Foreign Office travel advice for Argentina

Argentina

South America

America/Santarem

America/Argentina/Salta

Church of St John the Baptist, Abovyan
Styled in a traditional way, the monumental church of St John the Baptist in Abovyan was actually only started in 2006, and the building was not completed until 2013. It stands at 50 metres tall and has four domes. The decorative exterior is typical of Armenian Apostolic ecclesiastical architecture, and the interior detailing and decoration are likewise traditional. It is a large church and sits in the town of Abovyan, not too far from Yerevan. The construction of the church was bankrolled by local businessman Gagik Tsarukyan and was consecrated in May 2013 by Catholicos Karekin IArmenian president Serzh Sargsyan, Belorussian president Alexander Lukashenko and former president of Armenia Robert Kocharyan.[The town of Abovyan was named after one of Armenia’s most prominent names in literature, who was recognised posthumously for his talent and influence. Many streets and buildings were named after him and in 1961 the village of Elar changed its name to honour the famous writer. 

Armenia

Europe

Asia/Tbilisi

Asia/Yerevan

Belize

Central America & the Caribbean

America/Managua

America/Belize

Bhutan

Asia

Asia/Shanghai

Asia/Thimphu

Borneo

Asia/Kuching

Foreign Office travel advice for Botswana

Botswana

Africa

Africa/Bangui

Africa/Gaborone

Brazil

America/Cuiaba

Foreign Office travel advice for Cambodia

Cambodia

Asia/Phnom_Penh

Chile

America/Santiago

China

Foreign Office travel advice for Colombia

La Candelaria, Bogota
This is the district of Bogotá that will stick in your memory and drain the memory card in your camera, as it is historically significant, architecturally attractive and full of interesting shops and cafes. La Candelaria is the oldest part of Bogotá, crammed with cobbled lanes and pretty churches but also laying claim to some of the most important events in Colombia’s history, for example the execution of Policarpa Salavarrieta, a revolutionary heroine. There are several museums, theatres and pedestrianised areas, and the vibrant nightlife is due in part to the students who frequent the neighbourhood. Many of the buildings display elements typical of the Spanish Colonial period, and there are also examples of baroque style and art deco. One of the major plazas in the district is Plaza Bolivar, which is the historical heart of La Candelaria, home to a cathedral and a statue of Simon Bolivar, a military leader who was the key architect of the revolution which led to the independence of several Latin American nations. 

Colombia

America/Bogota

Foreign Office travel advice for Costa Rica

Costa Rica

America/Costa_Rica

Cuba

America/Havana

Ecuador

America/Guayaquil

Egypt

The Middle East & North Africa

Asia/Riyadh

Africa/Cairo

England

Europe/London

Foreign Office travel advice for Falkland Islands

Falkland Islands

Atlantic/Stanley

France

Europe/Paris

Foreign Office travel advice for Galapagos Islands

Bartolome Island, Galápagos
At just over a kilometre squared, Bartlomé is small but perfectly formed. It was named after Sir Bartholomew Sulivan, who participated in the voyage around the Galápagos with Charles Darwin on the HMS Beagle. One of the main attractions on Bartolomé is the volcanic cone known as Pinnacle Rock, which offers a brilliant opportunity to climb to the top where the view across the rest of the island is well worth the energy you’ll need to get there. It is only 114 metres high but affords fabulous vistas of the imposing black lava flows at Sullivan Bay on neighbouring Santiago island, and on the route up visitors will have the chance to investigate various other volcanic formations such as spatter and tuff cones. Bartolomé also offers the chance to swim off one of the beaches, where there are plentiful fish to spot as well as abundant populations of Galapagos Penguins and sea lions. From the northern beach follow a footpath through to the southern beach where there are various species of rays and sharks often quite near to the shoreline.

Galapagos Islands

Pacific/Galapagos

Georgia

Ghana

Africa/Accra

Greece

Europe/Athens

Foreign Office travel advice for Guatemala

Antigua
The Spanish left their mark on Latin America in many ways, but one of their finest legacies is the colonial gem of Antigua. Uncover the city's soul by exploring the streets, churches and plazas or enjoying it's fine array of bars and restaurants. The old stucco walls lining the cobbled lanes give the town a tangible sense of history and importance, and have earnt Antigua the label of ‘finest Spanish colonial city is all of Latin America’ in some accounts. As a base for discovering some of the most interesting sights in the nation, Antigua should not be overlooked. It may have wholeheartedly surrendered to tourism and language schools for its sustenance, but it is correspondingly well organised and easy to like. If you are planning to spend time travelling around the immediate environs, either to one of the three volcanoes surrounding the town or through the fertile valleys in between, Antigua is easily the best place to return to at the end of the day. It is also well placed for striking out to lake Atitlán, Guatemala City and Chichicastenango.


Guatemala

America/Guatemala

Iceland

Atlantic/Reykjavik

India

Asia/Kolkata

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Indonesia

Asia/Jakarta

Italy

Europe/Rome

Japan

Asia/Tokyo

Jordan

Asia/Amman

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Kazakhstan

Asia/Almaty

Kenya

Africa/Nairobi

Foreign Office travel advice for Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan

Asia/Bishkek

Laos

Asia/Vientiane

Foreign Office travel advice for Madagascar

Chameleons in Madagascar
There are thought to be around 150 species of chameleons in the world and at least half of those are found in Madagascar. The people of Madagascar are slightly fearful of chameleons as demonstrated by a local proverb: ‘He who is like the chameleon has one eye on the future, one eye on the past.’ Perhaps the distrust stems from the fact that chameleon’s eyes can swivel independently of one another. Other notable characteristics of chameleons include their ability to change colour and their scaly skin with horns around the head and along the spine. Some tree dwelling species have prehensile tails which are used to grip when climbing. It is popularly believed that chameleons change colour to camouflage themselves from predators, but studies have shown that in actual fact the colour changing behaviour is more likely to be related to displaying aggression, marking a territory and communicating as part of a mating ritual. The species shown in the photo is an Amber Mountain Chameleon from Amber Mountain National Park, right in the northern tip of Madagascar.

Madagascar

Indian/Antananarivo

Malawi

Africa/Blantyre

Foreign Office travel advice for Malaysia

Malaysia

Asia/Kuala_Lumpur

Foreign Office travel advice for Maldives

Maldives

Indian/Maldives

Foreign Office travel advice for Mauritius

Mauritius

Indian/Mauritius

Mexico

America/Mexico_City

Morocco

Africa/Casablanca

Foreign Office travel advice for Mozambique

Mozambique

Africa/Maputo

Foreign Office travel advice for Myanmar (Burma)

Myanmar (Burma)

Asia/Yangon

Namibia

Africa/Windhoek

Nepalese hats, Nepal
The colourful hats so beloved of Nepalese men are known as Dhaka topi, and are worn as a symbol of national identity and pride in the country. It is a part of the national dress, too, which is worn by officials and people in positions of authority for ceremonial occasions. The reason the hat is named Dhaka topi is because the fabric originated in Dhaka, in Bangladesh. Topi is Nepalese for hat. It is traditional to exchange gifts at some festivals in Nepal, and one popular gift is the Dhaka topi, exchanged during Tihar and Dashain festivals. The first of January is the International Dhaka Topi day, when any patriotic Nepalese man will be sporting his favourite colourful Dhaka hat, one of the most recognisable symbols of Nepalese culture that exists today. The Dhaka topi is one of the few aspects of culture that applies nationwide, as there are numerous diverse ethnic groups in Nepal, all with differences in their heritage. Yet everybody embraces this national attire with enthusiasm and wears it with pride. 

Nepal

Asia/Kathmandu

Foreign Office travel advice for Nicaragua

Nicaragua

Norway

Europe/Oslo

Wahiba Sands
The old Bedouin way of life has largely been left behind as Bedouin understandably choose to swap camels for 4x4 vehicles and the harsh desert existence for the convenience of modern life. However, The desert known as Wahiba sands is a large expanse of rolling dunes where some Bedouin are still eking out an existence in the wilderness. Many have abandoned the nomadic lifestyle in favour of more permanent camps, but to see Bedouin families carrying out their daily work, you could do worse than visit the oasis at Al Huwayah in the summer months of June to September, when the Wahiba Bedouin, for whom the sands are named, return to the oasis to harvest dates and enjoy the relative cool of the shady plantations with their livestock. For a fascinating account of Bedouin life in the 1940s, read Wilfred Thesiger’s book Arabian Sands, describing his two crossings of the desert under incredibly difficult pressures from the environment, his long-suffering hosts, and even death threats. A brilliant and evocative read. 

Oman

Asia/Muscat

Panama

America/Panama

Machu Picchu
Peak season for visitors to descend on Machu Picchu is July and August, but realistically is likely to be busy most of the year. Sundays are particularly busy as that is the day when citizens of the province can visit for free. If you are hoping to get a few moments with the site more or less to yourself aim to arrive as early as possible, and definitely by 7am. There is a daily cap on entries to Machu Picchu which is currently 5,200, which gives you an idea of its popularity. However, it is one of those rare places where the reality outstrips the hype and the crowds do not dim the incredible spectacle of this ancient Inca citadel, a testament to the ability of 15th century engineers and stonemasons who created this mind blowing collection of structures which still endure today, despite their lofty and inaccessible location and mortar free construction technique. Whether you choose to arrive by train or foot, your first glimpse of the citadel teetering on the hilltop amongst the mountains will never be forgotten.


Peru

America/Lima

Foreign Office travel advice for Philippines

Philippines

Asia/Manila

Foreign Office travel advice for Portugal

Portugal

Europe/Lisbon

Russia

Europe/Kirov

Rwanda

Africa/Kigali

Foreign Office travel advice for South Africa

South Africa

Africa/Johannesburg

Spain

Europe/Madrid

Foreign Office travel advice for Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka

Asia/Colombo

Sudan

Africa/Khartoum

Foreign Office travel advice for Tanzania

Tanzania

Africa/Dar_es_Salaam

Foreign Office travel advice for Thailand

Thailand

Asia/Bangkok

Uganda

Africa/Kampala

Foreign Office travel advice for Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan

Asia/Samarkand

Vietnam

Asia/Ho_Chi_Minh

Wales

Zambia

Africa/Lusaka

Foreign Office travel advice for Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe

Africa/Harare

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We’ve got sun, sea and sand in buckets and spades, but there are countless ways to enjoy the coast with a difference. Steady your balance on a surfboard in Sri Lanka, hike coastal cliffs in South Africa or take a dip to see marine life in Madagascar.	

Sri Lanka has a resident whale community off the coast of Mirissa where the continental shelf is close to the shore

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