Walking in Rhodes: Aegean Adventures

Mark Pawlak    New Adventure Travel Ideas     Archangelos, greece, Greek Islands, Lindos, Rhodes, Vlicha, Walking Holidays

As one of the Aegean’s most developed tourist islands, Rhodes may not be your first choice for a walking holiday. But look a little closer, back from the tourist beaches and built-up areas, and you’ll find trails and tracks aplenty.

Coastal Walking in Rhodes Pic: Flickr/ James Bird

Rhodes and the other 11 main Dodecanese Islands are just the mountian tops of far larger landmasses, currently buried beneath the Aegean Sea.

With a climate ranging from temperate to dry tropical, this island chain serves up a long summer period and cooler spring and autumns that may suit walkers better.

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Caravan Adventures:How to make the road your home

Tom Sykes    overlandholidays     adventure holidays, caravan holidays, greece, Iceland, Overland holidays, Turkey, US

‘Man’s real home is not a house, but the road,’ so wrote Bruce Chatwin. The urge to travel great distances in a caravan and get in adventures may be as old as humanity itself, but it is now adapting to our technological age.

Make the open road your home

Useful kit such as car tents, 4×4 cabs, motor homes and caravans allow you to extend a day trip into a month-long+ expedition. You needn’t plan your itinerary according to where hotels and camp sites are located – you’re pretty much free to go wherever you like and sleep wherever you like.

Let’s take a closer look at the sort of trips you can do in ‘moveable accommodations’.

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Windsurfing in Greece – Top 10 Spots

Jeff    Top 10s, windsurfingholidays     Aegean, athens, Chicken bay, Corfu, Crete, greece, Ios, Island of Rhodes, Issos Beach, Ixia Bay, Karpathos, Kokkari, Lefkada, Loutsa, Meltemi, Naxos, Paros, Prasonisi, Rhodes, Samos, St. George, Vassiliki, Windsurfing, Windsurfing Holiday, Windsurfing in Europe, Windsurfing in Greece, Windsurfing Spots, Winsurfing Holidays

With thousands of windswept islands, warm Mediterranean water, and countless coves, bays, lagoons, and beaches, windsurfing in Greece you’ll enjoy European destinations that are unmatched in terms of their beauty.

Warm Mediterranean water in Greece. Image: Flickr/ xamogelo

The sport exploded in the region in the mid 1990s and has really gained popularity since.

Especially strong throughout the summer months, wind in the region is the product of recurring opposing pressure systems over Turkey and the Balkan Peninsula. The resulting Meltemi winds help create some of the most ideal windsurfing locations along the Greek coastline.

And here are the best 10 for you to check out:

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Adventure Honeymoons: How to mix excitement and pleasure

Dion Wick    ash     adventure holidays, adventure honeymoon, adventurous honeymoon, Bali, Brazil, greece, Malawi, water sports, Water Sports Holidays

Some might say an adventurous honeymoon is something of an oxymoron. But we frown upon those who don’t believe in adventure honeymoons, where you can combine high-octane thrills with romance.

An adventurous honeymoon in Bali. Image: Flickr/ shurav

The idea of two weeks lolling beside a pool and doing absolutely nothing may sound like bliss following months of pre-wedding jitters and bridezilla-esque moments.

But before you book that all-inclusive plush pad in Thailand, think again.

Go for a once-in-a-lifetime trip instead with plenty of action — you won’t regret it!

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The 5 best Greek Islands for sailing holidays

Mark Moore    sailingbreaks     greece, Sailing, sailing holiday, Sailing Holidays, sailing in Greece

Greece is a land of utter enchantment. And it’s no surprise that many movies have been shot here. The Greek Islands have a lot to offer almost every tourist, but they are especially tempting for those booking sailing holidays.

Sailing near the Greek coast. Photo:Flickr/fernashes

Think dreamy summers spent enjoying exceptional sailing conditions, hopping between whitewashed coastal villages sampling incredible food.

The Greek Islands and their endless shorelines seem shaped for sailing – little wonder then that Greece has earned its reputation as a premiere travel and sailing destination.

Here are the top 5 islands to cruise to when sailing these shimmering seas.

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The 4 best 4×4 driving holidays in Europe

Mark Pawlak    Adventure Sports & Travel Thoughts     4x4 driving holidays, Europe, Georgia, greece, multi-activity-holidays, off-road, Pyrenees, Spain, Turkey

Sometimes holidaying by car just doesn’t work, and 4×4 driving holidays are the only way you can get where you want to go. Europe, thanks to its geographical diversity, has just about every terrain you could hope to explore – and the more testing ones need a 4×4.

So, engage low-range and read on; these 4 routes take you off the beaten track and reveal more of what Europe has to offer the adventure traveller.

Photo credit: flickr/indigoprime

Greece and the Agrafa Mountains

On the Greek mainland you’ll find 4×4 driving holidays not only take you out into the rough stuff, they can also get you to one of the country’s most important cultural landmarks. Taking the less travelled routes to the ancient city of Delphi brings you closer to what was once the centre of the Greek world – visiting this town was once considered the nearest man would ever come to heaven! Leaving it via Karpenisi into the Agrafa mountain range, there are mountain top monasteries, stone bridges and scattered settlements to see.

Georgia and the Caucasus

With few significant tourist developments to spoil its deep country regions, Georgia offers some great 4×4 routes. There are volcanic plateaus and spring towns to be found in the Lower Caucasus, and routes up toward the village of Ushguli that pass medieval forts. This is the highest village in Europe, with views to match. The 4×4 vehicles really come into their own in the High Caucasus, as tracks get more testing and views more spectacular.

Turkey’s Taurus Mountains

This chain of mountains tops out at more than 10,000ft and runs through southern Turkey parallel to the Mediterranean coast. Most of the region’s rivers originate here, but first pass over waterfalls and pool in majestic lakes, such as lake Kovoda.

The Koprulu Canyon National Park is a favoured spot for white-water rafting and hiking, and with a 4×4 you’ll be able to reach out farther into the swathes of cedar trees. It’s just a short drive from the tourist hub at Antalya, but use it as the start of a longer journey of discovery into a mountain range created when the European and African plates collided.

Spain’s Pyrenees

The Spanish side of the Pyrenees is known for its unspoilt natural habitats and secluded mountain villages. It’s a place to spot alpine flowers, shepherds and their flocks high in the hills, and rare wildlife. Closer to the French border, you’ll need your 4×4 to get into the valley of Rio Noguera La Pallaresa. From here you can drive on into Andorra and skirt the Spanish/ Andorran border for breathtaking views on one of the  best 4×4 driving holidays in Europe.

Milos becoming must-see destination

Ian K    Adventure Sports & Travel Thoughts, sailingbreaks, Tribe Sailing Blogs     Europe, greece, island hopping, island sailing, mediterranean, milos, plaka, pollonia, Sailing, sailing break, sailing holiday, sailing trip, st constantine, yacht, Yachting

The volcanic island of Milos could be this year’s best-kept secret for those on a sailing holiday in Greece who are keen on taking a short break within the country.

Located around 100 miles south-west of Athens, the horseshoe-shaped island is a quiet destination which is known locally for its array of colourful sand belts.

Photo from Flickr User: !!Ahmed!!

The shades range from serene cream to a more imposing black, with pebbles of almost every colour to be found by beachcombers.

A series of unusual rock formations playing against a backdrop of pale blue-green water also adds to the charm of the Aegean Sea location.

Once on the island, there is plenty for visitors to do – explore the castle ruins to be found at the top of the white-washed Cycladic village of Plaka or drive to the northern towns of Pollonia or St Constantine, where colourful fishermen’s boat garages dot the coastline.