World of Travel

Itinéraire Site Web

World of Travel Creating extraordinary, authentic & tailor-made journeys for the discerning traveller since 1998.

40 Years of Travel – Chapter 11: The Faces of Kumbh Mela. 🇮🇳 A few hours of flying separated our luxury resort in the Ma...
20/10/2026

40 Years of Travel – Chapter 11: The Faces of Kumbh Mela. 🇮🇳

A few hours of flying separated our luxury resort in the Maldives from one of the most extraordinary events on earth. Back in 2019, I made that journey with my daughter, and it remains one of the most powerful travel contrasts I have experienced. After roughly ten trips to India, I believed I had a good understanding of the country. The Kumbh Mela proved me wrong.

Naga Sadhus, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims, colorful processions, drums and temple bells, the scent of incense drifting over a vast tent city, and the sound of Har Har Mahadev carried through the crowd. But what stayed with me most were the faces. Colorful turbans, ash-covered skin, painted foreheads, and above all, the expressions of the people who had travelled from far and wide to be there. It is organized chaos on a scale I had never seen, and somehow it all works. The scale, the devotion and the energy are difficult to capture in words or photographs.

Taking my triple dip in the Ganges was a deeply moving experience, and one I will not forget. It showed me that even experienced travellers can be surprised by India, that contrast, from Maldivian calm to Kumbh chaos, is a powerful teacher, and that the most meaningful journeys are those that change your perspective.

The experience left such a lasting impression that in 2025, I returned as tour leader for two groups of very well-travelled, experienced travellers. Seeing the Kumbh Mela through their eyes was both humbling and rewarding, as even those who had seen the world were left speechless.

13/10/2026

40 Years of Travel – Chapter 10: Western Sahara 🇪🇭

I thought I knew what "the middle of nowhere" looked like. Then I drove into the Western Sahara.

The road stretched out like a ribbon across the sand. For hours, there was nothing but golden dunes, a blazing sun, and the occasional camel crossing the road like it owned the place (it did).

Then, almost without warning, the desert simply *ended* and the Atlantic began. Turquoise waters. Kitesurfers dancing across the lagoon near Dakhla like colourful birds.

And the wind? It never seems to stop. It's the constant soundtrack of this place, shaping the dunes, stirring the waves and setting everything in motion.

Then came the real thrill. I climbed into a land yacht, pulled the sail tight and let the wind take over. Within seconds, the wheels were barely touching the ground and the beach became a blur. Pure speed, no engine.

Afterwards? Fresh oysters, harvested that very morning, served right on the shore with a squeeze of lemon. Salty, cold, perfect.

By sunset, we were deep in the dunes, sharing sweet mint tea with a Sahrawi family who welcomed us like old friends. No Wi-Fi, no schedule, no rush. Just a fire, good company and a sky filled with stars.

Some journeys are impossible to capture in a single photograph. But that won't stop me from trying.

40 Years of Travel – Chapter 9: Mongolia 🇲🇳 Once you leave Ulaanbaatar behind, the world simply opens up. Endless plains...
06/10/2026

40 Years of Travel – Chapter 9: Mongolia 🇲🇳

Once you leave Ulaanbaatar behind, the world simply opens up. Endless plains, ridgelines rolling on forever, and not a fence in sight.

Out here, life is beautifully simple. Nomad families move with the seasons, and every night we slept in a cosy yurt, far from everything.

And the horses! So many horses. Herds galloping past, wild ones on the horizon, and a very obedient steed whenever the 4x4 needed a break. Pro tip: a solid 4x4 is non-negotiable, and a patient horse comes a close second.

Every so often, a Buddhist monastery appears out of nowhere, as if the steppe is keeping secrets.

Mongolia’s traditions come together every year during the Naadam Festival in Ulaanbaatar, celebrating the country’s famous “three manly games”

1. Horse racing across the open steppe, with riders sometimes as young as five.

2. Bökh wrestling, where giants in tiny briefs and embroidered vests battle it out before the winner performs an eagle dance.

3. And archery, with arrows hitting their mark from seriously impressive distances.

It feels like a festival, but these traditions are much more than a show. They are still very much part of Mongolian life.

The food? Well… dried yak meat, yak yoghurt, yak cheese. Honestly, probably my worst culinary experience on all my travels. But I’d eat it all again for those sunsets.

Far from everything, I found everything.

40 Years of Travel – Chapter 8: Mali 🇲🇱 Throwback to 1997: the trip that can’t be repeated. Scanned from the shoebox, sh...
02/10/2026

40 Years of Travel – Chapter 8: Mali 🇲🇱

Throwback to 1997: the trip that can’t be repeated. Scanned from the shoebox, shot on film, long before the digital age.

In 1997, I travelled to Mali. Solo. My travel companion had to pull out a week before departure after contracting malaria, and I decided to go anyway.

Today, that journey is simply no longer possible. Mali has become too unsafe for travellers, which makes these memories feel even more precious.

Djenné. The great mosque, built entirely of mud, rising from the earth like a giant sandcastle. Breathtaking.

Checkpoints. Dozens of military roadblocks along the way. Passport out, smile on, patience required. Every single time.

Dogon Country. A four-day trek through the extraordinary Dogon region and its cliffside villages. We slept in the open air on the flat roofs of traditional Dogon houses, beneath more stars than I had ever seen. At night, singing and dancing drifted through the villages as if it were the most normal thing in the world. For them, it was.

Mopti. Out on the Niger River in rickety wooden boats with local fishermen. No life jackets, no schedule, just the slow rhythm of the river.

Timbuktu. Yes, it really exists. The gateway to the Sahara. At sunset, we rode into the desert on camels, led by Tuareg guides, the famous “blue men” of the desert. Silence, sand and a sky on fire.

The last night. I ended up in the bar of just about the only hotel in Timbuktu with two Russians and a Brit, sharing strong drinks and even stronger stories until late. Everyone was properly drunk.

Early the next morning, we boarded an old Antonov for the flight back to Bamako. And guess who climbed into the cockpit? Yes, the same two Russians from the night before. They greeted us with a wave and then had to land us “safely”. Very reassuring...

No comfort, no luxury, no Wi-Fi. Just a backpack full of stories that no all-inclusive resort could ever give me.

Travel stories from the old days. Analogue memories, digitised.

40 Years of Travel – Chapter 6: Cuba 🇨🇺Cuba hits you before you've even properly landed.The music comes first. Everywher...
29/09/2026

40 Years of Travel – Chapter 6: Cuba 🇨🇺

Cuba hits you before you've even properly landed.

The music comes first. Everywhere. It spills out of every doorway, every café terrace, every window where no one seems to be listening, yet everyone's swaying anyway. Salsa, son, a guitar here, a trumpet there. Havana doesn't need a playlist. The street is the playlist.

Meanwhile, the classic cars roll by: hot pink Chevrolets, turquoise Buicks straight out of the '50s, roaring and rattling, yet as proud as the day they rolled off the boat. Time machines on wheels.

In the bars, the mojitos and daiquiris flow freely. Mint, rum, ice, repeat. Somewhere between glass two and three, it hits you: this island knows how to live.

Havana's streets are worn, the paint is peeling, the balconies are leaning. And yet, that smile is everywhere. Cubans making so much out of so little, making ends meet with a laugh and a joke, as if poverty never managed to steal their rhythm. That might just be the most beautiful thing about Cuba.

Che's face watches over every street corner, painted on walls, printed on shirts, staring out from faded murals, a ghost that never really left. And in 2014, Fidel was still alive, tucked away out of sight, while his brother Raúl quietly held the reins. History here doesn't feel like history. It feels like it's still breathing.

And then, come evening: a cigar between your fingers, a glass of rum within reach, and the Tropicana sweeping you straight back to the late '50s. Feathers, glitter, golden trumpets, as if the Americans hadn't yet fled the island in a hurry.

For one night, you're part of another era.

No luxury. No frills. Just Cuba. Pure character, authenticity, atmosphere. Something you only feel here.

Special. Unique. Unforgettable.

Slovenia surprises at every turn.From the charming streets of Ljubljana and the iconic shores of Lake Bled to the peacef...
24/09/2026

Slovenia surprises at every turn.

From the charming streets of Ljubljana and the iconic shores of Lake Bled to the peaceful landscapes of Bohinj, impressive caves, local craftsmanship and age-old traditions.

During his journey, Rick discovered just how diverse Slovenia really is. A destination where nature, culture and gastronomy blend effortlessly and where something new seems to be waiting around every corner.

Curious to discover his experiences and favourite highlights?

Read the full travel story via the link in bio.

22/09/2026

40 Years of Travel – Chapter 6: Svalbard 🇸🇯

Somewhere north of 79°, on Spitsbergen, Svalbard's wild heart, the world simply stops making sense. In the best way.

It starts with the journey itself: a flight via Oslo, the world below slowly trading forests for fjords, fjords for ice, until Longyearbyen appears, the northernmost town you'll ever land in. And there, the airport greets you with a sign warning that polar bears roam beyond town, r***e required. The Arctic wastes no time telling you whose territory this is.

Our ship is just the base camp, the adventure starts the moment you step off it. Zodiacs at dawn, cold spray, icebergs sculpted by time.

Getting off the ship is the whole point. Treks across silent tundra, reindeer grazing like they own it. Kayaking through glacier-flanked fjords, paddle slicing water so clear it feels like touching the edge of the planet.

That silence follows you everywhere. Total, physical, almost heavier than the cold. Until it breaks: walrus colonies grunting on rocky shores, tusks catching the light, and cliffs alive with thousands of shrieking seabirds overhead.

Then, the polar plunge. "Voluntary," they grin. One jump, twenty seconds of pure electric cold, hauled out laughing and gasping. You didn't need to do it. You'll never regret it.
And then, the moment. A whisper on the bridge, binoculars passed hand to hand, a polar bear on the pack ice, unhurried, exactly where it belongs. The whole deck goes quiet, as if the silence knew to make room.

No five-course dinners here. Just frostbitten fingers around a hot thermos, raw landscapes, and a silence that rewires how small, and how alive, you feel.

40 Years of Travel – Chapter 5: USA 🇺🇸 (Route 66)The last 3 states. Top down. Route 66 during its 100th anniversary.This...
18/09/2026

40 Years of Travel – Chapter 5: USA 🇺🇸 (Route 66)

The last 3 states. Top down. Route 66 during its 100th anniversary.

This time I only tackled the final stretch through New Mexico, Arizona, and California, all the way to Santa Monica. The scorching desert, diners with neon signs that haven't changed in decades, every mile a different piece of America.

A few things I learned along the way:
- Cadillac Ranch outside Amarillo, TX. Ten Cadillacs buried nose-down in a field since 1974 is one of the weirdest, most photographed stops on the whole route.
- That famous "Mother Road" nickname? Coined by John Steinbeck in The Grapes of Wrath.
- The town of Seligman, AZ basically saved Route 66 from being erased by the interstate in the 1970s. Locals fought to get it recognized as historic.
- And finally, the "End of the Trail" sign at Santa Monica Pier, the finish line for generations of road-trippers before me.

100 years of Route 66, and after this trip, I finally get why this road is still legendary. The full 2,448-mile journey, Chicago to Santa Monica, is already on the list, planned for when I turn 66. 😄

It's not the destination, it's the journey.

Kathleen stepped aboard the Riverside Luxury Cruises Mozart and discovered the Danube in ultimate comfort: from the vine...
16/09/2026

Kathleen stepped aboard the Riverside Luxury Cruises Mozart and discovered the Danube in ultimate comfort: from the vineyards of the Wachau Valley and elegant Vienna to Budapest at sunrise. Personal service, fine dining and remarkable destinations made this river cruise a truly special experience.

Read her travel story via the link in bio.

40 Years of Travel – Chapter 4: Bhutan 🇧🇹 Some countries impress you. Others change the way you look at the world. Bhuta...
15/09/2026

40 Years of Travel – Chapter 4: Bhutan 🇧🇹

Some countries impress you. Others change the way you look at the world. Bhutan does both.

The journey begins long before you land. Flying in from India or Nepal, a window seat on the left-hand side rewards you with breathtaking views of the Himalayas, including some of the world's highest peaks—Everest, Lhotse and Makalu. As the aircraft gracefully weaves between towering mountains before touching down in Paro, you quickly realise why this is considered one of the most spectacular landings on Earth.

Welcome to the Kingdom of Bhutan—a place where time seems to slow down. There are no traffic lights, only smiling police officers directing traffic. Prayer flags dance in the mountain breeze, monasteries cling impossibly to cliffs, and the warmth and genuine pride of the Bhutanese people make every visitor feel truly welcome.

Bhutan has deliberately chosen quality over quantity in tourism, preserving its unique culture, pristine landscapes and deep Buddhist traditions. Sustainability isn't a trend here—it's simply a way of life.

No visit is complete without hiking to the legendary Tiger's Nest Monastery. It's a challenging climb, but standing in front of this iconic monastery, suspended high above the valley, is a moment you'll never forget.

I've had the privilege of visiting Bhutan twice already. And if I get the chance to return a third time... I won't hesitate for a second.

Adresse

Rijselsestraat 38A
Kortrijk
8500

Heures d'ouverture

Lundi 08:30 - 18:00
Mardi 08:30 - 18:00
Mercredi 08:30 - 18:00
Jeudi 08:30 - 18:00
Vendredi 08:30 - 18:00

Site Web

Notifications

Soyez le premier à savoir et laissez-nous vous envoyer un courriel lorsque World of Travel publie des nouvelles et des promotions. Votre adresse e-mail ne sera pas utilisée à d'autres fins, et vous pouvez vous désabonner à tout moment.

Raccourcis

Partager