The fortunes of this estuary island are linked to the tides
21.07.2023 - 08:04 / roughguides.com
The gentle Himalayan landscape here is famous for the rare and beautiful flowers that bloom during the monsoon, from mid-July until mid-August. Declared a National Park in 1982, the untouched meadows, snow capped peaks and alpine glaciers are only accessible if you hike in from Gangharia – and no one is permitted to stay overnight.
Chakratirth Valley of the Flower on a cloudy evening, en route satopanth Swargarohini trek, Uttarakhand, India © uttam panwar/Shutterstock
The incomparable reefs of Indonesian West Papua host a staggering 1700 species of fish (compared with just 300 in UK waters) and 600 types of coral. Divers from all over the world converge on this remote location to stay at one of a handful of exclusive resorts (or on board a luxury yacht) and dive in a pristine environment surrounded by colourful marine life.
Colourful Corals in Raja Ampat, Indonesia © SARAWUT KUNDEJ/Shutterstock
The Danakil depression, where the remote Dallol hot springs are found, is one of the hottest places on Earth. The characteristic white, yellow and rust-coloured deposits are formed by groundwater (mixed in with sulphur and iron) being pushed up through think layers of salt by geothermal activity, and rapidly being crystalized by the fierce African sun. This vast inhospitable desert is a mix of neon coloured pools, geysers and fragile salt formations.
Dallol, Danakil Depression, Ethiopia © Lukas Bischoff Photograph/Shutterstock
Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore are protected villages within the UNESCO heritage Cinque Terre National Park on the Italian Riviera in the Liguria region. The houses in each village are famous as they are stacked precariously in terraces on hillsides. Riomaggiore is particularly eye-catching – colourful houses huddle over the stunning blue waters of the rugged harbour.
Riomaggiore Cinque Terre, Italy © fokke baarssen/Shutterstock
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The Andalucían village of Júzcar is shockingly, unashamedly, Smurf blue. Sony transformed the traditional village in 2011 in order to promote the Smurfs 3D movie – it was only ever meant to be temporary but the huge influx of tourists persuaded the villagers of the merits of being blue. It took more than one thousand gallons of paint and even the church and its graveyard were painted.
Juzcar, blue Andalusian village in Malaga, Spain © Tatyana Vyc/Shutterstock
From mid-April to early May there’s hardly a patch of green left in Japan’s Hitsujiyama Park – more than 400,000 pink and white flowers are in bloom. The landscaped gardens have been planted with pretty shibazakura, which literally translates as «lawn cherry blossom», and the swirls and patterns make an intensely pretty carpet of pink.
Blossom in Spring at Hitsujiyama Park
The fortunes of this estuary island are linked to the tides
Iceland has many highlights, and it’s nearly impossible to choose one place over another.
For about the price of a typical single-family home in Mississippi, ultra-rich adventurers can spend three weeks traversing the world via private jet thanks on an Abercrombie & Kent "air cruise."
Woolacombe Beach is where soft sand meets the wild Atlantic and is perfect for our pooches. It consists of a wide, three-mile long sandy stretch from Barricane Beach down to Baggy Point, but dogs are restricted in certain areas. Parts of it are surfing areas and some kiosks even offered boards and lessons for dogs, though I didn’t want to embarrass Bob and Bertrand – our lovely Beagles – by insisting they try. Other pet owners were not so bashful. There are lots of dog bins and the cafes have bowls of water for four-legged friends. The Barricane Beach cafe is run by animal lovers, has great coffee and great-value curry nights.Gayle
On a Saturday morning in the Lake District, perhaps at the base of a popular fell or along the shores of a placid lake, you might think you were at a countryside Crufts. The region’s footpaths are bustling with spaniels, labradors and golden retrievers – and the ubiquitous cockapoo, of course – all in procession, dragging their owners up hills or along forested trails, tongues out, tails wagging, noses poised to sniff the behind of anything they might pass.
Abutting the US border with Canada, North Cascades National Park is a land of contrasts. Cerulean blue lakes sit at the foot of mountains forested in deep green pines, with their peaks capped in snow and pointing to the heavens. The park mirrors the various landscapes of the Pacific Northwest, shifting from mountainous areas dominated by rain showers and heavy snowfall to arid plateaus cut by glaciers since melted into alpine rivers and lakes. The park is remote, accessible only by the beautiful North Cascades Highway or from hiking trails to the north.
The rugged landscapes of the Outer Hebrides, off Scotland’s west coast, may be sparsely populated, but there’s a deep human history here, from ancient stone circles to traditional Gaelic culture. These interconnected islands have shaped a distinct way of life, not just in the Harris Tweed and whisky distilleries that travellers encounter, but also in the daily routines of remote fishing communities. Spanning over 150 miles, this island chain is stitched together by causeway, bridge, road and boat, meaning visitors can pick their own method — car, bike, bus or ferry — to make the most of this extraordinary destination.
Despite India’s vastness, foreign travellers tend to clump together in a relatively small number of well-known regions or cities, leaving plenty of destinations to the more intrepid few who are willing to take the challenge of escaping the tourist trail. Here’s a selection of our favourites:
Southeast Asia is the quintessential backpacker destination – all noodle stands, grungy hostels and full moon parties, right? Not necessarily. There are still plenty of authentic Southeast Asian escapes. You just need to know where to find them. Start here.
Professional photographer Matt Garceau shares his experience of photographing Cartagena, Colombia .
Twenty years ago the facades of the wood-built buildings in Lunenburg, a UNESCO-listed fishing town in Nova Scotia, were white with black trimming. The only exceptions were the red buildings down by the wharf.
Ticked off New York City’s big sights and wondering where to go next? From sinking a pint in Brooklyn's Red Hook to sampling Italian delicacies in The Bronx, Stephen Keeling picks the city’s off-the-beaten track highlights.