By submitting a story, you will be helping us in our front line conservation work and helping to make a stand against extinction. You will help us to raise awareness about threats facing wildlife and wild spaces. The stories will be used on our websites to support our campaigns.

The competition is open to everyone from any country and any age.

Please read these submission guidelines carefully first.

To enter, email your entry to writing@realworldconservation.org.uk

In the Subject Line type your Name and the Title of your entry

The entry should be pasted into the main body of the email. Do not send attachments.

Beneath this put your full name, confirm your contact email address and provide a telephone number.

You will receive an automatic response when your submission is successfully received.

Your entry must be an original piece of travel writing by you and be inspired by the theme.

The theme for 2024 is “On The Edge…”

This could refer to an endangered species or an at-risk landscape. Equally it could refer to an adventure you went on, an experience you survived or an emotion you felt.

Travel writing can take many forms and we welcome them all. For example an informative newspaper article-style piece, an essay, journal, blog, autobiographical, or a creative work such as a poem or first person narrative about an experience or place.

Entries should be between 500 – 1,500 words.

Remember, short and punchy can be just as gripping as long and descriptive. We like them all.

If you are submitting poetry the minimum word limit will not apply.

One entry per person.

We are accepting submissions until 30 September 2024.

After the submission deadline, all pieces will be read by our panel and a short-list of 10 entries will be selected. The short-list will be announced on 31st October 2024.

*Please note: due to the volume of entries received, the shortlist announcement has been postponed until Sunday 3 November 2024**

After a further selection process the winner will be chosen. The winner will be announced at the Royal Geographical Society and on our online channels on Thursday 14th November.

Head Judge:

Jeremy Lazell

Jeremy worked for eight years as a trekking guide before turning to writing, a decision he’s had plenty of time to regret while sleeping in a hammock 200ft up in the Borneo rainforest for the Sunday Times, all but drowning in Scotland while rafting for GQ, and hooking nothing but his own cheek while fishing in Belize for Food & Travel.

Based at the foot of the Scottish Highlands, where he lives with his wife and three boys, Jeremy writes about 90% of his material for the Sunday Times Travel Section, specialising in adventure travel, family holidays, and whatever round-ups help pay the bills. He has also worked for Conde Nast Traveller and Esquire magazines.

Robert Ferguson

Robert is a Trustee of the Real World Conservation Trust. He is the author of The Nepal Handbook published by Footprint Guides. When younger (and much fitter) he worked as a Mountain Guide in the Himalayas and has run special interest tour operators ever since. He has had travel articles published in both regional & national publications over the years.

Sara White

Sara is also a Trustee. She’s worked as an editor, and a freelance writer and photographer with published articles ranging from travel and conservation to well-being for a variety of titles including The Times and Country Life. She’s enjoyed many epic journeys around the world and has a particular fascination with both islands and rivers.

All entries will be published online on the Explorers Against Extinction website over the months following the Competition results. They will also be published on the website of our sponsor PureTravel.com who raise funds for us to run the charity.

Terms and Conditions:

1. The competition is open to writers worldwide,  except for employees of the Real World Conservation Trust, their immediate families, agents, or anyone else associated with administration of this competition.
2. Closing date for receipt of all entries is midnight GMT on 30 September 2024.
3. To enter, send your article to writing@realworldconservation.org.uk with your name, email address and telephone number. Please paste your text into the email body. Do not send attachments. You will received an automated reply to confirm receipt of your email.
4. The shortlists of 10 entries will be announced on 31st October 2024.
5. The winners will be announced at the Explorers Awards Evening at the Royal Geographical Society, London on Thursday 17^th November 2024. All shortlisted writerswill be given a complimentory ticket to attend the evening.
6. The Real World Conservation Trust has the right to publish all entries on its website explorersagainstextinction.co.uk and that of its sponsor PureTravel.com. They will not be reproduced elsewhere without the consent of the author who retains all rights and will be removed from our site upon request.
7. Entries limited to one per person.
8. E-mail addresses will be only be used by RWCT for updates on the competition in their newsletter which can be opted out of. They will not be disclosed to any other parties. Telephone numbers will only be used to contact the shortlisted writers.
9. There is no prize offered.
10. If for any reason the winner is unable to be reached, the Promoter reserves the right to award the prize to the next best entry.
11. The judge’s decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into.
12. The winner agrees to participate in any reasonable publicity required by the RWCT.

Promoter:    The Real World Conservation Trust. Registered Address: Happisburgh, Norwich, Norfolk, NR12 0QQ