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Travel Talk Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Travel Talk

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$245 — 5,949

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Editoral Review of Travel Talk

British company, Travel Talk, strives to provide top notch travel experiences at reasonable prices.

What Makes Travel Talk Stand Out?

Travel Talk was born out of the desire to make extraordinary experiences accessible to ordinary people.

They have many niche tours such that finding a tour suited to your interests is easy, and you’re guaranteed to meet like minded friends along the way! All tours are led by local experts who are there to make your experience unforgettable.

Who Will Enjoy Traveling with Travel Talk?

In their own words, travelers on their tours “ have a desire to get off the beaten track, experience the culture and tradition all while having a little fun.” Single travelers are more than welcome, and provided you don’t mind sharing a room, no single supplement is required (with the occasional exception on sailing tours).

However, unlike their commonly compared counterparts, Contiki and Topdeck, Travel Talk presents itself as less of a constant ongoing party and more of a cultural experiences tour. Not to say there is not the occasional night out on the town - only that the more introverted may enjoy Travel Talk more than Contiki or Topdeck.

Top Destinations

Travel Talk’s most popular tour destinations include Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Greece. Travel Talk also offer a range of tours to The Balkans, Africa, Ski Bansko, Croatia, Asia and plenty more.

Travel Talk Style

Travel Talks travel style is all about cultural discovery and having a good time. Accommodations are chosen within a variety of comfort levels, and Travel Talk strives to choose where you stay and how as it’s own experience - not just as an afterthought.

Travel Talk tours are budget conscious, but depending on the destination, you may experience anything from a 5 star resort to riding aboard a traditional felucca on the Nile.  

Why Choose a Tour with Travel Talk?

They are committed to providing a real, adventurous, cultural, and above all local experience. Yet they are careful to not force the comfort zone too far. You will receive outstanding service, accommodation, transportation, and attention from your tour guides. Itineraries cover the must see tourist spots as well as hidden gems. It’s the perfect travel experience that won’t break the bank.

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Solo friendly.

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About the company.

At Travel Talk, we have one focus - to make your trip the experience of a lifetime without breaking the bank. Being avid travellers ourselves, we know what is essential to creating that perfect trip and combine all these elements in every one of our tours. With fascinating destinations, expert guides, like-minded travellers, premium accommodation, and travel — not to mention competitive prices; we strive to tick all the boxes with unique and authentic travelling experiences. Explore exotic destinations like Egypt, Turkey, Jordan, Israel, Russia or India & Nepal. Embrace the authentic culture and otherworldly experiences in Morocco, Iceland and the Balkans. Then meet the warm sun and cool waters of Greece, Croatia, Spain & Portugal. Commemorate the fallen on ANZAC Day, hit the snowy winter slopes in Ski Bansko, and sink a beer with like-minded travellers at Oktoberfest in Munich! Travel Talk group tours are ideal for culture-hungry adventurous travellers chasing unique travel stories around the world. Travel Talk guests are not just tourists, but avid travellers. Join us on one of our tours to find out the difference.

Travel Talk Trips & Specials

June special save up to 50% on various destinations:.

See Travel Talk Croatia Tours »

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See Travel Talk Turkey Tours »

See Travel Talk Morocco Tours»

See Travel Talk Egypt Tours »

See Travel Talk Jordan Tours »

April Special! Save up to 40% on various destinations:

Use Promo Code: 2019APR5 

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March Special! Save up to 45% on these exciting destinations:

Use Promo Code: 2019MAR10

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See Travel Talk Russia Tours »

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See Travel Talk  Balkans tours »

See Travel Talk Nepal Tours  »

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7 Reasons Why You Should Pick a Travel Talk Tour

Last Updated on October 27, 2022

This site contains affiliate links for products and services we recommend. Read my disclaimer  for more information. If you make a purchase through these links, at no extra cost to you, I will earn a small commission (for which I am very grateful).

Travel Talk Tours is a leading tour company based in the UK.

With their wealth of experience, they’re adept at arranging once-in-a-lifetime experiences for all kinds of travellers, explorers and globetrotters.

I have been lucky enough to experience two of their Travel Talk Tours this year, one to Egypt and one to Turkey. Both incredible experiences and memories were made that will never be forgotten!

In this post, I will go through the reasons why taking a Travel Talk Tour is a great option for any type of traveller.

While there are already plenty of glowing Travel Talk Tour reviews, I decided to throw in my two cents based on the Travel Talk holidays I’ve been lucky enough to experience.

So this is the only Travel Talk Tours review you need to read!

🧳 MUST-HAVE: Before you head out on your trip, make sure you have travel insurance. I recommend either SafetyWing or World Nomads .

Table of Contents

7 Reasons why you should Consider a Travel Talk Tour for your Next Holiday

1. affordability.

One of the key things I love about Travel Talk is the affordability of their tours. If you compare one of their tours to that of their competitors you will notice a huge difference in price.

They always come out on top when it comes to price, which is so important for travellers these days. You really do get the most for your money.

Why is Travel Talk so cheap? Who owns Travel Talk and why are they so generous? Is Travel Talk Tours legit, considering the low cost?

I can tell you that it certainly is legitimate … and I’m not about to complain about the price!

2. There’s No Age Limit

There’s something brilliant about the Travel Talk Tours age range – there isn’t one.

Other tour companies such as Contiki are organised for a specific (younger) demographic. But Travel Talk Tours has no such restriction.

Although I’m young myself, I find other tours discouraging when they have an age limit attached. Fortunately, there’s no Contiki age limit stopping anyone from taking a Travel Talk Tour!

I just think to myself when I’m older and looking for tours that it must be discouraging when tours say you’re too old to join in.

But as I said, there’s not age limitation here, and the number of happy Travel Talk reviews from older holidaymakers is proof that you’re only as old as you feel!

👡 PACKING TIP: Looking for the best shoes for travelling? I highly recommend getting a pair of Chaco’s – They are my favourite!

3. Knowledgeable Guide

On both tours that I have been on, the guides were incredibly knowledgeable and this is the most important part of any tour!

In my opinion, travelling is all about learning so the number one thing you should look for in a tour is how much you will learn and experience.

Having a fantastic guide who knows nearly everything about the country really does make a huge difference on how your tour goes.

The quality of the guides is something that is talked about frequently in the Travel Talk Tours reviews!

🚲 Check out their tours here

4. Fun Experiences

I promise you will have the most fun experiences on these tours. The guides always have tricks up their sleeves. Plus, being on a bus with a group of people is bound to end up fun anyhow.

You are bound to make some lifelong memories while on your tours with Travel Talk.

5. The Optional Activities

On every tour, there are optional activities but I noticed that on each Travel Talk tour they are not to be missed, especially in comparison to that of others!

They offer once-in-a-lifetime experiences such as ballooning over Cappadocia to cruising down the Nile on a felucca.

There are lots of activities that they offer as an extra but to be honest, you won’t want to miss any of them!

📸 PRO TIP: My go-to camera for all my travels is the Sony A7iii – I highly recommend it!

6. They Go to Some Great Locations

Travel Talk has tours all over the world from Europe, the Middle East and South-East Asia.

They don’t only cover countries but some fantastic events such as Anzac Day (not to be missed for Kiwis and Aussies!), Oktoberfest and La Tomatina.

They also have sail tours such as the Travel Talk Sail Croatia and Sail Greece options.

I can highly recommend the Middle-East tours. The Travel Talk Egypt reviews were so good that I did the Travel Talk Egypt tour, and I also took the 10-day Turkey Travel Talk Anzac tour.

It’s a great way to see countries you may be too nervous to travel to on your own.

Here are some other highlights of the Travel Talk Tours destinations:

• Travel Talk Morocco – Camel trekking in the Sahara or windsurfing in Essaouira.
• Travel Talk Croatia – Sailing in the sunset and wine-tasting in walled cities.
• Travel Talk Iceland – Stargazing at the Northern Lights and floating in geothermal baths.
• Travel Talk Greece – The blue domes of Santorini or some island-hopping from beach to beach.
• Travel Talk Jordan – A jeep safari through Wadi Rum Desert and the stone walls of ancient Petra.

With all these amazing locations, my one complaint as a Kiwi is that they don’t [yet] have any Travel Talk NZ tours available!

Although I am a huge advocate for travelling solo, I also really liked the safety net that was provided by doing tours through this country. Which brings me on to my next point.

7. It’s Easy

Taking a tour is the easiest kind of travelling you can do.

The guides organise everything, you feel safe and you literally don’t have to lift a finger which is a main attraction for people to take tours in the first place.

Especially to countries you may not feel comfortable with organising travels on your own or travelling solo.

If you are looking for a reputable tour company to spend your next holiday with I can highly recommend Travel Talk.

My two tours with Travel Talk were sponsored – however that doesn’t affect my opinion on the tour and I can say from the bottom of my heart I would take another tour with them in a heartbeat!

📦 PACKING TIP: Don’t leave home without a solar powered battery pack so you can keep your devices connected at all times.

Frequently Asked Questions

There are no age restrictions when booking a Travel Talk Tour! If you’re travelling with group members on either end of the age spectrum, check the terms and conditions for details about how best to accommodate them.

Yes you can. If you want a private room to yourself there is an additional single supplement payment, but if you don’t mind sharing a room there’s no extra cost for solo travel.

Other articles you will love:

• My Epic 9-Day Tour of Egypt with Travel Talk Tours
• Enjoy these Incredible Europe Contiki Tours
• Experiencing Anzac Day in Gallipoli with Travel Talk Tours

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The Comments

Perfect reasons that make a Tour group the best. I often do self guided walking tours not knowing which is the best. These kind of pointers help.

Anna @ shenANNAgans

Cool post Anita, I’m all for taking tours, however have sometimes found them limiting, especially if you come across something you want to spend more time at, on or in. But…. if you get an awesome guide, you often find yourself in places only the locals know. Your photos are incredible by the way.

RaW | Ramble and Wander

I normally travel solo or with just a friend and have been to both Egypt & Turkey without using any agency or group tour. From time to time however I do travel with a group and total strangers to some places so I can understand and do agree that these kind of trips can be fun too! To me though, the deal breaker is having knowledgeable guides travelling with you – definitely one of the biggest advantages of travelling with a tour company as the cost of having guides when you travel on your own can be rather expensive.

Juliette | Snorkels to Snow

Always good to hear about great travel tour companies like these guys. I haven’t actually ever done any group tours, I’ve only ever done self-guided so would love to join one. Having fun experiences is super important! How did you find the group sizes?

fittwotravel

Its nice to know they have affordable tours with optional activities. Ill have to check them out the next time were in the area!

Excellent criteria for selecting the best tour group! Age is important to me too because I often have my children with me. Thanks for sharing the information on Travel Talk Tours – it sounds like a wonderful experience.

Carmen Edelson

As I’ve gotten older, I really do love organized tours! I love how there’s no age limit for this one. Thanks for sharing, this is the first time I’ve heard of Travel Talk!

Genie Patra

My favorite point is that there is no age limit! That’s so awesome. I feel like a lot of tour companies nowadays only cater to young travelers like 17-30. But travel is for everyone and should not be limited!

Arnav Mathur

Am definitely going to be checking out Travel Talk tours, now that am heading out to UK for my post grad. The reason for opting a tour, is the guide, and travel talks seem to deliver on that bang on.

I love your comment on age. I started to backpack at 42 and felt welcome. I always thought , what would these young backpackers do 30 years from now? I guess everyone will age. Its refreshing to see perspective like yours.

Im interested in a tour of Turkey. I want to take my grandson who will be 17 years old

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Watch CBS News

More than a decade after a stroke, Randy Travis sings again, courtesy of AI

By Lee Cowan

May 5, 2024 / 9:10 AM EDT / CBS News

Even if you're not into country, you can't help but bathe in the baritone that is Randy Travis. His voice goes down like whisky – always has, ever since his first album, "Storms of Life," in 1986.  "I thought if we sold 40,000 copies they might let us make a second record." said producer Kyle Lehning.

They ended up selling four million . "So, I'm a genius!" Lehning laughed.

Randy Travis and that voice helped build Warner Music Nashville into what it is today. "How do you describe the thing that just hits you in the center of your chest and unconsciously makes you feel full, and familiar, and known?" said Cris Lacy, the label's co-chair and co-president. "How do you describe something like that?"

His was a God-given talent … and then, fate took it all away.

In 2013 Travis suffered a massive stroke . He was given just a 2% chance of survival. "I thought we were going to lose him," said Lehning.

Lacy said, "It felt like it could be the end of an era."

Besides the paralysis, the area of his brain that controls speech and language was hit the hardest. Randy's wife, Mary, said, "Music is what he's made of. Music is his heart, it's his soul."

Mary does most of the talking these days. She said Randy know what he wants to say, but it just doesn't come out.

Asked if he'd made peace with that, Randy replied, "Yep. Yep."

Three years after his stroke, with Mary at his side, Travis was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, and gave "Amazing Grace" new meaning . There wasn't a dry eye in the house.

In his absence, though, he's heard a lot of AI-generated fakes of his voice. A simple Google search brings up sites that promise to covert anyone's vocal into a Randy Travis sound-alike. "It doesn't sound good, and it doesn't sound real, because it's not," said Lacy.

And that got his record label to thinking. Lacy said, "We started with this concept of, what would AI for good look like for us? And the first thing that came to mind was, we would give Randy Travis his voice back."

There were more than a few skeptics – Kyle Lehning, for one. "It sounded like a parlor trick or something," he said.

But Lehning (with Randy's blessing) decided to try. He and Warner Music started by pulling 42 Randy Travis tracks from the vault, like the original recording of his hit "1982." And then, they stripped away the music, leaving only the vocal.

That was half the recipe. The other half needed to be provided by a donated, or "surrogate," voice. In this case, that voice came from country music singer James DuPre.

The AI program – the "secret sauce" – takes Travis' voice and overlays it on top of DuPre's singing. It's hardly an exact science.  "It's not about how it sounds; it's about how it feels ," Lehning said.

And that is not something a computer can figure out. "Not yet!" Lehning laughed.

He knows Travis' voice almost better than Randy does; they've worked together for 40 years.  This time, though, the task was to take a computer-generated voice and give it Randy's country heart.  "Him being here and him being able to be a vital part of the decision-making process makes all the difference to me," said Lehning.

In the end, they landed on something they felt worthy of a voice no one but those who knew him best could replicate.

According to Lacy, "It's Randy Travis. Randy's on the other side of the microphone. It's still his vocal. There's no reason he shouldn't be able to make music, and to deprive him of that, if he still wants to do that, that's unconscionable to me."

Two months ago, Warner Music gathered a small circle of fellow musicians into a recording studio. Randy sat with a Cheshire Cat's grin, and then they hit "play."

Listen to Randy Travis' "Where That Came From":

The reaction to his first new song in more than a decade was a mix of joy and wonder. 

For his wife, tears. For Randy's country friends, like Grammy-winning superstar Carrie Underwood, there was confusion. ("How? How? How?!? ") For Cole Swindell, who just won three ACM Awards, it reminded him of why he became a country singer in the first place. ("For you all to let me hear it, that means a lot. Damn, I'm glad to hear you sing!") And veteran country star Clay Walker was simply over the moon.

Even Randy's own family hadn't heard it until two weeks ago.

It was perfection ... with a caveat.  "We don't exactly know how to get here again," said Cris Lacy.

The second song they're working on is proving a harder nut to crack. There's still work to be done, and a lot of questions to answer about what this all means going forward.

But revel in this: After a decade-long absence, Randy Travis is back on the radio. His post-stroke debut song, "Where That Came From," was released this past week.

For Randy, it's not just a single, it's a victory. And as Mary says, "It's a life inspiration. Speak kindly, love fully, live completely, and leave the rest to God."

Sounds like there's a song in there somewhere. We can only hope.

      For more info:

• Order  "Where That Came From"  by Randy Travis
• randytravis.com

      Story produced by Reid Orvedahl. Editor: Lauren Barnello.

Lee Cowan is an Emmy award winning journalist serving as a national correspondent and substitute anchor for "CBS Sunday Morning."

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Fast wide angle prime/zoom for travel.

I currently shoot with  22mm, 15-45mm and EFS 10-22, 55-250mm on M50 and M200.

I  am looking lighter and possibly brighter lens to replace EFS 10-22 and the adapter for travels. Recently announced  Sigma 10-18 for RF would have been a ideal fit,  are there any EF/S primes or zooms that go wider that 15mm?

ExplorerXIII wrote: I currently shoot with 22mm, 15-45mm and EFS 10-22, 55-250mm on M50 and M200. I am looking lighter and possibly brighter lens to replace EFS 10-22 and the adapter for travels. Recently announced Sigma 10-18 for RF would have been a ideal fit, are there any EF/S primes or zooms that go wider that 15mm?

Just the 10-18mm f /4.5-5.6 IS STM which is cheap, smaller and stabilised but still too big for everyday use on EOS M in my opinion. I had the EF-S 10-22mm and changing to the EF-M 11-22mm f /4-5.6 IS was one of the best things I did. That lens justified the M system by itself.

Sittatunga wrote: ExplorerXIII wrote: I currently shoot with 22mm, 15-45mm and EFS 10-22, 55-250mm on M50 and M200. I am looking lighter and possibly brighter lens to replace EFS 10-22 and the adapter for travels. Recently announced Sigma 10-18 for RF would have been a ideal fit, are there any EF/S primes or zooms that go wider that 15mm?

I used the 10-18 on the M50-2, but after selling the cam I bought the 11-22 for my M200.  I still use the 10-18 on my 90D.  It's very light, 20 grams less than the 11-22.

Got that backwards  11-22 is 20 grams lighter!

“Sharpness is a bourgeois concept"

Tokina has the 11-16mm f/2.8 and 11-20mm f/2.8, both for Canon crop DSLR.  These would be brighter, but probably not smaller or lighter.

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'A Gentleman in Moscow' Ending Explained: Alexander Rostov's departure from Metropol Hotel marks a new beginning

Contains spoilers for 'A Gentleman in Moscow' Episode 8

MOSCOW, RUSSIA: The Finale Episode of 'A Gentleman in Moscow, ' titled 'Adieu,' has been released on Paramount+ with Showtime, offering viewers a deeper insight into the life of Count Alexander Rostov (Ewan McGregor) as he leaves the Metropol Hotel.

Starring Ewan McGregor, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Fehinti Balogun, Björn Hlynur Haraldsson, Leah Harvey, and Johnny Harris in pivotal roles, ' A Gentleman in Moscow' revolves around Rostov and his journey of resilience, adaptation, and survival while confined within the Metropol Hotel.

Based on Amor Towles' bestselling novel of the same name, the series presents a captivating story set against the tumultuous backdrop of Russian history.

There's much to uncover in 'A Gentleman in Moscow' Episode 8. So, let's jump in!

Sofia leaves the Metropol Hotel to embrace a new future

In ' A Gentleman in Moscow ' Episode 8, Richard (Lucian Msamati), an American diplomat residing at the Metropol Hotel, seeks Rostov's help in gathering intelligence at a crucial meeting where officials will choose the next leader.

In return for spying on the meeting's attendees, Richard offers to take Sofia (Beau Gadsdon) to the United States, giving her a chance at a new beginning. In Episode 8 of 'A Gentleman in Moscow', Sofia finally leaves the hotel.

Rostov informs Sofia that after her performance in Paris, arrangements have been made for her to be taken to the U S Embassy. From there, she will have the opportunity to travel to the United States and begin a new life.

This plan subtly indicates that Richard may have played a significant role in facilitating this fresh start for Sofia.

After her performance in Paris, Sofia cuts her hair short and dresses in boys' clothes, adopting a disguise to avoid detection.

With her new appearance, she discreetly leaves the venue, representing her determination to leave her past behind and embrace a future full of possibilities.

Alexander Rostov finally achieves freedom from the confines of the Metropol Hotel

As the episode progresses, Rostov engages in a conversation with Anna Urbanova (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) about the possibility of using two passports to travel to Finland. They dance around, cherishing the moments they have together. 

However, Osip Glebnikov (Johnny Harris) intervenes and stops Rostov from executing his plan. He reveals that the authorities have their eyes on Rostov and warn that any attempt to use the passports to travel to Finland could result in harm to his family members.

On the other hand, The Bishop (John Heffernan) has taken the passports because he knows it was stolen. Rostov goes to his room with a gun and blackmails him to give back the passports.

Rostov, aware of the dangers posed by the authorities who are closely monitoring his movements, decides to take a cautious approach. He entrusts Osip with the crucial task of delivering the passport to Anna.

Anna cries when she realizes that Rostov will never come. The hope she had clung to, the belief that they would be reunited, is shattered in an instant.

However, in the last scene, Rostov realizes that the authorities are no longer watching him. Rostov steps out of the confines of the Metropol Hotel, symbolizing his freedom from the restrictions that have bound him for so long. 

However, it is left ambiguous whether Rostov reunites with Anna. In the last scene, through Sofia's imagination, viewers see Rostov and Anna living together. This dream-like sequence hints at a possible reunion between the two characters. 

'A Gentleman in Moscow' Episode 8 is now streaming on Paramount+ and Showtime

10 celebrities who have been banned from talk shows

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I’m Middle-Aged, and I Talk to Myself All Day

There, I said it.

By Jancee Dunn

This morning, I looked out my kitchen window and announced, to the empty room, “There’s something wrong with that squirrel — his tail seems extra twitchy.” Then I pulled out my air fryer, wondering aloud if 10:30 a.m. was too early for French fries. (“It’s not,” I said. Again, out loud.)

I never used to talk to myself. Now I do it constantly. When I asked my middle-aged friends if they did it, too, the confessions flooded in. One said that when she texts people, she says the message out loud when she’s typing, even in public.

“I just looked in my cabinet and said aloud, ‘Please, god, let there be vanilla extract,’” said another.

Do middle-aged people talk to themselves all day, every day? And is this a problem? I consulted some experts.

Talking about self-talk

I couldn’t find any research on middle-aged muttering, so I asked Ethan Kross, a professor of psychology at the University of Michigan and the author of “Chatter,” if I had missed it. He told me I hadn’t. Talking to yourself in midlife is an “understudied phenomenon,” he said, adding that it was pretty common.

When people have conversations in their own heads, it is known as “ inner speech .” When they do it aloud, it’s called private speech or external self-talk . Studies suggest that private speech peaks in early childhood , said Charles Fernyhough, a professor of psychology at Durham University in England and the author of “The Voices Within.” But in midlife, many of us pick up the habit again, he said.

Dr. Fernyhough told me that he says things out loud quite a bit. “My kids will say, ‘Dad, what are you doing?’” he added. “And I’m just like: ‘I don’t care. I study this stuff.’”

As you get older, social pressures don’t bother you as much, he added, whether they involve talking to yourself or dancing “like an idiot” at a friend’s wedding.

It’s not only normal, it’s useful

Talking to ourselves serves a variety of purposes, Dr. Fernyhough said. It can quell anxieties (“You’ll be OK”) and heighten motivation (“You’ve got this”). It can cheer you up, aid in planning or make an empty room feel friendlier, he added.

Voicing your thoughts can help you puzzle through problems or rehearse potentially thorny conversations, Dr. Kross said. (If you’re practicing a breakup speech or asking for a raise in a public place, he suggested, pop in some earbuds so it just looks as though you’re on the phone.)

Speaking aloud also activates what is known as the verbal working memory system, Dr. Kross said, which can help you hold things such as shopping lists or schedules in your mind a little longer.

And if you are looking for something — say, at a grocery store — research suggests that naming the item out loud might help you find it faster.

When it can be too much

There are times, however, when a one-way conversation could perhaps raise questions about a person’s mental health, Dr. Kross said — when it violates social norms by being too disruptive or distracting to others.

It can also be harmful if it’s consistently negative, said Rachel Goldsmith Turow, a psychologist at Seattle University and the author of “The Self-Talk Workout.” Persistent self-criticism can exacerbate conditions such as anxiety, she said. “It’s like the smoking of mental health,” she added. “It makes everything worse.”

But saying “Will you look at those bananas!” to absolutely no one in the supermarket, as I did? That isn’t cause for alarm, Dr. Kross said. (The produce person had arranged them from green to yellow, creating a beautiful ombré effect.)

If there were “17 other little quirky things that accompany that behavior, then we might have a different conversation,” Dr. Kross said. But otherwise, his message is, “If it’s working for you, keep doing it.”

How ultraprocessed foods affect your health.

Foods made using industrial methods and ingredient are clearly linked to poor health. But scientists are only beginning to understand why.

Read the article: How Bad Are Ultraprocessed Foods, Really?

Family bonding and magic-making are done by ‘kinkeepers’ — most of whom are women.

They’re the family communicators who help the extended group stay in touch, the holiday planners and the emotional caregivers. And their labor is mostly invisible.

Read the story: The Constant Work to Keep a Family Connected Has a Name

The Week in Well

Here are some stories you don’t want to miss:

Talya Minsberg profiles two close friends competing for coveted Olympic spots .

Why are feet so stinky? Amy Jamieson has answers .

Readers tell Catherine Pearson about the special people who mothered them .

Alisha Haridasani Gupta explores why we are so obsessed with breasts .

Let’s keep the conversation going. Follow Well on Instagram , or write to us at [email protected] . And check out last week’s newsletter about how to survive your high school reunion .

Jancee Dunn , who writes the weekly Well newsletter for The Times, has covered health and science for more than 20 years. More about Jancee Dunn

Text: A A A Print Culture

Liaoning dancers to attend 'ballet oscars' in moscow.

Two dancers from Liaoning Ballet, Zhang Haidong and Sun Huixin, along with the Chinese ballet company's president and artistic director Qu Zijiao, will travel to Moscow, Russia, from June 23 to 27 and attend the award ceremony of Benois de la Danse, a prestigious international ballet prize also known as the "Ballet Oscars".

"It's a great honor to attend the event, and we will bring one of our best ballet pieces to the audiences in Moscow," said Qu, who will serve as one of the jury members this year.

"We have built up a long friendship with Russian artists and audiences with a number of cultural exchange programs and performances. This upcoming event will bring Chinese dancers to Russia, showcasing one of our ballet pieces," she added.

Zhang, a principal dancer of Liaoning Ballet, and Sun, a ballerina of the company, will perform at Moscow's Bolshoi Theatre an excerpt from the neoclassical ballet piece, Notre Dame de Paris, which is choreographed by German-Nigerian choreographer Patrick de Bana.

The ballet piece, based on Victor Hugo's novel of the same title and commissioned by Liaoning Ballet, premiered at the Liaoning Grand Theater in October.

Liaoning Ballet, one of the best-known ballet companies in China, which was founded in 1980, has frequently performed in Russia and gained a wide fan base, according to Qu.

From Feb 20 to 25, it presented two of its productions — Sundial, choreographed by Ao Dingwen, a principal dancer of Liaoning Ballet, and Notre Dame de Parisin Vladivostok, a seaport in southeastern Russia.

"Tickets for our five shows in Russia (in February) sold out fast. We not only staged a piece by a Western choreographer but also an original Chinese ballet work, and both received warm feedback from the audiences," Qu said.

"We want to have more opportunities to showcase Chinese ballet in Russia," she added.

The Benois de la Danse prizes are awarded annually for the most prominent accomplishments in the ballet world during the previous year. The competition was launched in 1991 in Moscow by the International Dance Association — now called the International Choreography Union — and the awards were presented for the first time the same year on the stage of the Bolshoi Theatre.

Every year, the event gathers an international jury comprising prominent choreographers, heads of the largest ballet companies, outstanding dancers and famous ballet teachers. The jury members make nominations and, after conducting assessments through the year, determine the winners.

Last year, Qiu Yunting, one of the principal dancers of the National Ballet of China, won the Best Female Dancer award at the Benois de la Danse.

Xi holds restrictive meeting with Putin at Zhongnanhai

Xi, putin attend opening ceremony of china-russia years of culture, marine ecological pasture complex gains development momentum in e china, folk festival siyueba celebrated in guizhou, magnificent scenery of gangshika snow peak in qinghai, giant planet with density like cotton candy discovered, intercity rails in guangdong begin trial operations, stunning sunset glow illuminates beijing sky, collapsed baltimore bridge starts demolition in u.s., two-color water lily blooms in west lake, in numbers: china brand day 2024, saltwater rice transplanted in xinjiang, golden harvest scenery of wheat field in e china, cheongsam show presents elegance of old chinese fashion, asia's first fpso facility sets sail in e china, china launches shiyan-23 satellite, 10,000-metric ton-class river-sea vessel completes maiden voyage to chongqing, lotus enters blooming season in summer, in numbers: international nurses day, poster: happy mother's day, xi attends farewell event held by hungarian pm orban, china brand day 2024 held in shanghai, construction of changtai yangtze river bridge in progress, starry night with rare aurora borealis in n china, china in diplomat's eyes｜vibrant china through lens by jordanian diplomat, 2,000-year-old chinese relics exhibited in hungary, victory day military parade held in moscow, scenery of karst sinkhole in guangxi, insights | china and europe: growing cooperation and strong consensus against hegemony, china sends smart skynet-1 01 satellite into space, 'panda train' on china-laos railway makes debut in sw china, wheat enters harvest in yunnan, xi arrives in budapest for state visit to hungary, xi, vucic jointly meet press in belgrade, xi attends welcome ceremony held by serbian president vucic, china's third aircraft carrier completes maiden sea trial, most popular in 24h, more top news.

• China's retail sales grow 2.3% in April
• China seen continuing to cut U.S. debt holdings

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• China's foreign trade hits record high in April
• Foreign Minister to attend SCO meeting ahead of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan visits

The 'Song' of Yunnan Tea｜Why Have They Come from Afar and Chosen Yunnan?

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Guest lineups for the Sunday news shows

WASHINGTON — ABC’s “This Week” — Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md.; Victoria Nuland, a former top State Department official in the Biden administration; Marc Lotter, chief communications officer for the America First Policy Institute.

NBC’s “Meet the Press” — Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla.; Gov. Wes Moore, D-Md.

CBS’ “Face the Nation” — Sens. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, and Gary Peters, D-Mich.; Oksana Markarova, Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S.; former Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

CNN’s “State of the Union” — Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa.; Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas; former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson.

“Fox News Sunday” — Reps. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., and Jake Auchincloss, D-Mass.; Will Scharf, a lawyer for Donald Trump .