Between The Mountains Adventure Podcast

Ema has moved to the UK and befriended several other fellow students of multiple nationalities. When they thought of a holiday Croatia seemed like a great choice and chance for her to visit for the first time as a tourist. Did I mention students? Buckle up for fantastic anecdotes, information, and alcohol.  Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and all other platforms; just search “Between The Mountains” or Ask Alexa!  A Tourist At Home  Some of us may relate to Ema’s position. Having never explored her own country, she returned to investigate the beautiful landscape and secrets of Croatia.  The trip primarily focussed on nature, travelling in April (her recommended time to travel). Being her country, Ema did stop for a cultural view. Specifically, the start of the trip saw more city exploration and family visiting.  Escapism  New friends at university, needed a break. 6 months later, they were on their way to Croatia.  Croatia is a beautiful country scattered with mountains, culture and stunning coastline along the Adriatic sea.  From her home near Pula to the Plitvice Lakes and a run in with some frogs, Ema takes us through her fun and adventurous roadtrip – and diving into the cold sea!  ---------------------------  If you enjoy the show please subscribe/follow and share with a friend!  If you really enjoy the show please check out our Patreon site here. Supporting through Patreon really helps cover costs and allow to invest more time into the quality!  To come on the show or work with me, please email on: btmtravelpod@gmail.com  Join in with the community. Instagram/Twitter/Facebook and our new Facebook Page to share your own photos and videos here  https://betweenthemountains.org/2020/06/24/roadtrip-in-croatia/

24 Apr 20201h 14min

Saving for years, spending more-than-the-price-of-a-guitar on shipping his guitar, and grabbing his passport, Ali and his partner headed to Australia. Their plan? Live the Van Life for a year, roadtrippin’ across Australia.  Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and all other platforms; just search “Between The Mountains” or Ask Alexa!  Home Is Where You Park It  I first saw this quote on one of Ali’s photos. Before I had even completed my first roadtrip, I learned of his plans.  Ali is one of my closest friends, and at this stage I hadn’t fully understood these passions. Naturally, I was happy for him. But I didn’t fully understand. The last time I had done anything truly interested was a family holiday to ski in Italy in 2013. We had struggled to keep in touch for various reasons for the years prior to this, and now he was already going, and for a year?!  For the next 12 months I saw him just so happy. For 10 months he moved up and down Australia living out of his van. Visiting Tasmania, driving up to Sydney, visiting National Parks. You can hear all about it in the podcast. After those 10 months, I got to see him move his away up South East Asia.  This is what opened my eyes to travelling more long-term, and living the van life.  Ali is also the man who writes the music for this podcast, and is a ridiculously talented guy. I would recommend listening to this track here and consider following him. Legally. On the internet. Not in person. This is a fantastic track of his that builds up leaving you feeling fulfilled, reflective, and positive!  Living Out Van Life  There are so many fascinating stories from people all over the world who travel with the use of a trusty camper van that I thought a series dedicated to this type of travel was needed!  Ali travelled the East Coast of Australia for 10 months covering Tasmania and the Bay of Fires, driving the Great Ocean Road and visiting Kangaroo Valley.  -------------------  If you enjoy the show please subscribe/follow and share with a friend!  If you really enjoy the show please check out our Patreon site here. Supporting through Patreon really helps cover costs and allow to invest more time into the quality!  To come on the show or work with me, please email on: btmtravelpod@gmail.com  Join in with the community. Instagram/Twitter/Facebook and our new Facebook Page to share your own photos and videos here  https://betweenthemountains.org/2020/06/24/vanlife-australia/

17 Apr 20201h 27min

Once again we welcome Raj from RSP Podcast for a hattrick and to talk about Egypt. Full of great information and anecdotes, I really I hope you enjoy this session. We discuss some key areas to explore and touch upon the level of security in the region.   Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and all other platforms; just search “Between The Mountains” or Ask Alexa!  Raj has some incredible and unique experience in Egypt. Travelling in from the East, he crossed conflict-torn areas, military tanks, and abandoned hotels with the Islamic State hiding in the northern mountains there.  Arriving here was a stark contrast to Jordan. Yet, the landscape itself was utterly beautiful.  Exploring Egypt  Raj’s love for culture and history once again shows and signs in this episode as we travel from the Asian continent to the African continent. Raj travels south, following the Nile, and avoiding terrorist attacks… literally.  --------------- If you enjoy the show please subscribe/follow and share with a friend!  If you really enjoy the show please check out our Patreon site here. Supporting through Patreon really helps cover costs and allow to invest more time into the quality!  To come on the show or work with me, please email on: btmtravelpod@gmail.com  Join in with the community. Instagram/Twitter/Facebook and our new Facebook Page to share your own photos and videos here  https://betweenthemountains.org/2020/06/24/exploring-egypt/

16 Apr 202037min

Interrailing is a fantastic way to travel and explore Europe. Each person's trip can be so unique, and in the first of what I hope to be many, Angele joins us today to talk about her time spent interrailing across Europe.  Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and all other platforms; just search “Between The Mountains” or Ask Alexa!  A Spontaneous Trip  Like so many of us, this interrailing trip came about when Angele's friend got in touch to get away and explore Europe. As it turns out, Angele had been thinking about getting away for a while too.  The beauty of interrailing is that you can design your own route, and not one person has the same experience. This can be true of any single country, so imagining adding a rail pass that allows you to explore many many more!   From Dublin To Porto  Angele's journey begins in Dublin. They avoid the standard go-to tourist locations and get right into the spirit of Dublin. After visiting Manchester (so close the Lake District!) and London for a brief moment, they reach mainland Europe - where the adventure really begins!  Listen to the podcast to find out more from mountains to tattoos!  Countries include: Ireland, UK, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, France, Spain, Portugal   Towards the end Angele speaks so highly of a specific tour company in Porto:  https://www.oportomountaintour.com/  --------------  If you enjoy the show please subscribe/follow and share with a friend!  If you really enjoy the show please check out our Patreon site here. Supporting through Patreon really helps cover costs and allow to invest more time into the quality!  To come on the show or work with me, please email on: btmtravelpod@gmail.com  Join in with the community. Instagram/Twitter/Facebook and our new Facebook Page to share your own photos and videos here  Between The Mountains – Adventure Travel Podcast

15 Apr 20201h 16min

Solo Travel To Clear The Head  Helsinki is a beautiful city with a lot of history. It is home to culture, nature, saunas, activities, a sea fortress and 8 National Parks within a two hour drive. Sounds like heaven, right?   I booked my trip to Helsinki the year before, and it was my last trip before the pandemic. Travelling solo, I packed my bags, checked my kit, grabbed my passport, and headed to the airport!  Land Of A Thousand Lakes  Arriving in Helsinki was... actually a bit disappointing. I loved landing in a foreign and unknown territory. I loved the clean crisp air. But Helsinki in March is meant to be covered in snow with a frozen sea; it's why I booked for March. Instead, thanks to global warming, this wasn't the case.  Never mind. Quickly jumping in the taxi (don't do it! Uber is cheaper!), and quizzing the driver on some crucial lingo (thank you, please, etc.) we drove through the streets to my first night stay, just a hostel. I wasn't excited for this one, it was the Airbnb I couldn't wait to see! Read on or listen to find out!  The hostel was good though. Easy check in, free breakfast. Then I booked the Uber to collect my car rental.  Collecting the car, and boasting about its horsepower to Instagram, I decided to head out to Teijo National Park. When looking at the Finnish National Parks website it is incredible to see just how many National Parks are within a two hour drive of Helsinki!  Arriving at Teijo, I was the only soul there! After checking that it wasn't in some way closed, I decided to take a walk around. See for yourself here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbwq0-GgFRY     The park was spectacular. Quiet, fresh, beautiful and I had it all to myself. After taking a quick rest by the frozen lake, I packed up and headed out to the Airbnb. The reason why I was excited? Two words:  Private. Sauna.  This had me hooked since I booked. Not only that, but it had a balcony right next to that not-so-frozen sea that I was excited to experience. If you want to check it out for yourself, you can click here. The hosts were fantastic, and it is a 10 minute walk from the city centre, whilst being right next to a local shop too.  The rest of the night just consisted of getting relaxed and changed, grabbing food (and the world's gift itself: Somersby Apple Cider - Bottled!) and heading out to the city centre. I visited the Allas Outdoor Pool and Sauna (highly recommend, definitely did not steal the towel!). Then, I went to the best Italian restaurant I have had the damn pleasure of eating at and had one of the best red wines. I sat outside with a blanket, drinking an Espresso Martini (or three) at Holiday Bar watching the world go by, and went home to sleep.  A Change Of Plan  The next day I rose early, experiencing sunrise on the balcony at -1 degree Celsius. I'm meant to be driving 6 hours North to Koli National Park today. I had this great idea of watching sunset from the top of this cliff, overlooking flat forest land. I had even researched to make sure it faced West!  But that's the problem with making plans from afar; they often don't stick. Plus, 12 hours total driving - just driving - seemed like a waste of time. It was Day 2 and I had already got the check-in notification for my return flight.  I love a roadtrip and all, but that just seemed crazy.  "It is incredible to see just how many National Parks are within a two hour drive of Helsinki!"  So, over a croissant and coffee, I quickly changed plans. I'd explore Helsinki tomorrow (read on or listen to find out more!) and tick off the two other local National Parks on the list today.  Getting showered, sauna'd, and dressed I grabbed my kit and headed to the car:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRPuCaJEpMk    You can watch above or listen to the podcast for more info, but this day was a delight. Well, mostly. Life will hit no matter where you are and what you're doing, and my head decided to see the solitude as a chance to go over some less-than-positive things.  You just have to process it, and chat with somebody about it if you can!  Being met with stunning forests, beautiful silence, and ice and snow, I arrived back at the Airbnb happy with the outcome!    At Nuuksio National Park I did the Klassarinkierros Trail. At Sipoonkorpi National Park I did the Kalkinpolttajan Trail (which takes you to the top of Hogberget).  TOP TIP: Google Maps takes you to Nuuksio on the West side of the park, the opposite side I wanted for the original trail I had researched.  I tried to get to a local Finnish restaurant I had google'd. After finding it was fully booked I tried really hard to resist. I did. I promise! But went back to that Italian Restaurant for my pizza and red wine.  Bliss!  Exploring Helsinki On Foot  Time for the last day. You know the drill by now: balcony, sunrise, sauna, bags, out the door. It was a shame to check-out so soon after checking in, but it was 6AM and I had a city to explore!  You can listen to the podcast to find out more, or watch the videos below. I got a Helsinki Card but really the highlights for me were Suomenlinna, The Natural History Museum, The National Museum and Löyly Sauna. 28,000 steps later, I was back in the car on my way to the airport. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vog-xaMREms    -------------------- If you enjoy the show please subscribe/follow and share with a friend!  If you really enjoy the show please check out our Patreon site here. Supporting through Patreon really helps cover costs and allow to invest more time into the quality!  To come on the show or work with me, please email on: btmtravelpod@gmail.com  Join in with the community. Instagram/Twitter/Facebook and our new Facebook Page to share your own photos and videos here  Between The Mountains – Adventure Travel Podcast

14 Apr 202026min

We welcome John to the show who talks to us about his time spending 8 days in Finnish Lapland.   From husky safaris, frozen lakes, night trains and the big man himself - Santa Claus - I hope you like this episode!   Lapland has always been a place that entices most. From the beautiful snow in the winter, the eternal day in the summer, and the Northern Lights.  This place is on many people's bucket list!  A Week In The Arctic Circle  Starting our journey in Helsinki, John quickly moves into the artic circle to say at the Kakslauttanen glass igloo resort.  Hear how he talks about his experience with the husky safari (dog sledding), seeing frozen lakes and more.  Crucially, what surprised him the most was the people. If you know much of the stereotype, you're probably expecting me to say how abrupt they were?  Wrong.  John tells us how the people could not have been more friendly and willing to help when needed.  For more information please follow John on @travellers_for_life and also https://travellersforlife.gr/ including multi-language translations for their blogs - at the bottom of the page.   ----------  If you enjoy the show please subscribe/follow and share with a friend! If you really enjoy the show please check out our Patreon site here. Supporting through Patreon really helps cover costs and allow to invest more time into the quality! To come on the show or work with me, please email on: btmtravelpod@gmail.com Join in with the community. Instagram/Twitter/Facebook and our new Facebook Page to share your own photos and videos here Between The Mountains – Adventure Travel Podcast

12 Apr 202033min

We welcome Katie to the show who was lucky enough to spend a day at Yosemite National Park while visiting the area for a conference.  In this short episode, Katie details how she got to the park from the conference venue, and the day spent there, including overnight details.  Making The Most  Something I’ve been giving a lot of thought to recently is making use of negative time. Whether that’s listening to a podcast in the car, or learning a language with Duo Lingo while waiting for your bus.  Katie went one step further. While visiting solely for a conference, she decided to get out to Yosemite and see as much as she could.  ------------ If you enjoy the show please subscribe/follow and share with a friend! If you really enjoy the show please check out our Patreon site here. Supporting through Patreon really helps cover costs and allow to invest more time into the quality!  To come on the show or work with me, please email on: btmtravelpod@gmail.com  Join in with the community. Instagram/Twitter/Facebook and our new Facebook Page to share your own photos and videos here  Between The Mountains – Adventure Travel Podcast

8 Apr 202017min

Hold My Bet, I’m Off For A Hike!  Pink Canyon is a hike within the Valley Of Fire State Park. One hour from Las Vegas, this can be a beautiful addition to your adventure, or a weekend away if you’re local! Rock scrambling, petroglyphs, hiking and more.  Remembering fondly the heat radiating off the rocks, sensually attempting to melt him, Dustin from That Adventure Life (one of the best travel blogs about!) talks about this gorgeous location further in this podcast.  Surprise! The Valley Of Fire  Moving straight in to parking and logistical tips, Dustin kicks off talking about his overall impressions. First thoughts, the overall landscapes, the colours… it’s enough to make you book a flight before finishing the podcast!  He first went to the Valley Of Fire from a secret plan his wife and blogger partner Vy organised.  Surrounded by colourful rocks full of reds and pinks, you can either do short hikes (0.25 miles) all the way through to 20 miles+ hikes. Remembering to leave your sandals at home, remember to take boots with good tread, and take more water than you think you need!  Just like his tips for Lake Tahoe, remember to get here early. The first hike he discusses has a great lay-by parking spot, but can only hold 3 cars! Dustin also has an Ultimate Driving Guide for Valley Of Fire.  Fire Wave Hike… What A Name!  Fire Wave is a fantastic geological feature you will want to grab photos of, from iPhone to SLR. A straight forward hike, with only one part of shade near the end!  Dustin also talks about a top tip involving a cliff to climb nearby. Listen to around 14 minutes to hear it!  Pink Canyon is a shorter hike to take up your day. Head back to the visitors centre from Fire Wave, and you’ll see Pink Canyon to the side of the road, leading down to a slot canyon… Dustin explains it better. Just take a listen below, and check out their video of the hike too.  That Adventure Life also have a brilliant YouTube channel that you have to check out, where they detail their trips in short videos.  ---------- If you enjoy the show please subscribe/follow and share with a friend!  If you really enjoy the show please check out our Patreon site here, starting from only £4 (that’s only a cup of coffee each month!). This really helps support the background costs and quality of episodes!  To come on the show or work with me, please email on: btmtravelpod@gmail.com  Join in with the community. Instagram/Twitter/Facebook and our new Facebook Page to share your own photos and videos here  https://betweenthemountains.org/

8 Apr 202032min