Tourism and nature conservation do not necessarily go hand in hand. We are seeing an increasing number of initiatives for responsible and sustainable tourism as well as events to highlight them. The Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Award,  an international prize organized as part of the World Tourism Fair in London, is awarded every year to […] Read More

You can reach the Berggasthaus Aescher though an aerial cableway which will bring you from Wasserauen into one of the most beautiful areas in Alpstein, in the heart of the Swiss Alps. From the extensive high plateau with rich alpine flora you'll get a magnificent round view over the Appenzell, Sankt Gall and Thurgau hill-landscape […] Read More

The Vatna Glacier is one of the largest and thickest glaciers in Europe, covering 8% of Iceland! The Glacier is part of the Vatnajökull National Park, which was established in 2008 and numerous hiking trails enable to explore the reserve, while campgrounds allow to spend a night and continue your trip the next day. The […] Read More

This time-limited festival is one of the most popular occasions to witness the ancient Japanese art of floriculture in all its beauty, displayed as it is in all shades of pink. It takes place in the natural setting of the Japanese Hitsujiyama Park, near the town of Chichibu, Saitama, who for several weeks turns into […] Read More

Through the icy blanket of fog, one can catch a glimpse of a domineering statue of Lenin in the city’s central square. During the winter, the average temperature here is around minus -40°C. It is a vast, freezing world with almost 300,000 inhabitants. This is Yakutsk, Russia, widely known as the coldest city on Earth. Located […] Read More

The Dracena tree (Dracaena cinnabari), otherwise known as the Dragon of Socotra is a truly magnificent specimen. The national symbol of Yemen (you can find it on the 20 Rial coins), it is one of the strangest trees on this planet. The Socotra region is a small archipelago of four islands, one larger than the […] Read More

A past division is uniting Europe, one bicycle at a time. The infamous "Iron Curtain", an aggressive boundary once separating Western and Eastern Europe, is now officially home to a uniquely historical bicycle path. The post-WWII border has been transformed into a symbol of shared ideologies and cooperation known as the Iron Curtain Trail, and is […] Read More

Grenen is the meeting point between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea and it is located at the northern tip of Denmark. There is nothing unusual about this confluence, except for the fact that the water of the two seas mix at a narrow line showing two different patches of colours. This is an […] Read More

I personally had the chance to visit these caves a few years ago and it is an experience that I recommend to everyone. Here are some pics and a lovely video, but it's very different to see them in person. The German name (Eisriesenwelt, "World of the Ice Giants") can give a more accurate idea […] Read More