Travel
Greatest seashores in Malawi – Lonely Planet
Secure, reasonably priced and completely pleasurable, Malawi – dubbed the Heat Coronary heart of Africa – has lengthy been a favourite chillout vacation spot for vacationers crossing between jap and southern Africa.
It’s technically a landlocked nation, however its hottest attraction and dominant geographic function is Lake Malawi, which runs for an unbelievable 560km (350miles) by means of the Rift Valley ground, alongside the border with Mozambique.
Often known as the Lake of Stars, this huge inland ocean is famend for its picturesque palm- and baobab-lined seashores and welcoming waterside villages, the place vacationers can swim, kayak, canoe, snorkel, dive or simply benefit from the lush tropical African surroundings and relaxed firm over a relaxing Carlsberg “Green.” Listed here are eight of the very best seashores and resort villages in Malawi.
1. Nkhata Bay
It is arduous to think about a extra likable city than Nkhata Bay. The setting alone is magnificent, comprising a pair of sandy bays and a slender woody peninsula hemmed in by the forested slopes of the Rift Valley.
However this laid-back resort village additionally stands out for its built-in backpacker-friendly beach scene, the place the native Tonga individuals and a cosmopolitan array of globetrotters social gathering, play seashore volleyball and usually hang around. Nkhata Bay additionally has loads of attraction to energetic vacationers as a base for strolling, kayaking and diving programs.
2. Chembe (Cape Maclear)
Nkhata Bay’s southern counterpart, the smaller village of Chembe is most sometimes called Cape Maclear, the title of the hilly peninsula on whose northwestern tip it stands. A low-rise city enclave inside Lake Malawi National Park, the village has an attractive location, strung alongside a palm-lined seashore that’s lapped by translucent green-blue water and faces an archipelago of spectacular boulder-strewn islands.
As with Nkhata Bay, Chembe is a straightforward place to burn up time, whether or not you’re into hanging out on the seashore and within the bars or taking part in additional energetic pursuits, comparable to kayaking and snorkeling. Its western orientation additionally means Chembe is without doubt one of the few seashore resorts in Malawi the place you possibly can watch the sundown over the lake silhouette these evocatively formed offshore boulders.
Detour: Chembe is surrounded by Lake Malawi Nationwide Park, which is inscribed as a Unesco World Heritage Website on account of its variety of endemic cichlids. Snorkeling off Otter Level, a 2km (1.2-mile) stroll southwest of Chembe, you possibly can anticipate to see quite a lot of these colourful fish, and presumably additionally spotted-necked otters. Terrestrial wildlife you would possibly encounter on the stroll to Otter Level consists of baboons, rock hyraxes and klipspringers.
3. Kande Seaside
Each bit as scrumptious as its title sounds, Kande Beach has been seducing backpackers and overlanders into staying on for one more day, or week, or month, because it opened in 1993.
Proprietor-managed by the identical relaxed former overland truck driver for all these years, Kande is sort of merely a terrific place to hang around, whether or not it’s for the sun-bleached seashore, the sociable bar, the on-site scuba store or a smorgasbord of different actions that features canoeing, windsurfing and village excursions.
4. Likoma Island
Set inside Mozambican waters, Likoma is territorially a part of Malawi, thanks largely to the historic quirk of getting been chosen as the location of an anti-slaving Anglican mission within the 1860s.
The island boasts a wonderful setting under the mountainous Mozambican shore, whereas a handful of idyllic resorts is headed up by Kaya Mawa (actually “Possibly Tomorrow”), an unique fly-in retreat whose imperiously chilled vibe provides the final phrase in “barefoot luxurious.”
Likoma’s seashores are pretty certainly, however a big a part of this baobab-studded backwater’s attraction lies in a sleepy time-warped environment amplified by the remoteness from the remainder of Malawi. The island’s most essential historic landmark is the immense Anglican Cathedral of St Peter, which was inbuilt 1911.
Planning Tip: Except you fly to Likoma, the one solution to get there from elsewhere in Malawi is on the MV Ilala, a weekly ferry service that stops on the island on each its northbound and southbound legs.
5. Chizumulu Island
If Likoma sounds a bit too hustle-bustle to your tastes, there’s at all times Chizumulu, a smaller and much more unaffected island located 10km (6 miles) to the west.
Right here, a solitary backpacker-friendly lodge combines an idyllic seashore location and soporific time-stood-still really feel with a terrific choice of actions, together with paddling, snorkeling and village walks.
6. Mumbo Island
This small rocky island in Lake Malawi Nationwide Park is occupied by an eponymous lodge that mixes eco-friendly rusticity (it’s constructed and adorned fully with pure or recyclable supplies) with an aesthetic boutique sensibility.
Kayaking, swimming and snorkeling within the crystal clear waters of Mumbo’s boulder-strewn shores is an utter delight, or you possibly can simply relax in a hammock, protecting a watch open for the island’s resident otters as they scamper alongside the rocks or bob within the water.
Planning Tip: For energetic vacationers, a preferred solution to attain Mumbo Island is to kayak 10km (6 miles) northwest throughout Lake Malawi from Cape Maclear.
7. Chitimba
One in every of Lake Malawi’s most northerly seashores, Chitimba stands in a slender stretch of the Rift Valley, flanked by imposing escarpments that rise 1km (0.6 miles) above the lakeshore.
In contrast to established backpacker haunts comparable to Cape Maclear and Nkhata Bay, there isn’t any journey scene at Chitimba, simply a few laid-back resorts set on a blissful white seashore that runs south from the Manchewe River mouth. Excellent for many who wish to get pleasure from a couple of days of peace and quiet, Chitimba can also be a helpful springboard for journey elsewhere within the comparatively undeveloped far north of Malawi.
Detour: Perched on the precipitous escarpment above Chitimba, Livingstonia was based in 1894 as a Scottish mission that Hastings Banda, the primary president of impartial Malawi, would later describe because the “seedbed” of his liberation social gathering.
The street to Livingstonia, traversing 20 tight hairpin bends because it good points 700m (2296ft) in altitude, is without doubt one of the most spectacular on this a part of Africa, whether or not you choose to hike there from Chitimba or look forward to erratic public transport. En route, you possibly can divert to the forest-fringed Manchewe Falls, which plummet over the escarpment in a single 125m (410ft) drop.
8. Senga Bay
Because the closest seashore resort to the capital Lilongwe, Senga Bay has emerged as a preferred weekend retreat and convention venue. Lodging right here tends to be comparatively upmarket and formal, and it’s too scattered to have coalesced into the form of journey neighborhood related to Nkhata Bay or Cape Maclear.
Regardless of this, Senga Bay’s lengthy, sandy seashore seldom disappoints, and there’s at all times loads of exercise occurring across the local fishing villages. An important place to start out or finish a fly-in journey to Malawi, or for enterprise vacationers in search of an in a single day break from Lilongwe.
Detour: If you wish to see wildlife within the neighborhood of Senga Bay, there are two choices. Giraffes, zebras and varied antelope inhabit the well-organized Kuti Wildlife Reserve, a rehabilitated ranch that may be explored alongside a community of drivable tracks and bikeable footpaths. Thuma Forest Reserve is much less developed, however guided walks can be found and resident wildlife consists of leopards, elephants and buffalo.
Trustees of the British MuseumThe primary go to of Hawaiian royals to London two centuries in the past will characteristic in a brand new exhibit on the British Museum.
Hawai’i: A Kingdom Crossing Oceans is a “dazzling celebration of the wealthy artistry of Hawaiian makers, previous current and future”, based on the museum.
The exhibition, which opens in January, will commemorate greater than 200 years for the reason that go to of Hawaiian King Liholiho and Queen Kamāmalu to London in 1824 when the royal delegation have been searching for an alliance and safety from the Crown.
This journey to the capital included a go to to the British Museum – the primary file of Native Hawaiian royals on the museum.
Royal Assortment Enterprises LtdThe exhibition will characteristic round 150 objects and artworks together with many by no means seen within the UK.
Among the many highlights is an ahu ʻula, a feathered cloak despatched in 1810 by the primary king of unified Hawaiʻi, Kamehameha I, to King George III.
Lent by King Charles III from the Royal Assortment, the cloak will probably be on show for the primary time in over 100 years, alongside the Hawaiian king’s authentic letter requesting assist and safety from the British Crown.
Trustees of the British MuseumGuests to the museum will probably be greeted on the steps of the Nice Courtroom by a nine-foot (2.7m) picture of the god Kū, the god of warfare and governance, dressed with a recent loincloth and standing atop a pole rediscovered inside a historic plinth.
A finely carved drum accompanied by an historic chant recounting early Polynesian migrations to Hawaii will characteristic alongside a bowl with determine, not too long ago returned from mortgage to Hawaii’s Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, that represents actions of individuals and objects between the Pacific and the UK.
The Anglo-Franco proclamation of 1843, on mortgage from The Nationwide Archives, highlights the UK and France’s formal recognition of Hawaii’s independence and emphasises diplomatic bonds between the nations.
Trustees of the British MuseumThe creation of the exhibition concerned “the meticulous conservation of ancestral treasures and the inclusion of ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (the Hawaiian language) all through the area”, the British Museum mentioned.
Dr Alice Christophe, head of Oceania on the museum, mentioned the exhibit is a tribute to Native Hawaiian makers, previous and current.
She added: “It tells the story of the deep and layered relationship between Hawaii and the UK, reflecting on care, sovereignty and the complexity of allyship.
“We hope this present will spark conversations and uplift folks within the archipelago and past.”
The exhibition will run from 15 January to 25 May 2026.
France is a rustic steeped in historical past, and nowhere is that this extra evident than its fantastically preserved medieval cities.
From Alsace’s timber-framed homes to Provence’s dramatic hilltop villages.
These cities permit guests to step again in time, wander cobblestone streets, marvel at historical structure, and expertise the appeal of bygone eras.
On this listing, we’ve gathered 20 of the best-preserved medieval cities in France that you simply completely should see.
20 Greatest Medieval Cities in France To Go to
Scroll down to find the 20 finest medieval cities in France that needs to be on each historical past buff and tradition fanatic’s bucket listing!
1. Riquewihr, Alsace
Riquewihr is a picturesque village in Alsace typically described as some of the lovely in France.
Its well-preserved Sixteenth-century structure, with colourful half-timbered homes lining slender cobblestone streets, makes it really feel like stepping right into a fairy story.
Guests ought to come right here to expertise the distinctive Alsatian tradition, discover the encircling vineyards, and style the area’s well-known wines.
Don’t miss the Dolder Tower, a Thirteenth-century defensive gate, or wine cellars providing tastings. The Alsace villages are among the most picturesque places in France.
2. Eguisheim, Alsace
Eguisheim, a cute fairytale town in France, is thought for its concentric round format and vibrant floral shows.
The city’s magnificence lies in its colourful medieval homes, charming central sq., and surrounding vineyards.
Guests will take pleasure in strolling by the slender streets, visiting the Chapel of St. Leo IX, and mountain climbing the close by Three Castles path.
The city can also be well-known for its storks, which nest on rooftops throughout summer time.
3. Rocamadour, Occitanie
One in all France’s most unique towns is Rocamadour, a vertical village dramatically constructed into the face of a cliff. Its beautiful location and spiritual significance make it a must-visit place that needs to be in your France bucket list.
The city is dwelling to a number of vital spiritual websites, together with the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Guests can climb the Grand Escalier (Nice Staircase) to the château on the prime, which gives breathtaking views of the Alzou Canyon.
4. Sarlat-la-Canéda, Dordogne
Sarlat is without doubt one of the best-preserved medieval cities in France, well-known for its golden stone buildings and gastronomic delights.
Guests ought to come right here to wander the labyrinthine streets, discover the bustling market, and take pleasure in native specialties like foie gras and truffles.
Don’t miss the panoramic view from the highest of the Sainte-Marie church tower or a go to to the Manoir de Gisson.
5. Dinan, Brittany
Dinan is a walled city recognized for its spectacular ramparts, half-timbered homes, and picturesque port.
Guests will love strolling alongside the previous metropolis partitions, exploring the quaint Rue du Jerzual, and having fun with a meal at one of many cafes alongside the previous port.
The city’s magnificence is enhanced by its location overlooking the Rance River. Go to the Château de Dinan and climb the Tour de l’Horloge for panoramic views.
6. Honfleur, Normandy
Honfleur, with its picturesque previous harbor and slate-covered home facades, has lengthy been a favourite topic for artists.
Guests come for the charming ambiance, maritime historical past, and glorious seafood eating places.
Key points of interest embody the wood Church of Saint Catherine, the Eugene Boudin Museum, and the gorgeous Jardin des Personnalités.
7. Perouges, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Perouges is a superbly preserved medieval walled city that appears frozen in time. Its cobbled streets and stone homes make it a preferred movie location.
Guests ought to expertise life in a Fifteenth-century city, style the native specialty “galette de Pérouges,” and benefit from the peaceable ambiance. Don’t miss the central Place du Tilleul or the Eglise-Forteresse.
8. Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, Occitanie
Perched excessive above the Lot River, Saint-Cirq-Lapopie is a shocking medieval village that has impressed many artists. Its magnificence lies in its dramatic setting, Gothic facades, and slender alleyways.
Guests can discover quite a few artisan outlets, hike within the surrounding space, or take a ship journey on the Lot River. The village is especially magical within the night when the day-trippers have left.
9. Gordes, Provence
Gordes is a placing hilltop village within the Luberon area, well-known for its stone buildings cascading down the hillside.
Guests come for the breathtaking views, particularly at sundown, and to discover the encircling lavender fields and olive groves.
Key points of interest embody the Sixteenth-century château, the close by Sénanque Abbey, and the standard Tuesday market.
10. Locronan, Brittany
Locronan is a small city that has maintained its Renaissance appeal, with granite homes and an exquisite central sq..
Guests will admire the dearth of seen trendy infrastructure, making it really feel actually timeless. The city is thought for its spiritual heritage, conventional Breton festivals, and as a filming location.
Don’t miss the Church of Saint Ronan or the native artisan workshops.
11. Cordes-sur-Ciel, Occitanie
Cordes-sur-Ciel, or “Cordes within the Sky,” is aptly named for its hilltop location, typically shrouded in morning mist. This bastide city is thought for its well-preserved Gothic structure and thriving arts scene.
Guests ought to come to discover the medieval homes, go to artisan workshops, and revel in panoramic views of the countryside. The city hosts a well-known medieval competition every July.
12. Mont Saint-Michel, Normandy
Mont Saint-Michel is without doubt one of the most iconic landmarks in France, a medieval marvel that rises dramatically from the ocean.
This UNESCO World Heritage website is a small rocky island topped by a shocking abbey and surrounded by a picturesque village.
Guests are drawn by its distinctive structure, wealthy historical past, and the fascinating phenomenon of maximum tides that isolate and join it to the mainland.
Discover the winding streets, go to the magnificent abbey, and be taught concerning the website’s significance as a pilgrimage heart.
13. Minerve, Occitanie
Minerve is a small village with a dramatic historical past, perched on a rocky peninsula between two deep gorges. Guests come for its Cathar historical past, beautiful pure setting, and glorious native wines.
Discover the village’s slender streets, go to the Twelfth-century church, and be taught concerning the Cathar siege on the small museum.
14. Monpazier, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Monpazier is without doubt one of the best-preserved bastide cities in France, recognized for its excellent grid format and exquisite central sq..
Guests will admire the well-preserved medieval and Seventeenth-century structure, the lined market corridor, and the peaceable ambiance.
15. Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
Moustiers-Sainte-Marie is nestled between two rocky cliffs, with a star suspended on a series between them.
The city is known for its advantageous porcelain and proximity to the Verdon Gorge – one of many best places in the French Riviera area.
Guests ought to discover the slender streets, go to the Notre Dame de Beauvoir chapel perched above the city, and store for native ceramics.
16. Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert, Occitanie
Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert is a serene medieval village tucked right into a dramatic gorge on the pilgrim path to Santiago de Compostela.
Its UNESCO-listed Gellone Abbey, with its exceptional Romanesque structure, rises above a maze of slender streets and stone homes.
Don’t miss the abbey’s lovely cloister, the Place de la Liberté with its historical elm tree, or the satan’s bridge spanning the gorge.
17. Conques, Occitanie
Conques is a jewel of Romanesque artwork nestled in a wooded gorge in Occitanie.
Its magnificent Abbey Church of Saint Foy, with its intricate tympanum and golden reliquary, has drawn pilgrims for hundreds of years alongside the Santiago de Compostela route.
Don’t miss the treasury’s medieval goldsmith assortment, the carved capitals within the cloister, or the sundown view from the Bancarel viewpoint.
18. Najac, Occitanie
Najac is a shocking medieval fortress city perched dramatically alongside a single ridge excessive above the Aveyron River.
Its majestic Thirteenth-century royal fortress stands on the highest level, whereas the village’s stone and half-timbered homes stretch alongside the ridge in a novel linear format.
Don’t miss the Gothic church of Saint-Jean with its uncommon fortified options, the panoramic views from the fortress hold, or the traditional lined market corridor the place native farmers promote their produce.
19. Vézelay, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
Vézelay is a hilltop village in Burgundy topped by its magnificent Basilica of Saint Mary Magdalene.
This UNESCO World Heritage website rises majestically above the Remedy Valley, its golden stone glowing within the sundown whereas its medieval streets are lined with historic homes and ramparts.
Don’t miss the spectacular views over the Burgundian countryside, or the home the place Jules Roy lived, now a literature museum.
20. Saint-Paul-de-Vence, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
Saint-Paul-de-Vence is a remarkably preserved medieval city perched on a hilltop close to Good, remodeled into an inventive haven within the twentieth century.
Its large medieval ramparts encircle slender cobblestone streets lined with elegant stone homes, whereas up to date artwork galleries and boutiques occupy historical buildings.
Remaining Ideas on The Greatest French Medieval Cities
Exploring France’s medieval cities is like stepping right into a residing historical past e-book.
Every village gives a novel glimpse into the nation’s wealthy previous, well-preserved structure, and timeless appeal.
From the long-lasting Mont Saint-Michel to the lesser-known gems like Perouges, these cities present unforgettable experiences for historical past lovers, tradition lovers, and informal vacationers alike.
Able to plan your trip in France? Use our complete France Travel Guide to make sure you don’t miss any of the unbelievable locations.
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