Sometimes we have to change our altitude.

Are you yearning for mountains? What is it about them that inspires us so? What makes us admire their immensity, crave the hardships of their climb, to receive at their peak peace and answers — or the absence of questions.

In a mountain, we aren’t the protagonist. We aren’t there to be seen, but to see the world. 

If you want to avoid masses of tourists, Start Adventure has for you a bucket list of the best mountains in Europe that you don’t know yet, but that you’ll want to visit for sure.

 

1. Aiguille du Midi, the Alps

Behold the sharpest of peaks, towering over the Alps with 3,842 meters of height. It literally means ‘the needle of noon’, piercing through a crown of clouds. 

Part of the Mont Blanc massif, you can access it by cable car which travels between Aiguille du Midi and Chamonix. At the top there is a panoramic viewing platform, where you can find the famous Step into the Void: an elevator-like box with transparent walls and floor. Looking down at your feet is an adventure in itself.

It’s quite a popular sight, so we recommend that you plan your visit in the early morning, before visitors start to arrive. Another tip: check the forecast beforehand, so you don’t find yourself surrounded by an opaque wall of cloud in every direction instead of that gorgeous panoramic view.

 

2. Ushba, Georgia

We rarely hear about Georgia, be it in the news or tourist brochures… it’s a pitty, since Georgia is a dreamy place with stunning landscapes and a very interesting culture. 

This small country is situated in the Caucasus. It’s not exactly in Europe. It stands right between Europe and Asia, bathed by the Black Sea to the west and the Caspian Sea to the east. It borders Russia to the north and, to the south, Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan. 

One of the most amazing mountain peaks in the Caucasus Mountains is Mount Ushba, for its imposing double sumit.

Due to the unstable weather, it’s considered to be one of the hardest climbs in Europe, where several mountain climbers have gone missing or lost their lives. So you might want to appreciate the majestic and dramatic mountain from afar, especially when the light of the sunset lights up its nearly vertical wall.

According to the ancient mythology of Georgia, Dali, the Georgian goddess of hunting, lived in Mount Ushba. 

 

3. Serra da Estrela, Portugal

Come to Serra da Estrela in the winter to enjoy the snow from december to march. There isn’t always snow here, as permanent snow only starts at over 3000 meters of height. Still, it’s one of the most famous mountains in Portugal and also the highest ones if you exclude the Portuguese islands, 1993 meters high.

Serra da Estrela has always been the most popular destination for a snow holiday in this sunny, inviting country.

In Portuguese, serra means mountain range. You’ve probably never seen a region like this one… it’s intensely rustic. It’s rugged. The stones are rough and grey. The air is pure. The sheep’s wool is soft and pungent. The cheese bursts with flavour. The people are extremely nice. It’s beautiful here. It’s Portugal. You can see yourself living here. 

If you climb or ride to the peak of Serra da Estrela, called a Torre, or tower, do not be deceived by the two or three tower-like buildings that you find. Torre is a humble geodesic landmark made of bricks. 

 

4. Monte Perdido, Pyrenees

Out of about 9000 mountains that make up the Pyrenees, Monte Perdido, or the lost mountain, is the third highest mountain in the Pyrenees, 3355 meters high. 

Situated in Spain, in the region of Aragon, it is at the center of the National Park of Ordesa and Monte Perdido. Here you can find valleys, gorges, glaciers and unique flora and fauna. One of the most magnificent animals that roam here is the bearded vulture, with a wingspread of about 3 meters. 

If you want to experience the Pyrenees, come where the dramatic mountain cliffs rise up against veils of mists and autumn colours fill the valleys. 

 

5. Alvão, Portugal

The mountain range of Alvão, in the north of Portugal, is simply amazing. There aren’t really words to describe it. The natural park has it all: waterfalls, cliffs, rivers, lakes, mountain peaks, wolves, hawks and eagles.

Come hike among the granite rocks, the heather and the maritime pines, and touch the icy water of the Olo river. This is a genuine place. Everything about it feels real and wonderful.

The Alvão mountain range is 1283 meters high. At the natural park, there’s usually a good chance for snow in the winter. 

Now, here is a tip from us locals. If you leave the natural park of Alvão and go just a short distance within Vila Real, you can visit ‘Monte Farinha’, or Flour Mount. It is 947 meters high, and an amazing viewpoint. You will never forget going up there and taking in the view over the hills and fields, spotted with the shadows of passing clouds.

At the top of Monte Farinha there is a religious sanctuary called Alto da Senhora da Graça. It is believed that, long before the chapel, it held an older sort of temple where hermits lived — or even before that, a hillfort.

 

6. Errigal, Ireland

If you’re looking to roam the emerald isle in search of its picturesque mountains, Mount Errigal is the pride of county Donegal to the northwest of Ireland. Its second highest peak gazes at its own reflection in a dreamy lake, the Dunlewey Lough.

At the bottom of Mount Errigal, there is an incredible bridge passing between the lakes Dunlewey Lough and Lough Nacung Upper. This is a great spot for photography enthusiasts, especially at sunrise. 

The view from Mount Errigal is amazing, as the sun peeks through the castles of clouds and the rivers and lakes nestle between the mountains. It’s no wonder Ireland is full of fairies, this place is just as magical as it is peaceful. 

 

7. Negoiu Peak, Romania

The Carpathians are famous as the second longest mountain range in Europe. These cross borders between Poland, Ukraine, Slovakia, Czech Republic and Romania. These countries cooperate in order to protect this unique natural patrimony and its wildlife. 

The Southern Carpathians are also called the Transylvanian Alps and are situated in Romania. In this verdant but inhospitable place, the highest mountains are the Făgăraș, which spread through the center of this country. From faraway, they look like a massive barrier, impossible to overcome. As you hike along, you can see its grey, sharp ridges piercing the air and ripping through the undergrowth. 

In this place, often forgotten by the tendencies of tourism, you must visit the Negoiu Peak. It is the second highest mountain peak in Romania, at 2,535 meters high. At its foot nestles a small blue lake. 

It is certainly worth it to seek this rugged landscape and enjoy the solitude of its massive inclined rocks and green grass blowing in the wind. One would say we are in Middle Earth, in one of the Lord of the Rings films.

 

8. Mount Giona, Greece

Selene, the goddess of the moon in ancient Greece, would visit Mount Giona to meet her love, the shepherd Endymion. Every time she visited, the sky would be moonless.

Most of us don’t associate mountains with Greece, a country far better known for its turquoise waters. And yet, this jewel of the Mediterranean is blessed with amazing mountains, one of which is Mount Olympus itself (in case you didn’t know, it does really exist).

But you might want to take a detour and take on the respectable Mount Giona in Southern Greece, which is 2510 meters high and the fifth highest mountain. This titan of grey stone is spotted with lush green grass in the warmer months. In the winter, the smooth white snow contrasting with the rough grey stone is quite the sight. To the south, you can find dense evergreen forests.

There are many different hiking routes that you can take all year long depending on your taste. You’ll be able to see over 60 different species of flora and perhaps spot amazing fauna: wild horses, foxes, wolves, wild boars, eagles and griffon vultures. 

 

All set to go on an expedition? If you’re been thinking about visiting the mountains of Portugal, get in touch with Start Adventure to know more about our off-road trips, Rota das Serras. Follow us on social media so you don’t miss a thing. 

 

Cover image: Sohaib Ghyasi

Photo of Mount Negoiu: iuliu illes