Tripology: Travel Podcast

New Zealand's most underrated trail, the Copland Track, has it all: dense rainforest, ice cold glacial rivers, waterfalls, swing bridges, and hidden hot pools... with a nasty surprise! Tune in to hear about Adam's favourite hike in New Zealand so far. Adam also shares a few anecdotes from his trip up New Zealand's wet west coast, including a romantic glow worm walk with a Chinese tour group, an of...

Adam ran the Routeburn Track and regrets it! Nestled in the Fiordland National Park, and perhaps New Zealand’s most beautiful ‘Great Walk’, the Routeburn Track stretches 32km, through alpine meadows, stunning valleys and lush forest. It’s possible to complete the track in one day, but should you? Adam shares his thoughts and feelings on running the track, as well as the surprises, struggles, and h...

Forget rice for breakfast - this week, it's stingray for dinner! Alun's been exploring Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia's fast-developing capital, including its culinary delights. We hear all about his experience trying Malaysia's unusual street food, stingray, at the popular night market: Jalan Alor Food Street. Apologies to all you divemasters out there! Alun also shares a heartwarming, fu...

This week, Adam hiked the Kepler Track: one of New Zealand's 11 Great Walks. The 60km loop, located in the South Island's Fiordland National Park, is a stunning track, including forests, lakes, ridge walks, and destructive native birdlife! Tune in to find out why the endangered Kea is New Zealand's most dangerous bird. Tales of a Trip returns with a backpacking horror story involving more native w...

Backpackers claim that Brunei's the most boring country in Asia. After speaking with numerous travellers, and hearing comments such as "Brunei's only worth visiting if you're counting countries", Alun went to see for himself. In this episode, we hear why Brunei is one of Asia's most misunderstood destinations. Stay tuned for Tales of a Trip, as Karl Watson shares a roller...

Eye-eye, Captain! Alun's cruising through the Borneo jungle this week. We hear all about his trip along the Kinabatangan River, as he attempts to see Borneo's big 5 on a budget! Impaired by an eye infection and up to his eyeballs in antibiotics, could having a big nose give him the edge? Will Alun finally catch a glimpse of a wild Orangutan? Prepare for road rash in this week's Tales o...

Alun's seen Orangutans in Borneo but how? We dive inside Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and ask whether it's an ethical sanctuary or a zoo-like tourist attraction. Alun’s final moments in Cebu, Philippines, were action-packed and fraught with danger. He narrowly escaped the island amid the devastation caused by Typhoon Tino. Our hearts go out to everyone affected, and we wish the...

This week, Alun's been diving with Thresher sharks in Malapascua. Rounding off his time in the Philippines, we hear what it's like to be back at scuba diving school and then thrown in at the deep end... with thresher sharks! Adam's out of character, as he relives the moment he simultaneously smashed his laptop and studio lamp, resulting in a trip to see some wheeling, dealing, Punjabi...

Adam survives New Zealand's most dangerous road but not without injury! We hear how a wild 4X4 ride through Skipper's Canyon was a bridge too far. Lord of the Rings filming locations, a suspect first aid kit, and a high risk of landslides was more than Adam bargained for. Did Adam strike gold or was the experience a thorn in his side? Alun's Miscellaneous Travel Item returns with a cam...

Travel guides, travel novels, and travel magazines are the theme of this week's Tripping Point travel quiz! How much does Alun know about the travel publications that changed the world? Tune in and play along! Adam's been having campervan malfunctions, which have left him stranded in the rain. Apparently leaving the headlights switched on all day can run the battery down... Fortunately the...

It's been a rollercoaster week here at Tripology Podcast. We're thrilled to announce we won Best Travel & Adventure Podcast at the 2025 Independent Podcast Awards! Spotify then hit us with a false copyright claim and blocked our episodes! We share the stories behind the chaos and discuss what it's like being independent creators. Hostel Common Room returns with a listener who's about to embark...

We're rocking this week! Not only did we win 'Best Travel & Adventure Podcast' at the 2025 Independent Podcast Awards, we also received a knockout Tales of a Trip entry from Harry Jaggard! Whilst visiting Northern Nigeria, Harry was roped into a bare-knuckle boxing match. Tune in to hear the full story, and make sure you watch the video... Rather him than us! Harry's YouTube video: https://you...

We discover the surprising origins of India's most famous dish: Butter Chicken. Adam relives his India food adventures, sharing his experience of eating at Gulati Restaurant in Delhi, touted as the best butter chicken in India. We ask: Was butter chicken actually invented in Pakistan? And why are two Delhi restaurants fighting over the original recipe? Acclimatise quickly, as Tales of a Trip r...

Two worlds collide in this week's episode, as Artificial Intelligence makes the news for sending travellers to locations that don't exist. We hear about a couple in Peru who were left stranded, after letting AI plan their trip! We find out what a coffee pot, water pump and a safe box all have in common, as Tripological Reasoning returns with hypothetical scenarios that may or may not be Al...

Have your passports ready! This week's travel quiz tests Alun's knowledge of all things passports. Which countries have the strongest passports and which countries have the weakest passports? And when was the first ever passport issued? We go through some of the 2025 passport rankings and share some weird passport facts you didn't know! If there's one thing Alun's hates about travel, it's ubiquito...

In this week's very personal episode, Alun opens the travel diary that started 4 years of non-stop travel. Alun kept a travel journal for 4 years, documenting every day. We relive the moment he set off on the adventure that started it all. Hold onto your coffees tightly! Adam shares his chance encounter with an inspiring gentleman who's had a huge impact on the travel industry. Let's j...

Dreaming of Van Life in New Zealand? In this episode of the 'award-nominated' Tripology Podcast, Adam shares his experience of buying a campervan in New Zealand. Learn how a failed vehicle inspection was the key to him buying the campervan. Hostel Wars returns and this week Vagabot's off to the student town of Rosario, Argentina. Will it be Adam or Alun who can deliver the most authent...

Going to therapy is a sign of strength, not weakness. Our paid partner BetterHelp makes therapy simple, with 10% off your first month to help you get started: https://betterhelp.com/tripology Any Ping-Pong players in the house? We hear from a Backpacker who was lured into a Bangkok night club and extorted for money! Learn how saying 'Yes' can be a very expensive mistake. Hostel Common Room...

Going to therapy is a sign of strength, not weakness. Our paid partner BetterHelp makes therapy simple, with 10% off your first month to help you get started: https://betterhelp.com/tripology Dark sky at night, Adam's delight! Adam celebrates his birthday at the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, the largest Dark Sky Reserve in the Southern Hemisphere. With stars in his eyes, the...

Going to therapy is a sign of strength, not weakness. Our paid partner BetterHelp makes therapy simple, with 10% off your first month to help you get started: https://betterhelp.com/tripology Travel emergency! Alun's travel horror story sees him heading to hospital, after contracting an infection in his foot that Google diagnoses as Lymphangitis! Dangerous travel infections are Alun's voca...

Going to therapy is a sign of strength, not weakness. Our paid partner BetterHelp makes therapy simple, with 10% off your first month to help you get started: https://betterhelp.com/tripology Are you a Slow Travel supporter or a Fast Tourism fan? This week’s hot topic is the ongoing travel debate between Slow Travel and Fast Tourism. But which style of travel is right for you? Receiving the questi...

Going to therapy is a sign of strength, not weakness. Our paid partner BetterHelp makes therapy simple, with 10% off your first month to help you get started: https://betterhelp.com/tripology Puffer fish, take cover! Alun's attempting the freediving world record in Siargao, Philippines, after learning freediving breathing techniques. Eagerly signing up for a Spearfishing for Beginners course r...

Love is in the air! This week a listener shares her romantic travel story of kissing a stranger on a plane! Making the most of the in-flight entertainment, a travel romance blossoms at 35,000 feet, putting the 'lust' in wanderlust! Has the Mile High Club gained two new members? Following in Anthony Bourdain's footsteps, Alun dives head first into Filipino food culture, attending a traditional Fies...

Pad Thai is Thailand's National dish but is it authentic Thai food? Is the Pad Thai an overrated tourist trap that has its roots elsewhere? We find out the real story behind Thailand's most iconic dish in this week's rather spicy episode! What's a white guy got to do to find some 'authentic' Asian food around here? We continue the Thailand theme in Tales of a Trip, as we hear from a listener who's...

In this episode of Tripology: Travel Podcast, the stakes are higher than ever before, as Alun puts it all on the line in the most nerve-wracking edition of Tripping Point yet. If he fails, he'll quit travelling! Will Alun be crowned travel quiz champion or will he be on the next flight home? We discuss how to stay fit whilst backpacking, and share how we build exercise into our travel plans. We al...