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Aya Radwan
Aya Radwan
Someone once said, “Move, you’re not a tree.” And it couldn’t resonate more. Travelling is medicine for the soul, and surprisingly, you never realise what you’re missing until you’ve travelled, lived new experiences and witnessed some of the world’s abundant wonders. We look for travel inspiration everywhere and find these popular travel reality shows that offer new and exciting destinations.
So, grab your favourite drink, a pen, and paper and plan your next trip to one of these wondrous destinations.
Table of Contents
Popular Travel Reality Shows: The Long Way Trilogy
The Long Way Trilogy consists of three series: the Long Way Round, the Long Way Down, and the Long Way Up. The travel reality show takes us to more than 40 beautiful countries. Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman’s primary travel means were their motorbikes. The vehicles allowed them to fully immerse themselves in the culture and atmosphere of each country.
Long Way Round
In the first series, Long Way Round, Ewan and Charley took us to twelve countries, starting from London and ending in New York City. The duo, with the entire crew in this travel reality show, headed eastward through Europe and Eastern Europe until they ended up in Alaska before heading to NYC. Charley is a trained biker, and Ewan practised relentlessly before the trip to hone his skills. Some places and landmarks they visited include:
Sedlec Ossuary, Czech Republic
Otherwise known as the Church of Bones, nothing radiates solemnity as Sedlec Ossuary in the Czech capital, Prague. This UNESCO World Heritage Site was decorated with the skeletons of about 40,000 to 70,000 people. These skeletons were intricately arranged to form a chandelier of bones and garlands made from human skulls. The unorthodox use of human bones was due to the overflowing count of dead people due to the Black Death in the mid-14th century. When you hear the name of the ossuary, you feel it’s horrendous. However, when you see it for yourself, you realise that beauty, though unusual, can be found in everything, literally!
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
The current Mongolian capital was first established in the mid-17th century. It continued moving from one location to another until it settled in its current one in the last quarter of the 18th century. The world’s coldest capital city has an astonishing history dating back 300,000 years, as evidenced by the remains of mammoth and woolly rhinoceros around the city. Even though the cast of Long Way Round had a difficult time passing through Mongolia’s terrain, the country’s capital offers excellent landmarks worth visiting. These include the city’s main square, Sükhbaatar Square, and Choijin Lama Temple Buddhist temple.
Mount Rushmore, USA
You will mostly have seen Mount Rushmore in several films, where you see the faces of four people carved in granite in South Dakota state. The incredible carvings took fourteen years to complete in the first half of the 20th century. The four faces carved on the mountain are those of American presidents Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Lincoln. All four presidents were regarded as beacons of democracy and reformation. The memorial, with the surrounding natural park, offers visitors a unique experience, where they can gaze upon the carvings’ magnificence and enjoy some time in the wilderness.
Long Way Down
In the second series, Long Way Down, the two friends and adventurers change routes and decide to ride through Africa. The travel reality show set off from John O’Groats in Scotland and ended with the southernmost tip of Cape Town in South Africa. The bikers rode through eighteen countries in the two continents despite logistic difficulties.
Sidi Driss Hotel, Matmata, Tunisia
This location in Tunisia was particular to Ewan, who played Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars franchise. The hotel still bears the Star Wars Episode IV logo, which was filmed in 1977 and served as the Lars family home. The small town in the south has one of the most exciting tourist features: the cave-like dwellings where some locals live. In Matmata, you can visit the ancient ruins of Casas Trogloditas de Matmata or even take a look at the local museum, Musée Berbère de Tamezret, which retells the story of Matmata and its handmade fabrics.
The Pyramids, Egypt
They remain a mystery to this day, one that gives us a clue of the greatness of its builders every decade or century without fully disclosing its secrets. Even before archaeologists could open their chambers, the Great Pyramids of Giza remain a wondrous landmark. You can see the magnificent three more giant pyramids: the Great Pyramid, KhKhafre’syramid, and MeMenkaure’syramid, as well as the mighty Sphinx and the three smaller pyramids behind them. To this day, further excavations are still underway to unearth more historical buildings in this area.
Long Way Up
The last travel reality show of the trilogy takes us from South to North America. The riding buddies started from Ushuaia in Argentina and rode through thirteen countries. They drove through Southern Patagonia, The Andes mountains, the sweltering Atacama Desert, Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador until they finished from Oaxaca to Los Angeles.
Ushuaia, Argentina
Imagine a firey red and orange sun setting over a snow-laden city with chilling weather. Ushuaia is a marvellous city that combines all the activities you can dream of during vacation. The town was inhabited 10,000 years ago, but Ushuaia as it is today was allegedly founded by British missionaries. Ushuaia’s architectural style is steeped in local architecture and carvings. You can visit the local Thematic Gallery, watch wildlife such as sea lions lying on the rocks in the sea, or even take a trekking route.
Atacama Desert
Visiting a desert plateau on vacation sounds outrageous—however, the Atacama Desert in South America isn’t bare and scorching heat. The total desert is rich in monuments from ancient South American civilisations, such as the Chinchorro culture, the Incans, and even Spanish troops after the invasion. Moreover, the coast of the Atacama Desert is home to various flora, plants and herbs that can adapt to high temperatures, such as thyme and saltgrass. When the desert gets enough rain, you can see blooming purple flowers.
Popular Travel Reality Shows: Men in Kilts: A Road Trip with Sam and Graham
Travel through Scotland and other parts of the world with Outlander superstars Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish. The popular travel reality show has two seasons. In the first one, the duo explores the heart of Scotland, its heritage, culture, and rich history. The second season begins with Scotland and sets off to discover the wonders of New Zealand and its ties with the Scottish land. Here are some wondrous Scottish locations Sam and Graham visited with their camper van.
Edinburgh
This beautiful Scottish gem has bewitched travellers old and new, with its rich calling out to visitors from each corner to lure them in. Edinburgh radiates a unique vibe that combines GoGotham’sbscurity and HoHogwarts’sharm. Alan Rickman once shared that he felt he was returning home whenever he returned to Edinburgh. It’s unattainable to sum up everything you can do in Edinburgh, which is why our ultimate Edinburgh travel guide will take you through the best things you can do in this enchanting city. We even share a few recommendations for having the best fish and chips in the town.
Balquhidder, Perthshire
This small village in Perthshire borders the Highlands and has its fair share of mountainous terrain. Once believed to have held the thinnest barrier between earth and heaven, BaBalquhidder’slen was blessed by St Angus, who was also buried at the town’s hill of Fire. Locals conducted annual Samhain and Beltane rituals on this hill, especially the burning hearth. Balquhidder is the final resting place of Scottish hero and outlaw Rob Roy, portrayed on the screen by Liam Neeson, and you can visit his grave near the ruins of the town’s church.
Doune, Perthshire
Doune village, or burgh in Perthshire, shows evidence of human habitation from the 14th century. Doune Castle, a majestic medieval castle that dates back to around 1,400, still stands intact today; the cacastle’sekeeper’souse is near the stone structure. ScScotland’sighlands, the wealthy region we thoroughly enjoyed while filming Outlander, lies a few kilometres to the northwest. The historical pistol manufacturing village has exhibitions in numerous museums worldwide, such as EdEdinburgh’suseum of Scotland—There’sDeanston Distillery in Doune and an entertaining farm, Brairlands, where you can ride cars for fun.
Culloden Battlefield, Inverness
The beautiful heart of the Scottish Highlands, Inverness, has a rich history that dates back more than 6,500 years. Moreover, archaeological finds indicate the area was a thriving trading centre with Yorkshire and the Roman Empire. InInverness’sharm brings together the city’s hustle and solemnity of the Highlands. Sam and Graham visited one of the two locations of historical battles in Inverness, the Culloden Battlefield. The nearly empty battlefield today once witnessed the end of the Jacobite army at the hands of Prince William Agustus.
Today, you can see marked spots for the clclans’ass graves, an information centre and market footpaths to take you around the field. The Old Leanach on the field dates to the mid-18th century. While the sisite’semorial cairn, a stack of rocks humans stack, commemorates the ba battle’sead. In Invyou’reverou must visit Inverness Castle, the Museum and Art Gallery, the city’s cathedralcity’srness Cathedral and the Ness Islands.
The Isle of Islay, Argyll
Bordering the Scottish Inner Hebrides and the Northern Irish coast, the Isle of Islay is the fifth-largest of ScScotland’s islands. The island’s history shows that humans inhabited it from the 1st year AD. The island thrived under the leadership of the Clan Donald, and up to the mid-19th century, it witnessed agricultural and transportation evolution. The Isle of Islay is a popular tourist destination with its mild weather and numerous rare birds.
When you visit the Isle of Islay, you can head to the mid-18th century Round Church or Kilarrow Parish, a church in the capital, Bowmorw. Since a quarter of the population speaks Scottish Gaelic, Bowmorw hosts the Ionad Chaluim Chille Ìle Centre, whose primary interest is promoting and reviving the local language. BoBowmore’sistilBoBowmore’sistilleryproducing single malt scotch whiskey.
Braemar, Aberdeenshire
Imagine a magical sunrise over extended fields of green and purple, with a scent of hope filling the air. Braemar village in Scotland is a fairytale village; its highland nature carries ancient castles, both intact and in ruins, majestic houses and a Highland gaming centre. A vital crossing path in ancient history, it wasn’t until the century that the two banks of the ancient Culnie Water were established. Unique landmarks include Braemar Castle, Balmoral Castle, the ruinous Kindrochit Castle, the Mar Lodge Estate and the vivillage’sighland Games Center.
Loch Ness, Glencoe
Last August, the most prominent local and worldwide searching group for the Loch Ness monster spent two days at the loch, Scottish for the lake, to record any possible sightings of the mysterious creature, first spotted 90 years ago. Loch Ness is a breathtaking lake despite its murky water. It is connected to several other lochs and the River Ness, from which the loch takes its name. Nine villages surround the loch, and one of the most exciting landmarks overlooking the loch is Urquhart Castle. This ruinous 13th-century castle testifies to the bravery of the Scots during their fight for independence. The nearby village of Drumnadrochit is a tourist centre for the villages surrounding the loch.
Popular Travel Reality Shows: Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted
You usually hear him shouting in the kitchen, with profanity here or there, in any of his cooking shows, such as HeHell’sitchen oHeHell’sitchenGordon is a top-tier chef and a successful restauranteur with restaurants worldwide. In this popular travel reality show, he travels to incredible locations around the globe, both culinary and culturally. The successful show has aired for three seasons thus far, with a total of 23 episodes.
Istria, Croatia
Although the Istria Peninsula lies in three countries, the most significant portion of it is in Croatia. We learned about the history of Istria, or Histri, as the Romans called it, from the RoRoman’sccords RoRoman’sccordshe peninsula in 177 BC. After that, the peninsula saw numerous invaders, including the Goths and the Lombards. There are several cities on the peninsula worth visiting, such as CrCroatia’satewaCrCroatia’sateway with its magnificent beaches and majestic landmarks, Savudrija with its rich history of war and love and Novigrad with its beautiful coast and rustic feel.
Sacred Valley of the Incas, Peru
Beholding one of the world’s most visible landmarks in Peru, the Sacred Valley is home to the famous Machu Pichu citadel. The Urubamba River watered the valley since its habitation and the construction of its sacred buildings between 1000 and 1400. The Incans were the first inhabitants. Instead, it was the Chanapata civilisation, followed by the Qotacalla civilisation and the Killke civilisation, which preceded the Incans, who inhabited the lush valley from 1420 till the Spanish invasion.
Lapland, Finland
Have you ever wondered if a true snow fairytale exists on earth? Lapland is the embodiment of a snowy wonderland. The northernmost Finnish region is famous worldwide for its relationship with Christmas, but the area has developed its tourism strategy to welcome tourists all year round. Rovaniemi is the region’s capital and economically relies on tourism, trade, construction, and manufacturing. If you visit Lapland during the holiday, visiting Santa Claus Village and the Lapland Hotels Snow Village would be perfect, or you can head to the Arktikum Science Museum for interesting scientific knowledge.
Travel enhances all your senses; you experience new experiences and may need to figure out certain situations for the first time. We loved travelling with these interesting, popular travel reality shows, and we hope you did, too.
