Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast

“In both Finland and Poland I somehow found myself as close as it is possible to be to Russia without actually crossing the border”. Global travel editor Annabel Grossman is frustrated that she cannot visit the world’s biggest country. Russia is waging an illegal war against Ukraine, and on the Foreign Office no-go list, but one day we will be able to return. I have prescribed some locations for exploring the vast expanses of the great outdoors.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox.

Direct flights from London Luton to the Armenian capital, Yerevan, begin on 8 June, and I am getting a preview of this fascinating nation. Today I have joined the outstanding tour guide Gevorg Rashoyan for a tour of Soviet Yerevan: Armenia was part of the USSR until 1991. Gevorg told me much more.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox.

Transport expert Thomas Ableman has been telling me about his vision for “joined-up” mobility in the UK – giving people the freedom to live without a car, even in a small village. “Mini Switzerland” is a project to bring Swiss-style integrated public transport to rural England – and to demonstrate that dovetailing buses with trains can boost ridership and the local economy, while increasing options for residents and visitors.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox.

Over the past few days I have heard several people speak very warmly about Pakistan - saying it is a much-misunderstood country full of wonders and diversity. To find out more, I have been talking to Saadia Baber, founder and CEO of Xperience PakistanThis podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox.

Dr John Mason, eclipse chaser extraordinaire, has been studying the astronomical event on 12 August, when a total solar eclipse will sweep down from Greenland to the northern half of Spain.While Scoresby Sound in Greenland has a high chance of clear skies due to a micro-climate, Dr Mason will be outside Burgos in northern Spain. The eclipse will be followed by the peak of the Perseid meteor shower.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox.

Chief executive of the Port of Dover, Doug Bannister, tells me about the investment made in preparing for the digital borders scheme in a location where frontier controls are "juxtaposed" – you check into France while still on British soil. And how is the half-term getaway looking?This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox.

After Greece decided unilaterally to scrap biometric border checks for British visitors, the tourism minister has said the “UK fast track” will continue until the EU entry-exit system (EES) is improved. Olga Kefalogianni tells me today: “We aim to actually make sure that this facilitation is not just valid for this year.” Her hope is that technology will come to the rescue to enable a friction-free border crossing.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox.

Top cinematographer Douglas Bolton shares his secrets of transatlantic travel – basically, stay awake to bedtime.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox.

With so much uncertainty and confusion among travellers, I am talking today to the man who has led Abta, the travel association, for 20 years: CEO Mark Tanzer. "I don't anticipate from where we are today that there'll be large scale disruption for people," he tells me. "With everything going on in the world, it's a good time to have a holiday."This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox.