Tom L
What it's like to fly during COVID-19 pandemic ...

Unfortunately, the year 2020 has been the worst of all for all those who loved or had to travel. Many airlines went bankrupt as well as other travel companies. It was the first year when we didn’t travel at all until now. Recently, some flights have resumed and some restrictions eased. However, we can never be sure if that doesn’t change in the near future. In this post I will describe what it’s like to fly during the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. I also want to add that the flight I took was not for leisure or vacation.

What it's like to fly during COVID-19 pandemic restrictions
Tom L
How to Visit National Parks in the US if You ...

Ever wanted to visit the magnificent National Parks of the western USA? That might be complicated if you can't drive or don't have too much time. However, there is one solution - we have visited 8 of the most important National Parks in 9 days - yes it was rushed and exhausting, but the experience was unreal. Here's how we did it with all the pros and cons.

It was always my dream to see the Grand Canyon and the other exceptionally magnificent National Parks and canyons in Utah and Arizona, such as: Bryce, Antelope Canyon, Arches and Monument Valley. Finally, having had visited nearly 70 countries, I planned a trip to the USA. We didn’t have too much time - only 9 days and we couldn’t drive. So, the only option was, as a last resort, an organized tour. Something we always try to avoid. How did it go? How much did it cost? Was it efficient? What were the downsides and upsides of such a journey?

How to Visit National Parks in the US if You Don't Drive and Don't Have Too Much Time
Tom L
Best Hike in Slovenian Alps - Triglav Lakes ...

Slovenia is mostly known for the amazing lake Bled. Few actually know what this tiny country hides one of the most spectacular Alpine valleys - the Triglav Lakes valley. The purest rivers and mountainous lakes surrounded by silver rocky peaks and karst formations can be found here. Don’t miss this incredible hiking trail - stay a few days more in Slovenia and enjoy the best of what nature has to offer. Contrary to similar places of this sort in neighboring countries (Italy, Austria, Croatia), you won’t find crowds here - therefore the whole area seems even more enjoyable. In this post I’ll describe the trail and how we got here from lake Bled and continued onwards to the Soca River valley.

Best Hike in Slovenian Alps - Triglav Lakes Valley (part 1)
Tom L
What You Must Know Before Traveling to Egypt in ...

Are you wondering if it's safe to travel to Egypt? Besides the amazing ancient monuments and great fun, these are the not so great things you must be aware of before traveling to Egypt. It's better to be prepared rather than disappointed.

I traveled to nearly 70 countries before Egypt, therefore I’d had some expectations and thought I had prepared myself mentally before visiting the lands of pharaoh. Nevertheless, many things still managed to surprise me in Egypt. The following part is based on my subjective experiences and may differ from what others experienced. However, I would like to share what it was like to follow the trail of ancient Egyptians - from Cairo down to the Sudanese border. I haven’t been to the resorts, so I can’t comment on that.

What You Must Know Before Traveling to Egypt in 2020
Tom L
How to get to Uvac River Canyon, Serbia (if you ...

A couple of years back, we visited the Serbian capital - Belgrade. And to be honest, it wasn't my favorite city in the Balkans - you can read my post here. This year, we decided to go back and rediscover Serbia again. Not only did we give Balgrade another chance but also wanted to see some other places in this little Balkan country. One of them was the beautiful Uvac River Canyon - a place that can be tricky to get to and is virtually unknown among tourists outside of Serbia. In this article I'll focus mainly on how to reach the Uvac River Canyon by public transport (if you cannot drive). I will also show the exact points of the maps where to start the hike if you have your own car and where the best viewpoints are.

How to get to Uvac River Canyon, Serbia (if you don't drive)

Amazing Trip to Crimson Red Katutau Mountains, Altyn Emel National Park, Kazakhstan

Amazing Trip to Crimson Red Katutau Mountains, Altyn Emel National Park, Kazakhstan

The diversity and natural beauty of the vast Altyn Emel National Park in southern Kazakhstan is nearly impossible to express by just using words, and even photographs don't give it justice. You just have to be there yourself! After visiting golden, desert like "singing" sand dunes with spectacular views over mountainous peaks (I'll describe it soon), we set off on another journey through the rugged and deserted yet surprisingly colorful Katutau and Aktau Mountains. Our final destination was the latter, we had stopped at Katutau first in the morning. Although we went to both places in one day, I decided to split the trip into two posts because of the variety of rock formations and scenic landscapes we had encountered. I hope you'll enjoy it as, I think, you can hardly find any other blogger who would write about it.

Ostuni, Puglia, Italy - The White City

Ostuni, Puglia, Italy - The White City

Ostuni is a unique town that resembles a bright cap rising up right from the flat plains near the southern coast of Italy. Its whitewashed defensive walls and houses inside the old town with many winding streets, steps and beautifully decorated, colorful window frames can make you think you're somewhere in Greece. Although Ostuni is one of the main attractions in Puglia, it's less known than Polignano a Mare or Alberobello famous for its cone-shaped Truli houses. And the whole region of Puglia, in turn, is not as popular as, let's say, Tuscany but it's definitely not less worth a visit - so do include it in your itinerary to Italy - especially in the winter time.

Shark Diving in South Africa - The Experience, Expectations and Reality

Shark Diving in South Africa - The Experience, Expectations and Reality

South Africa is definitely a destination for adventure lovers. After climbing the Lion's Head and the Table Mountain, enjoying safari in the Kruger Park and the bungee jump on the way to the Blyde River Canyon, there was one more thing we'd always wanted to do - shark cage diving. It sounds dangerous but anyway, we thought you have only one life and decided to go for it.
If, like us, before we did it, you'd wonder if the shark diving is like in those professional videos on youtube where the whole cage is submerged and the sharks are swimming all around you - the answer is no. In order not to be disillusioned, take a look at this post and I'll show you what it's really like.

Is Moscow Safe? What Is the Russian Capital Really Like?

Is Moscow Safe? What Is the Russian Capital Really Like?

Moscow is the mighty capital of Russia and one of Europe's largest cities. Having read many articles on various blogs and posts about Moscow versus St. Petersburg, I had expected Moscow to have a more rigid, cold and Soviet-style ambience while St. Petersburg was meant to be more European, grandeur and sophisticated. And maybe that's true - St. Petersburg can be easily compared to the large and famous European cities - like Paris or London. Many of the travelers do prefer it to Moscow. For me, however, it was Moscow that appeared more exciting and interesting - maybe because I'm from Europe and the Russian capital was way different to what I was used to.

Fira - Why Not Stay Too Long in the Main Town and Port in Santorini, Greece

Fira - Why Not Stay Too Long in the Main Town and Port in Santorini, Greece

Fira is the capital and the first point of entry to the island of Santorini, if you arrive there by sea. You might think that's the town where you will see the most famous, postcard views of the island - especially the blue domes that look so wonderful against the sunset or the whitewashed houses tightly squeezed with the beautiful windmills overlooking them. This is what we had thought. However, Fira is not where you'll find those spectacular views - it's a port town and has a bit more local feel to it. It's Oia that boasts the most spectacular views in Santorini. Here, in this post, I want to show you the photos from Fira and in the next one - Oia, so you can sense the difference and plan your trip according to what you'd like to see.

Recife, Brazil - What to See in the Capital of Pernambuco State

Recife, Brazil - What to See in the Capital of Pernambuco State

Recife is one of the largest and most important cities in the northern part of Brazil. It's the capital of Pernambuco state which, although offers amazing natural and cultural attractions, is pretty unknown to an ordinary visitor from abroad. I hadn't had any expectations about Recife, thinking it's another big city filled tightly with the forest of high-rise buildings. Even though we were only passing through Recife, having no plans to stay there longer, it surprised us in a nice way - especially the old historical center and the beautiful waterfront.

What to See in Vaeroy, Lofoten, Norway - One of the Most Unique Islands in the World

What to See in Vaeroy, Lofoten, Norway - One of the Most Unique Islands in the World

The island of Vaeroy - a part of Lofoten Islands - was our first stop in this indescribable archipelago. Because of the warm waters of the Gulf Stream, although located within the Arctic Circle, Lofoten's climate is pretty mild. And Vaeroy, detached from the other, tightly squeezed islands and completely surrounded by the sea, is even warmer - snow rarely stays on the ground for long. It's unbelievable how beautiful and diverse the island is considering its tiny size. It has everything - a cozy town, the mountains, cliffs and paradise beaches - it's a tiny, concentrated mini version of the entire Lofoten archipelago - a perfect starter before exploring the rest of Lofoten.

Top 10 Countries to Visit in 2017

Top 10 Countries to Visit in 2017

One more year has passed and made us all richer in new experiences. Just like in 2015 and 2016, based on our trips and journeys, I'd like to present yet another list of the exciting and adventurous destinations to see in 2017. It was tempting to feature some of the places from the previous two lists because I believe they are so awesome that should be visited anytime, but somehow I managed to include only new destinations. Do see, however, the lists from 2015 and 2016 as well and get inspired to discover amazing and off the beaten path places!