Wildflower tourism has become a popular travel trend with visitors flocking to in-bloom destinations around the world.

In the last few years, Japan has seen a surge in cherry blossom tourists, leading to significant overtourism at iconic parks and sites like Chureito Pagoda during the blossoming season. In many cases, there can be more than 10,000 tourists in a single day.

The rise of social media has contributed to this pressure as well, with Japanese cherry blossom posts often going viral, thanks to the stunning scenery and colourful displays.

This has led to incidents like the city of Fujiyoshida cancelling its Arakurayama Sengen Park festival because of safety concerns, infrastructure stain and unruly visitor behaviour.

Climate volatility has also meant that cherry blossom patterns have changed in recent years. Trees now bloom earlier and often for a shorter duration, leading to tourist disappointment in many cases.

The same overtourism and climate pressures have also been seen in tulip tourism in the Netherlands.

This has caused nature lovers to increasingly look beyond Japan and the Netherlands for beautiful blooms and stunning landscapes.

But where should you head for some unique flower tourism? We take a look at some of the best in-bloom destinations to visit.

Namaqualand, South Africa and Namibia

Namaqualand, a semi-arid region along South Africa and Namibia’s west coast, is one of the world’s most biodiverse places.

It offers travellers a rare and unique “blooming desert” phenomena between August and September, with more than 3,500 wildflower species, out of which around 1,000 are unique to the area. These include several succulents and the iconic Namaqualand daisies.

This “super bloom” can be seen all the way from inland mountain ranges to the coastal Sandveld, offering a stark contrast of arid plains and valleys carpeted with white, purple and orange flowers.

Travellers can enjoy several hiking trails in the Namaqua National Park, along with a dedicated “wild flower route”.

With the blooms being subject to annual rainfall patterns, this experience is all the more fleeting and special.

Travellers can also enjoy 4×4 trails, explore the Atlantic coast and Quiver tree forests, raft down the Orange River and stargaze. Culture and history lovers can also head to the town of Springbok for more insight into its copper mining history.

Jerte Valley, Spain

For travellers looking for cherry blossom wonder outside of Japan, Jerte Valley in Spain is the perfect alternative.

The valley boasts around 1.5 million to two million cherry trees, which all bloom together in spring, transforming the hillsides and valley floor of the Cáceres region into a sea of dramatic white.

The blooms last around 10 days, with the best time to see them being in late March or early April. In contrast to Japan’s cherry blossoms, which are mainly celebrated for their intense beauty, rather than agricultural value, these Spanish blooms also herald a massive fruit harvest for picota cherries.

Much like Japan’s Hanami parties, the Jerte Valley cherry blossoms are celebrated with the Fiesta del Cerezo en Flor (cherry blossom festival).

Here, visitors can enjoy music and theatre performances, browse through handicrafts and artisanal products, taste local, traditional cherry-based dishes and enjoy guided hiking and walking tours.

Travellers can also explore charming, historic villages and protected sites like Cabezuela del Valle, which is famed for its rustic architecture.

One of the best ways to experience the blooms is by driving through the valley, which takes tourists through 11 different municipalities with various stunning viewpoints of the slopes.

Valley of Flowers, India

Another prime flower tourism spot is the Valley of Flowers, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Uttarakhand, India.

Located within the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, the Himalayan valley offers a unique “living tapestry” effect against vast mountain peaks, with bloom colours changing every few weeks between June and September.

Due to it having its own micro-climate, the valley is also lusher and more beautiful than surrounding Himalayan valleys.

It features more than 600 species of flowers, including rare and endangered mountain species such as the cobra lily, Himalayan blue poppy and the Brahma Kamal, a species of flower that is considered sacred. A diverse range of rare orchids, primulas, poppies and daisies can also be seen.

The park offers a unique transition zone between the Great Himalaya and Zanskar ranges and is home to rare endangered animals like the snow leopard, Asiatic black bear and musk deer.

The changing colours of the blooms and rare Himalayan species make the valley a haven for photographers, nature enthusiasts and botanists alike.

Outdoors enthusiasts can enjoy a variety of accessible trekking trails, typically starting from Govindghat, while culture-seekers can head to Hemkund Sahib, a high-altitude Sikh pilgrimage site.

Lake Tekapo, New Zealand

Lake Tekapo, located in the Mackenzie Country on the South Island of New Zealand, is another unique flower tourism destination. The lake itself is a glacial one, and a striking turquoise colour, due to glacial rock flour.

It also offers one of the world’s clearest night skies, perfect for combining flower tourism with some astrotourism.

Visitors can enjoy vibrant fields of pink, blue and purple Russell lupins, set against the stunning lake and snow-capped mountains, transforming the whole Mackenzie Basin into a magnificent spectacle.

The area around the Church of the Good Shepherd is particularly photogenic, however, while travellers along the Mackenzie Basin highway should get a very good view as well.

The best time to see the blooms is from mid-November to December, with “golden hour” (right before sunrise or sunset) being the best time for photographers.

Other things to do include stargazing, hiking, relaxing in hot pools and springs, kayaking, skating and taking scenic flights over the Southern Alps with Mackenzie Helicopters or Air Safaris.

Muker Meadows, UK

For travellers who have had their fill with flowering mountain valleys, Muker Meadows, in England’s Yorkshire Dales, offers a different experience. These are traditional, upland hay meadows, or agricultural grasslands, which typically bloom between mid-June to early July.

As a Site of Specific Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Coronation Meadow, it is one of the most biodiverse and well-preserved hay meadows in the UK.

Travellers can marvel at rare flowers like wood crane’s bill, yellow-rattle and melancholy thistle set against a historic backdrop of scenic dry stone barns and walls.

This is in addition to other species like buttercups, selfheals, lady’s-mantle, and pignuts, offering plenty of photography and nature learning opportunities.

Soak in some classic English scenery on a walk through the meadows, or enjoy a peaceful picnic in the afternoon sun. Hikers can also head to River Swale or Keld for a scenic walk.

This list takes you through some of the longest roads in the world, connecting continents, countries, and remote landscapes. From highways that span entire nations to borders, each road reflects massive engineering, travel scale and global connectivity.

The fascination behind the world’s longest road journeys

Exploring the world by road gives a real sense of distance and adventure that few other journeys can match. People often get curious about which routes stretch the farthest across countries and continents. These long highways and road networks link small remote villages with large busy cities while passing through deserts, mountains, forests, and coastal regions. Some are single continuous stretches while others form connected routes that together cover huge parts of the world. From cold northern regions to warm tropical landscapes, these roads show how far you can go just by driving and how connected different parts of the world really are.

1- Pan-American Highway (30,000 km): The ultimate continental road linking the Americas

This network links nearly all coastal nations in the Americas. It starts in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska and ends in Ushuaia, Argentina. The only break is the 100 km Darién Gap between Panama and Colombia, which remains a dense jungle.

2- Highway 1, Australia (14,500 km): The world’s longest coastal loop around a single nation

As the longest national highway in the world, this giant loop encircles the entire Australian continent. It connects all state capitals and sees over a million people daily. It is a vital link for trade, tourism and local commuting across the Outback.

3- Trans-Siberian Highway (11,000 km): A massive route crossing Russia’s vast time zones and terrain

Spanning the width of Russia, this route runs from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok. It crosses seven time zones and varied landscapes. This highway is crucial for moving goods across the vast Russian wilderness and connecting the Atlantic to the Pacific coast.

4- Trans-Canada Highway (7,476 km): A scenic cross-country journey through all Canadian provinces

This is one of the world’s longest national routes, crossing all ten Canadian provinces. It stretches from Victoria in the west to St. John’s in the east. It is recognizable by its white-on-green maple leaf route markers and stunning mountain views.

5- Golden Quadrilateral, India (5,846 km): India’s economic backbone connecting four major metros

This network connects India’s four major metro cities: Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata. It was designed to boost the national economy by improving transport efficiency. It is the fifth-longest highway in the world and the largest of its kind in India.

6- China National Highway 010 (5,700 km): A vital north-south logistics corridor of China

Also known as the Tongsan Expressway, it runs from Tongjiang in Heilongjiang to Sanya in Hainan. It is a major north-south corridor that includes a ferry crossing to reach the island of Hainan. It serves as a backbone for Chinese logistics.

7- US Route 20 (5,415 km): America’s longest road stretching from Oregon to Massachusetts

This is the longest road in the United States, running east-west from Newport, Oregon to Boston, Massachusetts. It passes through nine states and even cuts through Yellowstone National Park. It is a historic route that predates the modern Interstate Highway System.

8- US Route 6 (5,158 km): A historic American highway crossing rural towns and landscapes

Known as the Grand Army of the Republic Highway, it stretches from Bishop, California to Provincetown, Massachusetts. It was once the longest road in the US until 1964. It remains a classic American road trip route passing through diverse rural communities.

9- Interstate 90 (4,860 km): The longest east-west interstate across the United States

This is the longest east-west Interstate Highway in the United States. It connects Seattle, Washington to Boston, Massachusetts via Chicago and Cleveland. It features several toll sections and serves as a primary artery for heavy freight and cross-country travel.

10- Interstate 80 (4,666 km): A key transcontinental route following historic American pathways

Running from San Francisco, California to Teaneck, New Jersey, this road closely follows the path of the historic Lincoln Highway. It traverses the salt flats of Utah and the plains of Nebraska. It is a vital link for the American heartland.

Despite its tiny size, Vatican City is one of the most visited places in Europe and an easy addition to a Rome trip.

Summer travel plans often revolve around big, scenic destinations like hill stations, beaches, or bustling cities that promise a break from routine. But sometimes, the most fascinating places on the map are the ones you can barely spot. Imagine a country so small you could walk across it in under an hour, yet so powerful that it influences millions across the globe. That’s the beauty of travel, it constantly surprises you with scale, perspective, and stories. If you are someone who loves uncovering unusual destinations and travel trivia, here’s one that always stands out. Let’s take a closer look at the smallest country in the world, and why it deserves a spot on every curious traveller’s radar.

What Is The Smallest Country In The World?

The smallest country in the world is Vatican City. Covering roughly 0.44 to 0.49 square kilometres, it holds the title of the world’s tiniest nation by area.

Key facts travellers often find surprising:

• It is an independent city‑state
• Located entirely within Rome, Italy
• Recognised globally as the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church

Despite its size, Vatican City functions as a sovereign nation and plays a major role on the global religious and cultural map.

Where Exactly Is Vatican City Located?

Vatican City sits on the western bank of the Tiber River and is completely surrounded by Italy. For travellers already in Rome, reaching Vatican City requires no special transport planning. Entry points are easily accessible from central parts of the city, making it one of the simplest international borders to cross.

Because of its location:

• Most visitors include it as part of a Rome itinerary
• No overnight stay is required
• The majority of attractions can be reached on foot

This ease of access makes Vatican City particularly appealing for short European trips.

Why Is It So Famous Despite Its Size?

What Vatican City lacks in physical scale, it more than compensates for in cultural and religious significance. It attracts millions of visitors annually, many of whom travel specifically to see its landmarks.

Major attractions include:

• St. Peter’s Basilica
• The Sistine Chapel
• The Vatican Museums

For travellers, this means experiencing world‑class art and architecture within a compact, well-defined area. Vatican City also serves as the spiritual centre for over a billion Catholics, reinforcing its global influence despite its limited size.

How Small Is “Small” Really?

To put things into perspective, Vatican City is far smaller than Lutyens’ Delhi, the central administrative district of India’s capital.

Some quick comparisons:

• Total area: Around 44 hectares
• Population: Under 1,000 residents
• Walking time to cover major sites: A few hours

For visitors, this translates into minimal travel fatigue and the ability to explore key landmarks in a short, well-organised visit.

A Tiny Country With Clear Travel Appeal

Despite being the smallest country in the world, Vatican City offers a concentrated travel experience that fits easily into broader Europe plans. Most travellers explore it in half a day, moving between museums, chapels, and public squares without the need for transport.

Why it works well for travellers:

• Easy to combine with Rome sightseeing
• Suitable for first-time Europe travellers
• High cultural value without complex logistics

Vatican City proves that size doesn’t determine impact. For those interested in history, religion, or unique travel experiences, it remains one of the most distinctive country visits in the world.

With travelling after retirement a growing trend, intrepid mature globe-trotters share tips on how to get the most out of more relaxed trips

Taking a “golden gap year” is an emerging trend among retirees, with increasing numbers of older people planning to see the world when they retire.
Retirement travel is being widely documented on social media by people like retired British teachers Jackie and Richard Pickles, whose Early Retirement Wanderlust YouTube channel shares their campervan travels through the UK and Europe.

Another experienced retirement traveller is Tina (who does not like to reveal her surname), who started the YouTube channel This Is Our Retirement with her husband Norm, who died last year at the age of 70, to share their exploration of the world.

“Retirement travel isn’t about seeing as many places as possible,” says Tina, who emigrated to Canada from England in her 30s. “It’s about finally having the time to experience a place properly, noticing the people, the atmosphere and the small moments that make a place special. When you slow down, travel becomes far more meaningful.”

There are also Americans John and Bev Martin, who sold their home, gave away most of their belongings, packed their backpacks and set off to see the world after they retired six years ago. At the same time, they started the website and social media channels Retirement Travellers, which has charted their journey through 114 countries and across all 50 US states.

Bev, 63, says: “Along the way we’ve made plenty of mistakes, learned a few lessons the hard way, and discovered a handful of things that make retirement travel far easier and more enjoyable.”

Here are the retirement travellers’ tips for happy retirement travelling.

1. Do not postpone travel indefinitely

Many people assume they will travel “someday” in retirement, but health and energy can change unexpectedly, Tina says.

“If there’s somewhere you’ve always wanted to see, it can be worth making those plans sooner rather than later.”

Bev says: “It doesn’t have to be a grand around-the-world trip – sometimes the first step is simply booking a flight you’ve been talking about for years.”

2. Use AI to help plan your trips

“Most seniors never think to use AI to plan trips, find unique hotels or create specific itineraries that meet specific needs,” says Tina.

She suggests you might, for example, ask an AI tool to “plan a 10-day trip to Greece for a senior that has difficulty walking for long periods of time”, and the AI will then plan the trip with that specific requirement in mind.

3. Pack far less than you think you need

Bev says most new travellers pack for every possible scenario, but points out that the world is full of shops, pharmacies and laundries.

“If you forget something, you can almost always replace it,” she says.
“We travel full-time with backpacks, which forces us to keep things simple. Travelling light makes airports easier, train stations less stressful and spontaneous detours far more enjoyable.”

She says travelling light also saves money, but adds: “The biggest shift for us was realising the experiences we were having around the world were far more valuable than the things we used to own. Once that clicked, our relationship with ‘stuff’ changed forever. Our packs became lighter, and our lives became fuller.”

4. Do not travel at peak times

As former teachers, the Pickles, who are both in their mid-50s, say they have enjoyed travelling outside peak holiday times.
“The campsites are quiet, the prices are much more reasonable, there are hardly any children around and the weather isn’t too hot as it is in the height of the season,” Jackie says.

5. Go slow

One of the advantages of travelling later in life is the freedom to move at a different pace, Tina says.

“When we were younger, travelling often felt like completing a checklist. In retirement, staying longer in one place, walking through neighbourhoods, visiting local cafes and speaking with residents can create much richer experiences.”

6. Consider comfort and flexibility

Having more flexible plans and prioritising your own comfort become more important as you get older, Tina says.

“Leaving space in an itinerary, planning rest days and choosing accommodation that’s easy to navigate can make travel far more enjoyable.

“Retirement travel doesn’t need to be ambitious to be rewarding – sometimes the simplest experiences become the most memorable.”

7. Travel in a campervan or motorhome

Travelling in a campervan or motorhome helps keep costs down, the Pickles say.
“Campsite fees are cheap, we travel with all the comforts of home, we can self-cater and don’t have to pre-book any accommodation so we can move with the weather,” Jackie says.

“And if we find a place we like, we stay for longer – or we can just move on if it’s not so great.”

8. Become a ‘flex-pat’

Flex-pat is a term coined by the Martins for retirees who want to enjoy living around the world without dealing with the paperwork of becoming formal expatriates.
“Instead of moving constantly, rent a small house or apartment for a couple of months and settle in,” Bev says. “Visit the local markets, find your favourite cafe, take walks through the neighbourhood, and let the rhythm of daily life unfold around you.

“Flex-pats travel on normal tourist visas, stay long enough to get a real feel for a place, then move on when they’re ready for the next adventure.”

9. Do not worry about losing touch with family

The Pickles admit that when they initially set out on their travels, they were worried about losing connections with their family while they were away for extended periods.

But Jackie says: “The world is a much smaller place and we FaceTime them all regularly when we’re away.”

10. Listen to other travellers

Do not worry about being the oldest travellers around – the Pickles say there are lots of older travellers throughout the world, and getting tips from them can be a great help.

“We backpacked for seven weeks in Thailand and realised we weren’t the oldest backpackers in town – there’s a whole community of older travellers out there circling the globe,” Jackie says.

“We didn’t book anywhere in advance, and have found in all our travels that listening to fellow travellers is important, as they’re a great source of information on the best places to visit – often slightly off the beaten track.”