With rainforests, beaches, ancient temples and wildlife, the hardest part of visiting Sri Lanka is deciding where to start, and whether to travel in the back of a tuktuk, or with your legs dangling out the side of a train. We’d strongly recommend both.

Nuray has been hosting cooking students with Intrepid Travel for eight years and her inclusion on our trip is no happy accident. Intrepid has been working for years to balance the gender disparity in Turkey, where women have fewer working opportunities than men.

It’s a year since I spent a day at Elephant Nature Park, yet the impact of those few hours is etched deep inside me. Here’s why.

For Intrepid CEO James Thornton, being open about our mistakes can make us not just better travellers, but better people too.

Here are nine money-saving hacks to get you to that dream destination – and get the most fun from your funds while you’re on the road.

Although the demand for elephant rides has declined in recent years, the practice is alive and well. The problem isn’t travellers; the responsibility is on the businesses profiting from it.

There used to be this widespread belief in the travel industry that riding elephants was OK. We were part of the problem. Thankfully, we were also part of the solution.

Travel mistakes can sometimes lead to spontaneous moments of exotic wonder. But mostly they just cost you money. Here’s how to avoid 12 of the most common ones.

Sri Lanka’s food is like a historical and cultural map of the island. You can sort of eat your way through the various waves of migration.

The Polar Plunge – leaping off a ship into the freezing waters below – has become an Antarctic rite of passage. This is what it looks like.

It’s lunchtime at the Sikh temple in Old Delhi and, although hundreds of people eat here each day, no rupees are required in exchange for the meal. The food is free and seen as much more than just fuel.

Friendly locals, fascinating Māori culture and out-of-this-world landscapes make New Zealand every bit as charming as anyone’s ever told you – probably even more so.