Iceland always has a pure, if mysterious allure for anyone who hasn't been. Cold and misty, yet with boiling volcanoes that keep the residents warm and the visitors coming. A Nordic nation, Iceland is defined by its dramatic landscape with beautiful mountains, hot springs and more. Massive glaciers are protected in Vatnajökull and Snæfellsjökull…
Nature & the Environment
Shush.... show a little respect. This post is for you adventurers who constantly want to do something out of the ordinary. Rather than spend your days on a beach or in a huge city, going from one museum to another, you want to look for something that not many others have seen.…
Americans love their grim descriptions of things and places. It's in films, magazines and movies. And just take a sample of some of Netflix's titles. Need we say more? It's a national obsession. And it's not new. In 1936, on the occasion of a speech by the nationalist Gen. Millan…
When most people think of South America, it's usually Peru or Chile or Colombia. They're all fabulous places and if you haven't already been, we seriously suggest that you look into this most varied and truly wonderful part of the world. For those not in the know, nestled between the Caribbean, the South…
For those not in the know, Mauritius is a small, multi-cultural island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar, northeast of Reunion and southeast of the Seychelles. Mauritius also controls Rodrigues Island and the remote, sparsely populated Agalega and Cargados Garayos (Saint Brandon) islands. As luscious and serene as most of Mauritius is, there is a wilder side for those of you…
When you mention the word Iran, it usually strikes a certain response from many people. And, alas, much of that is true. It is a country that has had more than its share of troubles. But, like anywhere, it is also filled with beautiful people, beautiful scenery and beautiful stories. We…
If you're a history lover like we are, you search for "must see" locations, or even those that could be considered off-the-beaten trail. And, there are so many choices, that you will likely run out of breath or out of money before you even consider yourself "informed." This post highlights a beautiful, but haunted…
You're almost there. Immerse yourself in this in 360 ˚ Video exploring the caves of Vietnam’s verdant Ninh Binh Province, often referred to as the inland Halong Bay. Float down a calm river past rice paddies and through limestone caves. Click and drag to look around on your PC or mobile. Or don your…
We here at Matouring often long fondly for The Canary Islands. Just off the coast of Spain, the eight main islands are (from largest to smallest in area) Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro and La Graciosa. Certainly, they are a destination for almost anyone who loves the sea, rugged coastlines, quaint…
Thailand is so many things to so many people. Historically known as Siam and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning 513,120 square kilometres (198,120 sq mi), with a population of almost 70 million. The country is bordered to the…
Attention skiers. It has been reported that European alps are predicted to have the highest loss of mass in at least 60 years. Not good. So the Guardian has picked this week a feature on the sustainable ski resort of Laax, a greener, more environmentally-conscious alternative to other ski resorts. Ice melting…
Never ones to not think big, the Saudis have the will and the resources to think beyond. They ask "what if we could start again? THE LINE rethinks everything we know about how people live, work and play. A 170 km-long vertical city, designed around people, rather than cars. A revolution in urban living. A…
We love India, and the Indian people. We've worked and live alongside them for decades. We've visited their country and marveled at the variety there. Even now, half a world apart, one of India's great cities, Delhi, is not too far away. Restaurants, festivals and close friends keep the spirit of…
It's always a thrill when we hear that a new buried or hidden city or artifact has been found. With our modern technologies, these kinds of finds are occurring more and more regularly. Lucky us! Once such place is Midyat. Midyat is a town in the Mardin Province of Turkey. The…
It's likely that most of you would have heard of Lapland, but we probably would also imagine that you don't know much about it. It's not so much that it's a well-kept secret, but there are so many other destinations that might grab your attention. Lapland has been connected with the legendary "North…
We feature Europe here a lot because, well, we lived there for many years and we love it. But one thing that Europe excels in is the sheer variety and diversity that you can find in each country, city and person. One country that we feel is often overlooked is Slovenia. A…
Surely one of the most wonderful of things on the internet is being able to see what is going on in the big wide world. It's probably a tendency of all humans to gaze at our navels and never really push the boat out to find something different. That's why we love discovering…
It's always interesting to see which holiday destinations are on fire, or are merely simmering. There are so many to choose from, and some of them have - let's face it - large marketing budgets. But some desirable places are waiting for travelers, and still remain - almost - hidden secrets. Once such…
Mexico is a well-travelled and much-love destination for world-aware travelers. Above and beyond its gob-smacking food and its inexpensive cost of entry, it also shines because of its lovely inhabitants and all of the rich history that bathes the country. Like most places, it has its own issues to deal with, but that should…
Where three volcanoes smolder, the world’s most expensive coffee is made, and yoga has been practiced for more than 1,900 years… Of Indonesia's 17,000 tropical islands, Bali is one of the most famous. Its four million residents come accompanied with more than six million tourists per year as well as a large population of…