National Geographic Traveller (UK)

Each issue is packed with authentic travel experiences and vivid photography, plus insights and tips to inspire would-be explorers to travel widely, ethically and safely. We are passionate about experiencing the world, championing sustainable travel and celebrating journeys from a local or cultural perspective.

Contributors

National Geographic Traveller

Editor’s letter

PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION 2021 • Among the most coveted travel photography prizes in the country, and now in its 10th year, the National Geographic Traveller Photography Competition 2021, sponsored by Nikon, is open for entries. Submit your images in up to six categories to be in the running for incredible prizes and for the chance to see your work in the pages of National Geographic Traveller (UK). Have you got what it takes to win?

SNAPSHOT • Dëshantelly, Curaçao Dëshantelly, a carnival performer, flaunts a uniform of brilliant colours and giant pencils at Curaçao’s annual carnival parade. In February 2020, I spent a month on the Dutch Caribbean island, documenting the life of Ludgene, who designed the outfit. He’s the island’s most-famous costume designer, and is renowned for his wildly inventive creations. Dëshantelly, meanwhile, is one of the few openly queer male artists on the island and is something of a role model for the community, constantly pushing the boundaries of self-expression.

West Bengal, India • Women gather in a Hindu temple with food, flowers, fruit and other offerings as part of Gajan. The week-long festival, celebrated largely in the eastern state of West Bengal each spring, honours the god Shiva; Hindus believe that by satisfying him with offerings, they’ll be freed of the sorrows and hardships of the current year. Preparations begin a month in advance, with organisers going from village to village to gather money and food for rituals. At midnight on the final day, prasad (items blessed by Shiva) are distributed among the worshippers.

COAST WITH THE MOST • There are new reasons to head to the closest Canadian province to the UK, from wild, outdoor experiences to five-star luxury

BRIGHT SPARKS • Citizens are coming together in innovative ways to keep Hong Kong’s neon heritage from fizzling out

A TASTE OF POLAND • Micha ł Korkosz offers a flavour of his home country, from sheep’s cheese to pickles

YORKSHIRE • From ghostly ruins to windswept moors, a hike of the 70-mile Whitby Way showcases North Yorkshire at its breathtaking best.

DIJON • Modern boltholes are hidden behind historic facades in this French city

PUSHING THE BOAT OUT • From simple seaside escapes to thrillpacked adventures, we pick five of the best coastal activities for families

Saki Yamada’s favourite green spaces

KYOTO • Big-hitting sights are easy to find in the Japanese city, but there’s also a quieter side: one of peaceful gardens, chilled jazz bars and serene temples

SPECIAL SPRING OFFER • RECEIVE A FREE GIFT WITH YOUR SUBSCRIPTION

CHESTER • The historic Cheshire city has been busy carving out a niche as one of the North West’s most exciting culinary hotspots

FOUND IN TRANSLATION • Recently translated into English, we reveal some of the best fiction portraying lives and landscapes far and wide

SUMMER CAMPING • Whether you’re staying at a campsite or somewhere wilder, be sure to pack the right kit.

DAY OUT ESSENTIALS

A £500 VOUCHER TO SPEND ON A COTTAGE STAY IN NORFOLK • National Geographic Traveller (UK) has teamed up with Winterton Cottages to offer a voucher for a stay at any of its Norfolk properties

LAHORE • A trip back to a former childhood home in Pakistan reveals a city shaped by both the realities of modernity and the unshakable mythology of memory

MARK BEAUMONT • The...