Ready to hear just how loud your scream can get this Halloween? We bet you aren’t, but you should still give your vocal cords a workout at Scream-A-Geddon, a collection of haunted houses that’ll ruin sleep for the rest of your life (if you even manage to make it out).
There’s no trying to act tough here. Sure, you can pretend you’re not absolutely terrified when a chainsaw-wielding maniac is chasing you, but the never-before-heard, your-mum-will-wonder-what’s-wrong kind of screaming your mouth will emit is going to be a dead giveaway.
These haunted houses are fully immersive, interactive experiences – think mazes filled with abnormal creatures to assault your senses, demon-infested bayous, and an asylum bursting with deranged patients who can sniff out fresh meat (you) from miles away.
And even though you won’t feel like it, once you step into each experience, you finish it. The evil priestesses, manic monsters and mutated animals won’t let you out of their sight until you cross the threshold of sweet, sweet freedom or as other people call it, the end of the haunted house. Seriously, it’s enough to question whether you’re strong enough to hold onto your sanity. Spoiler alert: you’re not.
But blood-curdling horror aside, this place sounds pretty fun. Just don’t look directly at the creepy clown. Or stand up to the hoard of leg-dragging zombies. And if you need us, we’ll be drinking craft brew in Bonzo’s Beer Garden.
Coulrophobics, look away now. Your worst nightmare is coming true.
Welcome to the Clown Motel, the only place where you can check in with a smile and wake up having had the worst sleep of your life – if you even wake up, that is. Its location in the heart of Nowhere, Nevada (Tonopah) adds to the eerie atmosphere you’ll likely experience here, and so do the creepy clowns that litter every possible surface of this joint.
Seriously, they’re everywhere: waiting to greet you behind the concierge desk, smiling down at you from the ceiling of your room, hiding underneath the toilet seat, and popping out at you from the mini fridge to give you the biggest fright of your clown-hating life. Okay the last couple might not be true, but you get the gist.
But while the clowns themselves don’t actually seem all that terrifying, The Clown Motel isn’t for the weak (or the young and easily impressionable). There’s a lot of paranormal activity that goes down here, from dark silhouettes roaming the hallways to slamming doors and tingly sensations. You might even hear, ‘Wanna play a game, Georgie?’ as you’re drifting off to sleep*.
If that’s not enough to have you running and screaming in the opposite direction the second you pull into the Motel’s driveway, learning about the local cemetery and the ghosts that haunt it certainly will. And if you do stay, remember to take pics, you’re gonna want proof you survived the ultimate circus-themed sleepover. Say ‘cheese’!
Move aside Finland and Norway, Colorado’s selling tickets to Mother Nature’s best show and securing tickets is easier than ever before. A recent peak in the solar cycle’s sunspot activity means the mile-high state has been promoted to the Northern Lights big leagues.
And Colorado already boasts massive bragging rights. The mountainous Rockies, dark star-studded skies and picturesque national parks all combine to make the state a premier destination for nature lovers. That’s not new information. But adding in frequent and consistent sightings of those legendary green and pink swirls just feels a little like showing off.
The state has also been blessed with 11 DarkSky International Parks free from light pollution including Black Canyon of the Gunnisen National Park and Curecanti National Recreation Area, and if you want to catch some serious natural phenomena those are the places to start. Although, some reports have even suggested the auroras will show their shiny faces as far south as Boulder and Fort Collins.
But searching for iconic twinkling lights isn’t the only nighttime adventure you can have in Colorado. From looking for UFOs in Hoover (a supposed hotspot for alien activity) and discovering DarkSky communities to watching a northern lights laser show for when the universe doesn’t deliver on the real thing, you’ll never be bored in this state when the sun goes down.
Or you could always settle in at Telluride Ski Resort for some serious ski and snowboard action and of course, a lot of Aurora Borealis watching.
It’s that time of year again when the creepiest crawlies come out to play in the streets of London. Yep, spooky season is well and truly here – just look at the gigantic purple monster seeping through the window cracks of the city’s Leadenhall Market.
The Mandrake Hotel wants in on the action and has transformed itself into a mysterious palace of mischief right in time for Hallowen. This year, they’re throwing a Masquerade Ball, so you can expect the drinks to be strong, the costumes to be wild, and the potential for embarassing/drunken escapades to be through the hotel’s ornate roof.
Seriously, they’ve gone all out. Each low-lit room is filled with creatures James Wan wouldn’t even put in his horror films. Every part of the hotel’s decor from candelabras to wall sconces are draped in cobwebs and chances are you’ll have spotted at least 10 Phantom of the Opera’s before the night’s end.
You can also expect a cocktail menu that’s more potion than punch, featuring drinks like “The Boozy Banshee” and “Witch’s Brew.”
And you just know the entertainment is going to be a delightful mix of live music and questionable performances—think the Sanderson sisters’ rendition of “I Put a Spell on You”. You might even find yourself onstage, doing the Monster Mash in front of an audience that’s half-cackling, half-terrified you’ll jump into the crowd and start forcing them to follow your disastrous dance moves.
But don’t let that stop you. Dust off that vintage vampire cape, grab your most absurd mask, and prepare to get lost in the madness magic of halloween. Just remember: what happens at The Mandrake stays at The Mandrake… unless you wake up to a viral video of you flailing around like a zombie while leading the conga line. That fifth “Witch’s Brew” has come back to haunt you after all.
Gone are the days when you have to wait for your best friend to break up with her loser boyfriend or for your little sister to work enough shifts at her fast-food job. Leave them behind and do it on your own with G Adventures’ new trip style Solo-ish.
You can go it alone, but you won’t be alone; you’ll be in a group of other like-minded, solo travellers all seeking personal growth, cultural connection and safety in numbers. That means the honeymooners can’t join. And neither can the mother-son duo that fight every chance they get.
Thirteen of G Adventures’ most popular trips have been solo-fied with itineraries crafted to drive connection among the group in record time—think cooking classes and dinner parties designed to turn a group of strangers into future best friends for life.
But if forced friendship’s not your thing, each trip also includes plenty of free time to recharge those social batteries and offers up to 50% off the ‘My Own Room’ option for single supplements that don’t want to share their personal space when the sun goes down. Or that don’t want to sleep with earplugs because their bedtime buddy snores.
Strange noises aside, why not take a walk on the wild side with a 12-day adventure through the heart of Rajasthan? And if India’s not on your bucket list, there’s always South Africa, with its incredible wildlife, landscapes and food to explore. Or cruising through Ha Long Bay on a traditional junk boat where you’ll feast on fresh seafood and sleep under the Vietnamese stars.
The biggest mystery surrounding the launch of the Norient Express along Norway’s coastline is why it’s taken so long for a luxury train experience to be launched on one of the world’s most scenic rail routes.
Think dramatic fjords, mountains that scrape the sky, and lush valleys. Then consider how incredible it would be to experience that jaw-dropping scenery from the comfort of a lux hotel on wheels—the Norient Express.
The six-day adventure begins when you wave goodbye to the colourful wooden houses of Bergen enroute to Trondheim, home to Scandinavia’s largest medieval building—and thumping nightlife. Of course, you’ll stop along the way, with highlights including the capital, Oslo, where you can drop in on the Norwegian royals, check out cutting-edge Scandi architecture, history and art.
But you might be torn about disembarking for a spot of sightseeing; local craftsmen have built the fully electric Norient Express’s luxury carriages to rival high-end hotel suites, and the exclusivity of the experience has been enhanced by limiting its capacity to 60 lucky passengers. The fully inclusive experience includes gourmet Norwegian cuisine in the dining compartment, an onboard fitness room and spa.
There is entertainment, including the observatory car, which provides front row seats to the Northern Lights and panoramic views of the Norwegian landscape.
So, grab 59 of your best mates, pack your suitcase, and get ready to party hard at the Norient Express bar and lounge, where the cocktails are to die for.
Need to know: The Norient Express will run on a weekly timetable, from Sunday to Thursday, with the first train due to pull out of the station in October 2025.
You ever wanted to catch a wave and ride it all the way to the shore? But then realised sharks, giant squid and blue whales live in the ocean and that maybe floating on a polyurethane foam board in the shape of their food isn’t the best idea? Well, do we have a surfing solution for you.
Surf Abu Dhabi has created the world’s most advanced, man-made wave tailored to absolutely everyone, from the I’ve-never-tried-surfing-in-my-life-ers to those of us with Kelly Slater skills.
Not only can you forget all about your thalassophobia, but you can flex your abilities (or lack thereof) and find your perfect wave in an exclusive and inspiring experience you’ll want to repeat over and over. But what makes the wave so magnificent? We’re glad you asked.
The experience uses cutting-edge technology to set up the epic barrels and long rides of your wildest surfing dreams, and there’s professional surf coaches on site if you’re lacking a little in the confidence department.
Once you’ve had your fill, sit back and relax in the sun with a cold drink and some seriously good food—think coastal flavours and top-notch ingredients.
But before you hop on Skyscanner and start searching for return flights to the UAE, this experience opens in October, which is actually fine considering going to the Middle East any earlier guarantees you have a 99% chance of bursting into flames (read: it’s hot hot). And it also means you still have time to practice your turn, paddle and stand.
After a long 12-year wait, Cinque Terre’s beloved walkway, Via dell’Amore, has reopened.
Just think about it, when the iconic footpath was first roped off in 2012 after a landslide, middle-aged mums were going crazy over 50 Shades of Grey and South Korean singer PSY was Gangnam Style-ing all over the place.
Thankfully those days are behind us and mushy romantics can once again get their steps in along the ‘Path of Love’ after a 23-million-euro upgrade restored the trail.
But (there’s always a but), don’t expect the trail to be exactly the same as it was. Before its closure, visitors to the Ligurian coastline were able to scribble ‘John + Jenny 4 life’ on the rock walls and attach locks to bits of railing in a misguided effort to secure everlasting love. You can’t do that anymore.
What you can do though is buy tickets the second you’ve factored the walk into your itinerary (visitor numbers are now capped). You’ll also be prompted to reserve a specific time slot, so no sleeping in.
While this might be a little more admin than was previously needed, this 2,950-foot stretch of the best damn views you’ve ever seen, is worth it.
Only a few things can make a sauna cooler (pun very much intended); a dip in the Tasman Sea off a bespoke pontoon boat is definitely one of them.
This sauna cruiser was custom-built to be the best damn sweat you’ve ever had, taking the sauna experience to new heights by setting sail to various open water locations in the Northwest Bay of Southern Tasmania.
There’s one wood-fired sauna on board and it’s been carefully designed to maximise your epic surroundings with large, glazed windows, so you can see the Tasmanian landscape clearly (you might be perspiring but the windows won’t be) and direct access to the chilly waters of Snug Beach, Coningham Beach and Howden upon anchoring.
Kuuma—a literal and metaphorical embodiment of ‘warmth’—encourages eager sauna-goers to disconnect from everyday life for the duration of their experience in order to rejuvenate their mind and body. If you’re sceptical, don’t be. Tasmania’s southern waters are cold. Like, 9 degrees cold or, ‘I can’t feel my toes cold’. So you’ll definitely feel alive and ready for anything after taking a dip.
There’s a skipper on board so you don’t have to worry about any technical stuff (phew), and two different session options—going communal or hiring it out for your own private use. Kuuma even offers sunrise saunas in case you’ve ever thought about plunging into freezing water at 6 am on a Tuesday morning.
Forget Deadpool & Wolverine, Cottar’s Safaris has come up with the newest box office smash hit.
No, it’s not a film. But it is one of the most magical settings you’ll ever watch one in—think a specially designed cinema set up under the African stars. The deluxe camp’s, ‘Wild Movie Nights’, allows guests to watch their favourite African-themed films, from The Lion King to Out of Africa, in the middle of the Kenyan landscape.
A large projector screen ensures you won’t be blocked by the guy with the big head in front of you and the selection of aperitifs served from the alfresco cinema’s vintage bar also guarantees you don’t have to be 100% sober when you watch Simba cry for his dead dad (the PTSD is real).
A crackling fire pit, warm lantern lighting, fuzzy blankets and your choice of either comfortable canvas bean bags or traditional shuka mats make up the rest of the cinema’s decor.
And there’s snacks (obvs)! Freshly buttered popcorn, salty hot dogs and homemade chocolates are only a few delicious items on the menu, but don’t spoil your appetite: an opulent dinner served under the stairs waits for the guests returning to the main camp.
But this is one cinema experience you’ll have to wait for—its release date is scheduled for October (our bags are already packed).
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