The Baikal Expedition

With Vijesh Kumar Raju

A long time ago, photographer and explorer Vijesh Kumar Raju came across a picture of a frozen lake of pristine blue ice, with frozen pearls of trapped air bubbles suspended within. Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined that he would find himself there one day, on a 600-km journey on the ice with nothing but a Russian UAZ Vehicle, a rented bike, and his own two feet.

Delhi to London: 18 Countries, 70 Days

Adventures Overland, a travel company, has recently announced its plan to carry forth with the ‘longest and most epic bus journey’; the Delhi to London bus will be the first-ever transportation service of its kind which enables passengers to hop-on/hop-off as befitting their requirements.

The 7 Must-See Caves of Thailand

Take a peek at the caving adventures that await you in Thailand.

Behold, a Gentle Giant: Life on a Volcano

Home to a third of the world’s active volcanoes and has claimed over 100,000 lives in the last two centuries alone, Indonesia is one of the most geologically turbulent regions in the world. Earthquakes here are commonplace, and most sections of the country experience one to three tremors a day.

Antarctica: Discovering the White Continent

We get you an exclusive look at the White Continent of Antarctica in Moving Images. Filmed by filmmakers Will Lascelles and Olya Dendyaeva and in collaboration with travel-experience curator Q Experiences (footage Courtesy), this segment of Moving Images brings you up close to the wonders of the 7th Continent.

Glamping In India

Camping has got a glamorous upgrade and is now referred to as Glamping. There are various luxury camps all over India covering various destinations and festivals.

Tranquil Bali

Sai Joseph’s talent and versatility is fascinating. Being a freelance cinematographer and farmer is a rare combination indeed! He uses a sony a7iii as his primary camera while travelling the world in search of rare footage.

4 Indian Cafes That Relive the Psychedelic 60S

India is a large country to get lost in. From backpacking Israelis to wandering hippies, vagabonds of all types find themselves on the dirt track to salvation here. But, take a break, you must, from time to time. And in times like those, a handful of cafes in our country offer to turn back time.

The Nectar of Gods: Peruvian Ayahuasca

An ancient Amazonian plant-based healing called the Ayahuasca may hold the secrets to the purpose ofhuman life. We got chatty with Nikhil Jaykar, the founder of Spirit Travels — a curated travel company, which is all set to take Indians through Peru to discover this 5,000-years-old Shamanic practice for the very first time. Here are excerpts from a very revealing conversation.

Across the Universe: The Beatles Ashram in Rishikesh

Rishikesh — the ‘Yoga Capital of the World’ offers a popular slice of history from the Himalayan foothills. Meandering along Ganges River, the city has become a global melting pot of cultures over the years, where the East meets West.

Stopping Over at Galle’s Closenberg Heritage Hotel

Galle is located on the southwest tip of Sri Lanka. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and an ideal place to witness Singhalese culture, this historic city is one of the most popular tourist attractions of Lanka. Dutch colonial buildings, Portuguese heritage, ancient mosques and churches, grand mansions and museums — are just a few of the spots keenly explored by traversing culture vultures.

Kite Festivals: Sankranthi from India

There is an unmatched joy in waking up to a sky filled with kites. Every region in India celebrates Makar Sankranti every year and has its own Vibe. The kite flying festival is massive in North India, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mumbai. Here is what each experience looks like.

Radical Self-Expression — Being at the Burning Man

Burning Man is unlike any other festival around the globe. It wouldn’t befit it to be called just a “Festival.” It is a giant spectacle in the middle of Nevada that is constructed and deconstructed, all in a matter of days.

Discover Croatia: Best Experiences to be Had

The ultimate destination for beaches, parties and natural beauty, Croatia is a traveller’s paradise. Blessed with idyllic islands, natural wonders and perfect weather year-round, it is one of Europe’s most popular destinations.

Journey to the Cradle of Life: Secrets of the Creole

In the year 1859, the recluse traveller and scientist Charles Darwin published The Origins of Species, a scientific treatise that shook the world with its revolutionary idea on the theory of evolution. This large manuscript — a product of many decades of scientific observation uncovered the secrets of life to challenge the prevailing Christian thoughts of the Original Sin.

The Spiti Detox: Far from the Maddening Crowds

The modern life is a distracted one. A busy one. The daily grind and rigmaroles often exhausting and stressful. In a world where you are constantly ON, a detox from the modern life is just the antidote that is needed to bring back the natural rhythm of life. To stop, introspect and focus on the why of things. To re-discover. To travel.

Alpha, Omega, Kalizma: Meet the Empress of Sea

They tell you that life is to be lived for those simple joys. That the little things are what matter; a dinner with your family and friends, a walk on the beach with that special someone or even just falling asleep under a starlit sky. You know what? They’re right. But who said that good things couldn’t be made better?

Hippies in Hampi: Rediscoveries to be Made

‘Hippie’ in the urban dictionary is defined as a person who is typically young, believes in peace, is opposed to many of the accepted ideas about how to live, has long hair, and often lives in groups and does nothing. Have you ever been on a holiday and done nothing? If you haven’t, Hampi is the place to be.

The Land of Lamas: Ladakh on Trek

Nestled at the foothills of the Great Himalayas, Ladakh is a traveler’s paradise. With an eclectic mix of geographic abundance, people from all backgrounds and endless opportunities for adventure, it is a jewel on the crown of India.

Next-Door Paradise: Galle on the Lens

Ever experienced something that has had you completely spellbound & transported you to an unknown ephemeral tranquility? Ever been so content with the horizon that it fulfills every desire for beauty? Ever been to Sri Lanka?

TheVibe Guides You to Mt Rinjani

The Young and Wild Roam The Earth. Yes, but with purpose. Towering above the tropical beaches of Lombok Island is the seat of Indonesia’s Mt Rinjani — the country’s second highest active volcano.

Send It Upwards | Highlights of the Journey

This week, TheVibe continues its interview with The Standard Images Co. about their journey through the Himalayas. Over the course of 43 days, they travelled across magical landscapes that many have seen, but few have saved for posterity.

In Memoriam: Jack Hebner AKA The Surfing Swami

Surfing Swami aka Jack Hebner, who recently passed away, leaving the entire surfer community devastated, has left a lasting legacy of surf culture that lives on here in India. These are a few surf spots that have mushroomed over the last few years – a grand manifestation of Swami’s vision of a freeliving lifestyle from when he first camped out at Mulki in the early 70s.

Beauty in Decay: The Red Forest of Chernobyl

In the early hours of April 26 in the year 1986, a sudden surge of power during a routine reactor system test destroyed Unit 4 of the nuclear power station at Chernobyl, Ukraine, in the former Soviet Union. The test, which was deemed so unimportant a matter that the plant’s director chose not to make an appearance, would quickly transform into a singular event that would change the face of history forever.

Photo Essay: Brazilian Street Art with Ankita Kumar

Art , a form of expression that makes no distinction between age, religion, gender, caste or ethnicity, history has played witness to a multitude of artists from across the board, taking to the streets and turning their cities and towns into vibrant canvasses.

7 Sunrises & 7 Sunsets Through One Window – Birdwatching with Aditya Varma

While the nation sits home with bated breath, awaiting the uncertain end of a global pandemic that has brought the world to a standstill, time itself has taken on a new form.

Not Until You Catch That Horizon

How far would you go to pursue your passions? What about the days when blue skies turn grey, and there isn’t a friendly face in sight? Could you keep going then? They did.

The Headhunters of Longwa: A Photoessay by Shweta Rane

The north-eastern state of Nagaland is remote, lush and mountainous. Bordering India’s eastern neighbour, Myanmar, Nagaland is home to 16 indigenous tribes, each with their own cultural practices and traditional way of life.

Travel Stories: A Tale from the Heart of Bali

Spelunking Decoded: Into the Dark We Go

Fear of the dark is a curious thing. On the surface, it seems as primal as our fear of the unknown. Perhaps because they are related. After all, the dark is the embodiment of the unknown in the physical realm. Even more curious are the select few who leap head-first into the dark.

Cruise Culture: A Rising Sailing Culture in India

Sailing is an experience that simply leaves you in awe. Here’s why you need to set sail at least once in your lifetime. The enormous sea, the breathtaking marine world, the hues of the horizon- they never fail to leave an impact on one’s mind. With the vast coastline of India stretching along three seas, there is no dearth of cruising options if one wishes to spend their time amidst the infinite blue sea. Cruising not only redefines travel but also luxury and the idea of a vacation. The sudden boom in the tourism industry has introduced a number of cruise tours across the oceans, rivers, and backwaters of India. And the experience will simply leave you in awe.

Photo Essay: A Day Out in Dhobi Ghat

“This photo series is about a day in the life of Dhobi Ghat, through the humans and animals that live in it. Capturing this on my lens made me realise that there is such hidden beauty in the daily routine lives of these humans if only you took the time out and looked. Every corner has a story to tell, just look.”

The Arctic Expedition With Rakesh Rao

At the northernmost point of the rotating, pale blue dot upon which we all exist, lies a desert of white. A place of purity, this frozen wonder is a timeless land, where hours blend into months and months blend into years, where rarely sighted creatures roam free, under a kaleidoscope of brilliant lights that dance in the sky above. Journey with us, as we follow filmmaker Rakesh Rao into the frozen wilderness of the Arctic region.

The Nomadic Tsaatan Reindeer Tribes of Mongolia

Everywhere you look, enormous grey and white reindeer stand grazing, wandering, tied to trees and sticking their noses into tents that resemble tepees.

Mahendra Bakle: Capturing the Eastern Sun

With the 2019 Eyewinawards Gold and an award from China Tourism among his plethora of laurels, Mahendra Bakle is an extremely illustrious photographer.