Where to travel in May

Kedarnath | India

If connecting with nature, rejuvenation and adventure is what you're craving, then the quaint and beautiful Kedarnath nestled high in the Himalayas deserves a place on your bucket list. Surrounded by snow-capped mountains and lush woodlands, the town is best known for the Kedarnath Temple, a popular Hindu shrine that's roughly 1,200 years old.

Thousands of tourists make the scenic 16km trek from Gaurikund to Kedarnath every year, arriving at a peaceful area of natural beauty perfect for quiet meditation. If you're planning a pilgrimage this year, the temple will be open from 10th May.

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Jordan

Why Jordan? To celebrate Star Wars Day of course! May the fourth is an opportunity to revisit the trilogies, and while many Star Wars guides point first to Tunisia – which set the scene for Tatooine in the very first film – Jordan was also used for some of the saga's desert locations.

Wadi Rum was used in both Rogue One as Jedha and Episode IX as Pasaana. It was also the desert in Lawrence of Arabia and a host of other films. And while you're in Jordan you should take in the ancient city of Petra which was the set of another Harrison Ford classic, The Last Crusade.

For more details of the Star Wars sites you can visit around the world read our May the Fourth article below.

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Malmö | Sweden

Hello Europe this is Malmö calling!

Sweden is no stranger to Eurovision, having secured the most wins (joint with Ireland) since the contest began in 1956. This year the city of Malmö is hosting the event and it's a bit of a big deal because it marks 50 years since ABBA won with Waterloo. So expect the city to be abuzz with Eurovision hype. Streets, parks and clubs have all been themed around the competition, giving you somewhere to sample music, food and more from all over Europe and beyond.

There's plenty to distinguish the city outside of Eurovision too. Take the Turning Torso for example – a bizarre skyscraper that twists from top to bottom and dominates the skyline. Plus you've got the Öresund Bridge, which connects Sweden to Denmark and the rest of mainland Europe.

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Turkey

23rd May is World Turtle Day, and there's nowhere better to spot turtles close(ish) to home than on a beach holiday in Turkey.

Turkey is rising in popularity this year. It's outside the EU so no Brexit queues or hassles, but only just outside so you're there in about four hours. The Turkish lire has lost more than half its pre-lockdown value vs the pound so your holiday will be super cheap. There are hundreds of miles of riviera, served by multiple airports, so you're spoiled for choice for resorts, villages and sights.

But since we're celebrating World Turtle Day in May, let's concentrate on the turtles. They're protected, especially their nesting sites, which means you'll need to travel carefully and without disrupting the habitat. That said, with competent guides and a little caution you can expect to see turtles all over Turkey with highlights including Iztuzu Beach, Akgöl beaches near Fethiye, and Dalyan Turtle Beach.

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Tbilisi | Georgia

This often-overlooked country skirts the Black Sea and is right where Europe meets Asia. And as of this month you can get direct flights to the capital, Tbilisi, from Gatwick.

This opens up a whole new world of discovery as you immerse yourself in Georgia's unique blend of old-world charm and modern vibrancy that's quite unlike many other places in Europe you might have visited on your travels. Also if you're into your wine then you'll be delighted to learn that the country's 8,000 year's worth of winemaking expertise makes it one the best places on the planet for wine tasting. Or drinking.

If that doesn't whet your whistle then go for a soak in one of the city's sulphur baths. These are a big part of the city's history and culture – the hot springs that fuel them were discovered in the 5th century and were part of the reason the city was built here. In fact the name Tbilisi is derived from the Georgian word 'tbili' which means warm.

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Lanzarote

Lanzarote is the cool, weird sibling in the fun family of the Canary Islands. It doesn't scream of your typical beach holiday – the barren landscapes, jagged mountains and dusty roads all add up to a quite unique destination you can spend ages exploring. That's not to say you can't spend a beach holiday here if that's your bag, as long as you like your sand volcanic, your cliffs dramatic and your sea Atlantic.

The Canaries have a bit of a rep for being fly-and-flop destinations, but you'd be missing out on everything else the island's got going for it if you spent all your time at the beach. Head inland to find some of the most mind-boggling scenery you'll ever see, whether it's wind-battered cliffs, ooky spooky caves or razor-sharp gorges carved out by ancient lava flows.

Or head out to sea instead. Lanzarote is a popular spot for windsurfing – so popular in fact that professional teams from all over the world go there to train, including Team GB. We flew out there recently to meet Olympic iQFoil athlete Sam Sills, who we're sponsoring, and had a marvellous time!

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Freiburg | Germany

Freiburg is as fairy-tale as it gets. Being on the edge of the Black Forest, whose intriguing folklore inspired the Brothers Grimm, this medieval city is like a step back in time.

Flanked by forested mountains and divided by the River Dreisam, the cobbles and gables of the beautiful old town act as the perfect backdrop for Insta-worthy shots. Stop to sample the local riesling or beer, and stay to admire the charming half-timbered houses that jostle over the mini canals, or Bächle, that frame the streets. These little canals are unique to the city and date from at least the 1200s. They were originally used to provide drinking water and fight fires, but have now been repurposed for paddling and miniature boat racing. They also have the pleasant side-effect of cooling the hot summer air.

The city is also up there in terms of sustainability, which we love. Referred to by some as Europe's solar city, it has entire streets powered by the sun as well as a fully electric tram network. Some of the tracks are even completely covered in grass. These gorgeous 'lawn tracks' give new meaning to the term 'green city'.