Inflight Magazine of Brussels Airlines

Flipping great

Ben Mondy packs some trunks, goggles and fins, and smuggles himself off to some of the wildest, secluded and most stunning coastal treasures in Europe

Images Alamy, photolibrary.com, Lonely Planet

With the sun shining long and hard in the European sky, it’s time to immerse yourself in the restorative and invigorating depths of the ocean. But we don’t want you to take the easy option and search for a scrap of sand on the Costa del Sol. No, b.there! wants to show you the secret coves, stunning cliffs and secluded stretches of coast that can turn a simple day at the beach turn into an unforgettable adventure.

From hair-raising cliff jumps in Mallorca to black sand beaches in Sicily, we track down the hidden gems where you can forget everything and simply run – and swim – wild and free.

Greek Islands

When it comes to slipping into those trunks, forgetting your cares and entering the blue Mediterranean, it’s hard to find a better location than the Greek Islands. With over 6,000 islands and islets, and many more beaches, if you can’t find somewhere here for a salt-water fix, you may as well move to central Australia.

The trick is finding the hidden gems that offer a tantalising mix of scenery, seclusion and a few of life’s necessities – fresh food, good coffee and cold, cold beverages. Navagio Beach, also known as Smugglers’ Cove, on Zakynthos, is perhaps one of the best and shares the unusual accolade of being one of the most photographed and isolated beaches in Greece. Accessible only by boat, the white beach features lush green waters, a shipwreck and the chance to swim with turtles.

If you really want to explore the Greek Islands by water, what about a six-day swim adventure through the smaller Cyclades Islands? SwimTrek (swimtrek. com) offers a week of island-hopping swims between the six islands with an escort. You’ll cross stunning stretches of open water, swim under sheer cliffs and visit secluded beaches, all in the shadow of Mount Zeus.

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Barcelona

While the nightlife, food, architecture and cultural heritage of Barcelona have made it one of the most vibrant cities in the world, it’s sometimes forgotten that its location on the north-east coast of the Mediterranean offers some special coastal gems, too. Only an hour’s drive north, the magical scenery of the Costa Brava, with its shallow aquamarine waters, amazing forests, white beaches and rocky crags, offers the ocean-lover everything they could want and more.

North past the popular beaches and bars of Platja d’Aro, Palomos and Platja Gran, the off-the-beaten-track pick would be Cala Estreta. Here you’ll find a white sandy beach closed off by a pine forest and, especially during the week, a chance to escape the bustle of Barcelona’s riches.

For the adventurous, we advise a swim around the rocks between the two sandy bays. You should find an abundance of (non-bitey) sea creatures both above and below the water, and incredible views of this stunning part of the Mediterranean. Finish off with a beachside glass of wine and a picnic hamper, before a leisurely drive back to Barcelona’s myriad delights.

Fly to Barcelona with Brussels Airlines from just €99 return, all in.

Palma de Mallorca

The Balearic Islands conjure images of sunny days, salt drying on browning backs and crystal-clear waters. When you add the restrained pace and rugged beauty of Mallorca, it adds up to a beach-lover’s paradise.

On the southern tip of Palma Bay’s western shore near Portals Vells are virtually private coves and sandy beaches, while the rocky cliffs are woven in the fabric of local legend.

And if a swimsuit seems too much of a burden, why not head to Cala Mago, the only official nudist beach near Palma?

Alternatively, and with pants firmly in place, a swim on the offshore island of Cabrera is a must. Leaving from the port of Colònia de Sant Jordi, the hour-long boat ride takes you to the stunning beach, while the return trip takes in a dip at Cova Blava (‘Blue Grotto’), a small cave where the light filters up through aquamarine waters, creating a spectral, gem-like luminosity.

For those who find spectral-lit cave diving a little dull, there’s coastering – trekking, climbing, cliff diving, swimming, diving, snorkelling and absailing – around Mallorca’s rocky cliffs. MondoAventura (mondaventura. com) specialises in day trips.

Fly to Palma de Mallorca with Brussels Airlines from just €99 return, all in.

Sicily

For an ocean experience with a difference, you can’t go past Spiaggia Sabbie Nere (‘Black Sands Beach’). This beach, on the Aeolian island of Vulcano north-east of Sicily, is a 45-minute hydrofoil trip from Milazzo. As the name suggests, this experience isn’t about frolicking in powdery white sand, but more about the unusual jet-black grains contrasting against the beautiful calm blue waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Offshore, large black rocks emerge from the sea and reach skywards, adding to the wonderful view on offer. On the downside, the sand can become intolerably hot, especially in the middle of the day, so make sure you don’t forget your flip-flops.

Back in Sicily itself, heading west past Castellammare del Golfo, the coastline becomes rugged, rocky and, in places, spectacular. Starting from Scopello in the east or San Vito Lo Capo in the west, take a day pack and a good pair of shoes and walk through Lo Zingaro nature reserve, a 7km stretch of beaches, coves, sea stacks and grottos in the hard limestone cliffs. Oh, and take a friend – otherwise you might not see another soul all day.

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Faro

For the uninitiated, Portugal’s Algarve may summon images of endless golf courses, resort-style manicured lawns and flat sandy beaches. However, a visit to the Costa Vicentina national park on the Algarve will soon blow those misconceptions out of the water. With a swim off one of its many wild beaches, followed by a plate of just-caught bream cooked over hot coals, all thoughts of plus-fours and hedge trimmers will soon be forgotten.

The national park, convened in 1995, covers over 74,000 hectares of rolling hills, marshland, imposing cliffs, rocky coves and beaches, and boasts 750 species of flora, 12 of which are unique to this part of the world. Our pick for a truly memorable day at the beach is the relatively obscure Praia da Ingrina, a sandy beach serviced by the rolling, rugged Atlantic, a small beachside restaurant and the EN 125 road from Raposeira. The beach is about 40 minutes from Faro airport and only 15 minutes from the port of Sagres.

Fisherman, surfers and beachgoers in the know set up camp down in the small bay, where the only noise comes from the breakers and the soaring sea eagles and falcons.

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FR Drôlement beau

Parti à l’exploration des criques les plus sauvages et reculées du littoral européen, Ben Mondy a découvert de véritables trésors

Barcelone Quelques vraies perles rares jalonnent la côte nord-est de l’Espagne. À une heure au nord de Barcelone, vous trouverez la magique Costa Brava, avec ses eaux bleu turquoise, ses plages de sable fin et ses escarpements rocheux. Notre choix hors des sentiers battus : Cala Estreta, une plage de sable blanc environnée d’une forêt de pin.

Îles grecques Si vous ne trouvez pas un coin d’eau salée en Grèce pour faire votre bonheur, nous vous conseillons alors de voyager au centre de l’Australie. La baie de Smugglers’ Cove sur l’île de Zakynthos est une des plus séduisantes plages dorées, une des plus isolées aussi, qui a l’honneur de surcroît d’être un des endroits les plus photographiés du pays. Mais pour explorer pleinement les îles, prenez un package de six jours de vacances de natation avec Swim Trek (swimtrek.com) : une découverte à la nage des plus petites îles des Cyclades.

Sicile Spiaggia Sabbie Nere est située sur l’île Eolienne de Vulcano, au large de la côte nord-est de la Sicile. Ici, le sable d’un noir d’encre contrase avec les magnifiques eaux bleues de l’archipel. Un conseil : n’oubliez pas vos tongs, le sable peut devenir insupportablement chaud. Plus près de Palerme, le littoral est découpé et rocheux. Promenez-vous dans la réserve naturelle de Lo Zingaro, une bande côtière de 7km faite de plages, de criques et de grottes.

Palma de Mallorca Les îles Baléares sont un paradis pour les amoureux des plages. À la pointe extrême sud de la côte occidentale de la Baie de Palma se trouvent les criques quasi privées de Portals Vells. Vous pouvez aussi opter pour un bain de mer au large de l’île de Cabrera ou partir en ‘coastering’ – combinaison de trekking, alpinisme, plongée des falaises, baignade, plongée sous l’eau, observation des fonds marins et escalade – autour des falaises de Mallorca. Voyez mondaventura.com.

Faro La région de l’Algarve au Portugal évoque peut-être d’emblée des images de parcours de golf et de plages infinies, mais le Parc National de Costa Vicentina bouscule ces idées préconçues. Une seule baignade le long de l’une de ses plages désertes, et les greens disparaîtront de vos pensées. Notre préférence va à Praia da Ingrina, une plage relativement méconnue.

NL Met je voeten in het zand

Ben Mondy gaat op schattenjacht! Hij ontdekt enkele van de meest ongerepte en mooiste verborgen baaien aan de Europese kust.

Barcelona Aan de noordoostkust van Spanje liggen een paar echte kustschatten verborgen. Een uur ten noorden van Barcelona ligt het magische Costa Brava met zijn marineblauwe wateren, witte stranden en rotsachtige craglaag. Wie de drukte wil ontsnappen, trekt best naar Calla Estreta, een wit zandstrand omringd door een dennenbos.

Griekse Eilanden Als je in Griekenland je gading niet vindt wat zoutwaterspots betreft, kan je even goed naar centraal Australië verhuizen. Smugglers’ Cove op Zakynthos is een toplocatie die vreemd genoeg tegelijk het meest gefotografeerde én het meest verlaten strand van het land is. Wil je de eilanden echt in al hun glorie ontdekken? Ga dan op zwemavontuur door de kleinere Cyclades Eilanden met Swim Trek (swimtrek.com).

Sicilië Spiaggia Sabbie Nere ligt op het Eolische eiland Vulcano aan de noordoostkust van Sicilië. De buitengewone inktzwarte zandstranden contrasteren er prachtig met het mooie blauwe water rond de Eolische archipel. Vergeet alleen je flipflops niet – het zand kan er ondraaglijk heet worden. Dichter bij Palermo wordt de kustlijn woester en rotsachtiger. Kies voor een wandeling door het Lo Zingaro natuurreservaat en geniet 7 km lang van tal van stranden, baaien en grotten.

Palma de Mallorca De Balearen is het paradijs op aarde voor strandliefhebbers. In het meest zuidelijke punt van de westkust van Palma Bay vind je de nagenoeg volledig verlaten baaien van Portals Vells. Daarnaast kan je ook gaan zwemmen rond het eiland Cabrera of rond de kliffen van Mallorca gaan trekken, klimmen, klifduiken, zwemmen, duiken, snorkelen of abseilen. Surf voor meer info naar mondaventura.com.

Faro De Algarve in Portugal roept traditioneel beelden op van golfterreinen en vlakke zandstranden, maar Costa Vicentina National Park zal dat beeld al snel bijstellen. Een zwempartijtje aan een van de vele ongerepte stranden, daar kan geen birdy tegenop. Het relatief weinig bekende Praia da Ingrina is een absolute aanrader.

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