Travel Pinspiration is when we share amazing photos discovered via our Pinterest Page to give you inspiration to go travel.

Our motto is “Travel more. Create better memories” and one of the best ways to inspire more travel is through photographs.

It happens every weekend. And each week is a different theme!

In this post we share 5 photos from the Greek Islands. Check them out and then share your thoughts in the comments down below.

Santorini

credit: harisphoto.com

Ios Island

credit: Eladaa

Mykonos

credit: Woody H1

Naxos

credit: imgfave

Oia church bells, Santorini

credit: today.com

Your Turn

What is your favourite Greek Island?

Share a link to a blog post featuring a Greek Island and we will PIN it.

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Click to hear:

• Our experience in the Whitsunday Islands
• Why Airlie Beach is good for backpackers and families.
• What we thought about Australia’s best beach.
• Our big upcoming travel plans.
• The best on the blog for the month.
• Our recommendations for the month inspiring you to travel.

Press play now (or right-click to download)

Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss an episode

Related posts

Here are the links to the posts talked about in the podcast

• How do you take your coffee?
• I walked over piles of broken glass- meh so what?
• Whitehaven Beach- one perfect day
• I want to know your secret
• How to find cheap flights on the internet– a sneaky trick

Can we ask you a favour? If you love our travel podcast and what we do then please share it with someone you know who would love to get inspired to travel more. Thank you!

Now we’d love to hear from you:

1. What travels did you do during the month of April?
2. What did you learn?
3. What exciting plans are coming up for you?

Travel Podcast: April Update and News Thanks so much for subscribing! Don't forget to sign up for our monthly newsletter and free ebook> Connect with us on facebook>

It’s enough to make parents stay at home and play endless games of hide and seek in the house instead of venturing to a new city or country for a family holiday.

Flying with kids can be disastrous. We all know how much people who fly without kids complain about those who fly with children. The thought of their glaring eyes has you crumbling at the knees.

If something goes wrong, you are a long way from help. What if they get sick? What if they don’t stop screaming? What if there isn’t enough food? What happens if they won’t fall asleep? What if they just want to run up and down the aisles screaming?

Is it really worth the hassle?

I say yes. In all my years of flying and travelling, I do not ever recall being disturbed by another child.

I’ve been irritated by a few adults plenty of times though.

Kalyra and Savannah have been flying since they were only a few weeks old. We’ve only ever had one issue that lasted about 20 minutes.

Kalyra had just turned two. We were flying to Puerto Rico and caught a 6:30am flight from our home at the time Raleigh, North Carolina to Atlanta. There were plenty of men and women in suits preparing for their morning meeting or trying to get a few extra hours of shut eye before trying to broker big deals.

Kalyra had just hit independence age and when it was time to put on her seat belt for take off she was having none of it. The high pitched screeming started. Craig and I crumbled in terror, thinking only of the annoyed flyers around us (to be honest I don’t even think they were).

We had an arsenal of strategies we tried, none of them worked, yet through it we remained calm and composed so she knew it was alright. The crying eventually died down and soon enough she could take the belt off and she was back to being an angel frequent flyer.

Flying with children isn’t really that bad. You can easily put systems and strategies in place to help your child cope and to train them to be good flyers.

Respect and Patience

It comes down to teaching our children respect and good manners and for childless flyers to have a smidgen of patience and tolerance.

Flying is public so you have to expect children may be present and might lose the plot. You can’t ask them to leave, and while I understand that this can be frustrating, especially since you have paid for a ticket, the best way for you to get through the flight is to manage your self.

You usually cannot control what others are doing, you can however control how you react. I think the Dalia Lama says it best, whenever he is put through a challenging experience, he sees it as an opportunity for him to practice the art of patience and compassion.

Mediate and say, “Thank you for this opportunity for me to learn patience and compassion. “

Trust me. You’ll be amazed at how much you’ll end up enjoying your flight regardless.

But Parents,

You have got to teach your children manners and respect. They have learn to consider those around them.

I know you’re pulling your hair out and you just want to give up because they haven’t listened after the 100th time, but you can’t. You can’t sit on your entrainment system and ipad while your kids are kicking the seat in front of them and screaming down the aisle. A stern word and a few consequences almost always work. Take them into the toilet for time out if you need to. That should shut anyone up!

17 Tips for Flying with Kids

There are three essential keys to helping your children have a good flight.

1. Preparation and Planning

99% of the time your child will be irritated, cranky or screaming because they are either:

1. Tired
2. Bored
3. Hungry

Pack enough food, enough toys and provide opportunity for them to rest on the plane.

2. Communication

You must talk to your child before, during and after the flight, so they know exactly what to expect.

Describe the experience of flying from checking in, to boarding, to seat space, meals, entertainment, sleeping arrangements, playing, and then disembarking. Depending on your child’s age you can also talk through potential problems and solutions. What do you think you can do if you start getting bored? What about if you are hungry?

Get them really excited about it, let them know it is a big adventure. Practice at home. Watch cartoons or movies if you can.

As you go through each procedure during the flight, talk to your child so they are prepared and comfortable:

“We’re just checking in now and the lady is going to take our bags. We have to line up here for boarding, we must be patient as we wait our turn. Oh yippee, look the hostess is coming with food!”

Check in with them throughout the flight as to how they are feeling and what they might need.

3. Training from an Early Age

The worst thing you can do is delay flying with kids because you are frightened of it. It will only be worse when it is time to take the plunge as they won’t know what to do. Train them as early as you can.

Our girls are such great flyers as they have been doing it from birth. They know the procedure, what to expect and how to manage themselves.

Just take a look at how Savannah, who was 17 months at the time of recording this, boards a plane. She gets it at an age when some children aren’t even walking yet.

More handy tips for flying with kids

 4. Distract Them from Their Fears

I have a fear of flying that I am learning to overcome. I hold Kalyra’s hand during take off. This helps take her mind off the fear and transfer that to having an important job of easing Mummy’s fears.

5. Book a Bassinet for Babies

This was so helpful flying to the States when Kalyra was only nine months old. She loved having her own bed and would sit up and give the royal wave to the passengers. Pre-book this when you book your plane ticket, as are limited numbers.

6. Get Organized

As soon as you board the plane, get organized and settled in with every thing you need. Have essentials stored in the pockets and under the chair. Now you don’t have to climb over everyone or wait until the seat belt sign is off to get what your unhappy child wants.

7. Have a Surprise Bag of Treats

Go to the $2 store and buy a bunch of toys, wrap them and every couple of hours allow your child to unwrap one and play with it on the plane. This is such a great way to turn a boring plane flight into a treasure trove of fun.

8. Go for Walks

Every hour take your child for a walk up and down the plane. Not only is it essential for your health and sanity to stretch your legs, but your child will love all the attention they get form the other passengers.

9. Have Quiet Activities to Occupy Your Children

Trying to keep her entertained on the plane

You can’t go wrong with colouring books and pencils. Pack a couple of their favourite story books for quiet reading.

 10. Ask for Help

If you are struggling ask the air hostesses for help. They are usually wonderful at helping parents with their children and may even be able to give you a break.

11. Take Snacks on Board

Every airline and flight is different now in regards to what food is supplied. Take plenty of food and water with you on the plane, just in case.

12. Have a Movie Marathon

Kalyra loves watching movies on the plane and she does for most of the flight. Flying to LA with her is a breeze. Allow your children to watch a lot of movies. It will get them excited about flying – it sure does for me! If you have an ipad, have a few movies ready for in-flight entertainment.

13. Play Entertainment Games with Them

Kalyra loves it when we sit and play the memory game and Pacman with her on the in-flight entertainment system. It’s quiet bonding time. You can also do this if you have an ipad.

14. Help Them Get Settled to Have a Sleep

At least she could sleep!

Let them lie on your lap, put the pillow down for them, and snuggle them up in the blanket. Do whatever you can to help them sleep; trust me you will appreciate those couple hours of rest time yourself.

Keep to their regular bedtime routines as much as you can: dress them in their pyjamas and have their favourite bear with them for snuggles.

15. Have Them Sit in the Middle

Have you seen the movie Flight Plan? Then you’ll know why I am recommending this one. For safety keep them sitting between you and your partner in the middle seats. This way you know if they are trying to get out into the aisle without you!

16. Help Their Ears on Landing

Babies have not yet developed the ability to equalize their eardrums naturally. If you have ever felt this pressure on your ears before then you’ll know why so many babies scream during landing. Breastfeed/feed your baby or have them suck on a dummy.

For older children let them chow down on chewy food.

17. Comfort Them

A cuddle and a few calming words or hushed lullabies does wonders for comforting our children. Flying is such a new experience they might feel a little anxious. Help them to feel safe and secure. It’s the best way to settle them down.

Now for the reality! Here’s a video of our recent flight with the kids to Thailand with Air Asia X.

Now Your Turn:

Please note. We love to hear everyone’s opinions and stories, so please share respectfully and interact respectfully.

1. What are some of your tips for flying with kids?
2. Have you had any horrifying experiences? How did you handle it?
3. What about if you don’t have kids? Your thoughts/suggestions or how do you handle the irritations of it?

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Over a year ago I visited Baan Huay Kee Lek, an ethnic Akha village perched on the top of a mountain in the Chiang Rai province of Thailand. I knew as soon as we drove up the dusty and windy dirt track to the village we were in for a treat.

Isolated, authentic and free from groups of tourists (except for our small group of writers).

Visiting hill tribe people in Thailand is a popular experience for travellers and many of the hill tribe villages are said to be losing their identity to the tourism industry.

We were the first tourists to visit Huay Kee Lek. The villagers had only recently decided to welcome in the gawkers and in an effort to not lose themselves to them created a counsel to manage it as a community based tourism project.

This is tourism that aims to show the visitor the local traditions, values and lifestyle whilst conserving the value of the individual culture and environment. Visitors can stay overnight or join the rural people in their daily lives in an effort to increase understanding and respect for each other.

This form of tourism allows the villagers to maintain their traditional skills, control the tourism income, pursue their normal life and preserve their cultural and natural heritage.

The details of my time here are quite sketchy. It was in the middle of a trip where I experienced so many amazing things. Of course, I had my notebook, where I recorded the intricate details including that of my observations and thoughts.

My notebook is what helps me recall most stories that I tell. Every now and then disaster strikes and no matter how many lounge cushions you upend and desk drawers you empty out, you just can’t find the notebook that helps tell the story!

Lucky for me, a few major things stick out in my mind still and I have some incredible photos to share.

Life in Huay Kee Lek Village

Despite the authenticity of village life in Huay Kee Lek, many Akha villagers ride motorbikes into Chiang Rai during the day to work in factories, government positions and private businesses. They wear suits or normal clothes. The traditional garments you see are reserved for special occasions, special visitors or for those who continue living in the traditional manner.

Village life still continues in much the same way as it has for years, except modern life is creeping in slowly. And this is fine, evolution happens everywhere.

We saw the mix of old and new with women weaving grass and drying beans in the sun, taxi drivers lazing about on bamboo platforms and young soldiers standing around in groups laughing and chatting.

Pigs and roosters ran round our feet and children played in the dirt in their backyards or under their homes built on wooden stilts.

Whiling away the hours

Drying beans

Just another lazy lizard day

Our guide, in his broken English and with help from our Go Green Thailand guide told us about village life. He took us to see the sacred village Akha swing, used for special celebrations.

Late August every year, at the peak of the rainy season, the colourful Akha people celebrate a four day festival in their villages. It marks the end of the planting of the village rice and is in celebration of all their hard work and the lushness of the earth around them. It’s a joyful time as they show respect and gratitude to their ancestors who bless them with abundance.

It’s also marks the rite of passage for Akha girls passing into womanhood, who dress in the colourful traditional dress of the Akha people and let their hair down swinging wildly through the air on the rickety swing.

Akha swing- Would you swing on it?

The People

Beautiful elder. Love the stories her face shares

Angelic

So sweet and happy

Grandmotherly

Regal

Taking a Walk

The counsel leader and his wife, the village herbal doctor, took us for a short walk in the surrounding forest to get a deeper insight into the self-sufficient village life.

We walked under what looked to be a haphazardly constructed gated entrance to the village, with simplistic grass woven circular designs. We discovered that it was a Spirit Gate designed to keep bad spirits at bay.

Counsel leader, his wife and son

Designed to keep something at bay?

Walking through the spirit gate

Spirit Eye- A sign of spiritual significance

Attaching a ‘spirit eye’ to trees indicates that they must not be cut.

A visit to the village school on the ridge

Sweet and happy women stop to chat on their way to the fields

Our forest walk

The community based tourism counsel leader

A Healing Opportunity

On our walk tragedy struck when one of our group fell down the mountain and scraped his arm. Our medicine doctor disappeared into the forest and returned soon with a variety of leaf specimens and a larger leaf to act as a petrie dish.

She began rolling and grinding until it formed a paste. Then she gently applied it to his abrasion. It stayed on until we left. It didn’t heal it magically then and there, but it helped relieve his pain and no infection visited for the remainder of our trip. He was very happy with the remedy. I was very happy watching the herbal doctor at work.

Mixing the medicine

Applying

The poultice at work

Sharing a Meal Together

After our meal we were invited into the home of a sweet married couple. They prepared a simple meal with food grown in the gardens and village animals, which we ate together on the floor of their living room. Their wooden home was bare, but filled with warmth and happiness.

They could not speak English, but their smiles and kind deeds said so much.

(I was also really happy to see their 4 year old son throw a tantrum–it happens everywhere, we are not alone!!)

Our sweet host

The kitchen

Enjoying a meal together

Huay Kee Lek – the Facts

Located in Chiang Rai province, in the Wawi sub-district, approximately 25 km’s from the district center of Mae Souay.

Go Green Thailand offer tours to the village. Visit their website here:

Have you experienced a hill tribe village in Thailand before?

Please share below.

My visit to the Huay Kee Lek Akha village was part of my Friendship to Friend tour with Tourism Thailand.

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We want to start a new series on the blog where we share with you a recipe we feel is simple and easy to make while on the road.

One of the biggest ways you can save on travel expenses is to cook your own food (check out our top 9 travel tips here).

You want meals that are delicious, cheap, easy to make, and filling.

We have the perfect breakfast recipe for you, discovered at Healthful Pursuits and recreated in our kitchen.

It’s the BOMB. I actually wake up some mornings craving it, like I still do sometimes for this mocha in Auckland.

It’s full of protein so will fill you up till lunch (perhaps even beyond). The first time I had it, I actually ate two they were so delicious and I didn’t need to eat until dinner (the first time I ate it they were also slightly burned, yet still tasted great. Savannah could not get enough of it).

It’s also gluten, dairy and (can be) sugar free.

Here’s the recipe

Healthy banana and choc-chip quinoa flake bake

This serves 2

Ingredients

• 2 bananas, mashed
• 1 egg
• 1 cup quinoa flakes
• 2 tbsp carob buds (use choc chips if you want to be naughty)
• 2 tbsp pecans, chopped
• pinch cinnamon and nutmeg

 Instructions

1. Place all ingredients in a bowl and mix
2. Smear an oven safe dish with coconut oil
3. Spoon the mixture into 2 paddies
4. Place in oven @ 200C for 25 mins or until toothpick inserted comes out clean
5. If you wish you can microwave them for about 2.5 mins

I  LOVE to eat these smeared with peanut butter and frozen blueberries on top— YUM YUM YUM

See how simple and delicious that is!! Go ahead make it and share your experiences down below.

Have a great breakfast recipe you want to share that would be great for the travel road?

Paste the link below

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Maybe it is the energy coming off the tall silver poplars, oak trees, and horse chestnut beginning to light the grounds in a halo of yellow.

Or the English gardens, framing crumbling sandstone buildings set against a brilliant blue sky.

Or maybe it is as I suggested a sense of my spirit returning home, as a few people in our group were not feeling the same Zen. You know, past lives and all that.

Port Arthur is of course one of Australia’s most notorious convict prisons. Unlike Norfolk Island, the place of the direst punishment—300 lashes compared to 100 at Port Arthur—it was a prison aimed to help prisoners reform.

On one hand – the good one – there was the option to learn a trade, and have a reduced sentence due to good behaviour. Those were the prisoners labelled the incorrigible, the ones who had a chance for a better life.

On the other hand – the naughty one – were the incurables – the repeat offenders, who chose longer sentences, hard labour, and cat-o-nine whippings instead of freedom.

It was all a matter of choice.

Port Arthur operated as a prison for 47 years. It began in 1830 with only a small number of prisoners, which during its heyday swelled to 1200. The penal station was established as a timber-getting camp, using convict labour to produce sawn logs for government projects.

Port Arthur was not just a home for convicts, but a settlement for soldiers, free men and their families.

There were no fences surrounding the penal buildings and within the grounds were also homes, gardens, schools and parties and regattas held and enjoyed by those who chose freedom.

By the end of its story, Port Arthur had slowly degenerated into a home for the elderly and the crazy. The eldest prisoner to die there was in his nineties. Some incurables had served 47 years without an hour of freedom—poor decision makers.

After years of punishing the physical bodies, the powers to be realized physical punishment did do nothing else but embitter the prisoners.

New styles of reform were introduced which involved the mind: solitary confinement, or in gentle terms, the space to silently mediate upon your sins in order to do better.

I believe in the power of meditation, but not in the darkness alone for 30 days. Welcome to cookoo land.

We were told all these fascinating stories and more by our guide Colin, who really made Port Arthur come alive.

His ability to sprout of historical anecdotes and facts and figures astounded me. Now only 20 minutes after the tour I can barely remember the name of the Lieutenant who ran the prison efficiently—oh yeah. His name was Lieutenant General Arthur.

Opposite us, on the hill stood a pumpkin-coloured cottage – the most haunted house in Australia. Colin has not seen the ghosts himself but has felt them, so eerily close to him that he moved out of that house as quick as his legs called carry.

I was shattered that we were pushed for time and could not venture in to catch the ghosts ourselves. But, you always have to leave a reason to come back to special places like this World Heritage Site.

Ghost tours of the grounds run every evening, but if you really want to freak yourself out take part in the Paranormal Investigation Experience, where you can actually hunt down the ghosts using special equipment. (I’ll be back!) (read my post on when I saw a ghost!)

There are also introductory tours of the settlement, which may be less thrilling, but equally enjoyable and interesting.

Port Arthur is the perfect place to stroll amongst the sprawling fields and English gardens, the historic buildings, and along the water to learn more about our unique and colourful history. It’s a history that Australians have tried to hide for years. Who would want to claim a DNA chain blood-stained by murderers and thieves and the lowest forms of society?

I like to see it as a history that has shaped the strong character and identity that we as Australians have now: Hard workers, who believe in helping the underdog, sticking together and defeating the odds.

I’m proud of our roots and how far we’ve come.

There is a lot to be celebrated in that. Where once being sent to Van Diemen’s Land was a punishment worse than death, we now have people lined up daily with wads of cash to pay for the opportunity to set foot on this harsh land for the chance at a better life.

It’s all a choice remember.

Port Arthur reminded me of that. The choice of life behind the prison walls, or of the freedom granted to you by the breeze blowing outside your cell?

That is where the peace lies.

Port Arthur in the distance

Have you been to Port Arthur?

Do you feel it is possible to feel peace at a place that has a traumatic past?

I visited Port Arthur while on the T-QUAL Tick Race with Tourism Australia

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I’ve only just been bitten by the travel bug.

Up until about two years ago I was one of those people that was happy exploring my own backyard, with an annual road trip thrown in and a few weekends away added to the mix as well.

I guess that’s more than some people, but it wasn’t really until I ventured overseas that I realised that there is so much of this world that I want to see and explore, and some of that is in our very own backyard too, the lovely Australia.

But there’s something I don’t like about traveling, and that’s paying crazy prices for flights.

I want to save as much money as I can on getting to the destination so I can indulge in a cocktail or two, or a little shopping here or there. You know what I’m talking about, right?

As well as getting the travel bug in the past few years, my family and I have also made a big change from the City to the Country. It means that we’re away from family, and friends, and all the good stuff that comes from living in the City {oh you know, the good food, the vibe, the fun stuff, and most of all, being in the middle of the action}.

It also means that each year we’re spending a big part of our budget to get back down to Sydney from the Gold Coast to see the people we adore (and eat the food we just can’t get in our new home, and yes you just can’t know what I mean unless you’ve made the big move yourself. I’m not obsessed, I promise).

Depending on the time of year, and how disorganised we are, the flights can be almost affordable (around $120 per person return) to utter-nonsense (around $300+ per person return).

But I’ve recently stumbled across a little secret.

It’s one of those secrets that’s almost too good to share, in case the sharing of the secret puts a stop to the good stuff. And by good stuff I mean totally INSANE flight prices.

So, if by sharing this it means that there are no more cheap prices and I have to go back to paying UTTERLY RIDICULOUS prices to fly back to my former-home, I’m sorry. Sorry to me, my budget and anyone else who used to do this sneaky business too.

It’s also too good NOT to share. So here goes.

I found out through a friend of a friend that if you go to a foreign Expedia site to buy your flights you save money. And not just a little. Last weekend I flew to Sydney return from the Gold Coast for $65. I’ve seen them for $45 too. Crazy.

How to get cheap flights on the internet:

1. Go to Expedia.co.jp (the Japanese Expedia site).

2. Yes, it’s all in Japanese. So go up to the top right corner and click English (next to the Twitter icon). Much better, right?

3. Choose your flights and dates.

4. Eeek. The prices are in Yen. That’s cool. Use a currency conversion tool to convert it into Australia dollars (or where ever you’re from). This isn’t exact, but it was almost spot on for me.

5. Choose your flights and purchase them. Some credit cards won’t work. My Visa did. I incurred a $1 fee PLUS the flight costs. I also signed up to Expedia Japan so I could get my itinerary, I suggest doing the same although you will receive an email confirmation from Jetstar Airlines and Expedia.

Notes:

• Buying flights this way worked for me, and I did so knowing that I was taking a risk. Of course, if you decided to do the same you would be taking your own risk too. You should make your own decisions, as anyone should when buying products and services online.

• This is for Jetstar Airlines flights only.

• It appears that domestic flights, within Australia, are reduced but when I researched international flights they didn’t impress me as much. You might need to do a bit of exploring to find more.

• The price is for a starter fare only, which means no baggage – only carry-on. I don’t know if it’s possible to add baggage, so this is something you’d need to explore.

• For more tips and comments on this deal, you can read this post here.

Let’s talk bargains!

Aside from this deal, the cheapest flight I’ve ever purchased was a $6 return flight to the Gold Coast and back from Sydney.

What’s the best travel bargain you’ve ever snapped up?

How to Get Cheap Flights on the Internet (a sneaky trick) Thanks so much for subscribing! Don't forget to sign up for our monthly newsletter and free ebook> Connect with us on facebook>

Earl has been travelling the world since 1999. He shares with us oodles of tips and inspiration to show you how you can do it to.

Click play to hear:

• How easy it really can be to travel the world.
• Why Earl chooses to travel to places like Iran and Pakistan (Share your thoughts in the comments below).
• The different ways you can make money while travelling.
• All about Earl’s personal tours he now runs.

Listen now:

You can find Earl at

• Wandering Earl
• Facebook
• Click here for Earl’s How to work on a cruise ebook

Now your turn:

1. Share this podcast with anyone you know who would love this inspiration.
2. Share your thoughts in the comments below:Do you feel more empowered to travel?
   What opportunities do you now see for yourself? Is Earl inspiring or what??

Travel Podcast: How to Live a Life of Travel interview with Wandering Earl Thanks so much for subscribing! Don't forget to sign up for our monthly newsletter and free ebook> Connect with us on facebook>

Are you looking for a slightly different view of London? If riding in black cabs and queuing at Madame Tussauds is not your thing, why not try looking below the surface of this teeming metropolis.

You’ll discover a hidden world of secret tunnels, terrifying tombs, elaborate train routes and ancient cave systems.

Start your adventure by booking through Accor for great-value London hotels. Then descend into a little-known layer of this fascinating city.

1. Cabinet War Rooms

Photo: Flickr

Immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the Blitz with a trip down into the historic Cabinet War Rooms. This warren of bunkers under Whitehall was the headquarters for Britain’s war effort during WW2. Start by exploring the War Cabinet Room from where Winston Churchill planned Britain’s next move.

You can actually see the chair (complete with scratch marks on its arms) which he used during highly stressful meetings.

In the Map Room, nothing has been changed since 16 Aug 1945, when the lights were finally switched off. Wartime maps, colour-coded telephones and even rationed sugar cubes, remain exactly as they were when the war ended. Book your tickets through the Imperial War Museums.

2. Chislehurst Caves

Photo: Flickr

This network of 8000-year-old caves in the greater London area is an unexpected treat. The caves, which extend for 20 miles, were initially created as a result of flint and chalk mining.

You can take a lamp-lit tour deep into this labyrinth and explore the caves’ varied history; from their origins as mines to their subsequent use as an ammunition’s depot and then as air raid shelter during WW2.

You can read more and buy tickets here.

3. The London Bridge Experience / London Tombs

Photo: flickr

This spine-chilling historical tour takes you through the early days of London.

Begin by discovering the most haunted bridge in the world – London Bridge – then you’ll be taken through Roman, Viking and Victorian times and you can watch Queen Boudicca defeat the Romans in battle and see the great fire of London erupt before your very eyes.

For a really frightful time, you’ll need to go deeper underground into the depths of the London Tombs. This former plague pit has been given a Hollywood inspired makeover and now boasts state-of-the-art special effects and live actors, to bring London’s bloody history to life.

Although The London Bridge Experience doesn’t have any age restrictions, all children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. The London Tombs are not suitable for children under 11.

For more information click here.

4. Tour of the London underground

Photo: flickr

You’re sure to have a renewed respect for the tube after this two hour tour of the world’s oldest metro system. This feat of engineering has been transporting passengers for 150 years and you’ll be able to see its original plans along with steam engines that were first used.

Along your route, watch out for the ghost station at the British Museum and discover the secrets behind the original hand-dug tunnels. Take a look at Insider London for tour details.

5. Brunel’s underground tunnel

Photo: Flickr

Discover how Isambard Kingdom Brunel helped his father Marc build one of the world’s first tunnels under a river. The Thames tunnel, which is 170 years old, was originally designed to allow people and horses to cross the Thames without obstructing the passing ships.

Once known as the eighth wonder of the world, the tunnel was reopened in 2010 as part of the London Overground. You can now descend into The Grand Entrance Hall at the tunnel and even discover a secret chamber. Tours can be organised through the Brunel Museum.

Have you explored London’s underground before?

What do you recommend?

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Travel Pinspiration is when we share amazing photos discovered via our Pinterest Page to give you inspiration to go travel.

Our motto is “Travel more. Create better memories” and one of the best ways to inspire more travel is through photographs.

It happens every weekend. And each week is a different theme!

In this post we share 6 photos of incredible hikes. Check them out and then share your thoughts in the comments.

South Kaibab Trail, Grand Canyon

credit: landscape photography

Queen Charlotte Track, New Zealand

credit: National Geographic

Petra Through the Back Door, Jordan

credit: Trailblazer

Fitz Roy Trek, Patagonia

credit: Gareth McCormack

Everest Base Camp Trek, Nepal

credit: frozenimage

Kungsleden, Sweden

credit: mleczko

Your Turn

What is your favourite Hike?

Share a link to a blog post featuring a hike and we will PIN it.

Travel Pinspiration – 6 Incredible Hikes Thanks so much for subscribing! Don't forget to sign up for our monthly newsletter and free ebook> Connect with us on facebook>