Costa Rica was the first country I ever went backpacking to. With two good friends, I spent a month exploring this ecological marvel back in 2022, a trip that would catapult me into an early career in travel which in turn would send me back to Costa Rica for another month just over a year later. For this reason (and many more), it is one of my favourite countries in the world. It is abundant with wildlife and a true pioneer in ecological tourism, home to some the most biologically diverse regions in the world and is front and centre in pushing global policy towards climate action.

Cambodia moved me tremendously. It has a dark and recent history, from which it is emerging like a flower from a bulb - delicately and beautifully. The more ancient history of the country coexists with its modernity and I couldn’t help but keep extending my stay when I was here back in February. I fell utterly in awe of the people and the country and let the years of history soak into me as I explored each new place.

An archipelago comprising more than 13,000 islands, Indonesia’s rich culture is vibrant and widespread. From the music and art of Java, to the natural wonder of Komodo National Park, this country easily jumped to one of my favourites. After spending four weeks here, I left feeling like I had only scratched the surface, desperate to go back and explore more.