Traveling along the southern coast of Albania literally made my jaw drop. I had not expected at all what I was going to see. Paradise, completely unspoiled beaches, clearest sea possible, superb food and accommodation at ridiculously low prices, friendliest locals I'd ever met... I thought nothing else was able to surprise me. Then, we reached Gjirokaster - a little Ottoman town which turned out to be breathtakingly unique not only in Albania but in the whole Europe. It could easily compete with the French or Italian equivalents - in Gjirokaster you'll see the most beautifully decorated houses covered with original stone roof tiles, authentic, perfectly well maintained old town with cobblestone, winding little streets and... literally zero tourists!
Lake Kaindy, Kazakhstan - One Of The Most Unique Lakes In The World
Lake Kaindy in southern Kazakhstan is one of the newest and most unique natural wonders on our planet. Although literally unknown in the West, if it was located in any European country, it would be its best tourist attraction. Especially beautiful in the fall (autumn), Lake Kaindy boasts not only exceptionally attractive blue color of water and snowy rocky mountains surrounding it but also the unique, silver trunks of dead spruce sticking out of the lake's surface. The "flooded forest" is indeed one of the natural landmarks of Kazakhstan. It all creates a fairy-tale like scenery, not seen anywhere else.
Discover Rural England
England is without a doubt an eclectic mix of beautiful patchwork hills, stunning coastlines, historic buildings and ruins, quaint market towns and national parks. As a result there are plenty of things to keep you occupied. Here are some top places that you just might want to visit for the perfect rural escape
Tirana, Albania - A Visit In The Most Peculiar European Capital
Tirana - the capital of Albania. Despite the nearby Adriatic coast and super popular countries like Italy, Croatia and Greece among which Albania is sandwiched, this little Balkan country receives very few foreign visitors. Those who end up in Tirana, usually claim that it is unattractive and give up any attempts to explore Albania further. What a mistake this is! Paradise beaches, unique, cozy little towns of Berat and Gjirokaster, crystar clear turquoise lakes and spectacular mountains are waiting for those who stray from the beaten path. I must agree, though, that Tirana indeed pales in comparison with those wonderful sites mentioned above. However, if you look closer and make a little effort to understand its history, the city's overall image changes in a positive way.
Ko Phi Phi Islands, Thailand - All The Pros And Cons Of This "Lost Paradise"
Ko Phi Phi Islands are the main landmark and the most popular tourist destination in Thailand. It's just a piece of heaven on Earth - it's exactly the way you can see it on the postcards or wallpapers featuring exotic beaches. And it really is that idyllic and full of colors - the water is perfectly turquoise and crystal clear, the sand is soft and immaculately white and the surrounding limestone cliffs create "the gate" to paradise. Nature is always flawlessly beautiful - but it couldn't be all so perfect, could it? There are, obviously, some faults in this must-see Thailand's attraction. And they are all caused by us - humans. Read on about my experience in Ko Phi Phi, find out how to avoid the scams and what's the best way to visit the islands.
Petra in Jordan - Part 2 - The Roman Center And The Trail To The Monastery (Ad-Deir)
As I mentioned in the first part, the ancient rock city of Petra has so much more to offer than the most popular monument - the Treasury. Around the Treasury, you can admire other, unique to the Nabataean style enormous structures carved in the rose rock and the short but steep trail to the High Place of Sacrifice. In this part I will describe all the rest - The Roman part of Petra with its impressive Colonnaded Street, the most important Nabataean Temple Qasr al-Bint and the extraordinarily attractive trail to the carved from the rock wall Monastery (Ad-Deir) located on top of the nearby hill. Besides the spectacular Monastery, the whole site also boasts unreal views over the Martian mountainous desert.
Why Belgrade, Serbia Is The Least Attractive Capital In The Balkans
As you know from my earlier posts, the Balkans is my favorite region in Europe and maybe in the entire world. It's cultural diversity, interesting, unique architecture, cozy towns, spectacular mountains, unspoiled paradise beaches and superb food speak for themselves. And with all that to offer - very few typical foreign tourists come here. Thanks to this, the area is kept authentic - in contrast to some other "plastic" destinations filled with tonnes of cheap souvenirs made in China to attract the masses. However, the capital cities of the Balkans seem to be not that appealing. This is probably because of the turbulent history and damage the region suffered in recent times. Nevertheless, some cities, like Tirana, Pristina, Skopje or Ljubljana - although definitely less attractive than the rest of the countries they are in - are at least interesting, different, with a nice vibe. Belgrade, in turn, seemed cold, concrete and soulless to me. But that doesn't mean that there's nothing to see there.
Discover Montenegro’s beaches, natural beauty and culture
Montenegro isn’t a place that is on the usual tourist trail. In fact it’s a country that many of us know very little about. Formerly part of Yugoslavia, the tiny Adriatic nation has only been independent since 2006 and rarely gets mentioned in international news. In the next couple of months, though, anyone with an interest in international football betting will see Montenegro’s name popping up on the odds, as the country faces Moldova, Austria and Russia in the Euro 2016 qualifiers, which are taking place throughout September and October.
But though the country might be unfamiliar, there’s a growing number of travellers who are making their way to see what Montenegro has to offer and the majority are finding it to be full of interesting things to see and do.
Is Lake Ohrid Worth Visiting? Thoughts About Macedonia's Best Summer Hot Spot
Macedonia is a tiny country in the middle of the Balkans. It isn't featured in any articles about tourism and no one knows anything about. Similarly to its neighbors (Kosovo, Albania), it's left out by holiday makers heading on to Greece. I, however, love to go against the grain and visit those places that are hidden are almost always skipped by ordinary tourists. So, I chose Macedonia! Although I came from the north (all the way from Slovenia), the first place I stayed in Macedonia was the southern town of Ohrid near Albania and Greece. The Balkans are so diverse that every town and every region has its own unique flavor and distinctive architecture. After virtually spotless Slovenia, Macedonia seemed a bit chaotic and messy. But Lake Ohrid enchanted me so much I didn't want to leave.
Pokhara, Nepal - The Easiest Way to Himalayas
Pokhara is the second largest city in Nepal, located at the foot of the Himalayan Annapurna Range. It may be quite difficult to get to the starting point of the Mount Everest Base Camp Trek as there are no roads there from Kathmandu but that's not the case with Pokhara where you'll see spectacular mountainous peaks as if they were in front of you. It's also very easy to get closer to the Himalayas and start hiking the beautiful, fairy tale-like, full of blooming rhododendrons Poon Hill loop trail, or more advanced Annapurna Base Camp trek. If you're lucky with the weather, you can spot the most beautiful, snowy, "Fish Tail" mountain which rises almost 7000 meters above sea level (original name: Machhapuchchhre - yes, the spelling is kind of crazy) right away from Pokhara's center.