A “who’s who” of international travel writing, exploration, film-making and photography is gathering for the 2010 Travellers’ Tales Festival — and readers of The Daily Telegraph are being offered a 25 per cent discount on tickets if they book before January 26.

Keynote speakers include adventurers Benedict Allen and Robin Hanbury-Tenison, photographers Don McCullin, Steve Bloom and Frans Lanting, authors Dervla Murphy and Chris Stewart, and journalists Fergal Keane and Jan Morris.

“In the digital age we are surrounded as never before by pictures and stories from a world that is changing rapidly,” said Jonathan Lorie, the festival director.

“The festival aims to bring together the finest of this work, along with the people who made it, and see where the boundaries are and what the future holds.”

The festival will be held at the Royal Geographical Society in London from February 19 to 21 and will include lectures, panel debates, exhibitions and workshops as well as exclusive visits to the RGS collection of historical artefacts from the great explorations of the past.

The discounted tickets cost £55. See www.travellerstalesfestival.com/TTF10TEL

Appeal for amateur travel writers

“It is amazing where you can get with a bus pass these days,” Sir Ranulph Fiennes said last year, after conquering Mount Everest at the age of 65.

While few readers of retirement age are likely to follow Sir Ranulph up Everest this year, many are likely to undertake trips that would once have seemed impossibly adventurous. We want to hear from readers of retirement age who are planning a big trip this year – lasting at least two months – and would like to write about it. You do not have to be wing-walking at the age of 95, or even travelling to exotic locations. You just need a passion for travel and an interest in writing.

Please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with your plans, in no more than 300 words, including when and where you are going, your reasons for the trip, and why you would like to share your experiences with a wider audience.