Travel with Amateur Traveler Podcast
Since 2005, Amateur Traveler has been talking about different destinations every week. It covers destinations all over the world with an emphasis on culturally rich travel. Learn more about your world. Amateur Traveler won its creator, Chris Christensen, a Travel+Leisure award as the "best independent travel journalist" and entry into the "Podcast Hall of Fame."
Episodes
B#001 - Travel to Normandy and Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France: Bordeaux, Dordogne, Cognac
Hear about a trip to Normandy and Nouvelle-Aquitaine in France as Chris Christensen from Amateur Traveler recounts his journey through two fascinating regions during the inaugural France-USA Media Forum in 2026, organized by Atout France.
This bonus episode features two half-week itineraries rather than the usual one-week itinerary. Chris explored Normandy before traveling south to Bordeaux, the
AT#1017 - Travel to Southern Algeria
Andrew Brodsky of WanderWolf joins us to talk about traveling in southern Algeria, including Algiers, the Roman ruins at Tipasa, Djanet, and a multi-day trek through Tassili n’Ajjer National Park to the ancient rock art of Sifar.
Southern Algeria offers a very different Sahara experience from the classic image of endless sand dunes. Tassili n’Ajjer has dramatic sandstone formations, narrow canyon
AT#1016 - Travel to Mongolia
Hear about travel to Mongolia as the Amateur Traveler talks to returning guest Randy Rohrer about his trip to this vast, sparsely populated country for the Naadam Festival, the ancient Mongol capital of Karakorum, and the landscapes of the Gobi Desert.
Randy says Mongolia appeals to travelers looking for somewhere exotic and still relatively off the beaten path. It combines the history of Gengh
AT#1015 - Travel to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Hear about travel to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, as the Amateur Traveler talks to Chris Barley about his home region and a week-long itinerary that combines Lancaster City, Pennsylvania Dutch Country, historic small towns, local food, outdoor recreation, and some surprisingly diverse dining.
Chris grew up on a tobacco and dairy farm in western Lancaster County. Although he once wanted to le
AT#1014 - Travel to El Salvador
Hear about travel to El Salvador as the Amateur Traveler talks to Jayne Dear, author of Tales of a Traveller in Central America, about her journey through this small but surprisingly diverse Central American country.
Jayne describes El Salvador as a “hidden gem,” with dramatic volcanic scenery, forested highlands, coffee plantations, colorful towns, inexpensive transportation, friendly people,
AT#1013 - Travel to Salt Lake City and Northern Utah
In this episode of Amateur Traveler, Chris talks with Nathan Brennan from brennanfitnessacademy.com about a week-long summer road trip through Salt Lake City and Northern Utah, combining Utah history, mountain scenery, Olympic venues, hiking, lakes, small towns, and some distinctly Utah food.
Nathan lives between Salt Lake City and Provo and recommends a summer itinerary that begins and ends in S
AT#1012 - Travel to Detroit, Michigan
Hear about travel to Detroit, Michigan, as the Amateur Traveler talks to Cassandra Sugarman about her adopted hometown and a week-long itinerary that explores the city’s comeback, automotive heritage, music history, neighborhoods, museums, food, and nearby communities.
Cassandra describes Detroit as a city of revival. The rise of the automobile industry transformed Detroit into one of America’s g
AT#1011 - Travel to Madrid, Spain
Hear about travel to Madrid, Spain, as the Amateur Traveler talks to Felicity Hughes of TheMakingOfMadrid.com about how to spend about a week exploring her adopted hometown.
Felicity moved to Madrid in 2012, writes and podcasts about the city, and is currently the lead writer for Lonely Planet’s Madrid guides. She recommends giving Madrid more than the typical three-day visit. While you can see t
AT#1010 - Travel to Northern Portugal
Discover the lush landscapes, charming towns, Atlantic beaches, historic cities, vineyards, and national parks of Portugal's Minho region in this one-week itinerary with Sandra from Verdeful.
Why should you go to Minho?
Sandra says, "The reason why I would like to tell people more about this part of the world is because it's such a beautiful place with a lot of greenery. It's what makes Mi
AT#1009 - Travel to Virginia (Richmond, Williamsburg, Jamestown, Yorktown)
In this episode of the Amateur Traveler podcast, Chris talks with Virginia-based travel writer and television host Malorie Mackey about visiting Richmond and Virginia’s Historic Triangle.
Malorie recommends combining Richmond with Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown rather than treating them as separate trips. Together, they offer a mix of colonial history, Revolutionary War sites, Civil War hi
AT#1008 - Travel to Orléans, France
Travel to Orléans, France, with Riana from Teaspoon of Adventure as she shares a seven-day itinerary featuring Joan of Arc history, Loire River scenery, medieval towns, museums, local food, and some of the most impressive châteaux in the Loire Valley.
Orléans is about 75 miles southwest of Paris and approximately 90 minutes away by train. Its compact historic center, good train connections,
AT#1007 - Sailing on a Maine Windjammer, the Schooner Heritage
In this episode of Amateur Traveler, I recount a six-night sailing voyage aboard the Schooner Heritage, one of the vessels in the Maine Windjammer Association fleet.
The trip began and ended in Rockland, Maine, and covered roughly 116 miles through Penobscot Bay. Unlike a conventional cruise, there was no fixed daily itinerary. Each day’s route depended on the wind, tides, currents, weather forec
AT#1006 - Travel to Dominica
In this episode of Amateur Traveler, Sam Williams joins Chris to talk about the Caribbean island of Dominica, a destination he describes as “unspoiled Caribbean.” Unlike many Caribbean islands, where the main draw is the beach, Dominica is known for its rainforest, mountains, waterfalls, hot springs, snorkeling, whale watching, canyoning, and sea turtles.
Sam recommends spending about a week on t
AT#1005 - Zaragoza and Aragon, Spain
In this episode of Amateur Traveler, host Chris Christensen talks about his press trip through Aragon, Spain, joined by fellow travelers Kevin Revolinski and Cathy Bennett Kopf. Aragon sits in northeastern Spain, west of Catalonia, and stretches from Zaragoza north to the Pyrenees and the French border.
Why Visit Aragon?
Aragon offers Roman ruins, Mudéjar architecture, cathedrals, castles, abbey
AT#1004 - Cruising the Briare Canal in France with European Waterways
Hear about luxury barge cruising in France as Chris Christensen describes a week aboard the Renaissance, a European Waterways hotel barge traveling through Western Burgundy and the Upper Loire.
Chris and his wife previously cruised with European Waterways on the Canal du Midi. For this journey, they returned to France to explore the Briare Canal, one of the country’s oldest canals, aboard a vesse
AT#1003 - Travel to Fiji (Yasawa Islands, Taveuni, Ovalau, and Viti Levu)
Hear about travel to Fiji as the Amateur Traveler talks to Jonty Crane from jontytravels.com about this island nation where he lived this year.
Why should you visit Fiji?
Jonty says, "Fiji offers the classic South Pacific island experience, with excellent snorkeling and diving, attractive beaches, and welcoming people. It also has a well-established tourism industry, which accounts for approxima
AT#1002 - Travel to Paris, France
Hear about travel to Paris as the Amateur Traveler talks to Angela J. Reed of Parisienne Farmgirl about museums, cafés, neighborhoods, markets, gardens, and viewpoints in the City of Light.
This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel here.
Why should you go to Pari
AT#1001 - Travel to Western Crete, Greece
Hear about travel to Western Crete as the Amateur Traveler talks to Jonty Crane from jontytravels.com about his hiking adventure around the villages and in the mountains of the largest Greek island.
This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel here.
Why should you vis
AT#1000 - Travel to Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan
Hear about travel to Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan and the annual Amateur Traveler trip as host Chris Christensen and guest Bill Abbott talk about a tour to 2 of the 5 'Stans in Central Asia.
This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel here.
Why should you go to Uzbekist
AT#999 - Travel to Umbria in Italy
Hear about travel to Umbria in Italy as the Amateur Traveler talks to Katerina Ferrara, the author of the Ultimate Festival & Travel Guide Umbria.
This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel here.
Why should you go to Umbria?
Katerina says, "Travelers should include Umb
AT#998 - Travel to Delaware
Hear about travel to Delaware as the Amateur Traveler talks to Dannelle Gay from the Traveling Cheesehead about her recent visit to The First State.
This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel here.
Why should you go to Delaware?
Dannelle says, "If you are a foodie, if yo
AT#997 - Travel Jerez and Cádiz, Spain
Hear about travel to Jerez de la Frontera and the province of Cádiz in Spain as the Amateur Traveler talks about a recent press trip to the 2026 Culinary Capital of Spain.
This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel here.
This episode is based on a recent press trip to Cádiz
AT#996 - Travel to Santiago, Chile
Hear about travel to Santiago, Chile, as the Amateur Traveler talks to Kristin Henning from TravelPast50.com about this city that she called home for a time.
This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel here.
Why should you go to Santiago?
Kristin says, "You can get to the mou
AT#995 - Travel to Saxony, Germany
Hear about travel to Saxony as the Amateur Traveler talks about a recent press trip to Leipzig, Dresden, Meissen, and more in this southeast corner of Germany.
This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel here.
Recommended Saxony Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Leipzig
Start in Leip
AT994 - Travel to Las Vegas, Nevada
Hear about travel to Las Vegas, Nevada, as the Amateur Traveler talks to Meryl Pearlstein about this glamorous city in the desert that keeps drawing her back.
This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel here.
Why Go to Las Vegas if You Don’t Gamble?
Meryl makes the case that
AT#993 - Travel to West Africa (Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau)
Hear about travel to West Africa (Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau) as the Amateur Traveler talks to Jenna Fletcher from LifeKineticTravel.com about her quest to see baby sea turtles in Guinea-Bissau.
This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel here.
Why should you go to West Afri
AT#992 - Travel to the Alentejo Region of Portugal
Hear about travel to the Alentejo Region as the Amateur Traveler talks to travel blogger and adviser Julie Fox from JulieDawnFox.com about this overlooked but spectacular region of Portugal.
This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel here.
Why should you go to the Alentejo?
Julie sa
AT#991 - Travel to East Java, Indonesia
Hear about travel to East Java in Indonesia as the Amateur Traveler talks to Kiara Kolaczyk from Kultura Travel about this less-traveled region where she once lived.
This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel here.
Kiara’s recommended East Java itinerary starts with the better-known si
AT#990 - Travel to Southeastern China (Xiamen, Fujian, and Guangzhou)
Hear about travel to Southeastern China as the Amateur Traveler talks to Jonty Crane from JontyTravels.com about his first trip to China, to a less-visited region.
This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel here.
Why should you visit Southeastern China?
Jonty says, "China is a uni
AT#989 - Central America Road Trip
Hear about a road trip through Central America as the Amateur Traveler talks about traveling overland through Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala in search of volcanoes, tropical birds, colonial cities, crater lakes, Mayan ruins, and a few new countries added to his map.
This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with
AT#988 - Hidden Gems of London
Hear about visiting the hidden gems of London, England, as the Amateur Traveler talks to Jonty Crane from Jonty Travels about this city he once called home.
This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel here.
Why visit London?
London is one of the world's great cities, and it can easily fill a
AT#987 - Travel to Slovenia
Hear about travel to Slovenia as Chris talks with travel writer Sam Baldwin about an active, slightly off-the-beaten-path itinerary through one of Europe’s most underrated countries.
This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel here.
Sam has been visiting Slovenia since 2007, lived there for
AT#986 - Travel to Dublin, Ireland
Hear about travel to Dublin, Ireland, as the Amateur Traveler talks to tour guide Garvan Rushe from DublinTourGuide.ie about the capital and largest city of Ireland.
This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel here.
Why should you go to Dublin?
Garvan describes Dublin as approachable and human
AT#985 - Travel to Northern France
Hear about travel to Northern France (and a day in Flanders) as the Amateur Traveler talks to Craig Anderson about his trip into the historic towns and sites of the Pas-de-Calais region.
Why should you go to Northern France?
Craig describes an itinerary that includes the Hundred Years' War, the Napoleonic Wars, WWI, and WWII history, historic monasteries, gothic cathedrals, chalk cliffs, and
AT#984 - Travel to Puebla, Mexico
Hear about travel to Puebla, Mexico as the Amateur Traveler talks to Scott Thompson from Livit Immersion Center about his adopted home in this historic colonial city in central Mexico.
Why should you go to Puebla?
Scott says, "Puebla's kind of an outlier. It's the one big city that nobody's ever heard of. So there's not a lot of tourist industry. The international tourist industry, especially. T
AT#983 - Travel to Bern, Switzerland
Hear about travel to Bern, Switzerland, as the Amateur Traveler talks to Jack Baumann from Guidester and the Europe Travel 101 Podcast about a city he fell in love with early in his travels.
Why should you visit Bern?
Jack says, "I would say Bern epitomizes the blend mixture of natural beauty, culture, and history that Switzerland is known for. It's on the river Aare, it's surrounded by the Bern
AT#982 - Travel to Sardinia
Hear about travel to Sardinia as the Amateur Traveler talks to Shannon O'Brien from shannon-obrien.com about her visit to this island corner of Italy.
Why should you go to Sardinia?
Shannon says, "It's Italian, but it's a very different vibe as well from mainland Italy. There's insanely beautiful beaches. Some argue some of the most beautiful beaches of the world. The water is crystal blue; it l
MT#10 - Christmas Markets in Europe
Hear about travel to Christmas Markets in Europe as the Amateur Traveler talks to Justin Barnes of JustinAndCrystal.com about his visit to markets in 32 different cities across 12 countries.
Justin's Core Itinerary Philosophy
Visit 3–5 destinations total, ideally within 4 hours of each other by train.
Base yourself in larger cities and use day trips to nearby towns when possible.
Travel
AT#981 - Travel to the Zambezi Valley in Zimbabwe
Hear about travel to the Zambezi Valley in Zimbabwe as the Amateur Traveler talks to Rael Zieve from Keep Travelling Africa about one of his favorite African itineraries.
Why should you visit the Zambezi Valley?
Rael says, "Just the landscapes are quite amazing. I think you should go because the landscapes change. There are still people who live very humbly along the river banks, living out
AT#980 - Travel to Tunis, Tunisia
Hear about travel to Tunis, Tunisia, as the Amateur Traveler talks to Jeff Ohlfs about his recent visit to this arid Arab country in North Africa.
Why should you go to Tunis?
Jeff says, "I don't think a lot of people think too much about traveling to Tunisia. It's an incredible country, friendly people. It's an Arab country. And all that goes with it, and it's reasonably inexpensive, and it's ju
AT#979 - Travel to the Parks of Utah
Hear about travel to lesser-known parks in Utah, Arizona, and Nevada as the Amateur Traveler talks to Justin Barnes from justinandcrystal.com about their recent road trip through the American Southwest.
Justin said, "When I got back, I realized that in addition to all the photos we had from the national parks, which obviously are well covered, including, I think it was episode 503, I actually had
AT#978 - Travel to Skardu, Pakistan
Hear about travel to the remote region of Skardu, Pakistan, as the Amateur Traveler talks to James Schomburgk about his recent visit to this beautiful mountain region.
Why should you go to Skardu?
James says, "It is really a step back into time. You're getting exposed to Stan culture, which is quite unique, very different from Southern Pakistan. There's a lot of crossover to the Ladakhi people i
AT#977 - Travel to Southeastern Turkey
Hear about travel to Southeastern Turkey as the Amateur Traveler talks to Mark Michael from rambleswithmark.com about this region that is the home to people in the Bible like Paul and Abraham, ancient monasteries, and some of the oldest known megaliths.
Connection to Region
Read William Dalrymple’s From the Holy Mountain in college, a journey through the region retracing the steps of John Mos
AT#976 - Travel to Libya
In this episode of Amateur Traveler, host Chris Christensen talks with AJ Ajay, a Libyan-born travel professional and founder of Intu Libya, about traveling to one of North Africa’s least-visited and most misunderstood destinations: Libya. From spectacular Roman ruins to Saharan oases, ancient Amazigh towns, and the vibrant streets of Tripoli, AJ explains why Libya rewards travelers who are curiou
AT#975 - Travel to Delhi, India
In this episode of the Amateur Traveler, host Chris Christensen welcomes back Jonty Crane of Jonty Travels and The Tramping Life podcast to share practical advice and favorite sights from his many visits to India’s capital, Delhi.
This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel here.
Delhi is
AT#974 - Cruising Patagonia with Australis
In this solo episode of Amateur Traveler, Chris shares an in-depth look at an eight-night adventure cruise through the fjords, glaciers, capes, and wildlife of southern Patagonia aboard Ventus Australis. The route combines two four-night segments, sailing from Punta Arenas, Chile to Ushuaia, Argentina, and back again, providing double the opportunities to explore remote landscapes reached only by
AT#973 - Travel to Northern Taiwan
In this episode of Amateur Traveler, Chris talks with returning guest and friend of the show Lee Moore, author of "China's Backstory: The History Beijing Doesn't Want You to Read" and co-host of the Chinese Literature Podcast. Lee returns to share his love for Northern Taiwan, a place he first lived in more than a decade ago while studying Chinese literature in Taipei, and a region he revisited in
AT#972 - Travel to Central Vietnam
In this episode of Amateur Traveler, Chris talks with travel writer and guidebook author Joshua Zukas about planning an immersive trip through Central Vietnam, a region filled with imperial history, dramatic caves, ancient cultures, beaches, wildlife, and some of the country’s most distinctive cuisine.
Joshua has lived in Vietnam for nearly 20 years, first in Huế and now in Hanoi, and has authore
AT#971 - Yangtze River Cruise in China
In this solo episode of Amateur Traveler, Chris takes you along on a Yangtze River cruise from Yichang to Chongqing, an upstream journey through China’s legendary Three Gorges.
Along the way, you’ll hear about naked trackers of old, a poet whose death inspired a festival celebrated across China, engineering marvels, hanging coffins, misty karst cliffs, and the modern rhythms of cruise life on the
AT#970 - Walking the Thames Path Trail in England
Hear about travel to the south of England as the Amateur Traveler talks to Heather Cowper from HeatherOnHerTravels.com about hiking the Thames Path National Trail.
This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel here.
Why should you walk the Thames Path National Trail?
Heather says, "There are
AT#969 - Travel to the Federated States of Micronesia
Hear about travel to Kosrae and Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia as the Amateur Traveler talks to Lexie Brown from @lexienicolebrown on Instagram about her explorations of this remote island country.
This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel here.
Why should you go to the Feder
AT#968 - Travel to Bhutan
Hear about travel to Bhutan as the Amateur Traveler talks to Dorji Dhratyul, the former head of Tourism for the Kingdom of Bhutan.
This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel here.
Why should you go to Bhutan?
Doji says, "I think when you're talking about globally in terms of tourism, we ar
AT#967 - Travel to Kansas
Hear about travel to Kansas as the Amateur Traveler discusses a recent trip to Wichita, Kansas, for a conference and a post-conference Old West themed press trip.
This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel here.
Why should you go to Kansas?
Chris says, "This is a state that surprised me. I
AT#966 - Driving the North Shore of Lake Superior
Hear about a road trip across the North Shore of Lake Superior as the Amateur Traveler talks to David Adler about an area that he fell in love with through a summer camp.
This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel here.
Why should you drive this road trip?
David says, "I think what makes it
AT#965 - Travel to Cairo, Egypt
Hear about travel to Cairo, Egypt, as the Amateur Traveler talks to Neil Laird, TV producer and the author of the Prime Time Travelers Series, about his favorite city.
This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel here.
Why should you go to Cairo?
Neil says, "I've traveled to some 70 countries a
AT#964 - Lake Constance Bike Trip (Germany, Austria, Switzerland)
Hear about traveling to Lake Constance (Bodensee) in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland as the Amateur Traveler discusses a biking trip around the lake to explore its historic, cultural, and natural sites.
The Lake Constance International Tourism Board sponsored this trip.
This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWalle
AT#963 - Travel to Marseille and Provence
Hear about travel to Marseille and Provence in France as the Amateur Traveler talks again to Audra Morris of The Nerd Traveler about her visit to France's second-largest city.
This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel here.
Why should someone travel to Marseille and Provence?
Audra says, "M
AT#962 - Travel to the Northern South Island of New Zealand
Hear about travel to the top half of New Zealand's South Island as the Amateur Traveler talks to Jonty Crane from Jonty Travels about his adopted country.
This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel here.
Why should you visit the top half of New Zealand's South Island?
Jonty says that this a
AT#961 - Adventure Travel in the Solomon Islands
Hear about travel to Solomon Islands as the Amateur Traveler talks to Chris Shorrock from Travel Obscure about his adventurous trip in these remote Pacific islands.
This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel here.
Why should you go to the Solomon Islands?
Chris says, "There's lots of reas
AT#960 - Budget Travel to the Galapagos Islands
Hear about travel to the Galapagos Islands as the Amateur Traveler talks to Michael from Rochester about doing this bucket list trip as a budget traveler.
This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel here.
Why should you go to the Galapagos?
Michael says, "It is a world location that should not
MT#9 - Night Trains in Europe
In this episode of the Amateur Traveler podcast, host Chris Christensen talks with Bart from Trip Tailor, a travel agent and former train steward who has been working with European rail for decades. Bart shares his deep knowledge of night trains in Europe, from their practical benefits to the romance of waking up in a new city.
This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel
AT#959 - Road Trip in Oman
Hear about a road trip in Oman as the Amateur Traveler talks to Max Walton from Sloths with Latitude about the country he thinks is the best in the world.
This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel here.
In this episode of the Amateur Traveler podcast, we explore a two-week road trip through O
AT#958 - Travel to Turkmenistan
Hear about travel to Turkmenistan as the Amateur Traveler talks to Abdylla Geldiyev, Managing Director of Undiscovered Frontiers, about an itinerary for one week in this seldom-visited country in Central Asia.
Turkmenistan remains one of the least explored destinations in the world. From Ashgabat, a city of Guinness World Records and futuristic white marble architecture, to ancient Silk Road cit
AT#957 - Cruising the Peruvian Amazon with G Adventures
In this episode of the Amateur Traveler podcast, host Chris Christensen recounts his immersive experience cruising the Peruvian Amazon on a nine-day "Amazon Riverboat Adventure in Depth" with G Adventures. This small-group journey, involving ~24 travelers, offers a deep dive into the culture, biodiversity, and challenges of life in the Amazon Basin.
The trip began in Lima, Peru, and then took the
AT#956 - Travel to Andorra
Hear about travel to the tiny country of Andorra as the Amateur Traveler talks to musician Eli Lev about this small country in the Pyrenees Mountains, where he lived for three years.
Why should you go to Andorra?
Eli says, "I just fell in love with the country. First of all, it's in the middle of these magnificent mountains of the Pyrenees, so that means in winter you've got skiing, snowboarding
AT#955 - Travel the Silk Road in Gansu, China
Hear about travel to the Silk Road as the Amateur Traveler talks about his recent trip to the Gansu province of China, Buddhist Grottos, stunning landscapes, barren deserts, and the original Great Wall of China.
More than 2,000 years ago, Emperor Wu of the Han dynasty sent his prodigy general Huo Qubing to seize the Hexi Corridor from the Xiongnu nomads, founding four fortified outposts—Wuwei, Zh
AT#954 - Travel to China (Beijing and Gannan)
Hear about travel to Beijing, China, and the Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (Gansu) as the Amateur Traveler discusses the first half of a recent press trip to China, sponsored by the Chinese Tourism Board.
Seven days let you pair Beijing’s imperial centers and Great Wall with the yak‑grazed valleys, monasteries, and soaring limestone of Gannan—history and highlands in a single, unforgettabl
AT#953 - Travel to Suriname
Hear about travel to Suriname as the Amateur Traveler talks to Mike Power from SmallOfTheRoad.blogspot.com about his recent trip to this South American country.
Why should you go to Suriname?
Mike says, "It's an undiscovered little gem. I'm just surprised it's not more popular. The number one draw there would be nature and ecotourism. There's a ton to see. As much as 95% of the country is covere
AT#833 - Travel to the Peloponnese, Greece (Repeat)
Hear about sailing in the Saronic Islands and the Peloponnese as the Amateur Traveler talks about his recent yacht charter with Navigare Yachting.
My wife and I had wanted to gather a few friends and do a small boat sailing trip in the Greek Islands for more than a decade. This dream reached fruition when Navigare Yachting offered to provide the use of a boat in exchange for talking about t
AT#952 - Travel to Samoa
Hear about travel to the island nation of Samoa as the Amateur Traveler talks to Jonty Crane from Jonty Travels about his recent trip biking around the country.
Why should you go to Samoa?
Jonty says, "Samoa is a small island in the Pacific. If you imagine a tropical Pacific paradise, then something like Samoa would probably spring to mind in terms of palm trees along a beautiful sandy beach wit
AT#951 - Travel to Northern Iceland
Hear about travel to Northern Iceland as the Amateur Traveler talks to Monika from PlanPackExplore.com about her recent trip through the center of Iceland to the less-visited northern part of the country.
Why should you visit Northern Iceland?
Monika says, "I'm a self-proclaimed Iceland lover. I went there for the first time in 2022, by accident, which is a long story, but we ended up in Iceland
AT#950 - Rafting the Grand Canyon with Western River Expeditions
Hear about rafting the Grand Canyon for seven days as the Amateur Traveler talks about this bucket list trip sponsored by Western River Expeditions.
In this solo (but not really solo) episode of Amateur Traveler, host Chris Christensen recounts a seven-day rafting adventure down the Grand Canyon with Western River Expeditions — a journey filled with whitewater rapids, red rock cliffs, side canyon
AT#949 - Travel to the French Riviera
Hear about travel to the French Riviera as the Amateur Traveler talks to travel writer and children's book author Kimberley Lovato about this region where she has had a pied-à-terre for years.
Why should you go to the French Riviera?
Kimberley says, "Certainly for people who love great hotels and Michelin star food and gorgeous scenery, you know what's not to love? We have the Cannes Film Festiv
AT#948 - Espírito Santo, Brazil
Hear about travel to Espírito Santo, Brazil, as the Amateur Traveler talks to Fuse from Fuse Travels about her family's homeland.
Why should you travel to Espírito Santo?
Fuse says, "It is way more affordable than Rio, just as pretty, as far as beaches. It is underrated. So you're not gonna go sightseeing and have a swarm of tourists. You really get a feel of local culture. There's some amazing
AT#947 - Travel to Brunei and Sabah on Borneo
Hear about travel to Brunei and Sabah on the island of Borneo as the Amateur Traveler talks to Max Walton about his recent trip to these contrasting locations.
Why should you go to Brunei and Sabah?
Max says, "It's one of the least visited regions in the area. I think in 2023, only 133,000 people visited. It's not many at all. This also offers a different side of Southeast Asia. I know a lot of
AT#946 - Travel to Abitibi-Témiscamingue in Quebec
Hear about travel to the region of Abitibi-Témiscamingue in Quebec as the Amateur Traveler talks to Jennifer Doré Dallas from Chasing Poutine about this out of the way road trip.
Why should you go to Abitibi-Témiscamingue?
Jennifer says, "Most people don't really know about it outside of Quebec. But in our province, it's really well known, especially for nature. It's a true paradise for nature
AT#945 - Travel to Victoria, British Columbia
Hear about travel to Victoria, British Columbia, as Chris Christensen from Amateur Traveler talks about his recent visit to the capital of British Columbia.
Join Chris Christensen as he returns to one of the first cities he ever visited outside the U.S.—Victoria, British Columbia. In this solo episode, Chris recounts a week-long press trip to Vancouver Island's picturesque capital. From kayaking
MT8 - New Zealand Great Walks
Hear about New Zealand Great Walks as the Amateur Traveler talks to Jonty Crane from jontynz.com about these amazing multi-day treks in his home country.
Picture snow-capped mountains, volcanic landscapes, brilliant blue alpine lakes, epic coastal scenery, unusual native birds, wilderness as far as the eye can see, golden sand beaches, historic sites, lush moss-filled bush, and huge waterfalls.
AT#944 - Exploring the Kunisaki Peninsula with Walk Japan
In this solo episode of Amateur Traveler, I share the story of my recent walking trip through the Kunisaki Peninsula and Yufuin in Kyushu, Japan, with Walk Japan. This immersive journey took me past massive stone Buddhas, forest trails, rural villages, sacred shrines, and into steamy onsens — all while uncovering centuries of Japanese history and culture.
Temples, Shrines, Onsens, and the Trails
AT#943 - Travel to Auckland, New Zealand
Hear about travel to Auckland, New Zealand, as the Amateur Traveler talks to Jonty Crane from Jonty Travels about a city that he called home for a decade.
Why should you go to Auckland?
Jonty says, "Many people go to New Zealand, but spend almost no time in Auckland. It's a bit like a little sister or brother to Sydney in Australia, but with some unique New Zealand characteristics. There are ove
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