Greece by timea

1) Snorkelling/Scuba Diving

There isn’t any one location we’d recommend for this. The Mediterranean is particularly shallow around the Greek islands, and rich in salt, making it particularly suitable for snorkelling. What’s more, the sea life in this part of the world is simply incredible. Snorkel in water that comes up to your waist, and you’re still guaranteed to see many bright and beautiful fish.

If you’re feeling more adventurous you could try scuba diving. As well as stunning subaquatic wildlife, the Greek coastline is home to fascinating ruins, from submerged temples dating back to ancient Greece and the Roman Empire, through to more modern day shipwrecks!

2) Visit a Volcano

Many of Greece’s Dodecanese islands, in the eastern Med, and closer to mainland Turkey than Greece, were formed by volcanic eruptions over the fault line between the European and African continental plates. While most of the volcanos are now dormant a handful are active, including Nisyros, an hour’s boat journey from the more tourist-friendly island of Kos. After a hair-raising bus journey into the mountains you can walk down into the caldera itself!

Nisyros – Caldera, Greece by David Llewellyn

3) Rock Climbing

Greece is a beautiful place, but few places are as striking and breath-taking as Meteora, in the north of the country. This craggy landscape of towering rocks and pinnacles is home to a vast complex of Eastern Orthodox Monasteries, and some incredible opportunities for rock climbing. Be aware, though, that much of the rock climbing in Meteora is not for beginners!

Meteora, Greece by Trevor Leyenhorst

4) Walking Tours

If climbing cliff-faces sounds a little white knuckle, perhaps a more gentle mountain walk would be more to your taste. Less than an hour’s drive from the centre of Athens, Mount Parnitha offers a wide range of routes for hiker, walkers and ramblers of all abilities, from beginners to the more advanced! As you might expect, the scenery here is the stuff of picture post cards, so remember to bring your camera!

5) Cherry Picking

If Greece is famous for anything, it’s food. Whether its seafood, olives, honey or feta cheese, a holiday to Greece is never anything less than mouth-watering. Greece’s cherries are, without a doubt, among the sweetest and tastiest grown anywhere in the world, and the Peloponnese region, in the south, is famous for its cherry orchards. Picking cherries makes a great day out for all the family, but if all that sounds like too much hard work, fear not! There’s every chance you’ll get to eat as many cherries as you pick!

Author Bio
David Llewellyn writes about travel and tourism for Life Is Good.

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Although it’s a small island, Ibiza has a huge range of scenery including amazing long white beaches and rocky coves, as well as rolling hills and stunning mountains. There is a beautiful selection of different plants and flowers to see on the island and the best way to do this is on foot. You can join a guided tour walk and get the benefit of a local’s knowledge or you can head for the hills or coastal paths by yourself. It really is the best way to take in some of the amazing scenery and stunning views.

Ibiza and Formentera, Spain by David Sim

Ibiza is also renowned for beautiful sunsets and the best place to see the sun go down is from the water. You can hire boats to go out into the gentle Mediterranean and spend the day snorkelling and swimming from your launch. Then enjoy the sunset at the end of the day before turning back for the shore. There are also plenty of places to go water-skiing, ride a jet ski or try out windsurfing.

You can go exploring and see cultural sites such as the Necropolis del Puig des Molins – an ancient burial ground on a hillside that dates back to the seventh century BC. You can also take a trip to the mysterious island Es Verda. Two kilometres from the coast of Ibiza this island is said to be linked to the Egyptian pyramids and that the lost city of Atlantis lies below Es Verda.

Sea around Ibiza, Spain by David Sim

As you can imagine, these are only a few tasters of what Ibiza has to offer. One of the best ways to get to see this beautiful island is by booking flights to Ibiza with Jet2.com, Ryanair.com or other air lines. There are always great offers to take advantage of and it can really reduce the cost of your holiday, leaving you spare cash to do lots of things while you are there.

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Yacht Marina; Dockyard Creek, Grand Harbour, Malta by John Haslam

Snorkelling

For the ideal activity holiday in Europe look no further than the gorgeous Maltese islands for great snorkelling throughout the year. Calm, sparkling waters of crystal clarity are major draw cards for snorkelling enthusiasts. Furthermore, rocky coasts turn into magical underwater caves and taverns, allowing for hours of exploration. It’s an ideal family activity holiday destination for snorkelling as well as other water activities, as tides around the island are nearly non-existent, making it safe for swimmers of all ages. Top snorkelling sites include Ħondoq ir-Rummien, Fomm ir-Rih, Wied il ħain and Ghar Lapsi. Lastly, you can enjoy burning 230 calories per hour of snorkelling.

Kayaking

The Malta beach activity holidays also comprise of kayaking. The conditions that make Malta ideal for snorkelling suit kayaking too, especially the lack of strong tides. Suited for an activity holiday for singles or couples, old and young, kayaking is an excellent way to admire the beauty of the Maltese island’s shoreline. It also provides unlimited access to unspoilt beaches, and provides access to great snorkelling spots. Whilst admiring the azure Mediterranean ocean you can burn around 400 calories in one hour.

Cycling

The smaller island of Gozo offers a great itinerary for an adventure activity holiday. The pace is relaxed and tranquil, making it ideal for exploration by bicycle. Whether you prefer hard peddling or gentle cycling, the mountains and plains accommodate for any preferences. It’s a great way to get off the beaten track and explore scenic coastal paths, secluded bays, lush valleys, baroque churches, country hotels and colourful fishing villages. Gentle cycling can burn up to 600 calories an hour.

Dave Tucker is a keen writer and traveller, aiming to inspire others to explore all corners of the globe – why not book your Malta flights today for an unforgettable, action-packed holiday?

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If you’re on the hunt for somewhere which offers plenty of year-round sunshine, top of your European wish-list should definitely be the Canary Islands.

While they’re owned by Spain, making them part of the European Union, the Canaries are located just off the north-west coast of Africa, which explains the great weather they experience.

Sun, sea and sand are what you’ll get if you head to the island group, which comprises Tenerife, Lanzarote and Gran Canaria, among other destinations.

Whether you’re into lazing around on a beach – perhaps after spending the night in a tent under the stars, or snorkelling along the shoreline, there’s something on offer to you in the Canaries.

For the adventurous types, Tenerife may well appeal as it boasts Spain’s biggest mountain – Mount Teide – which you can ascend through the Canadas del Teide National Park.

En route, you’ll pass the Chinyero volcano, which last erupted in 1909, and you’ll be able to check out some stunning views once you reach the mountain’s summit. Perhaps you might want to consider pitching up tents to watch the sunrise in the distance from the peak the next morning.

More than 12 million tourists head to the Canaries each year, so they’re clearly an extremely popular location. And this is with good reason since they have the weather, beaches and natural attractions to boot.

Average sunshine hours vary throughout the year, but even in the British winter, the Canaries see temperatures of around 17 to 18 degrees C, making for a balmy springtime climate.

If you’re a fan of exploring marine life on your holiday, you’re bound to fall in love with everything on offer on the island group.

The waters boast everything from loggerhead sea turtles to sharks and stingrays, so you’ll see a whole host of different beings under the sea. If you head out on a boat trip there’s a chance you’ll encounter the common or bottlenose dolphin, or even a short-finned pilot whale on your travels.

Whatever you’re after from your holiday, the Canaries are bound to offer it to you, all the year round.

View Make the most of year-round sunshine in the Canaries in a larger map

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