As global warming raises the thermostat, many travellers are opting for holidays where the heat doesn’t spoil their stay. Here we take a look at a trend that is becoming increasingly prevalent in the tourist world, with a focus on certain Nordic destinations and microclimates.
Climate change isn’t just disrupting our daily lives: it’s also having an impact on our holidays. As a result, a new trend has emerged in the wake of global warming: ‘coolcation’, in other words, giving priority to cool escapes. Lakes, mountains in summer, forests, towns further north… The phenomenon is gaining ground, offering natural settings untouched by the mass tourism that favours intense sunshine.
Destinations further north
This summer, many websites and media have listed tourist destinations with the headline: where can you go on holiday to avoid the heat? A pertinent question, given that recent summers have seen an increasing number of heatwaves, and mercury levels have plummeted in key destinations. While the southern United States, Greece, Morocco, Portugal and Sicily are all popular with travellers, another group of yachtsmen are looking for milder temperatures, not exceeding 20/25 degrees. This is not only for comfort, but also because it is necessary for infants, the sick and the elderly.
Northern Europe is attracting more and more tourists. Iceland, for example, attracts visitors for its volcanoes, hot springs, lava fields, glaciers and geysers. Not to mention picturesque towns like the capital Reykjavik.
Norway with Oslo, its mountains, glaciers and deep coastal fjords; Finland with Helsinki and its magnificent Lapland; Sweden with Stockholm, nicknamed the Venice of the North, or Denmark… All these Nordic countries are appreciated for their landscapes, which make a radical change from the areas where the rays hit the face.
Not far from France is the United Kingdom, made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Not to mention the Netherlands…
Refreshing nature
You don’t have to travel hundreds of miles from France to find cool spots. The wide variety of landscapes and climates in France will also satisfy all the expectations of coolcation enthusiasts.
This is the case, for example, of holidays on the shores of certain lakes, where the water and the surrounding nature bring the temperatures down. The mountains in summer and the humid forests are also favoured. Although the heat can quickly make itself felt, the microclimates of the summits allow you to cool off while enjoying the sublime scenery.
What’s more, these regions offer a wealth of unusual accommodation, from perched cabins and windmills to atypical houses and magnificent luxury villas perfectly rooted in their environment.
All that’s left to do is book a holiday in one of these regions when the sun is shining, and turn to other destinations in winter.
Read also : The best restaurant is French according to Tripadvisor!
Featured photo : © Davey Gravy – Unsplash
