ELLE / Summer Fun: A Dream Journey

Photos & Text / ELLE Magazine

Don’t miss these hidden gems and unique travel experiences for the second half of 2013.

PHOTO: LE MASSIF DE CHARLEVOIX, SAILING YACHT ASIA, MARSEILLE-PROVENCE 2013, THE GATHERING IRELAND

TEXT: DOMINIQUE CHIANG

Canada’s Railway Wonderland

Who could turn a traditional train ride into something as thrilling as an amusement park? The Le Massif de Charlevoix railway line in Canada, funded by Cirque du Soleil founder Daniel Gauthier, took two years to complete and officially opened at the end of last year. Stretching approximately 140 kilometers, it connects Quebec City and La Malbaie, weaving through towering mountains and along stunning blue coastlines — a truly breathtaking experience.

The route not only passes by Canada’s renowned ski resorts but also offers seasonal outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, mountain climbing, and canoeing tailored for spring, summer, autumn, and winter — perfectly catering to outdoor enthusiasts. For those preferring a more leisurely journey, the train also stops at luxury casino hotels, golf clubs... and the artistic town of Baie-Saint-Paul, where newly opened eco-lodge Hotel La Ferme welcomes travelers for a rest.

Le Massif de Charlevoix
www.lemassif.com

In addition to savoring local organic cuisine and enjoying pastoral scenery, the lodge features a top-tier spa offering full relaxation treatments for body and mind. Even if you stay on board, you can relax in the comfortable, luxurious train cars, enjoy round-the-clock gourmet meals, and take in the stunning landscapes speeding past the windows — pure bliss. Moreover, as the train passes different scenic spots, it plays unique sound cues: the tolling of church bells near ancient towns, the calls of crows and birds in natural wilderness areas… reminding you that nature itself is the greatest amusement park.

Living on a Boat, Sailing to a Hidden Paradise

Every year, travelers around the world seek out hidden, paradisiacal white-sand beaches like the one in the movie *The Beach*, where Leonardo DiCaprio finds excitement in a mysterious map. Now, as Myanmar enters a period of democratic openness, the once-remote Mergui Archipelago off its southern coast has suddenly become a shining gem on that mysterious map.

What makes the Mergui Archipelago so captivating is its hundreds of uninhabited islands scattered across the sea. Some are still home to semi-nomadic indigenous people, while others are ruled by tropical birds and wildlife. The more undeveloped they are, the more enticing they become to explore.

Sailing Yacht Asia
www.boat-yacht-charters.com

But how do you reach these secluded islands? A rising trend is to simply charter a boat or share a luxury yacht — if you can afford it. Sailing Yacht Asia, for example, offers expeditions ranging from 7 to 10 days, with customized routes that can even extend to the Indonesian archipelago. Using various vessels, they transport travelers to the islands for exploration. They also provide a range of water activities such as diving, surfing, and fishing… It’s an unforgettable experience in a Southeast Asian paradise.

Nomadic Adventure on Horseback

Recently, a viral Facebook post told the story of renowned Chinese director Jiang Wen driving a rugged vehicle loaded with supplies, taking his two sons into the Taklamakan Desert in Xinjiang to live a year of primitive nomadic life — all to teach them resilience. The post quickly gained public praise, though it was later debunked as fabricated. But the appeal of nomadic hardship journeys is indeed growing among modern adventurers.

Thanks to the legendary legacy of Genghis Khan, Mongolia has become a top destination. Some choose to push their limits by riding off-road vehicles across the Gobi Desert for an adrenaline rush, while others prefer to avoid crowded tourist spots, following the paths of traditional nomads, enduring the bumps of horseback riding, sleeping in yurts, and embracing the vast, desolate beauty of the steppe. With the rise of luxury lodges — such as the upcoming Shangri-La set to open at the end of December, the official launch of MIAT Mongolian Airlines connecting to Hong Kong, and plans to expand more Asian routes — the great grasslands are closer than ever.

Mediterranean Art Festivals

Unlike the aloofness of Paris, Marseille in the Mediterranean south of France is a city bursting with vitality. With Marseille and Provence chosen as the European Capital of Culture for 2013, the entire region has been transformed like never before, emerging as Europe’s brightest art hub this year.

A total of 90 towns joined forces to celebrate the occasion. Local governments also restored several historic museums, including the Museum of Mediterranean Civilizations, themed around Mediterranean heritage, which was recently inaugurated by French President Hollande.

Every imaginable form of art is on display: contemporary dance, music, visual arts, theater, exhibitions, street performances, forums, literature, digital art, food, and film. Any space you can think of becomes a venue: streets, museums, old ports, abandoned buildings, tobacco factories, parks... Over 500 cultural events span the entire year.

To mark the occasion, the Marseille branch of Mama Shelter boutique hotel invited design guru Philippe Starck to create a space inspired by the Mediterranean, filling it with a magical and colorful holiday atmosphere. With room rates starting at just €79 per night, it’s incredibly affordable. Don’t hesitate — Go
Marseille-Provence 2013
www.mp2013.fr

Marseille！Relax，It’s Mediterranean！

A Grand Irish Reunion

Under the banner of “The Gathering,” Ireland has decided to host the world’s largest family reunion this year, inviting 70 million people of Irish descent from around the globe to come together. This includes Irish celebrities, artists, and even politicians scattered worldwide. U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama was drawn to the event, bringing her two daughters to Ireland for a roots journey. Yes, surprisingly, Obama’s great-great-grandfather was Irish, giving him 1/32 Irish heritage. It’s quite a clever idea, isn’t it?

The Gathering
www.thegatheringireland.com

Starting with New Year’s parties, a series of Irish cultural festivities unfold throughout the year: fireworks parades, traditional riverdance performances, folk concerts, pub carnivals, and sporting events — all leading up to the year’s end. Locals even open their homes to serve as tour guides, inviting visitors worldwide to join in the celebration and revive the glory of the Celtic Tiger.

Isolated Exile

Bisevo Island in Croatia lies at the far edge of the Adriatic Sea — one of the most remote places in the entire region. Its isolation is backed by numbers: a 2011 census recorded just seven permanent residents, a figure that halves in winter when true solitude sets in.

Yet once summer arrives, the island experiences a wave of its own kind of popularity. Its remoteness and hard-to-reach location have made it a haven for travelers seeking self-imposed exile. They come here to disconnect from the modern world — turning off phones, computers, and all digital signals — to live a Robinson Crusoe-like existence, surrounded only by the sounds of wind, rain, and ocean waves. The stark contrast between the desolate winter and lively summer has become Bisevo’s unchanging rhythm over the past decade.www.elle.com.tw Get the latest first-hand insights on global fashion trends right at your fingertips.