tourism

The magic of Iceland

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Spectacular, awe-inspiring, amazing. Just a few of the superlatives that are given to Iceland and its magical landscapes.

This relatively small volcanic island close to the Arctic is packed with snow-capped mountains, glaciers, waterfalls, spurting geysers and a fantastic coastline scattered with glacial chunks and black sand.

I was lucky enough to visit some of these wonders on a tour of the country’s south in May and was even treated to a blanket of snow. If you enjoy landscape photography, Iceland is up there with the best of them.

But a note of caution. It’s now a popular destination and is organised to cope with many visitors. Some attractions are very busy and you may have to go further to experience real wilderness. Even so it’s hard to deny this country’s awesomeness.

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Porto: Portuguese gem

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Portugal’s capital Lisbon is a hugely popular destination for tourists. But not content with this, the Portuguese also have a second city to discover and enjoy.

Porto sits on the Douro estuary in the north of the country. It’s packed with charming old tiled houses, grand buildings which indicate its rich history, not to mention delicious food and drink.

For the photographer, there’s something on every corner and vantage points galore. And if you take a bus ride to Foz do Douro, there’s also an Atlantic beach experience close by.

This was a typical city break experience for my friend and I, with budget flights from the UK, a very pleasant apartment hotel, and walking galore. If you have a spare long weekend, get yourself to Porto.

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New Zealand: North Island

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This is a country that may be geographically distant from Britain, but feels a lot like going home.

I made that long journey from Manchester to New Zealand and toured the Pacific island nation from south to north.

The upper half of this land is its population and urban powerhouse, home to largest city Auckland and administrative capital Wellington.

But it’s still an island of wilderness, boasting volcano peaks, geothermal wonders cared for by the Maori people, and vast beaches.

It’s also a rich place for photography with vast, electric blue skies, varied landscapes and intriguing detail. New Zealand is definitely worth the hike.

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Chile’s deep south

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Chile may be a slender nation, but it’s full of wild, varied and majestic landscapes. It takes a few hours to fly from the arid lands of the Atacama Desert in the north to Patagonia, towards the tip of South America.

You instantly feel the chill, rasping winds and even summer snow as you climb higher on epic treks. Torres del Paine is a territory full of rugged mountains, glacial lakes and craggy moraines.

The nearby town of Puerto Natales has a frontier feel to it, with its own otherworldly views and sunsets that last an age.

It’s easy to be overwhelmed with landscape photo opportunities here in a country of boundless contrasts – but this is one beguiling place.

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Macau: Vegas of the East

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The tiny territory of Macau is the most densely populated place on the planet. That aside, this fascinating city is the point when China and Portugal intermingle.

Street signs are in Cantonese and Portuguese, while bakeries sell Portugal’s famous (and delicious) custard tart. Churches and pastel-washed buildings are a testament to centuries of European colonial rule.

I took a day trip to Macau from Hong Kong and felt the difference. Most forms of gambling are outlawed in the former British territory, while casinos thrive in Macau with brash signs and vast premises.

A fun fact is that Hong Kong and Macau are separate special regions of China, so you have to go through border control. So don’t forget your passport on a visit to this crowded, busy and fascinating slither of the world.

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