Do you ever feel as though you could use an escapade? A chance to get away from your busy routine… and spend time in a relaxed environment? Then rural tourism is an option you should consider. You can easily find vacation houses for rental in quiet villages where time stands still.
And it can be rather inexpensive, comparatively to conventional urban tourism. If you don’t know quite where to get started, this article highlights five of the coziest spots for rural tourism in Europe.
1 – Campo do Geres, Portugal: You might have heard of the Portuguese natural reserve called the Geres, and there’s good reason why. With luxurious vegetation, unique wildlife and pristine water fountains, it’s one of the best natural spots in the country to get in touch with nature. Campo do Geres is one of the least touristic villages in the area, and it’s where you should go if you’re serious about staying away from the crowd.
2 – Orgiva, Spain: If you’re looking to spend some time in a pretty house nestled in idyllic settings which aren’t entirely reclusive or detached from civilization, Orgiva may be the thing for you. This charming municipality is located in a depression between two mountain ranges (Sierra Nevada and Sierra de Lujar), and it’s usually regarded as a gateway for travelers looking to spend some time exploring those high grounds.
3 – Midi-Pyrénées, France: Roughly translated as the “middle of the Pyrenees”, this area provides a good showcase of all the charms available from rural tourism. You can find inexpensive holiday houses with breathtaking mountain views, or you can look for accommodation in picturesque villages next to the region’s main walking trails. One thing is for sure, you’ll find it hard not to fall in love with this mythic mountain range.
4 – Tuscany, Italy: Not only is this widely known as one of the most exquisite and beautiful natural regions of Italy, but its strategic location also lends quite well to rural tourism. By looking for farmhouse accommodation or cottage in this area, you will be immersed upon extensive vineyards and olive groves, and at half-hour’s drive from urban hubs such as Florence, Siena and Pienza.
5 – Smolyan, Bulgary: For anyone who’s determined to walk away from the touristic hubs, this is probably one of the most beautiful and romantic options. Bulgaria is not one of the most popular destinations for rural tourism, but it’s certainly one of the prettiest and most untamed. You can easily rent a house in Bulgarian villages where it feels as though the XXI never came by. If that’s something you find intriguing, you should look into this secluded European country.
Do some of these locations sound intriguing to you? Rural tourism is a great opportunity to explore natural settings across different countries, and besides relaxing it can be very inexpensive, since it’s all about looking for the road less traveled.
This guest post was written by Nextor, a group of travel specialists who focus on UK holiday destinations and beyond. Come visit our website, when planning ahead your vacations!