A Short History of Tokyo Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo, the busiest intersection in the Japanese metropolis The history of Tokyo is intimately intertwined with that of Japan’s. In this article, we’ll explore Tokyo’s history from …
Southern Italy: from Magna Graecia to Italian Unification When you ask people about Italy, more often than not one of the first places they mention is the capital city, Rome, or the submerged streets of …
Photographing the Northern Lights: The Definitive Guide
- 7 mins read
Blog, Finland, Highlights, Iceland, Norway, Scandinavia, Sweden
Photographing the Northern Lights. How to Capture the Beauty of the Northern Lights. The Aurora Borealis, commonly called the Northern Lights, as well as the Aurora Australis, the Southern Lights, are two the world’s most …
Barcelona Travel Notes The entrancing cosmopolitan city of Barcelona is one of the cultural highlights of Europe. Situated on the Mediterranean coast of the Iberian Peninsula, the Catalan capital is famous for its distinctive architecture …
15 Must-See Sites in Berlin | Small group tours Germany Berlin, capital of Germany, venue of the Berlinale, seat of the German Parliament, and location of UNESCO-protected Museum Island, occupies a place of prominence as …
Around the World in Six Coffees: Italy, France, Japan, China, Morocco & Argentina
- 16 mins read
Africa, Americas, Argentina, Asia and the Orient, China, Europe, France, Italy, Japan, Lists, Morocco, Travel tips
Around the World in Six Coffees: Italy, France, Japan, China, Morocco & Argentina Order a cappuccino in Italy after 11am and expect to receive strange looks. In Argentina, don’t be surprised when your coffee order …
Searching for Caravaggio’s Nativity The hunt for Caravaggio’s stolen painting of the nativity scene may just be the most high-profile art crime of the 20th century. One stormy night in October 1969, an altarpiece painted …
Oberammergau Passion Play 2020 | Small group tours Germany In 2020, Odyssey will offer three small group tours of Europe that will include the Oberammergau Passion Play: Contemporary Germany, The Habsburgs, and our Berlin tour. This article is …
Ancient Routes, Fresh Eyes: Nine European Pilgrimage Routes for the Modern Traveller The word ‘pilgrimage’ or ‘pilgrim’ comes from the Modern French word pèlerin, which means ‘foreigner, stranger’, highlighting the concept that the faithful is not of …
From Cairo to the NAC: Egypt Builds a New Capital City On July 11, 2018 Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi laid the first stone of what was to become Egypt’s new capital. The city is …
Solo travel as a mature or senior traveller People choose to embark on solo travel for many different reasons. Benefits of travelling alone include an openness to a new travel experience that can never quite …
Discovering Scandinavia Discovering Scandinavia. In this article, we will learn about Denmark with a focus on Viking history, and uncover highlights of Copenhagen. Click here to read our article focusing on Sweden. Small group tours …
How to choose your next small group adventure: When it comes to deciding on your next personal Odyssey, chances are you’ll have a destination (or two) in mind. But how should you go about choosing …
Touring World Heritage Sites in Europe, Asia, and Beyond You’ll often discover, when travelling, that some of the most spectacular and amazing sites you visit are listed on the World Heritage Site. But what exactly …
The Loire Valley in France The Loire Valley in France is renowned for its picturesque natural beauty, and the region also combines all the ingredients of what the French consider to be the good life. …
Responsible Tourism for mature & senior travellers There’s a growing problem in the world’s most popular cities affecting the tourism industry, and this article provides context and commentary on responsible tourism for mature-aged and senior …
Forest Bathing in Japan Much has changed since we last wrote about shinrin-yoku or forest bathing in 2017 (you can read the original article after this introduction) as the movement has gained considerable momentum in …
The Elegant Arcades of Paris Part of the pleasure of getting to know the real Paris lies in getting off the main tourist trail and discovering its many hidden pockets and secrets. Its gorgeous arcades …
Discovering Scandinavia Sweden’s history and culture. This is the second article in a three part series on Scandinavia. We learn about Sweden’s history, as well as its famous design principles. Stay tuned for part three …
Victorian Women’s Fashion The Young Queen Victoria by Franz Xaver Winterhalter (1842). Photographic reproduction from Wikimedia Commons. Victoria ascended the throne at the age of 18. In British history, the Victorian era refers to the …
Ireland’s Gems More than 11 million people travelled to Ireland according to the latest tourism statistics, lured by its lush scenery, historic landmarks, and centuries-old culture. (This number includes visitors to both Northern Ireland, part …