8 Epic Trips In South Europe And The Med

From a luxury rail journey to an unforgettable journey hiking the Camino de Santiago, you’ll never run out of adventures. Here are 8 amazing trips to experience the best of the Med and Southern Europe.

1. Europe by luxury train

an elegant suite aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, A Belmond Train — An opulent suite aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, A Belmond Train. (Image: Helen Cathcart)

To travel on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, A Belmond Train, is to relive the golden age of rail travel, but even more luxurious than before. Its 17 ravishingly restored carriages, each with their own story to tell, house opulent suites and cosy heritage cabins lined with exquisite marquetry. Plush dining cars feature original Lalique glass panels and lacquered Chinoiserie walls, while the famous bar sports a grand piano. But it’s the glamorous fellow travellers and disarmingly charming waiters and stewards who bring the experience to theatrical life, serving Champagne and caviar upon boarding, three-course lunches and dinners as you pass through cinematic European landscapes, and cocktails until the last guest goes to bed. Most journeys are one night, to and from fabled cities like Paris, Venice, Budapest, Vienna and Prague. The ultimate journey: five nights from Paris to Istanbul, or vice-versa.

2. Island-hop the Mediterranean

a church on the top of the hill in Milos, Greece — Embark on a Greek odyssey. (Image: Getty/borchee)

Cruising is a magical way to go island-hopping around the Mediterranean. It’s also a great way to gain your bearings. A  Journey of Sunsets in the Cyclades and Bosphorus with Explora Journeys is bookended by overnight stays in Istanbul and Venice. Wander around the whitewashed village of Mykonos. Drop into the sacred isle of Delos. Climb to the top of the hill in Plaka to enjoy sunset views over the Cyclades. And bask in the days at sea in between.

3. Hiking the Dolomites

a woman hiking in Dolomites mountains — Hike the Dolomites. (Image: Getty/Oleh Slobodeniuk)

There are many beautiful hiking trails in the boot of Italy, but few are less trodden than the Cammino Retico – so far. Billed as one of Italy’s best new slow travel options, the 170-kilometre-long circuit in the country’s north-east is gaining attention for its stunning mountain landscape and points of interest including Neanderthal fossil grounds and a century-old brewery. Not keen on going the full distance? Check out its just-opened sibling trail, the 80-kilometre Cammino Retico Southern.

4. The Caucasus region

an ancient cavecity in Georgia — Visit an ancient cave city in Georgia.

The Caucasus region is no stranger to visitors as it has facilitated cultural exchanges for centuries on the ancient Silk Road network. Visit the countries where Asia and Europe meet and you’ll find wineries, mountains, monasteries and more. Drink in that rich history with operators like Wendy Wu Tours, which has curated a detailed Georgia, Armenia & Azerbaijan tour. The 24-day adventure begins in Baku, the glittering capital of Azerbaijan, and includes highlights such as a lunch at a family-run winery, a visit to an ancient cave city in Georgia and a masterclass in carving Armenian khachkar (stone).

5. A tour of Türkiye

Cappadocia’s cave cities, Turkiye — Cappadocia’s cave houses are in the heart of Anatolia. (Image: Getty/ galitskaya)

If you source your travel inspo from Insta, you might think Türkiye’s main calling cards are the hot-air balloons of Cappadocia. But the nation at the crossroads of civilisations for millennia has long been a captivating place to visit for its art, history and architecture. Wander through Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia, visit Byzantine basilicas and Ottoman palaces, and Cappadocia’s cave cities on Limelight Arts Travel’s 16-day Türkiye: Crossroads of Cultures tour led by trusted scholar Dr Helen Pope.

6. Walk the Camino de Santiago

a woman with a backpack walking on the Camino de Santiago — Slow down on the Camino de Santiago. (Image: Getty/Vuk Saric)

Pilgrims have been tracing the Camino de Santiago path from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, France to Santiago de Compostela, Spain for centuries. Those who have had a long-held dream of walking the entire 770-800 kilometres can now do so with UTracks at a more relaxed pace. The extended 58-day format of the Camino Rambler tour invites walkers to complete the route with more time along the trail to explore.

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7. Cruise the Douro River

boats passing along the Douro River — Wind and wine along the Douro River. (Image: Lauren de Sousa)

It’s said the Douro River was derived from the Portuguese word dourado, or golden, for the way the sun pours honey over the waterway. Honey lingers on the palate with Porto wine, too. And you can taste this forward flavour on river cruises with AmaWaterways, Tauck and Avalon Waterways, which include visits to celebrated cellar doors and tutored tastings onboard while sailing through the heart of Portugal’s wine region.

8. The Mediterranean island of Malta

diving into Ta' Marija Cave, Malta — Dive into the pristine waters of Ta’ Marija Cave.

If you took the most fascinating threads of world cultures and braided them all together, you’d end up with a place like Malta. This small Mediterranean island in the maritime crossroads of Europe and Africa holds layers of history: mysterious Megalithic temples that outdate the Pyramids; medieval citadels shaped by Arabic influence; Renaissance architecture housing masterpiece artworks; and 19th-century shipwrecks sunken off the coast, such an attraction for divers that they’re complemented by underwater sculptures like Christ of the Sailors. Making your way around the island is like playing a highlights reel of the past 6000 years.

the Christ of the Sailors underwater statue — The underwater statue of Christ of the Sailors. (Image: Visit Malta)

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

8 grand journeys in Southern Europe and the Mediterranean