Our first hotel was Galle Face Hotel This beautiful Colonial building striking from the front and even more striking inside. As you walk through the reception door you are greeted by a host of smiling faces beautiful architecture and native dress.

There are many high rise building being built over looking this seemingly small but impressed building. Somehow amongst the huge high-rises it still exudes an air of, I’m a little special, which it is. This hotel has a special place in Colombo’s history with the likes of Richard Nixon, Harrison Ford and many others gracing it with their presence. Why stay at the Shangri-La, we haven’t but have heard it is amazing, when you can stay somewhere as special as Galle. The room is grand in keeping with the building itself, we had a road view room but was not a big deal as we were exploring or at the pool.

The veranda area was beautiful with a nice area to relax or sit around the pool down by the sea. There is one and only one downside to the hotel, we were informed that China are heavily investing in the area and are currently re-claiming land from the sea so there is a lot of work going on as you look out the back of the hotel.

Breakfast had everything and it was my first chance to experience the world famous hoppers! Getting used to curry for breakfast (continental was available) took a little getting used too.

The first day was wet, really wet, but we didn’t manage to snap one of our favourite pictures. We had time to get a little relaxing by the pool before relaxing, eating and drinking at the hotel veranda bar.

Outside the hotel there is an open patch of grass where there are small local stores selling local food, snake charmers, kite flying and many other local festivities.

This patch of grass is significant because in the war it was lined with cannons to defend Colombo and inside the Galle face hotel you can still see a cannon ball that crashed through the building itself. A short 25-minute walk takes you in to the heart of Colombo where real hustle and bustle begins, it was absolutely packed.

There is a local market there which made for an interesting walk through the business district, train stations and old government buildings.

Today was the day we were climbing the 7km up Adams peak starting from Dalhousie.

It was an extremely early start of 4.30am to do the 4-hour drive to the base. We were out of season and were concerned that we wouldn’t be able to climb, after do some reading on the internet. No need to worry we were fine, in fact, it was amazing. There was no one around, we must have walked past five other groups the whole time, and from what I’ve read peak season its one long queue the whole way up.

The scenery is breath taking with wild boar, monkeys and hornets nests. The not so popular creatures were the leaches from the bushes, don’t stray from the path and you should be fine. The walk itself on the whole is fairly straight forward it’s a very long series of steps winding their way around the mountain, which at times gets very steep but with a little rest your up and going again.

It is great to be walking through a rainforest, the path is clearly laid out you can make your own pace grabbing as many of the millions of photo opportunities available.

By the time we got to the top it had clouded over; can’t always be lucky. The temple was a little underwhelming, but check out the pictures, we got some greats shots before the clouds came over. Doing this trip from Colombo is definitely do able but it’s a very long day so be prepared but it is well worth it.

The route to the mountain took you through tea country which we didn’t see on the way as it was dark, there were ladies out painstakingly picking the leaves by hand gave them a wave and got the brilliant Sri Lankan smile and a friendly wave back.

Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort Wow wow wow, possibly the grandest place we have ever been we had our own butler! You enter through a beautiful archway and over an indoor pool to be taken to the seating areas overlooking the ground and the pool, it is just stunning, almost to the point of shock at how beautiful it was. Tucked in my shirt in, hid the flip flops and sat down.

We were taken to our room through the most beautiful grounds to a room that was perfect, with a spacious balcony with a relaxing bed, an amazing bathroom with free standing bath. The room was perfect.

The hotel itself was very quiet and peaceful with a lovely pool overlooking the beach. We were only half board here and the food and drinks were extremely pricey so be warned before you buy your afternoon beer. After coming from Colombo getting on the Tangalle beach was the vision of Sri Lanka we had in our mind it was stunning, the sweeping sand and swaying in the wind palm trees, it was the picture perfect version of how we imaged Sri Lanka to look.

The hotel once a week had a local fisherman come who would bring round fresh fish for you to buy and cook that evening. The buffet was amazing with a different theme each night. Sushi night was ammmazing!!!

We decided to walk up the road to the local town where there was a local food market. It was great to get out of the tourist trap of this perfect hotel. Within a 30 minutes’ walk you were back too real Sri Lanka with an authentic food market where the locals shopped and started at the white people.

As when in Sri Lanka everyone takes home an elephant this hotel had a local craftsman who sculpted figures to purchase is a nice souvenir. We have been to some very nice hotels but this one is up there with the best.

Whilst down in Tangalle we took the opportunity to visit the nature reserve Yala National Park where they have wild elephants, leopards, crocodiles and many more animals and birds. Fantastic trip in to the reserve, there are quite a few trucks driving around so when you do spot something good they radio to each other for everyone to see and it gets busy quick. We got to experience elephants grazing and a mother and baby bathing in the lake.

This option although nothing is guaranteed to been seen was a personal choice over somewhere where the elephants are chained or kept in small enclosures. Seeing them in the wild was absolutely amazing a huge tick off the bucket list. After keeping a close eye out for crocodiles and seeing quite a few with the help of the guide, we were given a huge treat as on the way back we stumbled across a leopard walking down the road.

We held back as not to scare it and just sat and watched as this huge impressive animal made its way along the verge before disappeared back in the bush. Great afternoon out (trip times are best early morning or dusk as the animal are most active), and luckily for us the animals were playing ball and in the right area at the right time.

After a late night drive from Tangalle back to Colombo to board a flight on to our final destination the Maldives.

One of the strangest airports to go to, you walk out of the terminal and you are on the sea. Where there would usually be taxis there are boats waiting to ferry people to their respected resort. When we arrived it was grey and raining. The first initial thought with an airport and container ships everywhere was not great, based on the high expectations we had, no fear this very very quickly changed. We jump on our water taxi that took us to our resort Centara Ras Fushi

This tiny little island with two legs of huts driving out of each end with a number of rooms on land. Our dream was always to stay in a room over the water, do it! You have to do it; it adds a whole other level to the experience. The rooms are spacious and clean with a full wall wide patio door that opens out on to your balcony.

The balcony is by far the best bit you can sit and watch the fish jump and swim around, you can relax with a drink ,if you do, don’t tell the bar as you are not meant to take glasses to your room.

The difference in blues is stunning from the shallowness bright blue of the reef to the dark blue as the sea floor drops lower. Each hut has its own set of stairs that allows you to go directly from your balcony in to the water for a snorkel. Our stairs had a few resident crabs that scurried away each time you went down and were sat happily when you got back in from your swim.

The resort itself was great if you are happy to do nothing except relax, snorkel, eat and drink which is exactly what we wanted. You could walk from one side of the resort to the other in about 5 minutes. There were many different restaurants and bars and the food was good and plenty of choice. The best bar was a circular bar by the beach on the way back to our hut.

From this bar can sit and watch a stunning sunset with a cocktail on the netting outside, keep an eye out for the reef sharks that come out to hunt that time of night, fantastic to see. The water sports are free and were good for an afternoon splashing around.

We spent most of our days snorkelling, in the morning, afternoon and early evening as the sun goes down. Different fish and sea life will be about at different times so you never know what you will see. Make sure to swim to the edge of the reef where it gets deeper as again different life lives out there, you are actually able to swim the whole way around the island if you wish. The fish are beautiful from the moment you step off the balcony stairs.

There are two sides to the island one is sandy with large rocks with hundreds of fish living around them, the other is a coral reef. The reef is a little dead but the marine life is still there, we saw sharks, a moray eel, stingrays, octopus, cuttlefish which are weird and hundreds more different types.

We decided to go out on a snorkelling trip to see if there was anything else we hadn’t seen, to be honest I wouldn’t bother you can see everything around your hut. The two things that we did see was finding nemo, clown fish are my favourite and a chance viewings of a shoal of Dolphins whilst on our way back on the boat.

The Maladies is one of the few places that you go to that has the hype of being the most amazing place and actually lives up to it. Everything people say about the place is correct. Combine Sri Lanka with the Maldives to create a perfect trip combination of culture, adventure and relaxation.

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Our scenic journey to the beautiful city of Bruges began with a 2-hour Eurostar trip from London to Brussels and then an easy 50-minute train transfer from Brussels to Bruges, all included in the Eurostar ticket price. Our hotel, the B&B de Corenbloem, was situated in the middle of town just off the main square so a short and convenient 20 minutes walk from the station. When we arrived there we found ourselves standing in front of a grand building with large towering double doors, which opened up to a gorgeous traditional house with high ceilings and stately furnishings. It reminded us of the kinds of houses you see in Downton Abbey, traditional and authentic. It was the perfect setting for our trip.

After settling into our luxurious Empire Suite room, we wondered into the town which centres around the main square. Coincidentally we had relatives visiting the same weekend so we met them for a beer and jumped on one of the many tourist boat tours. It’s a great way to view the city from it’s most striking feature, the heart line of the city, the canal. The boat tour is an idyllic 30 minutes, allowing you to learn a little history and view the major landmarks that make Bruges so special. From the boat we stopped in one of the many canal side restaurants for dinner and more beer. Of course while in Bruges you have to try the local Belgian beer that they are famous for. There are many little restaurants and bespoke bars you can sit at and take in the canal views, you are spoilt for choice. After enjoying the tranquility of the setting we were completely exhausted and ready for our bed. After turning around some of the creepier old-style portraits in our room we drifted off to asleep.

The next day we had a busy schedule, hoping to see as much as possible. Bruges is a little like Amsterdam in that is completely flat and everyone cycles, so this is exactly what we did and it was of course the best way to explore. £11 for the day, we rented two and were let loose. We decided to head towards the Flemish coast, which was about a 40-minute cycle. This route took us through some beautiful countryside and along the main river towards the harbour of Zeebrugge, where the views are a lot more industrial with huge container ships and wind turbines. This area did feel very modern compared to the main centre of Bruges which has kept its magical and medieval feel.

We cycled through a small town in the area of Blankenberge a little distance outside of Bruges; a weird haunting place that was completely empty, not a single person to be seen. Slightly eerie as by this time it was midday on a Saturday. We left quickly before anyone could come and steal us away and headed back to the comforting hustling bustling centre of Bruges. After lunch at another canal side restaurant and some local beers, we explored the gate houses that surround the city allowing passage over the canal, as well as some windmills that would have been used to churn grain.

We visited the ever-so-beautiful Lake of Love, a very romantic and popular spot with couples as local legend promises eternal love if you walk over the Minnewater bridge that crosses the lover’s lake. The sun was just beginning to set allowing for a picturesque stroll around the lake. We settled in for the evening at a few different restaurants and bars experiencing the city at night. The historic and towering buildings glowed in the night light with a gentle peaceful hustle and bustle of people mingling around the many outside bars.

On our final day in Bruges we had a few things planned; chocolate shops, a brewery tour and the famous Belfry tower. We started the day with the famous clock tower, 366 steps up to the top with beautiful panoramic views of the city and the countryside, which we had cycled the previous day. Despite it being a cloudy day, the views over the red roofed buildings was well worth the climb. The history of the tower is extremely interesting and is documented as you make you ascent. As we made our way down the narrow passage way, we passed many camped-out tired explorers.

From here it was time to try and track down the perfect chocolate gift. Every shop has free chocolate so you can literally eat all day for free whilst browsing. With so much on offer, we landed on a pick and mix style chocolate box in a cute little tin shaped like a traditional Belgium house. The brewery tour was our final stop. It was a great little tour that was very educational and took around an hour. Again the history and modernisation of the brewery with their new massive pipeline of beer under the city was very interesting, with more rooftop views of the city. At the end of the tour, as with most tours of this kind, you are given a complimentary beer from the brewery to try. We enjoyed our final Belgium beer, in the sunshine which came out just in time.

A short easy trip from London, Bruges is up there as a top long weekend destination. The tranquil canals and historic buildings provide a beautiful setting to relax in while eating some great Belgium cuisine and drinking a multitude of the different local beers.

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Dubai

After a fairly comfortable overnight flight, we arrived at Dubai airport just after 7am and took a taxi to our hotel. We had booked the luxury 5 star resort Atlantis The Palm which has been a long desire for me so I was excited to get there. A note on transfers; public transport is a cheap and convenient way to get around but if you do not fancy that after a long flight you can grab a taxi outside the airport, just make sure you go for a metered one as they are significantly cheaper than a fixed price one. Also avoid hotel transfers as they seem to be triple the price, or at least the Atlantis one was.

The Atlantis was hugely impressive and everything we imagined it to be. It reminded me of a smaller version of Disneyworld (which of course I am a massive fan of). I was like a small tired child when we arrived; grumpy and extremely excited. Unfortunately we were unable to check in immediately but the staff were kind enough to let us leave our luggage with them and enjoy the hotel facilities. Everything about the hotel is grand; the huge reception, the high ceilings, the plants and elaborate ornaments, the vast array of restaurants and shops, the poolside area, and most of all the aquarium which was mind blowing. The tank houses about 65,000 fish. You could literally stand there for hours watching them swim together in their shoals, mesmerised. The morning flew by with time at the pool and aquarium and before we knew it, it was 3pm check in time. We had a deluxe room with a sea view, conveniently on the right side of the building for the sunset. The room was as expected, spacious and comfortable with a touch of 5 star luxury.

That evening we had booked ourselves into the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, the world’s only 7 star hotel, for evening drinks. This hotel was wonderfully extravagant, if a little eccentric with gold plated everything, but exactly what we were hoping for. We recommend arriving for evening drinks just before sunset so you can enjoy the view of Dubai before the sun goes down. The service here was second to none, the waiters were charming and attentive and the cocktails were beautifully presented and delicious. Free nibbles were provided which was a bonus given we had already spent £150 on 4 drinks! Definitely a place worth splashing out on for a special occasion. We headed back to the Atlantis and had dessert in one of their famous aquarium restaurants, Ossiano. Lovely setting and the dessert was something from master chef.  The intricate detail and effort that went into it was impressive and it made for a beautiful dish. That was us done, it had been a very long but amazing first day with a little luxury to start us off.

On the second day we had three things to achieve on our agenda; the Burj Khalifa, the Marina and the Atlantis Palm Water Park, which again we got complementary access to. We got up bright and early, devoured an all-you-can-eat breakfast in one of the restaurants (which was pretty average) and jumped in a taxi to the Marina. We had a stroll around the many skyscrapers which were hugely impressive but very samey so you don’t need to spend a huge amount of time here.

We jumped on the metro to the Dubai Mall, another grand and luxurious construction, and finally a view of the Burj Khalifa amongst the many other tourists. These two items on our itinerary were more of a must-see while in Dubai more than anything else, so once seen we were happy to get back to explore the water park. We spent all afternoon on the lazy river, probably one of the best lazy rivers I have been on with several rapids and slides on route. The slides were great fun for all ages. We particularly enjoyed the one that went through an underwater aquarium. There are lots of kids and families here so it gets very busy, something you should be prepared for. Also don’t forget to purchase lockers in addition to the entrance ticket. For some reason these are sold separately which seems silly as most people will have baggage with them.

Bali – Canggu

After a brief 3 hour flight on a Jet Star plane, another very smooth and easy flight, we arrived at Bali airport where we were greeted by our car hire company Balicheapcar. Wanted to write a little segment on these guys because they were amazing. We were greeted by two very smiley Balinese guys, father and son, who were super laid back and happy to meet us. A great first impression of the Balinese people which we later found was representative of every local we met. When we got to our car, a Suzuki Jimmy Jeep priced at an extremely competitive rate of £85 pounds for 8 days, we were walked through the all-important aspects including how to change a tire and completed step 7 on the contract; a picture with the car hire host. Yes this was actually written into the contract! Comforted (or not, in Karina’s case) by the official proceedings we were let loose on the Balinese roads, which were completely nuts!!

The car was fine, it was by no means modern or luxurious but made us feel like we were driving a car you see in those cool American road trip films. We loved it. The only struggle we had was going uphill, so if you are planning to visit the mountain areas maybe go for a slightly better model. We would 100% recommend Balicheapcar. We were in contact with them throughout the trip for tips on local moped hire and boat transfers so cannot say enough good things about them. Try to avoid using big multinational car hire companies, it’s all about supporting the local businesses like this where possible.

We drove through the manic streets of Kuta, which is driving like you have never done before. If you are not a confident driver or a little faint-hearted do not attempt to drive in this bustling and quite chaotic city. The whole time you are positive you are going to knock hundreds of mopeds over but somehow they just skip around you. It feels a little like ants on a nest! We arrived at De Moksha, our first destination in Canggu, after driving down a dark and very bumpy road. Again this is normal, proper roads are a rarity. This hotel is exactly as it states; surrounded by rice fields, jungles and natural wildlife.

The room was huge and beautifully decorated with a four poster mosquito-netted bed, open plan kitchen, lounge area and an outdoor bathroom. Given the bathroom is outside and surrounded by a mini jungle of sorts, you have to expect all kinds of bugs, spiders and lizards to present themselves, particularly at night. If you are not keen on nature then this is not the resort for you, but if you want to be amongst the natural beauty of south Bali then this is a wonderfully peaceful and completely unspoilt place to stay in. One small thing to consider is that you will need a car or moped if you want to visit the beaches or bars in Canggu as it’s a little far out.

Our first night we met some friends at Deus, a trendy bar that seemed to attract backpackers and sold local beer (Bintang) for £1.75, bonus! We had a great dinner, listened to some live music and hit the hay. Our first of two days in Canggu we headed to Tanah Lot temple, one of the seven sea temples on the Bali coast and probably the most popular so it was on our hit list. It was everything the pictures portray. The temple sits on a rock formation in the ocean just off the coast. It’s stunning but be prepared to fight for a good picture with every other tourist in Bali.

Before visiting temples have a read about their fascinating history; which gods the temple was built for; the significance of its location whether on sea or mountains; and the meaning behind the number of roofs each temple has (11 being the top). Later you will see we visited a smaller temple in Munduk but of equal sacred importance dedicated to worship of the dead. It was completely isolated on a river between forestry and mountains and was equally as stunning. After Tanah Lot, we spent some time on Echo Beach surfing and sunbathing. A shimmering black sand beach with some old rustic shacks along the edge selling beers and renting surf boards, a very cool spot again attracting the backpackers.

We then met some friends at the Soori hotel for a beautiful sunset on a more isolated beach. Check out this luxury boutique hotel out if you have a large budget, it looks unreal and we believe it features in the world’s top hotels list.

The next morning after a complimentary yoga session (enjoyed by Karina, not my thing as I struggle to touch my toes) and another elaborate breakfast we headed down to Uluwatu, which included the perils of driving through Kuta again so I got myself mentally prepared! We visited the Uluwatu temple which was very different to Tanah Lot, set high upon huge cliffs with the turquoise ocean below. Definitely recommend visiting this area and the south of Bali generally as it is quite different to the north. Watch out for the monkeys that live near this temple, they will literally take anything that is loose. They know to check bags so keep an eye on them and don’t panic like lots of people do, they won’t hurt even though some are large and have big teeth!

After that, we ate lunch at a restaurant that overlooked Padang Padang beach, a small enclosed white sand beach cove that was used in a scene from the film ‘Eat Pray Love’ and as you can imagine gets very busy. Again watch your belongings here as the monkeys will have it as soon as you take your eye off them. From here we started our journey to our next destination, Munduk, towards the north of Bali.

Bali – Munduk

Munduk…where do we start? Unbelievable is the first word that springs to mind. We absolutely loved it here and it was by far our favourite place in Bali. It’s not one of the top destinations as most travellers tend to flock to the popular Seminyak and Ubud areas, but for anyone reading this we highly recommend you visit. And if you do, you must stay at the Munduk Moding Plantation, a beautiful nature resort set high in the Munduk mountains. It took us about 3 hours to get to Munduk from Canggu and the drive was relatively easy, bar one struggle getting up a really steep hill when we took a wrong turn, but if you stay on the main road you’ll be fine.

The Munduk Moding Plantation is located in a small local village surrounded by their own working coffee plantation and a tropical rainforest. When you arrive at this hotel the first thing you’ll be struck by is their incredible world-renowned infinity pool that overlooks the most stunning panoramic view of the mountains, jungle and coastline. Many a picture was taken from here. The room was immaculate with a huge bathroom and four poster bed looking out to the plantation with views of the sunset in the evening. The food was of a decent standard but not as good as some of the other places we stayed. We took advantage of the complimentary morning tours through the local village, jungles and coffee plantation, which were a great way to start the day. One of these trips was on a horse and in hindsight something we would have rather walked as we felt the horses were not kept as well as they should be.

Our first day was temples and waterfalls and what a first day! We organised a trip through the hotel with a local guide who took us to one of the twin lakes, Danau Tamblingan, where we hiked through the jungle trail, visited three temples and rode in a traditional canoe back to our starting point. Motorboats are forbidden on this scared lake so it was nice to experience it this way. But if you wanted to save some money you could quite easily walk back through the jungle. This trip was enjoyable if not a little expensive but gave us a chance to explore the Bali jungles and visit some unspoilt temples with no one else around except a local expert teaching us the history.

After this, we decided to venture off on our own and visit the waterfalls. The first, Banyumala waterfall, was not one we had heard of but well worth the visit. Be warned when driving to this waterfall as the road that leads there was extremely steep and not in the best condition to say the least. It was like driving down two planks of wood with a massive gap in the middle, and lasted about 20 minutes. Once you get to the bottom of the track you can park up and take a smaller path into the jungle until you reach the waterfall at the bottom, which of course you can hear crashing over the rocks before you see it. It was a spectacular view and was particularly special as you could get into the cold and rough underfoot lake it had created beneath, which we couldn’t resist. Luckily enough there was a local guide who offered to take a picture of us.

We spent some time here before tackling the dirt track road back up to the main road which took even more concentration then coming down. On our way back up a random local stopped on his scooter just to say he hoped we were having a great time in Munduk and then carried on his way. This literally sums up the people in Bali and the warm welcome we received from everyone everywhere we went. Next stop was Munduk waterfall, which was located off the main road and meant stopping on the roadside, apparently a car park, and walking down another steep path. This waterfall was not as breath-taking as the first but still a completely unspoilt natural wonder so amazing to see. Both waterfalls were free to access but we can definitely see this changing as Munduk gets more popular.

On our second day we decided to take a trip up to the northern tip of the island, Singaraja, the coastline of which we could see from the hotel views. The drive alone made this trip worthwhile. We drove through small remote villages, rice fields and jungles with such beautiful landscape views. We took lots of pictures and of course were greeted by lots of friendly smiley Balinese families and children on the way.

When we got to the coast we parked up by Lovina Beach, a much quieter and less commercial beachside resort compared to the busy tourist spots in the south of Bali. The waves are also much calmer so not the place for surfing but popular for snorkelling and turtle watching instead. We hired a small boat and driver and did some snorkelling around the surrounding reefs. The coral was not massively spectacular but the colours and numbers of fish were incredible to see.

We drove back up the mountain roads to the hotel, taking a different route this time that was a little steeper but just as pretty. That evening we enjoyed another traditional Balinese dinner at the hotel and watched traditional Balinese dance performed by a local children’s school of dance, a perfect way to end our trip in Munduk.

Bali – Ubud

The vibrant and buzzing tech start-up hub of Bali was a hustling bustling little spot. Known as the Silicon Valley of Indonesia, Ubud centres around a large local market with a never ending array of shops, bars and restaurants. We stayed at the Sankara Ubud Resort, which was recommended by some friends and for good reason as the hotel was another beautiful resort with natural surroundings, an amazing pool and huge rooms. The pool was a good size and, what seems to be the case with most hotels in Bali, an infinity pool opening up to beautiful Bali landscape views.

Our room did not come with its own pool but after looking at the rooms that did, they definitely seemed worth the upgrade. The food at this hotel was great too, probably one of our favourites. They offered a wide selection for breakfast and dinner as well as complimentary tea and traditional Balinese cakes at teatime which was a nice treat. In comparison to the Munduk hotel and location, this hotel was within walking distance to the town centre and had a lot more going on in the day and evening, more similar to South Bali.

On route from Munduk to Ubud, no more than a 2 hour drive, we visited the Danau Bratan temple. This is another well known 11 storey water temple located on the shores of Lake Bratan in Bedugul. We arrived during a busy time with crowds of locals and tourists but enjoyed walking around taking in the atmosphere. It was one of the first cloudy days we had in Bali but we managed to get some nice pictures of the temple against the misty mountains in the background.

When we arrived in Ubud we continued our temple tour and visited Gunung Kawi and Pura Tirta Empul. Both temples were beautifully set in the jungle with carvings dug into the rocks. There are many historical landmarks to explore in Ubud, however they did seem a bit more commercial with rows of local shacks at the entrances selling all sorts of hand crafted items to the tourists. We decided not to visit the popular Monkey Forest, also a nature reserve and temple complex, as we had seen lots of monkeys in other places but more importantly we had been told that the monkeys here were a lot more aggressive, most likely due to the larger crowds that flock here. That evening we had an early night in preparation for our early wake up call.

Our second day was the much anticipated Mount Batur sunrise trek, which was as amazing as all the reviews we read. We paid for a tour guide which was needed at this time of day but you could go up in the daytime on your own as it’s a fairly easy summit. Our group was just the two of us, but there were lots of people doing it in much larger groups. Supposedly it was a quiet day so I imagine it can get really busy and is not as enjoyable if following a herd of people up the mountain. In terms of itinerary we were picked up at 2am, the climb began about 3am and we arrived at the summit about 5am just in time to watch the sunrise.

The climb was good and at times a bit rubbly and tricky but anyone with reasonable fitness can achieve this. Walking in the dark by torchlight was great and the view, luckily for us, was clear and we were able to witness a stunning sunrise at the top. Our guide was lovely, a really friendly guy who was very knowledgeable of the volcano and its history. He offered to take plenty of pictures of us on route and told us all about his family, Balinese life and the various traditions which was really interesting to learn about.

After taking in the spectacular colours from the sunrise, we walked around the top of the volcano and back down to the car where were we taken to a hot spring for a relaxing dip before heading back to the hotel. Once back at the hotel we relaxed around the pool with our complimentary afternoon tea and admired the hotel view and the photos from the trip we had just undertaken.

On the third day we took a complimentary tour with the hotel of the rice fields and local village in the morning. We walked through the village streets and even into some of the houses where we met local families and workers. It was great to walk around the rice fields as we had seen many from the car but this time we could get up close and learn how they were farmed.

In the afternoon we visited the royal palace, a prominent feature and tourist attraction set in the heart of Ubud. Apparently still home to the local royal family, it is open to the public who can walk around and explore the grounds, the charming temple and gardens. Unfortunately when we visited, the building was under re-construction so parts of it were closed off but it was still great to see and experience. We then headed to the local market, just opposite the palace, spread across a number of adjoining back streets. The market was colourful and vibrant, with locals selling an abundance of hand-made souvenirs and arts and crafts, some of which we had seen being made during our village tour in the morning.

Ubud was a great place to see and can definitely understand why it is such a popular destination for many tourists. However a few days here was enough for us and we were ready to move on to our next destination, the Gili Islands. By this point we had handed back our rental car so booked a transfer with Gili Gili fast boat. There are many transfer options to choose from, all of which have widely contradicting reviews that will only confuse you. The transfer with Gili Gili, one of the most expensive options, was safe and comfortable (worth noting it will be a bumpy ride with any fast boat on these seas) but after looking at the other boats on the harbour that are all similar in size and condition we would probably go with a cheaper option if we were to do it again.

Gili Air

Where to begin with this idyllic little island. It is pure paradise! Not a posh 5 star paradise but an exotic unspoiled island paradise, absolutely beautiful. Gili Air is one of the 3 Gili Islands in Indonesia, located closest to Lombok and furthest away from Bali. It is also the middle of the range one hence why we chose it; not as busy as Trawangan, the largest of the 3, but not as quiet and secluded as Gili Meno.

We stayed at the Senang Villa which was lovely, run by a group of young lads who were the friendliest and kindest hotel staff we had come across. Every morning they served our breakfast on the balcony outside our room with genuinely interested chat about our day’s plans. They had great local knowledge and lived on site so were always around for a chat or help to arrange an activity. We also had a regular visit from the hotel cat whenever food was around which was nice. The rooms themselves were pretty basic, a simple double bed and outdoor bathroom, but then the price of the hotel is extremely cheap and the service offered far surpasses the asking price in our opinion.

There are no motors in Gili Air so the only mode of transport is walking, biking or horse and cart. The latter we avoided as again we felt the horse were not looked after very well. Keep in mind we cycled the island in about 20 minutes so it is very small so easy to get around. We also noticed there were no dogs which, coming from Bali where they are literally everywhere, was very unusual. There were plenty of cats instead. This island is all about relaxing and slowing down your pace, which is exactly what we did. It is absolutely stunning with crystal clear blue sea and beautiful white sand.

You can snorkel straight from the beach along the right-hand side of the island where the water is very shallow and the bay covered in pretty coral reef and fish, and if you’re lucky you may even spot turtles. These islands all have a very backpacker feel to them so there are lots of bars and restaurants lining the beach front where the food quality is surprisingly good. In the evening, you are spoilt for choice and they even had an outdoor cinema serving food and drinks. We loved hanging out at a bar called Mowie’s where you could sit on the beach listening to the waves and watch the sun go down, with a nice cocktail in hand of course. The bar next door had a swing where you could take a great sunset picture, and further along another bar had two hammocks on the beach for an even more popular sunset shot for those eager travel couples!

We spent our first day hiring a bike and exploring the island, riding along the beach front where in some areas the sand was so dense it was hardly a pathway and you had to get out and pull the bike along. You can also ride through the centre of the island into the little village streets which are really cute and fun to explore. We passed lots of local families in their homes, many with their own farms with the animals grazing along the pathway. Rather than book a snorkelling trip, of which there are many available on the island, we decided to rent some snorkels and explore the underwater life in Gili Air on our own. You could spend hours doing this, with breaks for drinks and nibbles at the beach side restaurants. This really was the life! That evening we went to our favourite bar Mowie’s for dinner and enjoyed a superb sunset view.

On the second day we visited Gili Meno which was a simple boat ride about 15 minutes each way. Despite being a laid back island the boats do have set departure times and stop during the afternoon so make sure you check this. The water and beaches in Gili Meno were even more perfect and there was even less going on. We walked around the island, visited the beautiful lake in the middle and stumbled across the baby turtle conservation; a tank where they were being nurtured and returned to the sea.

Once back on Gili Air we had a walk around the island looking for a restaurant that had been recommended by some friends, Pachamama. It is well known for its amazing organic gluten-free menu and was a beautiful little spot nestled away in the back streets, despite being extremely hot due to the electricity supply being down in the entire island that day. Amazing how much you rely on these little pleasures of air conditioning in countries like this. To get there you can follow the signs, bearing in mind that Gili signs are lots of pieces of wood nailed to a tree, and eventually you will find it towards the north east of the island. That evening we had dinner at a great BBQ spot by the port, great value for money and delicious simple food.

On our third day we travelled back to Bali for our flight to Singapore that evening. All in all it was quite a long trip with the 2 hour boat ride (with an addition of 30 minutes due to the engine breaking down on route, nothing too serious) and a 3 hour transfer to the airport once on land. We had enough time to make a quick stop to the beach at Kuta which was a 30 minute walk from the airport.

We got there just in time for the sunset which was surprisingly pretty even if full of tourists. This area of Bali is completely different to all the others we had been in. There were large towering McDonalds signs along the beach side with numerous neon lit beach bars playing chill out house music. It had the vibe of being on a Greek party island. A cool place if you want to party after which you could retreat to the hills of Munduk for same relaxation and quiet. After enjoying a drink at one of the bars watching the sunset, we headed back to the airport excited for our next destination.

Singapore

Our final few days of the trip and we find ourselves in Singapore checking into the Park Royal on the Beach hotel at 1am in the morning. A far cry from where we were 3 hours ago on a very small idyllic island, we are now in the middle of a busy city about to join the masses at Universal Studios. The difference in the space of a few hours was fairly surreal. The hotel itself was very nice, a lot more business-like than the others we had stayed in during our trip, but that was to be expected given we were located in Singapore’s central business district. However it had everything we needed, a comfortable and spacious room with good air-conditioning and a great pool that overlooked the city. The price was pretty reasonable too and the location was perfect for us, only a short walk from the marina and about 10 minutes from the nearest metro.

Universal Studios was a fun day out, if you’re still a child at heart like me you’ll love it. The Transformers ride was my personal favourite, Karina on the other hand preferred the more extreme Battle Star Galactica roller coaster. It rained shortly after we arrived, and when I say rained it literally rained hard all day long. So a poncho was much needed but given the humidity it was not a big deal to work around. In the evening, we walked to the marina which was beautifully lit up by the sky scrapers. A symphony of colours with their reflections in the water, it looked stunning. We had a wander around, grabbed some food and managed to catch an outdoor dance performance before heading back to the hotel to sleep after a very long day.

Our plan for Day 2 was a little more touristy and sight-seeing fuelled. Our first stop was brunch with some friends at Curious Pallette, a cute little café with a cool ambience, great music and the best waffles. We then we hit the streets walking around the marina to the magnificent Marina Sands Bay hotel and the mall. You can go into the hotel for a drink or pay to use the pool to have a look rather than pay the premium room prices which, to be fair, I’m sure are worth every penny. The mall was huge with every shop imaginable and with a river running through the middle with people being taxied via canoes. Everything in Singapore is incredibly modern and hi-tech, and everything is unbelievably clean and works! I mean, the metro has working air conditioning. Working! We are used to those sweat boxes London calls tubes.

From here it was a short walk to the Super Tree Grove, which was beautiful and another insight into how advanced and forward-thinking Singapore is compared to a lot of other places in the world. The trees are made from a collection of different plants that generate solar energy, as well as performing other environmentally sustainable functions.

After walking around here in the stifling humidity, we jumped on the metro to visit Little India and China Town. Both were easily discoverable as the stations are called exactly that and the metro was cheap at about $2 a trip. Entering these areas felt very different to the rest of Singapore, both bursting with their own culture with vibrant colours and smells, and busy street markets selling souvenirs and local food.

It quite literally feels like you have stepped off a plane into those countries and was great to experience. We then walked back to the hotel through Arab District, which again had a very distinct feel with lots of street food and decorative facades on the building fronts. We had dinner in one of the street markets here where the food was exceptionally cheap and tasted delicious.

That was it, our trip had sadly come to an end and it was time to pack our bags ready to fly early the next morning. As we waved goodbye to Singapore from the plane, we were absolutely shattered from the past 2 weeks’ activities but already feeling like we were going to miss our travels, Bali especially as the kindness and warmth of the Balinese people had left a mark with us that would always remain.

Itinerary:

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After a long drive from London, roughly 5 hours with a quick motorway stop, we arrived at Cedar Manor our home for the next few nights. A beautiful and elegantly decorated hotel with a small number of rooms and personal service. The hosts Caroline and Jonathan could not do enough and were always waiting to hear about our day’s adventures and give advice for the next. The rooms had a very stately feel with four poster king size beds and pretty views over the Lake.

Cedar Manor Hotel

The hotel offers amazing fine dining for both breakfast and dinner. We enjoyed the delicious breakfast every morning, which came as part of the room booking. A superb selection of food from local Cumberland sausages and fresh farm eggs to home made jams and berry compote.  The hotel was perfectly located within 30 minutes walking distance from Bowness Bay and 10 minutes from Windermere. It truly was an amazing place to spend the weekend, relaxing after long days out hiking and exploring.

Lake Windermere

Day 1: Scafell Pike

After a hearty English breakfast we set off for day one; a 6 hour round trip to the top of Scafell Pike. Being our first mountain expedition, we were not sure what to expect and if we had bought the right clothing but off we went with enthusiasm. The route we had chosen was from Borrowdale, around 8-9 miles return and an hours drive from the hotel. It was recommended as one of the prettiest ascents with best scenery en-route. The longest route is from Langdale about 13 miles return and the shortest from Wasdale 4-5 miles return. We found the Walk the Lakes website very helpful. Also worth noting that all routes can be climbed without a guide.

Scafell Pike Hike from Borrowdale

Admittedly not being as well prepared as most, with no map of how to actually get up the mountain, we followed a small group that were starting the hike at the same time. Following the crowd is not something to be relied upon however, as during the hike we hardly saw anyone and at times felt completely alone on the mountain with only the piles of rocks (apparently called Cairn’s) to lead our way. At times when we did encounter other hikers, most of them seeming to be pros speeding up the mountain, they were always happy to reassure us we were on the right path.

Scafell Pike Hike

The hike itself was incredible. The scenery was absolutely beautiful with the contrast of brutal hills and tranquil lakes in the landscape.  The inquisitive sheep we encountered along the way also made the trip interesting. The view was immense and we were blessed with sunshine on the ascent which made the pictures look great but meant we had to strip down a few layers of clothing.  As we got higher the wind picked up and the clouds came in so visibility got worse and it felt a lot colder. By the time we did the final scramble to the very top we were amidst a snow storm. This was really some of the strangest weather I have experienced in the space of 6 hours; such extremes on what in relation to the world is a fairly small mountain.

Scafell Pike

The descent down was relatively straight forward, having now felt like we had familiarised ourselves with the mountain. 3 hours up and 3 hours down, the hike was complete. We were feeling extremely proud of ourselves, so returned to our hotel for some respite before heading into town for a nice meal to finish the day and congratulate ourselves.

Day 2: Scafell Pike

On the second day we took a leisurely drive around the valley of Great Langdale and headed into the pretty and very popular village of Elterwater. We were planning to do a hike there but it was so busy and no free parking spots we decided to move on. Not far from there we passed Grasmere village and stopped off to visit the famous Gingerbread shop. We spotted the long queue before we saw the shop, a 17th century cottage that was a lot smaller than expected given it was known for selling the “world’s best gingerbread” since 1854. The gingerbread was delicious so it certainly lived up to the hype.

Grasmere Village

Our next stop was Ulswater Lake, recommended by the hotel owners as one of their favourite lakes. We walked up to the Aira Force Waterfall first, a small waterfall in comparison to ones we had seen recently in Iceland but albeit a natural beauty.

Aira Force Waterfall

We then had a packed lunch by the lakeside, sitting on the harbour looking out to the gorgeous mountain views. The sunshine came out just in time so that was a bonus. We considered hopping on a boat to the other side of the lake but as it was getting late we decided to head back to the hotel with a quick stop off at the village of Glenridding at the south side of Ulswater lake.

Ulswater Lake

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After a short fight we arrived, picked up the car from Iceland 4×4 car rental and headed to our accommodation just outside the centre of Reykjavik. We stayed at the Árós Guesthouse, a cute little apartment set within a pretty residential area. It was clean and comfortable with a good sized kitchen, homely bedroom and lounge area. We never met the hosts but they replied to any queries we had over email straight away. We made good use of the kitchen for breakfasts and dinners on some occasions, as well as preparing pack lunches for our days’ adventures. This was not a holiday of eating out, despite hearing great things about Icelandic restaurants and food, we spent most of our days on the road exploring the natural wonders while keeping an eye out for the northern lights.

Day 1: Glymur, Grundarfjörður, Kirkjufell Mountain

Day one was a trip to North West corner of the island to Grundarfjörður and the Kirkjufell Mountain with a stop at Glymur Waterfall. Glymur was the first stop from Reykjavik, down a narrow dirt track off the main road to a car park that looked like a wasteland site. From the car park we set off on foot to find the waterfall. There are no signs so simply follow the path for 30 to 40 minutes making your way across small streams. You will then see a sign for Glymur, pointing to what used to be a log that worked as a bridge to cross the river to the waterfall.

Glymur – Waterfall Walk

Unfortunately this has now disappeared and the river was fast, deep and wide so we were unable to cross safely, despite a lot of contemplation. This destination is worth a visit as I’m sure they will mend the bridge at some point, and it may have been due to bad weather conditions that it was down. I can only imagine that the beautiful scenery on route was making way for a spectacular waterfall.

Glymur – Impassable River

We then made our way to Grundarfjörður and the Kirkjufell Mountain, which when we got there could only vaguely see through the masses of wind and rain. We had hit a storm. When you pick up your hire car and they say that the wind can blow the car doors off and you think to yourself “really?” – well they are not exaggerating. The wind was unreal and at such high speeds it shook the entire car as we were driving. So be prepared! Unfortunately due to the bad weather conditions we could not take any pictures here. Also the time of year we visited was not ideal for whale watching but apparently this is the best place to see orcas whales and one of the reasons we had it on our list.

Day 2: Seljalandsfoss, Skogafoss, Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach, Jökulsárlón Glacier

Day two was the long drive along the south coast. After reading and receiving strong advice from everyone online not to do it in one day, we did it and smashed it. This was by far the best day we had in Iceland with some of the most amazing views and natural beauty that will never be beaten.

The drive was a 10 hour round trip, which meant getting up when its dark and getting home when its dark, but wow was it worth it. Two people one little jeep and miles and miles of open, and at times, completely empty roads. The first two stops were two incredible waterfalls; Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss.  We got soaked at the first waterfall as the wind pulled the waterfall into the crowds of tourists. Everyone seemed to be prepared with waterproof clothing, not us! It was fun however. The next one had a stair case up to the top of the waterfall which was a nice walk with gorgeous landscape views.

Seljalandsfoss

After leaving here we arrived at the dramatic Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach which was super cold and had a strange “we are on another planet” feel. It was well worth a visit and gave the first opportunity to grab a hot drink from the tourist shop.

Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach

These first three stops are on a tourist trail so are very busy, not our cup of tea, so from this point onwards we managed to get away from the masses of coaches and enjoy a drive along an empty road into the lava fields.  The lava fields go on for miles and miles. The amazement and wonder of how old they are and how they were formed is mind boggling, you just want to explore and touch them. It’s worth grabbing yourself a piece of Icelandic lava as it’s sold everywhere back in Reykjavik, and at a hefty price.

Eldhraun Lava Field

As we continued to drive along the one main road we took in the amazing views as the sunshine came out and took lots of pictures along the way, getting out of the car at times.

En route to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

We then started to approach the glacier lagoons, seeing the snowy mountains and getting very excited. We ended up turning off a bumpy dirt track, not on our schedule but we saw another car head that way and were curious. There we discovered the most stunning isolated view of a glacier lagoon. It was such an impressive sight and the pictures really don’t do it justice. From here it was a short drive to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon where we managed to catch a beautiful sunset over the lagoon, with the glaciers bobbing along the water with the sounds of clicking and crunching as they cracked and melted in the sunset.

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

We had reached the end destination and it was time to tackle the 5 hours drive back to the hotel. We took it in turns to drive while the other searched the sky for the northern lights, something we were keen to see while out in Iceland. Unfortunately we didn’t see anything but were cheered up by the vibrant and colourful sunset along the way.

The never ending Route 1 road

Day 3: Gulfoss, Geysir, Blue Lagoon

Another fully packed day but slightly more relaxed with a lot less driving. Day three was the Golden Circle tour day. Pretty much the exact route as if you booked one of the many tour guides available but at our own pace. It was a good day with a first stop to see the impressive Gullfoss.  The pictures make it look empty thanks to my great photographer but in actual fact it was very, very busy with queues of people to wade through to get a great view.

Gullfoss Waterfall

From here we visited the Geysir, a periodically spouting hot natural spring known as the Great Geysir. It was very surreal to see. You stand amongst the tourist crowds awaiting the great spectacular and once the natural gas pressure reaches a certain level a massive gush of water erupts from the surface. It only lasts a few seconds so once you’ve seen it once there is not much more to take in but all in all an extraordinary experience, especially with the knowledge that changes in the activity of the Geysir are strongly related to earthquake activity.

The Great Geysir

Our next stop was a lava field cave in Raufarholshellir on route to the Blue Lagoon. To our dismay the cave was closed for maintenance but don’t let this stop you. You can either climb down or sneak through a hole in the front to have a quick look inside these natural wonders.

The final stop was of course the Blue Lagoon, one of the most visited attractions in Iceland. This was an interesting one for us as we were unsure if it was going to be good or just an overcrowded tourist attraction. In fact it completely outdid our expectations. It was absolutely amazing and done really well. We picked a slot for late afternoon which meant we were able to enjoy it in the daylight as well as in the evening with all the pretty lights. The water was lovely and warm at about 35°C, which felt even more given the outside temperature was at best 2°C. Our package included a complimentary drink and silica and algae face masks, which was a really nice touch. We spent some time here enjoying the geothermal spa experience and natural setting. We highly recommend visiting here.

Blue Lagoon

Day 4: Reykjavik

We spent our last day exploring the capital city Reykjavik, renowned for its arts, culture and history. We parked up near the main central streets and had a nosy around. We started off with the famous Hallgrímskirkja church, a striking and imposing structure that stood out at the top of the hill in the city centre. The interior was impressive on a grand scale with a soothing presence but was extremely simplistic and bare in contrast to a church you would find in England. We walked through the town, stopped off for a bite to eat at a lovely little café with a relaxed hippy feel, and then headed to the marina.

We visited the well-known sculpture, the Sun Voyager, which was surprisingly one of the few striking Viking historical features we found in Iceland. On the whole Iceland doesn’t have an abundance of Viking memorabilia as I assumed it would. There is a very modern mall on the marina which is a stark contrast to the rest of the buildings and architecture. We visited the Kaffibarinn which is famously part owned by Blur’s frontman Damon Albarn but after further investigation and from talks with the locals and bar staff we are not sure this is entirely true. However the bar was a cool spot to hang for a few hours before boarding our flight home.

Reykjavik Marina – Sun Voyager

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We broke this trip down into 3 parts. Firstly and most importantly the Christmas market itself; the beautiful scenery and architecture in and around the city of Munich; and the much anticipated Neuschwanstein Castle also known as the “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” castle.

We stayed in a hotel a little outside the city centre called Leonardo Hotel München City West. The hotel itself was pretty average but gets its bonus points from being right next to a metro station making it easy to get around. The room was clean and tidy, a decent size and reasonably priced. We would recommend this hotel if, like us, you are using it to dump your stuff and sleep. If you want anything more than that you should look into other options.

Day 1: Christmas Markets

Marienplatz, Christmas Market

The main Christmas market is in the centre of town at the Marienplatz. Entrance is free for everyone and the market is typically open from 10am to 8pm. There are two observations we made from visiting the Christmas markets. Firstly, the best time to visit is in the evening. Although it is pretty and Christmassy in the daytime, the lights and festivities really come alive once the sun goes down. Secondly, be mentally prepared because it will be busy! And I mean really busy. There is plenty to explore so make sure you move away from the main streets as there are lots of smaller hidden areas where you can sit more peacefully and enjoy your Gluvein or Bratwurst, which seemed to be sold everywhere we looked.

Day 2: Sights and Landmarks

Englischer Garten

We spent a day exploring around the main city centre. Having heard about Munich’s very own English Garden, Englischer Garten, this was a must-see for us. Situated between the city centre and the Isar river, the garden was picturesque and tranquil, the perfect setting for a morning stroll. In the middle of the gardens is a Chinese pagoda, home to even more Christmas markets at this time of the year. At the southern edge of the park the man-made river Eisbach flows, a popular surfing destination and fun spectacle for passing tourists. Unfortunately we missed this ourselves but would definitely recommend a stop by if you’re in the area.

Englischer Garten

One of the most popular and beautiful squares in Munich has to be the Marienplatz, it is the heart of the city and home to the Old and New Town Halls as well as the towering St Peters Church. We headed back this way for a spot of lunch and more exploring before heading out to the Olympic Park, known as Olympiapark. Although the park feels a long way out in the Oberwiesefeld area (especially at this time of year when it’s bitterly cold) you cannot appreciate the impressiveness of the entire site until you are actually stood there in person. The park was originally constructed for the 1972 Summer Olympics, which sadly saw the terrorist attack on the Israeli team and is now referred to as the Munich massacre. The park now serves as a venue for cultural, social and religious events. It is a remarkable place. A world cup final was played here, a message of peace and unity. Yet a mere 6 miles away is an old concentration camp; this area has lots of history, both good and bad.

Olympiapark

Day 3: The Castle

Neuschwanstein Castle

The main event for me was the Neuschwanstein Castle! We ended up at the Tollwood Winterfestival the night before. Only a few stops from our hotel, it was a fun alternative to the Christmas markets with arts and crafts, live music and global cuisine. Despite the late night we managed to leave relatively early and embark on our 2 and a half hour journey south, from Central Station Munich to Fussen.

Alpsee Lake

From Fussen station we boarded a shuttle bus that took us to the Schwangau region where the Castle is. The journey itself was easy, the train ride was comfortable and scenic with the convenience of a shuttle bus departing and arriving in the car park directly behind the station. From the shuttle bus you could either get a horse and carriage to the top of the hill or walk. We choose to walk. The weather was extremely misty that day so unfortunately the pictures we captured do not do the location or castle justice but the history and magnitude of the place was breath-taking. Again extremely touristy as you would expect but a magical place to visit especially if you love the film like I do.

Alpsee Lake

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We only touched on a few destinations but there is so much more to see which we’ll save for another trip or two. Karina was working from Milan during the week so I met her there and we explored Milan together for an afternoon. We then headed out of the bustling city to explore the tranquillity of Lake Garda and the Dolomites with a fly by visit to Verona en route back to the airport – making the most of our 3 day weekend!

Day 1: Milan

Milan is a remarkable city and completely outdid any expectations we had. The plan was to first go and visit Leonardo Da Vinci’s famous work ‘The Last Supper’, which unfortunately we failed to do. A note on this; tickets are sold on the door but you need to make it your first point of call and arrive as early as possible to guarantee entry. We arrived at about 11am and were too late, having been distracted by the Castello SForzesco. Despite being hugely disappointed to miss the famous painting there were lots of other attractions to explore.

Castello SForzesco Gardens Bridge

Castello SForzesco and the surrounding grounds were picturesque even with the unfortunate weather we had. The castle itself is hidden with symbols and sneak peeks into its history and that of its former owners; Visconti Gian Galeazzo and of course SForza himself as well as others going back years. Tucked away in a small side room was another work of art which had brought us to the castle in the first place, Michelangelo’s Pieta Rondanini. His final incomplete piece of work describing death and the salvation of the soul was exhibited in a room that felt just as sombre as the sculpture itself. The exhibition was reasonably priced at around £5 so definitely worth a visit.

Duomo di Milano

After a quick walk around the grounds we proceeded to the next popular destination, Duomo di Milano. Be warned you will queue for a while to get a ticket, which in my opinion was expensive, but architecturally the Cathedral is stunning and the gem of Milan. Take the steps to the side of the building and go up to the roof to look over the city and see the business centre looming in the background. Walking is a great way to explore a city but the trams here go most places too, they are lovely and quaint. I would avoid the newer ones, they’re no fun!

Day 2: Lake Garda & The Dolomites

We drove to Lake Garda from Milan in about 2 hours, passing through Brescia and a lot of tolls.  We would reconsider using the toll route again just because it’s a boring drive and the tolls are actually quite expensive, not to mention confusing when you don’t speak the language. Regardless, it was a straightforward drive and we arrived at our hotel Hotel Spiaggia d’Oro just in time for dinner.

Hotel Spiaggia d’Oro

The hotel was right on the waterfront and despite looking very unassuming and almost run down from the outside, the inside was discernibly more alluring. It had the feel of an old classic Italian style building and the room décor continued the theme. The key selling points were definitely the lake views from the bedroom and the buffet breakfast which sets you up for the day. We managed to catch a beautiful sunrise one morning so be sure to book a room with a view!

Limone Sul Garda, Lake Garda

The following day we were up bright and early to drive along the west side of Lake Garda up to the Dolomites beyond Bolzana to visit another smaller lake called Lake Carezza, a view we were drawn to from a friend’s picture and determined to go see. The lakeside roads had amazing views and we found ourselves pulling over every 5 minutes to take yet another picture, extremely boring to show the family but at the time the view just seemed to get better and better. There were a few tunnels along this road beautifully set into the rocks that were yet another picture opportunity. This was a really pretty drive, made even prettier with the sunshine we were blessed with that day.

Lago Di Toblino, Lake Garda

As we ascended to The Dolomites we started to see the snow and as we got higher and higher we realised that our little Fiat 500 (a cracking car) wasn’t as suitable for these road conditions even though it thought it was.  We made it to Lake Carezza however, parked along a side road and ventured out towards the lake. It was quite remote with very few people with the same idea as us, which was nice. The lake was frozen (not as we had expected from our friend’s pictures) but was peaceful and picturesque, surrounded by the mountain pine trees covered in snow.

Lake Carezza

We then headed down the east side of Lake Garda towards Mount Baldo, our next destination. It was going up this mountain where we really noticed the limitations of the Fiat 500 as it struggled to get up the steep roads. Obviously for people looking to do more mountain road driving we would recommend a more advanced car.

The Dolomites

We made it to the bottom of the lake at the peninsula of Sirmione, one of the most popular sights on Lake Garda, before sunset. With a castle, fortress and roman ruins to explore it is probably the most historical part of the lake.  With that said, it was quite touristy so not our cup of tea and the restaurant quality did seem to drop slightly.

Peninsula of Sirmione

Day 3: Verona

The next day we decided to visit Verona, only a 2 hour drive from where we were staying.  We had already driven around most of Lake Garda and because there were no boats or activities on the lake at this time of the year (something to take note of if visiting at this time) we were limited in what we could do but nonetheless we were happy to move on.

Arena di Verona

Verona is a beautiful historic roman city, with elaborate architecture and monuments surrounding the famous ancient square. Also named the city of love, Verona is well known as the birthplace of William Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’.  As you can imagine thousands of visitors come to relive the magical story of the two star-crossed lovers but standing in front of Juliet’s balcony with a crowd of tourists didn’t feel so magical at the time. In comparison, sitting in the square having a spot of lunch was much more enjoyable, looking out to the Palazzo Maffei and Fountain Madonna Verona. The Duomo Santa Maria Matricolare is also an impressive building, highlighting Romanesque architecture at its best. Unfortunately we didn’t get time to see the famous amphitheatre as we had to catch our plane but suggest making time for that or if you time it right see a show as the arena is still in use.

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