Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2025 i National Geographic Traveller (UK)

Every year, thousands of warkaris (pilgrims) take part in the Wari Yatra, a 21-day pilgrimage that sees devotees of Lord Vitthal carry sacred relics from Pune to the Hindu deity’s temple in Pandharpur. Drawn by rhythmic chanting, I found myself swept into the heart of the procession, with the pilgrims forming a circle around their relics to pray and sing in perfect harmony. @abhishek.basak.714 This image was a Gold winner in the People-Culture category of the One Eyeland 2023 Photography Awards…

Camp Bestival BEST FOR BIG MUSIC ACTS Set in the grounds of Lulworth Castle, Dorset’s award-winning festival always has a solid line-up, from Tom Jones to the Sugababes and Mr Tumble. Away from the main stages, there’s the world’s biggest bouncy castle, mud kitchens and activities such as kids’ talent shows, bucket-hat sewing camps and sensory gardens. At the Orchestra of Objects, children can even invent their own musical instruments from junk. 31 July to 3 August. From £733 for a family of four camping. dorset.campbestival.net HIGHLIGHT: Dressing down for the world’s largest pyjama party on the Saturday evening. Green Man BEST FOR CONNECTING WITH NATURE Backdropped by Bannau Brycheiniog (the Brecon Beacons National Park), the campsite at Green Man opens three days before the action starts, giving families the…

Puerto Rico, Caribbean There’s no denying that Puerto Rico’s Mosquito Bay is the world’s brightest bioluminescent bay — it was recognised as such by Guinness World Records in 2006. And its mangrove-fed abundance of dinoflagellates — phytoplankton that emit a sparkling cold light when agitated — doubled in 2017, following Hurricane Maria. With its ideal low-light conditions, the bay is a sight to behold and hosts the breathtaking underwater show year-round. Equally captivating are Fajardo’s canal-like Laguna Grande, close to the capital San Juan; and La Parguera in Lajas, the only Puerto Rican bio bay where motorboats and swimming are allowed. Krabi, Thailand When it comes to dazzling shorelines, the province of Krabi in the southwest of Thailand is another great destination to visit. Home to shallow waters, mangrove forests…

ART & DESIGN Meet the creatives of Poblenou The seaside neighbourhood in east Barcelona has been brought back to life by galleries and studios taking over once-derelict warehouses. Words: Eddi Fiegel In Barcelona’s leafy Poblenou district, Pablo Pulido, an Argentinian ceramicist and jazz musician, points to the sky outside his narrow workshop’s open doorway when I ask why he moved here. “We liked the light principally,’ he tells me, “and the closeness to the sea.” The bright Mediterranean sun floods in through the shop’s large windows, bouncing off the whitewashed walls to illuminate the mauve and yellow bowls and cups that line the shelves. Despite his beige work apron, 42-year-old Pablo looks as well manicured as a matinee idol. He opened Kema two years ago with his partner Daiana Nuñez…

The limestone cliffs tower 200ft above the channel, their feet washed by aquamarine water and their heads styled in a lush coiffure of succulent plant life. A plastic bottle bobs against a rock at the bottom of the crags, mocking me with its jaunty dance. I paddle over, fish out the plastic intruder and drop it into my kayak. “It’s so frustrating,” says my host Kiruu Kanai, gliding alongside me. “The trash washes in on ocean currents from Indonesia and the Philippines. But by cleaning up, you’re honouring your Palau Pledge, so thank you.” The Republic of Palau is the 17th-smallest country in the world, and is home to around 18,000 inhabitants. This idyllic archipelago of some 340 islands, most of them untouched by humans, floats almost unnoticed in the…

Passengers travelling to Europe by rail could see a raft of new train operators in the coming years. Eurostar — which has always had a monopoly on services between London and Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam — now faces the biggest threat of competition since it launched its first train through the Channel Tunnel in 1994. With the promise of more choice and lower prices, could this be good news for travellers? What’s the latest? A handful of companies are vying for access to HS1 — the high-speed line between London and Folkestone — including Virgin Trains and Spanish start-up Evolyn in partnership with Italy’s FS Italiane Group. Virgin is preparing to order a dozen high-speed trains to run through the tunnel. In March, UK start-up Gemini Trains announced it had…

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Gothic cathedrals, medieval quarters, grand plazas, Moorish monuments, abstract architecture, vibrant nightlife, urban beaches, avant-garde art… Spain’s cities offer visitors an incomparable array of attractions. United under a single crown in 1479, Spain was — and remains — a country of distinct provinces and regions. And within these 50 provinces and 17 regions, its hundreds of cities and towns each has a proud and long-standing sense of culture and identity. It’s this heritage that marks the likes of Valencia, Seville, Granada and Santander as outstanding city breaks, alongside the well-established allure of Madrid and Barcelona. Spain’s culturally distinct cities are an enticing prospect for travellers — visit one and you’ll soon be making plans to visit another. This issue, we focus on the best of Spain’s cities and towns, and…

THE DESTINATION A luxury beachfront resort, The Residence Tunis is ideally located to discover UNESCO World Heritage Sites in and around the Tunisian capital, such as the Medina area, a maze of markets and monuments in the heart of the city; and Carthage, the ruins of an ancient trading hub. There’s also Sidi Bou Said, a nearby seaside town with boutiques and cafes. The hotel has a 4,000sq-metre spa inspired by Roman baths; an 18-hole golf course; and six bars and restaurants. Among them, El Dar serves regional cuisine such as kafteji (a vegetable and egg dish) and ojja merguez (sausages and eggs in a tomato sauce). Travellers keen to extend their stay in Tunisia can head south on a road trip to The Residence’s sister property in Douz, known…

NEIGHBOURHOODS Discover North Charleston Go beyond King Street to explore the working-class district redefining cool in South Carolina. SETJETTING Join the von Trapp family Discover filming locations from The Sound of Music in and around the Austrian city of Salzburg. ANNIVERSARIES Plan ahead for America’s 250th Cities and towns across the country are going all out for the nation’s big birthday next year. CUISINE The food promising longevity Why are black eggs boiled in the hot springs of Owakudani, Japan said to make you live longer? NOCTOURISM Chasing the Northern Lights A unique aurora borealis experience in the northern reaches of Norway. HIKING Beginner routes in Europe These trails are less about endurance and more about the pleasure of the great outdoors. SEARCH FOR NATGEOTRAVELUK  FACEBOOK  INSTAGRAM PINTEREST Use the…

“SIMBA!” THE URGENT WHISPER — ‘LION’ IN SWAHILI — COMES FROM JULIUS NAURORI AS HE STANDS BOLT UPRIGHT IN THE BACK OF OUR 4WD LIKE A HUMAN ANTENNA. Immediately, our guide in the front slows the car to a cautious prowl and a hush descends, save for the tinkling silver discs tied to Julius’s waist as they sway in time with the rocking of the car. The dawn sky is still blushing crimson, and at first it’s hard to see what’s almost directly in front of us: four sleeping lions, their chocolate manes camouflaged as they lie on their sides in long, unruly grass marking the banks of the Mara River. Our guide is Roca River Camp co-owner Ross Withey, and Julius, our wildlife-spotter, is his wingman on this safari…

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In 1825, the foundation stone for Prussia’s first public museum, the Altes Museum, was laid on Berlin’s Spree Island, marking the start of an ambitious project to create a sanctuary for art and science. Now known as Museum Island, it’s celebrating its 200th anniversary this year. The Neues Museum, Alte Nationalgalerie and Bode Museum followed, with the Pergamon Museum (closed for renovations until 2027) completing the five institutions in 1930. In 2019, they were joined by a striking modern visitor centre. Today, this ensemble between the River Spree and the Spree Canal, less than half an hour’s walk east of Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate, has UNESCO World Heritage Site status. Their collections of art and cultural artefacts from across Europe and the wider Mediterranean region — such as the Nefertiti Bust,…

Far From The Madding Crowd, West Lothian In the Scottish market town of Linlithgow, this muchloved bookshop occupies one of the handsome Georgian buildings flanking the high street. Describing itself as an ‘indie bookshop with a bit on the side’, it offers a strong selection of Scottish titles, along with a bothy for quiet reading, poetry evenings and a shop bunny called BB. BOOKSELLER TIP: Manager Sally Pattle says, “Visitors should walk up to the Grange from the east end of the loch, where you’ll find the best views over Linlithgow Palace, the loch and the gleaming golden spire of St Michael’s Parish Church.” maddingcrowdlinlithgow.com Wave of Nostalgia, West Yorkshire Located in the Brontë sisters’ hometown, Haworth, this hillside spot specialises in fiction and non-fiction written by or about inspiring…

Elise Wortley is the founder of Woman with Altitude, a project that recreates the journeys of historic — and often-overlooked — female adventurers, especially in the mountains. This includes wearing era-appropriate clothing while traversing rocky trails and climbing steep peaks, from wool skirts to wooden backpacks and wide-brimmed bonnets. On her latest trek, she paid homage to British mountaineer Dorothy Pilley by recreating her original expedition from Bastia to Monte Cinto in Corsica, a feat that didn’t get its due coverage in 1922. Her aim? To bring attention to female explorers — and show women they belong in the adventure space. What sparked your interest in adventure? I say I’m an ‘accidental adventurer’. When I was a teenager, I read My Journey to Lhasa by [French-born explorer] Alexandra David-Néel. She…

Exeter to Paignton on the Riviera Line Showcasing the best of the English Riviera, this trip takes in the coastal landscapes of south Devon. The train threads its way past cliffs, estuaries, market towns and Powderham Castle with its deer-filled grounds. Disembark in Newton Abbot to visit Newton’s Place, a 19th-century church housing a rail museum. The North Yorkshire Moors Railway This route, which connects Grosmont with Pickering, dates back to the 1830s, and a trip on the restored steam trains is a great way to enjoy the North Yorkshire moors. Don’t be surprised if it looks familiar — stops include Goathland, which doubled as Hogsmeade Station in the first Harry Potter film. Strathspey Railway Snaking from Aviemore to Broomhill, this scenic stretch of track was once part of the…

Best for fashionistas £ £ £ W PRAGUE HOTEL The long-awaited reopening of the art nouveau Grand Hotel Evropa in 2024 as part of Marriott’s W brand was Prague’s biggest hotel event of the past decade. A careful renovation left intact the stained glass, chandeliers, marbled walls and wood panelling in the adjoining cafe, now an excellent steakhouse. Meanwhile, it injected the lobby and 161 rooms with the W’s trademark bold colour and flair. Amenities include a sauna with hot and cold pools and a rooftop terrace with fetching views over Prague’s golden spires. The location on central Wenceslas Square puts you mere steps away from most of the city’s main sights. ROOMS: From 10,690 Kč (£358). marriott.com Best for cheeky retro £ MAMA SHELTER PRAGUE The urban, playful Mama…

THE HORSE & THE HIDDEN PEOPLE In the shallows of Lake Sørvágsvatn stands a horse. A brisk wind has sent ranks of tight little waves across the water and they slap at his flanks with monotonous persistence. Behind him, the hills are smothered by dark clouds, the weakest hint of sunlight struggling to break out beneath them. Perhaps in protest at the weather, the horse has reared up, forelegs raised, head pulled back. But all is not what it seems. Drawing closer, ambling down the pebble beach towards the shore, I find not the flesh and bones of a disgruntled stallion, but a jumble of rocks and earth packed within a steel, horse-shaped frame. A sign chiselled into a moss-flecked boulder tells me that this is the Nix — a…

The fascination of islands is that they appear to be distinct, self-contained worlds. If that’s true, then Croatia is practically its own solar system. From the Kvarner Gulf at the head of the Adriatic to the Dalmatia region between Zadar and Dubrovnik, more than 1,185 islands spray down the coast like a meteorite shower. Whatever you’re looking for, you’ll find it here — from buzzy resorts for a party crowd on Hvar to towns like Korčula or Rab, their streets an insouciant jumble of gothic and Renaissance beauty. In between are endless pine-scrubbed specks with no firm grip on the 21st century, washed by the cleanest waters in the Mediterranean. Lazy beach days may be the draw, but this is a country rich in history. Grasp that Croatia is all…

I travelled to Uttar Pradesh a few years ago to see the Taj Mahal. Could you recommend some equally dazzling sites in lesser-known states? I’d consider heading further south, perhaps to Karnataka. The state is best known for the ruins at Hampi, one-time capital of the Hindu Vijayanagara empire. Less famous is Pattadakal — a cluster of 10 medieval temples set against the Malaprabha River. The grandest, eighth-century Virupaksha, was commissioned by Queen Loka Mahadevi in honour of her husband King Vikramaditya II, a member of the powerful Chalukya dynasty. With its sprawling courtyard and towering gateway, it typifies the UNESCO-listed site’s signature blend of North Indian Nagara and South Indian Dravidian styles, its intricate reliefs recounting Indian epics. 5 Senses Tours offers a four- day package taking in both…

Tell us about this image. This is a young female jaguar named Guaraci, which means ‘goddess of the sun’ in the Indigenous Tupi-Guarani language. I photographed her in Brazil’s northern Pantanal, the largest tropical wetland on Earth. The ecosystem is home to around 5,000 individuals — the world’s densest jaguar population. How did you achieve the shot? It was taken shortly after sunrise, just minutes after we left our houseboat and began cruising down the Cuiabá River in a small motorboat. As we rounded a bend, our captain suddenly pointed to movement in the shoreline thickets. We slowed down and quietly observed Guaraci as she awoke. She was gazing back at us lazily, so I locked the focus on her eyes and took a few dozen images in burst mode.…