Landscapes in Europe

High above Mestia village, crowns a cross that is just barely visible to the naked eye. It is a hard 2.5-3-hour trek up there and the same back, but the views (on a clear day ) are just spectacular. From the cross (2193 m), the most prominent peaks you have in view are the twin peaks of Mt Ushba (4700 m), Bachgurani (3837 m), Tetnuldi (4858 m) and, across the valley, Mekhnazhi (3559 m) and Lahili (4008 m). There are several trails up to the cross, but the jeep trail that winds around the backside is probably the most rewarding since the view just gets better and better as you walk up. There is apparently an alpine lake 2-3 hours (one way) further trekking towards Mt Ushba, but you need to start early to be able to make it back before dark.

"The Rock" is not only the iconic landmark of Gibraltar; it is also the greatest attraction in this weird British territory on the tip of the Iberian Peninsula. Many would probably call it Gibraltar’s only attracting. The Rock offers excellent but challenging hikes, a beautiful natural cave and miles of defensive tunnels from different wars that has turned the entire Rock into a big bunker that has kept both Spaniards and Germans away from the strategic important Gibraltar. The geological interested might be excited by the fact that the top of the Rock is actually older than the bottom. At some point in history, the whole thing has somehow "flipped over". The rest of us will be satisfied with the fantastic views of the Spanish coast and Morocco the Rock provides on clear days.

The rugged coastline at Jerbourg Peninsula is of outstanding beauty. On clear days there are breathtaking views of nearby channel isles of Jethou, Herm, Sark and Jersey - and further out France. From the carpark the cliffs drop dramatically into the rocky outcrops far below. A trail leads down and out to the furthest points with more spectacular views. The trail ends at the famous, but scary, bridge with leads to the lighthouse at St Martin's Point.
It can get extreme windy out here and there are no fences anywhere (except on the bridge), so be careful not to fall down into the crashing waves.

Neighboring L'Ancresse Beach and Pembroke Beach are gorgeous and make out the longest stretch of sand on Guernsey. They're surrounded by a golf course and several loophole towers stand on the rocky outcrops. Along the beaches runs a concrete anti-tank wall built by the Nazis during WWII.

The beach at Petit Bot Bay is protected by steep cliffs on both sides. The bay has always been easy accessible from both land and sea, so it has been necessary to defend the bay. A loophole tower (no 13) was built during the early 19th century, when the threat of a French attack was very real. That tower was also used by the Nazis during WWII as a part of Hitler's "Atlantic Wall". The cafe that stands today is a reconstruction of a mill building the Nazis destroyed when they were raided in 1944.

One of Europe’s largest lakes is Balaton, which is a Hungarian version of a seaside holiday destination. The southern shore is more developed with a bit of sand, shallow water, hotels, bars, and drunk young people during summer - particularly around Siofok. While the northern shore is more villages, room for rent, and even vineyards on the mountain slopes. Balatonfured, Tihany peninsula, and Keszthely are the most interesting villages for travellers.

A wide, but not so tall, waterfall which breaks off a grassland dotted with summer houses. There is a picnic area and a cafe right in front it, so it makes a nice stop on the Golden Circle on the way back.

Travelling in the South East of Iceland on the ring road, you pass by Jökulsárlón. Where a branch of the Vatnajökull glacier almost reaches the ocean, a lagoon is filled with icebergs floating towards the sea. Less than a century ago, the glacier still reached the ocean but the lagoon has been growing rapidly in the last decennia.
You can hike along or take a boat trip on the lagoon to admire the different shapes and colours of the ice and also to see seals swimming in-between them.
The black-sanded beach contrasts well with the icebergs that made it all the way out to the sea while waves are crashing into them.

You’ve seen the photos and read the hype. But for once it is all true. Jökulsárlón really is a spectacular, must-see place. Growing in size every year as a result of the retreating Breiðamerkurjökull glacier, this glacial lagoon is full of pieces of ice ranging from pick-one-up-to-pose-for-a-photograph to bigger-than-a-two-story-house. Some of it is blue (if it has only recently been exposed to air), some of it transparent and some black with ash, sand and gravel. More is added all the time, and if you are close enough you may hear the loud cracks of a piece of the glacier breaking off and falling into the water. If the tide is right, walk across the road to the black sand beach and watch little icebergs wash up onto the shore, creating beautiful patterns of blue, white and black. While climbing up on one of the nearby hills provides great views of Jökulsárlón, you really need to get into a boat to appreciate the scale of it, and weaving between pieces of glacier certainly isn’t something most people get to experience very often. The downside? During summer, Jökulsárlón is starting to feel a bit like Disneyland; scores of buses and hundreds upon hundreds of visitors do not exactly convey a sense of serenity. But never mind – it is still one of the coolest places you will ever visit, in Iceland or anywhere else.

This volcanic crater is "just" about 3000 years old and made out of red volcanic rock (rather then black). It measures 270 m across and is about 55 m deep. It possible to walk all the way around the rim, as well as descend to the vivid blue lake at the bottom. The Kerið Volcanic Crater is an obvious stop on the Golden Circle.