With its impressive palette of blues, ranging from deep cerulean to bright turquoise, Blue Bay is one of the most popular attractions on the island of Mauritius. Designated as a protected marine park, its extensive reef hosts over 50 species of coral and a wide range of tropical fish, sea turtles, and other marine creatures. While we stayed in the nearby city of Mahebourg for … [Read more...]
Dimitsana to Zygovisti: Menalon Mountain Trail Section 2
Following a pleasant hike from Stemnitsa the previous day, we woke up refreshed in the mountainous coolness of Dimitsana village. The plan now was to continue along the second section of the acclaimed Menalon Mountain Trail toward the village of Zygovisti. We had an easy morning in our hotel’s cute garden, packed slowly, and started.The route begins from the village center, … [Read more...]
Stemnitsa to Dimitsana, Lousios Gorge: Menalon Mountain Trail Section 1
Summer of 2024, I had a client/friend who tasked me with taking him on a two-day hiking trip in Greece. It would be his first-ever of the kind. We needed a beginner-grade route with sufficient shade for the summer heat and villages with amenities along the way. The Menalon Mountain Trail, in the Arcadia region of central Peloponnese, was an obvious choice.After a couple of … [Read more...]
Visiting Alexander the Great’s Palace in Aigai, Macedonia, Greece
Following 16 years of restoration work, the Palace of Aigai has finally opened to visitors. Situated in the modern-day town of Vergina, Aigai was the capital city of the ancient Kingdom of Macedonia. Its magnificent palace—one of the largest and most elegant edifices of classical Greece—was built by King Philip II in the 4th century BC. That’s where his son, Alexander the … [Read more...]
Climbing Mount Grammos from the Greek Side
Part of the greater Pindus Mountain Range—the rugged spine of the Greek mainland—Mount Grammos (spelled Grammoz in Albanian) is an imposing mountain whose ridge defines part of the Greek-Albanian border. Its highest peak, called Maja e Çukapeçit in Albania and Tsouka Petsik in Greece, rises to 2,523 meters, making it the 10th-highest mountain in Albania and the 4th-highest in … [Read more...]
Kayaking from Mahebourg to Snorkel in Blue Bay, Mauritius
The view of the turquoise lagoon and its lush shore greeted us every morning as we drew the curtains of our seafront room in Mahebourg, never failing to captivate us. Since day one of our two-month stay in Mauritius, we ruled that we ought to do at least one kayaking trip before leaving. Although there were plenty of options for guided sea or river kayaking tours throughout the … [Read more...]
Climbing to Pieter Both Mountain Summit
I remember the first time we drove to northern Mauritius. We’d pulled over in the middle of the motorway and stared incredulously at this most astounding natural spectacle. Resembling a colossal cairn assembled by some skillful ancient giant, there towered Mauritius’s second-highest peak: Pieter Both.Pieter Both Mountain is part of the Moka Range that rises above Port Louis in … [Read more...]
Mont Choisy Beach, Mauritius on a Sunday
Mont Choisy Beach, situated on the island’s north coast, 5 km from Grand Baie and 20 km from Port Louis, is the longest and one of the most popular beaches in Mauritius. It is relatively undeveloped compared to other popular Mauritian beaches. Resorts are found only to its north and south, while the entire beachfront is bordered by broad untouched woodland. Besides its natural … [Read more...]
Black River Peak Trail: a Hike to the Highest Point of Mauritius
The Black River Peak (more commonly referred to in French as Piton de la Petite Rivière Noire) is the highest mountain in Mauritius, at 828 meters AMSL. It lies within the homonymous range of the Black River Gorges National Park in the island’s southwest. After climbing the lower but more difficult and rewarding peaks of Pieter Both, Le Morne, and the Lion Mountain, I reserved … [Read more...]
A Day Trip to Grand Baie, Mauritius
Grand Baie (or Grand Bay) is an upscale resort village on the north coast of Mauritius, 25 km from Port Louis. Besides its high-end tourism, Grand Baie is renowned for its stunning coastal scenery and, above all, its vibrant nightlife. Since we aren’t quite rich, we didn’t consider spending a single night there. Instead, we settled in Mahébourg, in the cheaper south, for our … [Read more...]
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