An award-winning freelance journalist and editorial consultant reporting on all things travel, Ianthe has joined rave cruises in Miami, explored the Singaporean jungle with renegade conservationists, got immersed in Japan’s futuristic digital art scene, interviewed activist chefs in Copenhagen, and searched for prehistoric creatures fossil hunting on the Dorset coastline. Previously in-house at British Airways’ High Life and Condé Nast Traveller magazines, she writes on trends, extraordinary hotels, innovation, design and nature for a huge range of print and digital titles. A firm believer that travel can be a force for good, she is fascinated by the zeitgeist, the powerful relationship between travel and emotions, and the dynamic people and destinations who inspire us to protect and preserve the planet as we explore.
What does a journey mean to you?
An epic adventure, a stroll on your own doorstep, both can be powerful and perspective-broadening. It’s all about discovery and connection – with the land, other people, oneself – or a combination of all three.
Which country or location most inspires you?
A thatch cottage-filled village in Dorset, where I spent every holiday till my teenage years visiting my gran, where my love of wildlife and the outdoors took root. Further afield, Japan, its artisans, artistry and deep cultural bond with nature never fails to inspire.
Where would you go back to and why?
Kenya. My Dad grew up on the fringes of a game reserve there, and while we’ve visited once together while in my teens, I’d love to return on a more in-depth trip, to hear more stories and see the country through his childhood eyes.
Top insider tip for London
Go in search of the curious; the Natural History Museum might be famous for its dinosaur skeletons, but its behind-the-scenes tours reveal the likes of Archie, an 8m-long preserved squid, while The Last Tuesday Society, pairs absinthe cocktails with a side of seriously surreal at its curio-packed basement museum.
What journey would you most like to go on?
So many. Return to Kashmir to dig deeper into my heritage, follow the flight path of the migrating Monarch butterflies from the US and Canada to Mexico, searching for snow leopards in Ladakh, exploring the underwater world in the Azores and visiting all of the UK’s islands.
