https://www.scmp.com/rss/501417/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Long before the term “gravel riding” was coined, and before dedicated gravel bikes even existed, riding the gravel roads of the Midwest United States on road and mountain bikes was commonplace. However, in the summer of 2006, some 34 pioneering cyclists lined up in Emporia, Kansas for the very first edition of Dirty Kanza, one of the first-ever gravel races, and the region has since been considered the birthplace of gravel riding. Dirty Kanza, now rebranded as Unbound Gravel, is the biggest... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/article/3267805/formula-ones-valtteri-bottas-among-those-embracing-fast-growing-sport-gravel-riding?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/article/3267805/formula-ones-valtteri-bottas-among-those-embracing-fast-growing-sport-gravel-riding?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Jun 2024 07:08:24 +0000 With seemingly thousands of travel bloggers and vloggers flooding social media with occasionally compelling but often disappointing content, it can be hard to find people worth paying attention to. But scratch beneath the surface of this viral sludge and there are some gems to be found, especially if you’re looking for inspiration when it comes to having adventures of your own. From visually stunning films to practical tips and guides to exploring the world, here are five of the best channels to... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/how-guides/article/3249014/5-best-youtube-adventurers-glorious-landscapes-practical-guides-your-own-travels?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/how-guides/article/3249014/5-best-youtube-adventurers-glorious-landscapes-practical-guides-your-own-travels?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 20 Jan 2024 06:00:18 +0000 Any list of the best hikes in Asia includes the obvious references to Everest, Bhutan and a variety of Nepal treks all listed as “must-do” walks. That means people occasionally miss out on some incredible experiences elsewhere in the region. So, from the awe-inspiring to the downright daunting, here are five treks that should be on your radar. Fairy Meadows and Nanga Parbat Base Camp, Pakistan At 8,126 metres, Nanga Parbat is the ninth highest mountain in the world, and the trek to the nearby... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3247514/5-hikes-asia-you-should-put-your-list-2024-fairy-meadows-high-mountain-passes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3247514/5-hikes-asia-you-should-put-your-list-2024-fairy-meadows-high-mountain-passes?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 07 Jan 2024 02:00:25 +0000 Ready to start planning your 2024 getaways? Got some bucket list adventures you just can’t put off any longer? Is next year when you finally do that trip of a lifetime? Well, if biking is your thing, and you’re still looking for some inspiration the next time you get to escape Hong Kong for a few days, allows us to suggest some options. From the Indian Himalayas, to traversing South Korea, here are five routes to really get your teeth into: Manali-Leh and beyond, India The 475km route between... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/article/3246104/5-asias-best-bike-trips-take-2024-indian-himalayas-traversing-south-korea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/article/3246104/5-asias-best-bike-trips-take-2024-indian-himalayas-traversing-south-korea?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 Dec 2023 04:00:21 +0000 Leaving your Christmas shopping until the last minute is hardly a new thing, and for some of us, it’s just how we operate – racing around crowded malls and high streets desperately seeking inspiration for what to get people. The outdoor enthusiast in your life can be particularly challenging, especially as its quite difficult to fit a bike or tent into a stocking. So, whether it’s a camera to capture their latest hike, run or ride, or some Italian sunglasses so they can look good doing it, here... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/article/3245552/still-christmas-shopping-here-are-5-ideas-what-get-outdoor-enthusiast-your-life?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/article/3245552/still-christmas-shopping-here-are-5-ideas-what-get-outdoor-enthusiast-your-life?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 Dec 2023 03:37:14 +0000 Hong Kong’s cyclists head to the Asian Games next month keenly aware that they have much to live up to in the absence of Sarah Lee Wai-sze. Lee’s retirement, confirmed this year, has removed a mainstay of Hong Kong’s past three Games squads, but Ceci Lee Sze-wing, who will compete in Hangzhou, sees it as the remaining riders’ responsibility to compensate. Five gold medals, as well as one silver and a bronze, had been supplied across those three editions by the two-time Olympic medallist, placing... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3232203/asian-games-hong-kong-cannot-let-cycling-team-have-no-medals-ceci-lee-says-hangzhou-tilt-without?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3232203/asian-games-hong-kong-cannot-let-cycling-team-have-no-medals-ceci-lee-says-hangzhou-tilt-without?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Aug 2023 23:30:20 +0000 With China finally relaxing its border restrictions, allowing more opportunities for travel, we look at five adventures there to consider in 2023. Hiking in Tiger Leaping Gorge Yunnan province’s Tiger Leaping Gorge is a spectacular place that is steeped in rural Naxi culture and blessed with dramatic high-mountain scenery. The two-day trek that traverses the gorge ranks as one of the world’s most accessible yet imposing treks. Situated 45 minutes from Lijiang, the 23km trek starts near Qiaotou... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/hiking/article/3205150/5-hiking-climbing-and-biking-trips-china-its-covid-19-controls-ease?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/hiking/article/3205150/5-hiking-climbing-and-biking-trips-china-its-covid-19-controls-ease?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 Dec 2022 02:00:29 +0000 With Asia’s countries now largely reopened and welcoming visitors again, the new year is a good time to plan an adventure or two for the months ahead. Whether you are a biker, hiker, climber or runner, the region has some of the best options available for getting your adventure on – so here are six of our top picks for where to go and what to do in 2023. Northern Laos With its borders now fully open for adventure, this is a great destination for independent bike packing and cycle-touring... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/article/3204561/got-travel-bug-here-are-6-top-asian-adventures-2023-south-koreas-four-rivers-trail-indias-chadar?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/article/3204561/got-travel-bug-here-are-6-top-asian-adventures-2023-south-koreas-four-rivers-trail-indias-chadar?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 26 Dec 2022 02:49:56 +0000 The holiday season is fast approaching and with thoughts turning to what to get that special someone in your life, we decided to help out those of you who need to find a gift for outdoor adventurers and extreme sport nuts. So, here are seven great ideas to suit every budget for what to get the athletes in your life. Or, you could just treat yourself. Bridgedale Train RUN T2 Lightweight Merino Sport socks What’s Christmas without a pair of socks? But these are no run-of-the-mill cotton socks for... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/extreme-sports/article/3203678/8-best-christmas-2022-gift-ideas-outdoor-adventurers-and-extreme-sport-nuts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/extreme-sports/article/3203678/8-best-christmas-2022-gift-ideas-outdoor-adventurers-and-extreme-sport-nuts?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Dec 2022 06:22:51 +0000 From the high-rise trails of the Himalaya to the deserts of Anatolia and the jungles of Indonesia, the continent of Asia is home to some of the most extreme and varied terrain in the world. In mountain biking terms Asia may not have the plethora of well-manicured ski resort trails or as many dedicated bike parks as Europe and North America, but what we do have in abundance is superb natural riding. Here are five of the very best trail riding destinations in Asia. Cappadocia, Turkey The UNESCO... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/extreme-sports/article/3195304/five-best-mountain-biking-routes-asia-bali-kathmandu?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/extreme-sports/article/3195304/five-best-mountain-biking-routes-asia-bali-kathmandu?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 09 Oct 2022 00:30:21 +0000 Perhaps the easiest way to explain bike packing is to think of it as minimalist and faster moving bike travel meets traditional cycle touring, something akin to the “fast packing” minimalist approach that spans the space between trail running and trekking. During the pandemic bike packing has become extremely popular as an easily accessible and local adventure option, even for non-cyclists. Bike packing has opened up cycling adventure to a whole new genre of people, those who were perhaps not... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/extreme-sports/article/3188729/bike-packing-hong-kong-yes-you-can-heres-all-you-need?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/extreme-sports/article/3188729/bike-packing-hong-kong-yes-you-can-heres-all-you-need?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Aug 2022 00:00:24 +0000 In recent years ultra-cycling races of all kinds have thrived around the world, although they are still few and far between in Asia. Comparatively new to the traditional world of competitive cycling, the ultra version has no set definition in terms of format or duration, making for some great and diverse options that are open to everyone. From the remote gravel roads of Kyrgyzstan to the high-rise trails of the Rockies and the classic road climbs of the Alps, here are five of the biggest ultra... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/article/3187002/get-your-bike-and-ride-top-5-ultra-cycling-races-amateurs-mountains?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/article/3187002/get-your-bike-and-ride-top-5-ultra-cycling-races-amateurs-mountains?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 30 Jul 2022 00:30:20 +0000 As most of the world leans to live with the coronavirus and normality resumes, attention turns to the things we added to our bucket lists when travel was not possible. The thought of escaping to open spaces or taking on new challenges in far off lands was an important part of surviving the feeling of claustrophobia the developed over the past two years. For many, the ultra-marathons that span the globe in places that might not be first on the list for a holiday became a beacon of what might be... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/extreme-sports/article/3185475/top-5-ultra-marathons-you-need-try-chasing-sunsets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/extreme-sports/article/3185475/top-5-ultra-marathons-you-need-try-chasing-sunsets?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 Jul 2022 04:30:15 +0000 It’s the second week of this year’s Tour de France and the mountain climbs the race is famous for are about to separate those who aspire to win the yellow jersey and the rest. Luxembourg’s Bob Jungels won the first Alpine finish of this year’s race on Sunday, cruising across the finish line 22 seconds clear on the mountainous 193km (120-mile) stage nine route from Aigle in Switzerland to the ski resort of Châtel les Portes du Soleil. A rest day on Monday will be followed by three consecutive... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3184925/tour-de-france-enters-alps-here-are-climbs-will-separate-winners?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3184925/tour-de-france-enters-alps-here-are-climbs-will-separate-winners?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 Jul 2022 23:30:29 +0000 Cycling’s Tour de France is considered one of sport’s most prestigious events, and one of its toughest. That entails a strict dietary regime – although, in such a long race, a little bit of what you fancy does you good, too. “If something feels good to eat, then eat it,” says sports physiologist Allen Lim, who has worked for the RadioShack, Phonak and Garmin teams. “In one Tour de France, after 17 of the 21 stages, I cooked up chicken fried rice for the riders, and the rest of the time they had... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3184719/tour-de-france-what-do-cyclists-eat-during-and-after-racing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3184719/tour-de-france-what-do-cyclists-eat-during-and-after-racing?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 Jul 2022 01:00:24 +0000 When professional cycling restarted following the first Covid-19 lockdowns in summer 2020 with a condensed season of highlights, things had changed. It seemed as if tradition and the rule book had been tossed out of the team car’s window. It was game on; a free for all, with younger riders no longer accepting their traditional long-term apprenticeship roles. Leading this youthful revolution was 21-year old Slovenian Tadej Pogacar of UAE Team Emirates. Going into that Tour he had been listed as a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/3183620/tour-de-france-will-years-race-be-tadej-pogacar-show-once-again-or-can-jumbo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/3183620/tour-de-france-will-years-race-be-tadej-pogacar-show-once-again-or-can-jumbo?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 Jul 2022 00:00:11 +0000 Lithuanian Gediminas Grinius is a legend in Ultra Trail running terms, and the former world champion is on the comeback trail following battles with injury and restrictions in the pandemic era. He is also an accomplished coach, and runs the Trail Running Factory website. The Post asked him what his top tips are for mastering the trails. Feet first “Shoes should be as comfortable as possible,” Grinius says. “And then there is the lightness and the grip for rocky and rooted terrain, especially... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3181323/ultra-trail-running-legend-and-coach-gediminas-grinius?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3181323/ultra-trail-running-legend-and-coach-gediminas-grinius?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Jun 2022 04:23:10 +0000 Nepal now is fully open, and home to some of the finest trekking in the world. Here are six of the very best “teahouse” treks for you to stride for. There’s nowhere else on earth that can match Nepal for dramatic Himalayan scenery and accessible trekking routes. With the country now fully open to visitors and with relatively low numbers of trekkers out there it’s a great time to take on that hike of a lifetime. Many of the classic Nepalese treks are teahouse based, meaning that you will find... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/hiking/article/3180309/trekking-nepal-6-best-teahouse-treks-nepal-including-everest?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/hiking/article/3180309/trekking-nepal-6-best-teahouse-treks-nepal-including-everest?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Jun 2022 04:30:15 +0000 Action and sports photography is one of the toughest photographic genres to master. Many assume that you need ultra expensive gear to get those crisp and bold images, and yet with a little practice and knowledge you can improve your images hugely, even with just a mobile phone. Shooting sporting events is fast and furious, and you generally have no real flexibility with lighting or with how the event plays out, and so you need to work with what you have and to cover all bases. This means... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/3180299/want-take-amazing-action-sports-photographs-take-these-six-easy-steps?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/3180299/want-take-amazing-action-sports-photographs-take-these-six-easy-steps?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Jun 2022 00:00:22 +0000 One of the biggest challenges in mountaineering is to climb and reach the summit of the highest peak in each of the seven continents. How to define this magnificent seven is not universally agreed. Some people categorise the summits by tectonic continental plates, which alters things slightly and excludes Europe. But the most commonly accepted list is by continent, as is detailed here. Another variation is to include Mont Blanc (4,810 metres) in France and Mount Kosciouszk (2,228 metres) in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/article/3179579/7-summits-how-climb-highest-peak-each-continent?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/article/3179579/7-summits-how-climb-highest-peak-each-continent?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 May 2022 00:15:15 +0000 While many of us have been grounded for the past two years, there have been a number of adventure travel YouTubers out there braving the evolving “new normal”. The world of travel blogging has become hugely popular on YouTube, with risk-takers racking up millions of views and subscribers. But it can be a dangerous game, as British adventurer Benjamin Rich’s brief arrest in Kazakhstan on Saturday proves. 5 fantastic Asian bike adventures to for Many of the major adventure travel YouTubers have... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/extreme-sports/article/3176965/after-russia-detains-youtube-travel-blogger-benjamin?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/extreme-sports/article/3176965/after-russia-detains-youtube-travel-blogger-benjamin?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 May 2022 02:30:15 +0000 When you glance down at the handlebar “cockpit” of many cyclists, it’s like looking at a mini computer terminal or the flight deck of a small fighter plane. Similar can be said when you see how so many runners and even hikers are wired up and connected to devices, almost as if they were robots, with their every stride and heartbeat being monitored, logged and analysed. These devices and their data can be useful tools for some. They can help you to monitor and gauge your performance and progress,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3176866/running-or-cycling-without-tech-joys-ditching-data-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3176866/running-or-cycling-without-tech-joys-ditching-data-and?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 May 2022 03:47:04 +0000 After two long years and counting of restricted movement across much of Asia, the borders are finally reopening and travel is becoming more feasible by the week. Many people will be looking to make the most of any opportunity to get out and explore again, and to take on an adventure of a lifetime. Luckily, Asia is just the place for serious expeditions, as well as less intense jaunts. From the high peaks of the Himalaya, through the deserts of the “stans” to the tropical jungles of the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/article/3175300/5-fantastic-asian-bike-adventures-gear?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/article/3175300/5-fantastic-asian-bike-adventures-gear?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 Apr 2022 03:00:29 +0000 The first weekend of April is always a big one for cycling fans, with the Tour of Flanders, one cycling’s oldest and toughest single day classic races, dominating proceedings. And because of its historical significance and difficulty, this is one of only five World Tour road races to hold “monument” status. For more than a century the race has been at the heart of Belgian sporting culture, and the cycling-mad region is widely accepted as the home of global road bike racing. But on Sunday, the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/how-guides/article/3172703/what-uci-gravel-world-series-all-you-need-know-about?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/how-guides/article/3172703/what-uci-gravel-world-series-all-you-need-know-about?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 Apr 2022 01:30:18 +0000 As the technology in mobile phones has improved, so have the cameras that come with them, making them great at capturing decent images and videos on the fly. However, if you want something to get that perfect picture when you’re out biking, hiking or climbing around Hong Kong or elsewhere then a dedicated action camera is never a bad idea. And if you really want your images and videos to stand out, but still want to keep things simple and pocket-sized then there are some superb options out there... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/hiking/article/3171960/sony-olympus-best-small-cameras-capture-your-outdoor?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/hiking/article/3171960/sony-olympus-best-small-cameras-capture-your-outdoor?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 27 Mar 2022 02:30:10 +0000 Cory Wallace is the definition of “living with Covid”. After leaving Canada for what he thought would be an easy three-week trip, it would be some 15 months before he was able to return home. “When I left Canada the plan was to ride the Cape Epic race, and then to spend a week in Cape Town. A three-week trip,” he says. In 2020 Wallace found himself stranded in Nepal for 11 months, before the Omicron outbreak found him stuck in Africa for another six months. But he was determined to make the most... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/article/3171957/coronavirus-canadian-cyclist-cory-wallace-used-covid-10-travel?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/article/3171957/coronavirus-canadian-cyclist-cory-wallace-used-covid-10-travel?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 27 Mar 2022 00:30:20 +0000 Girona in the Catalan region of northern Spain is one of the prettiest and most beguiling cities in the country. The city is well known for its historic architecture, rich and independent culture and world-class cuisine. In recent years Girona has had a far more international feel to it, largely thanks to it becoming home to many of the world’s top professional cyclists and their teams who compete on the UCI WorldTour. And for the first time, two female cyclists from Southeast Asia have joined... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/article/3170223/singapores-chelsei-tan-and-malaysias-nur-alia-blazing-trail-regions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/article/3170223/singapores-chelsei-tan-and-malaysias-nur-alia-blazing-trail-regions?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 12 Mar 2022 01:44:07 +0000 Every now and then there comes along an underdog who steals the show. At the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics, the ultimate underdog emerged as the outright hero of the Games, and he is still almost as popular today as he was 34 years ago. His name is Michael ‘Eddie’ Edwards, then a young British ski jumper who was to be rebranded by the media as “Eddie the Eagle”. During those Games he would become a mascot like superhero of the Olympics. And fame was not because of his skill as a ski jumper. In... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3165936/eddie-eagle-how-worlds-most-famous-underdog-overcame-jealousy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3165936/eddie-eagle-how-worlds-most-famous-underdog-overcame-jealousy?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 06 Feb 2022 00:15:21 +0000 Captivating, mysterious and seemingly idyllic, that’s Bhutan. The landlocked Himalayan kingdom at the roof of the world is on many an adventurous traveller’s bucket list of destinations. As with most Asian countries Bhutan has been all but sealed off to international visitors for almost two years now because of the coronavirus pandemic. Many would-be travellers are waiting in anticipation of the country opening its doors to the outside world once again, which is expected to happen sometime... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/extreme-sports/article/3165429/trans-bhutan-trail-set-reopen-after-60-years-offering?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/extreme-sports/article/3165429/trans-bhutan-trail-set-reopen-after-60-years-offering?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 31 Jan 2022 10:15:15 +0000 Post-punk and potentially pre-apocalyptic, that was pretty much the state of play in 1980 as Eric Heiden travelled to Lake Placid to make Winter Olympics history. The Cold War had reached freezing point and the world was skating on thin ice over a potential world war. For young American skater Heiden, his battle was of different kind. The tall, well-educated and humble speed skater was heading into his second Olympics. First time around he had been a comparative outsider in a sport dominated by... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3165126/winter-olympics-eric-heiden-greatest-all-time-imagine-usain-bolt?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/3165126/winter-olympics-eric-heiden-greatest-all-time-imagine-usain-bolt?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 30 Jan 2022 02:15:15 +0000 It was early December and German ultra cycling adventurer Jonas Deichmann pedalled into the bleak wintry streets of Munich. Some 429 days earlier he had seized a lull in the pandemic to take on his long-planned and delayed “around the world triathlon”. The highly accomplished ultra cycling record breaker had planned a self-supported bike packing circumnavigation of the planet. There would be around 40,000 kilometres to cover in all, and he aimed to split the journey into Ironman triathlon... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/extreme-sports/article/3162658/selfies-mexican-cartel-dodging-giant-russian-trucks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/extreme-sports/article/3162658/selfies-mexican-cartel-dodging-giant-russian-trucks?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 09 Jan 2022 00:15:17 +0000 Chiang Mai in northern Thailand has rapidly become one of the world’s prime cycling destinations, although it’s not the only place in the area with great riding on tap. When it comes to road cycling and racing Europe has always been the epicentre of the sport, but in recent years it has evolved into a global phenomenon with Asia well and truly part of that. It was about 15 years ago that Chiang Mai started to ping on the radar for international cyclists. Its mild and dry winter climate and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/health-fitness/article/3159323/northern-thailand-asian-cycling-hotspot-quickly?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/health-fitness/article/3159323/northern-thailand-asian-cycling-hotspot-quickly?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Dec 2021 00:00:17 +0000 There’s something endearing about travelling in Laos; its rugged, jungle-clad, mountainous interior provides one of Southeast Asia’s great adventures. Because of a lack of modern infrastructure, though, such a trip can be fraught with frustration and uncertainty, especially for those on a tight schedule. Poor infrastructure also sustains poverty in remote regions. For better or for worse, Chinese-developed and -funded infrastructure is opening Laos up to the outside world. This development is... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3142127/how-making-travel-easier-will-change-laos-tourism-new-road?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3142127/how-making-travel-easier-will-change-laos-tourism-new-road?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 25 Jul 2021 23:15:18 +0000 The global travel industry and the economies that have come to depend on it have been devastated by the coronavirus pandemic. However, not all tourism authorities are in a rush to go back to how things were. New Zealand, in particular, sees the pandemic shutdown as an opportunity to appeal to a “better class” of visitor, and it has created the Premium Partnerships Programme to provide sponsorship to tour operators who target individuals worth more than US$1 million. Spain’s tourism minister,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3139436/post-pandemic-travel-it-wont-be-budget-travellers-bad-rich?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3139436/post-pandemic-travel-it-wont-be-budget-travellers-bad-rich?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Jul 2021 09:15:09 +0000 The top professional cycling teams in the world will set off from Brest in northeast France on June 26 to take on the Tour de France, one of the most watched annual sporting events in the world (organisers claim an incredible 3.5 billion people tuned in to watch in 2018, according to reports). Teams select eight riders and, depending on their stature and aims, the rosters usually consist of one or two outstanding talents who will aim for the overall honours, with a backup cast to help them. More... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/extreme-sports/article/3138538/tour-de-france-stages-jerseys-tactics-and-chosen-ones?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/extreme-sports/article/3138538/tour-de-france-stages-jerseys-tactics-and-chosen-ones?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Jun 2021 10:00:24 +0000 Bruce Poon Tip is eager for Asia to reopen to international tourism for reasons both professional – the continent usually accounts for more than a third of business for his tour company, G Adventures – and personal, as he has singled out rural Japan for his first post-Covid-19 trip. Although hailing originally from the Caribbean, the Canadian entrepreneur – whom Travel Weekly referred to as “the quirky and goofy man behind the world’s most successful small-group adventure travel company” – has... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3130243/rapid-covid-testing-and-vaccination-passports-key-travel?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3130243/rapid-covid-testing-and-vaccination-passports-key-travel?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 Apr 2021 23:15:05 +0000 If you’ve travelled widely in Southeast Asia, the chances are that at some point you’ll have had a strange alcoholic concoction thrust at you, backed by a bleary-eyed smile. Usually, it’s wise to decline such offers, although hospitality can be tough to turn down. Alternatively, you may have an exotic bottle – an impulse buy at some market or other – gathering dust at the back of your drinks cabinet. With international travel in Asia on hold, now may be the time to crack it open, for a taste of... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3129802/rice-wine-thai-beer-and-other-alcoholic-drinks-southeast?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3129802/rice-wine-thai-beer-and-other-alcoholic-drinks-southeast?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 19 Apr 2021 06:15:12 +0000 Many of us have hundreds, if not thousands, of travel and holiday photographs clogging up our hard drives and mobile devices - images that were treasured for a fleeting moment before becoming lost in a personal abyss of data. Most of these images will never see the light of a screen again, let alone find be printed, framed, and hung on our walls as a reminder of that trip of a lifetime. All too often we lose or delete pictures to make space for even more images, most of which will end up going... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3127152/forget-instagram-your-travel-photos-these-social-media?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3127152/forget-instagram-your-travel-photos-these-social-media?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Mar 2021 11:45:15 +0000 Breakfast is considered by many to be the most important meal of the day. What you eat in the morning replenishes those sleep jaded energy reserves and fuels your mind and body for the day ahead. Unfortunately, as our lives become increasingly busy, many of us opt to skip or skimp on breakfast and the traditions and culture that go with it. Modern Western options such as cereals, toast or even granola bars now rule many a breakfast roost. Morning dining routines around the world often stem from... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel/article/3126778/asias-best-breakfasts-hoppers-sri-lanka-vietnams?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel/article/3126778/asias-best-breakfasts-hoppers-sri-lanka-vietnams?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Mar 2021 01:15:10 +0000 Sports fans would never have guessed in March 2020 that events would still be on hold 12 months later. For pro cyclists the first true Covid-19 blow was dealt at the World Tour ranked UAE Tour stage race in March, when the entire race was halted and forcibly quarantined, much to the protests of riders and staff. It did seem slightly absurd back then. As the virus raced through Europe many bike races found themselves being halted mid-flow until they were all finally put into the same... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/extreme-sports/article/3126194/pro-cycling-survives-12-months-covid-19-restrictions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/extreme-sports/article/3126194/pro-cycling-survives-12-months-covid-19-restrictions?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 20 Mar 2021 03:00:18 +0000 German adventurer Jonas Deichmann is attempting to defy the odds by making his way around the world under his own steam despite border restrictions. His long-term goal has always been to attempt a human-powered, around-the-world circumnavigation by cycling, running, swimming and by crossing oceans by un-motorised craft. As Europe began to open up during last summer he glimpsed a window of opportunity to take on his global adventure. “When I started out at the end of September the [Covid-19]... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/extreme-sports/article/3120550/around-world-human-power-during-covid-19-cyclist?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/extreme-sports/article/3120550/around-world-human-power-during-covid-19-cyclist?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Feb 2021 02:00:07 +0000 With its year-round equatorial climate, Sabah in Malaysian Borneo has become an increasingly popular destination for tourists from around the world. Its natural beauty, some of the most diverse wildlife in Asia, and its ethnic diversity – at least 30 ethnic groups live there – as well as its exotic headhunting past, have made Sabah an alluring destination. Kota Kinabalu, the capital city, is the gateway to the state for 90 per cent of those visitors. Currently, though, no one is using that... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3119793/tourism-operators-sabah-malaysia-put-brave-face-amid?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3119793/tourism-operators-sabah-malaysia-put-brave-face-amid?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 31 Jan 2021 05:15:11 +0000 An eerie peace has descended on Luang Prabang in Laos. Residents describe a tranquillity that has not been seen in the increasingly popular Southeast Asian tourist destination for decades. This should be high season for tourism in the town, which has held Unesco World Heritage Site status since 1995, although in recent years it has been busy year-round. Laos is a wild, landlocked country of jungle and mountains, and Luang Prabang is its crowning jewel. A spiritual place, the town is known for... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3117730/luang-prabang-dead-jewel-laos-tourism-jobs-have-gone?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3117730/luang-prabang-dead-jewel-laos-tourism-jobs-have-gone?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 17 Jan 2021 05:15:12 +0000 To say that 2020 has been an unusual year would be a gross understatement for each and every one of us. The enforced, unpredictable rolling restrictions on travel and movement have been especially disruptive for those of us who’ve had their wanderlust or travel-related careers put on hold. Things will hopefully start looking up in 2021. With a subdued and homebound festive season fast approaching, we take a look at five Christmas gift ideas to give the travellers among us a treat and morale... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3112871/five-christmas-2020-gift-ideas-frustrated-traveller-apple?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3112871/five-christmas-2020-gift-ideas-frustrated-traveller-apple?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 07 Dec 2020 12:15:06 +0000 Mountain biking is, for many riders, all about getting out into nature and having fun. Hong Kong has one of the best city-based trail networks in Asia, making it relatively easy to take on micro biking adventures while social distancing. However, there are some factors beginners should pay attention to and things to learn about before they hit the trails, especially as many of the trails in Hong Kong are of an advanced nature. The bike There’s no need to spend HK$40,000 (US$5,000) to get a... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3107628/mountain-biking-beginners-everything-you-need-know-kit-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3107628/mountain-biking-beginners-everything-you-need-know-kit-and?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Nov 2020 05:15:14 +0000 It doesn’t matter if it’s a day trip or a weeks-long Himalayan trek, the weather is something we’d all prefer to have on our side when travelling. Luckily, there are several superb mobile weather forecasting apps to help us plot our adventures. Time constraints and budgets often play a big part in scheduling trips, and you can unwittingly find yourself choked by seasonal haze, on a picture perfect tropical beach during monsoon season, or wheezing from pollen allergies. It pays to dig a little by... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3107058/five-best-free-weather-apps-help-planning-your-next-trip?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3107058/five-best-free-weather-apps-help-planning-your-next-trip?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 26 Oct 2020 10:15:14 +0000 When it comes to travel photography, it’s the people within the frame that more often than not give an image its impact. Capturing great people pictures requires a lot of thought, some flexible planning, technical knowledge and the ability to communicate beyond words to break down barriers. There are several ways to go about achieving this. Styles For a portrait shot of a perfectly groomed tribal nomad, your approach will be different to that of snapping a morning market in a bustling city.... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3103288/tips-perfect-portrait-photography-your-travels-tell-story?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3103288/tips-perfect-portrait-photography-your-travels-tell-story?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 28 Sep 2020 10:50:14 +0000 You don’t have to be a cycling fan to become hooked on the Tour de France. For some, the racing is a sideshow to a three-week grand visual tour of the country. With live coverage of up to eight hours a day (plus highlight programmes) being beamed to almost every corner of the planet, the Tour provides glimpses of France’s most impressive sights and scenery, many of which are rarely seen outside the race coverage. The Tour de France dates back to 1903 and unlike stadium- or track-based sports,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3099043/tour-de-france-2020-how-watch-who-could-win-and-why-you?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3099043/tour-de-france-2020-how-watch-who-could-win-and-why-you?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Aug 2020 06:45:07 +0000 On Saturday, August 1 the Belgian road and cyclo cross star Wout van Aert stormed out of the Italian dust clouds of the race entourage to take victory in the famous “Strade Bianchi” (“white” or “dirt road”) classic men’s race in Tuscany. As impressive as his victory was, and that of World Champion Annemiek van Vleuten in the preceding women’s race, it was the fact that the event even happened that was the big story. The race was originally scheduled for early March, but as Italy went into... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/extreme-sports/article/3095797/return-world-tour-cycling-amid-conravirus-and-what-it?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/extreme-sports/article/3095797/return-world-tour-cycling-amid-conravirus-and-what-it?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 04 Aug 2020 00:00:13 +0000 Being able to speak at least a few sentences in the local language will make a huge difference to almost every aspect of a travel experience. Not only will it help ensure you don’t eat snake head soup when you expected lamb chops, it will also help you to avoid being overcharged and other potentially sticky situations, and can open up a new world of cultural understanding, communication and acceptance by local people. Long gone are the days of night classes and cassette tape courses. Thanks to... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3094575/lessons-lockdown-five-language-apps-help-you-get-most-your?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3094575/lessons-lockdown-five-language-apps-help-you-get-most-your?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Jul 2020 11:15:07 +0000