Travel with Amateur Traveler Podcast

Travel with Amateur Traveler Podcast

Since 2005, Amateur Traveler has been talking about different destinations every week. It covers destinations all over the world with an emphasis on culturally rich travel. Learn more about your world. Amateur Traveler won its creator, Chris Christensen, a Travel+Leisure award as the "best independent travel journalist" and entry into the "Podcast Hall of Fame."

Episodes

AT#954 - Travel to China (Beijing and Gannan)

July 26, 2025 • 59 mins
Hear about travel to Beijing, China, and the Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (Gansu) as the Amateur Traveler discusses the first half of a recent press trip to China, sponsored by the Chinese Tourism Board. Seven days let you pair Beijing’s imperial centers and Great Wall with the yak‑grazed valleys, monasteries, and soaring limestone of Gannan—history and highlands in a single, unforgettable loop. Morning Land at PEK or...
Mark as Played

AT#953 - Travel to Suriname

July 19, 2025 • 60 mins
Hear about travel to Suriname as the Amateur Traveler talks to Mike Power from SmallOfTheRoad.blogspot.com about his recent trip to this South American country. Why should you go to Suriname? Mike says, "It's an undiscovered little gem. I'm just surprised it's not more popular. The number one draw there would be nature and ecotourism. There's a ton to see. As much as 95% of the country is covered in rainforest. And so ecotourism ...
Mark as Played

AT#833 - Travel to the Peloponnese, Greece (Repeat)

July 12, 2025 • 72 mins
Hear about sailing in the Saronic Islands and the Peloponnese as the Amateur Traveler talks about his recent yacht charter with Navigare Yachting. My wife and I had wanted to gather a few friends and do a small boat sailing trip in the Greek Islands for more than a decade. This dream reached fruition when Navigare Yachting offered to provide the use of a boat in exchange for talking about the journey on the podcast. We b...
Mark as Played

AT#952 - Travel to Samoa

July 5, 2025 • 66 mins
Hear about travel to the island nation of Samoa as the Amateur Traveler talks to Jonty Crane from Jonty Travels about his recent trip biking around the country. Why should you go to Samoa? Jonty says, "Samoa is a small island in the Pacific. If you imagine a tropical Pacific paradise, then something like Samoa would probably spring to mind in terms of palm trees along a beautiful sandy beach with snorkeling opportunities and some...
Mark as Played

AT#951 - Travel to Northern Iceland

June 28, 2025 • 58 mins
Hear about travel to Northern Iceland as the Amateur Traveler talks to Monika from PlanPackExplore.com about her recent trip through the center of Iceland to the less-visited northern part of the country. Why should you visit Northern Iceland? Monika says, "I'm a self-proclaimed Iceland lover. I went there for the first time in 2022, by accident, which is a long story, but we ended up in Iceland, and literally after six days, sta...
Mark as Played

AT#950 - Rafting the Grand Canyon with Western River Expeditions

June 21, 2025 • 75 mins
Hear about rafting the Grand Canyon for seven days as the Amateur Traveler talks about this bucket list trip sponsored by Western River Expeditions. In this solo (but not really solo) episode of Amateur Traveler, host Chris Christensen recounts a seven-day rafting adventure down the Grand Canyon with Western River Expeditions — a journey filled with whitewater rapids, red rock cliffs, side canyon hikes, waterfalls, fossils, ancien...
Mark as Played

AT#949 - Travel to the French Riviera

June 14, 2025 • 46 mins
Hear about travel to the French Riviera as the Amateur Traveler talks to travel writer and children's book author Kimberley Lovato about this region where she has had a pied-à-terre for years. Why should you go to the French Riviera? Kimberley says, "Certainly for people who love great hotels and Michelin star food and gorgeous scenery, you know what's not to love? We have the Cannes Film Festival. But, if you love beaches, hikin...
Mark as Played

AT#948 - Espírito Santo, Brazil

June 7, 2025 • 45 mins
Hear about travel to Espírito Santo, Brazil, as the Amateur Traveler talks to Fuse from Fuse Travels about her family's homeland. Why should you travel to Espírito Santo? Fuse says, "It is way more affordable than Rio, just as pretty, as far as beaches. It is underrated. So you're not gonna go sightseeing and have a swarm of tourists. You really get a feel of local culture. There's some amazing cuisine. Espírito Santo is diverse ...
Mark as Played

AT#947 - Travel to Brunei and Sabah on Borneo

May 31, 2025 • 54 mins
Hear about travel to Brunei and Sabah on the island of Borneo as the Amateur Traveler talks to Max Walton about his recent trip to these contrasting locations. Why should you go to Brunei and Sabah? Max says, "It's one of the least visited regions in the area. I think in 2023, only 133,000 people visited. It's not many at all. This also offers a different side of Southeast Asia. I know a lot of people go to Vietnam, Thailand, eve...
Mark as Played

AT#946 - Travel to Abitibi-Témiscamingue in Quebec

May 24, 2025 • 75 mins
Hear about travel to the region of Abitibi-Témiscamingue in Quebec as the Amateur Traveler talks to Jennifer Doré Dallas from Chasing Poutine about this out of the way road trip. Why should you go to Abitibi-Témiscamingue? Jennifer says, "Most people don't really know about it outside of Quebec. But in our province, it's really well known, especially for nature. It's a true paradise for nature lovers. It's also historical, brin...
Mark as Played

AT#945 - Travel to Victoria, British Columbia

May 17, 2025 • 65 mins
Hear about travel to Victoria, British Columbia, as Chris Christensen from Amateur Traveler talks about his recent visit to the capital of British Columbia. Join Chris Christensen as he returns to one of the first cities he ever visited outside the U.S.—Victoria, British Columbia. In this solo episode, Chris recounts a week-long press trip to Vancouver Island's picturesque capital. From kayaking and whale watching to historic Chin...
Mark as Played

MT8 - New Zealand Great Walks

May 14, 2025 • 71 mins
Hear about New Zealand Great Walks as the Amateur Traveler talks to Jonty Crane from jontynz.com about these amazing multi-day treks in his home country. Picture snow-capped mountains, volcanic landscapes, brilliant blue alpine lakes, epic coastal scenery, unusual native birds, wilderness as far as the eye can see, golden sand beaches, historic sites, lush moss-filled bush, and huge waterfalls. New Zealand has ten Great Walks, ...
Mark as Played

AT#944 - Exploring the Kunisaki Peninsula with Walk Japan

May 10, 2025 • 69 mins
In this solo episode of Amateur Traveler, I share the story of my recent walking trip through the Kunisaki Peninsula and Yufuin in Kyushu, Japan, with Walk Japan. This immersive journey took me past massive stone Buddhas, forest trails, rural villages, sacred shrines, and into steamy onsens — all while uncovering centuries of Japanese history and culture. Temples, Shrines, Onsens, and the Trails Between – Kunisaki & Yufuin Walk ...
Mark as Played

AT#943 - Travel to Auckland, New Zealand

May 3, 2025 • 62 mins
Hear about travel to Auckland, New Zealand, as the Amateur Traveler talks to Jonty Crane from Jonty Travels about a city that he called home for a decade. Why should you go to Auckland? Jonty says, "Many people go to New Zealand, but spend almost no time in Auckland. It's a bit like a little sister or brother to Sydney in Australia, but with some unique New Zealand characteristics. There are over 50 extinct volcanoes. It's betwee...
Mark as Played

AT#839 - Travel to the Queensland Outback (Repeat)

April 26, 2025 • 67 mins
Hear about travel to the Queensland Outback as the Amateur Traveler talks to Melissa from Queensland about a destination she discovered during the pandemic when she could not leave her home state. Why should you go to the Queensland Outback? Melissa says, “Firstly, I think when most people think of Queensland or plan a visit to Queensland, they’re thinking Great Barrier Reef, maybe Gold Coast, theme parks, beautiful beaches, and I...
Mark as Played

AT#942 - Travel to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida

April 19, 2025 • 59 mins
Hear about traveling to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, as the Amateur Traveler talks to a longtime Disney expert, former attorney, host of WDW Radio, and Podcast Hall of Fame inductee. Why Visit Walt Disney World? Nearly 87% of Americans visit a Disney park at some point—it's a "rite of passage." Offers a wide range of experiences for all types of visitors—first-timers, families, superfans, and solo travelers. The sheer...
Mark as Played

AT#941 - Travel to Kolkata, India

April 12, 2025 • 61 mins
Hear about travel to Kolkata, India (formerly Calcutta) as the Amateur Traveler talks to Sam Sarkar from Travels with Dr. Sam about this city built by the British East India Company. Why should you go to Kolkata? Sam says, "It's a real hidden secret. This is a city that has grand colonial buildings. It used to be the second city of the British Empire for the longest time. The first US consulate in the world was set up in Kolkata ...
Mark as Played

AT#940 - Travel to Cuba

April 5, 2025 • 51 mins
Hear about travel to Cuba as the Amateur Traveler talks to 3 listeners of the show who joined this year’s trip to explore this beautiful and sometimes challenging country. Here’s a summary of the 2025 Amateur Traveler's Private Hola Cuba itinerary: Trip Overview Trip Name: Amateur Traveler's Private Hola Cuba Duration: 9 days / 8 nights Start & End Location: Havana, Cuba Group Size: 17 travelers Travel Style: Comfortable, imme...
Mark as Played

MT7 - Fear of Flying with Johnny Jet

April 2, 2025 • 36 mins
In this episode, Johnny Jet shares his deeply personal story of overcoming a debilitating fear of flying before becoming a travel expert. A dream trip to Australia in high school was derailed when, at the airport, he had a panic attack and refused to board the plane, devastating his family and himself. He spent the next three years struggling with anxiety and fear—not just of flying, but even of leaving home. Learn what triggered...
Mark as Played

AT#939 - Travel to Germany’s Black Forest

March 29, 2025 • 45 mins
Hear about travel to Germany’s Black Forest in Baden-Württemberg as the Amateur Traveler talks to Matt Kepnes (Nomadic Matt) about his visit to the hills and woods of southwest Germany. Why should you go to the Black Forest? Matt says, "You'll find incredible hiking, lots of lakes, waterfalls, and cute little quintessential German towns with beautiful architecture. There are also a lot of hot springs around the Baden Baden area. ...
Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    Stuff You Should Know

    Stuff You Should Know

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    The Breakfast Club

    The Breakfast Club

    The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!

    Crime Junkie

    Crime Junkie

    Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.

    Betrayal: Season 4

    Betrayal: Season 4

    Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack. Karoline Borega married a man of honor – a respected Colorado Springs Police officer. She knew there would be sacrifices to accommodate her husband’s career. But she had no idea that he was using his badge to fool everyone. This season, we expose a man who swore two sacred oaths—one to his badge, one to his bride—and broke them both. We follow Karoline as she questions everything she thought she knew about her partner of over 20 years. And make sure to check out Seasons 1-3 of Betrayal, along with Betrayal Weekly Season 1.

    On Purpose with Jay Shetty

    On Purpose with Jay Shetty

    I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

Explore

iHeart

Live Radio

Podcasts

Artist Radio

Exclusives

News

Features

Events

Contests

Photos

Information

About

Advertise

Blog

Brand Guidelines

Contest Guidelines

Subscription Offers

Jobs

Get the App

Automotive

Home

Mobile

Wearables

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.