9 breathtaking beaches in Fiji

Europeans are lucky to hold some of the world’s most powerful passports.

Bali is blessed with a full hand of beautiful beaches, but white sand isn't as common as you might think. Thanks to the island's volcanic past, most beaches are some variation of tan or gray, but they're still lovely places to relax.

When I first booked a stay in the mountain town of Canmore, Alberta, I planned to use it as a jumping-off point for my adventures in Banff National Park. However, I didn't expect to leave wishing I'd had more time to explore this beautifully sited town at the heart of the Canadian Rockies.

North America’s wilderness wealth springs from an incredibly vast, breathtakingly varied range of gorgeous destinations and encounters. Exciting. Calming. Challenging. Startling. Inspiring. Rejuvenating. Bold. Joyful. Sublime. For on-the-go vacationers as well as armchair travelers, the new oversized (10 1/2” x 13 1/2”) National Geographic: Atlas of Wild America, published this month, provides a picturesque super-dive into spectacular horizons. Written by Jon Waterman, a former park ranger and veteran guide, with a foreword by environmental historian Roderick F. Nash, this hefty tome, with 308 photos and 262 maps, applauds both well-known majestic favorites and off-the-beaten-path intimate finds, unveiling intricate details and data galore. Be awed by nature-loving secrets and surprises.

Anchored by the city of Bilbao, the Basque province of Biscay in northern Spain encompasses some of the country’s most beautiful landscapes and one of Spain’s most distinctive cultures. Forest-covered mountains hide alpine cabins and religious sanctuaries where Christianity rubs shoulders with pagan Basque mythology, while the coastline is peppered with coves, caves and islands. The region is also spared the blistering heat of southern Spain and there’s just enough rain to keep the countryside a glittering emerald green. And those who prefer not to fly can reach Biscay easily via the twice-weekly ferry from Portsmouth to Bilbao. 

For the 12th consecutive year, Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi has been titled as the “Middle East’s Leading Beach Destination” by the World Travel Awards, dubbed the “Oscars of the Travel Industry”, reaffirming its position as the Middle East’s #BestBeach destination.

Of all the places to travel with children, Spain is up there with the best of them.

Famous for being the private island playground of the rich and famous (some resorts secretly pride themselves on being the place billionaires go to escape the millionaires), Fiji doesn’t typically come to mind as a budget-friendly destination. Fortunately, a trip to the islands doesn’t have to cost a pretty penny.

With 333 islands making up this South Pacific dreamscape, it would take a lifetime to truly explore every corner of Fiji. For the past six years, I’ve been living in Fiji’s capital city of Suva and have made many travel mistakes and cultural snafus so you don’t have to. 

Is Fiji good for hiking? In a word, yes. From strolling along a volcanic coastline to tiptoeing around tree roots up a cloud-topped mountain, this South Pacific island nation is a hiker’s heaven. Think waterfalls flowing into natural pools, empty beaches best reached on foot, vibrant birdlife and views that stretch all the way to the horizon.

With change coming to tourism in the Norwegian fjords, Eidfjord is one destination that’s set to benefit. The small town is ideally placed to be a base for travelers exploring some of Norway’s scenic fjords, mountainous national parks, and powerful waterfalls.

Scattered amid the azure waters of the South Pacific, Fiji is made up of 300 or so islands – sailing is undoubtedly one of the best ways of navigating this paradisiacal archipelago (with the best season being between May and October), but there are plenty of ways to get around if you don’t have your own boat.