Afghanistan, the Veiled Land

Ros Freeman travels across Afghanistan, from Kabul’s bustling markets to Bamyan’s empty Buddha niches and the turquoise lakes of Band-e Amir, discovering a country of extraordinary history, warm hospitality and daily life shaped by the Taliban.

Additional photography by Brendan Fitzpatrick

All across the country, a dusty haze seemed to draw a veil over everything. Majestic mountains, historic wonders, trucks laden with pomegranates and a history that includes Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan and Timur: Afghanistan was not at all what I expected. It was so much more. And did I mention the world’s best-dressed men?

West Africa: The Spirit Coast

From a darkened back room in Lomé to the "door of no return" at Cape Coast, a voyage through West Africa where the old gods, and the old wounds, are still very much in residence.

Words and pictures by Roderick Eime

"You will travel far, and the spirits will guide you safely through many perils." Anthony whispers it into his cupped hands, slides a tiny wooden pin into a tinier shaft and presents me with my travelling talisman. Anthony is not his real name, I'm certain. He has the glow of a man who has just sold a very good used car.

My Kuwaiti Interlude

What to do with three spare days in between my Afghanistan trip and my Iraq trip? Solution: go to Kuwait.

My room at the Oasis Hotel in Sharq is perfect. I love it! It’s so perfect I don’t want to leave it. What a joy to inhabit such a beautifully designed space. It’s small and perfectly formed, affording the essential creature comforts plus a splash of pizzaz. I’m a happy camper as I wallow in my comfy bed, appreciating the aesthetics, the clever lighting, and the picture-window view of Kuwait City. That the air-conditioning is set to a perfect 22C, and the outside temperature is 40C, is another reason to stay indoors.

My cruise line is Viking

We are just home from a 14-night cruise from Bergen to Barcelona aboard Viking Neptune, our second with this line.

Choosing a cruise line is more complicated now as more ships head down the slipway. Today you have purpose built expedition vessels, sophisticated oversized yachts like Scenic Eclipse or the SeaDream fleet. There are cruise lines that only cater to the younger generation looking to party like Virgin - and of course there’s the ever growing crop of monsters catering mostly to families being pumped out by Royal Caribbean and others.

Dusit Princess Ipoh Opens

By David Bowden

The 268-room Dusit Princess Ipoh is the third branded property in Malaysia for the Thai hospitality group.

Dusit Hotels and Resorts, the hotel arm of Dusit International, one of Thailand's leading hotel and property development companies, opened Dusit Princess Ipoh on 1 October 2026, bringing its distinctive Thai-inspired gracious hospitality to the city.

Salzburg Celebrates the Sound of Music

The newly opened Sound of Music Museum in Salzburg provides another compelling reason to visit the Austrian city made famous by the acclaimed Hollywood film. David Bowden sings along.

For decades, tourists have travelled to Salzburg to experience the magic of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who was born there in 1756.

Wonderful, wonderful Copenhagen

‘Wonderful, wonderful Copenhagen, friendly old girl of a town’ . . . continues to enchant visitors with its traditions and easygoing personality. But there's more to explore as its varied and eclectic architecture ­– old and new – stirs 'for' and 'against' controversy, eventually melding into the visual fabric of the city, just as it always has. Bev Malzard goes in search.

Finding Colour in Marrakech: Yves Saint Laurent and Jardin Majorelle

Yves Saint Laurent found a lasting source of creative inspiration in Morocco. Today, the museum bearing his name and the neighbouring Jardin Majorelle rank among the most rewarding cultural attractions in Marrakech. Bev Malzard bathes in blue.