Destinations & Things To Do
Isle of Harris, Scotland: The Secret Paradise That Resembles the Maldives – A Budget Travel Gem: What You Need To Know
Tuesday, July 8, 2025
For anyone with white-sand and turquoise-water dreams like the Maldives, but with a smaller budget, the Isle of Harris in Scotland may become a perfect alternative. Once a serendipitous error on a couple’s hike holiday break, this pearl is currently one of the best-kept travel secrets in all of the UK. Renamed as the “Maldives of Scotland”, this stunning destination offers all a tropical paradise offers, minus the price.
Video personalities Chris and Sam, founders of travel vlog titled The Travel Duo, shared their exhilarating find on YouTube in 2023. On a hike on Isle of Harris, a husband and wife couple stumbled upon a hidden beach boasting sparkling white sands and clear blue waters that could not help but make them compare their find to popular Maldives. Sam proclaimed, “I feel like I’ve died and gone to heaven. Honestly, it’s insane, and that water is way too good to not go in for a swim.” It is their discovery that has attracted viewers, with people getting enticed by this relatively unknown gem in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides.
The Hidden Paradise on the Isle of Harris
The beach that Chris and Sam discovered remains a secret, but it’s located on the Isle of Harris, which is part of the Outer Hebrides. The region is known for its unspoiled beauty, and its beaches rival some of the world’s most famous coastal destinations. Luskentyre Sands, for example, is regularly cited as one of the UK’s top beaches. Time Out even recognized it as one of the best beaches in the country in 2023, and it has been featured in BBC’s Castaway series, making it even more iconic.
Although Luskentyre Sands can get popular, particularly during the summer months, its remote location means you won’t have to fight for space on the sand. The total population of Harris, Lewis, and surrounding islands is just over 21,000 people, making it a peaceful destination compared to more mainstream beaches.
Another equally picturesque location in the area is Hushinish Beach, located at the end of a 12-mile road on Harris’s west coast. This secluded beach is a haven for wildlife enthusiasts, with frequent sightings of dolphins and seals, as highlighted by Visit Scotland. The beach offers stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean, making it an ideal spot for nature lovers and photographers.
Budget-Friendly Alternative to the Maldives
With Maldivian holidays costing approximately £1,700 per person per week, many travelers are opting for more budget-friendly alternatives. The beaches of Harris provide a similar, if not better, experience for a fraction of the cost. Whether you’re visiting for a weekend getaway or a longer holiday, the Isle of Harris offers the perfect mix of natural beauty, serenity, and adventure.
The Isle of Harris, and the wider Outer Hebrides, have long been known for their rugged landscapes, rich history, and welcoming communities. Now, thanks to Chris and Sam’s viral video, more travelers are realizing that these beautiful islands are not just for the adventurous or nature lovers, but also for those looking for a unique beach holiday without the hefty price tag.
Quick Tip for Travelers: To make the most of your trip to Harris, be sure to pack for all weather conditions. The region can be unpredictable, so bring warm layers even during the summer months, and always check the forecast before heading out for long hikes or outdoor activities.
What Makes the Isle of Harris Special for Travelers?
Apart from its stunning beaches, the Isle of Harris offers travelers an authentic, off-the-beaten-path experience. This island is home to Scotland’s famous Harris Tweed, which is woven by hand in the local community. You can visit workshops, learn about the traditional methods, and even purchase unique, handcrafted pieces as souvenirs.
The island also offers a variety of activities for adventure seekers, including hiking, wildlife watching, kayaking, and cycling. Whether you prefer exploring the island’s scenic hills or relaxing on the quiet shores, Harris is a perfect getaway for those looking for both adventure and tranquility.
For those seeking something a little more luxurious, the Isle of Harris also has boutique accommodations and cozy inns that offer a warm welcome, traditional Scottish hospitality, and stunning views of the surrounding landscapes.
A New Wave of Tourism: Impact on Local Communities
As more travelers flock to this hidden paradise, there’s an opportunity for sustainable tourism to thrive. The Isle of Harris and the Outer Hebrides rely heavily on tourism for economic growth, and responsible travel will ensure that future generations can enjoy its natural beauty. As part of their tourism efforts, local authorities encourage visitors to respect the environment by staying on marked trails and following guidelines for wildlife and beach preservation.
The increasing interest in Harris and its beaches is also a boon for the local economy, providing employment opportunities in hospitality, retail, and travel services. However, it’s important for tourists to be aware of their environmental impact and aim for eco-friendly travel options to keep the region pristine.
Bottom Line: A Hidden Gem for Budget Travelers
The Isle of Harris, featuring white sands, blue waters, and rugged majesty, is turning out to be one of the most popular, and price-competitive, beach destinations in the UK. Thanks to Chris and Sam’s discovery, travelers everywhere are starting to learn that this hidden paradise offers everything the Maldives offers—without the high price tag.
If you wish to experience a once-in-a-lifetime beach vacation with a dash of adventure and nature, Isle of Harris is a destination you cannot miss. Explore its hills, bask on its white sandy beaches, or discover animals along its shoreline and Harris promises a uniquely memorable trip that won’t break your bank.
Destinations & Things To Do
Day 70 Return to Trail at Florence Lake
12.73 Miles
From Florence lake
To PCT 859.9 8054
To Marie Lake 867, elev 10574
Climb 3999
Descend 1056
Steps 29100
Note: Because of the convenience of getting to go to scout camp and get dropped at Florence Lake, I returned to trail there. That means I skipped a good chunk of the Sierras. I’ll happily plan a future trip to cover that section!
I woke up 5:00 at scout camp. I got out of my hammock, changed into trail clothes, and packed everything into bags based upon whether I may use them on PCT. I believe my backpack already has everything I need for the PCT. At least I hope it does.
I had breakfast with the scout troop. Then I went back to camp to grab my pack. All of camp was gathered at the flag meadow for morning flags. I stopped by there to say goodbye to some staffers and everyone in our troop.
As I walked towards the parking lot, Chuck, who was giving me a ride to the trailhead, told me her wished he had it on video. Amid all the regular yells by scouts and my saying goodbye to people, I missed that the whole camp had a “Goodbye, Mr. Walker” yell. I’m glad Chuck mentioned it, as I was able to go back and say my own goodbye to the camp and thank them for their good wishes. As they are somewhat used to, my goodbye was in musical fashion from The Sound of Music. “So long, farewell, auf wiedersein, aloha!” (It was “Aloha Friday” at camp)
Chuck drove me to Florence Lake and planned a bike ride along roads around there.
The scenery on the drive over Kaiser Pass reminded me why I hike. Earlier, I had some mixed feelings about expending the effort to return to trail. The scenery changed that. I was looking forward to hiking again.
Chuck driving away from Florence Lake after dropping me off (now I’m really committed to restarting this hike)
I took the water taxi across Florence Lake with several other hikers and got to learn as little about them.
I started hiking with Jo-Jo (sp?), a recent Tufts grad doing part of the JMT with college friends. We had a nice, pleasant conversation the whole way to Muir Trail Ranch (MTR), where he was meeting his friends.
Perhaps a better question is how long until detraining hurts performance more than rest helps it.
My legs felt good on the hike to MTR, which is promising. I did a short backpacking trip last year from Florence Lake over Selden Pass. I think lots of things were not ideal on that trip (sleep, dehydration, not acclimated, heavy pack). I just remember feeling completely
exhausted on the climb to Selden Pass.
What a difference from the trip I took last year. Last year, the 3000 ft climb from Muir Trail Ranch (MTR) to Selden Pass was absolutely exhausting.
I wondered if – and hoped – this year would be better. It was much better! I had lunch at the 10k elevation but because I was exhausted or hungry, but because it was getting late and I wanted to have room for dinner in a couple hours.
I got to Marie Lake and set up camp. Nostalgia pushed me to set up my tent in the same spot as last year.
This website contains affiliate links, which means The Trek may receive a percentage of any product or service you purchase using the links in the articles or advertisements. The buyer pays the same price as they would otherwise, and your purchase helps to support The Trek’s ongoing goal to serve you quality backpacking advice and information. Thanks for your support!
To learn more, please visit the About This Site page.
Destinations & Things To Do
Discover hidden gems and local escapes with travel writer’s guide to affordable getaways
Thu, 17 Jul 2025 23:33:10 GMT (1752795190676)
Gallery – News3 v1.0.0 (common)
8fe7c22b00c9e366a571376164b6dfa78fda05c6
Fallback Presentation. Using deprecated PresentationRouter.
Destinations & Things To Do
Skydiver Felix Baumgartner Dies in a Paramotor Crash in Italy
Austrian skydiver and BASE jumper Felix Baumbartner, famous for his 2012 jump from earth’s stratosphere, was killed in a paramotoring accident on Thursday, July 17, on Italy’s Adriatic coast. He was 56.
According to local reports, Baumgartner was piloting a paramotor—an ultralight aircraft that uses a wing-like parachute—when he crashed into a hotel pool in the town of Porto Sant’Elpidio, 170 miles northeast of Rome. The impact injured a hotel employee, local reports said.
The town’s mayor announced the accident on social media, and lamented the loss of Baunbartner.
“Our community is deeply affected by the tragic disappearance of Felix Baumgartner, a figure of global prominence, a symbol of courage and passion for extreme flight,” Massimiliano Ciarpella, said in a social media post.
Baumgartner’s longtime sponsor, Red Bull, confirmed the news in a statement on its website.
We are shocked and overwhelmed with sadness to hear the devastating news of our longtime friend Felix Baumgartner.
Felix was “born to fly” and was determined to push the limits. He was also smart, professional, thorough and meticulous, never leaving anything to chance. He was generous, giving much of his time to help and inspired so many people.
We remember Felix as a lovely person, devoted to his family and friends, to whom we send our heartfelt sympathy.
A Skydiving Icon Who Pushed the Limits
Baumgartner rose to fame as a skydiver and BASE jumper in the nineties and early aughts by attempting record-breaking jumps from prominent landmarks. In 1999, he jumped from the Petronas Towers in Malaysia—a world record at the time—and shortly thereafter BASE jumped from the Christ the Redeemer statue overlooking Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
He recorded other jumps that garnered attention—BASE jumping from France’s Millau Viaduct and from the Turning Torso building in Sweden.
“I was always looking for goals that no one had accomplished before, because even if you hurt yourself, you would’ve done something outstanding and unique,” Baumgartner said in a statement published to the Red Bull website. “So sometimes you really have to hurt yourself, you have to go through fire, but at least it should be worth it.”
Baumgartner garnered international fame in 2012 when his world-record jump from the edge of the Earth’s atmosphere was beamed live across the world. The stunt was titled Red Bull Stratos.
In a 2012 story, Outside estimated the cost of the project to be $65 million.
Baumgartner flew to the edge of space in a capsule that was pulled upward by a stratospheric balloon. When the pod reached an elevation of 128,100 feet above the ground, Baumgartner opened the door and stepped onto the ledge, wearing a pressurized safety suit.
He then dropped, falling for 4 minutes and 19 seconds. During his fall he reached a top speed of 834.5 miles-per-hour. His jump set a score of new records: highest manned ballon flight, highest altitude jump, and fastest human flight without engine power.
The livestream of his feat attracted 9.5 million viewers on YouTube.
But the fall was no cake walk—after a minute into his flight, Baumgartner began to spin violently. The motion could have caused him to lose consciousness, but Baumgartner managed to stabilize himself.
Eventually, his parachutes deployed, and he floated to safety near Roswell, New Mexico.
After the stunt, Baumgartner told Outside that the heightened media attention increased the pressure on him to get every detail right.
“The development took so much longer because we had to build a flying TV studio for live transmission, and, of course, if there is a camera in my face all the time, it’s not making my life easier,” he said.
When asked about his next daredevil stunt, Baumgartner told the reporters on the ground that Red Bull Stratos was his last.
“I am officially retired from the daredevil business,” he said.
-
The Travel Revolution of Our Era3 weeks ago
‘AI is undeniably reshaping the core structure of the hospitality ecosystem’: Venu G Somineni
-
Brand Stories7 days ago
The Smart Way to Stay: How CheQin.AI Is Flipping Hotel Booking in Your Favor
-
Mergers & Acquisitions6 days ago
How Elon Musk’s rogue Grok chatbot became a cautionary AI tale
-
Brand Stories2 weeks ago
Voice AI Startup ElevenLabs Plans to Add Hubs Around the World
-
Mergers & Acquisitions1 week ago
Amazon weighs further investment in Anthropic to deepen AI alliance
-
Asia Travel Pulse2 weeks ago
Looking For Adventure In Asia? Here Are 7 Epic Destinations You Need To Experience At Least Once – Zee News
-
AI in Travel2 weeks ago
‘Will AI take my job?’ A trip to a Beijing fortune-telling bar to see what lies ahead | China
-
Mergers & Acquisitions1 week ago
UK crime agency arrests 4 people over cyber attacks on retailers
-
Mergers & Acquisitions2 weeks ago
ChatGPT — the last of the great romantics
-
Mergers & Acquisitions1 week ago
EU pushes ahead with AI code of practice
You must be logged in to post a comment Login