Dana Facaros

New from Bradt is Afghanistan, the first travel guidebook to the country from a mainstream publisher in almost 20 years. Afghanistan is a paradox: a nation so well-known internationally, yet one so infrequently explored that it has been effectively untouched by tourism since being a key stop on the hippie trail four decades ago. The Indian subcontinent, the Middle East, China and the ex-USSR 'stans collide in Afghanistan. It is both the graveyard of empires and one of the world's most hospitable countries. From the searing deserts of the south to the high peaks of the Hindu Kush, any trip here is challenging - but one that is now eminently possible with the right preparation. Cue expert travel advice from Bradt's authorial team, comprising an adventure-tourism specialist and a prolific guidebook-writer who cover all the practicalities needed to travel securely and rewardingly - from how female travellers should best enjoy the country to where to stay in Kabul, the sprawling capital. Even the most well-travelled visitor will find their soul stirred and their blood pumping from spending time in Afghanistan. Visit iconic locations such as the Khyber Pass, the Minaret of Jam (14 hours' drive from the nearest paved road!) or the Buddha Niches of Bamian (even if the Taliban have destroyed the statues once found there). Go trekking with Kyrgyz nomads in the Pamir mountains. On the vast steppe, watch buzkashi, a sport where riders attempt to place a goat carcass in a goal. Stay in chaikhanas, communal tea houses that have changed little from the time of Silk Road traders. Enjoy Herat's Timurid architectural gems. Visit the shrine of Hazrat Ali, Afghanistan's pre-eminent pilgrimage site, in Mazar e Sharif. At Band e Amir, experience the country's first national park, and take a swan-shaped pedalo across the lapis lazuli blue waters of its lakes. Follow in the footsteps of Marco Polo in the Wakhan Corridor. Or hike among the forested peaks of Nuristan, where non-Afghan visitors so rarely tread. With Bradt's Afghanistan to inform and inspire you, the off-beat holiday of a lifetime beckons.

New from Bradt is Northern Spain, the most detailed guidebook available to a unique, compelling part of Iberia - a deep dive into a hitherto under-rated region. Incisive context covers modern history and environmental, social and economic issues, enabling the reader to take well-informed decisions about how best to experience a region extending from Galicia, in Spain''s far northwest, east through the Basque Country to Navarra. Northern Spain offers enormous variety. In a single trip, you could explore Celtic heritage in Asturias, feast on Atlantic octopus in Galicia, enjoy pinxtos snacks before a traditional asador barbeque in the Basque Country, surf breakers in the Bay of Biscay, walk and watch wildlife in the mountainous Picos de Europa National Park, travel along the winding Feve narrow-gauge railway or the luxurious Transcantabrico train and enjoy a gentle bike ride along a ''Via Verde'' (a disused railway line converted into walking and cycling routes).And northern Spain''s delights do not stop there. Hikers and pilgrims alike tread along three ancient trails that comprise the Camino de Santiago, with the shrines of Santiago de Compostela as their ultimate destination. La Rioja is Spain''s most renowned wine region, where wineries include the mind-bending Marques de Riscal - designed by Frank Gehry, who designed Bilbao''s Guggenheim Museum. Northern Spain is also a genuinely surprising region. Bagpipes are just as important a part of musical culture in some parts as they are in Scotland. In summer, homes in the wine-making region around Ponte Vedra are transformed into pop-up restaurants, with visitors invited to dine in garages, living rooms and homey kitchens - a traditional way of selling excess wine. Some medieval churches defy expectations, being decorated with sexy scenes that would be at home in the Kama Sutra. And if you''re up for a challenge, why not try to speak Euskarri, the unique Basque language with no known linguistic relatives. With heatwaves increasingly characterising Spain''s popular Mediterranean coast in summer, the country''s north (known as ''Green Spain'') offers more clement conditions for a rewarding holiday. And what better travelling companion can you have than Bradt''s Northern Spain?

The new, extensively updated second edition of Bradt''s Emilia-Romagna is the most thorough and in-depth guidebook available to this entire north Italian region (not just Bologna and the main cities). This region blends the best of Italy: a gastronomic hub, elegant cities with vibrant cultural offerings and a coastline favoured by the Italians themselves. Emilia-Romagna combines the rich farmlands of the Po plain with dazzling cities strung like pearls along the straight-as-a-die Via Emilia. The regional capital, Bologna, is home to the world''s oldest university, while the smaller cities are strikingly different, year-round destinations. Parma (the town of Correggio) has opera at its heart and prosciutto to delight the palate; Modena, with its stupendous medieval cathedral and world-famous balsamic vinegar, once home to Pavarotti and still to Ferrari; Ferrara boasts the House of Este''s spectacular Renaissance architecture; Ravenna glitters with Byzantine mosaics; and Rimini - immortalised by Fellini in Amarcord - offers the hedonistic attractions of the coast. Then there are the Apennines along the Tuscan border, where you can venture beyond the flatlands of the Po to go trekking, cycling and skiing. Here lie some of the region''s prettiest villages and towns, including Vignola, famous for cherries, and lovely medieval Castell''Arquato and the beautifully preserved Brisighella (famed for its olive oil and Moretto artichokes). Meanwhile, to the east, Romagna holds long sandy Adriatic beaches, wildlife-filled lagoons around the Po Delta, and the world''s smallest republic, San Marino. Written by expert authors Dana Facaros and Michael Pauls, possibly the world''s most experienced travel writers on Italy, and updated by Italy aficionados Andrew and Suzanne Edwards, Bradt''s Emilia-Romagna is the definitive guide to this diverse, authentic area. A strong focus on historical context, art and culture is complemented by extensive practical detail for travelling around - from restaurants and accommodation to shopping and the FICO Eataly food theme park. New coverage in this edition includes literary tourism near Rimini and Ferrara, the Fellini Museum, the Fondazione MAST technology museum, the Via Romagna cycle path, birdwatching in the Po Delta, and Po Grande Reserve. With Bradt''s Emilia-Romagna you can discover all of this and more.