Argentina | Discovering Argentina by horse | Tango is one attraction Argentina is famous for – but horseback riding is the actual signature thing you 

discovering - Fernwayer Travel Stories & Experiences

Argentina

Tango is one attraction Argentina is famous for – but horseback riding is the actual signature thing you can do when visiting the South American country.

We opted for an entire horseback riding vacation to explore the country's diverse landscape – from the fertile plains of the Pampas in the center to the Andes Mountains in the west. Having been a big horse fan since I was a kid, I wasn't afraid to spend a few days riding, but it was my husband's first time in the saddle – and he fell in love with this kind of slow travel.

Choosing a tour guide might seem straightforward, but it’s key to ensure that equipment is in good condition, tour guides know the culture and nature, and horses are well-fed and trained. Don’t go for the first offer, but really speak to people and check their values. You don’t want to end up 5 days on a horse in an inconvenient saddle or even have an accident because of a lack of security standards.

Discovering Argentina by horse

Colombia

Fruity, dry, red, white, sweet, sparkling — wine is delicious, and the best way to discover what this powerful potion has to offer is to take a bike tour through the vineyards (yes, on a bike). Mendoza is the best place to choose one of the hundreds of tour operators. 

Mendoza is the most popular wine-growing province in Argentina. And Bodega Tempus Alba has a perfect climate for growing high-quality grapes, and the majestic Andes Mountains provide the backdrop for some of the most beautiful pictures of vineyards to be found anywhere in the world.

Whether you're biking or not, a proper tasting tour will give you enough wine to come home tipsy. That's why I recommend eating well before your tour and taking a break when the magic of wine goes to your head.

I also spent some time hiking in the area, exploring the small villages in the area, and eating the best Argentine empanadas around. A trip for the senses, for sure.

Vineyards and boozy tours

Australia

Kakadu National Park is half the size of Switzerland and a real adventure. If you rent a car, you could drive along the road for weeks, camping in different places and experiencing nature in a way you can't anywhere else.

After leaving Darwin in a rented 4x4 jeep, we made the long drive to Kakadu National Park. Take plenty of drinks and snacks with you, as there aren't many stops on the road. Along the way, we visited several refreshing waterholes and waterfalls, had an open-air barbecue, and saw many birds, snakes, anthills, and farmland along the way.

At night we mostly stayed at campsites that provided tents, and the beauty of the night is incomparable. You can hear, smell, and see countless species of animals, from alligators swimming in lakes at night to dingoes howling, to weirdly chirping insects.

We hiked to a hidden waterfall and discovered some hundreds-of-years-old wooden paintings done by the ancestors of Australia's indigenous people. A must-see in Australia for sure!

Camping: Kakadu National Park

United States

The Great Barrier Reef is famous not only because it is the largest coral reef in the ocean, but also because it is the most beautiful one. For those who like snorkeling or diving, an unsurpassable underwater world opens up.

My highlight in Australia was definitely the day trip to the reef. From Cairns, we took the tourist boat out to sea. Since the water is relatively cold, you get a wetsuit and then have hours to discover the unique underwater world.

I saw sharks, turtles, huge colorful corals, man-sized fish, thousands of small schools of fish, a clam, rays, snails, and lots of underwater plants.

Remember that you are a trespasser in the underwater world, so be careful not to touch or destroy anything. Use organic sunscreen and always be respectful of your surroundings.

The world’s largest reef

Azerbaijan

Here is the Azerbaijan’s answer to Machu Picchu! Legend has it that Tamerlane used the castle to house his treasury which may still be hidden somewhere in the surrounds. Epic landscape views can be discovered from the mountaintop

Alinja Castle in Julfa region

Bolivia

Driving in the wet season in Salar de Uyuni, it feels like you are in a sailboat on the ocean - splashing in the water and watching mesmerizing reflections of the sky. It’s incredibly surreal.

The newly discovered planet Crait in The Last Jedi was set in this breathtaking and luminous salt-covered land. We stay in a gleaming Airstream parked on the salt lake, and are greeted by a salt version of R2D2 that apparently starred in the movie.

On a still day at the start of the rainy season, a thin layer of water covers the salt, forming a great mirror reflecting the sky. It’s disorienting, because you can’t judge distance or perspective. 

The Salar is so flat across its 10,000 square kilometres, that the surface is used to calibrate the altimeters on board earth’s satellites. At dusk, we watch the International Space Station slowly cruising past in the sky above us, like a bright star, and we watch lightning in the horizon all around us.

Sky Above, Sky Below

Ecuador

Having a background in biology, coming to the Galapagos was absolutely a bucket list trip. The trip is worth going if you have three to seven days, depending on how much you want to see. I was there for three days and I could have discovered more islands. 

It is important to have a tour guide as you are not allowed to venture outside the town without one. 

Definitely worth a visit!

The trip of a lifetime!

Greece

In Santorini, we discover and fall in love with Vinsanto, the local dessert wine. So we drive up to Hatzidakis - a charming and intimate local winery - to check out the local grapes. The vines grow low to the ground and close to the road and we almost drive into them while looking for parking. 

The grapes are grown in an unusual way, not in arbors but low to the ground, in baskets made of vine stalks themselves. They are organic and are watered mostly by dew as the island has low water supply.

The tasting room is cave-like and we take home several bottkes of the small batch Vinsanto they produce.

Vinsanto

Iceland

Continuing my recommendations for a stunning drive to the South of Iceland -

1. From Dyrhólaey to Vik: Stop at Dyrhólaey for its sea arch and basalt blocks - turn from the Ring Road to the right to road 218, and drive that road to an end, you should see puffins at Reynisfjall cliffs, at Arnardrangur "Eagle rock” (very picturesque with Reynisdrangar and Reynisfjara in the background), at low tide, you can walk along the black beach and discover little caves and rock formations, and finally, the little village of Vik with its stunning black sand beach and sea stacks, worth visiting both at sunset and sunrise.

2.  From Vik to Stokksnes Headland. You will want to stop for pictures of the moss-filled lava flows on the sides of the highway. Go to Skaftafell Glacier National Park for a glacier walk. Then pause at Fjallsárlón glacial lagoon, a nice precursor to Jökulsárlón. I’ve always found sitting on the lagoon and watching the icebergs (barely) floating by absolutely therapeutic.

Icelandic Road Trip - Part 2

United Kingdom

Spain

You can't spend holidays in Barcelona without also visiting the Sagrada Familia. It's probably the city's biggest attraction – and for a good reason. 

La Sagrada, a Roman Catholic church, dates back to the 19th century but is still under construction (some expect it to be finished by 2026, but in my view, 2030 is a safer bet). We opted for a walking tour to the monumental building with high pinnacles, numerous squiggles, and 3-dimensional interior design. Later, during the tour, we discovered the works of art by Sagrada’s architect Gaudi, including Casa Batllo and Casa Mila (La Pedrera). 

The Sagrada Familia is located a little northeast of the city center and is easily reached by metro, bus, or cab. We stayed about 5 hours in this part of the city – as we visited not only the church but also the surrounding area and had some fresh fish to eat in the nearby restaurants. You’ll also find many souvenirs – including miniature La Sagradas, a great gift to bring home!

Argentina

La Pampa

Discovering Argentina by horse

Mendoza Province

Vineyards and boozy tours

Australia

Northern Territory

Camping: Kakadu National Park

The world’s largest reef

Azerbaijan

Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic

Alinja Castle in Julfa region

Bolivia

Potosi Department

Sky Above, Sky Below

Ecuador

The trip of a lifetime!

Greece

Decentralized Administration of the Aegean

Vinsanto

Iceland

Southern Region

Icelandic Road Trip - Part 2

Spain

Catalonia

Walking Tour: Sagrada Familia