Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Attila Hajdu

For those travelling through Hortobágy National Park probably seems that there is nothing, just an endless horizon. You can hardly see some well, pub, or settlement, smaller trees and shrubs. So why Hortobágy got onto the UNESCO list? It is a cultural area where the coexistence of man and nature dates back to 2000-year old history. It is the largest natural moor in Europe, which was not created by grubbing up of forests. It is also the oldest national park in Hungary As typical animals in the moor, everyone firstly thinks about such as gray cattle, sheep, seagulls, Mangalica pigs and Nonius horse. But Hortobágy is also the famous place due to bird world. So far, there are 342 registered different species, of which 152 nest in the Hortobágy. Among them there is a number of strictly protected species.

Hortobágy National Park consists of steppe, extensive pastures, ponds and swamps. In the area of ​​the park you can see growing some plant species which usually grow at sea. Park protects primarily large number of different species of birds. During the night, the park is a home to nesting but also migratory birds. Around the lakes you can be observed Waders.

You can access Hortobágy National Park from the tourist centers that acquaint visitors with the local nature, past and present of the park. The most popular are Szálkahalom, Hortobágy, Nagyván and Mátapuszta.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by hugos007

Menorca boasts several “Best”, it is not only the second largest and geologically the oldest island of the Balearic Island, but also the easternmost and northernmost situated island. Covers an area of ​​702 km2, which is a mere fifth of Mallorca. From west to east is approximately 50 kilometres long and from south to north just 17 kilometres wide. In the north of the island there is the wild and unspoilt area called Tramuntana. South of the island known as Migiorn is characterized by reddish soil plains with snow-white beaches and rocky cliffs. Inland of the island is full of fields, pastures and picturesque villages where the time has stopped years ago. They are a far away from a lively tourist centers on the coast. Inland also houses the island’s highest peak, Monte Toro which is soaring to an altitude of 358 meters.

Many visitors of Menorca, talk about it as a “green island”. The green color is really typical for the island, lush green vegetation surrounding you at every step. This is due to high humidity. There are trees that managed to adapt to the quality of soil and climate. These are mainly oak, pine and wild olive trees. Along the roads you can see prickly pear or cactus figs. In addition, there are about 250 kinds of medicinal aromatic herbs and rare Menorca’s flowers Socarell and Daphne.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Jaume Meneses

Green colour on Menorca is certainly the major, but not the only colour which the visitors encounter with here. The island is surrounded by azure waters of the Mediterranean Sea, warmed by the golden rays of the sun. There are red-brown rocks and along the coast you can see the villages with bright white houses.

Menorca has a rich history as well, in the past a number of nationalities have changed here, which left traces not only in architecture, gastronomy, nomenclature, but also in the style of life of local residents. So Menorca still retains its unique character and is quite different from the other Balearic islands. The Romans named it Balearis Menor, which means “small island”, which subsequently evolved the present name of Menorca.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Miguel Perez

Local residents are working hard to save the virgin nature on the island and preserve it for future generations. In 1991, almost half of the island has been declared a protected area, two years later has Menorca been even declared a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. As a result is a good balance between man and nature. On the island there are 19 protected areas under the highest level of protection. These areas are home to many animal species like small mammals, reptiles, insects and birds.

The construction of the high hotels is not allowed here and all accommodation structures have to meet certain standards. Thanks to it they all fit nicely into the landscape and does not affect its character. Menorca offers 60,000 hotel beds, which is in comparison with other tourist destinations very few. The number of tourists who can visit the island is so limited and hoteliers, of course, use this situation and raise the prices. All services on Menorca are significantly more expensive than in mainland Spain.

Coast of Menorca is very rugged, about 200 kilometres long and is made up of picturesque beaches, which are separated by rocky cliffs. Very interesting are the rocky bays having the shape of the fjord, a typical example is the area of ​​Cales Coves. The longest and of course the most popular beach on the island is a sandy beach Son Bou, reaching a length of over two kilometers. But will certainly find the beach that suits your needs and thoughts.

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Lago di Garda, Italy by Elliott Brown

Beauty hurts, or is more expensive than the sea
Lago di Garda enjoys a large tourist popularity. This corresponds to a number of first-class hotels and guesthouses. With the mark of prestige, prices are higher here than in other Italian resorts (apartments for around €20, campings for €10).

Even lake queen would not have to be ashamed of the lake – 346 meters depth is really impressive. Glacier Lake Garda was founded thanks to the global warming about 10 thousand years ago. Receding Alpine glaciers created this beautiful water world. The upper part of the lake is narrower, surrounded by great rock massifs. Towards the south, the lake opens up and allows visitors easier access. The lake lies at an altitude of 65 meters. Its maximum depth is 346 meters and if you would like to walk it all around, you have to prepare to about 160 kilometre-long way.

The right place for more demanding tourists and adventure lovers is the northern part of Lake Garda. Biking, hiking, rock climbing is just a fraction of what the area offers. Lake Garda is ideal for active holidays. You find here hundreds of kilometres of marked cycling and hiking trails that lead deep into the mountains, on the water you can enjoy boating, scooters or just play a beach volleyball.

Lago di Garda Italy by Robert Wirrmann

If you decide to go on a proper mountain hike, do not forget the map. It can be obtained in tourist centers or hotels. Losing here is really not hard at all. The ideal starting point for tours is the town of Riva del Garda, where you can go either west or east. The western side offers steep rock walls, suitable more for hiking. The eastern hills are a paradise for passionate cyclists. (You can rent bikes and all the amenities from some of many rental services here, but prices are often quite high).

In addition to alpine tours and resting at blue lake you can also go for culture or rich night life, which is characteristic for Italy and its inhabitants. Visit a town of Riva del Garda. This place is ideal for lovers of history.

Lake Garda, Italy by Marjolein Knuit

In the southern part of the lake, you can visit a spa town Sirmione, known as the “Pearl of Lake Garda.” The Romans built here two castles, ports, and a whopping villa of Grotte di Catullo. On the ruins of one of the ports you can now visit the castle Scaligeri Rocca, which is one of the landmarks of Sirmione.

Glacier Lake Garda is truly one of the most beautiful lakes in Italy. It is suitable for everybody – hikers, adventurers, historians…

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