Tag: trekking

Europe’s top natural views

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The Lycian Way in Turkey boasts many of Europe’s top natural views

Europe has some amazing natural attractions and there are outstanding views on several of the top walking trails in the continent. We’re going to give you a rundown of a few of the best places to go if you want to enjoy amazing vistas while you’re hiking. Get out there and enjoy some of Europe’s top natural views!

Balcony Walk, Madeira

Madeira has long been renowned for being a hiking paradise, with a host of trails around the island’s coast and through its mountainous interior. Because of these peaks, many of the inland treks boast stunning views as they run around the mountains’ slopes.

One of the best is the Balcony Walk, which is among Madeira’s most famous hikes. It begins at Pico do Ariero, which is at an altitude of 1,818 m, and continues over some of the island’s high mountain passes, promising fantastic views throughout – provided the weather is clear.

It can be stunning to see the clouds drifting across the mountain slopes as you hike, revealing breathtaking panoramas when they pass. At certain points, the path runs close to the edge of steep cliffs, allowing you to look straight down at the valley below. This is just one of Madeira’s wonderful treks – for more ideas, visit this website.

Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia

There are some amazing walks in Croatia, with the country boasting a variety of stunning landscapes both along its coast and further inland. One of the best places for hiking and wonderful views is the Plitvice Lakes National Park.

This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that’s home to a range of lakes, waterfalls and caves that all work together to make the scenery absolutely spectacular. There’s an outstanding trail here that takes you to a vantage point where you can look out over the forest-covered slopes of the hills, spot waterfalls as they tumble down cliffs and look at the tranquil blue lakes that are nestled among the valleys.

You should keep your eyes open for the wide variety of creatures that inhabit the national park, too, with more than 100 species of bird found here, as well as enchanting animals like wolves and bears.

Lycian Way, Turkey

The Lycian Way is a long-distance walking trail in Turkey that covers over 500 km and skirts along the country’s south-western coastline. Its name comes from the fact that there are a number of ruins and archaeological sites dating from the Lycian era along the route.

While there are many picturesque stretches on this hike, one of the most striking has to be near the starting point of Oludeniz. This beach and its lagoon is renowned for being one of Turkey’s most stunning seaside spots and you can have a wonderful view of it as you walk from the village of Ovacik up the slopes of Baba Dagi, a 1,989 m-high mountain.

Further along on this walk, you’ll be rewarded with another beautiful panorama from the head of Butterfly Valley, which runs down to a secluded beach that’s only accessible on foot or by boat. From the village of Faralya, you can look out over the sheer limestone cliffs that tower over the valley and end in the sea. If you find yourself in Istanbul, be sure to take a Bosphorus dinner cruise

This is just a snapshot of the amazing views you can find in Europe on a walking holiday – there are stunning vistas just waiting to be discovered all over the continent. For hassle free travel, you can apply for Turkish visa online before you take your trip to save you time.

Exploring the Serra de Tramuntana

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The Serra de Tramuntana has many gasp-inducing vistas in store for you, such as this one...

Adventurous types who love the great outdoors and venturing into unknown landscapes will feel right at home exploring the Serra de Tramuntana, Majorca’s famous mountain range and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Spanning almost the entirety of the island’s northern region, it is no easy feat taking on the spectacular slopes and forested hills that make up the Serra de Tramuntana. Once your flights are booked (click here if you haven’t done this yet), you’ll need to start planning how you want to explore the area, as there are various ways to choose from, each offering different perspectives of the awe-inspiring mountains.

Hiking

There are so many fantastic routes to take through the mountains that you are spoilt for choice, but only commit to hiking if you are an experienced walker and can handle sharp inclines and traversing across rocky terrain. You may feel the burn, but if you’re a proper hiker, you’ll love every minute of it!

This form of travel allows you to stop and admire the various magnificent ravines and valleys you’ll encounter during your journey, and take photographs for your loved ones back home to marvel at. You’ll also stumble upon the homes of wealthy families and some quaint little towns.

So that there is some structure to your hike, there are a number of dedicated trails you can choose to venture down, or you can explore the landscape as you wish.

If you want to be able to take in all the sights and smells of the mountains and enjoy views of picturesque villages, then travelling around on foot is the best option for you.

Cycling

Thrillseekers who enjoy feeling the wind in their hair as they discover new territory may want to venture through the mountains by bike. The restless traveller is more suited to this method of transport, as it drastically shortens the amount of time it takes to see the range in its entirety.

You must be careful, however, as the roads can be rocky and therefore quite unsafe. Remember to wear protective clothing so that should you take a tumble, you’re less likely to sustain an injury.

There are plenty of places on Majorca to rent bicycles, and for decent prices as well, so if you want to admire stunning views within minutes then you’ll love a cycling adventure.

Driving

If you’ve got a hire car, then you can enjoy the glorious scenery of the Serra de Tramuntana from the driver’s seat as you make your way around the winding mountain roads. Again, some precaution must be taken here, as the landscape is beautiful but unforgiving and particularly during the peak months of July and August, the roads can be dangerous.

But if you must hit the open road, then take the R710 route from Andratx to Pollenca, which is undoubtedly the most scenic. Ensure you make plenty of stops so you can take in the fresh mountain air and marvel at the sight of the island below.

The drive from Palma to Inca is also worth taking and is great for getting a bird’s eye view of Majorca.

Being one of the more visually spectacular Balearic Islands, Majorca has much in store for the adventrous traveler.  Bring plenty of memory cards, pack your trekking boots, and be prepared to be wowed during your excursions on this stunning island!

A Resort With a Bit of Everything: Hisaronu

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Hisaronu is situated away from the crowded beach resorts of the Turquoise Coast, but is still within easy driving distance of beach gems like Oludeniz

Hisaronu is an excellent choice for a holiday in Turkey if you’re looking for a resort that’s got a bit of everything. It’s particularly good if you’ve never visited the country before, as it’s well placed to allow you to explore some of the surrounding area.

I’m going to give you a bit of information about Hisaronu itself, as well as some of the nearby attractions that are easily accessible – you can find out more about booking a holiday in the resort by clicking here.

Hisaronu: why go?

Hisaronu is one of the liveliest resorts on the Turquoise Coast, boasting numerous restaurants, bars and clubs, not to mention a variety of shops. This makes it perfect if you’re looking for somewhere with all the amenities you’ll need in a relatively small area.

It’s also great if you enjoy having a night out or two during your holidays, as there are plenty of places where you can let your hair down. Among the top bars are Hakuna Matata, the Grand Boozey and Zombie – although there are lots more to choose from.

Another thing that makes Hisaronu popular is its location set slightly back from the coast in the hills. While this may initially sound like a disadvantage, it’s actually something of a blessing as the town remains cooler in the hot summer months than the coastal locations, making it much more pleasant, particularly overnight.

It’s also within easy reach of the nearest beaches, so you don’t have to worry about travelling for hours on end just to reach the seaside.

Excursions from Hisaronu

I think one of the best things about Hisaronu is its location – nestled between Fethiye and Olu Deniz, it’s well placed for you to visit a range of attractions. Olu Deniz’s blue lagoon is one of the most popular spots to head to, but nearby you also have Babadag mountain (which is great for paragliding) and the start of the Lycian Way walking trail.

Another must-visit is Kayakoy, an abandoned village that is fascinating to explore. This was once home to a thriving Greek community, who all moved on in 1923 following the Greek and Turkish exchange of population agreement.

This ghost town is made up of well-preserved buildings, although many of them now have no roofs or windows. Among the landmarks you should look out for here are its various churches and its fountain that dates back to 1888.

It’s also worth taking your walking boots and following the trail that leads from the village to Cold Water Bay – a lovely, secluded spot where you can relax and go for a swim before heading back to Hisaronu. Another reason to come here is to visit the small restaurant that serves up a host of local dishes, including wild boar stew.

From Hisaronu you can also travel to another of the Turquoise Coast’s resorts – Dalyan. This charming town has a strong connection to the region’s Lycian past, with rock tombs carved into the cliffs behind the town. It is also close to the impressive archaeological site of Kaunos, where you can see ruins that are centuries old.

However, Dalyan’s main appeal is Iztuzu Beach, which is a protected area where no development is allowed. This is because it’s a nesting site for the endangered loggerhead turtle, which also means that there’s no public access to the beach overnight.

Dalyan isn’t right on the coast – it’s set slightly inland on the banks of the Dalyan River. The best way to get around here is by one of the local water taxis, which can take you to the beach for a relatively low cost.