Open Water fictionalises a real-life nightmare

10 true-life outdoor survival movies

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Outdoor survival movies evoke a special kind of horror, especially when based on true-life stories. Here, we share the best of the genre

It is said that humans can survive three minutes without air, three days without water and three weeks without food. On occasion, however, humans perform extraordinary feats of survival that far surpass these limits. Usually, they are athletes used to courting danger, but sometimes they are laymen caught in a nightmare they couldn’t predict. Below, we share 10 extraordinary outdoor survival movies based on true-life stories. 

A woman walks through a leafy park

How just 15 minutes in nature can boost your well-being

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Just 15 minutes in nature a day can boost your well-being by increasing your mood, concentration and physical health

The average UK person spends just 7% of their time (or 86 minutes) outdoors during the work week. This is shocking to hear, but with our busy schedules, it’s no wonder many of us can only find a few minutes each day to get outside.

Animal Cruelty Index: which country ranks the worst?

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As the world wakes up to the realities of industrial farming, one animal cruelty index calls out the worst offenders

The journalist and podcaster Ezra Klein once described going vegan as like waking up from the Matrix. Once you are attuned to animal cruelty, you see it everywhere and cannot fathom how humans not just tolerate but endorse a system that subjugates so many. 

India couple smiling at the camera – happiest countries in the world 2024

Ranked: happiest countries in the world 2025

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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.

10 essentials for safe travel

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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.

phone charging off a power bank in front of a tent

The best power banks for camping and hiking

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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 don’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.

15 best hiking apps to download in 2025

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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.

How much does it cost to climb the seven summits?

How much does it cost to climb the seven summits? (Updated for 2025)

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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 tent won't protect you from lightning

Hiking in lightning: myth versus method

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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 man pours coffee into an enamel mug held by a woman

The best coffee makers for camping

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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.

Ranked: world’s most powerful passports 2025

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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. 

10 US national parks that require a reservation in 2025

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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. 

The Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey

12 most visited countries in the world 2025

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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.

A statue outside the forbidden city in Beijing, China

28 interesting facts about China

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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.

Caribou on a slope in front of Denali

10,000 years a mountain: why Denali should keep its name

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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’.

Stay connected with the best eSIM in China

What is the best eSIM for China in 2025?

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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 on her solo trip to China

What I hoped to show my nieces with my solo trip to China

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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. 

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