipur, the pink city, which is nothing short of a playground.

Families can spend an afternoon flying kites on old rooftops, trying on colorful saris, learning block printing, or walking alongside rescued elephants in the countryside. It’s vibrant, fun, and full of memories waiting to be made.Then comes Jodhpur, the blue city, reached via leopard safaris and countryside horse rides. And finally, peaceful Udaipur, where a lakeside palace becomes your base. Here, adventures soften into quiet moments—watching the Aravalli mountains glow as stories of the day are shared together.

You land in Nairobi, and before you’ve even unpacked, you’re hand-feeding giraffes and watching baby elephants slurp down their breakfast. It’s the best kind of welcome—equal parts adorable and unforgettable.Then it’s off to Laikipia, where the landscapes stretch so wide you’ll wonder if the horizon ever ends. Days are for horse rides, camel treks, and walking safaris where a beetle can be just as fascinating as a lion. Nights? Sleeping under the stars, wrapped in blankets, with the bush orchestra tuning up in the dark.

It’s adventure sprinkled with a little stardust.And of course, the Maasai Mara. Private conservancies mean you might have the wildlife all to yourself—just you, the wild, and a few hundred wildebeest. Finally, the pace slows in Lamu, where Swahili culture hums in the air, dhows glide at sunset, and life feels deliciously timeless.

Start in Rio de Janeiro, where mountains tumble into the ocean and life spills onto the streets. Mornings are for Ipanema walks, afternoons for cable-car rides up Sugarloaf, and evenings for samba rhythms echoing from every corner. There’s no city quite like it—vivid, dramatic, and full of heart. Then slow the pace in Paraty, a colonial town where cobbled streets meet jungle-green hills and calm blue bays.

Spend your days wandering colorful alleys, sailing between hidden islands, and toasting the sunset with a caipirinha in hand. It’s Brazil at its most charming, with time moving deliciously slow.Finally, turn up the drama at Iguazu Falls, where hundreds of waterfalls crash into the jungle in an endless roar. Walk the trails, feel the spray on your skin, maybe even cross into Argentina for another angle. It’s a finale that leaves you breathless—wild, untamed, unforgettable.

Over the years, Istanbul has become not just a destination for me, but almost a second home. It’s a city I know in layers—part history book, part open-air theatre, part daily chaos—and I love weaving those threads together for people who want to experience it differently.

My little black book has been in the making for more than 25 years. It’s filled with treasures you won’t find in a guidebook: the rooftop of the Grand Bazaar with its panoramic views, a fish restaurant tucked away where only the chicest locals go, and the kind of places where stories just unfold naturally.And then there’s the Bosphorus. Always the Bosphorus. Nothing beats gliding along at sunset, the city glowing on both sides, reminding you that Istanbul is pure magic.

Kick things off in Java, where you’ll drag yourself out of bed at 4am (coffee in hand, hopefully) to watch the sunrise at Mount Bromo. Totally worth it—sky on fire, volcano smoking in the distance, goosebumps all over. Between temples and slow trains past rice paddies, you’ll realise that half the magic is in the bits where “nothing much” happens.Then hop across the islands. Bali is buzzing with rituals, scooters, and smoothie bowls. Lombok slows everything down with wide beaches and zero stress. And Sumba? Think wild horses, endless horizons, and that feeling of “where even am I right now?” in the best way.Finally, Komodo. The sea turns into an aquarium, manta rays glide past like underwater UFOs, and you’ll float there thinking: yep, this is how summer should always end.