I’m Andrew Benfield…

A rather curious traveller, writer and broadcaster. Twenty years ago, feeling that I didn’t quite belong, I left my home in the UK to go and see the world - somehow I’ve still not quite made it back.

My journey’s ultimate destination is a new way of seeing our world and ourselves, meaning an open mind and a good sense of humour are essential!

So let me bring you along on my adventures as I uncover breathtaking places and meet remarkable people...Oh, and I also have a little thing about yetis.

For my full story, including what this ‘Particular Bear’ business is all about, please see here 🙏.

“Yeti” - on the BBC Now!

A 10-episode, BBC podcast and radio show that sees my friend Richard and I searching for the truth behind this legendary creature across the Himalayas - and biting off rather more than we can chew...

Find Out More →

Adventures

Getting to the Point

How had thousands of ordinary people in Malaysia been persuaded to skewer their own flesh and then walk for miles barefoot through the night?

Basket Cases

Just why on earth have Vietnamese fishermen taken to putting to sea in oversize baskets? My article for Nikkei Asia seeking an answer…

For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow?

London’s Royal Geographical Society meets the Tibetan Memorial Hall of Anti-British…

Flight Shaming

Getting from Bangkok to Singapore: can the train really beat the plane? My article for Nikkei Asia sees me giving it a go.

Everyone Has a Little Book in Them…

“Everyone has a little book in them and, in most cases, that is exactly where it should stay” - but what if you’re just desperate to get it out? Here’s how to do it.

No Reservations

Man without a plan - my article for Nikkei Asia on what happens when you set out on the road without a clue where you’re going.

Cultural Appreciation

What’s really yours anyway? Why many national icons might not be quite as exclusive as you think.

A Slap-Up Good Shrine

The Bangkok shrine where you pay to get slapped in the face - yes, I did and, yes, you can watch it for free.

Happy Beginnings

Want to add some pep to your wellness routine? A prisoner massage in northern Thailand could be just the thing.

Forbidden Roads and Mysterious Beasts

My article for the China Exploration and Research Society about our journey up a forbidden road to northern Burma, rumours of strange bipeds in the mountains, and a Land Rover with a mind of its own. What could possibly go wrong?

The Forgotten Frontier

My article for Mpora Magazine about a journey to one of the most remote - and most stunning - places in the world. And one that the military didn’t want me to see.