TrodPod

Myanmar remains one of Southeast Asia's most enigmatic destinations, a country where golden pagodas pierce morning mists and ancient kingdoms whisper through temple ruins. Despite recent political upheaval that has cast shadows over this remarkable nation, its cultural treasures endure – from the floating gardens of Inle Lake to Bagan's temple-studded plains. Visiting requires careful consideration of current conditions, but for those who venture here, Myanmar offers glimpses of a world largely untouched by mass tourism.Love the pod? Get the guide! Out with each new podcast, we publish a guide to the country. Buy the TrodPod guide to Myanmar for just $3: https://www.patreon.com/c/trodpod/shop. Better yet, become a TrodPod member for just $5 a month and access TrodPod guides to every country in the world, released weekly with each new podcast episode! Sign up now: https://www.patreon.com/trodpod/membershipThanks for all your support!TrodPod is Murray Garrard and Elle Keymer. Sound editing by Leo Audio Productions. Design and marketing by GPS: Garrard Powell Solutions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

South Africa sits at the continent's southern tip like nature's grand finale, where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans collide in spectacular fashion. This is a country that serves up jaw-dropping landscapes, world-class wine, and the Big Five with equal aplomb. From Cape Town's postcard perfection to the raw wilderness of Kruger, it's a place where beauty runs deeper than its admittedly gorgeous surface – though that surface really is rather magnificent.Love the pod? Get the guide! Out with each new podcast, we publish a guide to the country. Buy the TrodPod guide to South Africa for just $3: https://www.patreon.com/c/trodpod/shop. Better yet, become a TrodPod member for just $5 a month and access TrodPod guides to every country in the world, released weekly with each new podcast episode! Sign up now: https://www.patreon.com/trodpod/membershipThanks for all your support!TrodPod is Murray Garrard and Elle Keymer. Sound editing by Leo Audio Productions. Design and marketing by GPS: Garrard Powell Solutions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the Caribbean's best-kept secret – though probably not for much longer. Dominica is the region's eco-tourism crown jewel, where volcanic peaks pierce rainforest canopies and waterfalls cascade into natural hot tubs. Originally called "Wai'tu kubuli" meaning "Tall is her body" by indigenous Kalinago peoples, this mountainous island avoided European colonization longer than its neighbors precisely because it looked so forbiddingly vertical. Today, that same dramatic terrain makes it a paradise for adventure seekers and nature lovers. Join us as we traverse its trails and uncover its secrets. Love the pod? Get the guide! Out with each new podcast, we publish a guide to the country. Buy the TrodPod guide to Dominica for just $3: https://www.patreon.com/c/trodpod/shop. Better yet, become a TrodPod member for just $5 a month and access TrodPod guides to every country in the world, released weekly with each new podcast episode! Sign up now: https://www.patreon.com/trodpod/membershipThanks for all your support!TrodPod is Murray Garrard and Elle Keymer. Sound editing by Leo Audio Productions. Design and marketing by GPS: Garrard Powell Solutions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Philippines, an archipelago of over 7,600 islands scattered across the western Pacific, is like emeralds on blue velvet. This former Spanish and American colony has evolved into Southeast Asia's creative powerhouse, where jeepneys cruise alongside skyscrapers and ancient rice terraces meet pristine beaches. Join us as we head to one of the world's most glorious countries... Love the pod? Get the guide! Out with each new podcast, we publish a guide to the country. Buy the TrodPod guide toThe Philippines for just $3: https://www.patreon.com/c/trodpod/shop. Better yet, become a TrodPod member for just $5 a month and access TrodPod guides to every country in the world, released weekly with each new podcast episode! Sign up now: https://www.patreon.com/trodpod/membershipThanks for all your support!TrodPod is Murray Garrard and Elle Keymer. Sound editing by Leo Audio Productions. Design and marketing by GPS: Garrard Powell Solutions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Somalia occupies a unique position at the Horn of Africa, where ancient trade routes converged and civilizations flourished. Despite decades of conflict that have earned it an unfortunate reputation, this is a land of extraordinary archaeological treasures, stunning coastlines, and remarkably resilient people. The country remains challenging for visitors, but those who venture here discover a place where hospitality endures against all odds, and where some of humanity's oldest art adorns remote desert caves.Love the pod? Get the guide! Out with each new podcast, we publish a guide to the country. Buy the TrodPod guide toSomalia for just $3: https://www.patreon.com/c/trodpod/shop. Better yet, become a TrodPod member for just $5 a month and access TrodPod guides to every country in the world, released weekly with each new podcast episode! Sign up now: https://www.patreon.com/trodpod/membershipThanks for all your support!TrodPod is Murray Garrard and Elle Keymer. Sound editing by Leo Audio Productions. Design and marketing by GPS: Garrard Powell Solutions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Central Asia's leading light - a country high on its own grandeur. Tajikistan is where the world's most spectacular mountain scenery meets warm hospitality and endless pots of green tea. Despite being scarred by civil war and overshadowed by its more famous neighbors, this Persian-speaking nation offers some of the planet's most dramatic landscapes, from the legendary Pamir Highway to crystalline alpine lakes that mirror Ming-vase blue skies.Love the pod? Get the guide! Out with each new podcast, we publish a guide to the country. Buy the TrodPod guide to Tajikistan for just $3: https://www.patreon.com/c/trodpod/shop. Better yet, become a TrodPod member for just $5 a month and access TrodPod guides to every country in the world, released weekly with each new podcast episode! Sign up now: https://www.patreon.com/trodpod/membershipThanks for all your support!TrodPod is Murray Garrard and Elle Keymer. Sound editing by Leo Audio Productions. Design and marketing by GPS: Garrard Powell Solutions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Samoa sits in the heart of the South Pacific like a perfectly placed emerald, offering visitors a compelling blend of ancient Polynesian culture and stunning natural beauty. This island nation, consisting primarily of Upolu and Savai'i, presents one of the region's most authentic experiences. From dramatic volcanic landscapes and pristine beaches to vibrant coral reefs and cascading waterfalls, Samoa delivers paradise without the tourist hordes—though watch out for the occasional pack of territorial dogs.Love the pod? Get the guide! Out with each new podcast, we publish a guide to the country. Buy the TrodPod guide to Samoa for just $3: https://www.patreon.com/c/trodpod/shop. Better yet, become a TrodPod member for just $5 a month and access TrodPod guides to every country in the world, released weekly with each new podcast episode! Sign up now: https://www.patreon.com/trodpod/membershipThanks for all your support!TrodPod is Murray Garrard and Elle Keymer. Sound editing by Leo Audio Productions. Design and marketing by GPS: Garrard Powell Solutions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Burundi is East Africa's best-kept secret, a mountainous jewel wedged between the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Tanzania. This landlocked nation may be one of the world's smallest countries, but it packs extraordinary biodiversity, ancient kingdoms, and some of the planet's finest tea into its compact borders. Known as the "Heart of Africa" for its central location, Burundi offers intrepid travelers pristine national parks, sacred drumming traditions, and a resilient culture shaped by both triumph and turbulence.Love the pod? Get the guide! Out with each new podcast, we publish a guide to the country. Buy the TrodPod guide to Burundi for just $3: https://www.patreon.com/c/trodpod/shop. Better yet, become a TrodPod member for just $5 a month and access TrodPod guides to every country in the world, released weekly with each new podcast episode! Sign up now: https://www.patreon.com/trodpod/membershipThanks for all your support!TrodPod is Murray Garrard and Elle Keymer. Sound editing by Leo Audio Productions. Design and marketing by GPS: Garrard Powell Solutions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the world’s smallest sovereign state, where 800 residents preside over the spiritual lives of 1.4 billion Catholics. This 0.17-square-mile enclave packs more artistic treasures, religious significance, and ecclesiastical intrigue per square meter than anywhere else on Earth. Surrounded entirely by Rome, Vatican City operates as an absolute monarchy ruled by the Pope, making it simultaneously one of the most powerful and most sparsely populated nations on the planet.Love the pod? Get the guide! Out with each new podcast, we publish a guide to the country. Buy the TrodPod guide to the Vatican City for just $3: https://www.patreon.com/posts/142823145. Better yet, become a TrodPod member for just $5 a month and access TrodPod guides to every country in the world, released weekly with each new podcast episode! Sign up now: https://www.patreon.com/trodpod/membershipThanks for all your support!TrodPod is Murray Garrard and Elle Keymer. Sound editing by Leo Audio Productions. Design and marketing by GPS: Garrard Powell Solutions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Panama is that improbably narrow thread of land that somehow keeps two continents from drifting apart – a geographical accident that became the world's shortcut. This slender nation punches well above its weight, offering pristine Caribbean beaches, dense Pacific jungles teeming with harpy eagles, and a canal that remains one of humanity's greatest engineering triumphs. Between the buzzing capital and indigenous archipelagos, Panama delivers outsized adventures in a remarkably compact package.Love the pod? Get the guide! Out with each new podcast, we publish a guide to the country. Buy the TrodPod guide to Panama for just $3: https://www.patreon.com/posts/trodpod-69-142353113. Better yet, become a TrodPod member for just $5 a month and access TrodPod guides to every country in the world, released weekly with each new podcast episode! Sign up now: https://www.patreon.com/trodpod/membershipThanks for all your support!TrodPod is Murray Garrard and Elle Keymer. Sound editing by Leo Audio Productions. Design and marketing by GPS: Garrard Powell Solutions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Denmark punches well above its weight for a nation roughly the size of Switzerland. This Scandinavian kingdom of 5.8 million people manages to be simultaneously progressive and deeply rooted in tradition, modern yet medieval. From Copenhagen's cycling culture to ancient Viking fortresses, Denmark offers Nordic efficiency with a refreshingly self-deprecating sense of humor. It's a place where fairy tales were born, design reaches perfection, and happiness research becomes a national obsession.Love the pod? Get the guide! Out with each new podcast, we publish a guide to the country. Buy the TrodPod guide to Denmark for just $3: https://www.patreon.com/posts/trodpod-68-141985173. Better yet, become a TrodPod member for just $5 a month and access TrodPod guides to every country in the world, released weekly with each new podcast episode! Sign up now: https://www.patreon.com/trodpod/membershipThanks for all your support!TrodPod is Murray Garrard and Elle Keymer. Sound editing by Leo Audio Productions. Design and marketing by GPS: Garrard Powell Solutions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wedged between China and India like a geographic sandwich filling, Nepal punches well above its weight. This landlocked nation serves up the world's highest peaks, ancient temples that predate your great-grandmother's pottery collection, and enough spiritual enlightenment to make a yoga instructor weep. From subtropical jungles prowling with tigers to oxygen-thin mountain passes, Nepal crams more landscape diversity into its borders than seems mathematically possible.Love the pod? Get the guide! Out with each new podcast, we publish a guide to the country. Buy the TrodPod guide to Nepal for just $3: https://www.patreon.com/posts/trodpod-67-nepal-141985068. Better yet, become a TrodPod member for just $5 a month and access TrodPod guides to every country in the world, released weekly with each new podcast episode! Sign up now: https://www.patreon.com/trodpod/membershipThanks for all your support!TrodPod is Murray Garrard and Elle Keymer. Sound editing by Leo Audio Productions. Design and marketing by GPS: Garrard Powell Solutions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mozambique stretches along Africa's southeastern coast like a languid seahorse, offering 2,500 kilometers of pristine Indian Ocean shoreline. This Portuguese-speaking nation serves up an intoxicating blend of Arab spice routes, colonial architecture, and raw African wilderness. From the archipelago playgrounds of the uber-wealthy to the remarkable wildlife comeback stories inland, Mozambique feels simultaneously boutique and untamed—a country that would rather surprise you than simply please you.Love the pod? Get the guide! Out with each new podcast, we publish a guide to the country. Buy the TrodPod guide to Mozambique for just $3: https://www.patreon.com/posts/trodpod-66-141984831. Better yet, become a TrodPod member for just $5 a month and access TrodPod guides to every country in the world, released weekly with each new podcast episode! Sign up now: https://www.patreon.com/trodpod/membershipThanks for all your support!TrodPod is Murray Garrard and Elle Keymer. Sound editing by Leo Audio Productions. Design and marketing by GPS: Garrard Powell Solutions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Maldives comprises 1,192 coral islands scattered across 26 atolls in the Indian Ocean, though only 200 are inhabited. This nation exists more in water than on land—a fact that becomes startlingly apparent when you realize the highest point is just 2.4 meters above sea level. It's a place where luxury resorts perch on stilts over crystal lagoons, where manta rays outnumber traffic jams, and where the biggest decision you'll face is whether to snorkel before or after your third cocktail.Love the pod? Get the guide! Out with each new podcast, we publish a guide to the country. Buy the TrodPod guide to The Maldives for just $3: https://www.patreon.com/posts/140119872 . Better yet, become a TrodPod member for just $5 a month and access TrodPod guides to every country in the world, released weekly with each new podcast episode! Sign up now: https://www.patreon.com/trodpod/membershipThanks for all your support!TrodPod is Murray Garrard and Elle Keymer. Sound editing by Leo Audio Productions. Design and marketing by GPS: Garrard Powell Solutions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

St Lucia stands as the Caribbean’s crown jewel, where volcanic drama meets tropical perfection. This Windward Islands gem offers towering Pitons that pierce the sky, bubbling mud baths that smell suspiciously of rotten eggs, and beaches that make other islands weep with envy. Between the French-influenced culture and British colonial remnants, it’s a place where Nobel laureates emerge from fishing villages and chocolate grows on trees. Paradise, essentially, with decent Wi-Fi.Love the pod? Get the guide! Out with each new podcast, we publish a guide to the country. Buy the TrodPod guide to Saint Lucia for just $3: https://www.patreon.com/posts/139578008. Better yet, become a TrodPod member for just $5 a month and access TrodPod guides to every country in the world, released weekly with each new podcast episode! Sign up now: https://www.patreon.com/trodpod/membershipThanks for all your support!TrodPod is Murray Garrard and Elle Keymer. Sound editing by Leo Audio Productions. Design and marketing by GPS: Garrard Powell Solutions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The teardrop-shaped island dangling off India’s southeastern coast packs an extraordinary punch for its modest size. Sri Lanka offers ancient kingdoms, sacred peaks, golden beaches, and tea plantations that carpet emerald hills like something from a fairy tale. This is where Buddhism took root, where elephants roam wild, and where every meal comes with enough spice to make your eyes water in the most delightful way. Three thousand years of civilization meet pristine nature in perfect harmony.Love the pod? Get the guide! Out with each new podcast, we publish a guide to the country. Buy the TrodPod guide to Sri Lanka for just $3: https://www.patreon.com/posts/trodpod-63-guide-139039027. Better yet, become a TrodPod member for just $5 a month and access TrodPod guides to every country in the world, released weekly with each new podcast episode! Sign up now: https://www.patreon.com/trodpod/membershipThanks for all your support!TrodPod is Murray Garrard and Elle Keymer. Sound editing by Leo Audio Productions. Design and marketing by GPS: Garrard Powell Solutions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the land where the Sahara meets the Atlantic in spectacular fashion. Mauritania remains delightfully off the beaten track, a place where ancient caravan routes still whisper through shifting dunes and traditional Imraguen fishermen cast nets as their ancestors did centuries ago. This is Africa’s last frontier for the intrepid traveler, where cell phone signals are scarce but authentic experiences abound. Don’t come here expecting luxury resorts - come for raw, unfiltered adventure.Love the pod? Get the guide! Out with each new podcast, we publish a guide to the country. Buy the TrodPod guide to Mauritania for just $3: https://www.patreon.com/posts/138521235. Better yet, become a TrodPod member for just $5 a month and access TrodPod guides to every country in the world, released weekly with each new podcast episode! Sign up now: https://www.patreon.com/trodpod/membershipThanks for all your support!TrodPod is Murray Garrard and Elle Keymer. Sound editing by Leo Audio Productions. Design and marketing by GPS: Garrard Powell Solutions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Monaco is a gloriously preposterous principality - the world’s second-smallest sovereign statesqueezed into just 2.02 square kilometers of Mediterranean coastline. This tax haven masquerading as a country has somehow convinced the world that extreme wealth concentration is actually rather charming. Despite being smaller than New York’s Central Park, Monaco punches well above its weight in glamour, Formula 1 racing, and eye-watering prices that could bankrupt small nations.Love the pod? Get the guide! Out with each new podcast, we publish a guide to the country. Buy the TrodPod guide to Monaco for just $3: https://www.patreon.com/posts/trodpod-60-guide-137972258. Better yet, become a TrodPod member for just $5 a month and access TrodPod guides to every country in the world, released weekly with each new podcast episode! Sign up now: https://www.patreon.com/trodpod/membershipThanks for all your support!TrodPod is Murray Garrard and Elle Keymer. Sound editing by Leo Audio Productions. Design and marketing by GPS: Garrard Powell Solutions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Haití occupies the western third of Hispaniola, sharing the Caribbean island with the Dominican Republic. This punchy little nation has battled colonialists, slave traders, Mother Nature, and corrupt politicians with remarkable resilience. Despite enduring unimaginable hardships, Haitians remain some of the world's most wonderful people. The country offers visitors a raw, authentic Caribbean experience far removed from sanitized resort tourism - though getting there requires both courage and careful planning.Love the pod? Get the guide! Out with each new podcast, we publish a guide to the country. Buy the TrodPod guide to Haití for just $3: https://www.patreon.com/posts/trodpod-59-guide-137405519. Better yet, become a TrodPod member for just $5 a month and access TrodPod guides to every country in the world, released weekly with each new podcast episode! Sign up now: https://www.patreon.com/trodpod/membershipThanks for all your support!TrodPod is Murray Garrard and Elle Keymer. Sound editing by Leo Audio Productions. Design and marketing by GPS: Garrard Powell Solutions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is Africa’s second-largest country by area, a vast wilderness of dense rainforest, mighty rivers, and extraordinary wildlife. Home to humanity’s closest relatives, bonobos and chimpanzees, alongside mountain gorillas and forest elephants, the DRC contains some of the planet’s most biodiverse ecosystems. This is adventure travel at its most authentic: challenging, unpredictable, and utterly rewarding for those who dare.Love the pod? Get the guide! Out with each new podcast, we publish a guide to the country. Buy the TrodPod guide to the DRC for just $3: https://www.patreon.com/posts/136800776?. Better yet, become a TrodPod member for just $5 a month and access TrodPod guides to every country in the world, released weekly with each new podcast episode! Sign up now: https://www.patreon.com/trodpod/membershipThanks for all your support!TrodPod is Murray Garrard and Elle Keymer. Sound editing by Leo Audio Productions. Design and marketing by GPS: Garrard Powell Solutions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.