Features

July 2018 issue

A challenging trek in the mountains of Bhutan rewards with rarely seen vistas
By Steve Lopes
Our reward — a lovely view at lunch from Shepayzhey Pass (13,513 feet), one rarely seen by other humans.

Bhutan has become a “go to” destination since the country opened to outside travelers in 1974. That first year, just 287 visitors were permitted entry, but tourism has exploded recently, from 23,480 visitors in 2009 to 254,704 foreign individuals visiting Bhutan in 2017.

‘So what’s the attraction?’ you might ask. Bhutan is an amazing destination with much to offer.

This tiny kingdom (population 797,765) limits visas and makes sure we visitors are taxed for our impact on their...

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May 2018 issue

Discovering two of Italy’s lesser-known gems
By Paula Prindle
The royal chess match begins, against the backdrop of Marostica’s Lower Castle. Photos by David Prindle

France is our favorite country, but in 2016, Italy called my husband, David, and me once again, loud and clear. It was an Emirates nonstop flight to Milan priced at $896 for two that shouted the siren song. 

A wonderful surprise

We chose September for our travels because it is our favorite time to visit Europe. The weather is nearly always nice, the crowds are manageable, and the vendange (grape harvest) seals the deal. It turned out that September 2016 held another surprise for us: a human chess game based on a 15th-century legend. 

I stumbled upon this...

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March 2018 issue

Enjoying the wildlife, in and out of the water, on a private tour of Australia
By Marcia Brandes
Remarkable Rocks at Flinders Chase National Park.

In all my travels, I had never been to Australia, but it was all my husband, Steve, and I needed to gain ITN’s “7 Continents” award.

Australia is almost as large as the continental United States, so planning our 3-week trip (Sept. 18-Oct. 9, 2017) required hard choices about what to include and what to leave for another time. 

After studying several travel books, I decided on these five areas: Sydney, the Atherton Tablelands, the Great Barrier Reef, the Top End and Kangaroo Island. Yes, we would miss Uluru and Tasmania, but we couldn’t have it all...

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February 2018 issue

Exploring the churches, cuisine and culture of Romania and Moldova, plus an eye-opening independence-day celebration
By Beth Habian
The well-preserved medieval town of Sighis¸oara in Transylvania.

It was a leap of faith. ITN received a call from a subscriber who had just returned from a trip to Romania and wanted to let us know that he had enthusiastically encouraged the tour operator, Cultural Romtour, to contact our magazine in the hopes of introducing the company to the ITN “family” of travelers. The company’s owner, Razvan Balint, soon reached out with an offer to host a representative of ITN on a late-August 2017 tour. Since I was already going to be in Germany that summer visiting family — just a 2-hour flight away from Bucharest — I happily...

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January 2018 issue

A DIY adventure (with a little local help) in Russia
By Larry & Carol Crabill
View of the Sea Channel from atop the Grand Cascade at Peterhof.

Russia has been on our travel wish list for quite some time, though it is a destination that can be intimidating for DIY travelers. A lot of research and good planning were necessary, but we were rewarded with an amazing trip. We did divert a bit from our normal DIY routine at times by hiring a driver or a guide for particular areas.

Moscow introduction

Following our journey through Georgia (Dec. ’17, p. 40), we flew Georgian Airways from Tbilisi to Moscow’s Vnukovo International Airport. To our surprise, we arrived and cleared Passport Control and Customs in...

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December 2017 issue

A special opportunity to visit the orangutans of Borneo with the woman who knows them best
By Dr. Evan Goldfischer
A special opportunity to visit the orangutans of Borneo with the woman who knows them best

While traveling in Rwanda, I met someone who had recently gone to the island of Borneo to see orangutans. She told me about Dr. Biruté Mary Galdikas, who is to orangutans what Jane Goodall is to chimpanzees and Dian Fossey was to mountain gorillas. Together, these three women were dubbed the “Trimates” by Dr. Louis Leakey. 

Dr. Biruté Galdikas might be the lesser known of the three, but she has been in the field in Borneo for 46 years studying these wonderful animals. 

Having been to see chimpanzees and mountain gorillas in Africa, I know how wonderful...

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November 2017 issue

Traveling ‘Across the Universe’ to find remembrances of the Beatles in India
By Esther Perica
Esther Perica enjoying the “Let It Be” graffiti in the Yoga Pavilion.

Rishikesh, India, may not sound familiar to many people, but if I say it is home to “The Beatles’ Ashram,” those of us of a certain age know the place I am talking about.

The town of Rishikesh has become a center for studying yoga and meditation, with lots of ashrams (religious retreats) — some of which cost only $3 per day, including meals and classes — small hotels and a few more upscale properties. It is located in the Himalayan foothills in the state of Uttarakhand, a 45-minute flight or 4-hour train or car ride from Delhi.

Most tourists who...

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October 2017 issue

Enjoying the spectacular scenery of Antarctica and South Georgia Island
By Marcia Brandes
The Sea Spirit glides by a glacier.

Antarctica has long been on my travel bucket list, but after learning of the wildlife wonders of South Georgia Island, I was torn. Which destination should I choose? 

Fortunately, Jessica at Adventure Life found an expedition that offered an itinerary to the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, Antarctica and the South Shetland Islands. This would entail spending 20 days aboard the Sea Spirit, with half of those being at-sea days, but (with luck) my husband, Steve, and I could get to both of my desired destinations on the same voyage.

Through Adventure Life (Missoula, MT;...

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