Ebook. Travel. Guides

Driving the Trans-Siberian The Raven Brothers drove Russia's new Trans-Siberian Highway eight years before it was completed. During the journey to Vladivostok, their beat-up saloon crashed through endless rivers and canyons. It has been quoted as the most epic Russia road trip adventure ever! Have you ever wanted to get into your car and just keep driving? To abandon routine and commitment in favor of adventure? That's precisely what The Raven Brothers decided to do while stacking boxes of frozen oven chips in a -30°C freezer. The UK travel writers, who were not petrol heads and knew nothing about internal combustion engines, started their rusted Ford Sierra Sapphire and headed east.  Not expecting to reach Poland, the pioneering brothers miraculously arrived in Vladivostok, Siberia, on the Sea of Japan. They had driven the entire length of the new Amur Highway before it was finished, which spans Russia and Siberia over a 6,200-mile stretch of cracked tarmac and potholes. They ...

A decade ago, adventurers Simon and Chris Raven, known as the Raven Brothers , set out on a journey that would take them into the heart of one of the world’s oldest and most storied regions—the Black Sea. Their book, Black Sea Circuit , marked this ambitious voyage, captivating readers with a blend of history, culture, and firsthand encounters along the shores of an ancient and mystical body of water at the birthplace of civilisation. Now, ten years later, their work has become a classic for lovers of travel and adventure, celebrated for its unique look into a region steeped in myth, mystery, and resilience. Black Sea Circuit brings to life the cradle of legends such as Jason and the Argonauts, Noah’s Ark, and the fierce Amazons. This mysterious and fascinating part of the world has long intrigued scholars and travelers alike, but few have embarked on a journey quite like the Raven Brothers’. Armed with a trusty twenty-year-old Volvo, which they describe as looking “as rustic and weat...

Driving the Trans-Siberian is a masterful blend of road trip adventure, deep introspection, and the stark, haunting beauty of Siberia. It stands as a testament to the brothers' unparalleled storytelling prowess, weaving a narrative that is as expansive and untamed as the vast Russian landscape it traverses. Click  HERE  to buy the book and see more adventures by The Raven Brothers. The book follows the journey of two brothers, who undertake a life-changing drive across the Siberian wilderness. Spanning over 5,700 miles from St Petersburg to Vladivostok, the book captures their physical and emotional odyssey along the world's longest road. As they navigate the pot-hole highways, isolated towns, huge forests and cross the notorious Zilov Gap, they also confront the people living along the train line and the new Amur highway that is heavily under construction. Siberia is more than just the backdrop of the story; it is a character in its own right. The Raven Brothers' vivid des...

by Emily 500cc, content writer. The Raven Brothers have made a name for themselves as skilled storytellers, drawing readers in with their detailed stories and evocative descriptions. Their travel books are a remarkable example of their ability to blend reflection and adventure into the fabric of real-world travel. These works explore the transforming effect of travel while delving deeply into the human experience and guiding readers through intriguing locations. The Raven Brothers are able to combine the sobering realities of real travel with humour and at the same time create a fascinating image of the people and history, which is one of their travel books' most distinctive traits. This method not only makes the locations come to life, but it also gives the stories a deeper, more enigmatic quality. Their travel books discuss not only the actual journey, but also the myths, stories, and traditions that give each destination its own distinct personality. The brothers delve deeply in...

The vibrant continent of South America is well-known for its varied landscapes, extensive cultural legacy, and dynamic ecosystems. From the frozen regions of Patagonia to the steaming Amazon rainforest, South America is made up of nations with unique cultures, languages, and identities. Its vast river networks, majestic cities that evoke the spirit of its colonial past and indigenous heritage, and towering Andean peaks all call this place home. Countries like Brazil, with its iconic Rio Carnival and Amazon River, and Peru, with the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu, highlight the continent’s blend of natural wonders and historical treasures.  Enter The Raven Brothers.... These intrepid adventurers, with a lust for exploring the unique, head to South America and set out on a witty overland journey along the Trans-Oceanic Highway from the Pacific to the Atlantic coast. The brothers' memoir " Carnival Express " follows the duo as they pioneer a new frontier over the Andes and th...

Black Sea Circuit by The Raven Brothers The Black Sea is the inspiration for the myths like Jason and the Argonauts, Noah's Ark and the Amazons—a powerful female warrior tribe. Enticed by insatiable curiosity, The Raven Brothers set out on a mission to circumnavigate the ancient Black Sea that has been the epicentre of human civilization for thousands of years. In 2014, British travel writers, The Raven Brothers, set themselves the challenge of driving full circle around the Black Sea. Their journey took them through southern Ukraine and Russia, less than six months before the annexation of Crimea and the invasion of Donetsk. It is a region of the world that is currently a war zone, and their route for the time being is now impassable even to the most courageous traveller. Discover a fascinating account of their journey in the book 'Black Sea Circuit: Crimea & the Caucasus'. The brothers get up close and personal with the intriguing people who live in the six nations th...

The Raven Brothers. They weren't raised in New York or Paris, Istanbul or Bangkok. They didn't go to Harvard or Oxford or Peking University. The hill behind their house in a small suburban market town in the East Midlands, UK, was their playground, and the council estate in the valley was their urban jungle. Why should any of this matter? Well, until about a year ago, it didn't mean very much at all. Then ChatGPT arrived and suddenly AI driven news articles started to flood the media, and lazy journalists began to use the machine to craft opinions without any heart at all. The mass producers of content won awards for the simple reason that their junk clickbait was being seen. Introducing a new counter culture, where books written blind (wi thout the help of technology), are t he only sure way you can guarantee that what you are reading is real, that it was produced by a human and is not random plagiarized thought. When The Raven Brothers wrote their first book in 2005 it wa...

Check out these two fantastic adventure books by The Raven Brothers. The Raven Brothers take you on a journey across our amazing planet, from the Arctic Circle to the Amazon rainforest.  Carnival Express: A Journey Across South America The Raven Brothers venture deep into the Pervian Amazon, with their grandiose plan to travel overland following the mighty Trans-Oceanic Highway that unites the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of South America. Hike Drive Stayin' Alive: 10 Stories of Adventure Walking, Driving, Surviving: Ten Adventure Stories by The Raven Brothers. Despite all obstacles, the unprepared duo embark on ten quests to reach their dream destinations. Given that the authors of Driving the Trans-Siberian  have spent twenty years discovering new routes around the globe, they ought to be skilled explorers with a sixth sense and the capacity to survive in almost any situation. Think again! Using rivers, paved roads and hiking trails, the hapless brothers stumble across three ...

The Raven Brothers launch their 'NO RUSH' photography exhibitiion. A project finally complete after two decades. Here in the ETG office, we are excited to interview The Raven Brothers about their new quirky photography exhibition that is touring India at the moment.  by Emily Kemble, ETG content writer. Firstly, I would like to ask you both, do you prefer writing about your travels or photographing them? Chris: In many ways, writing and photography are connected, so I enjoy them both. There is a natural flow between the two.  Simon: When we're on a journey for a new book or short story, photography is vital for making notes. It enables us to examine in greater detail what was around us at the time. It also makes capturing those iconic moments more possible, because the cameras are never far away from our reach. As a keen photographer myself, I really want to ask you both how you got into travel photography? Chris: Ever since the day my parents bought me a camera for ...

Family camping trips in France and Italy in the 1980s, gave The Raven Brothers their first real taste of freedom for the open road. This thirst for adventure continued  and inspired them to drive from the UK to Vladivostok in Siberia at the beginning of the new millennium. BLACK SEA CIRCUIT tells the story of the brothers' quest to drive around the entire Black Sea; passing through six fascinating countries at the heart of human civilization. Chris Raven at the cave fortress of Mangup Kale, Crimea. The brothers quit their jobs in London to live an adventurous lifestyle. From the road to Damascus and the notorious Trans-Oceanic Highway in South America, the two adventurers have spent over twenty years writing, documenting and photographing all over the world, including the Balkan Peninsula, tribal India and the deep south of China. Their most recent and fifth book Hike, Drive, Stayin' Alive! is out now.  The Monument to the Defenders of Adzhimushkay Quarry. Kerch, Crimea. The ...