Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Stunning summer destinations for a memorable holiday
SUMMER is the perfect time to explore the beauty that our planet has to offer. With all things bright and beautiful, everything comes alive at this time of the year.
The nice thing about travelling in summer is the guarantee of warm weather and long hours of daylight.
Here are seven summer destinations to explore for your next adventure; book now for the northern hemisphere summer.
Cappadocia, Turkey
Cappadocia is known for its unique rock formations that have caves with ancient Islamic inscriptions.
This city is the perfect place for a romantic honeymoon, a trip with family, or even a solo backpacking adventure. The hot air ballooning capital of the world is a place of exotic culture and fascinating history of Turkey.
Explore its labyrinthine underground cities, caves, and ravines. Take a hike through the Pigeon Valley, Pasabag, Uchisar Castle and Hasandagı volcanoes.
For a luxurious stay, consider resting your head at The Museum Hotel in Goreme for R5 146 a night.
Western Cape, South Africa
With Cape Town as your base, the province has a lot to offer tourists, from beautiful garden routes to scenic parks mountains, Blue Flag-rated beaches, wildlife safari adventures and vineyards. If you want affordable luxury, then this place is for you.
Visit the Valley of Dreams, Franschhoek, or Stellenbosch for a taste of the region's finest selection of wines. Go whale watching in Hermanus, club hop in Cape Town, get scenic views of the west coast and the Atlantic Ocean from the top of Table Mountain, enjoy lunch at the V&A Waterfront or take up surfing at the beaches. This province is truly a holidaymaker's dream and a one-stop destination.
For a luxe stay, consider the Labotessa Luxury Boutique Hotel from R7650 per night or the Twelve Apostles from R7 263 a night.
Maldives, South Asia
The tropical islands of the Maldives are best experienced in the summertime when they have dry weather. There are nearly 1 200 islands along the Maldives archipelago, so there are many options.
The Maldives are famous for deep blue and turquoise seas, water sports, colourful coral reefs and pale beaches.
Enjoy the best of island life with warm and dry conditions, enabling you to spend the most time out exploring the islands and the waters.
The islands are surrounded by reefs, so the pleasant weather days make it nice to spend time in the water to see the spectacular reefs and aquatic life.
Enjoy lunch or dinner at Ithaa Undersea Restaurant or stay at a luxurious resort such as Kurumba for R4 634 a night.
Machu Picchu, Peru
Since Machu Picchu is a bucket-list holiday for many people, it is best to experience it in the summer, when there is less chance of inclement weather, especially if you plan to hike.
Summer might be the busiest time to see Machu Picchu, but it's the best time to see blue skies, lush green grass, and awe-inspiring views, and a popular time for tourists who want to hike the Inca Trail.
Even if you do not plan to hike, the summer weather in Machu Picchu and Cusco is ideal. H owever, it's wise to spend a few days casually sightseeing in Cusco to adjust to the altitude first.
This small Peruvian town is picture-perfect, with a hilltop that lights up at night, a bustling local market, and countless alpaca stores to splurge on a sweater for the chilly nights.
You can also summit Huayna Picchu, the mountain in front of Machu
Picchu, with views to die for.
For luxury accommodation, consider a comfortable stay at the Sanctuary Lodge: A Belmond Hotel from R22 711 a night.
Amalfi Coast, Italy
Famous for its production of
limoncello liqueur, made from lemon, known as sfusato amalfitano in Italian, grown in terraced gardens along the entire coastline between February and October, Amalfi is considered the coastal gem of Italy.
The Amalfi Coast is a true manifestation of nature's beauty with its picturesque landscape, coastal peaks, dense forests, and pastel buildings on the cliff.
A combination of nature and adventure, one of the biggest attractions is Positano Beach.
Other attractions to consider when sightseeing include Villa Cimbrone in Ravello, Amalfi Cathedral, Fiord in Furore, Museo della Carta and Ravello Cathedral.
Take a hike at Torre dello Ziro, ride the Amalfi Drive, explore the Ancient City of Salerno and visit the tranquil beaches of Amalfi Town.
Consider a stay at the NH Collection Grand Hotel Convento di Amalfi with breathtaking views of the coast for R8 578 a night.
Marseille, France
Marseille is a vibrant port city in the heart of Provence and serves as one of the best summer holiday spots in France.
Marseille enjoys a rich cultural heritage with more than 1 500 years of history after being an important source of survival via trading. The port city also enjoys a pleasant climate in summer and visitors can enjoy the Old Port which has been in trading action for more than 2 600 years.
As part of your Marseille summer itinerary, you can visit Notre-Dame de la Garde, Palais Longchamp and Marseille Cathedral. You can also go kayaking at the Old Port, visit Fort Saint-Jean, explore caves and hike at Calanque de Morgiou.
Stay at the Grand Hôtel Beauvau Marseille Vieux-Port – MGallery from R4 894 for a night and enjoy beautiful views of the port.
Iceland
Take advantage of long hours of daylight and the warmest weather you'll ever experience in Iceland by visiting during the summer.
Iceland is a paradise of nature for travellers who love the outdoors and adventure. The region offers extraordinary views and refreshing experiences that are enough to enjoy a respite from the humidity and heat.
While this place can be visited anytime after March, the best time is during July or August.
The world-famous Blue Lagoon Spa is a favourite for tourists, however, you can also visit Reykjavik, Selfoss, Keflavík, Skaftafell and Arnarstapi.
Spoil yourself at the geothermal spa at Blue Lagoon, visit Gullfoss, go on a whale-watching tour and witness the northern lights.
Enjoy a five-star experience at Diamond Suites Luxury Boutique Hotel from R10 770 a night.