Now, you know I’m not a fan of guides (see this post) and my recent observation of a tour guide who stopped at each key sight at the Roman Forum to read passages from a guidebook to her bored tour group only reaffirmed many of my beliefs on guides and guided tours. Yet Context Travel … Read more about Putting context back into travel, OR why contextualizing travel is cool
I have a secret: despite writing and contributing to some 25 Lonely Planet guidebooks, I have to admit I’ve always preferred using Rough Guides – primarily for their fantastic Contexts chapters at the back of the books. While many guidebook publishers have been cutting back on word counts in the history, politics and culture chapters of … Read more about Enriching the experience of travel: it’s all about context
I’m converted. And I’m not ashamed to admit it. I can now reveal I’m addicted to cool guided tours. My definition? Enriching, focused, well thought-out, specialized tours to compelling places with small groups (so miniscule you can remember everyone’s names), led by super qualified and highly specialized guides who are as fascinating as the places … Read more about When guided tours are close to spiritual experiences: I’ve been converted
Some of the best guided walks I’ve ever done have been with Australian guides. The Aussie guides tend to be obsessive when it comes to developing specialist knowledge, which they intersperse with fascinating facts and trivia and sprinkle with humor. They’re often self-effacing and nearly always gregarious and easy-going. And the Australian guides I’ve done walks … Read more about Top 5 indigenous cultural tours in Western Australia
For all my criticism of guides, there have been some who have impressed us, and there has been one who changed our lives. Darren ‘Capes’ Capewell, an indigenous Australian from the Mulgana tribe, runs cultural walks through the bushland and along the shores of Monkey Mia in the Shark Bay World Heritage area on the … Read more about Guides: a model guide from the Mulgana mob at Monkey Mia