For over three decades, Bärbel Ziegler has shaped her career around travel. She still describes it as her ideal profession, her passion for travel undiminished.
The consultant operates Zieglers Reisewelt in the Hessian town of Bad Soden-Salmünster. She arranges trips, crafts itineraries, and continues exploring new places. The world offers countless experiences, and she has no plans to stop.
The destinations that still excite her
If money were no concern, Ziegler would head straight to Antarctica and Patagonia—regions she has yet to visit. She also dreams of the Northwest Passage in Canada, Svalbard, or a voyage across the South Pacific. Her daughter teases that she wants to see every country she hasn’t, always chasing something remarkable.
Canada remains one of her most vivid memories. British Columbia, with Vancouver Island and the Inside Passage, brought her face-to-face with grizzly bears. Alberta’s national parks and the Rocky Mountains left an equally strong impression. The Atlantic provinces—Newfoundland, Labrador, and Nova Scotia—won her over with their wild coastline.
Vietnam offered a different kind of appeal. The people there live with a lightness and hope that struck her. In Malaysia, she stayed in a jungle lodge on Langkawi, observing nocturnal animals from her room. Last year, Norway’s Lofoten Islands reminded her of Canada, with their striking scenery and the Northern Lights.
The places most travelers overlook
Albania came as a surprise. She had no idea it had such stunning beaches, rich culture, and untouched nature. The far north has also become a favorite. The Faroe Islands, Shetland, and Iceland—with their volcanoes, glaciers, and geysers—draw her back repeatedly. On a trip along the Arctic Circle, she even spotted muskoxen in the tundra.
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Her own travels have taken her to remote locations, like arranging a wedding on Moorea during a South Pacific cruise that included Singapore and New Zealand.
Food often becomes part of the journey. In South Africa, she sampled crocodile meat and kudu steak at a barbecue. In Asia, street food stalls are a regular stop. The unpredictability makes it enjoyable.
The small details that make a trip work
Ziegler packs light but thoughtfully. Her essentials include books, a first-aid kit, sunglasses, a spare pair of glasses, and her phone with a charger. She wants to document moments while staying prepared.
Rooftop bars hold a special place in her travels. In Aarhus, Denmark, the Salling Rooftop provides views of the city and sea. In Kuala Lumpur, the Banyan Tree’s bar overlooks the Petronas Twin Towers. On the Turkish Aegean coast, the Anda Barut Selection delivers drinks via roller-skating waiters—a detail she still recalls fondly.
Industry events have also been part of her work. Last year, she attended Campus Live Far East in Bali. Even there, she made time to explore the island.
For Ziegler, travel goes beyond checking off destinations. It’s about the people, the food, and the surprises along the way. Each trip brings new lessons, which is why she keeps returning.