The first half of my Palawan adventure had elicited mixed results, but I left Puerto Princesa finally feeling like I’d turned a corner, thanks in no small part to the sociable atmosphere at 100% Café Moto. After over two weeks of off-the-beaten-path travelling, it had been reassuring to meet other travellers and reacquaint myself with the rhythms of conversation – luckily this was a trend that was set to continue in El Nido.

Most travellers opt to fly into Palawan, either directly to the main city of Puerto Princesa, to beautiful El Nido or even to Coron where you can book an onwards island-hopping tour to make your way to the main island in style. Ever the fan of slow travel, I decided to arrive via the lesser-known ferry, which departs from Manila once every 10 days to make the 26-hour journey. As a start to my Palawan adventure, things could only get better.

As I unfold myself from the bus seat I’ve spent the last 12 hours crammed into and cajole my legs down the high street one step at a time, I’m struck by just how quiet Sagada is. Quieter than the grave, in fact, which is somewhat fitting for a village that is home to one of the world’s most uniquely fascinating ‘burial’ practices.

Sagada might just be the last vestige of the South East Asia backpacking scene. This quiet little village is known for its stunning limestone caves, fruit desserts and, of course, its famous hanging coffins.

Find out what we got up to with just 48 hours in Qatar as we challenged ourselves to see as much as Doha as possible.

Planning to visit Doha on a budget? Read our blog post for tips on affordable transport, food and activities in Qatar.

It was with some trepidation that we pulled away from the car hire kiosk at Marrakech airport in our shiny new Kia. We’d done our research and, in doing so, had read countless reports of travellers falling victim to Morocco’s corrupt traffic enforcement officials. One YouTuber recounted being pulled over three times on the same stretch of road and ‘fined’ for what were seemingly imagined traffic offenses. And so, pockets stuffed full of notes to pay off any apparent traffic violations, we set off.

Beneath me is 110 metres of stale air and I find myself wondering when the last time the steel cable I’m suspended from was serviced. Around my neck is a metal tag that reads simply ‘136’. If it doesn’t return to the surface to be filed neatly between 135 and 137, a rescue team will be dispatched to retrieve me.

Step off the bus in any coastal town in the Algarve and within minutes you’ll encounter countless companies selling adventure speedboat tours of the coastline. That’s not our idea of adventure though, so here are some active ways to explore this beautiful coast.

So you’ve spent the past five days on your project. The skin on your fingers is wearing thin, your knees are bashed, your body aches and you just can’t pull as hard as you should be able to; you hate to admit it, but you think you might need a rest day.

Whether you’re considering your first unsupported climbing trip to El Chorro, planning to try sport climbing for the first time, or you just want to chill out and enjoy some easy routes, this guide should help you get started.

Planning a climbing trip to El Chorro in 2023? Here’s everything you need to know, including how to get there, getting around, where to stay, and where to eat.