The Guardian's Gemma Bowes has picked out her Top 20 spots around Europe for breath-taking views and deep-diving into nature.

In the article, Georgia's mountainous Svaneti region is positioned among such well-known greats as the Italian Dolomites and the highlands of Basque Country, Spain, as well as other lesser-known destinations like Montenegro, where she recommends canoeing, and the thermal pools in Slovakia. 

Bowes writes about everything a holiday-maker might be looking for in nature, from hard hikes for intrepid thrill-seekers, to softer activities for family getaways.

In a sections titled 'An Alternative to the Alps, Georgia,' Bowes states that "Hiking from village to village in the breathtaking Svaneti region of the Caucasus will make you wonder why you ever bothered with the Alps."

She goes on to claim that the food there is both "delicious and cheap, the people incredibly welcoming (plying visitors with chacha, the local hooch), and the ice-topped peaks tower above many in the Alps, exceeding 4,000 meters." 

Read The Guardian's full list of mountain and lake recommendations here.

Image source: TheGuardian