January to March: travel less

This is the wet cyclone season. If there’s a cyclone interesting Mauritius, you’ll have a high chance to meet it when if you go in the first 3 months of the year. Even without a cyclone, it’s the wet season and rain is more probable to occur, especially in the interior. I’m not talking of torrential rain for days but it will rain, probably also for a few consecutive days.
Being in the middle of Mauritius’ summer, temperatures are also high (around 30°C) which, with the high humidity given by the rain, makes it for a sweating day.

So regardless of the cyclone presence, the climate in this period is not conducive to a good vacation. The answer to when to travel to Mauritius is clearly not January-March.

November to April: humid summer

So, together with the first 3 months of the year, the end of the calendar year and April make for the Mauritian summer. It’s hot, 30°C or more during the day, it occasionally rains on the coast and pretty often in the interior. Plus, many tourists from the Southern Hemisphere have days off work and obviously Mauritius is a wonderful place to spend the holidays in.
Expect thus to find a very warm ocean water, hot and humid climate and plenty of tourists. The interior will be at its wettest so if you’re aiming at doing trekking or hiking the terrain will be more difficult, even swampy in some points. Probably not your best bet.

Also consider the winds from the east that usually bring the rain: the east coast will be subjected to them and will be cooler. This may be a boon if you don’t tolerate the hottest temperature.

Last advice: prices for accommodation may be higher then usual during the Mauritian summer. Tour operators will leverage on the fact that it is summer there, despite not being dry, and will charge you more for the same packages. Be aware of this.

May to October: a very warm winter

From May, the rain subsides, reaching its lowest of the year between June and September, the middle of winter for the Southern Hemisphere but peak summer for the Northern one. Accordingly, most tourists you will find during these months will be from the north side of the Earth, Europeans, Canadians, Americans, some Chinese and Japanese and so on. Their number won’t probably be very high as, as said previously, tour operators promote Mauritius more during their summer and when it’s summer in the Northern Hemisphere tourists are discouraged to make the trip to Mauritius.

This is a mistake. The weather is still very warm, 25-26°C at least during the day, feeling 3-4 degrees more under the sun; sun itself is hot anyway and there’s no much wind to refresh you, but, again, for the east coast that is windier than the west one. I chose an hotel on the north coast for my visit and there was a constant breeze, with only one day with a true wind. The evenings only were somewhat chilly, along the lines of 15-16°C at their worst, which should make you pack a light jacket or a cotton sweater for the coldest nights.
But that’s about it. There is no risk of a cyclone, no much rain as the Mauritian winter is the driest period of the year, the island isn’t overcrowded and sea and air temperatures are still within the range of what could be considered “summer” anywhere else.

My suggestion is thus to go after May but before the end of October if you can. Bring something to cover yourself for the nights and, perhaps, avoid the east coast if you dislike the wind but go, as it is the best period of the year to stay in Mauritius.

In conclusion,  to answer the original question: when to travel to Mauritius? From May to October.

Discover more : Top things to do in Mauritius

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Therefore, what to avoid when in Mauritius?

Port Louis

I bet it’s nobody’s first thought visiting the Mauritian capital when first thinking about travelling to this Indian Ocean island. Indeed Port Louis is a mostly modern city, with plenty of unimpressive roads, traffic, modern skyscrapers and poor areas. It’s not downright ugly and indeed has its charm but it’s far from being one of the best places in Mauritius.
First of all, it’s mostly full of cars, at any time of the day and night. If you are coming here by taxi or your own car, expect lots of traffic. Not a great welcome being stuck half an hour in the highways surrounding Port Louis, you can imagine.

Secondly, the few attractions that are usually advertised are not that great. There’s the fort up the hill overlooking Port Louis, from which you can admittedly have a nice view of a large part of the city, but it’s a military fort, with a handful, at most, rooms open to the visitors and a walk on the walls is the highlight of the whole visit. Not enough to warrant a taxi trip up the hill. It can be nice for a few pictures from above, and little else.

The other attraction that is often advertised is the Central Market, just a couple of turns from the port. I’d say it is not as good as you can expect. It is quite small, it can be visited it all in 10 minutes, and not as vibrant and colourful as many other markets in tropical countries. There’s little food to buy, barely any street food to try and many souvenirs for tourists, a sign that it is far from an unique and genuine experience. Most sellers will of course overcharge you the second they realize you’re a tourist, making it pointless to come here to strike a good deal. Personally I’ve seen much more intriguing markets in the middle of the old Europe than this one.

The rest of Port Louis offers only a few Hindu temples here and there, a nothing-to-write-home-about port area and marina and a couple of historically interesting building. Way too little in total to be worth spending half a day or more to visit the city. I would have happily avoided it altogether and not have missed any bit of it.

Dolphin watching tours

It may seems weird to list a speedboat tour to watch dolphins in their natural habitat in the list of what to avoid in Mauritius. Who doesn’t like dolphins after all?

Well, the issue here is not that the tours are bad per se. You will have plenty to choose from as local travel agencies and touts will approach you everywhere, even right in your hotel’s beach as the beaches are public in Mauritius, but the ethics of such tours. To make you watch dolphins from very close they use speed boats to be able to match the animals’ speed and scare them into a specific direction, so they’re cornered and need to stop or slow down. Then you can take a dip with them, or without as they will probably wander away before you can be in close contact. The issue here is that wild dolphins are not used to the human’s presence and will be stressed out by one, or multiple, speed boats chasing them for hours in their natural environment.

It is not surprising that most of those encounters end up with a bunch of tourists on a boat jumping into the waters only to discover dolphins are moving away as soon as they notice them. Repeat this multiple times over a few hours. I find it very hard to believe animals enjoy being chased and have heard that some tour operators actually use multiple speed boats to scare the dolphins towards the speed boat with tourists on, so they can watch the animals closer and for longer. That is a practice that I personally can’t condone. In any case, not all tour operators do it and I am sure plenty of Mauritian ones don’t.

Same applies to whales tours, of which I heard some use audio impulses to prod the whales in a specific direction. That sounds quite a questionable practice to me, and one I wouldn’t be involved in.

Whatever you think of these kind of tours, do your own research before booking. To me they are not worth the money and time, nor the risk that you are stressing highly intelligent animals. To each his/her own of course, feel free to book one if you really want but do make sure the tour is a reliable and honest one, with great care for the well-being of animals and not one promising the moon. The chance of being deluded is often high.

Casela World of Adventures

The Casela Park in the south-west area of Mauritius is one of the most popular attractions on the island. Not only it offers a large zoo, in a mostly open-air environment and with animals that live in a climate not far from their original ones, but it has also a few slides for children, games for the whole family, a petting area with domesticated animals and, especially, a vast safari zone to watch wild animals, imported from Africa, in their complete freedom. The vastness of the park requires at least half a day to visit it, as you will have to go through an aviary, a few pools with fishes, a normal zoo with monkeys, rhino, hippopotamus, giraffes and the petting area before taking the collective bus and do the proper safari (which alone takes 45 minutes to start and experience).

It goes without saying that as animals are held in captivity, you may be against it from the start and add Casela World Of Adventures to the list of what to avoid in Mauritius. I’m with you here, I don’t like seeing animals in cages. On the contrary, you may feel like this is a great attraction (and it is very well organized and kept indeed) and worth your money and time. Fine.

What is instead much more controversial is the fact that most animals are captured in Africa at a young age and then kept for years at the park, with a questionable use of sedatives and canes to “educate” them to not be aggressive with tourists. There are plenty of reviews on TripAdvisor that are quite scary for those concerned with the health of the animals. All to allow you to “pet” the big felines at the park and walk for a while with them. I guess for many people a good photo on Instagram caressing a lion is worth all this but for me no, it is not. It should never be worth making animals live in a prison for humans’ enjoyment, nor actually torturing them to make them less wild.

The phenomenon is not limited to Casela nor Mauritius. Watch the documentary “Blood Lions“ if you have some time. Get informed and then decide if you want to give money to a company with questionable activities towards animals. I did visit the Casela Park but did not want to pay more to interact with the felines there, just watching the more docile animals. In some way it made me feel less responsible for their well-being, or lack thereof, but admittedly I wouldn’t go back now that I am more informed about what they possibly do with wild animals. My suggestions would be to avoid Casela Park altogether and spend a day more in the gorgeous Black River Gorges Park nearby or hiking on Le Morne. There you can admire less animals but more of the nature of the island, without risking giving money to questionable businesses.

Anything else to avoid in Mauritius?

Not really. I avoided spending much time around Grand Baie as it is very touristic but the Casino and plenty of open-air bars near the beach can provide lots of fun. Most of the interior areas of the island are unimpressive but I doubt many tourists would like to spend their vacation there anyway.

Stick with the beaches instead (plenty of them to choose from), explore the Black River Gorges Park area thoroughly (the 7 Coloured Earth, the Ganga Talao, the Chamarel waterfall and tea plantations) and enjoy the diverse cuisine. There’s a lot to admire in Mauritius without having to compromise your ethics or spend a lot for touristic stuff that can be easily found elsewhere.

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Luckily for the locals, Mauritius offers plenty of them. Unluckily for the tourists, not missing any requires some planning. These are the top 8 places not to miss in Mauritius.

Le Morne

The most famous view, a postcard of Mauritius as a whole and a truly stunning image that you’ll keep in your mind for years to come. The massive Le Morne mountain is just mere metres from the coast and a long beach, a public one too. Bathing under its shadow is a must for anybody coming to Mauritius.
The beach is facing westward so you’ll have the mountain right on your back. On the northern and southern coast of the small peninsula Le Morne is on there are private, hotel’s, beaches. It may be worth choosing one of the hotels here if your main reason for a trip to Mauritius is staying on a beach as it is one of the best spots you may lay down to suntan on the island. None of the hotels here are cheap though so be ready to splurge.

Be aware that the sea currents here are really strong and none should try to swim more than a few meters off the coast unless an expert swimmer. I didn’t dare to go farther than a dozen metres, as the water was carrying me away very quickly as soon as I stopped swimming. No place for little children then.

It is also possible to climb Le Morne itself. The path begins on the southern side of the mountain and it is perilous towards the end. Not advisable to attempt on a rainy day (and regardless, the view from the top will be minimal anyway, obscured by thick clouds). It is possible to pay a guide to climb with you but I didn’t ask as it was a very dark day nor I’m a fan of climbing in general. It is absolutely advisable to hire one though. Most definitely at your hotel know of an agency that can organize a hike up Le Morne.

Being positioned on the southwest corner of Mauritius, the view from Le Morne encompasses both the western and the south coast at the same time. A 360° picture is due here. The coral reef isn’t very far from the beach, if you want to pay a boat trip to snorkel there.

Ile aux Cerfs

Speaking of great places to take a swim and relax on a beach, Ile Aux Cerfs has nothing to envy to Le Morne. There are no mountains here, just 2 small, flat, islands, covered by trees. Both can be reached with a short motorboat trip from the nearby Trou D’Eau Doce: no more than 5 minutes of crossing the Indian Ocean and you’ll be dropped on a postcard of an island, whether it will be the proper Ile Aux Cerfs or the northern companionship, Ilot Mangenie. Both are typical tropical luxury.
You can walk all around the islands but for a few parts that are occupied by hotels. Technically you are allowed to walk on the beach of the hotels too but it is frowned upon by the owners. Still there’s plenty of space to walk around, interact with the fauna (turtles can be spotted here, along with hundreds of birds). Unfortunately it is a meta for many tourists and if you stay close to where your boat brought you, you’ll share the beach with a crowd. Not all of them are respectful of the environment and I fear in future the island will go from one of the “places not to miss in Mauritius” to one of “places that are ruined by mass tourism in Mauritius”. I do hope to be proven wrong.

Go then before it is too late and the island lose the wild feeling it has.

Cap Malhereux

You may remember this place by the red rooftop church nearby the sea. It is not one of the most popular places in Mauritius, which means it is very quiet. The church is picturesquely demodé but being it mere metres from the sea, on the north-west side of the island, it means it is one of the places not to miss for a picture at sunset over the sea.
The bay is devoid of shops and hotels, with just a couple of bars and food vendors around. It is all relatively secluded, calm and relaxing. The place has a beauty of the past eras that makes it one of the places not to miss in Mauritius, especially as an escape from the nearby mass tourism of Grand Bay.

Pereybere Beach

Next to the more famous Grand Bay, there’s Pereybere beach. Similar, same round-shaped bay, but way less crowded and without the noise and crowd that frequents Grand Bay, which I personally found off-putting. I am not travelling thousands of kilometers just to find fast food joints, casinos and cheap clothes shops. Anyway.
Waters are as clear as the bigger neighbor but there are far less boats anchored in the bay. For some reason the local government allows a lot of private boats to populate Grand Bay, despite being available a lot of other safe bays nearby. That detracts from its beauty and makes me suggest to come here, to Pereybere beach, for your needs of a good beach on the northern coast of Mauritius.

L’Aventure du Sucre

Sugar has a long story of production and exporting in Mauritius. In Pamplemousses, right in the center of the island, there’s an ex sugar farm converted in museum of sugar, L’Aventure du Sucre. Here you can learn all about sugar, from the origin of the plant to its growing, production and distribution. At the end, a small shop sells copious amounts of it, with the chance of tasting all the flavours, from the whitest sugar to the extremely dark ones. This sugar tasting experience alone is worth the price of the ticket. But there’s not only that, obviously.
If it was only a museum about sugar, it could be interesting only to a limited audience and I would not put in this list of what not to miss in Mauritius. Instead, L’Aventure du Sucre has a wealth of information about Mauritius’ history, with old photos, clothes, tools, books, old maps and multimedia games to learn a great deal about the island. It is a trove for historians or curious that can easily keep you busy half a day.

I’d strongly suggest to spend at least 2 hours here to come back home having learnt about the island that hosted you for the vacation. It is the best place to do so as it is also fun and not a classic museum. The fact that the visit concludes with a very good souvenir shop, with sugar and rum tasting (for free) makes it all the more worthwhile. You won’t regret coming here

Blue Bay

Mauritius has great beaches all around: in the north there’s Pereybere and Grand Bay, in the east Ile aux Cerfs, in the west Flic en Flac and Le Morne. And in the south there’s Blue Bay.
Mostly renowned for its namesake blue water, it is also the most famous place to spot dolphins as here they come closer than anywhere else to the coast. I personally didn’t see any but there’s plenty of fishes that come mere meters from the ground and have no issues swimming around you. Water is indeed very blue and the coral barrier is at its nearest, making it an easy trip by boat if you want to see it closer. A paradise for snorkeling.

The bay itself is big enough to host many swimmers and you have the possibility to take a glass bottom boat or a short ferry to the other side of the bay. The only disturbance may be the occasional airplane landing at the airport but if you don’t come during high season it will be truly minimal (I spotted 1 airplane landing in 3 hours). Thus, relax can be had here.

Chamarel and the Black River Gorges Park

All the most photographed (and Instagrammed) places of Mauritius are in this area: the Chamarel Waterfall
Alexandra Falls, Ganga Talao. If you add the nearby Le Morne, basically all the unmissable places are in this south-western corner of the island. Choosing an hotel in this area is your best bet if you’re planning to extensively exploring it.

Small word of advice for the waterfalls: visit them on a sunny day. Whereas weather in Mauritius can be unpredictable and make any moment of your trip a wet experience, try to plan your visit of the Black River Gorges Park and Chamarel area when there is hardly any cloud in the sky as it is enough to have a drizzle to ruin the view of both waterfalls. The cloud and humidity in the area will block the view that you need to have clear across the fall to admire the waterfalls.

That’s what happened to me when visiting Alexandra Falls. You have your explanation why there’s not a picture of it in this post, unfortunately.

The Seven Coloured Earth are less affected by the eventual rain. They are way bigger than I imagined from the pictures. I suggest you to take a drink, the espresso here is good, at the bar overlooking the area and take your pictures from it, in the highest point that is still close to the coloured terrain. You may take some time caressing the couple of Aldabra tortoises that are kept nearby the unavoidable souvenir shops but they look pretty derelict, to be honest. Showing some appreciation may enlighten their day though.

The whole Chamarel area is full of trekking paths that can take days to be explored in full. It is THE place to go trekking in Mauritius. I sadly had no time to indulge in such activity but, again, on a non-rainy day it would be splendid to spend hours walking among the tropical forest. There are clear signposts for the paths to take if you enter the Black River Gorges Park from the north or east. Following them is straightforward.

If time allows you, setting aside 2 full days to explore this area is a great idea. Mauritius is not just beaches but has a large biodiversity and an amazing tropical forest; spending the right amount of time wandering around the forest is important to have a full idea of what Mauritius is made of. Another activity not to miss in Mauritius.

Ganga Talao

As you may be aware, Mauritius is a multicultural nation, with people of European, Indian, Chinese, African and Arab descent living all together, mostly without issues. The relative majority of the population (48,5%) is Hindu, due to the vast labor importing and immigration from India that happened during British rule of the island.

It is then of no wonder that there are hindu temples all around the island. Ganga Talao is simply the most spectacular one.

Its name meaning “lake of Ganga” due to a supposedly connection with the Gange River back in India, Ganga Talao, also known as Grand Bassin, is a lake in the middle of the Black River Gorges Park. It has a large temple on its shore, reachable from the road that cuts west-east the park, after a few short staircases. On the horizon from the temple you can see two huge statues, of Lord Shiva and Durga Mata Murti, by far the tallest statues on the island.

The amount of animals, fishes, dogs and cats, roaming the temple and the lake, the quietness of the atmosphere of the park, the luxuriant vegetation of the tropical forest enveloping the temple, the smell of incense and the large statues as the backdrop of it all makes Ganga Talao one of the most unexpected places you can find on the island and surely one of the ones not to miss in Mauritius. If anything, it is a good detachment from the more touristic and beach-oriented places and a dive in the local culture.

These are my top 8 places not to miss in Mauritius. Some didn’t make the cut because they weren’t that impressive, and others were a let down. But these are for another article

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Don’t get me wrong though: Santorini is wonderful and one of the best looking places I’ve ever been. I don’t regret even for a second to have been there (twice) and I’d happily return another time again in the future. The amount of amazing corners and lovely views that can be had on this Greek island is unparalleled.

Yet I noticed how some negatives I found about it are rarely, if at all, named. Unfortunately, a few can easily mar your experience of the island so I believe it is important to visit it prepared, knowing what to avoid and how to best experience it. Santorini isn’t cheap and it would be a waste of money to not at least enjoy it.

Therefore, arm yourself with my list of What Nobody Tells You About Santorini.

Santorini is expensive

It comes to no wonder to anybody, true. You can’t have russian milionaries coming to an island to spend their, aplenty, money without them raising the prices for everybody. So don’t be surprised if you find yourself paying 8€ for an ice cream or 3€ for an espresso. I didn’t dabble in alcoholic drinks but I bet we are in the 9-10€ range. At least. Yes. It’s that expensive. Outrageously expensive.

Santorini – view of the Caldera
Santorini – view of the Caldera
Still, the island is unique and truly beautiful so you may find those prices to be justified. I personally don’t. What is important is that coming to Santorini means not thinking too much about how much money you are letting get out of your purse otherwise you won’t enjoy the island.

Crowded is an understatement

Beautiful places are popular and popular places get crowded. There’s no way around this. In the case of Santorini though, it is worse. The island is small, measuring just 73km², and 90% of all tourists concentrate in the areas of Fira and Oia, which are themselves no more than little towns (the whole population of the island is around 15000 people).

It all means you have all the elements for a very difficult experience in visiting Santorini: small area, small towns, tiny touristic areas and lots of tourists (2 millions each year). It can easily become hell. Crowded bars, a few restaurants don’t have free seats at peak hour, threads of tourists coming and going, mostly using the same 3-4 roads, groups of people trying to take pictures in the very same places because the best views over the Caldera are from those and so on. No wonder that most photographer take those great postcards’ pictures off season or at dawn.

I admit, I loathed visiting Santorini because of the sheer amount of people present in the same place, at the same moment. The first time I didn’t expect it to be so bad but the second I had to rush through some parts because I couldn’t stand wading through the crowd anymore.

The only advice possible here is come early in the morning or before, or later, the high season kicks in. Early June or late September, if you want still it to be summer-ish. Otherwise, accept you’ll have to share the visit with multitudes.

The Caldera can be extremely hot

Visiting, as most, during the hot season means having to deal with the particular situation Santorini is in. Being constituted nearly entirely of volcanic rock, without rivers nor lakes, with scarcely any trees (as typical of the Cyclades), and enjoying close to 0mm of rain in the summer months, it will be hot. Very. Extremely. Unbearably hot at times.

The effect of the volcanic rock, the darker type found on Santorini, is that it absorbs more heat than general types of rock. Lacking also any water on the island and receiving no rain, it means the very ground you’re walking on is hot and retains its heat for long periods of time as it has no chance to refresh itself. The streets of Fira and Oia are also narrow and don’t let much wind pass, plus the sun is nearly always up and hot too. It’s like a small inferno on earth.

Bring water, and lots of. I don’t drink that much but I easily drank 2 liters in a handful of hours when walking in Santorini. I thought I would faint by the heat, which had never happened before. I didn’t, in the end, but because I was “saved” by that 8€ ice cream I spoke of before.

So, get prepared to walk like in a desert. Only worse.

Reaching Santorini can be very challenging

Unless you come by plane. Then scratch this. I talk about those, like me, who are scared of heights and don’t really enjoy any vista that involves 300 hundreds meters of drop and being at the border of it.
So, if you like me come by boat/ferry, you’ll have to climb to reach the towns uphill. That will involve either taking the cable car, with all its “amazing” views, climbing a long staircase over donkeys, that is probably as bad an experience for your as for the poor animals, or taking the bus route, for 10 minutes of winding bends over the Caldera. Any of these options can be a struggle if you’re scared of heights. Trust me, take the plane instead.

For everybody else, how to get to Santorini involves finding a flight to its airport. Good luck finding a cheap one though, as in the summer Santorini is in high request as an holiday destination.

If you’re travelling on the cheap, you may instead fly into Athens, going to the Piraeus and taking a ferry to Santorini. Often adding a night or two in Athens before or after the ferry. The usual path of millions of travellers. This mean 36 hours at least of travelling and multiple changes (flight, then bus or metro, then ferry). Not exactly an easy destination to reach.

Authentic Greek? Heck, no

As much as Santorini is stunning and sports the very same typical white houses of the Cyclades, the huge influx of tourists changed the island forever. Luxury boutiques, fast food joints, souvenir shops, fancy bars and tour agencies are aplenty on the island, inevitably reducing the space for more typical businesses.

You may find the typical taverna here and there but you got to look for it. Shops that sell the normal products of the island are hard to stumble upon, Santorini being the territory of fashion boutiques, luxury shops and artistic endeavors. I mean, all pretty and fine, and expensive, but as much greek as London or Berlin could be considered. For authenticity look elsewhere. You have tens of other islands for that. Not Santorini, alas.

Don’t be discouraged, Santorini is still worth it

I loved Santorini nonetheless. Its beauty can’t be marred to the point of making it unworthy of your time to reach it. Not at all. But please be warned about all the difficulties and peculiarities that visiting Santorini entails. Come prepared but do come if you can. Santorini remains one of the most gorgeous places in the Mediterranean sea and would be a shame if you’d give up on it altogether.

I wouldn’t personally spend more than a couple of days on the island though. They’re enough to visit all the pretty places and leave for nearby islands, which will be more authentic and much less crowded. And less expensive. Make sure to explore the other Cyclades then as they’re amazing too; staying only in Santorini will show you just 5% of what Greek island can offer for twice the price and the crowd.

Check out more about Greece in our other articles.

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Or perhaps hate it, if you’re looking for comfort. Milos is not an island for those looking for a relaxing vacation due to its still wild and undiscovered nature. More on this later.

Nor it is a cheap destination. Reaching it is not as straightforward as the bigger Cyclades Islands, like Paros, Naxos, Mykonos or Santorini. It has a small airport visited by a handful of companies and the ferries reaching it are just 3 lines, one of which basically goes only to Crete. You’ll have to flight to Athens or a nearby island and bet on a good combination with a ferry that won’t entail you to spend a night waiting for the it. Moreover, the tourists that do reach Milos aren’t many and I guess the locals try to squeeze as much money out of them as possible: prices are on the medium-high range for the Greek islands.

It is again, similar to Santorini, minus the boutiques.

So, overall, why going to and what to do in Milos?

Beaches

Unsurprisingly, beaches are one of the main points of Milos. The island has dozens of beaches and, luckily, they are well spread across the whole coast. Whenever you’re going to stay, you’ll have a beach not very far from you. This is a great advantage as you can be free to stay anywhere on the island and be sure there’s at least one beach nearby.

Mytakas

The large and windy side of Mytakas Beach
The disadvantage of it is that most of the west coast and a part of the beaches in general are reachable only by the sea. For a list of the best beaches in Milos and to know which ones can be visited with a car or need a boat, read my previous article, where I selected the best ones.

Plaka

The island’s capital is perched atop of a hill around 220 meters above the sea. And directly over the sea. Think of Santorini and you’ll visualize the beauty of Plaka.
Unlike Thira in Santorini, Plaka is small and can be walked from one side to another in 10 minutes. But like the more famous capital of Santorini, Plaka faces the sea on its western side and that guarantees amazing sunsets. It is a tradition among tourists to come here from all over the island to enjoy a drink at sunset, at least once per visit. Which is what I suggest you to do too. Right at the top of Plaka there’s the main church, which is more like a large chapel, and a vast terrace facing the sea. Around it you will find plenty of bars to have a cocktail while watching the sun going down over the sea.

Between a drink and a picture, wander among the small boutiques in search of souvenirs to bring home. It is the best place to shop on the island, higher prices but higher quality also.

Klima

This delicious, and deliciously tiny, village on the sea is the most colourful of the island and will probably remember you of Little Venice in Mykonos. You won’t be wrong as there’s a striking resemblance between the two areas.
Klima lacks the amount of restaurants and bars straight on the seafront but also the hordes of tourists crowding them. It’s way more laid-back and difficult to reach: you can take the, numerous, steps down from Plaka or, easier, book a boat tour to it from Adamas. We did the latter and it was perfect, as the village is that tiny that visiting it would have required less time than reaching it. Either way, do make sure you come here, it’s pretty enough to be one of the must of Milos.

As an alternative, a smaller village is Firopotamos, west of Sarakiniko. Same array of a dozen, tiny greek houses right on the sea, in a blue waters bay.

Boat tour

There are plenty of boat tours available, mostly from the main port, Adamas, or the second one on the east, Pollonia. Nearly all of them include Kleftiko, which is a must, while only some also Sarakiniko, another must. Very few also pay a visit to the nearby islands of Kimolos, Poliegos and Antimilos.
If you have the time, a whole day boat tour of the island, leaving and returning to Adamas, is recommended. You get to visit all the best places, see the whole amazingly coloured coast of Milos and have enough time to suntan and swim. For those shorter on time, at least a boat tour that starts from the southern coast, often in Provatas, and visit Kleftiko and part or all the west coast is due, as it is the most dramatic-looking side of Milos.

Either way, definitely do plan one of either as many of the best spots in Milos can’t be reached by ground and it would be a real shame to miss them. It’s not a comfortable island, after all, you have to go after the best places.

Rent a car

Moving around Milos is not easy. There’s no train and the local buses are limited in range (they mostly cover the area between Adamas and Pollonia and the airport). To get around the island renting a car is strongly advised.

Many renting agencies will offer you an ATV/quad car as the roads in the western side of the island are in really bad shape, where existent at all. If you are planning to go in that area, an ATV is a must. For anybody else, and my advice would be to stay in the central/eastern area of Milos, a car will be sufficient and slightly cheaper than an ATV all things considered (more comfortable and more space). You can reach most of the beaches with a car and the ones that can’t, you could only see them from above anyway as they must be accessed from the sea, no path leading down some of the high cliffs of the western coast.

Renting a small, 4×4, car is thus the overall best way to explore the island. What to do in Milos? Rent a car would be my fist answer.

Try local delicacies

What trip would be complete without trying the local cuisine? Milos makes no exception to this rule and it is a typical Greek island in this regard: moussaka, greek salads, grilled fish and meat, souvlaki, Ouzo, local beer and wines. You can’t go wrong with any of these dishes, most of them are made with local ingredients so you’ll also have low environmental impact. Win win.

One of the restaurants I liked the most was Mikros Apoplous, in Adamas. Right on the sea, you can actually dine 20cm from the water, it offers all the typical Greek dishes but with a modern twist. Try the ceviche which albeit not Greek, is prepared with local fishes and is utterly delicious.

Ceviche

I’m personally not a huge fan of greek desserts but found some to my liking in Raptis, in the center of Adamas. It is a bit more upper level patisserie than most in Greece so beware the prices, but the choice is large and quality top notch.

For a typical greek night out, in Plaka, you can try Phatses, on the lower part of the town. It is amid a square, with olive trees covering the tables and plenty of cats roaming around. Live greek music most of the evenings, local cuisine, on the expensive side as most of Plaka is unfortunately. Quite enjoyable though as it all feels like the whole area is for you (the restaurant is not in the most crowded area of Plaka).

Other areas are too small to offer great restaurants, the choice being limited even in Pollonia, the second port of the island. If you are staying far from the capital area, do use your car to go out in the evenings.

Milos is complex and sometimes difficult island but so worth it
This article is already getting long so I won’t keep you reading for much longer still. I hope I’ve convinced you to try Milos during your next vacation in Greece as it is the island that most positively surprised me, and I’ve seen more than a dozen of Greek islands. Uncomfortable at times, not easy to navigate and rough around the edges overall, but so desperately full of beauty at every corner.

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The question implies that there’s one that is overall “the best”, which there isn’t. Greek islands can be wildly diverse and appeal to different types of tourists. If you are looking for peace, for instance, you wouldn’t probably choose Rhodes or Santorini, as they’re extremely popular. So the “best” greek island for one like you would be a smaller, less frequented island. And so on.

Therefore when I say the “best greek island” I mean “the island that has a bit of everything to offer the tourists, without being seriously lacking in anything”. An island that can accommodate to the most categories of tourists and at the same time put off the least. Of course it should also boast some of the best views, beaches, locations and what not of among them all. It’s far from an easy choice. Let’s dive straight away into my list of the best greek islands.

Mykonos

An obvious choice but what can you say against an island that has awesome beaches, the most famous nightlife in Greece, a greatly picturesque main town, is next to the most important archaeological area in all the greek islands, Delos, and is frequented by the jet-set of all around the world?

Yes it is expensive, yes it is crowded, yes it is insanely hyped but it is also truly beautiful. Ignore the glamour if you want, you can rent an apartment in nearly absolute quietness away from the crowd and enjoy one of the top greek islands without going crazy or drunk every night. Or merge with the tribe of party-goers and celebrities and have the time of your life (possibly).

Whatever you fancy, it’s really, really hard to miss Mykonos for long. And there’s no reason you should.

Paros Island

One of the ferry hubs of the Cyclades, Paros Island lies a bit in between some of the most famous greek islands, Santorini, Mykonos, Ios etc. Due to this, perhaps, it is often neglected in favor of them.
Wrongly so. Paros has 2 very beautiful towns in Paros town, the capital, and Naoussa, a dozen of beaches that wouldn’t disfigure on any other greek island, and a lively nightlife. It is still more family-friendly than, let’s say, Mykonos, but no less beautiful. I would put Mykonos town about Paros’ but as per beaches and nature, it’s a tie. An underrated gem of the Cyclades.

Crete

The biggest greek island, one where the season goes well into early October as being that south gifts it a warmer climate than the other islands, Crete is so big and diverse that I can’t imagine any category of tourists that wouldn’t find something for them here. Perhaps only skiing aficionados.

Crete has multiple towns, Herakleio, Retimno, La Canea, plus tens of villages all around the island. Venetian art, medieval history, Minoan ruins and palaces and 19th-century modernity all mixed together in an island that will appeal any art/history lover.

Crete has also awesome beaches, especially in the western part of it. And when I say awesome, I really mean it.
Considering its size, Crete may be the only greek island that could host you for a prolonged vacation, 10 days or more, without having you bored after a few days. There’s so much to do and see here that it is a small region of Greek of its own, basically.

Santorini

Another obvious choice. Its dramatic views and awesome towns of Fira and Oia are world-class famous and rightly so. The Caldera is unique in its genre and the island is so universally associated with romanticism and weddings that if you’re traveling as a couple it is a must-do of Greece.
I have written already about Santorini, so head there to read about some of its pitfalls. If you come here, do a day tour or stay 1-2 nights at most, as the island is small and, especially, chaotic and expensive to warrant a longer stay. But it has to be one of the best greek islands, without any doubt.

Corfu

Another of the big islands, Corfu lies on the western side of Greece and probably offers the most variety of everything from its blend of ethnic cultures to its contrasting landscapes and array of attractions. Remaining of the island’s Byzantine, French, Italian and British past scatter it plus the obvious choice of beaches, from sandy to stony ones.
Corfu is one of the most complete greek islands and, which can be a refreshing new for many, one of the greenest ones, with plenty of shade to save you from the scorching summer sun.

Rhodes

On the opposite side of the greek islands, Rhodes is similar to Corfu, just with more history. The ancient old area of Rhodes town is one of the best-preserved ones in the whole Europe, the ancient acropolis of Lindos is stunningly romantic, perched on a cliff over the blue sea, while if you are traveling with the whole family, the north-western coast of Rhodes offers plenty of villages and big hotels to host you.

It is big enough to warrant a longer stay and close enough to the other Dodecanese islands to allow you to hop from one to another in a few hours at most. Rhodes has as much history as Crete, is as variegated as Corfu and just a little less romantic than Santorini (which is unbeatable in this regard). You’ll surely find something for you here.

Milos

Still relatively unknown to mass tourism, and I do hope it will stay so for many years, Milos can boast a vast number of beaches and the most dramatic views of the whole greek islands, paralleled only by the ones in Santorini. If you like the variety of beaches, volcanic rocks, and colorful earth, Milos is for you.
I’ve written more about it, because I love it so much, in a previous article (plus another about its best beaches) so head there to know more (and head to your favorite booking portal to book a trip there ).

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If you have just a car or a scooter you’ll still be able to visit awesome beaches but it is important to know which ones can be reached and which ones you’ll need to book a boat tour. I’m going to list thus the best beaches on Milos, specifying which ones can be accessed only by sea. I won’t repeat often about the quality and colour of the waters as everywhere I went it was perfectly clear, as you would expect from a proper greek island

Sarakiniko

An out of this world place, unmissable for every Milos visitor. White, friable rock, some pebbles at the mouth of the small bay where the sea cuts into the rock and lets you access it comfortably. You can take a very long walk over the white rock on both side, east and west, of the bay and absolutely do so as it is an awesome place for lunar-like pictures.

Sarakiniko

Beach itself is easy to reach, a road ends up a few tens of meters from it, parking available around it. There are no tourist facilities here, just sun, sea and white rock. If you’re up for a good dive, head on the west side over the rock and jump in a small “pool” that opens to the wide sea.

Come here early, it gets crowded. Best time would be before 11:00. It is one of the best Milos beaches after all, can’t expect to be it all for you

Tsigrado

This is a tiny bay, enveloped by creamy volcanic rock. It can be reached by car up to the border of the rocks but you’ll have to climb down a makeshift wooden ladder after having walked over the rock for a few meters. Not exactly an easy access to the beach, making it more suited for fit people with no mobility impairments.

Tsigrado

If you do climb down the rock, you’ll find a small sandy beach with crystal waters. Naturists may be found here too, being somewhat secluded. Obviously, no facilities to be found. It is worth a trip as it is close to other beautiful beaches on the southern side and can be easily visited on the same day as other beaches.

Kleftiko

No proper beach but another unmissable place for any visitor. Stunning rock formations on the sea, in italian I we would call them “faraglioni”. There are at least a dozen, you can swim among them all and rest near the main coast, where the sea is shallower. You will definitely need a boat here. Book a tour back in Adamas, there are a couple that just do Kleftiko if you don’t want to spend a whole day on a boat or, better, take a longer one and explore the whole coast of Milos. All the boat tours stop at least half an hour here.

Kleftiko

If you come here at sunset, the sun’s light will illuminate the west side of each rock while leaving the other side in perfect shadow. That’s your moment for dramatic, contrasting pictures.

Firiplaka

One of the biggest beaches in Milos. Long and sandy, with some pebbles on the west end (the naturists’ spot). Easily reachable by car, there’s a small parking spot just above the beach and then you descend to it by foot. One of the most popular beaches in Milos also due to its accessibility, it is well worth coming for swimmers and families alike, as the sea is not deep for many meters in but then opens to allow space to swim. A restaurant/bar is available for refreshments and shade.

There’s a rock right on the beach that provides a great spot for pictures. On the other side of it the beach ends for a while and then opens again, making it perfect if you need more privacy or want to sunbathe topless/naked. On this area the volcanic rock has a plethora of colours, ranging from the white to the red to the light green, showing the diversity of minerals present on Milos.

Provatas

Another large beach on the south coast. Reachable by car and with a nice restaurant facing the sea, it is a sandy beach among cliffs of red rock. During sunsets everything looks red. Pretty popular, do come here early as the amount of apartments around it and the easiness with which it can be accessed by car make it a well frequented spot on the island. For families it is great, facilities, sand and shallow waters make it a place you’ll return often to.

Gerakas

A dramatic place. A large rock slide looms over this beach, facing southside. The beach itself is small and pebbled, unimpressive if not for the slide that cuts into the rock on the north side, showing different shades of brown/white rock, making you feel like everything can fall down on you at any moment. Some people tries to climb it but it is far from easy, probably doable only up to 30% of its height.
Gerakas fall from the boat. Getting closer would make it impossible to show it in full (it’s truly tall)
As you can imagine, there’s no way to reach it by road, only by the sea. Some boat tours stop here but others don’t, so get informed which one does. To me it is an unmissable spot on Milos for its dramatic view while you’re swimming and deep waters so be sure your boat tour has it included. Mine let us swim to the beach and back, for well over half an hour, and it was absolutely worth it.

Mytakas

It is 2 beaches at the price of 1. On the east side there’s a handful of houses directly on the sea, facing a small bay with multiple tiny sandy patches of beach. On the west side instead there’s a longer, sandy, beach, with a bar in the middle and sunbeds available for rent. The advantage here is that if you want calmness you go on the east side and there will always be at most a dozen of people present, at the worst; otherwise, walk to the western side and you’ll have an amazing beach, with shallow waters for many meters in, facing the north sea and thus more open to waves when the winds are stronger. If you’re bored of swimming in calm waters, this is the beach for you.
There’s a road that ends right in the middle of the 2 beaches. Not many people come here, preferring the nearby Sarakiniko. But it would be a crime to not pay a visit to this amazing piece of the island, just a bit less beautiful than the best spots on Milos. Surely one of the best Milos beaches.

Glaronissia

Not a beach but rock formations on a group of tiny islands on the northern side of Milos. Obviously you need a boat to go here, check with the various travel agencies if they stop here because many won’t. And it would be a shame, because the rock formations are amazing, black basaltic prisms similar to the more famous Giant’s Causeway in Ireland. Difference here is that you can swim around them, go inside sea caves carved out of the basaltic rocks and fish too (I was told it is a great spot for catching bigger fishes than those visiting the beaches on the mainland).
Another lunar place, contrasting with black rock the white rock of Sarakiniko. Ironic that they are nearly in front of each other (you can glimpse the white rocks of the famous beach from here).

Paliorema

Surreal beach on the eastern side of the island. In itself the beach is not more beautiful than others and wouldn’t make this list if wasn’t the old place of the sulfur mines in the past. There are remainings of the building hosting the miners around the beach and this gives an unique feeling of an abandoned place to the beach.
There’s still a lot of spots where you can see the red rocks due to the mineral present in the area. Part of the sand is indeed red. Watch out for the metal pieces of tools left by the miners. There are no facilities here, or it wouldn’t have such an abandoned feeling, but the road stops nearly right on the beach so it is doable with a car. A few boat tours also stop here for a few minutes to take pictures so you can use this way to visit it too.

Santorini often comes to mind when thinking about Milos. Same volcanic origin, same colorful towns perched upon a cliff (Plaka vs Oia), same arid landscape, same colorful rocks. But Milos has far better beaches. They’re more variegated, more diverse and Santorini has no equal to Kleftiko nor Sarakiniko. No greek island offers so much diversity in terms of beaches than Milos.

You won’t regret any second spend on any of them

The post Top Milos Beaches appeared first on Travel to Work.

Unfortunately so. Paros can boast a great variety of beaches and true gems of the whole Cyclades among them. I’ve spent 2 weeks exploring all Paros beaches and selected the best ones. So let’s check!

Livadia  Paros Beach

If you’re staying in Paros town, this is the closest beach you can get to. It is within walkable distance from any area of the town, being on the extreme north end of the populated area. It is not extremely frequented as you could think as it is not considered among the best ones, wrongly so though.

Luckily it is also large enough to accommodate a few rows of umbrellas and long enough to not be disturbed to much by the occasional screaming children who just arrived with the family. Beach is sandy as the bottom of the sea, but for a few rocks. Water is great, as nearly everywhere in Paros. Trees line the back of the beach, to provide free shade.

So if you’re not of the mind to travel much for a dive in the waters, Livadia beach will do just fine.

Piperi Beach

Perhaps you chose to stay in Naoussa instead, the lively but smallish town on the north side of the island. Naoussa too, as Paros town, has its own beach right in the middle of it, named Piperi beach. Among Paros beaches it is one of the smallest but by no means less worthy of a visit. Circled by rocks, slightly on the western side of Naoussa but easily walkable from the centre, it is much smaller than Paros town beach. Luckily, not so crowded too, as around Naoussa good beaches abound and most tourists prefer to travel a bit farther. But if you are in a hurry or woke up very late, Piperi beach provides clean waters, sands, trees for some free shadow and the whole Naoussa town on your back for services. Handy.

Logaras Beach

Going east from Naoussa, we met the small town of Piso Livadi, the main spot for boat excursions to the always popular Santorini. While the town is really small yet picturesquely cycladian, it hosts another of the Paros beaches right in the middle of a town: Logaras beach.

As with the beaches of Paros town and Naoussa, Logaras too is pretty long, not-so-wide, sandy (but here with a higher concentration of small pebbles), and rarely over-crowded. On both sides it is sheltered by high cliffs and rocks but the bottom of the beach is mostly sandy. It is 10 minutes of walking from Piso Livadi going south, right from where the bus stop. The path goes up and then down a cliff, providing some beautiful views over Piso Livadi and the sea.

Unless you’re staying in Piso Livadi, probably you’d miss this little gem of a beach. Yet it is worth a small stop, perhaps while visiting the more popular Golden Beach more south or while waiting for your boat to Santorini. Take a bite in one of the seafront, perhaps it would be better to call them “on the sea”, restaurants of Piso Livadi and head to Logaras beach for rest and swim.

Kolimbrites Beach

So far the Paros beaches we saw shared the same features: sandy, long, in the middle of a town, sheltered by some trees. It would seem it is the standard among Paros beaches, and it may well be so.

Kolimbrites is very different. There are no trees whatsoever, unless you go many meters in the backside of the beach. It is very small and very crowded, as it is probably the most popular of all Paros beaches. Plenty of boat excursions bring a constant flux of beachgoers from the nearby Naoussa on the south. The beach itself it is among the smallest ones and nearly half of it is covered by large, but round, rocks. So forget to lay on the sand if you come late. There are barely any services offered but for a single restaurant 20m away from the seafront. Only one bus comes here, infrequently.

Yet it is so worth visiting. The sea is amazing, very shallow and light green. The sand is extremely fine, Maldives-like. The rocks are never rough and make beautiful shapes that can be admired in full only from the water. You can easily lie on them, soaking in the sun.

It has a feel of Sardinia, if you have ever been there, and it is a huge compliment. An unique vision among Paros beaches and surely one not to be missed.

Piso Aliki beach

Facing directly south, Piso Aliki beach lies just south of the town with its same name. The south coast of Paros is rough and high, with very few opening of sand. Piso Aliki beach is one of those, the biggest one.

It can easily be reached by just walking, 10 minutes at most, from Piso Aliki, which is connected by bus with the capital. The beach is frequented in the majority by families and locals, as it is off the beaten path of the majority of tourists. That makes this stretch of pebbles and sand, lined by trees, a quiet site to lie your beach towel on. No immediate services behind the beach though, you got to go back to Piso Aliki.

It is probably the beach you can “feel like a local” the most among all Paros beaches. I spent half a day here and didn’t regret it a bit.

Golden Beach Paros

One of the most famous Paros beaches. Long, wholly sandy, golden sand, thus the name. It lies south of Piso Livadi and is the most frequented beach of the east coast. If you’re searching for relax, you’ve been warned.

Most frequented also means that there are more services available. In this case, 2 bar/restaurants, toilettes, showers and water sports. You won’t be left alone then, not even by the ferocious fishes that swim in the waters of the beach. Small ones but they are pretty aggressive in biting the swimmers’ legs. Or perhaps I just went in a day when they were particularly hungry.

In any case, despite the crowd, of humans and fishes, it’s a stunning beach and a paradise for lovers of long, sandy beaches. A visit to Paros isn’t complete without a trip here.

Santa Maria beach

Situated on the east coast as Golden Beach, but much more north, Santa Maria beach shares most of the characteristiques with its southern neighbour: long, sandy, crystal waters, plenty of services on the back. No aggressive fishes though, to everybody legs’ relief.

The water is truly stunning, Caribbean-like, also thanks to the not excessive number of tourists coming here. It is probably one of the less easily reachable Paros beaches, as the bus serving it runs just a handful of times per day. This limits the beach to those who are more adventurous or who can drive. Still it is never deserted as its beauty is known and many come here regardless of the distance and reachability.

Yet is well worth taking the fuss to come here indeed. A personal favourite of mine, not to be missed.

Lageri Beach

If Santa Maria beach is not easily accessible, Lageri is impossible to reach in comparison. No buses come here, not even roads. You’ll have to stop before reaching Santa Maria beach, still on the north side of the island, and walk on the border of the sea, among very stony paths, to go around a little congregation of apartments for rent and finally reach the beach. Bring shoes or you’ll cut your feet. It is a path without any shadow too, so cover yourself before starting it.

As you can imagine, the difficulty in reaching it makes it for a truly secluded place. There are no services in this sandy and totally quiet beach, only you and the sea, with probably a handful of couples sharing the beach with you. It is also a naturist-friendly beach. Beside then the most adventurous tourists and some naturists, nobody comes to this corner of paradise, making it the absolute perfect beach among all Paros beaches to go if you’re looking to forget about everything and have a complete day of relax.

Siparos Beach

With its sister on the north, Siparos beach is the one you encounter when you get off from the bus going to Santa Maria beach. It’s a neglected place, as nearly everybody either goes to Lageri or proceeds to Santa Maria. Yet the water is really clean, it’s sandy, big enough to not have to fight for a spot on the sand, and very quiet.

It won’t win the first place for best beach of the island but if you don’t want to adventure further north for Lageri beach or you don’t want to meet any crowd without going to half-hidden spots around the island, Siparos beach may be perfect. Bring what you need for the day, as there are no services around, and relax.

The post A guide to the best Paros Beaches appeared first on Travel to Work.

Rediscover a lost island

Re-opened to the public in 2005, Rotoroa Island is a must-see. It is located in the Hauraki Gulf of New Zealand east of Waiheke Island. Its dazzling white sand beaches, multiple museums, conservation parks and bush trails turn it to be a true delight for travelers of varying interests. The historic chapel and jailhouse are some of the tourists’ favorite draws.

See the world’s largest collection of Maori taonga

Endeavor to visit the Auckland War Memorial Museum, especially if you fancy an insight into the early Maori culture. This historical site presents the largest collection of ancient artefacts in the country including more than 1000 taonga.

Ferry to the Riverhead

A ferry ride to the Riverhead is the best way to retrace for the route of the early Maori settlers and New Zealand’s first pioneers. A day spent at this oldest riverside tavern in the country is worth it. Nothing is more overtaking than having a meal while appreciating the sweeping views of cliff faces, clear waters and lush vegetation.

Visit the world’s largest penguin colony exhibit

Sea Life Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium is a mecca for Marine life junkies. Besides being the fittest spot to see penguins, this area features the world’s only display of Spiny Sea Dragons (biggest species of stingray on the planet) and an underwater aquarium of fish.
It could be a very kid-friendly destination. It is a perfect introduction for Wildlife in New Zealand for first timers.

Walk across the country in 5 hours

Other than road trips such as campervan adventure or cycling, you can take in New Zealand’s spectacular scenery on foot. It is not only cost-saving but also good for your health and awards an opportunity to explore whatever you want at your own pace. The best route is the Coast to Coast walkway. This 16 km journey starts from the Viaduct Harbor and winds westwards through exquisite parklands, dormant volcanoes and urban landscapes up to the Manukau harbor.

Visit Great Barrier Island’s Dark Sky Sanctuary

Besides being a dream destination for star-gazers, the Great Barrier Island is a hub of incredible beauty. It is renowned as the world’s first island to be designated as an International Dark Sky Sanctuary. Mount Hobson is the main allure, but there are other things to limit you from boredness such as Kaitoke hot springs, nature reserves, pools and immaculate shorelines that are flanked by turquoise waters.

Kayak to Rangitoto Island

Another New Zealand’s hidden wonder is Rangitoto Island. Make sure not to leave Auckland without getting there. Reaching a height of 260m, Rangitoto is asymmetrical volcano cone. That is why hiking is the highlight for most trippers. From its summit, you can’t stop adoring the 360-degree views of Auckland city and other picture-perfect landscapes.

Visit Waiheke Island ‘the island of wine’

If road trips or Wildlife don’t appeal, New Zealand is also famous for ultimate beach holidays and wine tasting. The best place to consider for this great mix of experiences is Waiheke Island. This magnificent spot in the Hauraki Gulf is home to over 30 wineries and a wealth of flawless beaches. A unique way to have the best of this paradise is to partake a wine tasting tour before you ease up on one of its sun-drenched beaches.

Board the “Shuckleferry”

If you wish to spend some good time on the waters, don’t miss the Shuckleferry. It offers a guided cruise along the crystal clear waters of the Mahurangi Harbor. You won’t only sit back and relax with a wine, but also recognize the pleasant views of the seaside scenery from your seat.

SkyWalk and Jump at the Auckland Sky Tower

There is no better viewpoint to admire the panoramic views of Auckland’s striking cityscapes than the Sky Tower. Raising for about 328m from the ground, this iconic building is the tallest in New Zealand. It provides two options for you to immerse yourself into the endless views. You either skywalk around the outside narrow platform (192m above the ground) or sky jump with a wire if you aren’t faint-hearted.

The post Top Things to do in Auckland appeared first on Travel to Work.

Ha Giang, Vietnam

Vietnam is the first country who opened its doors to welcome foreigners after the epidemic. The country also has launched an attractive campaign to promote its tourism image.
It is a perfect travel destination for 2021 since every service is cheaper and you will get more fun.
Tucked away in north Vietnam, Ha Giang offers thrilling adventures where you can hit the road to secret waterfalls, picturesque rice terraces.

Bali, Indonesia

Bali is the tourism hub of Indonesia. The island is simply gorgeous : cascading waterfalls, striking cliffs, sun kissed beaches and unique local culture.
In 2021, Bali`s accommodation is some how only 40 – 70% of what it was in 2020. There is no reason to not grab such a good deal to explore the tropical paradise of Bali.

Buriram, Thailand

If you keep thinking about a trip to Thailand for the year 2021, Buriram should be included on your bucket list. It is home to the notable Khmer relics including the Phanom Rung complex, a monument that is compared to the famed Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Adding to ancient ruins, Buriram is a leading sporting venue in the country.
The best time to visit Thailand should be in dry season from late October to April but if you fancy good value for money, summer is a good option.

Luxembourg

Declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1994, Luxembourg is a must for a 2020 adventure trip. Besides the sparkling cityscape, the country has many things to turn it a travelers’ paradise such as beautiful vineyards, magnificent villages, rocky gorges and medieval castles.

Guadalajara, Mexico

Though non-touristy, Guadalajara is a secret to uncover in Mexico. From its colonial architecture to a great selection of lively festivals, art galleries and museums, this city has lots of attractions that can overwhelm travelers of different interests.

Vanuatu

Made up of over 80 islands, this picturesque archipelago in Eastern Australia boasts the highest density of languages in the World. It’s highlighted with numerous natural wonders such as rich wildlife, untouched beaches and rugged islands. Visitors enjoy worthwhile hiking adventures and scuba diving that reveal abundant marine species.

Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu needs no introduction. It always take the spotlight on tourism radar of Peru. Before you may have to wait very long time to register for a trek to this wondrous archaeological site. In 2021, it becomes much easier.
It is a perfect time to uncover the secret of Inca civilisation,  immersing into the grandeurs of Peru mountains where the time forgets.
A guided Machu Picchu tour organized by an local agency is highly recommended.

Aberdeen, Scotland

Because of the gleaming white stones used on most buildings, Aberdeen is dubbed “the granite city”. Located in the northeastern region of Scotland, the city ranks the third-largest in the country. It showcases a wealth of spectacular allures such as romantic ruins, galleries, museums and coastal scenery. ( the sentence has no grammar problem but I dont really get the meaning. It does not show something interesting )

Courtenay, BC, Canada

For a glimpse of Canada’s ever praised charm, Courtenay has plenty to relish. This city is located in the Comox Valley amid dramatic mountain ranges, bohemian villages and alpine meadows; this makes it a suitable base for outdoor adventurers.

Ubatuba, Brazil

If you wish to soak up Brazil’s spotless shorelines, Ubatuba is a must-visit. It has over 100 beaches and varied surfing sites; this is the reason why it hosts many surf championships per year. Aside from that, the destination attracts several paulistanos with nature and spectacular coastlines. The city also fascinates adventurers with incredible hiking expeditions via trails that wind through the lush Atlantic rainforests.

Loire Valley, France

There are timeless castles, vineyard and photogenic landscapes await your exploration in Loire Valley. It is hard to visit 28 castles for a day. So make sure you keep at least 2 days to enjoy the most remarkable sites.
Loire Valley is just few hours drive from Paris. It could be an ideal day tours if you have short time too.

Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo (Japan’s capital) is notable for its eye-catching cityscapes, but it is a highlight for lovers of sports in 2020. Summer Olympics are scheduled to start from July to August within the city. Other than that, trippers will have the opportunity to immerse the city’s most sought-after spots such as Meiji Jingu, Tokyo tower, Imperial palace and more.

Kerala, India

With its stretching coffee plantations, stunning Arabian Sea views and palm-lined coast, Kerala is the most beautiful sight in South India. Visitors to the region are inspired by a lot of things embodying beaches, mountains, plunging waterfalls and lakes. For its beauty, all thanks go to the states’ responsible tourism program that encourages Eco tourism.

Malindi, Kenya

Kenya is endowed with a plethora of amazing spots, but Malindi is exceptional. This coastal village comes with stunning natural beauty, brawny palms and structures that display Swahili grandeur. In addition to luscious fresh seafood, beach hopping and natural features, this beach town is a grand base to soak up Malindi National Park’s diverse aquatic life.

Maastricht, Netherlands

Last on our list, Maastricht is among Netherland’s most appreciated cities to lure you in 2021. A combination of Roman history, narrow streets and numerous historic sites leaves most travelers just hoping for a revisit. In March 2021, thousands of travelers are expected to join TEFAF Maastricht, one of the largest art fairs in the World.

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