Travel with Amateur Traveler Podcast

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AT#958 - Travel to Turkmenistan Aug 23, 2025

Show notes

Hear about travel to Turkmenistan as the Amateur Traveler talks to Abdylla Geldiyev, Managing Director of Undiscovered Frontiers, about an itinerary for one week in this seldom-visited country in Central Asia.

Turkmenistan remains one of the least explored destinations in the world. From Ashgabat, a city of Guinness World Records and futuristic white marble architecture, to ancient Silk Road cities and surreal desert landscapes, this itinerary combines history, archaeology, and natural wonders.

Why Visit Turkmenistan?

Abdylla describes Turkmenistan as a country for seasoned travelers seeking the unusual:

Surreal landscapes like Yangykala Canyon and the burning Darvaza gas crater
Silk Road cities such as Merv and Konye-Urgench
A capital city (Ashgabat) filled with world-record-breaking monuments, the largest indoor Ferris wheel, and the world’s largest handmade carpet
Rich traditions of Turkmen carpets and the legendary Akhal-Teke horses

Sunday arrival in Ashgabat to experience the Tolkuchka-Basar, a sprawling Sunday market alive with carpets, animals, and handicrafts.

Suggested One-Week Itinerary in Turkmenistan

Days 1–3: Ashgabat and Surroundings

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https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-turkmenistan-2/

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AT#957 - Cruising the Peruvian Amazon with G Adventures Aug 16, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the Amateur Traveler podcast, host Chris Christensen recounts his immersive experience cruising the Peruvian Amazon on a nine-day "Amazon Riverboat Adventure in Depth" with G Adventures. This small-group journey, involving ~24 travelers, offers a deep dive into the culture, biodiversity, and challenges of life in the Amazon Basin.

The trip began in Lima, Peru, and then took the group via domestic flight to Iquitos, one of the world’s most isolated cities, accessible only by air or river. From there, they traveled 97 km by road to Nauta to embark on the riverboat Amatista. For five days, they cruised the Marañón, Ucayali, and Amazon Rivers, exploring tributaries like the Yanayacu ("Black Water") River in skiffs and visiting riverside communities near and within the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve.

Highlights included:

Spotting Amazon wildlife such as pink and gray river dolphins, spider monkeys, black-collared hawks, pygmy marmosets, capybaras, horned screamers, long-nosed bats, sloths, and dozens of tropical birds, including toucans, macaws, and herons.

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https://amateurtraveler.com/cruising-the-peruvian-amazon/

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AT#956 - Travel to Andorra Aug 09, 2025

Show notes

Hear about travel to the tiny country of Andorra as the Amateur Traveler talks to musician Eli Lev about this small country in the Pyrenees Mountains, where he lived for three years.

Why should you go to Andorra?

Eli says, "I just fell in love with the country. First of all, it's in the middle of these magnificent mountains of the Pyrenees, so that means in winter you've got skiing, snowboarding, Aper ski, lots of festivities. Beautiful. In the summer, you've got these incredible hikes and a really special, like Neverland, nestled in the mountains with a lot of nature and really cool culture as well. So all year round."

Day 1 – Barcelona → Montserrat → La Seu d’Urgell

Pick up a rental car or budget bus in Barcelona, break the 3–4 hour mountain drive with a 3-hour stop at dramatic Montserrat Abbey for the cliff-side basilica, hiking paths, and Black Madonna shrine. Continue north to La Seu d’Urgell to wander its daily produce market and get a first taste of Catalan culture before the border.

https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-andorra/

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AT#955 - Travel the Silk Road in Gansu, China Aug 02, 2025

Show notes

Hear about travel to the Silk Road as the Amateur Traveler talks about his recent trip to the Gansu province of China, Buddhist Grottos, stunning landscapes, barren deserts, and the original Great Wall of China.

More than 2,000 years ago, Emperor Wu of the Han dynasty sent his prodigy general Huo Qubing to seize the Hexi Corridor from the Xiongnu nomads, founding four fortified outposts—Wuwei, Zhangye, Jiuquan, and Dunhuang—that anchored the eastern Silk Road.

Centuries later, the monk Xuanzang left Lanzhou for India along the same desert corridor, returning with Sanskrit scriptures that reshaped Chinese Buddhism.

Following their footsteps today reveals grottoes, Great Wall forts, and rainbow-striped badlands that still echo with the sounds of camel bells and caravan legends.

Transfer & check‑in: Fly into Zhongchuan Airport and settle downtown.
Yellow River walk:
Night flavors: Slurp Lanzhou hand‑pulled beef noodles, then graze at a Night Market for local delights.

Historic BackgroundDay‑by‑Day ItineraryDay 1 – Arrival in Lanzhou

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https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-the-silk-road-in-gansu-china/

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AT#954 - Travel to China (Beijing and Gannan) Jul 26, 2025

Show notes

Hear about travel to Beijing, China, and the Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (Gansu) as the Amateur Traveler discusses the first half of a recent press trip to China, sponsored by the Chinese Tourism Board.

Seven days let you pair Beijing’s imperial centers and Great Wall with the yak‑grazed valleys, monasteries, and soaring limestone of Gannan—history and highlands in a single, unforgettable loop.

Morning

Land at PEK or PKX before noon. A pre‑booked car or the Airport Express gets you downtown in 45‑60 minutes.
Stay inside the 2nd Ring Road to limit traffic headaches.

Afternoon

Forbidden City (Palace Museum) – Reserve tickets with your passport in advance; allow 3‑4 hrs to navigate the 960 × 750 m compound of 980 buildings. Travel China Guide
Exit the North Gate and climb Jingshan Park for the classic rooftop panorama.

Day 1 | Arrive Beijing

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https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-beijing-and-gannan/

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AT#953 - Travel to Suriname Jul 19, 2025

Show notes

Hear about travel to Suriname as the Amateur Traveler talks to Mike Power from SmallOfTheRoad.blogspot.com about his recent trip to this South American country.

Why should you go to Suriname?

Mike says, "It's an undiscovered little gem. I'm just surprised it's not more popular. The number one draw there would be nature and ecotourism. There's a ton to see. As much as 95% of the country is covered in rainforest. And so ecotourism and the wildlife, especially a lot of birds, monkeys, etc. The second one would be diversity. So, it's actually a very diverse country. And in particular, I found the maroon communities that live inland fascinating. These are descendants of former escaped slaves. And then finally, I'd say Paramaribo, which is the main city in Suriname. It's now a UNESCO World Heritage Site with these old buildings that date back to the 17th and 18th centuries."

Here’s the itinerary Mike recommends for Suriname:

Get deep into the primary rainforest to experience wildlife and pure Amazonian jungle. Mike went to Nature Resort Kabalebo, which offered guided river trips, forest hikes, waterfalls, night walks, abundant birds, monkeys, poison dart frogs, and tapirs.

1. Interior Rainforest Lodge (3 nights).

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https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-suriname/

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AT#833 - Travel to the Peloponnese, Greece (Repeat) Jul 12, 2025

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Hear about sailing in the Saronic Islands and the Peloponnese as the Amateur Traveler talks about his recent yacht charter with Navigare Yachting.

My wife and I had wanted to gather a few friends and do a small boat sailing trip in the Greek Islands for more than a decade. This dream reached fruition when Navigare Yachting offered to provide the use of a boat in exchange for talking about the journey on the podcast.

We began our one-week sailing adventure in Athens before setting off to Perdika, a small fishing village in Aegina. Arriving at the Navigare port, we completed the necessary paperwork, familiarized ourselves with the boat, and received a safety talk from Captain Kostas. After stocking up on groceries and supplies, we set sail, navigating through choppy seas due to a strong breeze from the south. We soon learned that sailing on a sailboat doesn’t always mean using the sails, as we mostly relied on the motor for this trip.

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https://amateurtraveler.com/sailing-in-the-saronic-islands/

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AT#952 - Travel to Samoa Jul 05, 2025

Show notes

Hear about travel to the island nation of Samoa as the Amateur Traveler talks to Jonty Crane from Jonty Travels about his recent trip biking around the country.

Why should you go to Samoa?

Jonty says, "Samoa is a small island in the Pacific. If you imagine a tropical Pacific paradise, then something like Samoa would probably spring to mind in terms of palm trees along a beautiful sandy beach with snorkeling opportunities and some diving opportunities. The Samoan culture is very interesting. It is very much the heart of Polynesia, and they've done a very good job at maintaining their culture. It's touristy enough that it's got the infrastructure that you need as a tourist to get around and do things. But it's not particularly touristy."

Jonty recommends a one-week itinerary for Samoa that allows travelers to experience much of what the country has to offer, but he notes that a 10- to 14-day trip would be ideal to allow for rest, deeper exploration, and a more relaxed pace. Here's how he breaks it down:

Begin your trip in Apia, the capital and only real city in Samoa. Jonty suggests spending at least a day, preferably two, exploring both the downtown and the surrounding hills.

In central Apia, highlights include:

Start with Apia (1–2 days)

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https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-samoa/

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AT#951 - Travel to Northern Iceland Jun 28, 2025

Show notes

Hear about travel to Northern Iceland as the Amateur Traveler talks to Monika from PlanPackExplore.com about her recent trip through the center of Iceland to the less-visited northern part of the country.

Why should you visit Northern Iceland?

Monika says, "I'm a self-proclaimed Iceland lover. I went there for the first time in 2022, by accident, which is a long story, but we ended up in Iceland, and literally after six days, started planning the second trip. Then we went back. I went back the third time with my dad, trying to show him the country, never planning trip number four. I cannot get enough of Iceland. So I was pretty familiar with Iceland by now, and I'm happy to share what I know."

Monika’s route begins the moment you land at Keflavík International Airport outside of Reykjavík.

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https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-northern-iceland/

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AT#950 - Rafting the Grand Canyon with Western River Expeditions Jun 21, 2025

Show notes

Hear about rafting the Grand Canyon for seven days as the Amateur Traveler talks about this bucket list trip sponsored by Western River Expeditions.

In this solo (but not really solo) episode of Amateur Traveler, host Chris Christensen recounts a seven-day rafting adventure down the Grand Canyon with Western River Expeditions — a journey filled with whitewater rapids, red rock cliffs, side canyon hikes, waterfalls, fossils, ancient ruins, and meaningful encounters with fellow travelers.

Motorized J-rig rafts cover 188 miles of the Colorado River in 7 days
Overnights at iconic river camps: Ledges, Dinosaur, Carbon, Hotauta, Football Field, and Lower 185 Mile
Major rapids including Hermit, Crystal, Granite, Sockdolager, Lava Falls, and more
Cultural stops: Nankoweap granaries, ancestral Puebloan ruins, sacred Hopi salt mines
Geology & scenery: Marble Canyon, Vishnu schist, Zoroaster granite, lava flows, and Redwall Cavern
Side hikes to Havasu Canyon, Elves Chasm, Stone Creek Falls, and Deer Creek
Memorable stargazing, Dutch oven desserts, and even a toga night

Highlights of the Trip:

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https://amateurtraveler.com/rafting-the-grand-canyon-with-western-river-expeditions/

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