Events

Introducing our Online Events

The current situation in regard to Covid-19 makes for an uncertain future for travel. But it is perhaps a good time to learn a little, find out some more about those destinations you have always wanted to go to, or perhaps know nothing about and have never previously considered. Why not find out a little more?

With this in mind we are launching a series of Online Events with special guest speakers.

Details will be displayed below.

All events are free but you must sign up to join.

Future Events

We will be announcing more Online Events in the coming weeks so do check back on this page or, if you have not already done so, then sign up to our newsletter, which will announce any upcoming events.

Sign up to our newsletter

Discover Myanmar
with Pyone Ei Mon

Experience Myanmar's incredible hospitality and unmatched scenery with our local expert, Pyone.

Date & time: Wednesday, 28 October 2020 @11:00 (UK time). This event is expected to take 40 - 45 minutes.

Myanmar: a name often associated with strife and a turbulent past. The real beauty and rich history of the country has always been buried under negative headlines. Untouched by tourism all these years, it is gradually emerging as a ‘must visit’ country in South East Asia. In this presentation, you will get to discover a land of raw beauty, unwavering spirit and unrivalled hospitality. Learn about the traditional fishermen of Lake Inle, Bagan's sublime pagodas and Yangon's back streets. Get a glimpse into the lives of the remote tribal groups, and lesser visited communities.

Pyone is the Manager of Travel The Unknown’s Myanmar operations. Born and raised in Myanmar, she has been associated with the travel & tourism industry since 2003 and is a Certified Sustainable Development Professional. After a 4 year job stint in the UAE, she returned to Myanmar in 2012 to take up her current role in the company and actively pursue social projects to support local communities. Pyone loves travelling & meeting people. Her favourite places in Myanmar are Bagan, Hsipaw, Kyaukme & Ngapali Beach.


CLICK HERE TO REGISTER >>> 


Visit our Myanmar page

Discover Sri Lanka
with Mahiru Fernando

Join Mahiru on a cultural exploration of this beautiful tropical island.

This event has already taken place on 14 October 2020 @18:00 (UK time). See below for recording.

Sri Lanka is a tear drop shaped island in the Indian Ocean, also known as the ‘Pearl of the Ocean’. This presentation will take you through its 2000 years of culture, colonial towns, tea plantations and National Parks. Explore the UNESCO World Heritage sites, going from sacred cities to cave monasteries and Dutch Forts, and ending up on idyllic, palm-fringed beaches. For a small country, Sri Lanka certainly packs a big punch.

Born and bred in Colombo, Mahiru, the manager of Travel The Unknown's Sri Lanka operations,  was determined from an early age, to travel and explore the whole of Sri Lanka. The travel industry was a perfect fit, not just to discover it for himself as regularly as possible, but to also share it with others. Being an outdoor enthusiast, his favourite spots within the country are the national parks and hills that offer trails for soft hikes, waterfalls and stunning views, which can be enjoyed with a shot of arrack in hand. His favourite dish is the Black Pork Curry, which, he considers himself a master chef at preparing.




Watch the recording of this event on YouTube.

Visit our Sri Lanka page

Discover the Philippines
with Bryan Ocampo

This event has already taken place on 30 September 2020 @11:00 (UK time). See below for video recording.

The Philippines is a vast archipelago consisting of over 7000 islands and the only Asian country to be colonised by the Spanish!  This presentation will take you around this biodiverse land, known for its volcanoes, beaches, mountains, rainforests and diving spots. Starting in the capital Manila, where colonial architecture meets modern, we move on to the 2000 year old rice terraces in Banaue and crater lakes like Taal, Pinatubo and Bulusan. Some of the world’s best marine life can be seen in Donsol.

Bryan Ocampo, a tourism professional and curator of Travel The Unknown's Philippines tours is an advocate of adventure travel in the Philippines. His knowledge and experience in leading trips and exploring the country's cuisine, history and heritage have strengthened his desire to show its best qualities and quirks to people all over the world. Even in the face of this pandemic, he still believes that he has the best job in the world. He loves karaoke, a good laugh, wine and his wife - in no particular order.


Watch the recording of this event on YouTube

Visit our Philippines page

Discover Northern Ethiopia & the Bale Mountains
with Yvonne Levene

This event has already taken place on 23 September 2020 @18:00 (UK time). See below for video recording.

Ethiopia is a vast and varied country, and this presentation will take you around the key parts of northern Ethiopia. Starting in the vibrant capital Addis Ababa, we will move on to sights such as Axum, Gondar, the Simien Mountains and the iconic rock-hewn churches of Lalibela. We also venture down south to the lesser-visited Bale Mountains, home to some incredible endemic wildlife and rare flora.

Yvonne worked in the Red Cross and travelled around the world with her husband Guy who was in the British Army. One of their postings was in Ethiopia where they travelled extensively and fell in love with the country. They decided to make Ethiopia their home and constructed the stunning Bale Mountain Lodge in 2013. The lodge has been welcoming visitors wanting to get truly off the beaten track and see some of the unique flora and fauna.

Watch the recording of this event on YouTube

Visit our Ethiopia page

Discovering North India
with Raaja Bhasin

Join Raaja as he takes you on a journey through the northern regions of India.

Event has already taken place on 2 September 2020 @18:00 (UK time).


Discover some of hidden gems of India in this talk. Start in Shimla, the summer capital of British India before heading to the Golden Temple in Amritsar. Explore the lesser known parts of Rajasthan and before moving eastwards to the holy city of Varanasi. You will get a glimpse into the history, architecture and cultural diversity of these areas.

Born and raised in India and a resident of Shimla, Raaja Bhasin is an eminent author, journalist, lecturer and speaker. Raaja Bhasin has published fourteen critically acclaimed books and numerous commissioned booklets of history, travel and fiction. He has handled prestigious writing and editorial assignments for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), various departments of the Government of India and is also associated with television networks including the BBC, Channel 4, National Geographic and the Discovery Channel.

Visit our North India page

Discover Colombia
with Carolina Niño 

Join Carolina as she takes you on a journey through this intriguing and often misunderstood country, Travel The Unknown's very first destination in Latin America.

Date & Time: 19 August 2020 @18:00 (UK time).

Join this virtual journey through Colombia. Start in the capital Bogota and travel on to the verdant coffee plantations in the Coffee Region. Wander the colourful streets of Cartagena, considered the most charming colonial city in South America,and learn about the reborn city of Medellin. Discover mysterious pre-Columbian statues in San Agustin as well as lesser-seen parts of the country, including the Pacific coast, the Tatacoa desert and the Lost City. 

Carolina was born and brought up in Colombia. She helps curate and manage our tours there. She knows Colombia like the back of her hand, and she will help shed light on this still relatively unknown destination. You will see why Colombia must be the next country you visit in South America. 


Watch the recording of this event on YouTube

Visit our Colombia page

Introduction to the Silk Road
With David McGuinness

Join David on this whiste-stop tour of the Silk Road from its origins in China, throug the 'Stans' of Central Asia and on through Jordan and Turkey. 

David McGuinness is the co-director and co-founder of Travel The Unknown and an ardent fan of the Silk Road.

Watch the recording of this event on YouTube
Visit our Silk Road page

Discover Cambodia with Charlotte Piffard

Join Charlotte as she takes you on a journey through the secrets of Cambodia.

Date & Time: Event has already taken place on 5 August 2020 @11:00 (UK time).

The presentation will aim to take you around the key sights of Cambodia, including the mystical temple complex of Angkor Wat and the heritage sights of the capital Phnom Penh. Learn about some of the islands in the Mekong, floating villages and other lesser-known rural places. She will also touch on Cambodian cuisine and what makes Cambodia so unique amongst its neighbours.

Charlotte was born in Argentina and grew up living in Asia. She has been in Cambodia for two years and is constantly amazed by Cambodian's friendliness. Living in Phnom Penh, she is responsible for the operation of our tours. Together with her team, they are focused on developing more sustainable travel experiences so that we can offer respectful and off the beaten tracks tours to our clients by empowering local communities. 


Watch the recording of this event on YouTube

Visit our Cambodia page

Discover Brazil
with Judith Mutici

Join Judith as she takes you on a journey through this fascinating and diverse country.

This event has already taken place on 22 July 2020 @18:00 (UK time). Watch recording via link below.

The presentation will aim to take you around the key sights of this vast country, including Rio de Janeiro, the Amazon, Iguazu Falls, the Pantanal and a few lesser-explored parts of the country. You will also hear about Brazil's heritage and cultural diversity and what makes this such a special country to visit in South America.

Born and raised in Austria, Judith's first experience in Brazil was during a high-school exchange year in a small town in central Brazil. After school, she returned to Brazil as a volunteer for a small NGO near Fortaleza. She graduated in Latin Studies and eventually decided to make Brazil her home. She currently resides in Recife where she has been managing our local operations and helping design innovative itineraries for our clients.

Watch the recording of this event on YouTube

Visit our Brazil page

Discover Vietnam
With Nick Wade

Join Nick Wade, intrepid traveller and manager of Travel The Unknown's Vietnam operations, as he takes you on a virtual tour of Vietnam's highlights and its hidden secrets

Date & Time: Event has already taken place on Wednesday, 8th of July 2020 @11:00 (UK time). Watch video via link below.
Join Nick as he takes you on a virtual tour through some of Vietnam's many attractions -  traditional villages, colonial architecture, ethnic tribal groups, beautiful temples, dramatic bays and of course its sublime cuisine. 

From the UK but born in Saudi, Nick has travelled extensively in Asia, including living in Seoul for 6 years. Now based in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) for the past three years, he has explored most areas of the country and manages the team that run the local Vietnam operations for Travel The Unknown, helping our travellers to design their perfect Vietnamese experience.

Watch the recording of this event on YouTube
Visit our Vietnam page

Discover Georgia
With Sophie Ibbotson

Join Sophie Ibbotson, intrepid traveller and advisor to the Georgia Tourism Board, as she takes you on a journey through this fascinating and charming country.
Date & Time: Event has already taken place on 24th of June 2020 @17:00 (UK time) Watch video via link below.
Join Sophie on this virtual journey through Georgia, taking in its stunning landscapes including the rugged Caucasus mountains, an intriguing history dominated by its three giant neighbours - the Persians, the Ottomans and the Russians, its dramatically situated and sublimely crafted Orthodox monasteries and of course its fabled hospitality topped with superb cuisine and world-class wines.  

Watch the recording of this event on YouTube
Visit our Georgia page

Discover India's Wildlife 
With Surya ​Ramachandran

Join Surya Ramachandran, a naturalist and wildlife enthusiast, on a virtual tour of India's wildlife
Date & Time: Event has already taken place on 10th of June 2020 @17:00 (UK time). Watch video via link below.
Join Surya, a naturalist and wildlife enthusiast, who has been also working as a wildlife guide in India for many years, as he takes you on a virtual tour of India's wildlife, and shows you a tiny slice of what India's wildlife has to offer. Of course the tiger is the superstar of Indian wildlife and we would not deny him his fame, but there is so much more to wildlife in India. Join Surya to find out more about the wild experiences that await in India. 
Watch the recording of this event on YouTube
Visit our India wildlife page
Visit our Indian wildlife guides page

Discover Eastern Turkey
With Diana Darke

Join Diana Darke, Middle East expert and author of numerous books including the Bradt guide to Eastern Turkey as she takes you on a journey through this beautiful, historic and vastly underrated part of Turkey.

Date & Time: Event has already taken place on 27th of May 2020 @17:00 (UK time). Watch video via link below.

Join this virtual journey through Eastern Turkey. Visit the world's first temple at Göbekli Tepe (more than twice as old as Stonehenge), the oldest city in the world at Çatalhöyük, and climb up to see the ancient heads statues of Mount Nemrut, overlooking the Tigris and the Euphrates. Discover sublime Armenian churches at Ani and at Lake Van, visit ancient underground cities at Cappadocia and take in the dramatic landscapes of Mount Ararat. 

Watch the recording of this event on YouTube (note the live audio was later rerecorded for a better experience)​

Visit our Turkey page

Discover Uzbekistan
With Sophie Ibbotson

Join Sophie Ibbotson, the author of the Bradt guide to Uzbekistan and the country's tourism ambassador as she takes you on a journey through this enigmatic land.

Date & Time: Event has already taken place on 13th of May 2020 @17:00 (UK time). Watch video via link below.

Join this virtual journey through Uzbekistan's fabled Silk Road cities - Samarkhand, Bukhara and Khiva - and learn of their histories, their legends and their tall tales. Discover its exquisite Islamic architecture and its desert castles. But delve a little deeper too, exploring lesser-visited corners of this land of great hospitality and unparalleled beauty. 

Watch Video of this event on YouTube

Visit our Uzbekistan page