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Discover with Diana, Doha (2026)

Name: Discover with Diana
Address: Doha, QA

01/05/2026

elephant activities are ALL over Thailand…but are they ethical?? 🐘

I spent my 29th birthday at the Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai and it was the perfect way to interact with these giants in a respectful manner. They offer several packages based on how long you have and what you’re looking to do, but regardless of which one you choose, you will leave this place in awe of the relationships the elephants have formed with each other and their caretakers. The owner Lek is essentially an elephant whisperer and her global recognition has led to her ability to care for as many elephants as possible on this massive property.

Finding an ethical experience can be difficult when there are so many that promote themselves as such regardless of whether it’s true or not. A good rule of thumb is to think about if the animal experience is something they would do in the wild. If they had to be trained to do something and it doesn’t come naturally to them, it’s probably not ethical. Same thing with whether or not they are forced into interactions with tourists. The elephants here had complete control of the experience and would simply walk away to another area if they no longer wanted to be touched, fed or around us.

While finding an experience like this can be tricky, it is so worth it. For anyone considering an elephant experience in Thailand, consider heading north and visiting this sanctuary, you won’t regret it! 🤍

17/03/2026

a very full 10 days in Australia 🇦🇺 ✈️
This trip was definitely one of my most fast-paced itineraries to date. With limited time and a very long flight to get there, I knew I wanted to see and experience as much as possible…even if that meant a lot of early mornings, late nights, and airport runs in between.

Planning this itinerary was a balance between logistics and intention: figuring out flight routes that made sense, grouping destinations strategically, and still leaving room for the moments that can’t be planned.

Was it a lot? YES.
Would I do it again the same way? also YES. 🤷🏻‍♀️

There’s something really exciting about moving quickly through a place, getting little glimpses of different regions, and creating a trip that feels full from start to finish. Not every trip has to be slow. Some are meant to be a little chaotic, a little ambitious, and completely unforgettable.

This is what 12 days in Australia looked like for me ✈️

15/03/2026

a day in the village of one of the world’s most ancient rainforests 🤍
My last day in Cairns was spent exploring the village of Kuranda and the Daintree Rainforest. I took a tour through the company Tropic Wings which I can’t recommend enough. This itinerary was fantastic, from pick up at my hostel to drop off everything was taken care of and organized whilst still leaving free time for some independent exploring.

The scenic rail was the highlight of the morning, taking us through the mountains up into the rainforest. The views were incredible and the history of this 100+ year old railway was very cool to learn about during the ride. 🚂

After arriving in Kuranda we walked into the village to grab a snack before heading to the butterfly sanctuary. I’m not much of a butterfly gal myself but I will admit it was a very special experience and an unexpected one at that. 🦋

Once we finished the butterfly tour we headed over to Rainforestation Nature Park where we spent the rest of the day. We started with a duck boat tour of the jungle. I loved this because we got to see the natural environment from all perspectives as these boats are from the world war and can navigate on both land and water. Once we finished the duck boat tour we had lunch at their buffet before heading to a cultural performance to learn about the aboriginal people of the area and their history. From dancing and didgeridoo playing, to spear and boomerang throwing we had an awesome time exploring the traditions and practices of these people. 🪃

The day ended in the wildlife sanctuary which was for sure my favorite part. Kangaroos roam wild throughout the sanctuary and you can touch and feed them if they’re in the mood! There were also wallabies, dingoes, crocodiles, tree kangaroos, and many more. My favorite were definitely the koalas which I even got to hold for a minute while I got a picture. They are such strange little creatures but very adorable. 🦘 🐨 🐊

I ended the day exploring the Cairns Night Markets with a girl from the tour I befriended…the perfect way to end this solo trip. 🫶🏻

09/03/2026

my 4th world wonder 🤿 🪸 🐠
A day I have looked forward to forever, snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef! 🪸

There was NO way I was coming to Australia and not making it to the GBR, so after leaving Port Lincoln I took 3 flights to make it up to Cairns. It was a long day of travel but well worth it to get to this tropical paradise. I stayed in Cairns for the next few days to explore a bit of Queensland.

This excursion was an all day snorkel adventure on a beautiful large ship that took us out to 2 private areas of the reef. We got about 5 hours total of snorkel time and you can even do introductory scuba dives if you wanted to try that out. They also had a marine biologist on board who took us out on a snorkel safari to teach us about what we saw. Because it was stinger season, we all worse these ridiculous Lycra wetsuits and if I never have to put another wetsuit on again it will be too soon. They are a nightmare to get on, but especially while wet and with fake nails 🤦🏻‍♀️😅. I would say it was worth it because there were HUNDREDS of jellies everywhere and it was nice to be protected, but I still ended up getting stung in the lip 🥲. Regardless, it was some of the best snorkeling I’ve ever done, and I’ve done a lot.

This tour also had the option of doing a helicopter flight over the reef either for 10 minutes during the day or for 30 minutes back to shore instead of taking the boat back for an hour and a half. I decided to book the return flight to shore and since no one else did, it ended up being a private flight! 🚁 Such a cool way to see the reef from a different perspective. Check out for this excursion and more!

All in all, a great day exploring this underwater world wonder and getting some vitamin D, but they’re not kidding about the Aussie sun. It’s strong! Make sure to get sunscreen in Australia, otherwise you’ll be fried like me. 🔥😭

09/03/2026

a day at sea 🦭🐬 🦈
The third stop on my Australia trip was to a small town in South Australia called Port Lincoln. I got on a TINY plane from Adelaide and spent 2 nights in this quaint coastal area. The people were so welcoming to chat with and it felt a bit like the towns in the New England coastal areas of the US.

The purpose of this detour was to do a shark dive with great whites. I try to do shark dives anywhere I can when I travel because I love everything about sharks and seeing them in their natural habitat is such an incredible experience.

This day started out with a stop at an island so we could swim with the playful sea lions and dolphins. This was definitely the highlight of the day. They were so curious and friendly and I couldn’t believe how close they came to us. We couldn’t touch them but that didn’t stop them from swimming into us.

Then we spent the next 12 hours at sea looking for Great Whites to come to our boat. Unfortunately even with chum and noise, they were not interested or in the area that day. It was quite disappointing, especially because the sea sickness and chill set in as we sat in the cold wind for hours. That is the reality with activities like this, there’s never a guarantee, but I was very sad regardless (see last slide). I came out of my way to do this activity and despite a fun day swimming with sea life, I was really hoping for sharks.

However, the silver lining is that this company offers a voucher to return again and try to see the sharks another time, so I am happy to add that to my list for the next couple of years! I also accidentally booked the wrong dates (I forgot about DD/MM/YY) but Calypso was GREAT at rearranging things for me so I could still do the tour while I was there. I didn’t get to stay at my original hotel choice as they were booked, but I stayed at The Grand Tasman which is a very basic but still nice hotel, and it has a fantastic location to walk around town. All in all, a good experience and taste of South Australia. Highly recommend Calypso for anyone looking to do a dive/swim with the sea life! 🤍

06/03/2026

the great ocean road trip 🚙🛣️
During the second stop of my Australia trip, I was so fortunate to reunite with even MORE friends from my Africa trip, this time in Victoria. Following a quick flight from Sydney and a delicious home cooked dinner, I spent the following day on the road as they took me down the coast.

The Great Ocean Road is a pretty popular route for tourists and locals alike, and I quickly understood why. The staggering amount of beauty both along the ocean and in the forests was incredible. We drove through many cute towns stopping for snacks and views. One moment we were high on a cliff overlooking a surf spot and the next we were climbing amongst the trees in silence. We even spotted some wildlife!

The drive allowed us time to catch up, as they gave me the scoop of what life if like as an Aussie. After meeting in 2023 as we backpacked through Southern Africa, I didn’t know if we’d ever connect again, but I’m so grateful they took the time to show me around while I was in town.

We ended at the 12 Apostles viewpoint (stunning) and took a dip in the water before heading back to Torquay for dinner. Fun fact: Torquay is the surf capital of Australia! Definitely want to return and take some lessons. 🏄‍♀️ The following day was more relaxed, I got to meet some of their family and walk along the beach before heading back to the airport for my next destination.

If you’re ever in Australia you should check out all that Victoria has to offer (but I don’t recommend Vegemite 🤢).

06/03/2026

an iconic start to Australia 🇦🇺
As I continue making my way down the list of places I wanted to visit before my 30th birthday, I finally got the chance to visit the land down under! Australia has been a bucket list destination for SO long and I am so happy I was able to make it down there this year.

I started and ended my time in Australia in the beautiful city of Sydney since I had booked return flights from this airport. From the Opera House to the Harbor Bridge, strolling through the botanical gardens and sitting seaside at Bondi Beach, I got to see so many of the best sights that draw visitors here. I was even more excited to reunite with a friend I met while traveling in Africa who calls this city home. It made the days so much better to spend time with her and explore the sights with a local.

I stayed at the Four Seasons in Sydney and then the Little Drifter hostel in Bondi and both were perfect. Exactly what I needed for each day and incredible locations. Highly recommend each!!

I wish I had more time in this city but I had a packed itinerary for this trip and not a lot of time…however, I know I’ll be back and I can’t wait to return! 🤍

05/01/2026

24 hours in Qatar 🇶🇦
Let’s talk layovers! Have you ever heard of a layover tour or an extended layover? These pictures are from my overnight layover in Doha, Qatar and I am SO glad I added this to my trip home from Thailand.

A lot of airlines are offering these layover tours now. It can either be a short excursion where you get the opportunity to tour the city or a longer overnight layover so you can get out of the airport and spend a little extra time exploring the city…or laying down in your hotel. Some airlines cover the tour for free, some offer inexpensive organized tours and some offer discounted hotel and vacation packages for multiple nights in the city. It’s truly a great way to see another city and country, especially when you’re looking to take a break from long flights and airports.

Qatar was such a cool place to visit, even though I didn’t have much time. I got out of the airport and took a private shuttle to my hotel so I could change and drop my bags. My guide picked me up at my hotel and drove out into the desert which lies just outside of the city. We stopped to see some camels (I don’t like riding them so I politely refused) and I was able to rent a dune buggy for a half hour to drive myself through the desert. The last part of the tour was a 2 hour drive through the massive sand dunes with our off-road SUV. The driver/guide I had was incredible and made the ride so much fun by telling me lots of facts about the country and culture, and playing some sick music that made me feel like I was at a club 😅. After the tour I got back to the hotel, showered and ordered some dinner to be brought to my room. It was such a great day but I unfortunately had to cancel my morning tour of the city because I had a terrible migraine all night and needed the extra rest. Between the tour, a good night’s sleep and the fantastic room service, I couldn’t have been happier with my short trip in Doha. I stayed at the Mina Hotel which was in a very cute part of the city that overlooked the water and skyline, and they took great care of me while I was there.

If you’re ever going on a long trip and have the chance do a long layover, I highly recommend it!

02/01/2026

the happy island 🏝️🤍
For the first time EVER, I went on an international trip with my family! This was such a fun experience for us to have together. My parents have been to Aruba before and wanted my brother and I to see why they loved it. This was also my brother’s first trip out of the country which was pretty cool. When you travel as much as I do, it’s easy to forget how novel it is, especially the first time. I don’t take for granted the fact that I get to travel so often but it was a nice reminder to see what it’s like for others who are new to it. This trip was even more special because we were celebrating a year of health and recovery after my dad’s cancer battle last year. Getting to spend a week together doing nothing but relaxing and enjoying lots of sun, fun and food/drinks was the best way to end a tough year. I am so grateful for my parents and brother who have all supported my travels through the years and I can’t wait for the next family trip. You can see how sad we were when it ended (last slide). Should we do Italy next?! 👀

Also, I almost forgot how nice it is to stay at all inclusive resorts and have nothing on the itinerary for a trip. Who knew that trips don’t always have to be exhausting?? I have become so accustomed to packing a trip full of activities, adventures and traveling…I forgot how beautiful it is to wake up and do nothing 😅. I definitely can’t do this all the time (I love my wild adventures too much) but it’s a good reminder to mix it up every once in a while.

24/11/2025

the land of volcanoes 🌋🤍
Almost a year ago I returned to Central America for the first time in almost 6 years! 🤯 I don’t know why it took me so long to return but I knew I made a good decision the second we got to Antigua. This city is such a beautiful combination of colonial history and modern culture. It also doesn’t hurt that the city is surrounded by some pretty beautiful volcanoes, some of which erupt consistently giving you a really cool view as the smoke rises above the peak. I did this trip as part of a group through Intrepid Travel and while it was a bit different compared to some of my other group tours, it was great nonetheless. This group was not age restricted and I was surprised to find that myself and my friend (who came with me from home) were the youngest in the group! Most of the others were middle age or retirees 😅, however we did make some great friendships with a couple other younger travelers in the group. Antigua was the first stop on this tour of Guatemala and Belize and I desperately wish I had more time to leisurely explore this city. It had a vibe that made me want to slowly sip some coffee, sit outside and work on my writing. Between the MANY coffee shops, restaurants and garden bars, there was no shortage of places to relax. We also toured the art museum and local markets (day and night), stopping to see the infamous chicken buses and Santa Catalina Arch (for iconic photos of course 🤷🏻‍♀️). If you’re looking for a laid back city with plenty of outdoor activities nearby, a truly diverse food/drink scene and a modern colonial mix of vibes, Antigua should definitely be on your list!

Discover with Diana

01/05/2026

17/03/2026

15/03/2026

09/03/2026

09/03/2026

06/03/2026

06/03/2026

05/01/2026

02/01/2026

24/11/2025

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