One by one, country by country, city by city, countries are finally recognizing that rail is not the future, it's now. We don't have to bang on and on like we do here at Matouring. We know that rail is (or should be) the king of travel for every country. So it's…
The past year or so has been a real roller coaster on our planet and for our planet's human beings. It's a minor miracle that most of us are in relatively good stead. So, with our pennies in hand and our confidence high, let's try to look ahead and not down. There…
Cairo is a city that fully earns its Arabic moniker, Umm al-Dunya (The Mother of the World). Visiting it at least once is essential because it offers an intense, unfiltered journey through millennia of human civilization. Very few places on Earth allow you to stand in the shadow of an ancient world wonder, walk down…
Train train, we're on the roll again. Can you ever get enough rail? Those of us who have ready access to rail know what we mean: we even take it for granted. But not everyone or every place has this staple way of traveling. And even if rail is there, it's…
With the world in an uproar and this moment in time, it's often a bit of a salve that we could benefit from. Once again, we bring to light our European travel and holiday partners Belvilla. We love them because they're not the everyday. They're also not everywhere, which makes them…
We're sure that most of Matouring's audience has spent some time in San Francisco. It's one of those places where nearly everyone wants to visit, stay, and linger longer. But what makes it special? San Francisco is a city that naturally embraces the unconventional. Its profound sense of warmth and inclusivity isn't…
We're pretty confident that this post will ring some bells or at least offer a laugh or two, and even some sound ideas. Question: what do you do when you consider yourself a world traveler, tried and true, with all of the scratches, burns and bump that it entails, but then, slowly and…
As one of the world's most revered and visited cities, Rome is many things. History of course, that's a natural. Food, wine, love and lust. While most travel guides will try to talk you out of driving in Rome entirely, there are moments when having a car makes absolute sense—especially if you…
So you think you know Spain, eh? We've been many, many times and it feels like we're only scratching the surface. So when Valldemossa popped up on our radar, we had to make a beeline to get there. Valldemossa is a breathtaking medieval village nestled high in the Serra de Tramuntana mountain…
We have been plying our wares here at Matouring for quite a while. Our love of travel is what prods and pushes us to not only plow on, but also to continually find always interesting and always engaging content for our readers. Travel (and the world itself) certainly provides enough subject matter to…
Lately, we have been starting off our posts remarking how fortunate we travelers are these days. Sure, getting around is so much more simple than it was even five years ago. And sometimes, back then, the results could be less than stellar. But, leap forward to now and you might think that you've…
It's been a while since we've featured Jamyang, the ever present and effervescent host of Tibet Vista on You tube. If there is one person who can gently, gently and gentlemanly host potential visitors to visit one of the most desirable and, at the same time, most inaccessible places on our planet -…
That's a tall order by any measure, even if you're a museum addict. Who even has time for that? But that's the point, silly. Da Vinci, dinosaurs and ‘a subversive adult Disneyland’ feature on Time Out’s guide to the world’s unmissable museums. And if you know Time Out, you'll leap to the…
Another rail post, I'm afraid, so if trains and other kinds of choo-choos turn you off, then kindly step away from the platform behind the yellow line. This post is kind of a layer cake as it were, as it features a bit of history, a bit of travel and a lot of fun.…
Hello again. Hope you're well. Today, we feature one of the signature experiences in Europe: Switzerland, and taking the Bernina Express. The Bernina Express is not just a train ride; it is a masterclass in slow travel and a dramatic journey of pure geographic contrast. Operating on a narrow-gauge track between Chur (Switzerland's oldest city)…
Once again, Matouring leaps forward into the past to bring you stuff that we think you history buffs love. This is all about French trains. Of course we love the TGV and the local trains, but how much attention do the latter receive? If you live nearby or are a short…
Nothing like making a splash when you show up. Bring the fam. Bring the chums and the pals. It's a big world, there's plenty of space for you. As ever, you can always trust G Adventures, in this case, Northern
Thailand: Hilltribes & Villages. Now's the time to explore northern…
. . . we're with you! Rail travelers who are in or pass through North America will certainly know the name Amtrak. It is North America's "everyday" rail service. Over the years, the company has been the brunt of a fair amount of derision. Trains were old, late, poorly maintained and…
Taking rail through Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of Europe's best-kept travel secrets. The route connecting Sarajevo and Mostar is frequently cited as one of the most beautiful and dramatic train journeys on the continent, cutting through rugged mountain canyons, emerald rivers, and extensive tunnel networks. The rail network within Bosnia is limited, but…
More-occo It's always a wonderful thing to travel, of course. Above and beyond the act of traveling itself is the sometimes ignored or misunderstood benefits. At its core, travel is a disruption of the expected. When we step out of our daily routines and familiar geography, we shake loose the…