Blue Lagoon Geothermal Spa

The  Blue Lagoon geothermal spa is one of the most visited attraction in Iceland. The Spa is located in lava field in Gridvaik on the Reykjanes Peninsula, southwestern Iceland. Blue Lagoon is situated approximately 20 km from the and 39 km  Keflavik International Airport and 39 km from the capital city of Reykjavik. It can also be reached from Reykjavik with a number of tours and combined with activities.

Short Description

The  warm waters are rich in minerals like silica and sulfur and bathing in the Blue Lagoon is reputed to help some people suffering from skin diseases such as psoriasis  is. The water temperature in the bathing and swimming area of the lagoon averages 37 – 39 degree Celsius. The Blue Lagoon also operates a research and development facility to help find cures for other skin ailments using the mineral – rich water.

The lagoon is a man – made lagoon which is fed by the water output of the nearby geothermal power plant Svartsengi  and  is renewed every two days. Super heated water is vented from the ground near a lava flow and used to run turbine that generate electricity. After going through the turbines, the steam and hot water passes through a heat ex charger to provide heat a municipal water heating system. Then the water is fed into  the lagoon for recreational and medicinal users to bathe in.

The rich mineral content is provided by the underground geological layers and pushed up to the surface by the hot water used by the plant. Because of its mineral concentration, water can not be recycled and must be disposed of in the nearby landscape, a permeable lava field 50 cm to 1 m thick. The silicate minerals is the primary cause of that water’s beautiful milky blue shade  assuring  the touristic resort’s success. After the minerals have formed a deposit, the water rein filtrates the ground, but the deposit renders it impermeable over time. Hence the necessity for the plant to continuously dig new ponds in the nearby lava field.

The Blue Lagoon was used as the pit stop for the first leg of the Amazing race 6. The Blue Lagoon was used for the thermal spa scenes in the filming of Hostel; Part II. It was also shown in the Incubus documentary Look Alive, when the band visited Iceland, as well as in the fifth cycle of Britain’s  Next Top Model which used as photo shoot location. The Blue Lagoon is situated close to the world’s first renewable methanol plant, which uses Carbon Recycling international’s carbon dioxide to methanol fuel process.

In 1976 a pool formed at the site from the water of the geothermal power plant that had just been built there. In 1981 people started bathing in it after the discovery of its heating powers of psoriasis. In 1992 the Blue Lagoon Company was established and the bathing facility was opened to the public.

Matterhorn, Switzerland

Situated in the Pennine Alps on the border between Switzerland and Italy, is one of the most famous and distinctive of all Alpine peaks. The Matterhorn is a pyramidal – shaped colossus standing at a skyline – dominating 4478 m.  Its four step faces  rise above the nearby glaciers and face the four compass points north east south and west. Although not the highest peak in the Alps its fame is due to its almost impossible shape; an unusual landform with a summit that appears  to extend over its north face, making it look like a cobra about to strike.

The History of Matterhorn

The formation of the Matterhorn ( and the rest of the Alps) began some 50 to 60 million years ago, when  the African and  Euorasian  tectonic plates collided and layers of sedimentary rock that had formed in the seas between them were thrust up above sea level. Experts suggest that the Matterhorn began as a round hill, but gained its distinct pyramidal shape as a result of natural erosive forces over the last million years.

The first successful ascent of this iconic peak was on   July 14 1865 by a team led by English climber and explore Edward Whymper. He had previously made several  attempts on the summit. The climb was marred by tragedy as four team members lost their lives in a fall just below the summit during the descent. The second ascent occurred  just three days after Whymper’s triumph, from the Italian side. The mountain’s difficult north face was not climbed until July 31 and August 1, 1931.

The Matterhorn’s north face overlooks the Swiss Zmutt Valley, whilst the south stands guard  over the Italian Ski resort  village of  Breuil – Cervinia . The Theodul pass a trade route used by ancient Romans and Celts as early as 100 BC connects the two destinations. Unknown to most the Romans originally named the Matterhorn, “Mans Silvius”, in fact it was not until sometime during the 1550’s that Germans named the mountain Matterhorn, derived from “mate” meaning meadow and “horn” meaning peak.

Climbing Matterhorn

 The climbs are long and demanding an dit is essential that climbers have previous alpine mountaineering experience. The usual route is up the North – East ridge. This is the central ridge that can be seen from the village of Zermatt at the foot of the mountain. The ascent starts at Hornli Hut a mountain hut situated at 3260 m above sea level. It involves 1219 m climbing and takes around six hours up and five hours down. There are fixed ropes on some parts of the climb. Although this is considered the easiest, it has on AD ( fairy difficult) rating. Other routes on the mountain include the Zmutt  ridge, the north face and the Italian ridge ( South – West, or Lion ridge), which was the route taken by the party that reached the summit three days after Whymper.

When to Visit Matterhorn

If you are attempting to climb the Matterhorn the best times are from mid – July to mid – September, depending on the amount of snow on the mountain. However it’s important to bear in mind that the weather on the mountain is dangerously unpredictable and changes commonly occur throughout the day.

How to get to Matterhorn

International flights into Switzerland arrive at either, Geneva, or Zurich airports, with both providing easy access to Zermatt through the Swiss rail network. Train is the most convenient way to get to Zermatt as it is a car – free village. Only electric cars are allowed to operate within its boundaries.

Uluru ( Ayers Rock),Australia

Uluru or as is often known Ayers Rock, is a large sacred sandstone structure  in central Australia. At 348 m high and 9.4 km in circumference, it is undoubtedly one of Australia’s most recognizable landmarks. Throughout the day, Uluru appears to change color ranging in hue from brown and pink to delicate mauve, and sometimes even fiery red. Impressively the visible part of Uluru is just the tip of an enormous underground stab.

The   History of   Uluru.

Steeped in history archaeological evidence suggests that Uluru has been home to aboriginal people for at least 20.000 years. It’s long been an area  of great cultural significance to its indigenous owners, the Anangu. The Anangu  believe that they are the direct descendants of those who created all the distinct features and living things in the desert landscape you see today. As such they firmly regard themselves as responsible for the protection and maintenance of these ancestral lands.

In 1873  William Gosse named Uluru Ayers Rock aster the Chief Secretary of South Australia at  the time, Sir Henry Ayers. Many years later in 1950 the Ayers rock – Mount Olga National Park was formed. Then in 1985 the Australian government handed the title back to its rightful owners, the Anangu on the provision that it would be leased back for a period of 99 years and jointly managed. This led to the adoption of a dual naming policy in 1993, resulting in the now official name of Uluru/ Ayers Rock.

Climbing Uluru

Climbing  Uluru is undoubtedly a contentious issue as the route follows the sacred path taken by the ancestral Mala. The indigenous aboriginal owners of Uluru, the Anangu specifically request that visitors respect their culture and avoid climbing the rock. Further the Australian government discourage the climb due to the  dangerous involved.  People have died attempting to climb and many more have suffered injuries. That being said, the law does not currently prohibit the climb an dmany choose to disregard the Anangu’s request. If you decide to climb know that despite a chain rope path to help, the climb is strenuous and will take around two hours to complete. As such you should only attempt to climb if you  are fit and healthy. If you are visiting Uluru for the sole reason of climbing, you should bear in mind that is often closed as a result of strong winds or high temperatures. In fact if at any point the temperature exceeds 36 degree Celsius, climbing is prohibited for the remainder  of the day. As  a result  of the extreme heat  during the daytime climbing at down is most popular. Regardless  of what time of day you climb , wearing a hat and using plenty of sun cream is necessary, because between the wind and sun reflections on the rock you will burn a lot quicker than you’d ordinarily expect.

However if you brave the heat and manage to reach the summit, you will be greeted with an exhilarating breathtaking panorama, which many regard as the highlight of their whole Australia experience. If you choose to respect Tjukurpa and Anangu  wishes there are several walks available as an alternative to climbing Uluru. Perhaps the most popular is the magnificent 3.5 – hour 10.6 km Uluru base walk, which takes you around the entire circumference of the rock. Bear in mind that some sacred sights along the way are fenced off from the public domain. The Mala walk provides an interesting alternative offering an opportunity to experiencing several caves and a variety of rock art. For a shorter trip the 1 km Kniya walk takes you to the Mtijulu waterhole where you can experience the Anangu people telling creation stories firsthand. If you’re looking for somewhere to watch the sunset  take a 4 km Lungkata walk, which offers you a fantastic location  close to the rock. Lastly base  of Uluru along which you will often see colorful flowers if it’s  recently rained.

How to get to Uluru

In order to get to Uluru you have to first to fly to Alice Springs from any major Australian airport once in Alice Springs you can  either take a 45 – minute flight to Ayers Rock Airport, or take a 4.5 – hour drive  across Australians outback. Buses from Alice Springs to Uluru are also available. but will inevitably take considerably longer.

Best time to visit Uluru

Uluru is part of the Uluru – Kata Tjuta Natiomnal Park, which is open all year round; though opening times vary. The summer (December – February) will bring extreme heat, whilst the winter weather (June- August) is a lot cooler. If you are planning to climb Uluru or do any of the walks then avoiding the heat and visiting in the cooler months is highly recommended. However if you  just want to see the rock nd take photographs anu time of year would be suitable.

Where to stay near  Uluru

The Ayers Rock resort is situated just 6 km from the Ayers Rock Airport and offers five different accommodation options    at various price points. The choice is between the sails in the Desert Hotel, Emu Walk Apartments, Desert Gardens Hotel, Outback  Pioneer  Hotel &  Lodge and the Ayers roick Campground. Whether you are looking to luxurious accommodation, or just somewhere to lay your head for the night, your preference will be catered for.’

Penon de Ifach

Penon de Ifach

The enigmatic Penon de Ifach stands proudly of 320 m at the head of Calpe surrounded  by the shimmering blue of the Mediterranean Sea. It is a huge calcareous  rock, joined to the mainland a detritic isthmus. With a protected  surface area of just 45 ha, Pennon de Ifach is one of the smallest nature reserves in Europe. Despite  its size the reserve attracts approximately 100.000 visitors each year.

History of Penon de Ifach

Throughout history pennon de Ifach has served several purposes. In the 4^th to 3^rd centuries before Christ there was an Iberian village at the foot of the rock on its western side. Later  in roman times the settlement move to isthmus join  the rock to the mainland, though finding confirm that the sides of the rock were once again inhabited throughout the Middle Ages

Penan de Ifach once served as a landmark for mariners. It was then used as watchtower with is its lofty height  of 332 m providing  a superb vantage point  to spot approaching pirates and invaders. Despite best efforts, continuing attacks from the sea forced inhabitants down to the village  of Calpe. Originally the municipality of Cape owned Penon de Ifach. However in 1872 it  become privately owned. After having several different private owners it was purchased by the Geneeralitat Valenciana Authority, before being declared a nature reserve in 1987.

Flora and Fauna

Pennon de Ifach is home to a diverse colony of  endangered species. Toward its      base there are many varieties of plants common to the Mediterranean, but t higher elevations they become more Alpine in nature species such as the nearly extinct Silene Hifacensis, Rock Scabious and Thymus Webbianus grow in crevices and ledges on the sheer rock face. With regards yo fauna there can be as many as 60 birds species nesting and congregating at different times on the year, including the winter wren, shag, pallid , swift and peregrine falcon. Other species include reptilian inhabitants such as ocellated lizards  and Montpellier snakes, as well as mammals, such as the hedgehog, shrew and rabit. 

Walking up Penon de Ifach

The walk up Penon de Ifach is accomplished by following a pathway called the Red Route. The walk begins at the information center, and progresses up the north side of the rock. Along the  path eight designated paints of interest, including several scenic overlooks offering stunning panoramic views over Calpe.

The walk can be split into two main sections,   the winding path that leads to the tunnel and then the walk from the tunnel onwards. The walk to the tunnel is steep, but  features even ground. In comparison to the  walk starting at the tunnel, it’s a reasonably easy walk. However in summer it can get very hot and humid due to the tree cover. This path featured two named vantage points; the western vantage point     near the start and the Botanist Cavanilles Vantage Point, a bit further up. Both offer views to the  west and overlook the coast and the surrounding area. You will also pass the remains of an Iberian village, dating back to the 4^th – 3^rd century BC, as well as the windblown pines, which are trees growing  in unusual shape as a result of the wind. The trail features a lush shady landscape dominated by  a various lichens.

At the end of the winding pathway hikers will encounter a tunnel that passes through Penon de Ifach exiting on its northeast side. To continue through the tunnel you will need appropriate footwear.

Hiking boots or trainers  are recommended, as the rocks are very slippery. Just outside the tunnel exit, there is a small vantage point that offers a spectacular view of Fossa beach.

The path from here onwards features narrow slippery, rocky paths, which can be hazardous. The next point of  interest is where the trail splits called the Fork. One path leads to the Guard Past vantage Point, whilst the other leads to the summit. The Guard Post Vantage  point is a small lookout platform that offers beautiful panoramic ocean views. This is a shorter and easier path to follow, so it is recommended if you find the walk from the Foprk requires traversing the most difficult part of the trail.

However reaching the summit certainly offers the grandest reward; breathtaking views that span the horizon from Serra Gelada to Calpe, all the way to the Punta de Moraira.

When is the best time of day to walk up Penon de Ifach?

It is advisable to walk up pennon de Ifach in either the morning or evening in order to avoid the midday heat. This is particularly thee case in summer aas the wweather in Cape can be very hot.

Climbing Penon de Ifach

In addition to the Red Route for walkers Penon de Ifach offers various different impressive sport routes for climbers of a variety of grades. The most popular routes are climbed frequently and are reasonably well geaved. There may be loose rock, so climbers are advised to take caution and to wear a helmet.

How to get   to  Penon de Ifach?

Pennon de Ifach is easily accessible by car, via N – 332 trunk road and A7 motorway, taking the Benissa and Altea turnoffs upon reaching Calpe, Penon de Ifach is very well signposted.

There is car parking available at the base of the rock and at  the nearby harbor. Calpe is also well served via public transport, with both buses and trains operating at numerous different times throughout the day.

Rules and Safety recommendations.

There are several rules and safety recommendations that you should be aware of prior to your trip to pennon de Ifach, which are follows.

Use marked paths.

Use proper footwear. Hiking boots are recommended. Do not pass further than the tunnel with unsuitable footwer.

Observe plants and animals without disturbing. Do not fed the animals.

No camping, fires or smoking.

Be responsible for your pet – keep it on a lead and clean up the park, clean up its excrement.

Do not litter – keep the park clean and use the waste bins provided.

Be respectful of others and don’t make lot of noise, listen to the silence and sounds of the natural environment.

Respect opening   times. Do not enter the park after the dusk.

Yosemite Falls, California

Yosemite Falls

Yosemite Falls is a three – tiered 739 m situated in Yosemite   national Park, California. If the three tiers are considered as a hole, Yosemite Falls is the highest   waterfall   in North America and the 5^th  high in the world. The three tiers include the Upper Fall 435 m, Middle Cascades 205 m and Lower  Falls    97  m.

Section of Yosemite Falls.   Upper Yosemite

Water drops 435 m   at the Upper Falls, which means that even individually, it would place among the top 20 highest waterfalls in the world. Unlike the Lower Falls, the Upper Falls are not easy to access. In fact reaching the Upper falls requires   taking   11.5 km round trip with 822 m elevation gain. The majority of the route is exposed to sun, and therefore it is recommended to start early in order to avoid the midday heat.

Middle Cascades

The Middle Cascades are located between the Upper and Lower Falls and can not be seen from the majority of vantage points.  In a series of five smaller cascades water descends a total of 205 m.

Lower Falls

At the Lower Falls water descends 97 m almost twice the drop of Niagara Falls. It is the easiest section to access, with only a short walk from the  Yosemite Lodge to the base of the falls required. If visiting in spring, then be aware that the viewing area will receive a lot of spray from the falls. However by the middle of summer the spray is replaced by calm, cold air and possibly a little mist.

When is the best time of year to visit Yosemite falls

Timing is key; there is no guarantee that the Yosemite falls will actually be falling as the waterfall is fed almost entirely by snow  melt. Flow reaches its peak in may and early June, often reaching 30.4 m per second, though typically slows dramatically in mid – summer and completely dries up by August. Yosemite Falls  once again begins to  flow in winter but only enough to build a 45 – 91 m “ice cone”  formed from frozen mist and fallen blocks of ice, at the base of  the Upper Falls. If you visit the fallsss at night in April and May when thereis a full moon, spray from the waterfall creates spectacular glistening.

Jeita Grotto,Beirut, Lebanon

Jeita Grotto the longest cave in the Middle East is situated approximately 18 km north of Beirut. It consists of two separate but interconnected caves and boasts  a length of 9 km. One of the world’s most amazing agglomerations of stalactites and stalagmites, Jeita Grotto is widely considered to be the pride of Lebanon and featured as a finalist in the New Seven Wonders of Nature competition.

History of the Jeita Grotto

The caves were inhabited by prehistoric man, with evidence suggesting that   they were previously used  to produce swords. Reverend William Thompson an American missionary is credited with the modern discovery of the caves in 1836. Thompson is said to have advanced 50 m into the cave before firing his gun. The resultant  echoes assured him that the caves were to be of significant importance.

Jeita Grotto was not explored further until 1870’s when Maxwell and Huxley of the Beirut Water Company carried out extensive expeditions of the caves, reaching 1060 m inside  the  Grotto.

Lebanese explorers have ventured deeper into the cave since the 1940’s and have so far exposed 9 km of Jeita Grotto. The caves were initially known as the Grottoes of Nahr – al – Kalb after the underground river that runs through the Grottoes. Several names were subsequently used including Djaita, Jehita and finally Jeita.

 Jeita is derived from the town in which the cave entrance is situated and is loosely translated in Armaic as the “ noise” of water.

Lower Grotto

A tour of the Lower Grotto involves a 500 m electric boat trip along a subterranean  black lake. At first you are met with resonant sounds of rushing water and cool air but as the boat ventures further into the cave profound silence is experienced. The boat tour provides a marvelous    sample of the enormous 6.200 m  Lower  Grotto. The experienced is enhanced by a lighting system which illuminates the columns and structures within.

Upper Grotto

Unlike the Lower Grotto the Upper Grotto can be visited on foot. Access is via a specially  conceived 117 m long concrete walkway.     Only 750 m   of  the 2130 m cave is accessible for visitors. The Upper Grotto  features a large concentration  of crystallized formations such as stalagmites, stalactites, ponds, mushrooms, columns, curtains and draperies. Three chambers are accessible to visitors. The first is the White Chamber which features the caves most impressive formations. It is home to the words longest stalactite, which measures 8.2 km in length. The second is the red Chamber, which is named due to its color. The Red Chamber Towers to 106 m high and is between 30 to 50 m wide. The third chamber is the third chamber is the highest of the tree, at a height of 120   m.

Tourist    Attractions   at  Jeita Grotto.

Jeta Grotto is one of the main tourist attractions in Lebanon and as such it has developed numerous additional features for visitors, including a train rope ways miniature Zoo and many sculptures. There bare also numerous souvenir shapes featuring handmade Lebanese products   as well as several restaurants serving traditional Lebanese  cuisine.

How to get to Jeita Grotto

The best way to get to Jeita Grotto is to drive from Beirut .The caves are only 18 km  north    of Beirut.  Another option would be to take a minibus from Dawra to the Jeita Grotto, turn off on the Beirut Jouniech   highway, Here  are taxis waiting who can take you the remaining 5 km to Jeta Grotto. Alternatively you can take  a taxi directly from Beirut.

When to visit Jeita Grotto

The caves are open for the vast majority of the year very day of the week apart from Monday. Opening hours vary depending on the time of year thus it is advised to check the official website prior to organizing your trip. Each year the caves close from around 4 weeks from late January until early February.

During winter the Lower Grotto is often closed when the water level become too high. The temperature in the caves remains constant at 16 degrees Celsius   throughout s the year.

Where to stay at Jeita Grotto

Unfortunately there is nowhere to stay overnight at the caves. However there is a range of accommodation options available in Beirut.

Meteora, Greece

The Meteora are a collective of natural sandstone rock pillars, which served as places of worship throughout modern history. With an average elevation of  313 m  the Meteora stand proudly at the center of an extraordinarily beautiful Greek landscape, housing 24 monasteries in total, of  which 6 remain active.

History of Meteora  

The name Meteora stems from the Greek adjective meteoros, which means “middle of the sky”. Aptly named the rock formations of   Meteora   jut out of the ground like giant fingers made of stone, allowing the various monasteries to sit,   suspended in the air. It has taken millions of years for various forces of   nature to sculpt out these unique rock pillars. Geologists believe that this process began approximately 60 millions years ago during the Paleocene period.

As early as the 11^th century monks occupied the caverns of  Meteora. However monasteries were not built until  the 14^th century, when the monks sought somewhere to hide in the face of an increasing number of Turkish attacks on Greece. At this time access to the top was via removable  ladders or windlass. Nowadays getting up is a lot simpler due to steps being carved into the rock during   the   1920’s.  From 24   monasteries only 6 are still functioning with each housing less than 10 individuals.

Climbing Meteora

Meteora is not only a paradise for walkers but for climbers too. In total there are 700 different routes encompassing 120 rock towers of the Meteora and catering for climbers of  all  skill  levels. If you are travelling with the intention of climbing, the best times to visit are between mid – March and mid – June, or between mid – August and mid – November.

Best time to visit Meteora

Given the cultural significance and popularity of Meteora there are visitors all year round. Between December and March the weather is cold and wet, whilst  the months in – between July and October attract the  longest crowds and peak season rates. Therefore the  best time to visit Meteora is May or June in order to benefit from smaller crowds, pleasant weather  and off – season rates.

How to get Meteora

The Meteora rocks are situated right in the heartland of central Greece  ( Thessaly), near the town of  Kalampaka. To get to Kalampaka from Athens you have the option of  travelling  by bus, car or train. If you have a car driving is probably the best way to get to Meteora and should take approximately 4 hours not with standing any traffic. If driving is not an option, you can take a direct high – speed train from Athens to Kalampaka, which will take around 5 hours. Finally and as a last resort, there are buses that can take you from Athens to Kampaka. These depart from Terminal B on Liasson   street and take 7 – 8 hours to arrive.

Things to consider prior to visiting

The monasteries of Meteora operate strict dress codes, meaning that you will not be permitted entrance if  wearing  sleeveless  clothing, or shorts.

The monasteries of Meteora are independent of one another and thus operate different opening times. It is therefore highly recommended that you check in advance.

There is nowhere to buy food around monasteries so remember to bring snacks and fluids.

Walks differ in terms are difficulty and accessibility wear appropriate footwear and make an honest assessment of your fitness level before embarking on a journey too strenuous   for you to enjoy. All of the   Monasteries have a small entrance fee.