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Polar explorer Ernest Shackleton may have had hole in his heart, doctors sayResearchers claim to find evidence in diary of explorer’s doctor that his health problems may have been caused by atrial septal defect
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Great Barrier Reef, Queensland: where to dive, snorkel and stayAs David Attenborough’s new three-part Great Barrier Reef documentary begins, here’s our guide to exploring the world’s largest living structure and the Queensland coast, from scuba diving trips to rainforest excursions – plus the best places to stay
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Coober Pedy: a gem of a place in South AustraliaThe opal mining town of Coober Pedy isn’t the first place you’d think of visiting in South Australia, but with its endless desert views and sense of freedom it’s the perfect antidote to modern-day life for DBC Pierre
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Hi mum! Bye mum! Man Skypes parents seconds before skydiveAn Irish backpacker gives his parents a shock when he calls them for a Skype call moments before leaping out of an aeroplane
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A lifetime of travel through Asia – in picturesPhotographers Roland and Sabrina Michaud, now in their 80s, have spent their life together travelling to remote and exotic places. Their latest book, Enchanted Lands, published by Prestel, showcases their incredible encounters
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Holiday guide to Costa Rica: beaches and adventures, plus hotels and restaurantsThis small country is perhaps the best in Latin America for a tropical adventure, thanks to its misty jungles, incredible wildlife, active volcanoes and glorious deserted beaches
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Climber Tommy Caldwell: 'From an early age Yosemite became the centre of my universe'Free climbing the Dawn Wall of El Capitan was an intense and exhilarating experience – one of many in a career that has allowed Caldwell to see the world from on high
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Laos holiday guide: plan the perfect two-week tripLaos has so much to offer it can’t be ‘done’ in a fortnight, so cherry-pick from our list of its top sights, treks, homestays, tours and even the Most Secret Place on Earth
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Descendants of scientist on Shackleton's ill-fated voyage hope to finish trek to South PoleGranddaughter of James Wordie, who sailed with Ernest Shackleton on his Antarctic expedition, says they are completing ‘unfinished family business’
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Northern lights holiday guideTour operators are thinking up new ways to marvel at the aurora borealis. We pick their best trips and activities – plus some surprising places to stay
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Adventure holidays in Romania: readers' tipsFrom hiking to bear watching to braving Dracula’s castle alone, Romania’s wide open spaces are an adventure playground
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Travels with locals: 10 of the world’s best tour guidesThe best tour guides bring a destination to life with their passion, storytelling and wit. Guardian writers pick guides who love taking visitors beyond the obvious to shed new light on the places they call home
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Yakushima, Japan: an island of natural wondersRevered by the Japanese for its hiking, hot springs and cedar trees, Yakushima also provided the inspiration for Studio Ghibli’s anime hit Princess Mononoke. Now foreign visitors are uncovering this island delight
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Welsh adventurer to traverse Madagascar on foot for lemursJeremy Hance: What do you after completing the world’s first unsupported trek across Mongolia? Well, if you’re Welsh adventurer, Ash Dykes, you walk the length of Madagascar to help publicize the plight of vanishing lemurs.
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Mauritania: a family adventure in the SaharaFew places in the world are as otherworldly and untravelled by outsiders as the Mauritanian Sahara, yet a family holiday is surprisingly affordable, and full of magic and adventure
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Canada’s Algonquin park: How the call of the wild inspires novelist Tessa McWattThough born in Guyana, the writer says her experiences in the Ontario wilderness made her feel like a real Canadian
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Adventures in the world’s deserts: readers’ tipsFar from being featureless, deserts are fantastic for stargazing, exotic wildlife, ancient architecture and adventure
Top 10 family adventure holidays in Europe