Step off the beaten path and into a window of trekking rugged trails, wandering through hidden corners of the globe, or capturing fleeting moments through the lens. Here, travel, hiking, and photography come together to offering inspiration, practical tips, and vivid imagery or just to travel vicariously.
Mongolia - To The Far North
From Arkhangai to the Siberian edge of Khövsgöl, this leg of the journey is all bouncing vans, backcountry handovers, and Naadam horse races in the middle of nowhere. Nights are spent in nomadic gers and forest cabins, fuelled by fermented horse milk vodka and Mongolian hospitality. As the landscape shifts to alpine passes and mossy taiga, the road fades—but the adventure deepens.
July 2016
Mongolia - Canyons, Volcanoes and Hot Springs
From misty mornings at White Lake to steamy soaks in Tsenkher Hot Springs, this leg of the journey winds through lava-scarred volcanoes, dramatic canyons, and pine-covered ridges. Between volcanic hikes, fly-swatting shrine visits, and near-boiling baths under the stars, Mongolia serves up wild beauty with a side of incredible landscapes and blissful stillness.
July 2016
Mongolia - The Great White Lake
Rain-soaked roads and flooded rivers reroute plans, but the journey through Tsetserleg and over rutted mountain passes leads to the shimmering expanse of Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur. As clouds break and light dances across the lake, local kids turn a rocky peak into a stage of laughter and song—Mongolia’s magic, even in the mud.
July 2016
Mongolia - Ancient Kharkhorin
Mud-slicked roads and swollen rivers reroute plans, landing instead at Erdene Zuu—Mongolia’s oldest surviving monastery near the ruins of ancient Karakorum. Amid relics hidden from Stalinist purges and playful young monks, history lingers in the rain-soaked twilight before the journey continues westward toward hot springs and volcanoes.
July 2016
Mongolia - Horses, Waterfalls and the World's Smallest Rabbit
A misty morning in Orkhon Khürkhree gives way to a spirited horse trek across lava-scarred valleys toward Mongolia’s largest waterfall. Between saddle bruises, dramatic scenery, and close encounters with pika and thunderclouds, the day ends in twilight hikes and goat-chasing laughter—pure, unpredictable Mongolian life.
July 2016
Mongolia - A Bumpy Ride
Westward into Övörkhangai province, the sealed road ends and the adventure begins—muddy tracks, bouncing vans, and surreal landscapes. From Khurjit’s painted rooftops to Orkhon Khürkhree’s wild river valley, the journey blends natural beauty with sobering history and nomadic hospitality. Sunset over ancient lava fields and a yak-milking attempt round out a day of contrasts and unforgettable moments.
July 2016
Mongolia - On the Edge of the Gobi
In Mongol Els, where green pastures meet the northern edge of the Gobi, life unfolds under vast skies and slow-moving sunrises. Staying with a nomadic family in a ger, the days are filled with grazing herds, camel treks, twilight sheep-wrangling, and laughter echoing across the dunes. It’s a place where simplicity breeds joy, and the timeless rhythm of the land invites reflection on what really matters.
July 2016
Mongolia - Wild Horses of Khustain
In Khustain National Park, Mongolia’s last true wild horses—takhi—graze the high steppe under vast skies. Once extinct in the wild, they’ve been reintroduced from zoo populations and now roam freely in herds. A hike through marmot-filled hills and sweeping valleys leads to a quiet moment among wildflowers, watching the wild horses with foals graze in the fading light.
July 2016
China to Mongolia on the Trans-Siberian
With the first leg of my Chinese adventure behind me, I board the Trans Siberian railway bound for Mongolia. The ride offers endless vistas of wild empty steppe, past nomadic yurts and wild ibex to arrive at the capital, Ulan Bataar. A lot has changed since my communist-era visit 24 years ago. I soak in the atmosphere of the country's largest Buddhist monastery, sample the street food and get myself ready for my Mongolian adventures beyond the city.
July 2016
China - The Other Summer Palace and Out to the Sea
Chengde, once the Qing emperors’ summer escape, offers sprawling palaces, forested hills, and Tibetan-style temples—far from Beijing’s heat and hustle. The journey ends at the Great Wall’s eastern edge, where tourist chaos, rebuilt ramparts, and a shipyard backdrop resonate sharply with its industrial western terminus. A fitting, if surreal, full-circle moment.
July 2016
China - A Walk Along the Great Wall
Opting for solitude over tourist circus, this trek from Jinshanling to Gubeikou reveals the Great Wall’s quieter soul—starting with restored battlements and winding west into crumbling watchtowers, overgrown ridgelines, and forgotten valleys. With no crowds in sight, the hike offers haunting views, unexpected detours past military zones, and a glimpse into the wall’s layered history. It ends, fittingly, in someone’s backyard—proof that the Great Wall doesn’t just fade into legend, it fades into everyday life.
June 2016
China - A Week in Beijing
Back in Beijing after 24 years, the city surprises with its revamped historic sites and maze-like Hutong alleys. Between visa errands and tourist traps, there’s incense-filled temples, sprawling palaces, rooftop beers and leafy parks—plus just enough time to recharge before heading north to Mongolia.
June 2016
China - Silk Road 12 - Kashgar Animal Market
Kashgar’s Sunday livestock market draws farmers and buyers of different ethnic groups from all over the region in a great show of noise, dust and smells. It’s a bustling, boisterous affair with animals, vehicles and people pushing past each other with a constant din of haggling, herding and general gossip.
June 2016
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