Forget the famed canals of Venice, there’s a new Italian waterway that’s quietly stealing the spotlight away from its Venetian neighbours. The canals of Milan, also known as Navigli, were once busy trade routes used to transport goods, produce and water. Nowadays, they snake through some of the coolest parts of Milan, bypassing bars, restaurants, boutique shops and galleries.
There are five main canal systems, including Naviglio Grande, Naviglio Pavese, Naviglio Martesana, Naviglio di Paderno and Naviglio di Bereguardo. And sure, you can stroll along the paths that line these waterways, but we think the best way to explore is the traditional way – by boat!
Cruising this water network is easy, and there are plenty of route to choose from, all of them focusing on different aspects of the city or winding through different neighbourhoods. The Naviglio Grande is the largest, oldest and busiest canal, and is fed by the Ticino River. Markets and musicians line this waterway during summer, which makes floating down the canal (Aperol Spritz in hand, of course), an entertaining affair.
The Naviglio Martesana offers a quieter route, with the 40-kilometre canal weaving through hidden gardens and gorgeous villas, while the Naviglio Pavese, which connects with the Naviglio Grande, and is said to have been designed by Leonardo da Vinci himself, flows out into the Darsena harbour.
Soaring over waves, gliding along the water’s surface, flipping into the air – to the untrained eye, kitesurfing looks physically demanding, hard to master and, if we’re being honest, maybe just a little bit scary!
Want to hear the good news then? It’s really not that bad. Kitesurfing is actually considered a relatively easy sport to learn, and one of the best places to take to the water is Sicily. The largest island of the Mediterranean, and the ‘toe’ in Italy’s ‘boot’, Sicily’s crystal-clear waters, shallow lagoons and windy days combine to create ideal kitesurfing conditions.
Lo Stagnone, a lagoon on the northern coastline of Marsala, is one of Sicily’s main kitesurfing hotspots. During low tide, Lo Stagnone transforms into a vast, aquatic playground, with more that 2,000 hectares of butter flat water (that’s kitesurfing lingo for water that’s not too shallow, not too deep, and great for practicing new tricks on) to enjoy. Lo Stagnone also experiences more than 300 windy days a year, which means the kitesurfing season doesn’t really ever end.
It’s also a great spot for both budding and expert kitesurfers. With plenty of kiteable water, beginners tend to stick close to the shoreline where the soft, muddy lagoon floor acts as a soft landing spot if you crash into the water. More advanced kitesurfers can head out into the choppier waters to practise their freestyle moves, or glide around the lagoon admiring the scenery.
Kick off your tour of the Baltics in Helsinki, the capital of Finland, also known as ‘The Daughter of the Baltic Sea’. You’ll visit some of the most beautiful sights of Helsinki, including the neoclassical Senate Square, which is also home to the majestic Helsinki Cathedral and the main building of the University of Helsinki, the colourful Market Square, Kaivopuisto Park surrounded by diplomatic residences, the imposing statue of Marshall Mannerheim and the Parliament Building.
It’s onto Estonia next, and on a morning tour of Tallinn, the capital, you will discover the secrets of Tallinn’s Old Town. Like something straight out of a fairytale, this charming city is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The walking part of the tour includes Toompea Hill, where you’ll see the ancient Toompea Castle, the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (built in 1900, during the period when Estonia was part of the Russian Empire) and the Cathedral of Saint Mary, also known as the Dome Church. A stopover at one of the panoramic platforms will alow you to admire the wonderful view of the old centre’s red roofs with the dark blue Tallinn Bay in the background. You’ll need your camera at the ready here!
The rest of the tour covers Riga, Vilnius, Warsaw, Poznan and Berlin (with the option of heading to Potsdam for an afternoon).
Your Scandinavian escape begins in Sweden’s beautiful capital city Stockholm – also known as ‘The Capital of Life and Movement’. Stockholm is built upon 14 islands, all part of an archipelago. It’s a charming, vibrant city surrounded by beauty and water, hence its nickname, Venice of the North.
After enjoying a taste of the urban lifestyle Stockholm has to offer, it’s time to continue north – 200km inside the Arctic Circle to the last wilderness of Europe: Abisko. In this region, around ten thousand years ago, glaciers carved out a riverbed and the Torne River was born. Since then, the crystal clear and pure waters of the Torne River have flowed freely along its 600km path, through Lapland and out to the sea in the southeast.
It’s also here, that the world-famous Icehotel 365 awaits you. At the newly-built hotel, you can experience the natural beauty of the Torne River all year round. And thanks to the long days in the north, all energy for the new building will be produced by solar panels. Therefore, the Icehotel365 is essentially kept cool by the sun.
When you think of the Australian landscape, thoughts of stunning beaches, the desolate outback, Kakadu National Park and the iconic Uluru often spring to mind. It’s places like the incredible Karijini National Park however, that get forgotten about.
Karijini National Park is one of Australia’s most beautiful and unspoiled destinations. The park is approximately 1,500 kilometres north of Perth, in Western Australia, and is known for its spectacular and unusual landscapes and the dramatic gorges which were formed over 2,500 million years ago. The park is the traditional home of the Banyjima, Kurrama and Innawonga Aboriginal people.
Waterholes and waterfalls can be found throughout the park, and make for ideal places to cool off, go swimming and relax. At Fern Pool you’ll be able to float around in turquoise water surrounded by amazing greenery and incredible rock formations. At Dale’s Gorge you can take a short walk around the rim and check out Fortescue Falls – the only spring-fed waterfall in the park. There’s also some great hikes through the gorges to explore, and it’s an amazing experience to wander around in chasms up to 100 metres deep.
You will spend three days and three nights camping at Karijini on our Perth to Broome Overland trip, which gives you the opportunity to fully immerse yourself and get the most out of this incredible part of Australia.
Thailand is a wonderful destination with plenty to offer families, making it a great spot for a holiday with the kids. This trip will see you explore the vibrant city of Bangkok and ancient ruins at Ayuthaya, raft down the River Kwai, learn about rescued elephants at the Elephant Nature Park and relax with a beach stay at the end. The kids will be introduced to a whole new world when you experience a homestay with a local family in Northern Thailand, where they can learn a new language and try delicious homemade food.
The Elephant Nature Park is a highlight for most families and during your visit you’ll get to wander among these amazing animals, have the chance to feed them some bananas and watch them take a bath in the river.
There is more to Bali then the traditional flop and drop holiday, so why not take your teenagers and experience this beautiful destination. This jam-packed itinerary gets families out into nature with biking, hiking and rafting tours, plenty of pool time, a cooking class, and the opportunity to snorkel in Bali’s clear blue waters.
Starting in the cultural centre of Ubud, families can enjoy the relaxed pace of this gorgeous artist town filled with local shops and restaurants before flying over trees at the Treetops Adventure Park. The area is also known for its white water rafting, and you’ll get the chance to navigate a course along the Ayung River. Next you’ll head to the coast of Candi Dasa and Amed, which are filled with palm tree-fringed beaches and lots of fun activities to enjoy. Then you’ll finish up in the popular seaside town of Seminyak, where you can try your hand at a local cooking class which the entire family will enjoy.
The hike to Mount Rinjani requires climbing to 2000-metres over a distance of nine-kilometres (six-miles), and it kicks off early, around 7am. The route follows a variety of terrain – solid dirt path, solid rock, gravel and grass. It’s important to have a moderate level of fitness, because the trek does get quite tough. Think steep gravel, dirt paths, uneven trails and rocky terrain. Remember to bring strong, sturdy walking shoes and clothes for cold temperatures.
However, the hike isn’t all bad, and there will be a ton of opportunities to stop along the way, rest your weary feet, take some magnificent photos, and potentially spot long-tail monkeys and exotic butterflies. The campsite where you will spend the night is located just below the crater rim (2,600-metres). While the views are incredible, the best part of this experience is waking up in the morning and taking a moment to enjoy the stillness as you watch the sun rise across Bali, the Gili Islands and Mt Agung. Then it’s time to descend the nine-kilometres back down the mountain.
On our Best of Morocco trip, you will have the chance to visit the breathtaking Todra Gorge, a huge rock formation that plunges 300-metres down to a clear, flowing river.
Surrounded by rocky outcrops, there are several Berber villages scattered around, and a few of these spots are occupied by Berber nomad families. During our two-day stay in the area you will embark on a guided walk that will take you up the valley and right to the top of the gorge along a series of gravelly walking paths. The views that surround you are, to say the least, beautiful. After a short walk across the high plateau you will have the chance to explore a set of small caves occupied by the nomads. There are also tents set up around this area, and if you’re lucky you’ll have the opportunity to sit around the fire and share a cup of mint tea with a nomad family. This sort of local interaction is unforgettable; hearing the stories and words of wisdom from people leading the nomadic-style of life is priceless.
Alice Springs and Uluru are a must-visit for anyone visiting Australia. Uluru is a UNESCO Wold Heritage-listed site, and is incredibly sacred and important to the traditional Aboriginal landowners. It’s one of the largest rock formations in the world and one of Australia’s most iconic landmarks, and there are many ways to experience it and Alice Springs. From culturally immersive experiences to those that will get your adrenaline pumping, here are 13 ways to experience Australia’s Red Centre.
1. What better way to explore the outback than on the back of a camel. Saddle up and pick a hump and ride over the red dirt as the sun rises behind Uluru.
2. No trip to Uluru is complete without witnessing a sunrise and sunset. There are a number of viewing areas around the park accessible by tour or car, so pack some snacks and a camera, and get snapping.
3. Get the blood pumping and see the Rock from a whole new perspective with a skydiving thrill.
4. If you’re keen to get a bit of fitness into your trip, then you can hire a bike and cycle the 15-kilometre journey around Uluru. It can be easily completed in three hours, or you can take your time and soak in the scenery.
5. Field of Light Uluru is an exhibition light installment by celebrate artist, Bruce Munro. Finishing in December 2020, watching the rhythms of colour light up the desert is a sight to behold.
6. From atop the sandstone walls of Kings Canyon, the climb will be rewarded with spectacular views across Watarrka National Park’s 71,000 hectares.
7. Getting to Uluru is all part of the fun. You can opt to fly, if you want to spend the dollars, but the best way to get there is cruising the Aussie Outback roads. Jump into a four-wheel drive and really explore the region, or stick to the sealed roads and take in the sights along the way.
8. You might be in the middle of Australia, far from the coastal beaches, but that doesn’t mean swimming is totally out of the question. Surrounded by towering walls, Ormiston Gorge is a great place for a dip and scenic walk.
9. Situated 132 kilometres from Alice Springs in the West MacDonnell Ranges, Glen Helen Gorge offers a great overnight spot with plenty of natural attractions, a swimming spot, and an abundance of local wildlife.
10. For swimming, picnicking, walking and camping, take a visit to Ellery Creek Big Hole. This waterhole is surrounded by stunning red cliffs, a sandy creek and plenty of options for walkers with its connection to the famous Larapinta Trail Walk.
11. The sky is one of the best vantage points to appreciate the vastness of Uluru and its surrounds. For a truly unforgettable view of this landscape, an open-door helicopter ride is bound to impress.
12. For a sky-high experience that’s a little different, a sunrise hot-air balloon ride over the red landscape is bound to impress as you peacefully drift with the wind.
13. To immerse yourself in the ecology, culture and astronomy of the centre of Australia, Earth Sanctuary offer award-winning day and evening tours. From delicious lunch and dinner options, to astronomy tours, this is one experience that’ll leave you captivated.
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