7 Travel Programmes That Will Change the Way You See the World
These travel programmes at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature will give you serious wanderlust and inspiration
18 January 2020
Ready, set, jet... to the Emirates Airline Literature Festival
Where do you find inspirational stories and meaningful recounts of Earth exploration in an age of cheap travel and Instagram? At the 12th edition of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature from February 4 - 9 at the InterContinental Dubai Festival City, travel aficionados will have the chance to meet award-winning authors and celebrated explorers in a variety of sessions, panels, and Q&As.
These adventurous figures have been there, done that, and some are still doing that.
If you're thinking of hopping on a flight to beautiful and challenging places, documenting your travels, or are looking to explore destinations out of your comfort zone, here are the six travel programmes at Emirates Literature Festival 2020 that will fuel your wanderlust and inspire your travels.
Woman in the Wilderness
- Date: Saturday, 08 February
- Time: 10 am - 11 pm
- Location: Al Baraha 2, InterContinental, Dubai Festival City
- Price: AED 59 | AED 53.10 (for Foundation Friends)
- Buy your tickets.
Living in nature is a dream that many of us city-dwellers share. Miriam Lancewood turned that dream into a reality, giving up her worldly belongings and journeying for years through New Zealand's vast mountainous landscape.
"Woman in the Wilderness" is Lancewood's story of survival, love, and discovery as she learned to hunt, forage for food, and adapt to nature. Join her at the Emirates Literature Festival for a morning of adventure, laughter, insight, and inspiration.
Kate Humble: Thinking on My Feet
- Date: Friday, 07 February
- Time: 12 pm - 1 pm
- Location: Al Baraha 1, InterContinental, Dubai Festival City
- Price: AED 39 | AED 35.10 (for Foundation Friends)
- Buy your tickets.
For those dreaming of trading the glittering city in the desert for natural and rustic regions will enjoy Kate Humble's "Thinking on My Feet" session. The British writer, activist, farmer, wildlife presenter, and entrepreneur will hold a fascinating discussion of her life working in the wildlands and the inspiration she's drawn from her many travels.
Perfect for the travellers who want to embrace the deeply rooted "physiological urge to be nomadic", one step at a time.
Travel Writing with Stuart Tarton
- Date: Friday, 07 February
- Time: 4 pm - 5:30 pm
- Location: Al Rimal, InterContinental, Dubai Festival City
- Price: AED 199 | AED 179.10 (for Foundation Friends)
- Buy your tickets.
Award-winning novelist and journalist Stuart Tarton dives into his approach to writing memorable and meaningful travel articles in his "Travel Writing" masterclass.
The British writer has lived in a multitude of places across the world and has even spent time in Dubai penning travel articles.
Ranulph Fiennes: Mad, Bad & Dangerous to Know
- Date: Friday, 07 February
- Time: 12 pm - 1 pm
- Location: Al Ras 1, InterContinental, Dubai Festival City
- Price: AED 59 | AED 53.10 (for Foundation Friends)
- Buy your tickets.
What does it take to travel without assistance to the North Pale, discover a lost city in the Middle East, survive some of the most dangerous and inaccessible places on the planet, nearly replace Sean Connery as James Bond, be a Guinness Book of Records record-holder, and a bestselling author?
The curious and inspired can found out at Sir Ranulph Fiennes' session "Mad, Bad & Dangerous to Know", titled after his captivating autobiography.
Sir Chris Bonington: Ascent
- Date: Saturday, 08 February
- Time: 12 pm - 1:30 pm
- Location: Al Ras 2, InterContinental, Dubai Festival City
- Price: AED 59 | AED 53.10 (for Foundation Friends)
- Buy your tickets.
There aren't many mountains on Earth that Sir Chris Bonington hasn't conquered. Where "Ascent" is the autobiography, the similar-titled session at the Emirates Literature Festival is where travellers, fans, and climbers can meet one of the world's most celebrated explorers.
Hear how Sir Chris Bonington survived near-death experiences and turned his grit into greatness at this session full of expertise and real-life tales.
Journeys in the Wild: the Secret Life of a Cameraman
- Date: Saturday, 08 February
- Time: 6 pm - 7 pm
- Location: Al Ras 2, InterContinental, Dubai Festival City
- Price: AED 59 | AED 53.10 (for Foundation Friends)
- Buy your tickets.
While the explorers are the stars of the show, have you ever wondered how the man behind the camera experiences their adventures?
Professional cameraman Gavin Thurston takes Emirates LitFest-goers on a journey of his own journey working in the Sir David Attenborough’s series, including Blue Planet II, Planet Earth II, and Our Planet.
In "Journeys in the Wild", travellers will see beyond the lens and into the cameraman's hidden world, such as the dangers, rare animal encounters, and other moments the cameras miss to capture.
UAE Astronauts Return
- Date: Friday, 07 February
- Time: 1 pm - 2 pm
- Location: Al Baraha 1, InterContinental, Dubai Festival City
For travellers whose wanderlust dreams of destinations beyond Earth, the UAE's first astronaut Hazzaa AlMansoori as well as Sultan AlNeyadi and Saeed Karmostaji, will be landing at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature for a FREE meet and greet session and panel.
Hear their tales of training, magnificent sights outside our planet, and new plans for outer space. This epic afternoon will leave no space question unanswered!
