. . . . from around the world. 25 of them. And there are surely more. Let's get going! Watch the video below.
The world of transport is filled with systems that defy conventional engineering logic, often born out of geographical necessity or historical quirk. For a "Maturing" traveler looking for experiences that…
As Europe's rail giants scrapped their sleeper cars, one tiny country went all‑in. Austria's ÖBB has built the continent's largest night train network, carrying millions across borders while everyone else hit the brakes. Here's how Austria quietly conquered the night. So why is this important? Night trains evoke a sense of romantic isolation,…
Do you ever feel like you're suffocating, or are trapped in a place where you really don't want to be? The longing for quiet places is not just a modern "escape" from city life; it is a deep-seated biological and evolutionary drive. In 2026, as we grapple with the highest levels of "information noise" in…
Vietnam is currently in the middle of a massive, multi-decade transformation of its rail network. For a long time, the system was a charming but aging relic of the French colonial era; now, it’s being repositioned as the backbone of the country's economic future and a premier "slow travel" destination. As of April 2026,…
. . . . in Canada. For most people, that's an easy one. Vancouver is right up there, as Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, and Ottawa. But how about Edmonton? Likely, there are many who think they know Canada, but actually only scratch the surfaces with The Big Five. But what…
Get on the Ball. Do you ever wake up in the morning, roll over and ask yourself "why am I here?" No, it's not the existential question that we're posing here. Rather it's a literal calling, or a desire, or an urge that makes you snap to to To "get on the…
You might have seen recent posts, articles and videos about potential dangers with certain kinds of batteries on airliners. New regulations for carrying batteries, particularly lithium-ion, focus on preventing fire risks by mandating that most batteries and power banks be carried in carry-on luggage only. Key rules include strict prohibitions on damaged/recalled batteries, a requirement for…
TU TU: Nizhny Novgorod: Preface: we love everybody unless we're given a reason not to. With that, jump into what could be come your nest new favourite travel location: Russia. What Everyone Criticizes It For. For most of us, Russia is an enigma for much of the world. And, in…
. . you might as well do it in style.
If you've been lucky enough to visit Japan and Korea (we have) you'll make a little wink when you watch this video. There are some people in the world who are not prepared for unusual encounters in unusual places. We usually laugh and…
12 Items You Should Stop Bringing to the Airport in 2026. "I’m a Flight Attendant, and These Are the 12 Items You Should Stop Bringing to the Airport in 2026. Here are 12 things I always see smart travelers pack." Read more here, courtesy of Travel & Leisure. Click here (with some…
For almost as many years that we've been operating Matouring, we've relied on our affiliate partners, OMIO. With their depth and breadth of travel solutions, it's no wonder that so many other travel companies have partnered with them, or rely on their services, as well. If you know about OMIO, they mostly make…
Year by year, cities and countries get smarter by realizing that rail is the future, not the past. Some wake up sooner than others and taste the benefits. Others take a bit more time to arrive at the table. Europe and Asia, of course, have been on that train for decades. …
Watch more of this particular conundrum courtesy of the ever-interesting Jago Hazzard, above.
In the world of transit architecture, "over-designed" is a term often used by critics to describe spaces where the aesthetic ambition feels disproportionate to the simple act of catching a train. For the London Underground (the "Tube"), this phenomenon is usually a…
We've always been big fans of rail. From the time your editor heard trains echoing while I was young and being asked to go to sleep. The sound. The Rumble. I've also lived for many decades in England, where rail is expected, not a nice to have. With rail readily at…
Nowadays, most of us take such technology breakthroughs for granted. We learn, we admire and we continue with our day. It's always a good idea, though, to look back and see just how we've come. One such miracle is Europe's Eurostar. When it opened (Eurostar services officially began running on 14 November…
That's what my father would say when the kettle didn't boil for his tea. Were he with us today, he would be staring at the TV screen, thinking that he was in a dream. He was born in Wales, which was not the richest of countries in the 1940's. So, when we…
You will always hear us Extolling the idea of travel. If you want your world expanded and up close and personal, to use a hackneyed phrase, the best way to do it is to do it yourself. Skip the tours, the long flights and the endless queues at beauty stops. Click here.…
It's one of the most narcotic places that you ever may encounter. You visit, you visit again and again, but you can't stop. Yes, this is Venice that we're talking about. It may change, but ever so slightly. The crowds are still there, heaving, pushing and shoving, but you always find…
We've been running this website for quite a while: since 2018, as a matter of fact. Others come and go, but we try to keep our mantra now as it was when we first started. Matouring stands for mature touring, and we mean it. We're not "influencers or web celebrities: we're…
We love being able to run our little website here. Not only is it fun to do, but it also lightens up our day and our purview. For us, it seemed like only a few years ago when being able to zip from Tokyo to Minsk was merely a dream. You had…