Gavin Thomas (www.gavinthomas.net) grew up in London and Suffolk and began travelling as soon as he was old enough to steal a bicycle. He has now visited over 50 countries ranging from Argentina to New Zealand, and works as a freelance travel writer specialising in Sri Lanka, India and Dubai.

Publications include the Rough Guide to Sri Lanka, Berlitz Guide to Sri Lanka, the Rough Guide to Dubai, Frommer's Dubai and Abu Dhabi Day by Day, DK Delhi Top Ten, the Rough Guide to Rajasthan, Delhi and Agra, and the forthcoming Rough Guide to Oman. He has also contributed to many other guidebooks including the Insight guides to Sri Lanka and India, the Rough Guides to India, Spain, Menorca, Belgium and Switzerland, and Time Out Morocco: Perfect Places to Stay, Eat & Explore.

He was also the commissioned photographer for the Rough Guides to Sri Lanka and Dubai, and Frommer's Dubai and Abu Dhabi Day by Day. Some of his photographic work appears in Earthbound: A Rough Guide to the World in Pictures.