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20 Best Things To Do in Zadar Croatia
Zadar, one of the oldest cities in Croatia, sits on the Adriatic coast about two hours north of Split, basking in Croatia’s abundant sunshine. It was once a Roman colony and in the 16th century, the largest fortified city under Venetian rule, so in addition to a seaside vacation spot, lively cobblestoned streets lined with cafes, some quirky, modern installations, and nearby islands to visit, there’s history and ruins to explore. This post covers the top things to do in Zadar. Explore the Old Town Of Zadar The Old Town of Zadar sits on a small peninsula jutting out into the Mediterranean. It’s surrounded by the ruins of 16th century…
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Best Spots In Plitvice Lakes National Park
Plitvice Lakes National Park is an absolute stunner, with its 16 cascading, interconnected, multi-hued, lakes and over 90 waterfalls. This must-see Croatian park, located between Zagreb and Zadar, is an UNESCO World Heritage site and a natural wonderland. With more than 73,000 acres of protected land, it’s also big, so plan to spend at least a half day here. With 7 different trails, that range from 1.8 miles (3km) to 11 miles (18km) in length, three entrances and two ferry points, understanding the layout can be a little confusing. And although there is signage, directions are still somewhat vague. I spent a day and a half wandering here and created…
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Top 12 Things To Do In Samarkand
The majestic old city of Samarkand, once one of the most important trading sites along the ancient Silk Road and one of Central Asia’s greatest cities, offers many fascinating things to see and do. A cultural crossroad for over two and a half millennia, the beauty of its colorful Madrasahs, Mosuqes, and mausoleums, and the history behind them will take your breath away. Visiting Samarkand, an ancient link between east and west, seeing its sights, and understanding its past, is truly an unforgettable journey. One that should definitely be on your list of places to visit. This post covers the top things to see and do in the amazing city…
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How To Get To [Stunning] Big Almaty Lake | Updated 2023
Learn how to get to Big Almaty Lake, a stunning, shimmering, turquoise lake, backed by snow-capped peaks, up over 8,200’ (2511 m) above sea level. It’s located in the Ile Alatau region of the Tian Shan mountains, joining Kolsay and Kaindy Lakes as the three most beautiful lakes in this region of Kazakhstan. All three I highly recommend visiting, although with limited tourist infrastructure, all three are challenging to get to. Big Almaty Lake, is the easiest of the three to get to, and can be done in an afternoon from Almaty. Note that the road from the mountain base up to the lake is reportedly closed to vehicles for construction…
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Visiting Kolsay Lakes and Kaindy Lake | A Complete Guide
If you’ve heard about the breathtaking Kolsay and Kaindy Lakes in Kazakhstan’s Tian Shan mountains, and thought of visiting but are not sure how to, or what to expect, you’ve landed in the right place. The Kolsay lakes, also called the “Pearls of the Tian Shan”, are located in Kolsay Lakes National Park, which is about a 3-4 hour drive southeast of Almaty through some seriously beautiful landscape. Kaindy Lake, which features a rare “sunken forest”, is also located in the park, although a little farther away and with no paved roads, making getting there a little more challenging. They are, however, both worth the effort, with their remoteness just…
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Kyrgyzstan Travel Guide
This travel guide for Kyrgyzstan, highlights the top places to visit, how to get around, safety, scams, logistics, and more to help you plan an independent visit to this remarkable country. Under-the-radar Kyrgyzstan, which is amazingly rich in natural beauty, provides a surprisingly endless list of sites to see and things to do. From hiking the stunning snow-capped Tien Shan mountains which thread throughout 80% of the country, exploring amazing alpine lakes, captivating canyons, gorges, valleys, waterfalls, and more, this country, once an important stretch on the ancient Silk Road, is full of breathtaking beauty. Plus, it’s inhabited by the extremely kind and warm-hearted Kyrgyz people. Stan means land, so…
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Konorchek (Red Rock) Canyon | How To Visit And Hike
Tucked within the impressive white peaks of the Kyrgyz Ala-Too mountain range, is a stunning desert-like, red rock canyon reminiscent of the Grand Canyon. This is Konorchek Canyon, also known as Suluu-Terek. Created around 2 million years ago, it’s composed mostly of red sandstone and clay from the mostly dry rivers Komorchek and Suluu-Terek (Sulyterek). It’s not well-known, or easy to find, but definitely worth the effort. An afternoon trekking along these majestic formations makes a great day trip from Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, or other cities near Issyk Kul Lake. Konorchek Canyon The hike into the canyon to see the red rock formations is relatively easy, with little elevation, except for…
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Visiting Fairy Tale Canyon (Skazka), Kyrgyzstan
Visiting Fairy Tale Canyon, also known as Skazka Canyon, is one of my favorite places in Kyrgyzstan. I highly recommended it. Especially late on a sunny afternoon when the fantastical rock formations here take on a red glow from the setting sun. It can be a little challenging to get to if you don’t know how. To help, I’ve created this guide to help you get here and enjoy this fun little canyon by Issyk Kul lake. Visiting Fairy Tale, or Skazka, Canyon This canyon, also called ‘Skazka’ Canyon (Каньон “Сказка”), means ‘Fairy Tale Canyon’ in Russian. It gets its name from the fantasy-like shapes carved into the red sandstone…
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Kazakhstan Travel Guide
This travel guide for Kazakhstan features the top places to visit, how to get around, safety, scams, logistics, and more. All to help plan an amazing independent adventure. Although the majority of this country is a vast, dry steppe, the eastern and southern borders, not far from Almaty, feature forested, snow-capped mountains, many with peaks exceeding 21,300’ (6,500 m), stunning alpine lakes, valleys, and gorges. This makes the Kazakhstan an ideal place for outdoor enthusiasts and Almaty the perfect base to explore it from. It’s also one of those rare and wonderful off-the-beaten-path type locations. About Kazakhstan Kazakhstan means “the land of wanderers”, reflecting its nomad culture. The word Kazakh comes…
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Ala Archa National Park | How To Get There & What To Expect
You become mesmerized by the snow-covered peaks of the Tian Shan mountains towering behind the city of Bishkek from the first moment you see them. At least I did. If the same holds true for you, you’ll be glad to know that you can actually hike them. In fact, visiting Ala-Archa National Park in Kyrgyzstan, is not only one of the top things to do in Bishkek, it’s one of the top things to do in Kyrgyzstan. 18 miles (30 km) south of Bishkek, this park provides stunning beauty, as well as relief from the dusty, hot city. Read on to learn how to get from Bishkek to Ala-Archa National…
