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Bodø and Rønvikfjellet

Bodø and Rønvikfjellet

Bodø and Ronvikfjellet: Why You'll Want to Visit You drive into Bodø along a straight coastal road and think: is this it? Flat, modern by Arctic standards, and the wind is almost blowing you off your feet. But then look up. On the outskirts of the city rises...

Spring Tour of Lofoten and Vesteralen

Spring Tour of Lofoten and Vesteralen

Arctic Awakening: A Slow Travel Tour of Lofoten and Vesteralen in the Spring Everyone I spoke to said the same thing: go in the summer or the winter. Summer for the midnight sun. Winter for the northern lights. Spring wasn’t really an option. I ended up going in April...

Central Norway Tour: 7-Day Winter Tour

Central Norway Tour: 7-Day Winter Tour

Central Norway: 7 Days of Snow, Silence, and Unexpected Adventure There is a side of Norway that most travelers never see. Not the fjords near Bergen, not the famous Lofoten Islands, but the vast, quiet heart of the country. Nestled between Oppdal in the north and...

The Alps near Cuneo on the Via del Sale

The Alps near Cuneo on the Via del Sale

Cycling in the Cuneo Alps and the Alta Via del Sale I went cycling in this rugged and surprisingly peaceful region of Piedmont, where mountain passes give way to fragrant valleys. It turned out to be an ideal destination if you enjoy hiking or mountain biking; though...

Norway and Sweden Tour: Nature and Culture

Norway and Sweden Tour: Nature and Culture

Norway & Sweden Tour: From Oslo to Värmland A tour of Norway and Sweden focused on nature and culture. I took this trip in May and discovered a combination of nature, tranquility, and culture with deep roots in tradition. Read about my experiences and tips....

Cycling Around Lake Trasimeno

Cycling Around Lake Trasimeno

Cycling Around Lake Trasimeno: A Loop Around the Lake and the Surrounding Area Lake Trasimeno in Umbria is a beautiful area to explore by bike. Here are a few tips about the route I cycled and alternative routes in the area that connect the lake with the surrounding...

Southern Iceland: 10-Day Coastal Road Trip

Southern Iceland: 10-Day Coastal Road Trip

10 Days in Iceland: From Hiking Along High Cliffs to Insider Tips for the Northern Lights Iceland is ideal for a self-drive trip. We visited the country in March. Since Iceland has long winters, a visit to the south coast at this time of year is a natural choice....

Western Norway Tour

Western Norway Tour

Western Norway: Ålesund, fjords, and a surprising coastline When taking a road trip through Norway, we often want to see as much as possible. And that’s a shame. Western Norway along the coast near Ålesund is therefore somewhat of a forgotten area, because it’s not on...

Eco-hotels: Tips and Labels

Eco-hotels: Tips and Labels

Ecohotel: Sustainable Accommodations with Comfort Demand for eco-friendly travel options is growing rapidly. If you want to travel responsibly and enjoy the beauty of nature without leaving a footprint, eco-friendly hotels offer the perfect solution. These...

Hiking in Umbria

Hiking in Umbria

Hiking in Umbria Through the Art Cities In addition to its stunning natural beauty, Umbria is best known for its magnificent art cities. Discover the green heart of Italy on foot and visit its beautiful art cities. We describe the hiking route, which you can explore...

Traveling by Train in Italy

Traveling by Train in Italy

By Train in Italy: Traveling Within the Country Once in Italy, the train is often one of the best ways to explore the country. The network is extensive, tickets are affordable, and the connections are fast. Read all about the different types of trains and the most...

Hiking in Madeira: Island Loop

Hiking in Madeira: Island Loop

Hiking in Madeira: A 8-Day Tour Around the Island Madeira is the ideal destination for your hiking vacation all year round. What’s more, it offers challenges for both beginner hikers and experienced hikers. Madeira has no fewer than 27 PR hiking trails. These are the...

Monte Amiata | Road Trip and Tips

Monte Amiata | Road Trip and Tips

Monte Amiata: A Road Trip Through a Hidden Gem in Tuscany Monte Amiata is a somewhat lesser-known, mountainous region in Tuscany, but it’s so worth the visit. It’s a very fertile area situated on an extinct volcano. The summit of the mountain is at an elevation of...

The Haute-Loire | Hiking Tips

The Haute-Loire | Hiking Tips

The Haute-Loire: A Highlight for Hikers in the Lush South of Auvergne The Loire River can truly be called the queen of rivers. The longest “wild” river in France has its source in the Haute-Loire, a department located between the cities of Lyon and Clermont-Ferrand....

Enna, the heart of Sicily

Enna, the heart of Sicily

Enna: Slow Tourism in the Heart of Sicily Enna? I’d never heard of it either. I know Sicily pretty well, but this city and its surroundings—the very center of Sicily, no less—were unknown to me. It’s also sometimes called the navel of Sicily. I spent a few days...

Hiking in Laax

Hiking in Laax

Hiking in Laax: Face to Face with the Formation of the Alps By Train to an Alpine Paradise After a relaxing train ride from Amsterdam—still basking in the late summer sun—to Laax, Switzerland, we’re greeted by the crisp mountain air of Graubünden. At that moment, I...

Via Francigena in Piedmont | Hiking Tips

Via Francigena in Piedmont | Hiking Tips

Hiking for Everyone: Discover the Via Francigena for All The ancient pilgrimage route, the Via Francigena—a total of 2,496 km—runs from Canterbury to Rome. This route offers you a unique opportunity to discover the hidden gems of Piedmont. This is where two beautiful...

The Best Tips for Your Retreat Vacation

The Best Tips for Your Retreat Vacation

Retreat vacation: wellness, yoga, or meditation in nature With all the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, there’s a growing need for occasional moments of reflection. A retreat is the perfect opportunity to focus on your personal development and well-being during...

Traveling Alone | Practical Tips

Traveling Alone | Practical Tips

Traveling Alone: Why You Should Give It a Try Traveling alone is becoming more and more popular. And there are more and more options. Do you do it to escape the daily hustle and bustle of modern life, or to consciously experience other cultures and meet new people? So...

Salina, Aeolian Islands: Hiking, Nature & Tips

Salina, Aeolian Islands: Hiking, Nature & Tips

Salina, the green island with two volcanoes Of the seven Aeolian Islands, this enchanting island near Sicily captivated me the most. It’s surprisingly green and the most laid-back of them all. It’s a place where you naturally start walking at a snail’s pace and have...

Vulcano, Aeolian Islands: Crater Hike & Tips

Vulcano, Aeolian Islands: Crater Hike & Tips

Vulcano, untamed nature and an active crater Vulcano is the island where you can literally smell its Aeolian origins. Sulfur, steam, and hot rock set the tone here. Everything feels elemental: black sand, barren slopes, and a crater that constantly reminds you it’s...

Cycling Tour of Switzerland

Cycling Tour of Switzerland

Cycling Through Switzerland: A Travelogue and Useful Tips Last summer, Anita cycled around Switzerland. It was a beautiful route with some tough challenges along the way. Read her account here, along with some helpful tips. Cycling in Switzerland Every so often, we’re...

The Most Beautiful Italian Lakes

The Most Beautiful Italian Lakes

The most beautiful Italian lakes: we can't get enough of them The major lakes in northern Italy are now widely known. Lake Como, Lake Garda, Lake Idro, and Lake Maggiore are very popular with Dutch and Belgian vacationers. The surrounding natural scenery is also often...

Georgia Road Trip: The Best Tips

Georgia Road Trip: The Best Tips

Georgia Tour Judith, a good friend and Georgia expert, took a special tour of Georgia. I spoke with her about this trip and her connection to the country, its culture, and its people. Read her travelogue here, along with her tips for this wonderful tour, which...

Nordfjord: An Ode to Nature

Nordfjord: An Ode to Nature

A tribute to the nature of Nordfjord and to family in the film *Songs of Earth* At the invitation of Visit Norway, we attended the premiere of the Norwegian film *Sounds of Earth* at the Eye in Amsterdam. Read more here about this impressive documentary/film, the...

Hiking near Málaga: Sierra de Tejeda

Hiking near Málaga: Sierra de Tejeda

Hiking near Málaga: Discover the Authentic Sierra de Tejeda Hiking in Authentic Spain Sierra de Tejeda? Among hikers, Málaga is best known for the Caminito del Rey. But there are so many more—and less crowded—Nature reserves to discover around Málaga that are just as...

Hiking the South West Coast Path

Hiking the South West Coast Path

Hiking the South West Coast Path: Tips and the Most Beautiful Section The South West Coast Path is one of England’s national trails. It is the longest signposted hiking trail in England. The total length is 1,014 kilometers along the entire southwest coast of England....

Faial in the Azores

Faial in the Azores

Faial: The Most Beautiful Spots and Practical Tips The beautiful island of Faial in the Azores is nicknamed Ilha Azul (the Blue Island) because of the vast number of blue hydrangeas that bloom there. It lies west of Pico, and on clear days, you can see the Azores’...

Traveling to Italy by Electric Car

Traveling to Italy by Electric Car

Traveling to Italy in an Electric Car: Top Tips for a Sustainable Road Trip Traveling to Italy in an electric car isn’t just good for the environment—it’s also surprisingly easy and comfortable. Whether you’re planning a culinary tour through Tuscany, heading to the...

Cycling in Valencia: 6 Highlights

Cycling in Valencia: 6 Highlights

Cycling in Valencia: The Highlights Valencia is perfect for exploring by bike. The 2024 European Green Capital has more than 150 km of bike paths and relatively few hills. It’s the ideal way to get around the city and its surroundings. What’s more, in addition to the...

The Most Beautiful Natural Scenery in Sicily

The Most Beautiful Natural Scenery in Sicily

Sicily's Most Beautiful Natural Landscapes: Stunning Hiking Areas Sicily’s natural landscape is so diverse and full of surprises; here are a few notable Nature reserves and highlights. They’re perfect for exploring—mostly—on foot. Nature reserve Lo Zingaro Etna and...

Peneda-Gerês, Northern Portugal

Peneda-Gerês, Northern Portugal

Peneda-Gerês: Portugal's National Park Northern Portugal is one of the most unspoiled and peaceful regions in Europe. Here, on the border with Spain, lies the impressive Peneda-Gerês National Park, designated a biosphere reserve by UNESCO. With its rugged mountains,...

Tips for Sustainable travel

Tips for Sustainable travel

Sustainable travel: Practical Tips for a Green Trip I’m Madelon, founder of Nature Travel Lab. For over 30 years, I’ve been traveling with a focus on people, nature, and culture. For me, sustainable travel isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a way of life. It’s about making...

Hiking from Coast to Coast in England

Hiking from Coast to Coast in England

Practical Tips for Hiking from Coast to Coast in England Anita hiked the Coast to Coast trail in England. Read her travelogue and tips here. Preparing for a Coast-to-Coast Hike It had been years since we’d last gone hiking with a full pack. And although we knew how...

Val d’Orcia: The Most Beautiful Route

Val d’Orcia: The Most Beautiful Route

Val d'Orcia: The Most Beautiful Spots in the UNESCO World Heritage Landscape The landscape of the Val d’Orcia, an enchanting valley in southeastern Tuscany, is rightly designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here you’ll find rolling hills, fields full of flowers and...

What is slow travel?

What is slow travel?

What Is Slow Travel? (Meaning, Examples, and 15 Tips for a Sustainable Vacation) Slow travel means traveling slowly and mindfully: you stay in one place longer, move around less, and opt more often for nature, local experiences, and a leisurely pace instead of...

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