Eileen Aldis 

The travel vlogging world is filled with so many different personalities. But when I tell people I loved watching vloggers, I find sometimes this is met with a raised eyebrow. I think people have a very narrow idea of what a vlogger can be. And for me, Eileen Aldis is the very best of the best. She will put even the most skeptical viewer to rest. Her thoughtful narrations, wonderfully researched and informative videos paired with their incredible cinematography make for a perfect travel video! I find myself absolutely mesmerized throughout as she and her partner travel the world together. Eileen has a fantastic back-catalogue of videos to choose from. She travels to such unique and sometimes lesser travelled locations, making them even more fascinating to watch from your room!

Bald and Bankrupt

Benjamin Rich, better known by his YouTube channel name Bald and Bankrupt, is an English travel vlogger. He is mostly known for his travels to long forgotten states within the former Soviet Union. Most of these places are tiny villages and towns, that most of us would never put on our travel bucket list. But Mr. Bald, as his subscribers call him, sets out to explore them with unencumbered enthusiasm and has us all excited to see what they have in store for him. Rich speaks Russian fluently, which helps him greatly on his travels through these mostly undocumented parts of the world.

Rick Steves’ Europe

My travel guru has always been Rick Steves. When I was 14, I went on my first international trip, and I had his guide book with me like my bible. His voice guided me throughout the city. I will always thank him for such gentle and easy instruction for travelling. Rick Steves’ Europe is a series that Rick began producing for PBS in 2000. Since then, they have made over 129 episodes.! Each episode focuses on a different city in Europe and features Rick’s charming narration leading you through the best things to see and do while in town. Although the show is meant more as a travel planning guide, it is a great way to travel to these cities from the couch during the lockdown! Most of the episodes are now available on Rick Steves’ Youtube Channel.

The Chateau Diaries

The Chateau Diaries focuses on the busy life of Stephanie Jarvis. Jarvis bought the 16th-century “Chateau de Lalande” in the heart of France, 15 years ago. Ever since she has been slowly restoring the castle. A few years ago she opened it up as a B&B to supplement her renovation costs. But when the pandemic hit, all her guests cancelled their reservations and she was left with no monthly income. She had been vlogging periodically over the years but the shutdown inspired her to get serious about it!

But Garvis doesn’t live here alone! Her palace is filled with volunteers, each of whom possesses their own set of artistic skills and camera-ready stories. Her mother and her adopted brother are also two of the most hilarious personalities. This cast of characters makes watching her vlogs feel like you are stepping into her world and you get to know all of them as friends. Her channel has brought so much happiness to people all over the world. The Chateau Diaries were even covered in a recent CNN article! For those of us at home, dreaming of a life outside our four walls, her fairytale existence is just the thing we need to escape (at least virtually)! 

Crash Course

Crash Course is a series of educational videos created by Youtube royalty John and Hank Green. These two real life brothers have been on YouTube almost as long as the platform has been around and their content is some of the best of the site. This series, partnered with PBS Digital Studios, is meant as a literal “crash course” for anyone interested in learning more about world history. While the channel doesn’t physically travel to these faraway destinations, it instead dives deep into their histories and myths. From these videos you can better understand the cultural heritage of your favourite destination or learn a little bit more about someplace you’ve always dreamt of visiting. It’s endlessly fascinating and will keep you entertained for hours and hours! 

This Natasha

When I was planning my first trip to Japan, I sought so many YouTubers’ advice to learn about the country. And Natasha was my #1 resource. Natasha was lucky enough to live in Japan for a few years. Although she has now moved back to London, she has since visited Japan dozens of times and documented it for our viewing pleasure.

Natasha is the perfect resource since she has that comprehensive blend of being both a local and a tourist. Sometimes full-time locals don’t always see their cities in the same magical way that tourists do. Even the most ubiquitous things entertain me endlessly when I’m visiting a new city. And locals can’t tap into that curiosity in the same way. But Natasha has curiosity in spades! She is always investigating things and asking the questions we are dying to know! I love her trips into the country and the beautiful vistas that Japan has hidden away in the villages far away from the big cities.

Abroad in Japan

Abroad in Japan is a channel hosted by Englishman, Chris Broad. Chris is one of the funniest people on Youtube (in my obviously biased opinion). He moved to Japan from the UK in 2012 and has been there ever since. Although he started off in Japan working as an English teacher, his growing audience on Youtube allowed him to make Youtube his full-time gig. His videos focus on Japanese culture, Japanese food and travel in Japan. Since Japan hasn’t seen lockdowns as severe as elsewhere globally, he and his friends could still continue to travel the country. This series filmed during the pandemic is called “Journey Across Japan.” If you’re looking to have a laugh, see Japan from your computer chair and enjoy some exciting anecdotes, then that’s the channel for you.

Jay Swanson

Jay Swanson is an American who moved to Paris for a job and fell in love with the city so much, he has been there ever since! He loves Paris’ rich history, and his vlogs are full of fascinating anecdotes of what life in Paris is really like. Spoiler: it’s not all macaroons and berets! His life-hacks for travelling in Paris are unparalleled. And his wonderful video skills and unique vlog subjects always keep me coming back to watch week after week.

Cecilia Blomdahl

Cecilia Blomdahl is a vlogger who completely blew up this year with her addictive TikToks. Her newly created Youtube channel is all about her life on Svalbard, an arctic island close to the North Pole. Originally from Sweden, she has lived on this otherwordly island for the last 5 years. Svalbard is the northernmost town in the world! During the winter, they experience “polar night,” a phenomenon where the nighttime lasts for more than 24 hours. Conversely, in the summertime, they also have a “polar day” when the sun remains above the horizon for more than 24 hours! Whenever she leaves the house, she must be armed with a gun, in case of polar bear attacks! She is a drone instructor and her drone skills are UNREAL. All of this allows up to peek into life inside this unique village and its artful and historic glaciers that surround it.

Thomas Heaton

If you love travel photography and want to hone your skills during the pandemic, then Thomas Heaton is the channel for you! Heaton is a landscape photographer and travels to some amazingly remote locations to get shots that belong in an art gallery. His on-location videos are full of excellent tips and tricks for landscape and travel photography. Plus his destination vlogs clips take you with him on his photography adventures. His channel also has lots of technical tutorials and how-to videos to help you learn how to be a better photographer. If you find yourself with some spare time, his videos are an excellent resource for training up your skills.

Drew Binsky

Drew Binsky is probably the most well-known YouTuber on this list, but with good reason. His down to earth attitude is a refreshing take compared to many other vloggers and “influences.”. Drew’s goal is to travel to every country on earth, and he was less than 10 countries away from his plan before the pandemic struck. But that just means you have a lot of videos to catch up on! His vlogs are more like mini-documentaries, all about the unique people he meets along the way, the food they eat and the culture that defines them and their country.

I hope these vlogs help with the yearning to get out there and explore! Not only are these videos a great way to get outside your house (virtually), but they can also inspire some future trip planning. We will be back out there one day! Until then, enjoy these charming, binge-able travel vlogs!

Happy (Virtual) Travels, Adventurers

The post 11 Amazing Youtubers to Cure Your Wanderlust During Lockdown first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

It’s incredible how even seeing other people travelling the world and getting a glimpse of what was once “normal” is a great comfort. So I wanted to share with you all some of my favourite TV shows which will quench your thirst for the world outside your bedroom! This is part of my series on virtual travel which will hopefully help your wanderlust during this global pandemic.

Long Way Around, Up & Down

Way back in 2004, I watched pretty much everything that came out on Sky TV in the UK. And one of those shows was Ewan McGregor‘s ‘Long Way Around.‘ The TV series followed film star Ewan McGregor and his best friend Charley Boorman as they rode motorcycles around the world, the “long way around.” They meet amazing people along the journey, see incredible vistas, and even come up with creative ways to solve literal bumps in the road.

I fell in love with this series immediately. I had a teenage crush on Ewan McGregor, but the beauty of the places they went kept me around and has me re-watching the series pretty much once a year. Even though the series wasn’t filmed is super high def, the high-quality friendship between Ewan and his friend Charley makes up for it and presents a series that is far more charming than the slickness of say ‘Planet Earth’.

In 2007 they filmed a follow-up series called the “Long Way Down,” where they took their motorcycles across the continent of Africa. And just in time for lockdowns in 2020, they released their third series called the “Long Way Up.” Luckily they had filmed this in 2019 before any covid restrictions were put in place. This series follows them as they ride ELECTRIC motorcycles up the continent of Central and South America. This new series is filmed in high-def and is the crisp version of the show we all had been waiting for! This would be my #1 recommendation for TV shows to binge right now! I haven’t seen this show on any other list, so trust me, it’s the hidden gem you are looking for!

Where to Watch?

You can watch all three seasons on Amazon Prime or on Apple TV

An Idiot Abroad

During these turbulent times, laughter is one of the best ways to relax. And no one makes me laugh more than Karl Pilkington. I got obsessed with Karl when he popped up as the producer for Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant‘s XFM radio show way back in 2002! When the crew decided to get back together to produce this TV show I was over the moon. An Idiot Abroad follows Karl Pilkington as he travels around the world. But unlike other travel shows, Karl isn’t someone who likes to travel and would rather stay inside his British bubble.

Throughout the series, Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant (the producers) throw all sorts of curveballs his way and puts him in some amusing situations. His overall dislike of travel and things we typically fawn over is a hilariously refreshing point of view. While the show might revolve around someone who has no interest in seeing the wonders of the world, for those of us who love to travel, it is still a beautiful thing to watch and gives a different perspective on travelling.

Where to Watch?

You can watch An Idiot Abroad on Amazon Prime, Sky TV, and many of the episodes are available on Youtube.

Rick Steves’ Europe

My travel guru has always been Rick Steves. When I was 14, I went on my first international trip, and I had his guide book with me like my bible. His voice guided me throughout the city. I will always thank him for such a gentle and easy instruction to travelling. Rick Steves’ Europe is a series that Rick began producing for PBS in 2000. Since then, they have made over 129 episodes.! Each episode focuses on a different city in Europe and features Rick’s charming narration leading you through the best things to see and do while in town. Although the show is meant more as a travel planning guide, during lockdown it is a great way to travel to these cities from the couch!

Where to Watch?

Most of the episodes are now available on Rick Steves’ Youtube Channel.

Departures

I think that ‘Departures‘ was indeed the inspiration for the flood of Youtube travel vloggers, which exploded in the last five years. The show was initially produced for Canadian television. It was created by the three team members featured on the show, Scott Wilson, Justin Lukach and Andre Dupuis. The three friends filmed the entire show themselves, often turning the camera on “selfie-mode” since they didn’t have a camera crew. This was perhaps the spark that ignited the flame for many youtube travel vloggers to come!

The trio had seen many other travel TV shows over the years and thought they didn’t reflect their youthful experiences. They felt most travel shows were “kind of dry.” Thinking that bureaucratic pre-production and a sizeable crew was perhaps the impediment to depicting the spontaneous and exciting kind of adventures they had, they set out to create Departures. And the show indeed is a “departure” from the typical travel tv show.

Where to Watch?

You can watch Departures on Amazon prime TV or catch some of their episode highlights on youtube.

Dark Tourist 

Dark Tourist is one of those shows I love since I would never experience anything like this! I would never be brave enough to go anywhere or do anything like what this man does in the series. The show follows journalist David Farrier as he explores the scariest, most dangerous, tragic and weirdest places around the world. He is truly fearless and has that straight man comedic timing that brings some lightness and laughter to sometimes dreadful circumstances.

Where to Watch?

Dark Tourist is available to watch on Netflix.

Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown

I genuinely think that Anthony Bourdain‘s Parts Unknown is the #1 reason we saw such a surge in people getting more and more inspired to go to countries that aren’t just the typical honeymoon destinations. He showed the audience that you can have a culinary experience to rival Michelin star restaurants in Paris in places all over the world! The show premiered in 2013, starring acclaimed chef and personality Anthony Bourdain. Over the next five years, they filmed over 100 episodes visiting places like; Mexico City, Borneo, Beirut and Iran. While the show’s primary focus is on food, their travels through the countries and cities they visit are unique and powerful to watch.

Where to Watch?

All 12 seasons are available to watch on Amazon Prime, you can rent official episodes on Youtube, but many episodes are available for free on Youtube if you search for them.

Tales of Light

Tales of Light feels more like a dream than anything else. It’s tough to believe that the videos you’re watching are of the world you live in! The Australian docu-series follows professional photographers and filmmakers. They each travel worldwide, telling unique and personal stories about the meaningful people and places they visited. It’s very similar to the series ‘Planet Earth‘ in the way in which it is filmed. It’s one of those shows where you don’t need to feel bad about not being able to travel as most of these places are out of your reach anyway (unless you’re a deep-sea diver or can climb to the top of a volcano!) But while you might not be able to top that mountain yourself, you can still enjoy the views on your tv screen.

Where to Watch?

Tales of Light is available to watch on Netflix.

Salt Acid Fat Heat

Salt Fat Acid Heat was a show I fell in love with this past winter. The show is an American cooking documentary featuring the great Samin Nosrat. Many of my favourite travel cooking shows feature men as their host, and it was so refreshing to finally have one starring a woman! Samin Nosrat wrote a book of the same name, which they translate into this heartwarming show. While the book is also a fantastic read, the show makes you drool over the stunning colours and textures which are the four ingredients in the title! The show’s four episodes focus on Nosrat’s elemental ethos for successful cooking which is: salt, fat, acid, and heat. In each episode, Nosrat travels to different locations around the world, which are famous for that particular element. In the country of origin, she learns all about the history, cultural impact and, of course, cusine which that element is responsible for. And at the end of the series, she’ll have you ready to cook like a pro too! Perfect to practice during lockdown!

Where to Watch?

Salt Acid Fat Heat is watchable on Netflix.

Travels with my Father

Travels with My Father is another slapstick adventure featuring comedian Jack Whitehall and his truly hilarious father, Michael Whitehall. While Jack might be the self-proclaimed “comedian”, it’s Michael who almost always steals the show with his dry humour. The first seasons features the pair travelling to South East Asia. Jack felt he never got to experience a “gap year” when he was a young man and is recreating the experience with his dad. While filmed like a documentary, I have a feeling a lot of the funny situations are a bit staged. Still, nevertheless, the duo is ceaselessly amusing to watch and is another beautiful example of a travel show with a different angle to it. Travel shows don’t always have to show off manicured museums and picturesque panoramas. Sometimes travel is more about the person you are with and the ways in which you interact when put into these new and exciting situations.

Where to Watch?

Travels with my Father is available to watch on Netflix.

I hope these TV shows help with the yearning to get out there and explore! Not only are these shows a great way to get outside your house (virtually at least), but they can also inspire some ideas for future trip planning. We will be back out there one day! Until then, enjoy these charming, binge-able Travel TV shows!

Happy Virtual-Travels, Adventurers

The post The 9 Best Wanderlust TV Shows to Watch During Lockdown first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.