What is Departures Diary?

Departures Diary is a travel blog focused on travel stories & slow journeys. We publish curated guides, tips, and deals.

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August 24, 2026· Reviews

A practical, honest guide to Vietnam for 2026 — real costs, real logistics, and what to expect.

August 24, 2026· Guides

A practical, honest guide to Vietnam for 2026 — real costs, real logistics, and what to expect.

August 24, 2026· Reviews

A practical, honest guide to Laos for 2026 — real costs, real logistics, and what to expect.

August 24, 2026· Guides

A practical, honest guide to Laos for 2026 — real costs, real logistics, and what to expect.

August 21, 2026· Travel Diary🌏 Nikko

Autumn colour moves south across Japan at about 25 kilometres a day, and I arrived in Kyoto ten days before it did.

August 21, 2026· Travel Diary🌏 Ha Giang

I nearly did not get into the country, because I assumed a visa on arrival existed at a land border. It does not.

August 15, 2026· Itineraries🌏 Koh Lanta

I booked a November island trip to the wrong coast, discovered the two sides run on opposite seasons, and rebooked everything from a Bangkok hostel.

August 15, 2026· Destination Guides🌏 Tokyo

I stayed in Yanaka for seven days and left the district maybe four times, which is how I finally understood a city I had visited twice before.

August 15, 2026· Travel Diary🌏 Kyoto

I bought a rail pass I did not need, packed for the wrong temperature, and learned that the best day of the trip was the one with nothing planned.