Roland Bast | Stop Rushing. Start Travelling.
Travel Guides Built Around How a Trip Actually Works
Stop Rushing. Start Travelling.
I’m Roland Bast, a Canadian destination storyteller and travel photographer sharing firsthand guides to help you plan well and travel with curiosity.
Discover places through original photography, local experiences and practical itineraries. I bring the routes, timing and booking details together so you have room for the unexpected once you arrive.
Explore Canada · Discover France · Shop Travel Guides
Newfoundland & Labrador: A Unique Adventure, A Complete Travel Library
More than 15 years of exploring Newfoundland have taught me to allow time for the weather, the distances and the communities that deserve another night. Start here for St. John’s, Bonavista, Trinity, Twillingate and routes across the island.
Find destination guides, road trips, whale- and iceberg-planning advice, maps and practical places to base yourself.
Explore the Newfoundland Travel Library →
France: Beyond the Obvious, A Complete Travel Library
Explore Poitiers, Cognac, Bordeaux, Saint-Émilion and the Dordogne through my firsthand stories and photography. Discover markets, historic streets, memorable stays and local experiences, with practical advice for connecting the regions.
Explore the France Travel Library →
My Travel Books & Guides
Take the planning with you. My downloadable Newfoundland guides bring realistic itineraries, firsthand recommendations and useful planning tools together, with room to adapt when the weather changes.
Choose a short stay in St. John’s or an eight-day coastal journey to Bonavista. Open either guide below to see the details and sample interior pages.
Compare My Downloadable Guides →
Featured Journeys
Newfoundland & Labrador — Beyond the Postcard
A whale surfacing offshore is a good reason to leave space in the day. Explore the coastal communities, wildlife experiences and road trips that keep drawing me back.
Ontario — Discover More Close to Home
Waterfront communities, galleries, cycling routes and local food: find slower weekends and practical itineraries, from the Thousand Islands to other corners of Ontario.
Explore Ontario Travel Guides →
Cognac, France — More Than a Famous Spirit
I arrived expecting historic cognac houses and tastings. The architecture, dining and relaxed atmosphere along the Charente River gave me plenty of reasons to linger.
Why My Travel Guides Are Different
Firsthand perspective. Places I’ve explored, photographs I’ve made and the things I’d do differently next time.
Practical planning. Realistic routes, useful bases, booking priorities and seasonal details that affect your trip.
Room to explore. Itineraries that help you choose what matters to you and leave time to enjoy it.
Logistics That Make the Journey Stronger
A short line on a map can hide a long drive or a ferry that only runs on certain days. My planning resources help you understand how destinations connect before committing to a route.
Browse Travel Logistics Maps →
Meet Roland
I changed careers in my fifties to build a life around photography and travel. Now I share the early mornings, local conversations and occasional wrong turns that make a journey memorable.
I’m guaranteed to get lost at least once. That’s usually where the story starts.
My work has earned TMAC Gold and Silver medals and appeared in publications including The New York Times and Canadian Geographic. See my media credits.
Work With Roland
I work with tourism organizations, hotels, publications and travel brands on original photography, destination stories and practical guides that help travellers discover and plan a visit. See how this approach works for destination partners.
Explore Partnership Services →
Discuss a Project or Request My Media Kit →
Frequently Asked Questions
Most guides draw on places I’ve personally explored and photographed. I use tourism and transportation sources to check changing practical details, and distinguish researched advice from firsthand recommendations.
Choose the experiences that interest you, allow realistic travel time and leave room for discoveries. A short break can still be slow travel when you give yourself time to enjoy it.
Yes. St. John’s in 48 Hours and St. John’s to Bonavista in 8 Days bring firsthand recommendations, practical itineraries and planning tools together. Product pages include sample interior pages so you can see what’s inside.
Start Travelling Differently
Choose a place that makes you curious. I’ll help you work out the practical details—and leave room for what you discover along the way.