Short haul destinations that look like long haul - your best tips?

[PolkaDotMankini]

I was thinking today about a fantastic holiday we had in China a few years ago. We visited Yangshuo and were blown away by the beautiful karst landscape.

I found out afterwards that the word karst comes from an area of Slovenia with similar topography. It also has beautiful rivers and mountains, if a bit colder than southern China!

Any other places close to home that feel like long haul destinations?

Slovenia is gorgeous

Morocco? Tunisia? Not far and feels very different from UK

Luskentyre beach on Harris. Looks like the Carribbean and is in my places to visit.

The Scottish coast always looks beautiful, but the water is freezing!

Sardinia and Corsica have Caribbean style beaches.

@MissAmbrosia beat me to it! Corsican east coast is amazing.

Luskentyre beach on Harris. Looks like the Carribbean and is in my places to visit.

It might look like it, but it doesn’t feel like it!

Iceland is probably more "medium haul" but feels like another planet!

We've just come back from Galicia in Northern Spain. The drive to Cap Finisterre. Literally the end of the earth is stunning. Doesn't feel like Spain. More like the coast of New England or Canada. And the beaches are amazing.

Does rain a lot though.

@Hobbesmanc I've just got back from there too. Utterly amazing. Bits of it felt like Jurassic park as in pristine primary forests, huge empty beaches and totally unspoilt.

Loved it. Did you go to Santiago. So beautiful. We want to go back to explore the whole coastline. Plus we got the last day in Porto over the border and that was wonderful.

Oh interesting thread! I’d have to say Morocco, Egypt for short haul.

@Hobbesmanc we walked the Camino dos faros. I was really impressed by Santiago! I didn't expect it to be so fantastic! I'd never heard of it before.

Morocco

Istanbul felt very different.

Also mount Teide in Tenerife felt like being on the moon in places.

We are recently back from Galacia too! I thought the beaches and coastline were very much like the Pembrokeshire coast! Very pretty place and no mosquitoes or wasps...cold sea though!