We can't believe it, but it's true. Last night in London, we won Consumer Publication of the Year - Online at the @travelmediawrds. Thanks to judges, our team, contributors, and readers. And congrats to our fellow nominees—travel writing is alive & well!🎊

📰 Weekend read: Traveling 800 miles from the Turkish capital Ankara to the city of Kars, the 26-hour Doğu Express became a hot ticket after a Swedish YouTuber shared a video of the journey. So, how epic is the route? @monisha_rajesh hops on to find out .

Writer Emily Barlow follows a less-trodden path in the Peruvian Andes to find ancient archaeological sites, remote mountain campsites. and some of the best-preserved Inca roads in the world. Could this be the next step for tourism in Peru? .

As the Trump administration cuts staffing and budgets at America’s national parks, China is ramping up its efforts to protect land. Contributing editor Gordy Megroz explores what the US can hope to learn from China’s ambitious plans.

📰 Weekend read: What’s the secret to a perfect Finnish summer?. Writer Emese Maczko heads to Finland, the ‘world’s happiest country’, with her husband and two young daughters in tow and learns a lesson or two in relaxing.

“What I love to do is not a matter of me loving tourism or me loving to be a tourist guide,” says Nqabohlanga ‘Winston’ Fani. “It’s showcasing what a blind person can do. I’m not blind, I’m visually impaired. I’m not disabled; I’m differently abled.”.

Around 10 hours north of Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital, you’ll find lesser-known and lesser-visited Jaffna. Writer Sarah Kingdom finds a town that’s shaking off its colonial and civil war history and embracing its cultural identity.

"I usually spend a lot of time playing suitcase Tetris to fill in the valleys made by the handle track but there’s no need to do that since you can pack on top without creating dead space.". @KassondraCloos reviews Peak Design's made-from-scratch suitcase.

📰 Weekend read: Riding the rails on regional, high-speed and narrow gauge rail, writer Leyla Rose experiences not only the vast variety of Taiwan’s trains, but the diversity of this nation’s people and culture.

Mexico’s new Tren Maya rail network was trumpeted as “the greatest construction project in the world”, now whizzing tourists to jungles and Mayan ruins. But with tracks cutting through sacred areas, many locals say it’s a ticket to environmental disaster.

As a new Patagonia documentary sheds light on the climate advocacy of Australia's Torres Strait Islander communities, journalist Jock Serong explores how First Nations activists across the world are fighting bureaucracy by putting their bodies on the line.

📰Weekend read: Born partially sighted then completely blind by the age of 13, Nqabohlanga ‘Winston’ Fani had never considered becoming a tour guide. But the pandemic forced him to rethink his future. and what seemed unattainable became a reality.

AI isn't *always* about reducing human connection. In Japan, an innovative café is harnessing the power of robotic technology to tackle loneliness and celebrate inclusivity—not with AI, but real human-to-human connections. Here's how. @Intrepid_Travel .

8am: Leave hotel.9am: Canyoning excursion.12.30pm: Lunch.2pm: Waterfall hike.5pm: Return to hotel.6pm: Leave for city dinner.10pm: Back to hotel . Looks like a typical itinerary on today’s experience-rich trips. But would we experience more by doing less?.

s new contributing editor Gordy Megroz speaks to Senator Martin Heinrich, one of America’s public lands champions on stopping the selloff of public lands, the state of the National Parks, and why we should still be hopeful.

📰 Weekend read: How did a former gang member end up in marine conservation?. Desperate for work, Onesimus Laa turned to crime in the Indonesian capital Jakarta. But when he returned to his home island of Alor, he found a paradise in crisis.

While surf tourism has brought economic benefits to many areas, it’s not without challenges, such as localism, overcrowding and ecological strain. So what’s the solution to finding the perfect balance, while seeking the perfect wave? @ConversationUK .

Instead of chasing kitschy Americana, @karendesuyo drove New Mexico’s 400-mile stretch of Route 66 to seek out the Mother Road’s Indigenous history. She found a state filled with communities keen to share their culture and traditions with visitors.

Heading to Edinburgh this summer for the festival or a city break?. Sketch artist Shikha Shah captures the Scottish city in her own way, after an entertaining mini break in the company of her enthusiastic father.

📰 Weekend read: Increasingly, travelers are journeying further afield to join everything from marathons to fun runs as a way to explore the world. Keen walker and wannabe runner Teja Lele asks why so many of us are now taking our sneakers on vacation.

After years living abroad, Emily Barlow goes looking for a way to reconnect with her home state of New South Wales, Australia. On an electric-powered journey from Sydney to Byron Bay, she stops for surf, SUP-adventures and lessons from the land. @Jeep .