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New Tours to Republic of Bakpakhistan

1. April 2009

At Viator, our mission is to help you make the most of your travels. We believe passionately in discovering new cultures, trying new experiences, and getting beneath the surface of a destination. In that spirit Viator is pleased to announce the launch of a new country on our website: the Republic of Bakpakhistan. Our team of travel experts has tried for three years to crack open the Bakpakhi tours and activities market. It's not been easy.

Suggested Itineraries: Vietnam

19. March 2009

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Let's start with the coffee. Because in Vietnam coffee is more than just a drink. It doesn't come venti or frappuccinoed or with whipped cream. And it definitely does not cost $3.75 a shot. No, coffee in Vietnam is thick, cheap and super-sweet. And it is beautiful.

1,000 Places to See Before You Die

5. March 2009

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Once upon a time I was excited by the concept of '1,000 places to see before I die'. As a lifelong traveler, the idea of visiting a thousand of the world's most exotic, far-flung and inspiring destinations before -- what's the right word here, perishing? kicking the bucket? fading to black? -- felt like something I had to do.

One Pick-Up Truck, 9 People, 900 Kilometers, No Map

23. February 2009

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One Pick-Up Truck, 9 People, 900 Kilometers, No Map

Here's a recipe for adventure: a long weekend visit to family in Nakon Patom, Thailand. Naturally nobody has a map, but the general instructions seem to be, "head west to the big road, then head south; turn right just before you hit Bangkok". Uh-huh. Great instructions to cover a 900km trip! So it's 4am, off we set westerly into the darkness. Sure enough after an hour or two we hit "the big road," and duly turn south. A few more hours, and the dreaded murmur begins to make its way around the car: "shortcut!".

The Year in Photos: Top 10 Traveler Photos on Viator

17. December 2008

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The Year in Photos: Top 10 Traveler Photos on Viator

Each year at Viator.com we post the Top 10 Traveler Photos of the Year. These photos are submitted by actual Viator travelers (e.g., by people just like you), and from the thousands of photos we receive we select 10 photos that make us laugh, make us smile -- and most inspire us to take that next trip.

Suggested Itineraries: Belize

14. December 2008

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It's Better in Belize. You Better Belize It. It's Unbelizeable. If I had a nickel for each time I saw a Belize-inspired T-shirt, I'd have at least 60 cents by now. Maybe a buck. The problem is not a lack of T-shirts. Trust me, there are heaps on sale in Belize. The problem is that Belize is one of those places that refuses to become mainstream.

Ode to Istanbul

25. November 2008

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I have a crystal-clear memory of my very first morning in Istanbul. It was 1996. I was on assignment for Lonely Planet and Fodor's to update their respective guidebooks to Turkey. My flight arrived late, 10pm or something. I jumped into a taxi and headed straight to the small hotel I had booked in Istanbul's Sultanahmet district. The last thing I remember before collapsing into bed is opening the window of my 4th-floor room.

Insider’s Guide to Malaysia’s Best Beaches

11. November 2008

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Insider’s Guide to Malaysia’s Best Beaches

I'll let you in on a secret… Thailand is not the only country in southeast Asia with stunning beaches. Malaysia has dozens of tiny islands on both the east and west coast that rival the beauty of southern Thailand. Plus, the beaches in Malaysia have the added advantage of being relatively unknown (read: cheaper, less crowded, more unspoilt).

San Francisco’s Mission District is a Maze of Murals

31. October 2008

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San Francisco’s Mission District is a Maze of Murals

Like most cities, San Francisco has its distinguished museums and brilliantly lit galleries, and it also has a healthy supply of what is sometimes described as "low-brow" art: graffiti, skateboard paintings, tattoo art, underground comix and so on. Spanning the full range of SF's art spectrum, and blurring the distinctions somewhat, are the murals for which the city is rightly famous. They’re all over town – in the lobbies of government buildings and along alleyways that double as urinals for the homeless.

In Paris: My Citroen 2CV Tour

14. October 2008

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I’ve always been a great advocate of the hop-on hop-off bus tours that we offer in so many of our destinations. They provide a wonderful way to get acquainted with the city — its various districts, the key attractions and even the places to avoid — while at the same time getting you out in [...]