Lonely Planet Experts Share Their Global Travels: Countries Visited, Highlights, and Endless Wanderlust
Travel isn't about checking off countries on a list or collecting passport stamps. It's about immersing yourself in new cultures, discovering natural wonders, and stepping far beyond your comfort zone.
That said, reflecting on your journeys can be inspiring. Drawing from the latest edition of The Travel Book, we invited passionate Lonely Planet staff members to share their travel stats, standout moments, and future dreams.
Orla Thomas – Features Editor, Lonely Planet Traveller Magazine
Countries visited: 34
Favorite countries: USA, Spain, Japan
Why I travel: Away from home, everyday details—from road signs to local snacks—become endlessly fascinating. Each day turns into a series of delightful mini-adventures.
2016 travel highlight: Visiting Riga, Latvia's capital, in the heart of winter. Snow-dusted cobbled streets led me to Folkklubs Ala Pagrabs, a cozy basement tavern in the old town hosting folk dances. After chatting with a violinist from the band (a former Eurovision star), I joined the dance. Locals patiently guided this clumsy newcomer through repetitive steps—pure joy ensued!
Next on my wishlist: Austria, Kenya
James Kay – Editor, lonelyplanet.com
Countries visited: 47
Favorite countries: Costa Rica, New Zealand, India
Why I travel: It resets my mind. Familiar surroundings put the brain on autopilot; travel switches it back to manual—the most enjoyable way to stay alert.
2016 travel highlight: Island-hopping in Bohuslän, western Sweden, from Gothenburg to the Norwegian border. Charming fishing villages like Lysekil, Smögen, and Fjällbacka feature red wooden huts, pink granite boulders, and deep blue seas. A dusk kayak tour in the car-free Koster Islands, within Sweden's only marine national park, offered serene paddling amid tiny islets and secret bays.
Next on my wishlist: Namibia, Madagascar, Alaska
Gemma Graham – Destination Editor, Northern Europe
Countries visited: 25
Favorite countries: Norway, Lithuania, Rwanda
Why I travel: It counters city stress with nature's embrace—whether a far-off adventure or a short countryside escape.
2016 travel highlight: An aerial safari over Greenland's ice cap in a six-seater plane. After hiking its vastness, the bird's-eye view of jagged white expanses and turquoise meltwater lakes was awe-inspiring, making me feel both immense and insignificant. Returning to bustling Heathrow was a stark contrast.
Next on my wishlist: Japan, Canada, Iran
Tom Hall – Editorial Director
Countries visited: 57
Favorite countries: Slovenia, Iceland, Tanzania
Why I travel: The thrill of movement, discovery, and unexpected encounters—meeting new people and witnessing wonders is unbeatable.
2016 travel highlight: Exploring Lazio, Italy's underrated region north of Rome. Painted palaces, hill towns, ancient ruins—all with fewer crowds than Rome or Tuscany. Family travel meant warm local hospitality, plus endless espresso and gelato.
Next on my wishlist: Bulgaria, South Africa, Faroe Islands
Jane Atkin – Community Manager
Countries visited: 39
Favorite countries: Australia, France, Turkey
Why I travel: It dissolves routines, rebuilding you anew and clarifying what truly brings happiness.
2016 travel highlight: Seven selfie-stick-free days in Moldova, Europe's least-visited country. Remote monasteries amid dramatic landscapes, Moldovan wine evenings, and a detour to Soviet-era Tiraspol in Transnistria—Lenin statues, Cyrillic signs, pure nostalgia.
Next on my wishlist: Russia, Jordan, Ecuador
Matt Phillips – Destination Editor, sub-Saharan Africa
Countries visited: 61
Favorite countries: Namibia, India, Ethiopia
Why I travel: The unknown beckons—scary yet exciting—revealing as much about myself as the places.
2016 travel highlight: Heart-pounding ascents: sand dune racing in Namibia's Namib-Naukluft National Park, scrambling Le Morne Brabant in Mauritius, and trail running Italy's Cinque Terre. Each summit delivered staggering views.
Next on my wishlist: Madagascar, Iceland, Cuba
