Trifter

Iceland:

Iceland is the most unique and unusual of all the Scandinavian countries; the volcanic landscape is beautiful, stark and alien, in contrast the people are friendly and polite. Almost everybody speaks English, which is great because Icelandic is tricky to pronounce! My top highlights would include, the spas, heated by fabulous geothermal water,    (http://icelandvisitor.com/vacation_packages/spa_and_wellness/), the fascinating landscape, the Almannagjá Gorge is a wonderful site full of history and splendour, and very remote places can be accessed on Jeep trips (http://www.hl.is/). There is also sailing, horseback riding and the culture-filled capital Reykjavik! Iceland is a truly the best for a trek on the wild side or utter pampering, or both!

Hartz Mountains, Germany:

Many people focus on the Black forest in Germany; however, I believe that the Hartz Mountains are equally attractive and exciting. Located in mid-Germany, they are a huge expanse of forest with lakes, deer and incredible views every few miles. There are many walking trails leading through this magical area. If you really want to explore the magic, Goslar (http://www.goslar.de/englisch/) is a charming little town that looks like a Hans Anderson fairytale, ‘olde worlde’ buildings that house a teddy bear museum, a huge church and many quaint cafes. There is also a cable car in Bad Hartzberg which offers spectacular views across the area.

Andorra:

Situated between the most Southern tip of France and the most Northern tip of Spain Andorra is tiny in size but big on appeal (http://www.yourandorra.com/). The whole country is basically one long, stunningly beautiful valley. When I visited there in early spring there was still snow on the higher mountains, which form the edge of the Pyrenees’. There is a large ski centre with several slopes of varying difficulty; there are also wonderful walking trails. In the capital, Andorra le Vella, there is a distinctly Spanish feel with many shops, to buy souvenirs, and cafes, to sustain you while you look around. A lovely destination for anyone who is looking for the best of both worlds; snow and sun!