Island Views: Ko Poda In Krabi, Western Thailand

Ko Poda is an island off the west coast of Thailand, in Krabi Province, about 8 kilometres from Ao Nang. It is part of the Mu Ko Poda, or Poda Group Islands, which are under the administration of Hat Nopharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park. The group consists of Ko Poda, Ko Kai, Ko Mo and Ko Thap. 

Sailing Views: High Speed Sail GP In San Francisco

San Francisco Bay is playing host this weekend to a new sailing competition called Sail GP. The races are short, the boats are very fast and, if Saturday’s crowd was any indication, it may be the wave of the future.

This is only the second season for Sail GP, an international sailing competition that patterns itself on the Grand Prix auto racing circuit. The 50-foot catamarans ride up out of the water on foils, turn on a dime and can reach speeds over 60 mph.

“Sail GP is all about high-adrenaline, close-to-shore racing,” said chief marketing officer Erica Kerner. “It is the fastest boats on the water. It is absolutely incredible.”

Sunday Morning: Stories & News From Zurich, Tokyo, Majorca And London

Our weekend programme comes live from Monocle’s radio studio in Zürich, where Tyler Brûlé and a panel of special-guest thought leaders discuss key topics in front of a studio audience.

Top Hikes: The ‘Valle Delle Ferriere’ In Amalfi, Italy

This walk starts at the ruins of the Basilica Sant’Eustachio in the town of Pontone. The hike will take you through the Valle delle Ferriere (Valley of the Ironworks) and then through the Valle dei Mulini (Valley of the Mills). The walk concludes with a tour of Amalfi and a walk along the beach.

The Amalfi Coast is a 50-kilometer stretch of coastline along the southern edge of Italy’s Sorrentine Peninsula, in the Campania region. It’s a popular holiday destination, with sheer cliffs and a rugged shoreline dotted with small beaches and pastel-colored fishing villages. The coastal road between the port city of Salerno and clifftop Sorrento winds past grand villas, terraced vineyards and cliffside lemon groves.

Alpine Skiing: Blue Pistes In Bad Gastein, Austria (4K)

Bad Gastein is an Austrian spa and ski town in the High Tauern mountains south of Salzburg. It’s known for the belle epoque hotels and villas built on its steep, forested slopes. The Wasserfallweg is a path offering views of the town’s central Gasteiner Waterfall plummeting to the valley floor. Gothic frescoes adorn St. Nicholas Church. The Gasteiner Museum chronicles the town’s thermal springs and notable guests. 

Video timeline: 00:00 Stubnerkogel, cable car station, suspension bridge, Glocknerblick 04:20 SKIING to Bad Gastein, blue ski slopes – B15 Glackfeld & B14 Almabfahrt

Timelapse: Bryce Canyon National Park In Utah (4K)

Bryce Canyon National Park, a sprawling reserve in southern Utah, is known for crimson-colored hoodoos, which are spire-shaped rock formations. The park’s main road leads past the expansive Bryce Amphitheater, a hoodoo-filled depression lying below the Rim Trail hiking path. It has overlooks at Sunrise Point, Sunset Point, Inspiration Point and Bryce Point. Prime viewing times are around sunup and sundown.

Travel Views: Bhutan In The Eastern Himalayas

Bhutan, a Buddhist kingdom on the Himalayas’ eastern edge, is known for its monasteries, fortresses (or dzongs) and dramatic landscapes that range from subtropical plains to steep mountains and valleys. In the High Himalayas, peaks such as 7,326m Jomolhari are popular trekking destinations. Paro Taktsang monastery (also known as Tiger’s Nest) clings to cliffs above the forested Paro Valley. 

News, Views and Reviews For The Intellectually Curious