This post is also available in: Ελληνικά (Greek)
Flower tourism comes into its own as the air warms. If you’re passionate about petals then head to fields full of colour and scent, trees weighed down with blossom and even the unusual bloom of the lentil, by following Leading online travel agent Opodo‘s top tips for the year ahead.
Check out today’s best deals, too, on return flights for your culture fix. Particular deals are available for Opodo Prime members as indicated. Opodo Prime is accessible via the web or a cutting-edge, consumer-friendly App, and the only online travel agent subscription service in the UK, unlocking membership deals that offer the lowest prices without surprises for just £59.99 a year.
Japan for Sakura – cherry blossom – late March, April
World-renowned and a magnet for tourism, Japan creates each year a special map predicting the cherry tree blossoming dates for each area of the country. Locals will celebrate with festivals, picnics and parties under the trees – Hanami or, literally, ‘admiring the flowers – in a tradition that stretches back 1300 years. The blossom symbolizes birth and happiness, but also the transience of life. Best viewing spots include Hanamiyama Park in Fukushima, Mount Yoshino with its 30,000 trees, and Tokyo’s Ueno Park, one of the oldest public parks in Japan.
Fly from London to Tokyo from £1,177 per person (26th March – 3rd April 2023)
*Price correct as of 06.03.23 and inclusive of tax and service charge
The magical Hallerbos Forest, Flanders, for bluebells – second half of April
For lovers of nature and fairy-tale landscapes, head 15 km from Brussels to this ancient beech forest which transforms into a blue-purple haze thanks to the flowering of the carpet of bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta). With spring light filtering through branches just beginning to bud, the forest is most enchanting early and late in the day, and there is no shortage of animal species, including deer, foxes, squirrels, wild hares and more than 100 different species of birds.
Fly from London to Brussels from £100 per person (20th – 23rd April 2023)
*Price correct as of 06.03.23 and inclusive of tax and service charge
Castelluccio di Norcia for the blooming of lentils – late May to mid-July
In Umbria, Castelluccio di Norcia, flower lovers can admire one of the most colourful and unusual blooms in the world. Namely, the flowering of lentils. Here, 1400 meters above sea level and in the heart of the Sibillini Mountains, a particularly prized type of lentil is cultivated. Moreover, during the flowering period, it offers a spectacle of white and blue flowers. Specifically, the event is called La Fiorita del Pian Grande di Castelluccio. Fields are also full of daffodils, poppies, daisies, tulips, and orchids. As a result, the blooms create a tapestry of colour. Moreover, they form in shades ranging from yellow to ochre to green and purple. The peak of this event is between late June and early July.
Fly from London to Perugia from £215 per person (25th – 29th June 2023)
*Price correct as of 06.03.23 and inclusive of tax and service charge
Buenos Aires for the flowering of the Jacaranda – November
Argentina’s capital city boasts more than 15,000 specimens of the city’s iconic subtropical tree. Everyone’s favourite, jacarandas give purple hues to the cityscape in November each year. The blossoms – small, bell-shaped flowers – burst suddenly, giving the city a touch of violet-celestial colour. Thus creating, at the end of the season, a huge purple carpet underfoot. The best places in the city to admire the bloom are Tres de Febrero Park, the Plaza de Mayo, Avenidas Roque Saenz Peña and Julio Argentino Roca, Plaza San Martin in the Retiro area, Plaza Francia, Plaza Italia, Plaza Alemania and Plaza Congreso.
Fly from London to Buenos Aires from £882 per person (13th – 21st November 2023)
*Price correct as of 06.03.23 and inclusive of tax and service charge
For more travel news, tips and inspiration, follow Flying Fork Tales on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and TikTok or subscribe to get new posts straight to your inbox.
No Comments