To ask for ideas for lush, green, forest/mountainous holiday destinations?

[Marmadukebones]

DS (14) is banging on about wanting to go somewhere where the natural beauty is off the chart. We've been thinking about South America, but it is expensive. He loves green, rugged, lush splendour! I also think he needs stuff to do. He'll get bored with amazing views.

Thoughts? For next summer. Thanks

West coast California road trip if your budget is big enough? Great for teenagers as can also do cities like San Francisco or Los Angeles plus things like whale watching and Yosemite National Park. You could vary it a bit and add on more nature stuff, like Lake Tahoe or Mammoth Lakes?

Mind you, it's not very "lush" in parts, I suppose. But it is gorgeous. It's not all Disney and film stuff, although they're there if you want them.

I did think of Costa Rica, but I guess that's where you had probably been thinking of? Think it's rainy season in the summer so might not be the bet time to go.

Swiss Alps?

Slovenia? We spend some time camping in Tolmin & swimming in the Soča river, its beautiful (& very reasonably priced!).

On a budget, recommend Eastern Slovakia. Fly to Kosice or Poprad and stay in the Tatra mountains. There's adventurous hiking, swimming lakes, water parks, amazing castles with dramatic views. Very few Brits go there unless they have a family connection, but there's lots to do and it's good for teens.

Vancouver Island!

Or Seattle area for mountains

Bali. But the middle, not the beaches.

Albania.

Ireland, particularly the west of.
Donegal would be perfect or Connemara.

Slovenia! Especially around Lake Bohinj. Loads of hiking trails, some quite wild and unspoiled, water sports, wild swimming. If he's adventurous there are incredible hang gliding sessions over the lake. At Lake Bled you can go cycling, take boats out on the lake, swim and dive. The water is jewel coloured too - Bohinj is turquoise and the river leading to it is jade. It is jaw-droppingly beautiful and still quite unspoiled.

There's also some weird and wonderful things to do - Tito's Summer Palace on Lake Bled is now a hotel. Very 1970s James Bond. You can have a drink there or go for tea in his old summer house which is covered in communist murals.

And there are castles, islands, markets, good restaurants especially around Bled.

Alps (esp good for activities)
Slovenia
Transylvania

Norway

Montenegro. Lots of hikes with views and areas of natural beauty to visit. Lake Skadar is beautiful. We loved it there, just stunning landscapes everywhere.

Honestly? Madeira. I know it has a reputation for being for older people, but it is absolutely lush, green and the steep mountainous landscapes are incredible.

Austria or southern Germany near Salzburg. So beautiful it doesn’t look real. Lakes and mountains and picture perfect villages.

I also recommend Slovenia - Lake Bled and the Soca river are mesmerizing. Lots of fun activities to do there as well. You can go caving and white-water rafting. It’s great fun!

There are plenty of places in South America, but the flights are long and expensive, and a lot of places have high crime rates. I loved Colombia, but it's a big country+ getting around was very time consuming, too much for a couple of weeks holiday imo.

Scotland - close, cheap and very underrated

Southern Germany.

Another vote for Slovenia, hands down the lushest natural beauty I've ever seen!

Scotland or Canada would be my suggestions!

Madeira maybe - might be a more budget friendly option?

This thread makes me want to visit Slovenia. Sounds amazing

Poland has beautiful areas like that and it’s cheap and ahhh I love Poland

See now I was thinking Perthshire.

As other PPs have suggested - Slovenia and Albania, the latter being blessed with the 'Accursed Mountains' no less. Plenty to keep an enquiring teen occupied.