5 Crazily Colourful Holiday Hotspots

If you’re looking for a holiday destination that’s as colourful as your personality, or you want some jaw-dropping scenery that’s worthy of a spot on your photo wall, then we’ve got it covered! 

 

Working in the travel industry, we’re lucky enough to lay our eyes on some beautiful places, whether that be in person or on envy-inducing pics. Take a look at our gallery, filled with all colours of the rainbow and many countries from around the world. 

 

Chamarel, Mauritius

 

Of all the colourful places in the world and of the photos we have seen, Mauritius is home to one of the most fascinating sights. Chamarel, a village in south west Mauritius, is home to the ‘7 Coloured Earths’ which is exactly what it says on the tin – the ground is multicoloured!

 

A 8.5-hectare national park is home to the geological phenomenon, which is said to be caused by slow decomposition of lava, or basalt, into clay minerals. The 7 Coloured Earths are believed to be around 600 million years old. 

 

The sand dunes display seven distinctly coloured sands, red, brown, violet, green, blue, purple and yellow. This phenomenon can also be observed on a smaller scale – grab a handful of sands of different colours and mix them together. They’ll eventually separate into a layered spectrum!

 

 

Though you’re not allowed to climb or walk on the sand dunes, there is a viewing point surrounded by a wooden fence, where you can get an aerial view. In some of the local souvenir shops, you can buy small tubes of the sand to take home with you so you can always remember your trip. 

 

If you would like to visit this breathtaking sight, then the closest resort to Chamarel is Le Morne, but since Mauritius is such a small island, you can get from the furthest away resort, Grand Gaube, in under two hours.

 

Cinque Terre, Italy

 

Cinque Terre is nestled on the Italian Riviera and is a string of centuries-old seaside villages. In each of the five towns, you can find a distinct array of colourful houses and vineyards clinging to steep terraces. The towns are Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Monterosso al Mare and Vernazza

 

In the harbours, there are lots of bobbing, colourful fishing boats, resting after a hard morning’s work of catching the delicious seafood found in the local restaurants. Cinque Terre was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1997 thanks to its cultural landscape. 

 

If you’d like to plan a day trip to Cinque Terre, one of the best places to stay is in Tuscany. This region is filled with beautiful hotels suited to all budgets, and has plenty of activities and excursions itself, when you’re not exploring the colourful coast of the Cinque Terre.

 

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

 

One of the most iconic sights of Amsterdam is the seemingly endless fields of brightly coloured tulips. Each row is planted with bulbs of a different coloured petal, creating a stunning rainbow sea of flowers in the fields. 

 

To see the tulips at their best, plan to visit mid-April – the season runs from the end of March to mid-May, but halfway through is usually when the flowers are at their best. Don’t worry if your visit is planned a little earlier in the year though! In January, Amsterdam kickstarts the Dutch tulip season on National Tulip Day. Dutch growers present 200,000 tulips in a temporary garden on Dam Square, and visitors can even pick a tulip to take home with them, free of charge!

 

 

As well as the stunning tulip fields, during your stay to Amsterdam, you can also visit the world’s largest flower garden. Also known as the Garden of Europe, Keukenhof is one of the most famous tulip and flower gardens in Europe and most likely the world. The garden was established in 1949 in Lisse and is easily accessible by railway and car from Amsterdam.

 

If you’re wanting to increase your tulip knowledge, why not take a trip to the Amsterdam Tulip Museum,  located in the Jordaan district of Amsterdam. The museum features six rooms that immerse visitors in the tulips’ journey – starting in its native Central Asia to the Ottoman Empire, finally landing in Dutch markets in the 16th and 17th century.

 

Venice, Italy

 

Away from the popular centre of Venice, you will find the quaint fisherman’s village of Burano Island. It is best known for the colourful houses that are dotted throughout the lively village as well as a range of tasty local restaurants.

 

One of the most famous sights in this colourful village is Casa di Bepi Sua – the most colourful house on the island, adorned with geometric shapes. The house belonged to Guisppe Toselli, who was a lover of painting and a movie buff. Each day he would add a new painting to the exterior of his home, and this tradition continued until the day he sadly passed.

 

You can reach Burano from Venice’s main island using the fantastic network of water taxis. There are regular departure times throughout the day, just make sure to check the final departure times at the water taxi point to ensure you make the last one!

 

Marrakech, Morocco

 

Holidays to Morocco aren’t short of colour and in Marrakech, your eyes will be opened to a world of wonders in the Medina. The historical centre is around 1,000 years old and is surrounded by an ancient red wall, giving it the nickname, the Red City. 

 

The souks have been the centre of trade in Marrakech for a thousand years and you can buy a wide range of wares here from woven carpets to spices, leather goods to jewellery. Though the maze of stalls can seem daunting and confusing, sellers are organised into areas depending on what they’re selling, so everything should be much more organised when you’re wandering around. 

 

Just outside of the Medina, you are likely to find guides who will haggle for your attention. It is best to choose a licenced guide if you would like to use one, and if you are a solo female traveller, choose a female guide. Unfortunately, as with many traditional cites and markets, you’re likely to encounter some scams. 

 

The main scams and safety points you must be aware of are sellers who claim to sell genuine items, yet they are all fakes, the use of black henna, which contains harmful chemicals and animal handlers, who haggle you for money after placing animals such as monkeys or snakes on your person without permission.

 

Take a day to explore everything the souks have to offer – the more you look, and the deeper you get into the Medina, the cheaper the prices get. If you feel up to it, you can also haggle for a bargain. Ask the locals at your Riad or hotel the average price for certain items that you’re looking to find, then you know what you can haggle for. 

 

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