Gone To Timbuktu comprises conversations with people who make us think a little differently about the art of travel — in fiction, journalism, photography, film and more. The podcast explores physical journeys and inner landscapes, creative influences and new ideas.

Each 12-episode series is published every two or three weeks, and is available on all major streaming platforms, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Sophy Roberts is a British journalist and author who podcasts from her home in Dorset, as well as when she is on the road for the Financial Times, among other publications. Her interests combine travel, literature, history and photography.

Sophy’s first book, The Lost Pianos of Siberia — a Times Book of 2020 — is published in eight languages. Her second book, A Training School for Elephants, became an instant Sunday Times bestseller when it was published in February 2025.

Guests include authors, poets, journalists, photographers, musicians and filmmakers with a passion for travel, and its complexities: witnessing, adventure, ‘othering’, exclusion.

Their work explores history, modern geopolitics, climate change, migration, holy pilgrimage, the picturesque and more.

The first series of the podcast was produced and edited by Stingray & Freunde in Berlin. All other series are recorded and edited by Jamie Barnes.

The photography used for the podcast’s website and promotional material is by Michael Turek (unless otherwise stated).

The music is ‘Morin Khuur Concerto No. 1’ by Ulziibayar Shatar. Munkhbayar Erdenebaatar plays the morin khurr, and Odgerel Sampilnorov is the pianist.