Imaginative Traveller's blog
Welcome to the Imaginative Traveller Blog! This is a brilliant means for us to communicate directly with you. We will be able to keep you updated on the latest Imaginative Traveller news, events, trips, fascinating snippets of info from life on the tour leader front, how our overseas Destinations Managers spend their average day, humorous tales from tours, staff trip reports and just general Imaginative Traveller gossip. So check it out and let us know what you think!
Deja-vous?
I was chatting to a colleague who had recently returned from our Vietnam at a Glance tour (see next month's ETracks for a full report). She was so inspired by her trip she wanted to head straight back out on the road again on another tour but couldn't decide which one! Which led onto a conversation about whether you choose a similar style holiday for your next trip or a totally different one. Do you go back to the region you have just visited or expand your travel repertoire?
Discover 'peaceful' Chiang Mai
You might not think of a large city as the most peaceful place to spend a holiday - but that's exactly what one traveller did recently when he visited Thailand.
Nigel Richardson of the Telegraph headed to Chiang Mai - the largest city in the north of the country - in search of a harmonious experience offering "an instantly moreish idea of Thailand".
Discover Sri Lanka's varied wildlife
If you're keen to see exotic and exciting animals, we think Sri Lanka may be just the place to travel to.
Having just announced that it is to focus more on wildlife when it comes to receiving travellers, the Sri Lanka Tourism board claims that it has not given this area enough attention - until now, claims Philippa Jacks, writing for ttglive.com.
Here you'll be able to see a wide variety of creatures, from whales to birds and butterflies.
Perception 'gives travel its thrill'
Perception is the reason travel is so exhilarating, according to one writer, who makes particular note of the time she has spent in India.
So, if you're a traveller keen to submerse yourself in a different culture, you might find India a good place to start - but it'll be your perceptions as much as the country that shapes your experience, according to Mariellen Ward, writing for MatadorNetwork.
Experience 'the landscape and culture' of Morocco
If you're a traveller looking for an African adventure a little closer to home, why not visit Morocco?
Jamal El Jaidi, events and promotions manager at the Moroccan National Tourist Office, enthuses about the country, saying that at just three hours from the UK it is the perfect place for people looking to experience a completely different culture to explore.
"It is the closest African destination to Europe, so everything is different - the landscape, the culture," he comments.
Explore the jungle and barrier reef in Belize
If you're thinking of travelling through Central America, make sure you visit Belize.
The northernmost country in the region, it has so much to offer travellers, from ancient ruins to amazing natural wonders.
One of the best things to go and see is the Mayan Ruins, according to Suite101, which is an imposing sight, as well as holding much historical importance.
Meanwhile, Belize is also home to the world's second largest coral reef, which is just waiting to be explored.
Discover 'intoxicating' Marrakech
For those of us with a sense of adventure who are looking to discover the unknown, Marrakech could be the place that provides travellers with the spark they seek.
It is now as easy as it ever has been to get lost in the city's alleyways and explore the hidden depths of the markets, notes editor of travelmag.com Matt Phillips – who described the location as 'intoxicating'.
Even the areas that attract larger numbers of tourists - such as the main square called Djemaa el-Fna - are still affected by the intoxicating spirit of the city, he noted.
