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Posts by author

Robert

544 posts
Robert has worked in travel for over 35 years, running tour operators in Pakistan, Italy & the UK, writing guide books and articles and running a conservation charity that fights species extinction and habitat loss worldwide. He's trekked coast to coast across Borneo, climbed to 6,500 metres in the Himalayas, travelled the the length of the Silk Road and been chased out of a bar in Lesotho by a Warthog.
PureTravel Writing Competition shortlist 2025
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  • Travel Writing

Stories For Survival: The 2025 PureTravel Writing Competition Shortlist

  • October 30, 2025
  • Robert
We are delighted to announce the 2025 shortlist for Stories For Survival. After receiving record entries and needing an extra couple of weeks to narrow them down, we’ve included 12…
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Visiting Bhutan
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  • Destination Inspiration
  • Tips & Advice

Visiting Bhutan: A Journey to the Kingdom of Happiness

  • October 21, 2025
  • Robert
Bhutan had been on my wish list for years, that small, mysterious Himalayan kingdom often described as the world’s happiest country. In the course of my career, I’ve travelled extensively…
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Emirates 777 to dubai
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  • Reviews

Review: Is Emirates Economy Class the best?

  • October 2, 2025
  • Robert
When Robert Ferguson was cancelled off a flight to Dubai with only 24 hours notice (by an airline to be reviewed at a later date…) he needed a quick and…
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weird people at the airport
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  • Etiquette
  • Lifestyle
  • Uncategorized

10 Weird People You Always Meet at the Airport

  • September 12, 2025
  • Robert
I’ve spent a lot of time in airports over the years. My early life as a mountain guide entailed a lot of traveling between expeditions and I used to hate…
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best kept secret villages
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  • Destination Inspiration

When the Best Place Aren’t on the Map: The Best Hidden Coastal Villages in Europe

  • August 29, 2025
  • Robert
I still remember the moment I realized I was over it. Standing shoulder to shoulder with a sea of strangers on Italy’s Amalfi Coast, trying to snap a photo of…
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Cordoba in autumn
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  • Destination Inspiration

Where to Travel This Autumn: 8 Affordable Destinations With No Crowds

  • August 21, 2025
  • Robert
Autumn is one of my favourite times to travel. The summer hordes have gone home, flights drop in price, and the weather, in many places, is far kinder than the…
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trekking pole advice
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  • Tips & Advice

Everything Beginners Get Wrong About Trekking Poles and How to Fix It

  • August 1, 2025
  • Robert
Trekking poles are one of the most underestimated pieces of trek gear, especially by beginners. Many think there’s no technique or thought involved, just grab and go. But that’s not…
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Edinburgh fringe festival
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  • Lifestyle
  • Tips & Advice

Where to Stay in Edinburgh During the Fringe Festival and How to Get the Best Deal

  • July 31, 2025
  • Robert
I’ve been to Edinburgh more times than I can count now, usually for two reasons. Either I’m there to exhibit art with our charity at the Dundas Street Gallery in…
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Downriver in Borneo
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  • Action & Adventure
  • Travel Writing

Trekking Across Borneo: An Unforgettable Journey through Jungle and Time

  • July 15, 2025
  • Robert
In 1989, Borneo was still largely unmapped by tourism. There were few hotels, no smartphones, no Google Maps, and few people outside Southeast Asia could even locate Kalimantan, the Indonesian…
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Mard 1985 and me
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  • Travel Writing

Bollywood and Me: How I came to be in the Amitabh Bachchan Film Classic MARD

  • June 29, 2025
  • Robert
It was 1985, and I was 19. I’d been travelling around India for 4 months and was at the end of my trip, existing with a rucksack full of dirty…
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  • adventure travel mug
    The Essential Gear for the Trail: Travel Mugs and Outdoor Adventure
    • November 14, 2025
  • Costa Rica adventure
    How to Plan a 10-Day Costa Rica Adventure by Car
    • November 14, 2025
  • scotland
    Accessible Attractions to Visit in Scotland
    • November 12, 2025
  • travel money
    How to Save Money While Traveling
    • November 12, 2025
  • travel skincare
    Travel-Friendly Skincare: How to Keep Your Glow on the Go
    • November 12, 2025
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