Photo Friday: Stunning Mountain Scenery Around the World

This week, I’m kicking off a new series on my blog called Photo Friday, where I’ll feature some of my favorite travel bloggers and instagrammer’s photos based on a theme.

This week, it’s gorgeous mountain scenery around the world, from New Zealand to Kosovo. Warning: You’re going to have a serious case of wanderlust after looking at these photos. Go ahead and pack your bags: the mountains are calling.

1. Andorra by Eniko Krix of Tracker Hacker Girl

Why Eniko loves this location: Andorra has over 200 km ski slopes and is a nice hiking destination in the summer.

2. Peru by Marina Paul of My Dear Lola

Why Marina loves this location: Vinicunca mountain, commontly known as Rainbow mountain, it is 5.200 m high (over the sea level). Including the three hours drive from Cusco, it takes around six hours in total to reach the top. The breathtaking landscape, loads of alpacas and some wild vicunas (if you’re lucky) make the trek one of the must things to do when in Perú

3. Tongariro Crossing, New Zealand by Sarah Kennerley of Sarah Sees the World

Why Sarah Loves this location: The Tongariro Crossing is a 19.5km walk through mountainous volcanic terrain in the centre of New Zealand’s North Island. Every hour of the walk the scenery seems to change completely but is always totally stunning.

4. Monte Baldo, Lake Garda, Italy from Justine Cross of Wanderer of the World 

Why Justine love this location: Monte Baldo (accessible by cable car) offers the most fabulous views you will ever have of Lake Garda in Italy. The lake itself sparkles like a sapphire and Monte Baldo lets you see just how much it sparkles from above. Wow!

5. Cajon del Maipo, Chile by Lisa Krüger-Franke of Anywhere’s Perfect

Why Lisa loves this location: What you can’t see in this photo is that right behind me is a huge lagoon in the most beautiful blue ever. It is hard to decide where you should look first when driving around the Cajon del Maipo.

6. Blue Mountains, Katoomba, Australia by Maria Jesus

Why Maria loves this location: This is one of the most epic spots I’ve been in Australia. If you’re going to Sydney, you can’t miss it!

7. Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany by Kris Morton of Nomad by Trade

Why Kris love this location: Neuschwanstein is one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. The view from inside of it is just as stunning though.

8. Hallstatt, Austria by Kris Morton of Nomad by Trade

Why Kris loves this location: The little town of Hallstatt, nestled in the Austrian Alps, is one of my favorite towns. You can swim, dine, and learn some local history, all while enjoying this view.

9. Triglav National Park, Slovenia by Karen E of Wanderlustingk 

Why Karen loves this location: Triglav National Park is on par with Yosemite when it comes to amazing mountain views and incredible hiking. Luckily, it’s much smaller, so you can explore it easily on a day-trip from Lake Bled!

10. Queenstown, New Zealand by Janine Good of Fill My Passport

Why Janine loves this location: The Adventure Capital of the world, Queenstown, I love so much as it brings the world together for a common purpose to seek adrenaline-pumping experiences while embracing such picturesque and unmatched scenery. No matter where you go in Queenstown, chances are you will meet someone just like you from a different corner of the planet. It is truly magical.

11. Prevalle, Kosovo by Karen E of Wanderlustingk

Why Karen loves this location: Kosovo’s Sar Mountains are largely unknown, yet they have incredible hiking as well as skiing. In fall, the mountains turn orange with the turning leaves.

12. Skippers Canyon, Queenstown New Zealand by Janine Good of Fill My Passport

Why Janine loves this location: Skippers Canyon in Queenstown is the home of the famous jet boats that whisk through at thrilling speeds; however, less known to this adventure junkie hub are the cliff side Onsen Hot Pools that transform a whirlpool spa retreat to an unforgettable serene experience that captivates bathers with its unmatched views of the incredible surrounding mountains.

13. Prevalle, Kosovo by Karen E of Wanderlustingk 

Why Karen loves this location: Kosovo’s Sar Mountains are largely unkonwn, so you’ll have the mountains to yourself and a short bus/taxi ride from the historic city of Prizren to access these beautiful mountains as well as its hand-made wooden bridges over mountain streams.

14. Triglav National Park, Slovenia by Karen E of Wanderlusting K

Why Karen loves this location: The Julian Alps are spectacular and should be on the bucket list for every nature lover. When hiking in Triglav national park, I came across this steep/beautiful field of yellow flowers leading down the mountain to the valley.

15. Triglav National Park, Slovenia by Karen E of Wanderlustingk

Why Karen loves this location: This is the third highest mountain in Slovenia, Mangart located in Triglav national park. The trail leads to the very bottom of this magnificent mountain and to the viaferrata that goes straight up, including through two caves.

16. Isle of Skye, Scotland by Karen E of Wanderlustingk

Why Karen loves this location: I was just absolutely fascinated by the red cuillins, otherwise known as the redhills due their curved shape. Unlike the black Cuillins, they are slightly smaller and composed of granite, however it is a striking comparison to the green everywhere.

 

I absolutely love seeing mountains in the background, no matter where I am. This past week, we were in Slovenia and the moment I lay my eyes on the Julian Alps, I just felt this sense of calm. I can’t really explain it, but driving around Isle of #Skye in #Scotland, I was just absolutely fascinated by the Red #cuillins, otherwise known as the #redhills due their curved shape. Unlike the black Cuillins, they are slightly smaller and composed of granite, however it is a striking comparison to the green everywhere, even in April. I’m a rock climber and I wish that I could have climbed them, but I’ll be back to #visitScotland hopefully soon enough to enjoy its absolutely stunning landscape once again. Photo 1/3 of mountains on the #IsleofSkye. ⛰🏔🗻🏞⛰🏔🗻🏞⛰🏔🗻🏞⛰🏔🗻🏞Are the mountains calling you too?

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17. Isle of Skye, Scotland by Karen E of Wanderlustingk

Why Karen loves this location: The Fairy Pools on the Isle of Skye are a sight to behold. They’re surrounded by mountains and you can even dip into these colorful pools.

The Fairy Pool on the Isle of Skye. Shortly after I took this photo, it started to SNOW. I’ve seriously never felt this way about a place. It felt like MAGIC. I heard that when it’s not as terribly cold [like it was], you can swim in the pools, but considering it was around freezing, this was not something I was interested in. One of my favorite parts of traveling is that moment when awe washes over you that you’re somewhere that you’ve dreamed of visiting. . . . #fairypools #Skye #Scotland #scotspirit #traveldeeper #lovegreatbritain #wildernessculture #roamtheplanet #loves_scotland #getoutside #exploremore #neverstopexploring #letsgosomewhere #girlslovetravel #bbctravel #mytinyatlas #pure_landscape #letsgetlost #nature_brilliance #isleofskye #photosofBritain #highlandcollective #travelwithintention #highlands #instapassport #travelbug #naturephotography #landscapephotography #Europe #Travel

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18. Lake Carezza, Italy by Karen E of Wanderlustingk 

Why Karen loves this location: The water is so clear that you can see the beautiful mountains reflected in it.
The story goes that a water nymph lived in the lake and a magician fell in love with her. He tried to get her out of the lake by tricking her by making a rainbow to distract her. As she admired it, the magician jumped into the lake and the nymph went away. The heartbroken magician shattered the rainbow and threw it in the lake, hence its nickname as the rainbow lake.”

Lake Carezza/Karersee. (Northern Italy 3/10). This sounds CRAZY, but we almost skipped it. I looked out the window, saw the water, then started screaming that we had to pull over. The water is so clear that you can see the beautiful mountains reflected in it. The story goes that a water nymph lived in the lake and a magician fell in love with her. He tried to get her out of the lake by tricking her by making a rainbow to distract her. As she admired it, the magician jumped into the lake and the nymph went away. The heartbroken magician shattered the rainbow and threw it in the lake, hence its nickname as the rainbow lake. It’s absolutely stunning AND free. Don’t drive past it like we almost did! #italy #europe #wanderlust #southtyrol #seetheworld #nature #neverstopexploring #travel #traveling #beautiful_places #instapassport #travelbug #instatravel #instaitaly #travelgram #worldtravelpics #italia #mountains #lonelyplanet #naturephotography #IlikeItaly #roadtrip #Karersee #tyrol #Carezza #lake #girlslovetravel #nofilter

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19. Mount Rainier, Washington by Rebecca of Away From the Office (yours truly)

Why Rebecca loves this location: Mt. Rainier is a majestic beauty with folks in the Pacific Northwest referring to her as “the mountain.” When she’s out, everyone stops and stares. To get this close to her majestic beauty is awe-inspiring.

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19 Gorgeous Photos of Mountains Around the World

51 Photos That Will Make You Want to Visit Luang Prabang, Laos Right Now

 

51 Photos That Will Make You Want to Visit Luang, Prabang, Laos, Immediately

In early February, I spent just a little over 48 hours in the adorable town of Luang Prabang, Laos. Luang Prabang was the last stop on my two-week Asia adventure, which included Bhutan and Bangkok. Before visiting, I read quite a few blogs with varied opinions on Luang Prabang, ranging from “omg, it’s the cutest town ever” to “it’s tourist hell.”

I’m happy to report that I loved my time in Luang Prabang and wish I had a couple more days to spend here. Yes, it’s a small town and you can see most of the attractions in a couple of days. However, the entire town has a chill, laid-back vibe and you’ll definitely want to slow down here. From watching monks cross the bamboo bridge to the luxurious spas, there’s plenty here to occupy your time.

I’ll be writing an itinerary guide shortly, but in the meantime, here are some photos that will make you want to book at trip to Luang Prabang ASAP.

The 51 number of photos that will make you want to visit

 

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51 Photos That Will Make You Want to Visit Luang, Prabang, Laos, Immediately

51 Photos That Will Make You Want to Visit Luang, Prabang, Laos, Immediately

In Photos: Beautiful Bhutan

52 Photos That Will Make You Want to Visit Bhutan

In my last post, I talked about some of the reasons why you need to visit Bhutan. If you’re still not convinced, I’m including even more photos below that will make you want to visit The Land of the Thunder Dragon.

In Photos: Why I love window seats

When it comes to airplane seats, most of us are firmly in the window seat or aisle seat camp. I hate getting stuck in the middle seat or the aisle, unable to stare at the clouds or the passing scenery. After the stress of boarding the plane, the view from 35,000 feet calms my soul.

Here are 13 of my favorite window seat photos: Continue reading “In Photos: Why I love window seats”

In Pictures: London’s Borough Market

What to Eat: London's Borough Market

On my recent trip to London and Scotland, I spent half a day roaming around Borough Market, stuffing my face full of delicious food. Borough Market, located in Southwark, is a gourmet food market, consisting of over 70 vendors, ranging from cured meats to gourmet cakes. While it’s not a hidden gem, the market is definitely worth a visit if you like to eat (which is pretty much everyone, right?).

Here are a few of my favorite photos from the market:

Borough Market: Fresh Produce
Fresh produce at Borough Market
Borough Market Coconut Pancakes
One of the Thai restaurant vendors cooking up the most amazing coconut pancakes. I’m obsessed.
Borough Market: Duck Confit
Making duck confit at the market.
Borough Market: Duck Confident
The finished product: Duck confit sandwich
Borough Market: English muffins
The largest English muffins I’ve ever seen.
Borough Market Meat
Meats!
Borough Market Cheese
Delicious cheese.
Borough Market Cheese
I think I tried one of each.
Borough Market Croissants
You can never go wrong with croissants.
Borough Market Produce
I love how fresh and vibrant the produce looks.
Borough Market London produce
I think I’d shop here every week if I lived in London.
Borough Market meat
One of the many meat shops.
Borough Market Scotch Eggs
Scotch eggs.
Borough Market meat
Sigh. I miss this place.
Borough Market Mushrooms
I love mushrooms.

When to go:
The full market is only open Wednesday through Sunday from 10am – 5 pm.

Getting there:
The easiest way to get to Borough Market is to take the tube to the London Bridge Station, serviced by the Jubilee and Northern lines. Visit Borough Market’s page for full directions.

Top tips for visiting the market:
Avoid mid-day Saturday or Sunday if you can. The market was an absolute zoo and was so hard to navigate. Try to visit during a weekday if at all possible. Make sure you bring cash; not all vendors accept credit cards.

In Photos: Caye Caulker, Belize

I visited Belize in January 2014 as part of a Guatemala, Belize and Mexico comfort tour with Intrepid Travel. The 9-day tour started in Antigua, Guatemala and ended in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

In this edition of In Photos, I’m going to focus on beautiful Belize, where the highlight was by far a snorkel tour with Ragamuffin Tours, off the coast of Caye Caulker.  Enjoy! Continue reading “In Photos: Caye Caulker, Belize”

Playing with puffins in Scotland

Back in mid-May, my husband and I joined Staffa Tours for their Treshnish Isles and Staffa tour, departing from Fionnphort on the Isle of Mull. We spent the morning wandering around the neighboring Isle of Iona (which I’ll cover in a future post) and boarded our boat bound for the Isle of Lunga (aka Puffin Island) around noon. Continue reading “Playing with puffins in Scotland”

In Photos: Colorful Colombia

As I mentioned in my previous post, I was fortunate enough to visit several areas of Colombia at the end of February, including: Bogota, Cartagena, Tayrona National Park and Villa de Levya. Winters in Seattle can be grey and dreary and the weather in almost every part of Colombia (except Bogota) was warm and sunny. I still need to finish the full recap of my trip but in the meantime, here are some of my favorite travel photos from Colombia. I hope the photos inspire you to take a trip to this part of the world. Continue reading “In Photos: Colorful Colombia”