Editor-at-large

Hans Avontuur

As a freelance travel writer and photographer (official Fujifilm ambassador), Hans Avontuur contributes to National Geographic Traveler, Wintersport Magazine, Moto73, and Méditerranée. Hans has a remarkable ability to uncover original and engaging story angles and is a true virtuoso in the art of storytelling.

All Hans Avontuur's Stories

Three women walk along a sandy beach with stilted houses in the background and waves crashing on the shore under a cloudy sky.

Along the Coasts of North & South Carolina

Islands, Backroads and the Real America Between Ocean and Marsh

A coastal road trip through North and South Carolina brings wooden verandas, fishing boats, cotton-field backroads, slow mornings in Charleston and wild horses on the Outer Banks. A journey into..
Victorian homes line a tree-lined street in spring, with blooming pink trees and lush green foliage.

5 Lesser-Known Cities in the American South

From bourbon and blues to civil rights and Route 66

The American South is full of big-name cities, but the real discoveries lie just beyond them. Sip bourbon in Louisville, trace country music to its birthplace in Bristol, walk the..
A vibrant mural in Minneapolis depicts Bob Dylan and Prince, symbolizing the city’s rich artistic and cultural heritage, with the iconic phrase “The times they are a-changin’.”

Minneapolis – City of Free Spirits

Discover the Creative Heart of Minnesota

Freedom hums through Minneapolis – in its mural-covered walls of Dylan and Prince, in the converted warehouses of the North Loop, and in the kitchens of visionaries like Sean Sherman...
The North Shore Scenic Drive along Lake Superior offers stunning views of rugged cliffs, lush forests, and the vast, calm water, inviting travelers on an unforgettable journey.

Minnesota’s Wild Road Along Lake Superior

North Shore Scenic Drive. Riding the Edge of the Great Lake

Stretching 154 miles along Lake Superior’s rugged shoreline, the North Shore Scenic Drive is one of America’s few All-American Roads. From Duluth’s historic harbour and Bob Dylan’s hometown charm to..
A lone canoeist navigates the serene waters of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, surrounded by lush forests and tranquil lakes.

Exploring Minnesota’s Untamed North

Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness

Where the road ends and the wild begins lies the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness – a maze of lakes, rivers and silence. Paddle for days without meeting a soul,..
Aletsch Arena, Valais, Switzerland: A timeless winter village scene unfolds as dusk settles, with snow-covered chalets glowing warmly against the darkening mountain landscape.

Winter Sports in the Aletsch Arena, Valais

Where Silence Fills the Mountains

In the Aletsch Arena, winter slows to the rhythm of footsteps on snow. Between car-free villages and glacier views, life feels lighter, quieter, purer. Ski, walk or simply sit still..
A skier carves down a snow-covered slope in the Swiss Alps, surrounded by majestic mountains and clear blue skies, embodying the spirit of pure adventure.

Les Marécottes, Martigny Région, Valais

Across the border of paradise

Ski touring across the Martigny Region means diving deep into the wild heart of Valais — through steep cols, untouched snowfields and stories steeped in history. From tasting pear brandy..
The Gornergrat Railway in Zermatt, Switzerland, offers stunning views of the Matterhorn and the Alps, especially magical at night under the stars.

Gornergrat, Valais – Dining & Sleeping Under the Stars

A starry night above Zermatt’s glaciers

High above Zermatt, the Gornergrat Railway climbs through snow and silence to the roof of the Alps. By day, the Matterhorn steals the show; by night, the stars take over...
15_ Ragnies, In het proeflokaal van Biercee zit de stemming er al snel in

The Most Beautiful Villages in Wallonia

Stones, stories, and stillness in Belgium’s green heart

From a priest’s Devil’s Grotto to prehistoric stones, fortified farms, and valleys wrapped in limestone villages—these five Walloon gems show beauty in every form. Discover five of the most beautiful..
11_ Falaën, Ferme château uit de 17de eeuw

Slow in the Condroz

Where time meanders like the streams

In Belgium’s Condroz, time flows as gently as the streams. Between fortress farms, grey-stone villages, and rolling fields, traditions live on in cheeses, beers, and quiet, timeless landscapes...
54_ Een voetgangsbrug verbindt La Boverie met Guillemins

City Trip Liège

Raw edges, soft heart

Liège is messy, beautiful, stubborn, and alive. Climb its citadel, dance in its cafés, eat its legendary meatballs, and wander from medieval alleys to Calatrava’s gleaming station. This is a..
Tait experimenteert met smaken bij Wildcat Brothers Distilling

Cajun Tour Louisiana

‘Oh yeah, we love to feed you!’

Cajun Louisiana is a world of food, music, and swamps. Travelling from Lake Charles to Lafayette, we discover the meaning of Cajun through gumbo stories, alligator encounters, zydeco beats and..
Congaree, starting point

5 Surprising Nature Parks

Unexpected, raw Southern beauty

Think you know American nature? Think again. Beyond the iconic landscapes of the Rockies and Grand Canyon, the Southern States hide a wilder, quieter beauty—ghost towns overgrown by forest, uninhabited..
33_ Pontiac, werkeloos in het gras

The Backroads and Byways of America’s Southern States

The Road to Nowhere

A road trip through Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky and West Virginia becomes an ode to the unexpected. From black bear warnings and two-stepping granddads to gospel-worthy porches and ghost..
06_ Zoeken naar ene goede lijn-2

The Best Slopes of Lucerne

Freeriding and Cruising in Engelberg and Klewenalp

Explore the ski slopes around Lucerne, with Engelberg as a leading freeride destination and the Big Five off-piste runs. Enjoy comfortable descents on Schinberg and Sätteli, discover fairytale routes at..
09_ De avond valt over Luzern

Lucerne City Trip

Indulge in an Elegant and Sassy City

The city of Lucerne boasts a historic city centre filled with stately palaces, unique museums, and ancient murals. Discover the new district Neustadt, brimming with shops selling vinyl records, bold..
01_ Met de boot naar de Rigi

Rigi and Pilatus

The Iconic Mountains of Lucerne

Lucerne is surrounded by mountains. Two stand out: dragon mountain Pilatus and the historic Rigi. One towers high amidst rugged rocky peaks, while the other is friendly and gentle. We..
01_-Safari-Ardennes

Mini-safari Wallonia

The Great Forest of Saint-Hubert

In the Great Forest of Saint-Hubert, you immerse yourself in silence, nature, and tradition. From early wildlife observation to the blessing of hunting dogs in the basilica, and from autumn..
Sunrise-Skiing-at-3600-m-c-Saastal-Tourismus-AG-Filme-von-Draussen-copy-1

Saas-Fee/Saastal

Destination Adventure

The Saas-Fee/Saastal region is an exceptional location. Here the road ends and the adventure begins in a mountain world of glaciers and four-thousanders. You are not there yet in heaven,..
01_-Les-Dents-du-Midi-1

Region Dents du Midi

Clouds, smugglers, and seven summits

Beneath the most beautiful peaks of Region Dents du Midi, where skiers now make carefree descents, smugglers tried to bring their contraband unseen from Switzerland to France. And vice versa...
24_ Op vellen omhoog in het Kalkstein gebied-2

Ski touring in Villgraten

To the rhythm of your breathing

Over thirty years ago, the inhabitants of the Villgraten valley were ridiculed. They voted against the arrival of a ski resort and therefore against big money. Thanks to the courage..
1_ Landschap Simmering-2

Fresh snow!

Winter fun around Innsbruck

Of course, making kilometers on freshly groomed slopes is fantastic. But there is a growing need for less crowding and more nature. Places that slow down life for a while...
02_-Industry-is-everywhere

UNESCO Cycling Route

Bikepacking from Charleroi to Durbuy

A 500-kilometer cycling route leads along Wallonia's finest heritage. We ride from industrial Charleroi to charming Durbuy and discover rugged urban poetry, abbey beer, poppy fields, and world heritage on..
04_-Mural-in-the-Rue-des-Fripiers-2

City Trip Mons

Art, Culture and Coal

Mons surprises. With street art, UNESCO heritage, coal stories, hip hotspots and the soul of Van Gogh. You wander from belfry to bar, from industrial roots to art gallery. Not..
01-lompret-mooiste-dorpen-wallonie-1

Paradise without Pretensions

Between the French Border and Charleroi

Between Mons and Charleroi lies a forgotten piece of Wallonia that's bursting with charm. You taste escavèche, pralines, and Trappist beer, walk through villages like Lompret and Vierves-sur-Viroin, and discover..
DCIM100MEDIADJI_0081.JPG

The Accursed Mountains

Albanian Alps

Hans Avontuur travels to Albania in search of a fierce, rugged mountain range. He finds exactly what he is looking for. Blood feuds, loneliness, legendary hospitality, an illegal border crossing..
32_ Sundowner op de Seegrube

Innsbruck

Ski capital number one

Not that long ago, Innsbruck was a dull and decent city at the foot of the Alps. But that was then. Thanks to a young, sporty population, the city nowadays..
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