Michael Palin’s trip advice: Don’t travel with a big group... and be brave

Michael Palin says the key to the best adventures is striking out on your own — and taking a few risks.

The adventurer and Monty Python star, 74, has journeyed across the world for his travel books and programmes, visiting the Sahara, the Himalayas and both Poles.

Many of his best trips have had an element of danger. “You have to put yourself on the line a bit,” he said. “The best travel experiences I have had are when there has been a bit of risk involved, not to life and limb, but you have to understand and get to know different people, and you have to depend on different cultures and people to help you out.

“You have got to be very open- minded about that. You’ve also got to be prepared for the fact that it will be a bit tough, [real exploring] is not all sunshine and beaches at all. But go for it.” He also recommended that travellers should avoid travelling in big groups, instead going alone or with a partner.

“I advise as many people as possible to travel, but to travel in the right spirit,” he said. “If you can help it, don’t go with a big group of people who all turn up at the same market at the same time, try and be independent. I know it’s not always possible, but it brings the greatest rewards, because you yourself have to make contact with the people you are meeting.”

Palin’s career is being celebrated with a special hour-long Bafta programme on the BBC next year — but he has no intention of giving up his adventures yet. “Once you have started travelling it’s addictive,” he said. “It’s not just a question of going to see the sights, it is seeing different cultures, speaking different languages, eating different food — you have got to really enjoy the diversity of the differences in life.”