Menu

Destinations
- Africa
  - Egypt
  - Ethiopia
  - Kenya
  - Tanzania
  - Uganda
- Asia
  - South East Asia
    - Cambodia
    - Indonesia
    - Laos
    - Malaysia
    - Myanmar
    - Philippines
    - Singapore
    - Thailand
    - Vietnam
  - India
  - Japan
  - Maldives
  - Mongolia
  - Pakistan
  - South Korea
  - Sri Lanka
- Europe
  - Iceland
- Middle East
  - Iran
  - Iraq
  - Jordan
  - Turkey
- North America
  - Canada
  - Costa Rica
  - Cuba
  - Mexico
  - Panama
  - United States
    - National Parks
- South America
  - Colombia
  - Peru
Travel Stories
Budget Travel
Van Life
Work With Us
- About Us
- Writing Portfolio

Beyond the Bucketlist

Beyond the Bucketlist

Beyond the Bucketlist

Destinations
- Africa
  - Egypt
  - Ethiopia
  - Kenya
  - Tanzania
  - Uganda
- Asia
  - South East Asia
    - Cambodia
    - Indonesia
    - Laos
    - Malaysia
    - Myanmar
    - Philippines
    - Singapore
    - Thailand
    - Vietnam
  - India
  - Japan
  - Maldives
  - Mongolia
  - Pakistan
  - South Korea
  - Sri Lanka
- Europe
  - Iceland
- Middle East
  - Iran
  - Iraq
  - Jordan
  - Turkey
- North America
  - Canada
  - Costa Rica
  - Cuba
  - Mexico
  - Panama
  - United States
    - National Parks
- South America
  - Colombia
  - Peru
Travel Stories
Budget Travel
Van Life
Work With Us
- About Us
- Writing Portfolio

Newest on the Blog

How To Avoid Getting Scammed in Southeast Asia

Tourism is booming in SouthEast Asia. Some combination of cheap delicious street food, vibrant nightlife, and the natural…

Beyond Bali: Exploring Some of the Most Stunning Indonesian Islands

Over 17,000 individual islands compose the country of Indonesia, but odds are Bali is the only one that…

Prev 1 … 22 23 24

Find me on Instagram

beyond_the_bucketlist

beyond_the_bucketlist

There is no price tag you can put on primary fores

There is no price tag you can put on primary forests.

There’s no profit worth destroying our most precious resource.

Nature, for natures sake.

Since I dug into the archives the other day for all my fave US shots here’s a few more.

Also — while I’m at it…

It’s important to know WHY they want to take our public lands so you can better understand HOW to stop them.

Heres some ways you can educate yourself + help ⬇️

📚 This Land: How Cowboys, Capitalism, and Corruption are Ruining the American West

It’s a slow read but it’s an IMPORTANT look at what the current political minds are doing to rob you of our public lands.

🧠 Follow @twodustytravelers run by a l+d nurse with a passion for educating the public about nature + science

🌈 Also follow @pattiegonia who is a HUGE park advocate + keeps you up to date on protests near you

📱Download the App @5calls to EASILY phone your reps and make a fuss. It’s the only way to make a change.

#usnationalparks #americathebeautiful #bestofusa #vanlifeusa #saveourparks #exploreamerica

Our National Parks, National Forests, and Public L

Our National Parks, National Forests, and Public Lands are worth protecting. 🌎🌱

Not for oil interests, timber, cattle grazing, or any other “for profit” purpose.

In 2020-2022, I lived in a van with @_evharris 🚐.

During that time we drove through 43 states, 39 national parks, and countless other public lands.

We camped. We trekked. We backpacked. We fell in love with our home country for the first time.

The USA is in a decidedly dark era, but the one thing we have going for us — is our stunning natural beauty and protected swaths of nature.

The freedom to roll out a sleeping mat beneath a sea of stars in Death Valley in unspoiled quiet.

To travel to the rainforest, without leaving Washington State.

To trek to high mountains for thin air and a clear mind.

To witness an abundance of unique wildlife in their natural habitat.

The soulless people who will have you believe that this landscape will be unchanged when marred by oil pipelines, clear cut for timber, and eroded by free-ranging government subsidized cattle — clearly havent spent enough time in it.

Because the first thing American wilderness teaches you is the beauty of all the things money can’t buy.

#usnationalparks #saveourparks #nationalforests #unitedstatestravel

Responsible Travel has a PR problem. I think too

Responsible Travel has a PR problem.

I think too many people see the words “responsible travel” and immediately think “not fun”.

They assume this means…

- you can’t stay in luxury hotels.
- no way to see wildlife up close.
- no enjoying western food.
- No politically-controversial destinations or perhaps thinking you can ONLY travel to off-the-beaten-path destinations (ie writing off Saudi Arabia bc of their government or writing off Bali entirely bc of over-tourism)

But that’s NOT necessarily what it means to travel responsibly in 2025.

Whether you’re on a tight backpacker budget or planning a luxury vacation you can EASILY make a positive impact in the local community.

🌺You CAN visit Bali. Just avoid over touristed regions like Canggu.

🐾You CAN have encounters with incredible wildlife. Just do it in their natural habitat or with reputable organizations that support animal welfare.

🇨🇳 Avoiding controversial countries might not help as much as you think. Local people + small businesses in these places relish tourism.

🏨There are incredible locally owned LUXURY hotels that actually follow sustainable practices and commit to projects that better their community.

🍔Locals eat western food sometimes too. Many of these places are owned and operated by local families. Just make sure to pepper in some local delicacies to better understand the food culture of the region you visit.

Nobody is perfect, but it’s important to make an effort to learn about how to minimize the negative impact tourism can have on the areas we visit.

Usually, the end result is a more enjoyable trip with memorable experiences that are different from the cookie-cutter tourism industry.

And even better, you’ll know your trip is supporting local communities rather than undermining them!

📸: Lalibela in Ethiopia 🇪🇹

#responsibletravel #ethicaltravel #backpackersintheworld #sustainabletravel #lalibela #lalibelachurches #ethiopiatravel #discoverethiopia #travelethiopia

Elkins is Archie approved 🐶✔️ My family re

Elkins is Archie approved 🐶✔️

My family rents a cabin @elkinsresort every year. We play infinite board games, eat a nice dinner by the stone fireplace, walk the frozen edges of the lake, and usually drink our weight in fresh huckleberry daiquiris.

This year we flew all the way from India to keep the tradition alive.

If you’re looking for an affordable yet luxurious off-grid family or friend vacation that’s locally owned—

Here’s some quick Elkin’s Info ⬇️

📆 While we love our winter tradition, Priest Lake is stunning in summer, fall, & spring

🧉Fresh Huckleberry Margs + Daiquiris

🐶 Pet-friendly

🪵 Cabins come with firewood + sleep large groups of up to 14

❄️ Snow-shoeing, snowmobiling, dog-sledding, you name it

#pnwadventures #visitidaho #priestlake #priestlakeidaho #discoveridaho #bestofidaho #elkinsresort #elkinsresortonpriestlake #usatravel #spokanewashington

Hi 👋🏼 Fresh-introduction time!! My name i

Hi 👋🏼

Fresh-introduction time!!

My name is Geena and since 2019 I’ve been making a (small) living writing online while traveling full time.

For me, it’s about TIME freedom. I live off less to reduce my working hours, so that I can spend more time exploring incredible places like Pakistan, Mongolia, Vietnam, Tanzania, Iraq, Japan, and more.

My travel motto: Travel doesn’t need to be expensive — but it DOES need to benefit the local communities we choose to visit.

We’re huge proponents of RESPONSIBLE travel. Travel with intention. The intention to learn about a new destination (beyond the surface stuff), support the locals, and leave as little impact as you can on the natural and cultural landscape of a place in the process.

You’re in the right corner of the internet if you…

- are obsessed with wildlife + want to see where/how to visit ethically 🦁

- consider yourself a budding foodie + want to see local cuisine celebrated abroad 🥘

- are interested in people + unique cultures around the globe

And finally….

~ Weird Facts About Me ~

📱My tech is old. I have an iPhone 6 and a MacBook from 2012. 😂 I also don’t have a US phone number. Or any phone number at all for that matter.

🇹🇭 I’m moving to Bangkok, Thailand today! I expect to spend about 3-4 months of this year at “home”.

🚐 I lived in a 1994 dodge van with my husband @_evharris for over a year (& got to see 43 US states)

🌏 Our travel goals of the year are Madagascar, Bhutan, Socotra, & Syria.

#travelblogger #freelancetravelwriter #backpackersintheworld #responsibletravel #ethicaltravel #fulltimetravel

Gulhi. Omadhoo. Ukulhas. And dozens more. The Ma

Gulhi. Omadhoo. Ukulhas. And dozens more.

The Maldives is NOT just a nation of private island resorts. The islands where locals live also have stunning beaches, exotic marine wildlife, and notably — comfortable guesthouses for cheap!

We spent about $100 per day for TWO PEOPLE to visit the Maldives & swim with whale sharks, go on snorkeling excursions, and lounge on the best beaches I’ve seen anywhere in the world.

All my tips for Maldives travel are on the blog (link in bio)

#maldivestravel #maldivesislands #budgettravel #backpackersintheworld #maldives_ig #maldivesisland #maldiveslovers #maldivesbeach #visitmaldives

Here’s how to do them yourself ⬇️ We got to

Here’s how to do them yourself ⬇️

We got to do some ✨really✨ incredible things in East Africa 🌍

1. Harar, Ethiopia 🇪🇹. Every night a local man named Yousef feeds wild hyenas a bucket of scraps. This long standing tradition is a peace offering to the animals for protection.

2. Moses with @pangolinrescuecenteruganda allows visitors to tour (and camp at) his Pangolin rehab near Bwindi National Park. You’ll get to walk alongside the wacky creature in its natural habitat.

3. The Omo Valley of Ethiopia is home to 80+ unique tribal communities with diverse traditions. You can visit the region independently (with my blog) or on a tour.

4. Trekking with mountain gorillas is by far the most hyped + expensive attraction in East Africa. But I don’t regret it one bit. Bwindi National Park is my pick for where to do it.

5. You can see Cheetah in several places in Kenya + Tanzania. But the Serengeti in TZ is the best & most reliable place to spot them.

6. We almost didn’t even visit QENP. It has a mixed reputation. But it ended up being our favorite national park in Uganda and one of our favorite in the region!

7. @olpejeta conservancy is home to the last two northern white rhinos in the world. Not only can you have an INCREDIBLE safari experience here but you can visit these ladies and learn about the ways Kenya is working to save them.

8. The winding scenic road from Kitale to Iten in Kenya is not on the radar of most visitors. But the landscapes here…well worth the little detour.

9. This particular moment was filmed in Tarangire National Park at our public campsite. But it wasn’t an anomaly in East Africa. We got lions in the Serengeti camp, hippos in QENP, and Cape buffalo in Kidepo Valley. One of the best parts about road tripping independently in East Africa.

#eastafrica #discoverethiopia #discovertanzania #discoverkenya #discoveruganda #roadtripafrica #backpackafrica #bestofafrica #bestoftravel #backpackersintheworld

Hunting with the Hadzabe of Tanzania 🏹 The Had

Hunting with the Hadzabe of Tanzania 🏹

The Hadzabe are one of the last hunter-gatherer tribes in the world.

And you can (very easily) visit them and see what their life is like. Near the often dry bed of Lake Eyasi, about 1,000 members of this indigenous tribe still exist living off the seemingly barren land.

Unlike other tribes in East Africa— the Hadzabe seem completely unadapted to the modern world. They exist almost totally separate, forging a life by hunting ANYTHING and everything to survive. They don’t attend school, visit the villages, or speak Swahili.

🥾During our hunt with them, I was shocked by the speed they jogged through the brush constantly assaulted by thorns as they took out birds, bush babies, and baboons with their homemade arrows. By the end of the morning we had hustled more than 8 miles through the brush with them and I sensed we slowed them down.

📝How to Visit:

The Lake Eyasi cultural center collects money for the surrounding communities (this can help the Hadzabe in times of drought), about $120 per car, and assigns you a guide to bring you to the Hadzabe if they are in the area.

As a nomadic community, they move often and without warning. It’s best to time your visit for Aug-Nov after the rains.

💭I think it’s important to say — the Hadzabe are survivors. It’s a harsh life out here. I was struck by the lack of sentience they seemed to regard the animals they hunted with. To them — I think, animals are only food, it’s not considered whether they feel pain, so humane methods of hunting are not necessarily on the table. I only say this because so many people glamorize the lives of ancient tribal peoples and their connection with nature.

While YES, the Hadzabe possess incredible knowledge of the land — I wouldn’t say they steward it better than modern man.

I’d love to share more about the tribe & answer questions in the comments ⬇️

#tanzaniatravel #traveltanzania #exploretanzania #discovertanzania #hadzabe #lakeeyasi

📍K Y A M B U R A G O R G E L O D G E Operate

📍K Y A M B U R A G O R G E L O D G E

Operated by @volcanoes_safaris

✨HIGHLIGHTS✨

- Stunning pool for sunset 💦
- Dodo & other mouthwatering local meals 🥘
- Spacious 5-star villas ⭐️
- Chimpanzee trekking 🐒
- Close up lion encounters in QENP 🦁
- Daily massage 💆🏻

Add to that all we learned about conservation in Uganda and Kyambura Gorge Lodge is easily the best place we stayed in the country!

#traveluganda #discoveruganda #exploreuganda #ugandahotels #ugandaluxury

Load More... Follow on Instagram

All Rights Reserved, Photography & content cannot be used without our permission.