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Published: April 23rd 2015
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Introduction
From cruising near the roof of the world whilst enjoying a Midnight Sun Safari to enjoying a cruise on the magnificent Adriatic Sea, this year’s list of the best summer trips showcases some of the globe’s wildest and awe-inspiring sights. Get inspired and go to the top 3 summer destinations of 2015 as follows:
1. 1. Lofoten, Nordland, Norway- Midnight Sun Safari From late May through to Mid-July, the midnight sun’s never-ending rays in northern Norway’s Lofoten archipelago produce around-the-clock daylight. Located north of the Arctic Circle in the Norwegian Sea, the fairy-tale Lofoten, with its quaint fishing hamlets and jagged peaks is the departure point for unforgettable midnight sun safaris. In fact, one of the most spectacular sights you are likely to ever experience is a midnight voyage in the open water where the shimmering sky and the goldenrod sky appear to melt seamlessly into one another. Experiencing the wildlife and the landscape in the extraordinary colors and lights from the midnight sun is breathtaking. These two-and-a-half hour safaris begin at Henningsvaer village harbor, passing cormorant and seal colonies and offering spectacular views of white-tailed sea eagles as they swoop down to catch unsuspecting fish from
the sea.
Getting around Lofoten is comprised of 7 main islands with the
closest airport operating a daily service from Oslo being about 2.5 hours east. Alternatively, you may
rent a car from the airport and drive to Lofoten on the LOFAST road or take public transport. Other travel options include passenger boats, ferries, rental bikes, cars, and kayaks.
Accommodation Many of Lofoten’s barn-red and wooden rorbu (fishermen’s cottages) have recently been restored as guest cabins with Eliassen Rorbuer on the island of Hamnoyin having recently unveiled 26 tidy, one-and-two bedroom cabins equipped with living rooms, bunk beds, kitchens, and even Wi-Fi. For unobstructed mountain and fjord views, you can book a unit perched on stilts at the edge of the water. And since no linens are provided, remember to bring your own or pay the requisite rental fee.
What to eat For a convenient pre-midnight safari meal, make sure to check out Fiskekrogen’s location on Henningsvaer harbor where you can sample a traditional northern Norway dish such as bacon served with dollops of pea puree and boiled potatoes or the Lofoten Boknafisk(semi-dried cod chunks that are topped with diced stew carrots.
Interesting fact The Lofoten Golf Links is
renowned for the being the only golf course in the world where you can play golf for more than two months of the year, be it night or day thanks to the midnight sun. Midnight golf season runs from late May to early August.
2. 2. The Alice Springs Waterless Regatta- Northern Territory, Australia No water or boating experience is required to participate in the
Henley-on-Todd Regatta , a wacky celebration that is staged on the third Saturday in August on the often dry Todd River bed. Launched in 1962, it is the Northern Territory’s longest running event with its signature element being the rather raucous waterless 'boat' racing which features 4-person costumed crews in bottomless, homemade vessels resembling boats. Here, crews have to stand in a single file before picking up the boat and running Flintstone-style from beginning to the finish line.
Getting around A remote outback in Australia’s huge and barren Red Center, Alice Springs is close to 1000000 miles from the closest cities of Adelaide and Darwin and about 3 hours by air from Perth, Melbourne, or Sydney. Therefore, to cover long distances comfortably and safely, it is advisable to
rent a camper van or a 4WD vehicle .
Accommodation Caravan or RV camping is an affordable way of not only staying in Alice Springs, but exploring the Red Center. For a few extra comforts like a private bathroom and electricity, you may reserve an ensuite powered site at the Macdonnell Range Holiday Park or opt for one of the park’s deluxe villas or budget cabins that feature modern kitchens and flat-screen TVs.
Where and what to eat The Red Ochre Grill in Alice Springs features an Aussie-centric menu that despite changing seasonally, always incorporates native and fresh ingredients such as kurrajongs flour (made from ground and roasted hairy pods of native Illawarra and Kurrajong flame trees. Main courses include camel, saltwater barramundi, and crocodile- a culinary sample of the Australian outback.
Fun fact Being the driest inhabited continent on earth, Australia is ideally suited to hosting a waterless regatta as it has the least amount of water in its rivers. However, heavy rain between the months of November and March in the north of Alice Springs occasionally results in flash floods in the Todd River although the typical summer flow is nothing more than a trickle at best.
3. 3. The Adriatic Sea, Croatia The Adriatic coastline is
replete with clear gentle seas, quaint villages, gentle summer climate, and historic towns. It is, undoubtedly, a magnificent sailing paradise with tourists and sailors alike attracted by the fantastic diversity and variety offered by
Croatia as a sailing destination . Consider the contrasts: exciting nightlife versus quiet bays, modern supermarkets versus traditional markets, exciting afternoon sea breezes versus gentle morning breezes, centuries old town quays versus modern marinas, and marine national parks versus metropolitan meccas. As the old adage goes, sailing in Croatia has something for everyone.
Getting around Croatia has close to 6,000km of coastline of which more than 4,000km belongs to cliffs, islands, and reefs. In addition, there are over 1,100 islands in the Adriatic, 50 of which are populated. This makes for an unparalleled sailing holiday with stop-overs at beaches and islands that would otherwise be inaccessible. Spend the day in an isolated bay and the night on a UNESCO World Heritage town quay, and top that the following night by visiting a bustling town with modern nightspots and restaurants.
Accommodation There are numerous choices for each one of us. You can rent
private house or
luxury hotel . It's up to you.
Weather The climate along the Adriatic Sea is typically Mediterranean, meaning mild winters and warm dry summers. And with over 2,700 hours of sunshine on average yearly, it is, arguably, one of the sunniest coastlines across all of Europe. Expect temperatures of about 30 degrees between July and August, going down to 23 degrees on average during the rest of the year with prevailing winds from the North West averaging speeds of 7/8 knots during the season.
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