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Opening HoursLife is in the detail
For a different (and crowd free) take on a classic view – cross the Yamuna River at dusk to see the Taj Mahal glowing pink and reflected in the river.
Tom - Original Traveller
Tom Barber
Original Travel Expert
I have extensive travel experience throughout Middle East, Africa, Caribbean, The Far East and Europe.
My travels
Travel Things I Want To Do Before I Die
- Sudan. More pyramids than northerly neighbour Egypt and a miniscule fraction of the visitor numbers.
- California for sheer diversity of special things to see and do.
- Sao Tome & Principe, because it just sounds magical and unspoilt.
Best Moments
- Diving Neptune's Arm off the coast of Mozambique and generally considered the best dive in the world. It didn't disappoint and we were surrounded by white tip reef sharks and groupers the size of Minis.
Weirdest Travel Moment
- Chicken hearts in Brazil. Bleeurch.
Explore my blog posts
Destination Inspiration for Music
If music be the food of your travels, visit these places to broaden your aural horizons...
World Religion Day - Our Top Religious Sites and Festivals
World Religion Day is on Sunday 19th January this year, with the organisers keen to stress the importance of religion and spirituality in unifying humans around the world. They've got a point, because despite a few very obvious on-going (and seemingly implacable) religious rivalries around…
How to Travel Responsibly: Our Top Tips
Responsible travel, sustainable travel, eco-travel - call the concept what you will, but these buzzwords are making waves, and with good reason. We all want to safeguard our beloved planet, but we don't want to (and shouldn't) give up travel altogether, so how can we create the conditions…
Trending Destinations: What's Hot for 2020
Taking the planet's pulse is a particularly pleasurable part of our job, and each year we predict which destinations will hit the heights. So, without further delay, we introduce Original Travel's magnificent seven trending destinations for 2020. Some are entirely new destinations for us,…
Exploring British Columbia’s Magnificent Wildlife
British Columbia has around 16,000 miles of Pacific Ocean coastline (islands included) and endless untamed wilderness that make ideal habitats for the region's magnificent wildlife. By day, head out to spot bears, whales and eagles on foot, by kayak or by floatplane. Come evening, learn…
How To Do Rome With Kids - Part Two
Rome is a magical destination for families, but as with any successful trip, the proof is in the planning, so here are our direcor and founder Tom Barber's continued top tips for the perfect family trip to the Eternal City…
How To Do Rome With Kids - Part One
Rome is a magical destination for families, but as with any successful trip, the proof is in the planning, so here are my top tips (and those of my wife and four children, who are never short of feedback on one of our family trips) for the perfect family trip to the Eternal City…
Top 2020 Trips for Tweens
Welcome to the age of the 'tweenager' - the twilight zone between the innocence of early childhood and the dark ages of the teenage years. No need to panic though, because handled correctly these can be some of the most memorable (for all the right reasons) of all family travel times. For…
Our Top Tips for Travelling Together on Sabbatical
We've already talked about the potential for anxiety when leaving everyday life and - more importantly - friends and family behind during a sabbatical, but now it's time to get practical. Whether you want to counter those fears by taking family with you, or by having friends visit, or if you…
Top Trips for Tots 2020
Welcome to the exciting new world of family travel. You may have to make a few (temporary) compromises to your travel habits, but we're here to help with the transition. What you're ideally looking for at this nascent stage is child-friendly hotels that are, conversely, not entirely…
La Dolce Vita Aboard The 'Blue Deer' - Part 2
After dropping deeply unsubtle hints to Stefano, the owner of the Blue Deer, I flew to Italy ready to board the sublime catamaran for a few days in the Pontine Islands. We explored Ponza town itself, before heading over to the nearby island of Palmarola and doing some sea urchin diving…
La Dolce Vita Aboard the 'Blue Deer' - Part One
I've always espoused the mantra (if I can trap someone long enough while I bang on) that if you could take Italy's hinterland, and Greece's coastline and islands, you'd have arguably the world's perfect destination. That was until I had the very, very great pleasure of spending a couple of…
Sabbaticals - Feel The Fear...And Do It Anyway
"It's only normal to come up with excuses not to try something new or bold. We all fear uncertainty and things going wrong. Another way is to focus instead on the potential upsides and how the decision could transform your life for the better" Gil Dove, Leadership Coach
Why So Slow, UNESCO?
The last few weeks have been something of an emotional rollercoaster, haven't they? There was the absolute madness of the Cricket World Cup final, the devastation of honorary Brit Roger Federer losing in the Wimbledon final and, of course the annual updates to the UNESCO World Heritage…
Top Seven Things to Do in Sweden
Explore the rest of what makes the west (of Sweden) the best, or hop across to the glorious capital Stockholm.
The Best Family Holiday Ever: Part 2
Part one of my tales from our family holiday in South Africa took us from Cape Town to the Winelands, while in part two we head on up the coast along the Garden Route and then north to the Waterberg for a family safari…
The Best Family Holiday Ever: Part 1
If you haven't seen our latest Family Brochure yet, I'd like to think it's the best we've ever produced, and that's including two that won the illustrious Guardian/Observer Best Brochure of the Year award. The reason? We've meticulously laid out the best family travel destinations (some…
Where to Go for Outdoor Living
If you like your country big then this fab foursome are well worth exploring. Read on to find out how they put the 'great' in The Great Outdoors.
Pimp My Ride
Some roads demand to be driven, so a bog standard hire car just won't cut it. Add some horsepower to your holiday with these upgrades...
Connecting with Different Cultures Through Travel
Despite the dangerously polarising effect of social media and unscrupulous politicians, we all share the same hopes and fears, the same fundamental human condition, and there's no better way to remind yourself of these universal truths than through travel. Yes, the clothing, customs, cuisine…
The Greatest Road Trip Panoramic Pit Stops
You're here for the freedom of the open road, but do stop to take in the sheer magnificence of your surroundings...
Top Seven Things to do in Zambia
Whether you've got a niche wildlife interest or a need for some authentic cultural immersion, Zambia has got you covered...
Are We Nearly There Yet?
Keep the use of that dreaded phrase to a minimum with these road tested ruses...
Destination Inspiration for Slow Travel
The frenetic pace of modern life is a common complaint, but since the world shows no signs of stopping so we can get off, we need a few less radical solutions. Enter: the concept of slow travel; an opportunity to take your foot off the gas and enjoy the world around you at a gentler pace...
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