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This new, thoroughly updated fourth edition of Bradt's award-winning guide to Liguria is the essential companion to getting the most out of a visit to this beguiling Italian region. Author Rosie Whitehouse has spent over thirty years exploring Liguria. In her wide-ranging guide, she introduces you to not just the glitz of the Riviera but also to the charm of the little-known, wild hinterland and mountain valleys, including in-depth coverage of local gastronomic delights - a key element of any Ligurian visit.Liguria is a rugged region of dizzy passes and breathtaking views, where mountains plunge into the sparkling blue waters of the Mediterranean. The coastal strip includes the world-famous Italian Riviera, the great port city of Genoa, the resort of Portofino, the charming Cinque Terre, and more Blue Flag beaches than any other Italian region. In the hinterland there are many beautiful villages and mountain walks that have yet to be discovered by tourists - perfect for adventurous travellers who want a taste of the real Italy. This fourth edition covers new, high-class hotels and Michelin-starred restaurants that reflect Liguria's rising status as a luxury destination - but, blessedly, one that doesn't always come with an expensive price tag. Also new in this edition is up-to-date advice on car parking (which can be tricky in parts of Liguria) and information on Genoa's new Museum of Emigration. With its mild climate, Liguria is a fabulous year-round destination with a strong regional identity of its own. Whether you're a gourmet traveller in search of pesto, trofie and freshly baked focaccia, a history buff on the hunt for Roman remains, a culture addict dazzled by Genoa's glittering palazzi and top-class museums, a hiker seeking a mountain escape, or a family heading for a well-earned beach-based break, Bradt's Liguria is the ideal guide for travellers of all ages and all budgets.

This new, thoroughly updated fifth edition of Bradt's Greece: The Peloponnese with Athens, Delphi and Kythira remains the only dedicated guidebook to the southern part of the Greek mainland. It provides more detailed coverage than any other rival guide, making it indispensable for independent and group travellers visiting a fascinating area slightly smaller than Wales. It also incorporates focussed mini-guides to the Greek capital of Athens and the world-famous site of Delphi.The Peloponnese contains a huge diversity of cultural landscapes, from sleepy, white-washed villages to Byzantine churches, medieval fortresses and ancient archaeological sites such as Olympia and Mycenae. In addition to a long Mediterranean coast lined with classic white sandy beaches, the peninsula incorporates towering mountains for hiking and skiing, olive groves which produce the finest fruit, and hillsides covered in flowers.Bradt's Greece: The Peloponnese provides in-depth coverage of well-known sites, including one of Europe's most spectacular train journeys and the tower houses of the famed Mani. Such information is complemented by descriptions of lesser-known attractions often ignored by other books. Those visiting outside of high season can revel in the delights of the wildflowers of spring, the joys of the olive harvest in late autumn and skiing opportunities during the winter. Birds and marine life are also a huge attraction at any season. The guide also focuses on the colourful life of the traditional paneyiri (festivals) and those who still embrace the Greek spirit of philoxenia (hospitality).The guide is packed with information on independent tours and activities, secluded villages and sophisticated towns, agritourism spots, camping under the stars, rustic tavernas and locally grown produce - all reflecting the reality that the Peloponnese, more than any other part of Greece, exemplifies the ideals of 'slow travel'.Originally written by Andrew Bostock, a former resident of the Peloponnese, this fifth edition has been updated by Greece experts Dana Facaros and Mike Gerrard. New elements include refreshed hotel and restaurant listings, and details of new or upgraded museums such as the Epigraphic Museum (in Argos) and archaeological museums in Argos and Sparta.

This new, thoroughly updated third edition of Bradt's Outer Hebrides is the only up-to-date guidebook to focus solely on Scotland's Western Isles: the islands of Lewis, Harris, St Kilda, Berneray, North Uist, Benbecula, South Uist, Eriskay, Barra and Vatersay. Informed and intimate, this guidebook is ideal for people who travel with curious minds to discover places of great cultural, historical and wildlife interest.The Outer Hebrides is an archipelago of 15 inhabited islands and more than 50 others that are free of human footprint. It is perfect for a staycation where you can get off the beaten track, switching off from the modern world. Huge variations in landscape are found across the islands - from Lewisian gneiss, which dates back almost three billion years, to rugged Harris with its magnificent, almost unbroken sands running down its western flanks, and the undulating flatness and jagged sea lochs of the Uists. Here Gaelic is increasingly spoken (driven both by a strong sense of regional identity but also, unexpectedly, boosted by commitment from many incomers). Ancient monuments abound, from enigmatic 2,000-year-old brochs to Tobha Mor, the earliest Christian site on the Outer Hebrides. Here too are the Standing Stones of Callanish (where a vibrant new visitor centre opens in 2026) and the Uig peninsula (where the 'Lewis Chessmen' were uncovered nearly 200 years ago). Nature-lovers can watch stunning seabird colonies, birds of prey, seals and red deer - or become absorbed in the machair, grassy coastal zones that are transformed into glorious carpets of wildflowers in late spring and summer. Walkers have an impressive choice of routes, while cyclists can enjoy the new Hebridean Way cycle trail. Alongside providing all the practical details you could ever need, experienced journalist Mark Rowe contextualises your visit with detailed and enlightening background information - from geography and geology to art and architecture, via extensive coverage of wildlife. New elements of this third edition include advice on camping and campervanning, a round-up of deserted villages and details of the first malt whisky produced on Harris. Whatever floats your boat, Bradt's Outer Hebrides is your perfect travel companion.

This new, thoroughly updated, third edition of The Basque Country and Navarre, Bradt's award-winning guidebook, remains the most in-depth guide to a multi-lingual, multi-cultural borderland that is neither Spain nor France, but straddles the Pyrenees, mountains that divide the two countries. Bradt's guide offers real insights into a profound regional identity, uncovering the peculiarities which imbue the area with intrigue and takes you way beyond the delightful, well-known cities into the heart of the beautiful Basque countryside.Deep-seated Basque traditions, singular cuisine, world-class wine, strange sports, unique language, bold art and architecture all converge to showcase a land that continues to mystify and reveal itself the more you visit. Secluded valleys and rugged mountains, wild coastlines and the vestiges of industry long gone provide a strange mix that pays homage to a troubled past, a lively present and a constant reinvention that promises an exciting future for the Basques. Large and sparsely populated, little known and little visited, neighbouring Navarre offers natural attractions ranging from high Pyrenees to arid semi-desert. This former kingdom's troublesome history is waymarked by lonely hilltop castles, but only in the frenetic, bull-running days of Pamplona's San Fermín festival does it announce itself noisily on the world stage, welcoming hundreds of thousands of visitors to Ernest Hemingway's favourite party town.With advice on where to walk, cycle, horseride, surf and birdwatch accompanying traditional listings of where to stay and eat, author Murray Stewart guides travellers through this increasingly popular area. Find the best pintxos (tapas) and txakoli wine, the finest chuletón (beef chop) and the freshest fish. From elegant Biarritz, via the French Basque Pyrénées, to the Navarran 'badlands' of Bardenas Reales, travel to fascinating, less-visited places that host thrilling local festivals. New elements in this edition include a host of elegant hotels in San Sebastián, the city-on-the-beach, transport improvements, new restaurants serving culinary specialities, a major reconfiguration of Bilbao's Bellas Artes museum and constantly evolving wine tourism opportunities. Whether you are a hiker or surfer, foodie or cyclist, spiritualist or golfer, let Bradt's The Basque Country and Navarre help you enjoy a fascinating, rewarding holiday.

This new, thoroughly updated sixth edition of Bradt's Faroe Islands remains the only English-language guide to this isolated, unspoiled Nordic archipelago, home to Tórshavn (the world's smallest capital), and where there are twice as many sheep as people - meaning that it's still possible to discover a way of life that is fast disappearing elsewhere in Europe, a place where sheep were fitted with cameras to help film for Google Streetview (locally dubbed Google 'Sheepview'). Visiting the Faroes is a chance to experience nature in the raw. Its breathtaking landscapes never fail to inspire, from the highest sea cliffs in Europe at Enniberg on the island of Viðoy to the dramatic seascapes at Akraberg, the southernmost point of the Faroes. Also included are details of how to reach even the remotest corners by bus using a travel card, information on changing seabird numbers in the North Atlantic, and details of where to go birdwatching and hiking. Written by expert author James Proctor, who has been visiting the Faroes since 1992, this guidebook offers detailed information about all 18 islands (including Mykines, whose year-round population is barely in double figures). Within the islands themselves, Bradt's Faroe Islands is recognised as the definitive source of information about the Faroes in the English language - and is widely respected as such. There's hands-on advice about where to stay and eat, how to get around - be it by local ferry, helicopter or your own hire car - and what to see and do. This latest edition includes all the most recent developments (including improvements in air, ferry and road travel - the latter including the world's only subsea roundabout) and provides all the information needed for a successful trip, with updated reviews of accommodation (plus Tórshavn's classy new hotels) and eating and drinking options. Whether you're visiting for the amazing birdlife, to walk some of Europe's least-known hiking trails or simply to sample real village life among the turf-roofed houses painted in a mêlée of reds, yellows and blues, Bradt's Faroe Islands is the perfect companion.

Bradt's North Macedonia remains the only standalone English-language guidebook to this increasingly popular destination available outside the country. Originally written by Thammy Evans, a political analyst who lived there for five years, this new edition has been thoroughly updated and restructured to make it even easier to use by Philip Briggs, arguably the world's most experienced guidebook writer.Coverage of national parks has been increased and hiking information has been fully integrated to make it more accessible to casual users. Introductions to many points of interest have been expanded to give more of an overview of what the attractions are and there are several new and redrawn maps.Of all the new countries formed following the break-up of Yugoslavia in 1991, North Macedonia was the only one to attain independence without bloodshed. This is a small land that offers huge variety to travellers, from the oldest lake in Europe to soaring forest-swathed mountain ranges and from the millennia-old Neolithic rock observatory at Kokino and Roman mosaics at Heraclea, to dozens of historic and actively-used mediaeval monasteries and mosques. North Macedonia's urban centrepiece and main port of entry is the capital Skopje, now home to a wealth of Ottoman buildings, a lively culinary scene, and several world-class museums, while the main tourist hub is the pretty lakeshore town of Ohrid, a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to its wealth of medieval churches and other architectural gems. A trio of national parks provide refuge to brown bears, grey wolves, the rare Balkan lynx and a wide variety of birds. And wherever you go, welcoming family-run tavernas and lively pavement cafés serve authentic traditional cooking and locally produced wine that ranks as probably the most affordable anywhere in the European Balkans. Wherever you go and whatever your interest, this is a country that offers countless rewards to independent-minded travellers and those who want to get away from the crowds. And with Bradt's North Macedonia, you'll find everything you need for a successful trip.

This new, thoroughly updated fifth edition of Bradt's Northern Tanzania Safari Guide remains the only full-length guidebook focussed exclusively on the country's north and on Zanzibar. Reflecting tourism's shift away from backpackers and budget camping safaris to upper-end and mid-range safaris and beach holidays, it is tailored closely to the requirements of anyone going on a safari to northern Tanzania, followed by a few days on Zanzibar.Northern Tanzania is dominated by Africa's finest safari circuit, offering spectacular game-viewing year round. Centred on the legendary Serengeti National Park and its world-famous wildebeest migration, this circuit also incorporates the Ngorongoro Crater and surrounding Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Lake Manyara and Tarangire national parks. Geographically northern Tanzania is one of Africa's most varied regions, with a palm-fringed Indian Ocean coastline complemented by the scenic wonders of the Great Rift Valley, and several impressive volcanically formed mountains, most notably snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro, the tallest peak in Africa and a popular goal for hikers. Lesser-known gems include the prehistoric rock art at Kondoa (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the forested Arusha National Park and Amani Nature Reserve, and the spectacular Ol Doinyo Lengai - Africa's most active volcano. Serviced by a well-developed safari industry, northern Tanzania's superlative reserves are complemented by a stopover on the legendary Spice Island of Zanzibar. With its atmospheric old town, idyllic beaches and offshore reefs teeming with marine life, it is every bit as evocative as its name.Written by acknowledged Africa experts and prolific guidebook writers Philip Briggs and Chris McIntyre, this guide prioritises practical information about the area's peerless collection of national parks, game reserves and other safari destinations. Accommodation listings for the safari destinations are the most detailed and authoritative available, the authors weeding through the ever-growing number of lodges and camps to create a critically selective list of the best properties across all price points. Meanwhile, a colour wildlife field guide provides great detail about wildlife and where to see it. All in all, Northern Tanzania Safari Guide is the most authoritative source available for visitors - an essential travel companion for both first-time visitors and seasoned safari-goers.

This thoroughly updated fourth edition of Bradt's Kazakhstan remains the only guidebook dedicated solely to the world's ninth largest country - a thrillingly fresh destination that even well-seasoned travellers will find unfamiliar and exotic. Geographically, this Central Asian state is impressively varied: choose from snow-covered peaks with excellent skiing opportunities, hiking trails through valleys, secluded lakes in the Tian Shan Mountains, endless semi-desert steppes and the Caspian Sea's blue waters. Culturally, Kazakhstan is similarly diverse, enabling visitors to enjoy authentic local hospitality from 130 ethnic groups. Kazakhstan is a modern country with a profound appreciation of its nomadic roots; petroglyph sites with ancient rock art plus the remains of Silk Road settlements testify to its varied history. Politically and socially, Kazakhstan now oscillates between east and west - a vibrancy reflected in its architecture, lifestyle and national ambitions. The small Caspian city of Aktau served as the cultural capital of the Turkic world during 2025, while the country's capital (Astana) is a statement of western-inspired modernity. Leafy Almaty, meanwhile, with its fountains and parks, remains by far the most charming (and somewhat nostalgic) city. Where you venture depends, in part, on when you visit - and every season offers something special. Late summer is best for mountain hiking, particularly in the Altai Mountains, sleeping on the shores of the Kolsai Lakes, or exploring the Caspian Sea coast. Winter is idyllic for skiing and skitouring. Spring and autumn are optimum for southern cities of Shymkent and Turkestan (where the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yassaui is unmissable). And Baikonur Cosmodrome, of course, is best visited during a spaceport launch.Safe and politically neutral, Kazakhstan is also more accessible than ever: tourist visas are no longer required, and there are numerous direct flights from Europe. Tourist infrastructure has also significantly improved, with faster trains, more comfortable buses and efficient internal flights making it easy to get around. The new edition of Bradt's Kazakhstan covers all recent developments, including more practical information to make independent travel easier. Bradt's guidebook provides the perfect companion for all travellers, from nature lovers to cultural explorers, teenage backpackers to family groups.

This new, thoroughly updated sixth edition of Bradt's Bosnia and Herzegovina remains the only full-length English-language guide to this cultural and outdoor adventure Balkan crossroads. Written by an expert who came to volunteer during the war and ended up staying almost thirty years, it offers a unique first-hand account combined with practical information that goes beyond any other guide available.New for this sixth edition are updated maps, contacts and detailed visitor information not easily found online, insider knowledge on the ever-changing hotel and restaurant scene in Sarajevo, details of new attractions such as cable cars and museums, new rural and eco-accommodation around the national parks, and new coverage of the Green and Blue trails of the Via Dinarica, which has been further developed, particularly around Sarajevo and in Herzegovina. Up-and-coming tourist hubs such as Banja Luka, Tuzla and Mostar are also covered, while a new Eastern Bosnia chapter expands on what to see and do in the main towns and includes details of new outdoor adventure offerings along the Montenegrin/Tara border. This edition also includes a complete run-down of all the wineries in Herzegovina.A rich history, great food scene, outdoor activities, nature and hiking make Bosnia and Herzegovina popular with all age groups and the Bradt guide provides all the information needed for a successful trip, from hostels to boutique hotels, cheap eats to fancy restaurants, wilderness adventure to business travel.

New from Bradt, Democratic Republic of the Congo is the only dedicated, up-to-date, English-language guidebook to this thrilling African destination. Almost twice the size of the European Union, the continent's second-largest country offers plenty for adventurous travellers to explore. The mighty River Congo rises in the south before winding along the Equator for nearly 5,000 km to reach the Atlantic Ocean. On either side, twenty different ecosystems give rise to a multitude of landscapes, from tropical rainforests (which serve as the world's second-largest carbon sink) to volcanic mountains, and great lakes to savanna plateaus. DRC's National Parks and nature reserves cover around 12% of the country and are well worth the effort to get to, as they host some of the world's most exciting wildlife-watching opportunities - the main reason why many people visit DRC. As well as harbouring more bird species than other African countries, nowhere else in the world provides the chance to see the giraffe-like okapi (a bizarre giraffe-like creature) and bonobo (formerly known as pygmy chimpanzee). Moreover, sites for both mountain and eastern lowland gorillas lie firmly on the tourist trail at the world-famous locations of Virunga and Kahuzi-Biega national parks. Even if wildlife does not float your boat, there is much to savour. The capital, Kinshasa, is one of Africa's great cities. This is the home of musique congolaise, enjoyed all over Africa and beyond - and of the sapeurs (DRC's renowned snappy dressers). Historic Kisangani is the furthest navigable point on the River Congo; Katherine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart stayed here when filming The African Queen. The city of Lubumbashi offers wide boulevards and art-deco buildings, plus good hotels and restaurants in which to relax. Once rested, if the area is at peace, why not hike to the summit of Nyiragongo volcano and spend the night beside the world's largest lava lake? With its wide-ranging coverage offering advice on everything from tour operators to accommodation, and security to visiting national parks, Bradt's Democratic Republic of the Congo is your essential travel companion.

Bradt's Uganda has for many years been considered the go-to source of information for travellers interested in this extraordinary country, which boasts Africa's most biodiverse - and arguably most exciting - safari circuit. Written by Philip Briggs, the world's foremost guidebook writer on Africa, this new tenth edition of the most detailed travel guidebook available to Uganda has been thoroughly updated by local resident and experienced travel writer Andrew Roberts. Uganda excels for wildlife-watching, and recent transport improvements now make for relatively easy year-round access to key sites. Visit the lush montane forests of Bwindi, which protect one of the world's largest remaining populations of mountain gorillas, watch habituated chimpanzees in Kibale and tree-climbing lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park, or enjoy outstanding birdwatching throughout - with more than a thousand bird species in a country similar in size to Great Britain. As well as treating readers to a dedicated wildlife chapter with over 100 colour wildlife photographs, Bradt's Uganda guides visitors around key wildlife-watching experiences. It provides up-to-date coverage of gorilla-tracking options, describing gorilla groups and their locations - everything anyone who dreams of encountering these remarkable primates needs to know. Uganda is not just about wildlife. Hikers love some of Africa's tallest mountains, notably the snow-capped Rwenzori (the 'Mountains of the Moon'), the massive collapsed caldera that tops Mount Elgon, and the forest-swathed volcanic peaks of the Virungas. A highlight for adrenaline junkies is rafting the 'Grade Five' white-water rapids on the Nile shortly after it emerges from the inland sea that is Lake Victoria. In this tenth edition, carefully selected accommodation listings have been updated, providing critical appraisals of optimum options in each price bracket. While tourism has long focussed on western Uganda, this edition strengthens attention on the country's remote northeast corner, which is emerging as a popular destination that includes the untrammelled savannah of Kidepo National Park and offers opportunities to interact with traditional Karamojong pastoralists. Boasting detailed maps of the country, updated or created from scratch using GPS, and all the travel advice a visitor might want, Bradt's Uganda remains the essential companion guide to this compelling country.

Written by long-term resident, adventurer and experienced travel writer Oscar Scafidi, this brand new Bradt publication is the most up-to-date, comprehensive travel guidebook to Tunisia produced by a mainstream publisher. Taking account of this North African country's recent political and social flux, and covering each of the nation's 24 governorates, the book's listings for hotels, restaurants and activities cater for all types of travellers and budgets. Complemented by 80 detailed maps and advice on navigating bureaucracy, this guide provides all the practical information you need to visit or explore here.The birthplace of the Arab Spring in 2010, Tunisia is readily accessible from European cities. From relaxing on Mediterranean beaches to camel-trekking or quad-biking in the Sahara Desert and marvelling at the moonscapes of Chott el Djerid salt lake, this fascinating nation crams much excitement and interest into a small area. In the 2,000-year-old capital of Tunis, originally a Berber settlement, you can haggle in the ancient Medina, browse artefacts at the Bardo National Museum or enjoy fresh seafood at waterfront restaurants. Archaeology afficionados will hardly know where to begin in Africa's fourth-richest country for UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the remnants of Ancient Carthage, perhaps, or superbly preserved Roman ruins, such as the world's second-largest amphitheatre of El Jem? Djerba, where Berbers, Muslims and the world's oldest Jewish community have co-existed for centuries, is a world-renowned kitesurfer's paradise. Sunseekers have over 1,000km of coastline on which to bask - why not sip cocktails at the upmarket resort of Gammarth, just north of Tunis - while hedonists can party at a mammoth 30-hour rave in the desert at Ong Jmal. Meanwhile, film buffs can make pilgrimages to sets used in the Star Wars movies or explore canyons used by Steven Spielberg' for an Indiana Jones film, and culture vultures can visit Islamic sites such as the Ribat of Monastir fort or 7th-century city of Kairouan. With a language appendix covering Tunisian Arabic and French, detailed context that helps visitors travel with awareness and sensitivity, and in-depth travel information, Bradt's Tunisia is an indispensable practical companion to exploring this exciting country.

This expanded and extensively updated second edition of Bradt's Pantanal Wildlife remains the most user-friendly guidebook for ecotourists visiting South America's great wetland - according to Time magazine, 'one of the world's greatest places'. Extending across Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay, in some ways the Pantanal is the continent's equivalent of Africa's Serengeti: a vast territory brimming with abundant, exciting and photogenic wildlife. The planet's biggest wetland - 10 times larger than Florida's Everglades, 15 times that of Botswana's Okavango Delta - offers superlative wildlife-watching to enthrall novice and expert alike. In no other New World location can visitors see at point-blank range such a high number and variety of birds (670+ species), mammals (110+ species) and reptiles (50+ species). Alongside breathtaking gatherings of wildlife - with fur, feather and scale crammed into desiccating water bodies during the dry season - record-breakers of the natural world can be easy to spot here. Visitors have excellent opportunities to watch the New World'sAmericas' mightiest cat (nowhere is better to see jaguar), the world's largest parrot (hyacinth macaw), largest rodent (the pig-sized capybara), the planet's greatest gathering of crocodilians (yacaré caiman) and South America's heaviest land mammal (lowland tapir). Both a wildlife guide and a travel guidebook, Pantanal Wildlife is designed for visitors wishing to recognise the animals they see, to understand more about them and to learn where to look for them - but are too conscious of theirdo not have the baggage allowance to bring a shelf-full of reference material. It comprises authoritative yet accessible text by a South American wildlife expert, bringing remarkable animals to life through highly readable snippets on behaviour and biology, derived from the latest science. Bradt's Pantanal Wildlife remains the only portable, hard-copy guidebook to focus entirely on the South America's finest best wildlife-watching experience in South America, the only book to feature all major faunal groups - and the only guide to cover the entire Pantanal, combining up-to-date visitor advice on where to stay, tips on exactly where to look for the most exciting wildlife and insights into getting around in each of the three countries it encompasses. Bradt's Pantanal Wildlife is the indispensable travel companion - truly a visitor's guide - to this exhilarating region.

This new, thoroughly updated edition of Bradt's Serbia covers all the practical information you could need plus comprehensive details of Serbian history, geography, economy, politics and people, as well as food and wine, city life, hiking and outdoors and adventure trips. Significant improvements to accommodation throughout the country over the past few years are also covered, with a wide range of options included, from five-star and boutique hotels to backpacker hostels. Bradt's Serbia also has a strong emphasis on culture and the arts - music, literature, cinema and art - and on natural history, with a thorough overview of Serbia's best wildlife sites.Serbia remains one of the least known corners of Europe although Belgrade, the capital, is becoming increasingly popular with overseas visitors, as is the second city, Novi Sad. Both are lively, cosmopolitan and welcoming cities with vibrant nightlife. In contrast, rural Serbia, with its hidden monasteries and gorgeous countryside, is an undiscovered gem. This new edition covers everything from the development of the Savamala riverfront in Belgrade to village stays, archaeological sites from the Roman era or earlier (no fewer than 18 Roman emperors were born in the territory that is now Serbia, including Constantine the Great), public transport information, the EXIT festival and Guca Trumpet Festival and, of course, the country's sporting prowess: tennis star Novak Djokovic has won 20 Grand Slam single titles, while in team sports, Serbia has excelled at water polo, basketball, volleyball and football in recent years.No matter your interest, whether it be travelling on one of the steepest climbing railway lines in the world, the Sargan Eight line, visiting one of the largest Orthodox Christian churches in the world, Belgrade's Temple of St Sava, or wandering around the National Museum or Museum of Contemporary Art, both now finally re-opened, Bradt's Serbia offers everything you need for a successful trip.

This new seventh edition of Bradt's Georgia remains the only dedicated guide to this fascinating, budget-friendly Caucasian country, where tourism continues to grow and domestic travel is increasingly straightforward. Thoroughly updated to reflect recent developments, this guidebook includes revised and new listings for hotels, homestays, restaurants, what to see and do, and how to get around by public transport.At the intersection of Europe and Asia, nestled between Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey, Georgia is the hub of the Caucasus - a country known for its mountains and Black Sea coast, and its wonderful food, wine and all-round hospitality. With Bradt's Georgia, you can experience the new alongside the old in a country where most cultural and historical sights are free of charge or very cheap. The capital, Tbilisi, boasts a charming, cobbled old town, the centuries-old tiled baths of Orbeliani and numerous cultural highlights, but has also seen major developments recently, including conspicuous new projects such as the Panorama complex. Already famous for the cave monastery of Vardzia and the ancient wine-growing region of Kakheti, Georgia's more remote areas are becoming more accessible. Networks of rural guesthouses and hiking trails (including the increasingly popular Transcaucasian Trail, a volunteer-led project to create two long-distance hiking routes) are being developed alongside a push towards more sustainable and responsible tourism. On the Black Sea, the city of Batumi has developed into a glitzy playground for regional tourism.Appropriately, given that the country is considered to be the birthplace of wine, the Georgian wine industry features prominently, with particular emphasis on the UNESCO-listed natural qvevri wines (made in clay amphorae set in the ground). Also covered are: skiing at Gudauri, Bakuriani and Mestia; cycling; the World Heritage sites of Mtskheta, Svaneti and Gelati; Georgian fusion cuisine (now celebrated in Tbilisi's stylish new restaurants); 5th-century churches and other Christian architecture; cave cities; and Georgian polyphonic singing.Bradt's unique guide to Georgia is the ideal companion for travellers, from serious hikers to wine buffs, high-end culture lovers to winter-sports enthusiasts, and city-break aficionados to backpackers of all ages.

Brand new from Bradt is Vietnam, a travel guidebook celebrating this fascinating southeast Asian country, which combines 2,000 miles of coastline - complete with idyllic islands, golden beaches and fishing villages - with tropical rainforests, vibrant cities, stunning inland waterways, thousand-year-old temples, terraced paddy fields, herb-infused street food and a richly varied history. Little wonder that the country is increasingly on the wish list of discerning, independent travellers.Here you can cruise among the karst islands of Ha Long Bay, explore the forested mountains of the Central Highlands, go underground into the caves of Phong Nha or visit the tribal villages of Kon Tum. Alternatively, why not experience the French-style boulevards of Hanoi, the cobblestone streets of Hoi An or neighbourhood floating markets? Written by a long-term resident, Bradt's Vietnam not only covers the key tourist sites but casts a wider net to encompass lesser-explored alternatives and get under the skin of the country. Covering all three regions in Vietnam - north, central and south - this guidebook has responsible travel at its heart. Within the broad range of options suggested for sleeping and eating, what to do and where to go, particular attention is paid towards sustainability - identifying environmentally sensitive accommodation options, experiences that contribute to the local economy, and retail outlets that support traditions and certain communities. In Bradt's Vietnam, you can find: advice on selecting the optimum beach destination for each season; a rich exploration of the vibrant urban café culture (including where to savour speciality coffee drinks in each city); street-food details for all major towns and cities; tips on how to enjoy unmissable sites while avoiding any crowds; suggestions for getting the best out of motorbiking around the country; and insider knowledge about nightlife and cultural sights in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, from speakeasy bars hidden behind bookshelves to boutique art spaces. Whether you want a taste of everything Vietnam offers or prefer a deep dive into singular opportunities for heritage tourism, trekking, wildlife watching or caving, having Bradt's Vietnam to hand is like travelling with a knowledgeable local friend.

This new, thoroughly updated tenth edition of Bradt's Mauritius, Rodrigues and Réunion remains the most comprehensive English-language guide available and is the only full-blown guide to focus solely on the Mascarene Islands, a place where the dodo once roamed and which today produces exquisite vanilla-flavoured tea. World-leading luxury resorts, excellent beaches, watersports and lively nightlife, weddings and medical tourism, the raw unspoiled beauty of Rodrigues and fascinating birdlife of the Ile aux Cocos nature reserve, world-class hiking through the mountainous interior of Re´union and an intriguing blend of European and African culture are all covered.Unlike other guides, Bradt's Mauritius includes detailed sections on natural history and conservation for each of the islands, as well as guides to and maps of their nature reserves. The Bradt guide also offers more detailed background information on history, culture and politics, plus fuller information on activities and sights, as well as in-depth coverage of the full range of accommodation and restaurant options, from budget to luxury.Activities for each island are included, covering everything from golf and horse riding to expert analysis of individual dive sites, plus extensive information on flora and fauna. Adventure sports and hiking on Réunion are covered, as is the most recent information on getting married in Mauritius, plus detailed coverage of Mascarene culture. Food, local recipes, language, customs, music and medical tourism are all included, and a language appendix offers useful phrases in Mauritian and Réunionnais Creole. Whether you're planning a honeymoon, fascinated by the wildlife, or just want to relax into uncomplicated island life, the Bradt guide is the ideal companion.

This new, thoroughly updated fifth edition of Bradt's Luxembourg remains the only comprehensive, English-language guidebook to focus exclusively on this small but fascinating European country, where public transport is now entirely free. Reviews of the best places to stay and eat in all price categories, from luxury to budget, sit alongside information about every museum and significant place of interest, plus in-depth guides to local food, drink, language and culture, and advice on the best cycling and hiking trails, many of the latter having been personally explored by the author. This diminutive European state punches above its weight and is celebrated for everything from its early pioneering of commercial broadcasting with Radio Luxembourg to the fact that it has won the Eurovision Song Contest five times, while Luxembourg riders have won the Tour de France five times too. A foodie paradise, the country offers its own unique cuisine (a fusion of French and German influences) and perhaps the densest collection of Michelin-starred restaurants in the world. Short distances and easy travelling (whether by public transport or driving) mean a lot can be covered in a relatively brief visit, from sixty medieval castles to plentiful opportunities for outdoors enthusiasts, including long-distance international walking trails linking with the Belgian Ardennes and German Eifel. Military history is also covered, notably the sites of the Battle of the Ardennes and Hamm American Military Cemetery (the burial place of General Patton), as are details of the most popular sites such as Vianden and Luxembourg City's Museum of Modern Art.New for this edition are: the Royal Hamilius complex in Luxembourg City (designed by architect Sir Norman Foster); the post-renovation, UNESCO-listed Pétrusse casemates; infrastructure upgrades such as extensions to the City's tram line and ever-easier train and aeroplane access; details on the new cultural and art spaces in Esch-sur-Alzette (a European City of Culture in 2022); new wine-related events in the Moselle; a new Slate Museum in Haut-Martelange; and the Mëllerdall Nature and Geopark's inclusion in UNESCO's network of global geoparks.With so much in Luxembourg to surprise you, Bradt's Luxembourg is the perfect travel companion.

This new, thoroughly updated ninth edition of Bradt's Tanzania Safari Guide remains the only practical guidebook to the country that reflects tourism's shift away from backpackers and budget camping safaris to upper-end and mid-range safaris and beach holidays. Unlike other guidebooks, the main focus is practical information about Tanzania's peerless collection of national parks, game reserves and other safari destinations, including the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire, Ruaha, Katavi, Gombe Stream, Mahale Mountains, and four new national parks designated in 2019, including Nyerere, which encompasses much of the former Selous Game Reserve and is thought Africa's largest National Park. Every major reserve is given a dedicated chapter detailing its ecology, wildlife, accommodation options, game drives and other activities. Written by acknowledged Africa experts and prolific guidebook writers Philip Briggs and Chris McIntyre, Bradt's Tanzania Safari Guide also focuses on other popular and off-the-beaten-track tourist attractions, including Mount Kilimanjaro, the 'Spice Island' of Zanzibar and the mysterious Kilwa Ruins and Kondoa Rock Art (UNESCO World Heritage Sites often relegated to the small print of other guides). Accommodation listings for the safari destinations are the most detailed and authoritative available, the authors weeding through the ever-growing number of lodges and camps to create a critically selective list of the best properties in every price bracket (upmarket, mid-range and budget). Meanwhile, a 48-page wildlife colour field guide details all species a visitor can expect to find on a safari.Since the mid-1980s, when only basic camping safaris were feasible, Tanzania has grown to be one of Africa's top safari destinations. This new edition actively responds to this evolution by focusing on the country mainly as a safari and short-stay fly-in holiday destination. It also reflects the growing trend away from large lodges towards small, exclusive eco-friendly camps in remote parts of national parks and bordering community concessions. Beyond spectacular year-round game-viewing , Tanzania is one of Africa's most varied countries, its long palm-fringed coastline offering post-safari relaxation and complemented by the Great Rift Valley, portions of Africa's three largest lakes, and impressive mountains. Use this guide to discover everything Tanzania has to offer.

Written by Central Asian expert and experienced travel writer Sophie Ibbotson, who is Uzbekistan's Tourism Ambassador to the UK, this new, fully updated fourth edition of Bradt's Uzbekistan remains the definitive practical travel guide to an increasingly liberal destination - Central Asia's most populous country and the heart of the Silk Road - offering more detail for independent travellers than any other guidebook, sharing first-hand descriptions of everything from UNESCO World Heritage sites and the world's best collection of Soviet avant-garde art, to riding across deserts by camel and cooking plov (lamb pilaf).A perfect spring or autumn destination, Uzbekistan is unexpectedly packed with diverse experiences, from the Silk Road cities of Bukhara and Khiva to glorious Islamic architecture. Explore the Kyzylkum Desert by camel, ski amid the western Tian Shan mountains, overnight by the Aral Sea to search for the bizarre saiga antelope, visit 50 ancient Khorezm fortresses in Karakalpakstan, or gawp at Registan's unmissable sound and light show. Stroll through Bukhara's old town then take tea at chaikhana teahouse or shop in the Chorsu bazaar, trade's beating heart in Tashkent. Or marvel at medieval tiled tombs in Shah-I Zinda and the magnificent 19th-century palace of Kokand ruler Khudayar Khan.It has never been easier to explore this fascinating country. Over the past decade,Uzbekistan's new reformist government has been strengthening its tourism offer, including improving infrastructure and reducing bureaucracy, culminating in it hosting a World Tourist Organisation conference in 2023 and initiating a new $300 million tourism strategy for 2030. Complemented by the author's 2023 Bradt guide to Karakalpakstan, this new edition reflects post-COVID 19 investments in tourism infrastructure, and provides more detailed economic and political insights. Entirely new elements include Amirsoy resort, Zarafshan nature reserve, Lower Amudarya Biosphere Reserve and Shirin ecovillage, while there is expanded coverage of Tashkent hotels, museums and shopping; Navoi tour operators; and new hotels in Khiva.Whether you're interested in culture, trekking, historical sites, archaeology and architecture, seeing endless deserts or majestic mountainscapes, or fascinated by the Golden Road to Samarkand and Silk Road cities, Bradt's Uzbekistan is your ideal travel companion.

New from Bradt, Greenland is the first standalone travel guidebook to the country from a mainstream publisher. Targeted at independent travellers, but equally serving those visiting on organised tours or cruises, this guide combines essential information - such as getting around on an island lacking roads connecting the major settlements - with advice on what to see and do, and where to stay and eat. Every chapter is infused with Greenland's remarkable combination of pristine nature and traditional culture, which sets it apart from Arctic neighbours - and which makes a trip so rewarding.The world's twelfth-largest country, but also part of the Kingdom of Denmark, Greenland sits near the top of the world, a vast expanse of white in a planet full of green, blue and brown. Today's visitors relish opportunities for close encounters with immense icebergs and glaciers. The epic scenery provides the backdrop to the numerous activities on offer - from visiting the world's second-largest ice sheet or taking to the sea in search of thirteen species of whale, and from hiking the 165-km-long Arctic Circle Trail to seeking out polar bears, musk oxen and walruses. Greenland in winter is another world, the endless night brightened by the mesmerising northern lights. It remains a snowy paradise until spring - the best time to travel by dog sled or snowmobile across the frozen tundra. To relax afterwards, why not close your trip with a few days of nature-inspired art, eclectic culture and fine dining in the diminutive capital, Nuuk?Greenland has always been a destination for pioneering explorers, be they the Inuit who arrived from the west, the Norsemen who came from the east or mariners seeking the Northwest Passage. Part of the attraction for today's visitors is to experience an element of the challenges they faced. Although travel within Greenland can be tricky given limited infrastructure and often adverse weather conditions, it can also be a remarkably easy place in which to travel, with the right planning, a flexible attitude and the right advice - which is precisely where Bradt's Greenland comes in. Let it be your guide to a truly staggering country.

The new seventh edition of Bradt's Sri Lanka remains the most detailed and comprehensive guidebook to this alluring island nation. Written by Philip Briggs, one of the world's most experienced and highly regarded guidebook writers, this thoroughly updated guide provides detailed coverage of every aspect of this diverse and compact country, from idyllic tropical coastlines to mist-shrouded tea plantations and time-warped colonial homesteads. Alongside in-depth sections on all major beach resorts, archaeological sites, historic towns and national parks, it introduces adventurous travellers to intriguing lesser-known sites and emergent destinations inaccessible for decades prior to 2009, when the civil war ended.Beach holidays are a year-round attraction, while fantastic Buddhist-affiliated UNESCO World Heritage Sites range from the massive dagobas of Anuradhapura, built in pre-Christian times on a scale rivalling Egyptian pyramids, to Dambulla's exquisitely painted cave temples. Wildlife-viewing opportunities abound, and this guide provides unparalleled, illustrated advice on making the most of these. Asia's densest elephant and leopard populations thrive in an extensive network of national parks, complemented by fine whale and dolphin-watching, and 450 bird species including 30 occurring in no other country.Extensive hotel and restaurant listings, covering everything from exclusive boutique hotels to shoestring homestays, have been cherry-picked based on the author's personal inspection of hundreds of properties countrywide. Sri Lanka's increasingly renowned cuisine features strongly, as does its growing focus on wellness tourism including Ayurveda therapies. This guidebook differs further from competitors by catering for truly independent travellers, providing 70-plus visitor-focused maps covering all major towns and resorts, clear directions for public transport, and off-the-beaten-track information.Following a tourist boom in the south, and the gradual opening of the north and east to independent travel, tourism jumped 15% in the two years to 2018. Following COVID-19 and a 2019 terrorism incident, Sri Lankan tourism is again welcoming visitors, with infrastructure benefitting from recent investment in trains, which provide comfortable, efficient and inexpensive public transport. Whether you're into wildlife, culture, beaches or cuisine - and whether you seek luxury or budget travel - Bradt's Sri Lanka will address your every need for an enjoyable visit to this bewitching and varied country.

New from Bradt is France: Languedoc-Roussillon, which celebrates in intimate detail the Occitanie, a charming region full of easily accessible contrasts in southwest France. Three local residents share their extensive, in-depth knowledge of the area, covering both well-known attractions and off-the-beaten-path delights. Expertly researched and with exemplary attention to detail, engaging writing and great ideas blend to furnish the perfect travel companion.From exploring Cathar castles to drifting down the Canal du Midi, from a bustling city break in vibrant Montpellier, Perpignan or Narbonne to an entrancing wander around the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Carcassonne, Languedoc-Roussillon offers ample destinations for anyone looking for a slick cosmopolitan adventure, with the endless delights of regional food, wine and culture thrown in liberally around every corner. If slow travel, sustainable tourism and the call of the wild are more your scene, you'll find plenty to enchant you, from looking for wolves and bison, or going white-water rafting, to hiking along 'Grand Randonnée' routes through the mountains up to Mount Canigou at 2,784 m altitude. For tranquillity, wide-open spaces and dark skies, you can't beat Parc National des Cévennes, whose nearly 3,000 square kilometres stretch across the sparsely populated Lozère and Gard regions. An almost endless choice of beaches is yours for the taking along the Mediterranean coast, backed by one of France's richest wine regions, which provides opportunities to taste and discover a true French treasure.Those so-minded can follow in the footsteps of Robert Louis Stevenson and his donkey on the Chemin de Stevenson, trace the Da Vinci Code trail, which celebrates locations associated with Dan Brown's novel, or visit Perpignan train station - deemed the "centre of the universe" by Salvador Dalí. Roman history and architecture abound: the Pont du Gard aqueduct is France's most-visited ancient monument, the exceptional Maison Carrée is a 1st-century BC temple, and Nîmes boasts the best preserved of Europe's 70 remaining Roman amphitheatres. Or you can go boating or canoeing along the Canal du Midi, the world's oldest navigable canal. Whatever your interests, and however you travel, Bradt's new guide to France: Languedoc-Roussillon has you covered.

Bradt's Umbria & the Marche is the most detailed guide to combine these two small central Italian regions, which offer all the beauty, history and culture of neighbouring Tuscany only without the crowds, the traffic or eye-popping prices. Dana Facaros and Michael Pauls (authors of the original Cadogan guide to the area) lived in Umbria in the 1980s and have been returning regularly and writing about it ever since. They are the perfect guides to the region's landscapes, hill towns, food and wine, and art and architecture.The superb art cities of Umbria and the Marche steal the limelight - Perugia, Orvieto, Urbino, Assisi, Spoleto, Loreto, Todi, where art fills every church and palazzo. But never far from these centres wait unspoiled countryside of rolling olive groves, forests and meadows, long walks and towns and tiny villages, nearly all with a masterpiece or two to show off and a great little family-run restaurant. The Bradt guide covers them all, along with the republic of San Marino.The Apennines rule here. The Marche's geography is dominated by a series of east-west river valleys - the Metauro, Esino, Tronto, etc - twisting down to the Adriatic and often ending in long sandy beaches, from the historic towns of Senigallia and Fano through Ancona's Cornero Riviera to the Riviera delle Palme at San Benedetto del Tronto. Landlocked Umbria, where rivers flow into the mighty Tiber, has exceptional water features as well: Italy's fourth largest lake, Trasimeno; the Tiber Valley; Clitunno springs (once sacred to the Romans); and Italy's most beautiful waterfall, the Cascata delle Marmore. Featuring superb photography and expert recommendations to suit all budgets, Umbria & the Marche - the fifth in Bradt's increasingly highly regarded series of Italian regional titles - is a timely guide to a more authentic corner of Italy.

In this new, thoroughly updated third edition of Bradt's The Cotswolds, part of Bradt's distinctive 'Slow Travel' series of guides to UK regions, local resident and experienced travel writer Caroline Mills shares her favourite places in a region that remains as popular as ever. Drawing on more than 50 years' living in the Cotswolds, and combining engaging first-person narrative with authoritative advice, Mills slows readers down and helps them delve deeply into a range of regions: the Cotswolds National Landscape Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB); the Cotswold escarpment, hills and valleys; the Wiltshire Cotswolds and the area known as the Four Shires; three Cotswold 'gateways' (Stratford-upon-Avon, Bath and Oxford); the lesser-known 'hidden' fringes of the Cotswolds, including the Oxfordshire Cotswolds, which follow much of the youthful Thames Valley, and the Cotswold Way National Trail. The Cotswolds' rich manmade heritage includes Oxford University (the world's oldest); many famous castles and country houses (including Blenheim Palace and Sudeley Castle), well-known abbeys such as Prinknash; and estates including Westonbirt Arboretum and Highgrove (the private home of King Charles III and the Queen Consort). Roman history is covered too, notably in Bath and Cirencester, together with the Fosse Way, one of the UK's most important Roman roads.The guide adds colour through interviews with local residents who bring character to the region; activities to try with children; handpicked places to eat, drink and stay (from glamping and country-house hotels to B&Bs on working farms); coverage of the Arts & Crafts movement; numerous options for car-free travel; and quirky events such Gloucestershire's annual cheese-rolling competition and Tetbury's Woolsack Races.With a harmonious combination of quintessentially English villages, charming provincial market towns, appealing countryside and a wealth of local food-and-drink producers,the Cotswolds is an all-year-round destination, whether for a day trip, a quiet weekend away or a multi-week holiday. Whether your interests comprise formal gardens or crafts, historic buildings or horseriding, walking or gastronomy, Bradt's Cotswolds (Slow Travel) is your perfect guide to facilitate in-depth exploration and intense enjoyment.

Written by two Croatia experts, this new, thoroughly updated third edition of Bradt's Croatia: Istria, with Rijeka and the Slovenian Adriatic remains the only full-length guide to this well-heeled, varied part of former Yugoslavia to include detailed background and practical information. Catering for all types of travellers (from outdoors enthusiasts to culture vultures, foodies to oenophiles) and budgets, the guide offers revised listings for accommodation, restaurants, and what to see and do. Istria crams remarkable diversity in a conveniently compact region: it takes under an hour to drive almost anywhere on the peninsula. The region boasts some of Croatia's most famous sites, including Pula's spectacular Roman amphitheatre, Porec's UNESCO-listed Byzantine mosaics (every bit as good as Italy's Ravenna and Istanbul's Aya Sofya), picturesque medieval hill towns (such as Motovun and Draguc) and frescoes, and the Brijuni Islands National Park. In 2020, the transport hub and carnival city of Rijeka in the Kvarner region became Croatia's first ever European Capital of Culture. Istria is renowned for its cuisine, particularly pasta, game, seafood and truffles (until recently Istria held the world record for the world's largest truffle), and also produces fine wine and world-class olive oil. There is plenty of pampering on offer, too, with luxury and boutique hotels, excellent restaurants and inexpensive spa treatments. Istria makes a great base to explore nearby Capodistria on Slovenia's coast, and karst limestone areas with beautiful and uncrowded coastal towns, castles, Lipizzaner horses and the UNESCO-listed Skocjan cave. New or expanded coverage in this edition include advice and information on the Vivapa Valley, Slovenian wines, recently opened hotels, travelling to Istria by rail, and vegetarian or vegan restaurants. With extensive sections on trekking, cycling (including the Parenzana long-distance cycling route) and diving, plus information on windsurfing, paragliding, wreck diving (including sites such as the Coriolanus and the Baron Gautsch) and sailing, and detail on wildlife (30 species of orchid grow on Cape Kemenjak alone), numerous festivals (including celebrations of film, fish, truffles and prosciutto), music, travelling with children and ancient history, this Bradt guide provides everything you need to plan and enjoy a visit.

The Inuit Way is a mesmerising take on polar travel by explorer and award-winning researcher Edward Cooper. It is a gripping account of the author's travels across northwest Greenland, where he spent several months living and hunting with the Inuit. From there, Cooper and teammate venture across the sea ice on to the Canadian Arctic islands. Here, Cooper's quest is to track down a note left by David Haig-Thomas, a British Arctic explorer, nearly a hundred years previously.Suffering from snow blindness and frostbite, Fighting off hungry polar bears, surrounded by the white wolves of Ellesmere Island, Edward Cooper and teammate, who was suffering from snow blindness and frostbite, discover a land steeped in culture and history. Part travelogue, part adventure and part history, this is a thrilling polar travel narrative that offers insights into the people that live in the Arctic year-round. Meet Mikael, a young Inuit hunter who sleeps in a small tent on the sea ice, and fishes for halibut during the winter months. Join Cooper in watching Inuit hunters coach crack teams of dogs across the ice in the year's first dog race. Get to know a former Danish drug smuggler turned hunter. Experience the realities of Arctic life - drinking water carved from icebergs by giant trucks, and the constraints imposed on sanitation by permafrost and freezing temperatures. And journey with Cooper on a life-endangering expedition, where he falls through a crack in the ice into icy waters while watching his teammate continue onwards, oblivious to danger.Reflecting on his experience, Cooper appraises Haig-Thomas's legacy from his time in Greenland, and considers how life has evolved for Inuit families across the following century. Above all, Cooper sensitively discusses Greenland as a litmus test for a world that is evolving geopolitically and through climate change. The Inuit Way is a fascinating book that will be enjoyed by intrepid travellers, adventure junkies, polar enthusiasts, and armchair or real-life explorers as well as people interested in the environment, fishing or indigenous communities.

This new, comprehensively updated sixth edition of Bradt's Lithuania remains the only full-length standalone guide to the largest and southernmost of the three Baltic states. Insider insights and intimate depictions - from authors steeped in the country's tourism industry since 2000 - characterise this new guidebook to an exciting, relatively under-the-radar destination.The old town of Vilnius (the capital, where grand Gothic and Baroque façades line cobbled streets), the second city Kaunas and the UNESCO-listed Lithuanian coast (the Curonian Spit, with its traditional fishing villages amid fragile sand-dune ecosystems) are the eye candy that attract international visitors. Behind these main sights is a patchwork of unspoilt rolling landscapes, wholesome village life, crafts, traditions and scars from a brutal Soviet occupation. Upon these elements are layered the youthful energy, new technologies and quirky artistic expression that create the vibrant spirit leading Lithuania into a new era. Lithuania is a year-round destination with four distinct seasons: feel spring's vitality when wandering amid wildflower-rich meadows; soak up summer vibes at the seaside; forage through autumnal forests; or crunch through crisp snow in old town streets. To get the best out of your stay, track down your interests locally. Rural heritage provides a strong identity and community here. If you visit a national park, attend an immersive crafts workshop, hike through the forests or visit wooden villages with their church-nesting storks. Foodies should not simply eat in the best restaurant in Vilnius, but attend a cookery class or lunch in a village tavern where not only is food how grandma cooks it but you will probably meet grandma. Deepen your understanding of this fascinating country by visiting Plokstine's secret Soviet missile base (which now houses a Cold War museum) or the Hill of Crosses pilgrimage site (a national symbol of Lithuania's resistance against foreign occupation). Stay in spa resorts in Druskininkai, Birstonas or Palanga, where Soviet sanatoriums have been replaced by indulgent wellness centres. Canoe around Trakai Castle then book a traditional 'Kibinai' cookery workshop with the Karaite ethnic community. For all this, and much more besides, Bradt's Lithuania guidebook provides the perfect travel companion.

This new third edition of Bradt's Angola remains the only dedicated English-language guide to this increasingly popular southern African nation. Thoroughly updated, it includes full practical and background information, everything you need to know about the capital city, Luanda, plus coverage of the rest of the country in 16 chapters. Also featured are 38 maps, including detailed city maps for all 18 provincial capitals, plus a specific section devoted to the sometimes-tricky process of applying for a visa.Bradt's Angola is written by expert author Oscar Scafidi who lived and worked in Angola for five years, has travelled to all the country's provinces, and who has successfully completed a record-breaking kayak trip along the length of Angola's Kwanza River. Thanks to his knowledge, Bradt's Angola is ideal for everyone from independent surfers and bird-watchers on organised tours to fishing enthusiasts, conservationists, surfers, NGO workers and overlanders, not to mention adventurous travellers simply wanting to discover this intriguing country. Angola continues to change at a rapid pace and offers everything from colonial Portuguese ruins to $100-a-plate sushi bars, landscaped waterfronts to grand public buildings, Portuguese and Brazilian heritage to frontier diamond towns, tropical rainforests to desert, and relaxed coastal resorts on 1,000km of unspoiled beaches. It's also the site of the UNESCO World Heritage listed Mbanza Kongo, once the centre of power for the Kilukeni dynasty, who founded the city almost 100 years before the arrival of the Portuguese. Whether wildlife watcher or surfer, business traveller or pioneering adventurer, Bradt's Angola provides all the information you will need to get the most out of this vast country.