Travel guides

Planning a trip? Maybe one that’s a little bit out-of-the-ordinary? The guides here are full of important details and practical information, all based on our first-hand experience traveling in countries where things don’t always work out the way you expect.

Khavsgul lake roadtripping Mongolia
China

How to cross the border from China to Mongolia

This post is based on our experience crossing the border from Erenhot (China) to Zamiin-Uud (Mongolia) in May 2024. There are two typical ways to do this border-crossing. You can take the Trans-Siberian train from Beijing to Ulaanbaatar. Or, you can string the journey together with a bus on one side of the border, and then a train. So, if you ever wondered how to cross the border between China and Mongolia by road, then read on.

June 9, 2024
Forbidden city Beijing
China

Getting a visa for China in Kathmandu

Getting a Chinese visa outside your home country can be a bit of a gamble. But, you can get it at the Chinese Visa Application Service Center in Kathmandu. This post is about our experience getting a tourist visa for China in Kathmandu, in April 2024.

June 9, 2024
Train from Cuamba to Nampula Mozambique
Malawi

How to cross the border from Malawi to Mozambique

A guide to crossing the border from Malawi to northern Mozambique. How to get to the Chiponde/Mandimba border crossing and then to Cuamba. Plus, catching the train from Cuamba to Nampula.

April 27, 2020
Lake Malawi
Malawi

From Tanzania to Malawi: how to get around Lake Malawi by road

Stranded in southern Tanzania and starting to wonder if we should apply for permanent residency, Oyv looked at the map again and said ‘Fine. We’ll just go around Lake Nyasa. Lake Malawi. Whatever.’ And why not?…it’s only one of Africa’s Great Lakes, after all. Here’s how we did it.

April 21, 2020
Pulling the ferry across the river, on the way to Kamakwie
Guinea

How to cross the border from Guinea to Sierra Leone

A travel guide to crossing the border from Guinea to Sierra Leone. How to reach the border from Kindia in Guinea; cross it; and get to Kamakwie, Sierra Leone, or detour to Outamba-Kilimi National Park first. Plus, onward travel to Makeni.

November 26, 2019
Khavsgul lake roadtripping Mongolia
China

How to cross the border from China to Mongolia

This post is based on our experience crossing the border from Erenhot (China) to Zamiin-Uud (Mongolia) in May 2024. There are two typical ways to do this border-crossing. You can take the Trans-Siberian train from Beijing to Ulaanbaatar. Or, you can string the journey together with a bus on one side of the border, and then a train. So, if you ever wondered how to cross the border between China and Mongolia by road, then read on.

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June 9, 2024
Forbidden city Beijing
China

Getting a visa for China in Kathmandu

Getting a Chinese visa outside your home country can be a bit of a gamble. But, you can get it at the Chinese Visa Application Service Center in Kathmandu. This post is about our experience getting a tourist visa for China in Kathmandu, in April 2024.

Read More »
June 9, 2024
Lake Malawi
Malawi

From Tanzania to Malawi: how to get around Lake Malawi by road

Stranded in southern Tanzania and starting to wonder if we should apply for permanent residency, Oyv looked at the map again and said ‘Fine. We’ll just go around Lake Nyasa. Lake Malawi. Whatever.’ And why not?…it’s only one of Africa’s Great Lakes, after all. Here’s how we did it.

Read More »
April 21, 2020