atlasandboots.com

I first travelled to Antarctica in 2022, sailing across the Drake Passage and down the Antarctic Peninsula on a short expedition voyage. My second visit was rather different. Instead of spending a few days travelling between landing sites, I spent an entire season living and working at Port Lockroy as a wildlife monitor for the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust. … [Read more...]

At Atlas & Boots, we've dived in some astonishing places, from Steve's Bommie in the Great Barrier Reef to the Sonesta plane wrecks in Aruba. We're generally pretty hopeless at fish identification, so when it comes to diving, unless it's a truly amazing reef system, we're usually more interested in diving something new or unique. Enter the man-made dive site. the full … [Read more...]

There are few things that evoke the romanticism of adventure quite like a map – especially old maps. Full of exotic names (Persia, Abyssinia, Rhodesia!) and olde worlde lettering, they are reminiscent of a time when men sacrificed their lives for adventure and exploration. Maps ignite hopes and inspire dreams. They encourage one to sail away from the safe harbour and, in the words of Mark Twain, … [Read more...]

Japan has four distinct seasons, and the time of year can completely change the feel of a trip. Most Australians tend to visit in one of two windows: cherry blossom season in early spring or the ski season during the summer school holidays. Both are excellent times to go, but they are also among the busiest and most expensive. … [Read more...]

Plan an unforgettable cross-Canada adventure from the Rockies to the Cabot Trail, with top hikes, timing, permits and wildlife tips Canada has something of a scale problem. It spans six time zones, covers almost 10 million square kilometres and contains more wilderness than most travellers could explore in a lifetime. That is, of course, part of the … [Read more...]

It's strange that in a place literally named 'Great', we the British like to self-deprecate. We tend to look at blind ambition and gaudy success with a sense of mild distaste. We value poise and decorum and seldom shout about our strengths. It's understandable then why so many of us forget the vast and varied beauty right here at home. From crisp mornings on snowy peaks to fiery sunsets on sunny … [Read more...]

There's a moment in Sherpa, the BAFTA-nominated documentary about Everest's famous guides, where a western tourist asks "can you not talk to their owners?" in reference to the striking Sherpas. It may have been an innocuous plea made in a moment of frustration but in the harsh truth of film, the question exposes an unsettling attitude to the guides that risk their lives to lead others to the … [Read more...]

When Peter headed to Greenland this summer to trek the Arctic Circle Trail, I knew he'd be unreachable for 7-10 days. He's a highly experienced hiker, but there was a tiny part of me that couldn't help but worry. What if he twisted an ankle or fell into a ravine? What if he was attacked? What if he lost his backpack from a capsized kayak? There were several scenarios that ran through my head – but … [Read more...]

"Kia, you have a pilot's license, right?" asks Reena, my eldest sister, in our family group chat.  "No, but I like that as part of my lore," I reply.  It's nice to have lived the sort of life that leads my own sister to believe that I know how to fly a plane. It's been a full life with plenty of adventure. I have indeed flown a plane (but only once) and jumped out of a couple of others. I've dived … [Read more...]

Summer outdoor clothing has a difficult job. It needs to keep us comfortable when the temperature climbs, pack down easily for travel and, ideally, cope with the inevitable moment when the sunshine disappears behind a bank of grey British cloud. … [Read more...]

New York is having a renaissance of sorts. With a Mayor that oozes rizz, the Knicks in an overdue winning streak, and the buzz of the Taylor-Travis wedding, New York is having a very good year indeed.  Alas, the city that never sleeps still doesn't rank at the top of the 100 best cities in the world. … [Read more...]

Legendary climber​​ Reinhold Messner said that there are three rules of mountaineering: "It's always further than it looks. It's always taller than it looks. And it's always harder than it looks." Messner was the first person to climb all 14 eight-thousander mountains and has undoubtedly seen the lethal side of the world's most beautiful mountains. Thankfully, those of us less alpine inclined can … [Read more...]

Indonesia is made for hiking. Spread across thousands of islands, the country offers everything from active volcanoes and highland valleys to tropical rainforest, remote villages and sweeping savannah. Add in year-round adventure, dramatic scenery and routes that still feel genuinely wild, and Indonesia becomes one of Southeast Asia's most rewarding destinations for long-distance walkers. … [Read more...]

Knowing how to choose a backpack will make your outdoor trip more enjoyable. Whether you're on a day hike through gently rolling hills or an extended expedition crossing a continent, getting this right will ensure comfort and reliability day after day. … [Read more...]