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Posts Tagged ‘Europe’
From the Dolomites to the Dordogne, the Lycian Way to the Tour du Mont Blanc, Europe is home to some of the best mountain ranges and famous walking routes in the world. Learn more about six of the best routes and destinations for a European walking holiday.
Europe is blessed with some of the finest walking country in the world, and millions of people travel to the great valleys and mountain ranges on the continent every year. Of course, great trekking isn’t confined to the continent – there’s plenty of outstanding walking to be done in the UK, with the Scottish Highlands, Snowdonia, the Lake District and the Peak District offering spectacular peaks to climb and routes to traverse. But if you are itching to leave the familiar behind and experience some of Europe’s finest scenery, here are six of the best routes and destinations for walking holidays in Continental Europe…
Le Tour Du Mont Blanc
Le Tour Du Mont Blanc is a truly stunning walking holiday, an epic 100 mile circumnavigation of the Mont Blanc Massif. It is one of the most famous and popular walks in Europe, taking in high mountain passes, dramatic valley walking and some truly stunning vistas of the major peaks whilst enjoying the hospitality of the Alpine huts along the way. It typically takes two weeks to walk, and while not technically challenging it does demand a good level of fitness and mountain walking experience.
The Haute Route
The other classic route through the Alps, The Haute Route (or “High Route”), stretches from Chamonix to Zermatt, beginning in the shadow on Mont Blanc and ending at the foot of the Matterhorn. With many climbs to high passes it isn’t for the fainthearted or inexperienced, but it is one of the most challenging and exciting European trekking holidays. Alternate routes that avoid the glacier crossings are also available.
The Lycian Way
For those who prefer coasts and culture to high mountain adventure, the Lycian Way in Turkey is the perfect walking holiday. This coastal route runs from Fethiye to Antalya, and offers a splendid mixture of beautiful landscapes (cedar forests, pasturelands, and rocky mountain routes) and ancient archaeological sites, including the sunken city at Kekova.
The Dordogne Valley
Located in the South West of France, the Dordogne valley is one of France’s national treasures, and is home to one of the country’s great walking holidays. The valley is rich in natural splendour, with forests, limestone cliffs and the great river of the Dordogne itself, and the region is peppered with charming traditional towns and medieval castles. There are also many old cave paintings and prehistoric sites in the Dordogne, along with an excellent museum in Les Eyzies.
The Dolomites
While the Alps may be the most famous mountain range for walking holidays, the Dolomites offer a completely different experience – dramatic limestone pillars, glaciers and lunar plateaux stand above rolling meadows filled with wild flowers, and the many routes in and around the Dolomites provide some of the best unspoilt walking to be had in Europe.
The Mountains of Sardinia
Known as “the land of silence”, the Italian island of Sardinia offers some of the most remote and peaceful routes for a European walking holiday. The ancient mountain ranges in the north of the island offer visitors stunning walking through the gorges and ridges, as well as the chance to see prehistoric monuments of the Nuraghi people. The perfect weather, friendly island culture, and stunning scenery make Sardinia an ideal destination for a relaxing walking holiday.
Tony Maniscalco is the Sales and Marketing for Ramblers Worldwide Holidays. Both a travel company and a charitable trust, Ramblers Worldwide have been operating since 1946 and now offer over 250 holidays in more than 70 different countries. They are dedicated to providing the very finest walking holidays at the best value prices.
If you want to take a city break in Spain, look beyond the obvious choices of Madrid and Barcelona and consider Valencia. The city offers ancient and contemporary wonders to the relatively few visitors who go there, and here are some of the real highlights of Valencia.
Perhaps as a Valencia shuttle driver I may be biased, but I think the city is a real gem that is too often overlooked in favour of the other major cities in Spain. Madrid may be the Spanish capital and Barcelona popular for its arts scene and vibrant atmosphere, but for culture and architectural splendour, Valencia is the place to be. Whenever I drive someone from Valencia airport to a city hotel, and always enjoy telling them what a treat they’ve let themselves in for.
There’s plenty to experience on a holiday to Valencia, but there are few highlights that are simply unmissable – here are some of my personal recommendations…
Stroll Through the Old Town
The architectural mix in the Old Town is quite astonishing, ranging from Baroque cathedrals to the Gothic grandeur of the Silk Exchange, the breathtaking building where the silk merchants of old used to ply their trade. The Old Town reflects the many cultural influences that have made Valencia what it is today – Roman, Muslim and Chrisitans have all ruled the city at one time or another.
I always say to my Valencia shuttle passengers, you can spend days wandering through the streets of the Old Town and still not see everything, but don’t miss out on the Santa Catalina Bell Tower, the Basílica de la Virgen de los Desamparados, and the Plaza de Reina. The Plaza is also the best place to pick up a horse drawn carriage to take you around the Old Town, which is certainly an experience you wouldn’t want to miss.
Marvel at the City of Arts and Sciences
When they drained the Turia river after a severe flood, they had two choices; turn it into a park or a highway. The highway would have made driving from Valencia airport to the city easier for me, but I can’t fault their choice, especially since the recent addition of The City of Arts and Sciences. This jaw dropping modern science park truly has something for everyone – an outstanding science museum, IMAX cinema, aquarium, dolphinarium, and underwater restaurant are amongst the many facilities on offer.
Shop at the Central Market
With over a thousand bustling food stalls to explore, the Central Market is the best place to sample local delicacies. Housed in a handsome modern building and decorated with colourful ceramic tiles, the stalls have plenty to offer to foodies on a holiday in Valencia, including fresh fruit, regional cheeses and wines, and the local speciality – paella.
See the Holy Grail at Valencia Cathedral
OK, no one can say for sure whether Valencia’s claim to be the resting place of the mythical Holy Grail is based on sound historical research, optimistic wishing, or a canny marketing play by the city’s tourist board. But in any case, the Valencia Cathedral is an unmissable highlight of the city. The mix of Roman, Gothic and Baroque architecture is fascinating, and (however authentic it may be) the golden chalice that hangs above the altar certainly looks the part – my Valencia shuttle passengers invariably rave about how exciting it was to see!
Carolina Pujol is a shuttle driver, driving from Valencia airport to city destinations and other routes for Shuttle Direct. They provide pre-booked shuttles to major destinations all over Europe. Wherever you travel, Shuttle Direct can make sure that you don’t miss your car on your holiday abroad.
The task of a shuttle driver transporting guests from Palermo airport to the city will ultimately involve discussions about the holiday the tourists will be about to have. Shuttle drivers learn an enormous amount about the regions they operate in, simply through chatting to their clients along the way. Giulio Monreotti discusses the knowledge he has gained about the Palermo tourist industry, and the best sites to see in the area.
I sometimes think of myself as somewhat of a tour guide, rather than just a shuttle driver taking people from Palermo airport to their hotels. Through my experiences of driving through the region, I have come to know Palermo like the back of my hand. I can tell you about the history of the area, and about the cathedrals and palaces that you can see there. I can tell you the best sites to visit which areas to avoid and where to have dinner. I see my task as being more than just providing a ride from the airport to Palermo, but rather as an educational trip where you can learn about the destination you have arrived in.
A Spiritual Guide
Being a shuttle driver, I have a lot of time to consider the best places to see as I drive past them so often from the airport to Palermo. In my opinion, the churches of Palermo are top of the list of sights to see, and they are both beautiful and peaceful.
When on a Palermo airport transfer, I often spend quite a bit of time advising my passengers on which churches to see. Palermo Cathedral, I tell them, is definitely worth a visit. It is a grand sight to behold, and this architectural complex shows a range of different styles. Being a passionate historian myself, I am fascinated by its history. It was erected in 1185 by Walter Ophamil, an Anglo-Norman archbishop of Palermo and King William II’s minister. Since its original development, it has been added to, altered and restored a countless number of times, creating a mixture of different architectural styles as they developed over the centuries.
I don’t get much time to visit this beautiful site myself, but I always recommend it to passengers when driving from the airport to Palermo. I think it’s a great way to spend a quiet afternoon, and it really captures the architecture of the region.
A Trip Fit For Kings
I always try to think of the sites I would like to see if I were a tourist in Palermo, and I try to inspire my passengers on their Palermo airport transfer before their holiday has even begun. Conjuring images of grandiosity and important historical events is the Palace of the Kings, Palazzo dei Normanni. The palace was created in the 9th century by the Emir of Palermo, and was to become the seat of the Kings of Sicily.
In the 12th century it was extended by King Roger II and the Norman Kings. It contains the Capella Palatina, full of wonderful mosaics, marble walls and elaborately fretted and painted ceilings. I’m really passionate about this site, and I talk about it on nearly every transfer from Palermo airport.
The castles of Zisa and Cuba are also worth going to see, the former houses used by the kings of Palermo for hunting. Zisa is particularly interesting because it houses an Islamic museum, and the history of Cuba is intriguing as it was formerly surrounded by water.
Entertainment at the Opera House
Many of my passengers on Palermo transfers haven’t yet planned their activities for every night. Being a fan of classical music, I often recommend an evening out at the Teatro Massimo, ‘Greatest Theatre,’ which is the largest Opera house in Italy, covering an area of 8 000 square meters. It opened in 1897, and has enjoyed an active performance schedule ever since. Enrico Caruso performed La Gioconda during the theatre’s opening season, and performed Rigoletto towards the end of his career.
As I say to all of my passengers on their drive from Palermo airport, Palermo is a culturally rich region, and the activities to focus on should give you insight into this dynamic cultural history.
Giulio Monreotti is a shuttle driver, driving from the airport to Palermo and other routes for Shuttle Direct. They provide pre-booked shuttles to major destinations all over Europe. Wherever you travel, Shuttle Direct can make sure that you don’t miss your car on your holiday abroad.
Learn more about some of the highlights of Almeria, one of the most exciting and fascinating cities on the Andalucian coast.
If you want to enjoy a mixture of city and beach, there are few better choices than Almeria. Located in the heart of Andalucía on the coast, it boasts the hottest and driest climate in Spain, and from the cultural highlights of the city to the long stretch of beach located nearby, it has plenty to offer its visitors. I’ve shuttled plenty of people from the airport to Almeria and back again, and I’ve rarely heard a bad word said against the city! I’ve also been told about and explored myself some of the highlights of the city – here are a few that you shouldn’t miss out on next time you are in Almeria.
The Sights of the City and Surrounding Areas
The most striking highlight of Almeria is the Alcazaba, a spectacular clifftop Moorish fortress that overlooks the city, and is the second largest. The fortress is a relic of Almeria’s Moorish heritage, as is the name of the city; in Arabic, it means “Mirror”, as in “Mirror of the Sea.”
But Almeria is no one hit wonder. The towering Catholic Cathedral, dating from the 16th century, is an unmissable highlight. The old town, with its traditional market and winding streets is always a big hit with visitors, and its version of La Rambla may not be as grand or as famous as Barcelona, but it is a great place to stroll along and while away a sunny afternoon.
I’d also recommend paying a visit to the gypsy quarter, its unique cave dwellings are really a strange sight to behold, and you can get further information on the mixed history of Almeria at the archaeological museum. The city has quite a story to tell – it was established as a Moorish fortress city, and in its time has been conquered by the Christians, raided by Berber pirates, and shelled by the Germans in the Spanish Civil War!
The scenic town of Mojacar, situated near Almeria, is definitely worth a visit. Mojacar has a long history stretching over 4000 years and has been populated by the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Greeks and Moors. It was under Moor rule that it really began to flourish, an imposing castle was built and the town walls were expanded and fortified. However, a Muslim town in the midst of a Christian country is suffered many brutal incursions and I’m always keen to regale my tourists with stories of these during the journey from airport to Almeria.
Mojacar is now home to more than 17km of sandy beaches and notable sights include La Iglesia de Santa Maria, a 14th Century fortress and The Old Customs House where visitors were taxed during the 18th Century for the pleasure of visiting the town. I’d make a tidy profit during my Almeria airport transfers if this procedure were still enforced today.
Beautiful Cuisine
I am often asked to drive to the scenic town of Roquetas when conducting my Almeria airport transfers and it’s so hard not to stop the car and run into one of the town’s delicious seafood restaurants. Visitors often ask to me to recommend them a local dish, and without fail, I always suggest the regions speciality of lobster and rice. The town is known for both its gastronomy and antiquated fishing traditions so it seems particularly fitting to recommend a seafood dish.
Soak Up the Sun
Whenever I drive people from the airport to Almeria city, I’m always sure to mention that the main beach in the city is almost entirely nudist. For some people this will be an added attraction for Almeria – for others, it’ll be an embarrassing place they’d rather avoid! It’s a gorgeous beach (with plenty of gorgeous people on it!) but if you’d prefer to sunbathe in more conservative fashion, a visit to one of the nearby resorts (see nearby attractions) will be ideal.
However, if you don’t mind the idea of baring all then the resort of Vera Playa will definitely appeal to you. Vera Playa is known as the world’s best naturist resort and it houses over 2,000 naturist apartments and even a four-star naturist hotel. Even the streets of Vera Playa are no-clothes zones, which can take some getting used too!
Nearby Attractions
There’s plenty to keep you occupied in Almeria itself, but there’s plenty in the local area if you’d like to explore further afield. The Andalucían coastline is teeming with outstanding resorts, with Aguadulce, Almerimar to the west and Mojacar to the east. All of them are excellent options if you’d like to visit a traditional beach resort town; many of my Almeria airport transfer passengers choose to combine a few days in the city itself with a break on one of the coastal resorts. And if cities are more your thing, vibrant and diverse Granada is just a few hours away – ask me nicely, and I might just give you a discount when I drive you there!
Carolina Pujol is a shuttle driver, driving from Almeria airport to Almeria city and other routes for Shuttle Direct. They provide pre-booked shuttles to major destinations all over Europe. Wherever you travel, Shuttle Direct can make sure that you don’t miss your car on your holiday abroad.