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LAVENDER FIELDS
PROVENCE, FRANCE
For a visual and olfactory rush, head to the South of France this summer. The sun-kissed region of Provence is home to more than 10,000 hectares of lavender fields, whose stunning purple blooms stretch to the horizon and fill the air with their heady perfume.
Lavender was first brought to the area by Greek traders in around 600 BC, but it was the Romans who discovered that the flower could be distilled into a valuable oil. Fast-forward to the 20th century, and perfumiers in the town of Grasse began incorporating the oil into their scents, leading to large-scale cultivation of the plant and high demand for it in perfumes, soaps, fragranced body creams and even food. Today, Provence is planted with two main types – “fine” lavender, consisting of four distinct sub-species, and lavandin, a hardier hybrid variety.
You’ll find Provence’s lavender fields in bloom between mid-June and mid-August, but to catch them at their absolute best, visit in mid-July when their purple blooms are the brightest and most fragrant.
Not surprisingly, Provence’s lavender fields are a major tourist attraction in the summer months, so if you can, try to visit them early or at dusk for a less crowded experience.
WORDS VICKY MAYER
You can visit the lavender fields of Provence on a Riverside Cruises 7-night Rhone River Roaming cruise, departing 1 July 2026, from £4,918. Other cruise lines that visit the region include Viva Cruises and Riviera Travel
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MIDNIGHT SUN NORWAY
Summer is the most amazing time to visit northern Norway. Here, well inside the Arctic Circle, the sun remains above the horizon for months at a time and the skies are a continual golden glory. Experiencing the Land of the Midnight Sun at first hand is something no one ever forgets.
Many summer cruises leave from the UK, with the best itineraries typically sailing north of the Arctic Circle where you can enjoy 24-hour daylight, glowing skies and dramatic landscapes.
The midnight sun occurs when the Earth’s axis is tilted more towards the sun, peaking during the summer solstice. At this point you can see the sun moving through the sky but it never dips completely below the horizon.
Depending on how far north you travel, the period of non-stop daylight can last from a single day to nearly five months. In the popular town of Svalbard, the midnight sun occurs for the longest period, with daylight 24 hours a day between 20 April and 22 August.
Other great places to enjoy the midnight sun in Norway include Tromso, Honningsvag and the North Cape, but the stand-out location must be the Lofoten Islands, famous for their jagged peaks, fishing villages and golden Arctic light. Here the midnight sun shines from mid-May to July, creating perfect conditions for photography and whale spotting.
WORDS VICKY MAYER
You can experience this amazing phenomenon on a Viking Into the Midnight Sun cruise, departing 22 July 2026, from £5,990. Other cruise lines that visit the area include Seabourn and Saga Cruises
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