Elen Turner
I'm a writer and editor based in both Nepal and New Zealand. I ended up here by a rather circuitous route, through my post-grad studies on India, which then led to a job at a Kathmandu-based South Asian studies magazine, and then on to travel writing about the region.
What places and activities do you specialize in?
"Nepal, India, New Zealand"
How did you get involved in travel?
"I've been travelling all my life, as my parents were keen travellers. But after a foray into a career in academia I knew my real passion lay elsewhere, and so I became a travel writer!"
Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.
"Many people trek to Everest Base Camp, but the most unforgettable experience of my life was flying over it in a helicopter. "
Featured trips & expertise
Best Time of Year to Visit Thailand
Thailand is a long country, with mountains in the north and beautiful beaches in the south. It's almost uniformly hot, but some times of year are much hotter (and wetter) than others. Thailand is busiest (unsurprisingly) when the weather is at its best, from November to March. During low season, you should expect heavy rain, but that doesn't mean you can't have a good time—you just need to know where to go. Here are some tips to know about the best time of year to visit Thailand.
Best Time of Year to Visit New Zealand
New Zealand has a lot of climatic variety, from sub-tropical Northland to temperate Southland, and high mountains through the center of both main islands. Summer is generally hot in the North Island and warm in the South, while winters are mild and wet in the North Island and drier but often snowy in parts of the South Island. Whenever you plan to go, there will be parts of New Zealand that offer great conditions—find helpful information below on weather, crowds, costs, and more.
Best Time of Year to Visit Vietnam
Vietnam is a long, skinny country bookended by extremes: the northern areas bordering China are mountainous, while the Mekong Delta in the south is tropical. In between are vibrant cities, temperate highlands, and a huge range of natural attractions. While you can visit at any time of year, it's important to plan where you go around the country's climatic differences—you won't want to hit the beaches in summer, for example, or the northern mountains in winter. Read on for more tips on when to visit Vietnam.
Japan in December: Travel Tips, Weather, and More
December is the start of winter across Japan, but what that means in reality varies from north to south and east to west. In the northern island of Hokkaido, expect temperatures below freezing and snow. In southern parts of Kyushu, earlier in the month, you may still see autumnal colors. Here are a few important things to know about visiting Japan in December.
Japan in November: Travel Tips, Weather, and More
By November, Japan has well and truly entered autumn mode. Towards the end of the month, the leaves on the trees turn red and gold in central and southern parts of the country, and leaf-viewing parties are second only to flower-viewing parties to the Japanese. Temperatures are mild in many places, and rainfall low, so November is a great time to travel to Japan.
Japan in October: Travel Tips, Weather, and More
October is, arguably, the best month to travel to Japan (although this will depend on what you want to experience!). Temperatures in most places are still warm, but the intense humidity and increased rainfall of summer has subsided. Autumn leaves begin appearing at higher elevations and more northern latitudes. Here are some important things to know about traveling to Japan in October.