BEN FOGLE
The TV explorer, adventurer and author has his 2017 travel plans sewn up. He’ll be filming all over the globe but his first stop is the one he’s looking forward to most.
‘Bhutan is a place I’ve never been and I’ve always wanted to go,’ he admits. ‘It’s been on my radar for years. I’ve never had an excuse to go but filming will finally take me to the mountain kingdom. I can’t wait to get out into the Himalayas and explore.’
Though if you’re looking for real adventure, he’s suggesting a trip to South America. ‘Bolivia is such an exciting country to discover,’ he says. ‘It is dominated and enveloped by the high Andes and it has such a rich, vibrant culture. You can climb some dizzying peaks then trek through the rainforest, sail across Lake Titicaca and descend into the honeycomb mines.’
How about a place that doesn’t receive the recognition it should? ‘Mongolia,’ he says without missing a beat. ‘It isn’t easy to get to but it’s worth the effort. It is unlike anywhere else I’ve ever visited. I was there mid-winter when the temperatures were still freezing but it has such a unique and warm culture. The landscape there is hauntingly beautiful.
‘I was also really surprised by Papua New Guinea,’ he continues. ‘I didn’t know what to expect but what I found was a place frozen in time. Few people visit. It has a ferocious reputation for danger and hostility but I only found warmth and fascination while I was there.’
However, when it comes to family time, he’s staying closer to home. ‘We’re more of a tent-and-campfire kind of bunch and love holidaying in the UK. We have recently got a Hilleberg tent and we’ve kitted ourselves out with Best Made Company gear.’
Follow the TV adventurer and writer as he tells us about his travel plans and tips