Local Adventure To Mud Volcanoes In Azerbaijan
Bistra from The Magic Of Traveling
Azerbaijan is definitely one of the hidden gems of Europe. It is a country that attracts curious travelers – the ones who have probably visited the majority of the European countries and who already have quite some experience on the road. Travelers who want to get off-the-beaten-path and wanderers who are ready for a more advanced level of exploration.
Here is an example. Just an hour away from the old town and bustling capital city Baku, you reach the region call Gobustan. You will want to admire the Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape; ancient petroglyphs on stones of different sizes, narrow paths leading to caves and amazing views, carvings telling the story of the place for hundreds of years until now.
After the visit, you stop for a tasty gutab from a lady that is just cooking the delicious rolled dough full of green veggies right in front of you.
And as you really want to immerse yourself in the Azerbaijan culture, you head to the mud volcanoes. But first, you stop on the bridge to leave whatever vehicle you came with.
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From this moment on, your ride will be an old-school-badass Lada car and your guide will be a local young man who has the unbelievable ability to operate this car. All of the Ladas on the bridge are at least twice older than their drivers, but imagine how many stories they have to tell!
So you hit the road and soon you leave it for a dirt track through deserted plains. The Lada and its skilled driver are putting all the professional racers to shame as you go through your off road trip experience.
If the Lada decides to show some character, other drivers quickly gather around to fix it and ensure that you will reach your goal – the mud volcanoes.
Eventually, you arrive at the bubbly and rumbling volcanoes that are waiting for you to stretch your feet from the crazy ride and explore their muddy surroundings.
The landscape is taken from another planet and your spacecraft and your captain are waiting for you to take you back home, on yet another adventurous bumpy ride.
Interested in discovering quirky, culture filled Azerbaijan? Check out the best accommodations here!
For more information on visiting the mud volcanos, check out this guide on how to get there.
Olive Farm Volunteering In Apulia, Italy
Anda from Travel For A While
One of the best traveling experiences I ever had was volunteering for an olive farm in Apulia, Italy. I had been thinking about volunteering and traveling for quite some time before actually doing it and it was the right decision. I love Italy and it was the obvious choice for me to try this different way of traveling.
I was looking for a more in-depth travel experience, staying in a home, taking part in their way of life, eating home-cooked meals made with fresh local ingredients, and learning the language in the process. I figured I could not have a more authentic ‘local’ experience and I was right about it.
I learned about farm-work, about olives and olive oil, about pasta types from the Apulia region in Italy, about regional food, and even a few words of the local dialect.
I also met some great people, the family I was staying with as well as other travelers volunteering at the farm.
They had been traveling this way for some months already, in different countries. I only wish I discovered this travel option sooner.
Travel volunteering is one of the hidden gems of Europe! Check out these awesome hostel jobs in Italy.
What I loved most about it is that you get to ‘dive in’ and truly experience the local way of life. It is also a budget-friendly option since you are offering work in exchange for accommodation and food. This way, you can travel for a longer time, explore a region in a slow-pace, and give something back to the community you visit. F
As a tourist, you will only ever see some of the most iconic landmarks of a place, like these Puglia UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This is totally fine, but to get to know a place you have to spend some time and find the lesser-known places, search for the places where locals eat and go out and learn about the little things.
There is nothing better than getting to know people from different parts of the world in beautiful places. Especially while eating a home-made pasta dish and drinking a glass of local wine after working together for a few hours in a beautiful garden.
Interested in getting off the beaten path in Puglia, Italy? Check out the best accommodations here!
Not adventurous enough for you? Follow in Anda’s footsteps and try volunteering in the gorgeous Italian countryside through Workaway.
Visiting A Local Banya In Moscow, Russia
Lindsey from Have Clothes, Will Travel
Russian banya is similar to a sauna. The biggest difference, though, is that a ‘banya’ has high levels of humidity in it, while a sauna will have dry air.
They have been a part of Russian life for over a thousand years! Visiting a banya is one of the best things to do in Moscow, especially on a city break! This travel experience is one of the hidden gems of Europe and one of the most memorable travel experiences of my life.
You will wear these funny, felt hats to protect your hair and ears from the heat in the banya. This also helps to regulate your body temperature, so you can sit in the banya for a longer period.
Another interesting aspect of the Russian Banya is flogging using birch twigs (venik). This is supposed to benefit your health and improve your immune system, and honestly, if you have someone who knows what they are doing, it does feel really good!
After you have gone in and out of the banya a couple times…you are then supposed to cool yourself off. You can do this by taking a quick, cold shower, jumping into a cold pool or tub (banyas do have these), jump in a snowbank (seriously) or…you can just jump in a frozen lake!
Some folks in Russia have their own private banyas at their dachas (cottages). However, as a visitor, there are a couple of different options for getting to experience a banya.
- Book a private banya experience at a spa in the city. (I like Banya Zhivica in Moscow the best.)
- Visit a public banya in Moscow for the full banya experience. (I recommend Sanduny Banya – it is the oldest and most luxurious banya in Moscow.)
Be prepared too – no matter which route you go for your banya experience, you will be with strangers, and you will be naked. You may be used to keeping at least a towel on when in a sauna, but that is not the norm at a banya in Russia.
It may seem weird (at least for someone from the US like me), however, it is worth being a little uncomfortable at first. Not only is visiting a Russian banya an authentic Russian experience to have – you will feel really refreshed when you are done!
Interested in experiencing Moscow’s Christmas markets or a traditional banya during a city break? Check out the best accommodations here!
Enjoying Irish Sea Cliffs Like Locals In Bray, Ireland
Krystianna from Volumes & Voyages
One of the best local and less-touristy experiences that I have had is in Bray, Ireland. It iss super easy to take a day trip to Bray from Dublin, as it is within 40 minutes of Dublin’s city center! I suggest taking the bus, but you can also opt to take the Irish Rail if you prefer.
Ireland is known for having some really amazing cliffs, but everyone usually chooses to visit the Cliffs of Moher and does not bother looking around the rest of Ireland’s coastline destinations.
That is why I recommend visiting Bray, one of the hidden gems of Europe! It is a tiny coastal fishing town that is extremely quiet compared to the Cliffs of Moher and even Dublin itself. That is why it is so crazy that it is close to Dublin! It really does not feel like it.
Bray is a hidden gem with its own cliffs and stunning views, especially during the summer months when there is usually better weather. From this small town, you can hike a gorgeous cliff walk from Bray to Greystones, another town just north of Bray. This takes 1-2 hours, depending on how fast of a walker you are.
Of course, compared to the Cliffs of Moher, this cliff walk will feel a lot safer. There is a fence between the walkway and the water so you cannot fall off the edge.
However, that does not mean that there are not amazing views. About halfway through the cliff walk is a gorgeous area to sit and take a break. There is not a fence so you can venture down a little further.
I would not get too close, but it is worth going down a little! In this spot, you can really sit and enjoy the beauty of Ireland. I visited in the middle of May and it was practically empty! I ran into one other person on the cliff walk.
The people in this area are also extremely sweet, though I think that can be said of all people in Ireland. My friend and I were trying to find where the cliff walk started and the second we looked confused a local found us and made sure we were alright! The locals walked with us right up to where the cliff walk started and wished us luck.
In Bray, there are also other great things to do. You could visit the aquarium, go to the beach, or explore the tiny town. Bray Promenade is also really fun. It is a beautiful boardwalk area right next to the water that is lined with little shops.
If you ever find yourself in Ireland, be sure to take a break from the touristy sites. See what local life is like in a quaint Irish seaside town like Bray. Check out the best Bray accommodations here!
How many Europe hidden gems are on your bucket list? Check out our slow travel bucket list below!
