Write for Archipelago
Think you’re an exceptional travel writer? Or have a story that simply deserves to be told? Then Archipelago would love to hear your pitch.
From Archipealgo founder, Phil Brown:
Thanks for considering pitching to Archipelago. I’m always looking for fresh perspectives, overlooked destinations, niche experiences, and thoughtful stories that go beyond the obvious. Whether you’ve uncovered an untold narrative, have a strong point of view on a place, or can offer genuine insight that travellers won’t find elsewhere, the open pitching process is designed to give great ideas a chance.
Before you dive into the form below, please take the time to read the contributor guidelines. They’re essential reading, and following them will give your pitch the best possible chance. I would also strongly recommend spending some time reading a selection of published articles. Understanding what Archipelago stands for and the kinds of stories the brand champions will help you decide whether your idea is the right fit.
Editorial needs fluctuate depending on current projects, campaigns, workload, and in-house capacity. Sometimes I’m actively seeking new voices and ideas; other times, the schedule is already full.
As much as I’d love to, I can’t reply to every submission or provide individual feedback on pitches I decide not to pursue, but I will do my best to share pointers or at least a reason why it was a no this time. If you don’t hear from me, please don’t take it as a permanent rejection. Many successful contributors pitch more than once before finding the right story at the right time.
If I decide to develop your idea, you can expect clear communication, defined deadlines, prompt payment (within seven days at the latest), and a professional editorial process. As a writer myself, I believe writers deserve to be treated with respect, and nothing makes me wince more than hearing stories of contributors being left in the dark.
I don’t operate with fixed rates, but I’ll always be transparent if I feel your proposed fee doesn’t align with the scope of the work (the benefit of having skin in the game). And yes, I’m very good at spotting genuinely talented writers amongst the endless stream of bots, spam, and AI-generated submissions.
So, read the guidelines, sharpen your pitch, and send it my way. I’ll see you on the other side!
Phil
Pitching Guidelines
Before sending a pitch, please take a moment to review the following guidance:
Understand Archipelago
Archipelago follows a strict set of writing guidelines, tone of voice, style and coverage strategy, and the best pitches will have considered what we may find interesting, and tailored their pitch to the Archipelago editorial practices.
A Hard No for AI-Generated Content
Archipelago does not consider pitches or articles that have been produced by AI and submitted with little or no meaningful human input. Instead, original ideas, authentic data, distinctive perspectives, and writing that reflects genuine expertise or insight is highly valued. Your pitch should offer something that cannot be replicated by simply entering a prompt into a chatbot. See the AI Policy for details.
Think Carefully About List-Based Articles
Travel publishing is already saturated with generic "best of" lists. While we do publish list-style features, they need to explore a niche subject in depth or provide a highly focused angle. A broad roundup of famous attractions is unlikely to interest us. A detailed guide to a specific travel subculture, neighbourhood, or overlooked category of places, supported by personal knowledge and strong visuals, is much more likely to stand out.
Find the Unexpected Angle
We are drawn to stories that reveal something readers may not already know. Well-known destinations and attractions can still make excellent subjects, but only when approached from a fresh perspective. Surprise us with the lesser-known, overlooked, unusual, or misunderstood aspects of a place rather than repeating information readers can find everywhere else.
Send Pitches, Not Finished Articles
At the pitching stage, we only need a concise explanation of your idea. A few well-written paragraphs outlining the concept, angle, and why it matters are sufficient. Please do not send completed articles. We are also not seeking proposals for photography services, web development, SEO, marketing, agency partnerships, or related offerings.
English Fluency Required
All pitches must be submitted in English and written to a professional standard. If English is not your strongest language, please ensure your submission is thoroughly reviewed before sending.
Rates and Word Counts
Be realistic when discussing budgets and expected article lengths. Quality writing deserves fair compensation, but higher word counts do not automatically justify higher fees. We are familiar with current freelance rates and will always aim for a fair and transparent discussion.
Topics and coverage
Yes please: Unique and intriguing angles, interesting stories, insights, the less obvious, complete unknowns, overviews, writing you’re convinced doesn’t exist elsewhere.
No thanks: pieces where the writer's opinion is the point (we want your first-hand knowledge as evidence, not your verdict), airline seat reviews, short half-life travel news, clickbait with nothing of value behind it, topics that have been done to death everywhere else, basic top 10 lists, anything unrelated to travel.
Individuals only
We only work with freelancers who are self-employed, so please don’t pitch us as an agency, organisation, content farm etc.
We reserve the right not to respond to submissions that fall outside our editorial focus or only loosely relate to travel. We are also unlikely to consider pitches that promote political, religious, or ideological viewpoints, contain extreme perspectives, or cover subjects that conflict with our editorial values. This includes topics such as gambling, illegal drugs, adult entertainment, crime tourism, poverty tourism, and similar areas. Please review our About page, FAQs, Editorial Policy and Code of Conduct before pitching.
Share Your Pitch
What Happens if My Pitch Is Accepted?
If we decide to move forward with your pitch, we'll get in touch by email to discuss availability, agree on rates, and confirm expected timelines.
For many first-time contributors, we like to arrange a short video call. This gives you the opportunity to learn more about our publication, ask questions, and better understand our editorial approach before you begin writing.
We'll then provide a contributor agreement covering deliverables, expectations, payment terms, and agreed rates, ensuring everything is clear from the outset.
Once the paperwork is complete, you'll begin work on your article, story, review, or other agreed piece and submit it to us for editorial review.
Our team may request edits, revisions, or additional work if we feel the submission differs significantly from the original pitch, doesn't meet the expected standard, or doesn't align with the quality demonstrated in your previous writing samples.
After a final version has been approved, we'll prepare it for publication and process payment. Please note that publication dates vary and your work may appear days, weeks, or even months after payment has been made. We'll keep you informed about scheduling wherever possible.
Contributors whose work is a strong fit for the publication can expect to hear from us about future opportunities.
Terms & Conditions
If your pitch is commissioned, you'll be required to review and follow our editorial policy before beginning any assignment. You'll also need to sign and return the contributor agreement provided to you.
Payment is made upon receipt and approval of the final agreed version of your work. Our standard payment terms are seven days, although we frequently process payments much sooner. We reserve the right to decline, reject, or request substantial revisions to work that fails to match the agreed brief, falls below expected standards, or is found to have been generated using AI.
Any submitted material that does not meet our requirements, is misleading, or is considered unsuitable may be removed from our systems and will not be used or published.
Upon payment, all commissioned work becomes the intellectual property of Archipelago. Content may not be republished, reproduced, or distributed elsewhere without prior written permission and appropriate canonical tagging to prevent duplication issues. Payments can be made via bank transfer or PayPal. Before payment can be issued, we may require proof of identity for verification purposes. Contributors are responsible for managing and paying any taxes, duties, or reporting obligations required in their country of residence.
Archipelago works with independent freelance contributors. This arrangement does not constitute employment, and contributors are not entitled to employee benefits, employment protections, or similar rights that may apply within their jurisdiction.
Where appropriate, we're happy to provide references for contributors whose work meets our standards. Published work may also be included in personal portfolios, provided the correct canonical requirements are followed.
Final Tips
Remember that we're a premium travel publication, and every submission should reflect the quality, style, and editorial standards our readers expect
Strong writing matters far more to us than an established personal brand, social following, or online profile
A compelling angle is often just as important as the quality of the writing itself
You don't need years of travel experience to contribute successfully. We're looking for excellent storytelling, thoughtful insights, extremely well-researched topics and writing that leaves an impression