Chasing the world's prettiest flowers

Gardens of the Northern Hemisphere explode with color as spring unfolds, and Chinese tourists are eager to discover

As weather warms up, many have taken time off to get away and feel the spring in the air, especially blossoms.

Destinations in the Northern Hemisphere, such as Europe and America, will all look their best at this time of year. Moreover, cheaper flights and national holidays in April and May have also encouraged many travelers to plan trips outside the mainland.

"Most of our blossom trips abroad have enjoyed good sales," says Li Mengran of Beijing Utour International Travel Service Co, a major outbound tourism operator.

Utour launched dozens of flower-themed travel products in mid February.

They feature sakura (cherry) in Japan, tulips in Netherlands, Claude Monet's Garden in France, camellias in Switzerland and oriental cherries in Germany's Bonn.

The Dutch and Japanese tours have witnessed the best bookings so far, according to Li.

"Half of trips to those two destinations have been fully booked till May," she says.

In addition to flowers, local in-depth experiences, various outdoors activities, including cycling and watching live sports shows, have been arranged to spice up visitor's experiences.

Utour has added tours that include Michelin dining, a Kyoto kimono experience and the Sagano Romantic Train in Japan. The 25-minute train ride follows the course of the Hozu River on a narrow-gauge track through an idyllic canyon. In the Netherlands, cycling through fields in full bloom, a fresh flower auction and riding a vintage steam train through villages filled with flowers are also on the itinerary for April and May travelers.

It's also an ideal time to avoid crowds, to travel and enjoy flowers before the peak tourism period, when summer vacations start in June.

You don't have to rough it to enjoy nature.

HHtravel, the high-end branch of China's biggest online travel agency Ctrip, has rolled out blossom trips with luxury arrangements all around the globe.

In Bulgaria, a land of idyllic beauty in the Balkan region, the travel agency arranges for visitors to experience the annual local rose festival on the first Monday in June. Tourists can enjoy various activities, such as rose-picking, a parade and voting for the rose queen. It's a great way to feel the country's distinctive charm and traditions in a festive atmosphere.

At Kazanlak Rose Valley, roses of different varieties, shapes and colors are a visual spectacle. A special rose-themed lunch will be served at a local wine cellar. Visitors can also get local rose water and see how essential oils are made at a distillation workshop and enjoy rose-petal bath salts.

Local world culture heritages including Rila Monastery and the Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak, a brick-vaulted "beehive" burial chamber, are also places travelers shouldn't miss.

Romania has been added on the trip and tourists can take in legendary vampire-related sites and an ancient castle.

Bulgaria and Romania now offer those with multi-entry Schengen visas free access to their country.

Distinctive hotels are a highlight in France when tourists visit the countryside to see the immense fields of spiky lavender.

In Provence, the lavender season continues from June to August. The fragrance is said to dispel trouble and help one find peace. In the country's southern city of Nice, the Negresco Hotel is perched on the bay and wins raves from visiting celebrities from around the world. It offers Michelin-starred dining, too.

At Lake of Sainte-Croix, accommodation can be arranged at La Bastide De Moustiers amid lavender fields and olive trees, a thorough immersion in elemental southern France.

HHtravel has set aside time for tourists to meander in the blossom sea and take pictures. In Paris, tourists can opt for the Shangri-La Hotel built on the private mansion of Napoleon Bonaparte's grandnephew to feel the royal touch.

The best time for flower viewing in the Netherlands is from late March to early May. Unlike Utour, HHtravel chooses Keukenhof as a destination, for visitors to savor the country's famous tulips. The park offers 6 million flowers of many varieties, not just tulips. Boating experiences can also be arranged. In addition, visitors can take a small airplane to get a bird's-eye view of the multicolored tulip fields. Tulip field owners can offer tour groups an introduction to local history and culture, and the Aalsmeer flower market offers a glimpse into an exciting slice of local life.

Belgium can be packaged with the Netherlands experience to add diversity to the trip. The historic town of Brugge offers elegance and leisure that are typical of old Europe.

In Asia, Japan has been chosen by the high-end travel designer for its blossom experience.

There are two blossom trips to the country. One covers Hakone, Fujiyama and Tokyo, and the other features Kyoto, Nara and Osaka.

Japan has greeted a torrent of visitors during the March and May periods when its sakura come into blossom. Private hot-spring arrangement has been made for those who want to avoid crowds. Independent courtyard-styled hot spring facility at the Mount Fuji Hakone National Park offers magnificent sakura viewing.

Kaiseki ryori, the Japanese equivalent of Western haute cuisine, and top-notch sushi will be ready to satisfy tourists' palates.

Train ride through thousands of sakura in Arashiyama, colorful blossoms at Daigoji Temple, and temple tea rituals are all highlights tucked in HHtravel's Japan blossom trip.

yangfeiyue@chinadaily.com.cn