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The thought of facing periods of isolation and dealing with huge cultural and language barriers due to the lack of tourism infrastructure didn’t bother me at all – I’m a hardened independent traveller and I like the challenges it brings. I mainly choose to visit countries based on personal passions or historical interest (I’m not a country ticker with no care of the outcome of my visit) and whilst certain parts of a country might not live up to much, my time there does still bring with it some fond memories and a desire to return to see it differently. I wasn’t as excited about South Korea travel as when I first mapped out a rough route that would take me in a clockwise adventure, starting in Seoul. Get the best shots on an Instagram tour of Busan’s most scenic spots • Day trip to Oedo Island for the lush nature and longest cable car ride in Korea I had an incredible few days in the small harbour town of Yeosu staying with my expat friend who teaches there, taking random bus trips to temples and scenic areas I would have otherwise found hard to come by.

Being the biggest landmass in the entire region, nestled right in the middle of Europe and Asia, travel in Turkey would be no easy or rapid feat and I knew that from the onset. The East/West tug of war here is apparent, making the country a mish-mash of ideals – where the West coast is coated with a European sheen and where the East shifts to a more conservative society. There are beautiful, fun and cultural things to see and do in Istanbul, like the Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sophia, the Basilica Cistern underground water system and simple pleasures like crossing the Bosphorus on a ferry to reach the more local and vibrant ‘Asia Side’. Choose from an extensive two-week tour of Turkey which loops around the entire country or choose a multi-sport trip with cycling and hiking excursions, the Anzac Day Memorial trip or a ‘best of’ Turkey highlights tour which you can squeeze into just one week.

For those who want to really explore the Gerlitzen mountain’s winter offering, one tip that’s put out there is to follow sign for the Stella Ronda which forms a great combination of long downhill runs and ski lifts that enable you to cover most of the entire ski area. Before long, I was able to criss-cross from blue to red in combination as well as test out some of the mighty long red runs that needed some stamina – those which combined long wide, slopes along with some tucked away corners for panoramic views and a few minutes of rest bite and more gentle red run cruising. The Gerlitzen Peak and top cable car station are at 1911m and from here you can ski down to the areas of Kanzelhöle at 1500m and Klösterlebahnen at 1000m – both areas with rest areas, eateries and other amenities with Kanzelhöle being home to a small cluster of accommodations as the ‘middle station’. Those wanting a break from ski yet who still want to enjoy the peak pleasures can go snowshoeing with guides and rangers in Gerlitzen Alpe, Dreiländereck and Dobratsch nature park, Carinthia’s oldest nature park.

Girona, Spain not only turns the resort reputation of Costa Brava on its head but shows how there’s more to Catalonia’s independent streak and unique customs than its brimming capital of Barcelona. City Hopping Spain by Train This was the way I travelled between the two cities on this particular trip, booking a local bus from Barcelona’s main bus station The best part is the elevated views, day and night, of the old city from the hotel’s rooftop bar. The Hotel Ciutat de Girona is also located in the historical old town, one block to the river and conveniently just 10 minutes walk from Girona train station.