The UK's most popular outdoor travel blog
Finland is the happiest country in the world for the eighth consecutive year. We take a look at the latest World Happiness Report
Happiness is a nebulous thing; hard to grasp and harder to hold onto. Scientists, economists and philosophers have defined it through the ages as a combination of different things, among them health, wealth, companionship and security.
From avoiding stomach bugs to securing your valuables, these essentials for safe travel will stop you running into trouble
Having five sisters as I do is lovely. On your travels, you get lots of messages checking on your whereabouts and well-being. And then you get some more messages. And then you get some more.
A curated list of the best power banks for camping, from small devices for day hikes to multi-plug charging stations for large groups
Let’s face it: even if you’re a hardcore survivalist, a compass and map simply doesn’t cut it anymore. Whether it’s tracking your route with a hiking app, triangulating your position using a GPS device or reading by headtorch while waiting out a downpour, adventurers these days rarely leave home without at least one electronic device.
We share the best hiking apps to download this year, from navigation and route planning to first aid and stargazing
Occasionally, when Kia and I are driving somewhere remote – the Kalahari in Namibia, say, or the Australian Outback – she will remark on the fact that travellers used to do this with only paper maps. Unlike me, Kia grew up in inner city London and had little opportunity to venture into the outdoors. As such, she never learnt how to use a compass and map or how to build a campfire, or any number of the skills a frequent hiker should have.
Our resident mountaineer and would-be seven summiteer crunches the numbers on how much it will cost to climb the seven summits
How much does it cost to climb the seven summits? About $210,000 give or take $10k.
Climbers could significantly reduce costs by foregoing luxuries, cutting corners and taking (even more) risks to get that figure below $100,000, but I do not recommend this and certainly won’t be taking such unnecessary risks.
A guide to hiking Ella Rock by yourself, including detailed directions, a downloadable route map, a video and the latest essential tips
Ella in Sri Lanka is beautiful, they said. ‘The closest thing to an English country village’ and the perfect place to slow down, we’d read.
From Alaska to Florida and further beyond, we share the US national parks you can visit for free
Some countries are better than others when it comes to access to the outdoors. Iceland, New Zealand and Finland have some of the cleanest air in the world while Chile, Norway and Nepal offer excellent hiking. Britain, meanwhile, is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world.
If your boots start to rub or slip, here are three alternative ways to lace hiking boots to relieve discomfort
Back in 2014, during our first major trip, we set out on a day hike up Mount Matavanu Crater in Samoa. Kia was in a new pair of hiking boots which she hadn’t had time to properly break in. Predictably, during the descent, her boots began to rub and cause her pain.
Much of what we know about hiking in lightning is myth. Here, we share the actual methods that will keep you safe in a storm
There are certain safety rules that we all learn in childhood. Never talk to strangers. Get low in a fire. Stand under a tree in lightning. In adulthood, few of us think to question these rules. In most cases, that’s perfectly fine, but when it comes to hiking in lightning, we’re long overdue for a rethink.
A curated list of the best coffee makers for camping, from an ultralight drip system for backpacking to a fancy coffee press for glamping
Back in the day, I used to go trekking with a sandwich bag of instant coffee in my backpack. Those were dark days. Fortunately, times have changed and I now kickstart mornings on the trail with a proper cup of coffee without having to endure (too much) excess weight in my backpack.
In 2025, Singapore tops the list of the world’s most powerful passports. We take a look at the other winners, losers and non-movers
I was feeling cocky as I queued up for my Chinese visa. I had checked and rechecked the requirements and had all my documents to hand: my passport, a photocopy of my passport, a spare photo just in case, the form that had taken me an hour to fill in online, my flight details, and my tour and hotel confirmation. I had also signed and dated the form – in both places – unlike all the (clearly inferior!) applicants in front of me.
We take a look at the US national parks that require a reservation in 2025 along with when and how to secure your visit
Yellowstone National Park is a slice of quintessential America. A place where wild animals – bison, bears, elk and wolves – roam among wilder beauty and where hot springs and geysers evoke a primeval era. In some ways, Yellowstone is a slice of lost America; a stark contrast to the skyscrapers and spaghetti junctions that populate US cities.
We profile some usual suspects plus one or two surprises in the top 12 most visited countries in the world
Have you dreamed of a romantic kiss atop the Eiffel Tower? Perhaps you’ve thrown a wish into the Trevi Fountain or stopped and stared at the Sistine Chapel. If so, you’re certainly not alone.
Soaring mountains, plunging canyons, giant pandas and just a single time zone – we share the most interesting facts about China
I visited China nearly 20 years ago and found a country on the march. China may be one of the world’s most ancient civilisations with a continuous culture stretching back thousands of years, but today’s relatively modern nation – the People’s Republic of China – was founded in 1949 and is more like several different countries rolled into one.
We take a look at the latest controversy surrounding Denali’s name and why it has inspired so much debate over the years
The high point of my year was (literally) my summit of Denali, the highest peak in North America. It was my fourth mountain of the seven summits – arguably my fifth if you count Kosciuszko – leaving me Vinson in Antarctica and Everest in Asia. I said at the time that whether or not I climb any more of the seven is almost irrelevant. I will always have Denali, my ‘tall one’.
We share the best eSIM for China, tried and tested by us from Beijing to Shanghai
I almost changed my mind about going to China. It had been on my bucket list for a long time, but nothing was easy in the lead-up to my trip. As a Brit, I have one of the most powerful passports in the world and can visit a whopping 190 countries visa-free or with a visa on arrival. Alas, China is not one of them. The visa process was convoluted and involved piles of paperwork and two physical trips to the visa office.
Kia’s solo trip to China fulfilled a long-held dream but also had a deeper significance
In the week before Christmas, I hosted a family gathering at my house. At some point in the afternoon, my 31-year-old nephew arrived with his baby daughter. To everyone’s shock, he had brought her alone without the supervision of his wife.
The most dangerous countries in the world to visit in 2025 have been updated in the latest Travel Risk Map
The most dangerous countries to visit in 2025 are Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine and Yemen according to the latest Travel Risk Map, an interactive tool produced by security specialists at International SOS.
The safest countries in the world have been updated for 2025. Read our insights from the study and browse the rankings
Iceland is the safest country in the world followed by Ireland, Austria, New Zealand and Singapore.
However, the world is not as safe as a year ago as the average level of global peacefulness has deteriorated for the 12th time in 16 years. Ninety-seven countries recorded a decline in peacefulness while 65 registered an improvement according to the latest Global Peace Index (GPI).
From Jaipur’s magical pink palace to the summit of North America, we share our top Instagram posts of 2024
It’s been another busy year at Atlas & Boots. In May, I reached the summit of Denali, one of the coldest and harshest peaks on the planet, bringing me a step closer to my dream of climbing the seven summits.
