An island paradise that will adopt you
We saw the foam before we heard the breaking waves. My husband Rob and I squinted through the morning sun, trying to pick out...
The world’s goriest market
The dog's singed carcass lay rigid – jaws locked open, muzzle high, all four legs protruding skywards. Across the market, a butcher bisected another...
An insane adventure deep underground
“No,” said the man in front of me, staring into the abyss below. “Just no. No, no, no.” We’d chatted earlier this morning beneath the...
The end of the famous Bamboo Train?
The motor choked twice, then issued a full-throated roar. Our driver Vanny’s relief showed around the edges of his constant smile. He steered us...
Free-falling has never been so scenic
We can only wonder what was going through Dario Zanon’s mind as he peered over the edge of a foggy cliff above northern Italy’s...
A Top Gun fantasy that came true
It was the summer of 1997 and American Sharon Besser, a grad student at UC Berkley near San Francisco, found herself on the other...
One of Earth’s most dangerous roads
Five of us packed into a car, allured by the promise of traversing one of India’s most breathtaking – and most dangerous – roads....
The tiny island of 20,000 graves
Bardsey Island doesn’t have cars, paved roads, an electric grid or indoor toilets. The population includes 200 grey seals, 300 sheep and just four...
The bizarre theft of a Celtic sea god
One of the most bizarre news stories of 2015 was the January theft of a Celtic sea god. A gang mercilessly smashed the tall,...
Photos of a wrenching moment in history
The Syrian army, backed by Russian air strikes, forced the Islamic State from the city of Palmyra at the end of March, ending the...
An intense way to fall in love
Thinking about sharks doesn’t often conjure up images of romance, but it was this apex predator that brought me and my now-husband, Joerg, together. Tell...
Five under-the-radar destinations
With each welcoming more than 50 million international visitors each year, France, the United States and China dominate the list of most popular countries...
Where world travellers fall in love
No matter what language you speak or where you come from, sharing a meal with friends is the best way to spend an evening. The...
A family finding its soul in circus
If you liked this story, sign up for the weekly bbc.com features newsletter, called “If You Only Read 6 Things This Week”. A handpicked selection...
Five of the world’s sunniest cities
Soaking up the sun is easy in a place where it shines more than 90% of the time. With nary a cloud in the...
A love born through letters
It was all but impossible for Amy Bleakney not to notice Curtis Hartenstine during their Peace Corps orientation. “He’s a really tall red head,...