In need of a quiet getaway, an adventure-filled journey or retail therapy…? Here are five different holiday destinations that will satisfy every want and need of a girl who has travel on her mind.
For the Explorer – Iran
Majestic mosques, ancient caravansaries, impressive rock tombs and formerly the royal city
of the ancient Persian Empire – Iran lures one’s eye with a radiant bouquet of architectural masterpieces and unique natural wonders. From the cerulean Caspian Sea in the North and the bodacious Persian Gulf in the south, the city of Tehran buzzes with its bustling markets/ bazaars. Tabriz, a former capital, has the most awing and fascinating bazaar. It is a sprawling, labyrinthine bazaar – a Unesco World Heritage Site dating back 1 000 years – with ornate and, dimly lit timcheh (halls) that immerse you in an almost mystical, back-in-time feel.
For the Pleasure Seeker – Kyoto, Japan
Kyoto, once the capital of Japan, is a city on the island of Honshu perfect for a girl trip. Well known for its serene temples, sublime gardens, traditional teahouses and geisha scurrying to secret liaisons. This is a city of 2000 temples and shrines: a true masterpiece of religious architecture, like the retina-burning splendour of Kinkaku-Ji (the famed Golden Pavilion) and the cavernous expanse of Higashi Hongan-Ji. It’s where robed monks shuffle between temple buildings, prayer chants resonating through stunning Zen gardens, and the faithful meditate on tatami-mat floors. Even with the scurry of the modern city, a waft of incense burning, or bright vermillion torii gate marking a shrine entrance, are reminders that Kyoto remains the spiritual heart of Japan.
For the Foodie – Campania, Italy
Rich, intense, hypnotic ragù of Arabesque street life, decadent palaces, pastel-hued villages and aria-inspiring vistas, is Campania. It’s like a never-ending feast, bubbling with wood-fired pizza’s in Naples, long lunches at Cilento agriturismo (farm stays), and lavish pastries at celebrity-status Amalfi Coast pasticcerie (pastry shops). To capture the full experience of Campania, take the mountain route inland from Maori and engulf yourself in a wine tasting against the rural landscape of olive groves, chestnut woods, and vines. The mild climate, the beauty of the coasts, the richness of its art and history, and the love for food make Campania the best vacation for a foodie.
For the Fitness Freak – Lanzarote, Island of Spain
Lanzarote an island now on the boom of tourism is quite the revolution, it is all about staying in chic, eco-friendly places and spending your days cycling, walking, surfing or sampling the local wines, what every girl wants. This Canary Island paradise is where you can ride a camel into the sunset and then dine inside a brilliantly candlelit cave. Legend has it that locals would hide from pirates in the underground caverns of Cueva de Los Verdes, which are now open to curious visitors in need of an adventure.
For the Shop-a-Holic – Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires combines faded European grandeur and Latin’s fierce passion. The birthplace
of the tango is like the dance itself, captivating, seductive and bustling with excited energy. Latin America’s shopping capital offers the promise of premium retail therapy along its grand, wide boulevards. With the oldest of leather craftsmen and stores to choose from this destination isn’t just about shopping, old neighbourhoods are filled with romantic restaurants and thumping nightlife. The energy and bustle of modern Buenos Aires is most evident in the city centre—the locus of entertainment, shopping, and café-going.