Teddy's 2025 Travel Highlights - Europe, North Africa And The Middle East

Teddy’s 2025 Travel Highlights – Europe, North Africa And The Middle East

Table of Contents

2025 – What a mad hectic year of travelling for me and Teddy. My 2025 Travel Highlights were honestly mental. I was only back for a day from Fuerteventura in December last year (2024) when I booked to go to Agadir, Morocco and this will be where I will start.

January – Morocco Agadir and Marrakech

To the annoyance of my 2 friends Gary and Jacqui – who had planned a holiday to Morocco several months before – on the 3rd of January I myself arrived in Agadir. It was bad of me really –
I knew it wouldn’t go down to well when they found out but when I see that from Luton (my local airport) I could get here to Agadir for only I could not help myself.

I did actually feel like a a bit of a nuisance but I think they must have had the last laugh when it turned out I was staying in a village 2 hours away. It was a bit of a nightmare for me – the place I booked was an apartment in a place called Awrir (Aourir).

I didn’t actually mind the apartment here itself but the area was – as Gary said after he see it pretty grim. It was at the time – one of the most run down, poor areas I ever stayed in but it got better over the 15 days I was here for.

My next place in Adrar, a town much closer to Agadir, was in a much more developed area and the best part was my host was kind enough in the end to take me to my coach stop to get to Marrakech.

My first time In Marrakech was a little bit overwhelming – especially navigating through the medina for the first time but what really made my trip so memorable was my first time going to Ouzoud Waterfalls and meeting the Wild Barbary Macaques here.

It was a trip with its good and bad moments but ultimately I must have liked it here because before I even left the country I had booked myself another flight to come back out to Agadir and Marrakech for March. Actually, Ramadan but I didn’t realise this at the time.

February – A Month In England

It was fair to say that in February of this year I really needed a break from my travels. The Intensity of travelling Morocco was definitely weighing on my mind – and considering all the travelling I did at the end of 2024 – when I travelled to 9 countries in 11 days – plus my stay in Lanzarote and Fuerteventura it just felt long a long time since I spent any time at home.

So, I didn’t go away In February although one flight I did book was for my friend to come with me back to Morocco in March.

It was a good choice I think and the same flight was still available for £15 each way – so I was pretty cool with paying this extra money.

March – Back To Agadir, and Marrakech

I wondered if this was why the flights were so cheap – Ramadan is probably not the best time to Visit Morocco for non-muslims lol. But, It was good to come back here and especially this time I was a lot more ready for it.

First of all, me and my friend were able to rent an apartment in Agadir from the same host as last time. I didn’t even make no booking just contacted them when I got here and paid them what I owed at the end of the week.

Plus, this was in another different place and it was actually in Agadir – much nearer to the main strip.

We got an amazing deal I though £110 for 7 days, a bedroom each and in an OK area – it took us an hour walking to get to central Agadir. We did use a couple of taxis with the InDrive App here and there but we actually didn’t mind the walking – except when I used Google maps this did really irritate my friend.

We set off to Marrakech after Agadir and I was very happy to come back to the Sun Hostel again, and to bring my friend to Ouzoud.

Of course, we see the monkeys here and the waterfall. I didn’t see the rainbow last time but this time I did which was pretty cool.

It was a good feeling to back overall and I would say like January coming here again to Ouzoud and especially to show my friend was probably the highlight of my whole stay. Although it was a good 2 weeks altogether – a lot less stressful than in January.

April – Malaga, Gibraltar and Back to Gibraltar, Tangier and Back to Marrakech

Again I booked another flight whilst I was away In Morocco. This time to Malaga and actually this was the end of March I flew out here. My logic was that I had wanted to get the ferry back and go to Malaga on my recent Morocco trip but this was kind of the next best thing.

I had a real headache getting into Malaga. I got here at almost midnight and getting into the town centre, arriving at my place it was just one thing after another.

Gibraltar I got to a couple days later – it was not a wasted trip but I was quite disappointed with not doing more here. It was very exciting for me to come back but Its very bad for alcohol and that was my problem here.

Sky walk at the rock of Gibraltar April 2025

But, I wasn’t done here yet. After just over a week of getting back home – I was sitting in my friends kitchen drinking, and going through the photos of my last time here. I actually was a bit upset about a couple of things and I looked on Skyscanner and I think I see a flight back to Gibraltar for £51.00 leaving in 4 days time and I just thought F’ it and that was that.

My 2nd Time Back In Gibraltar In Less Than 2 Weeks

This was a crazy chain of events because my original plan was to stay on after my friend left and actually head to Gibraltar from Tangier but in the end I decided to fly back with my friend on the same day. I think I am just obsessed or something because this whole thing about going to Tangier I actually did!

I stayed in Gibraltar again for I think 4 days. This time I had a proper hike up the rock and I visited the zoo – unlike the week before and I left here for Algeciras to catch my ferry to Tangier.

I only spent about 2 days in Tangier and the crazy part about it all was getting the train and going back to Marrakech and Ouzoud for the 3rd time in just over 3 months.

It really was a crazy month.

My highlights were getting drunk with Crazy Steve (1st time in Gib), walking to the top of the rock after several failed attempts and ONCE AGAIN going back to Ouzoud to see the monkeys.

I must have seen the same monkeys nearly every month since January – some of them I see as babies and when I came back they was actually crawling round on their own.

I probably should have had a break after this but no I just could not help myself.

May – Prague, Czech Republic

Actually, I booked to fly to Malta the day after I made the mad decision to go back to Gibraltar in April (for the 2nd time).

It was quite funny because I was told explicitly NOT to book the Malta flight because of the group from my town (Including Gary from January) the Gremlins – this was their holiday.

They definitely made their feeling quite clear when I did finally get here – but before I did there was a matter of going to Poland on the way.

This could of gone so wrong for me actually – it was the beginning of June when I was supposed to fly from Luton to Poland to get to Malta but I actually decided no I’ll get another flight to Prague in May and make my way to Poland from there.

Beaver / Nutria Prague Venis river May 2025

Seriously, if I hadn’t have done this I wouldn’t have made my flight to Malta because my original flight from the UK was delayed till after my flight from Poland to Prague.

I definitely felt very smug thinking about the Gremlins and them not being able to stop me getting here. Not that it was to do with them my UK flight was delayed but anyway as always it was great to revisit Prague again after a whole 6 months away.

My highlights were The Prague To Venis Boat Trip (my 3rd time), getting up close to the Beavers (Nutria) on the River Bank and a day trip to Prague Zoo (also my 3rd time).

May / June – Warsaw Poland and Malta

I think it must have been on the 2nd of June when I left Prague for Malta. It was a long trip on the coach and it took a lot of rushing around to get here. I was drinking the night before in Prague and it was a rough morning. I must have been out till maybe 2AM but I got myself up and to the coach station without too much trouble.

My short time in Poland was bad almost. The Uber I ordered to the airport I don’t think was my Uber. I was sure I had paid already but this driver I got in with took me to some random guest house out in the middle of nowhere and when I told him I didn’t have no cash I was sure he was going to smash my head in.

Fortunately, he drove off and that was that and after I got another taxi (Bolt this time) and got to the airport with no issue at all. In Malta one thing I hated was I got stuck with the top bunk again and my first night I kept being woken up for my snoring by some Indian – that was a pain but it was an OK week – apart from the Gremlins not wanting me there.

Also, I had booked to go to both the Hal Safeni Hypogeum and Gjigantia temples but both bookings I messed up with. One I booked for the wrong month and one was cancelled because they couldn’t take payment from my card.

Note: if going to Malta and wanting to visit these ancient sites. Make sure to book months in advance as they sell out tickets very fast.

My highlight of this trip was maybe sitting in the sun reading my Carlos Castaneda book and seeing all the lizards running around. That and maybe seeing the Parrots at the bird park – I think it was a Cockatoo that said “hello, how are you” – I never knew Parrots could say more than one word but I heard this with my own ears.

July – Another Whole Month I Spent In England

I should have just found somewhere to go I was a bit disappointed with this month. I suppose the break was much needed. Boring but 5 out of 7 months Isn’t too bad and 6 countries with 3 of these I visited more than once – still quite impressive.

My highlight of July – even though I didn’t leave England was actually making it to all the local car boot sales. I definitely missed a good few travelling, and I must have missed a few goodies on the way but at least this month I was able to make up for it.

August – Estonia – Talinn and Tartu

I actually spoke to my friend about this earlier in the year. March I believe it was, when this first was discussed – and it was a trip I thought after this I would give a miss. I got really annoyed with my mate actually in whilst I was in Gibraltar. I left some crazy voice note on our WhatsApp group and he deleted me – and I went absolutely ballistic about it.

After that I thought I might as well forget about coming here to Tallinn. I wasn’t happy with my friend – I think we must have made our peace not too much longer after this but still this was an iffy one for me – especially since my plans for the month after.

Another holiday! I can’t afford this I thought, but ultimately, I couldn’t resist any longer – I decided to call our other friend who was also Invited to come. I asked him if he wanted me to arrange the flights for me and him to come here. He said yes and I booked to come here.

It was a good call – it wasn’t as cheap for flights as I would have liked but it was a nice country to visit. Me and my other friend had no problems with each other when we got here and it was such a lovely country to come to. Very clean, nice people, many speak English and just some of the places here are just so beautiful. And the air quality you can definitely notice it.

Helsinki to Tallinn Ferry at Tallinn Ferry port August 2025

My highlight was maybe Tallinn Zoo and the church in Tartu which I really couldn’t believe what I was looking at. It wasn’t so cheap here and maybe that was the downside but I would totally come back here. I would have loved to have visited Finland as my friends did on this trip – and also Latvia and Lithuania are also very easy to visit from this part of the world.

September – Rome, Milan, Across Italy

This was a trip that I was very iffy about because this was essentially me following my younger sister on her originally planned family holiday to Tunisia. She did not want me to come, it was actually very upsetting for me, but despite this – it was just in the back of my mind the whole time.

I suppose it was always going to happen – I kept looking at hypothetical situations to come here. Like I wasn’t going to do it but I wondered how cheap I could get here for.

In one of these scenarios I see I could get a ferry across from Rome (actually Civitavecchia) and get to Tunisia this way for around £50.00.

This was the idea that was forming in my head and one night I just thought “I’m going to do it” and I booked my flight to Rome – Yes, the temptation got too much – BUT the only Ferry available was from Salerno.

This was a crazy trip, and the whole Rome to Tunis ferry part – what a nightmare that was. I got to Rome OK – had a nice day out at the Zoo and going to see the Colosseum – but the next day It was so hectic. I actually got to Salerno as planned but I still missed the ferry.

I got to the port and I didn’t know where I was going. I wasted so much time going backwards and forwards before I found the desk, but by this time they wasn’t letting anyone else on to board the ferry – I really could have cried. Coming all this way for what? It was annoying but I just paid the money and booked a flight instead.

However, this was another problem I had to fly from Milan meaning I had just 24 hours (maybe a bit more) to get from the South of Italy where I was right up to the North.

It was an Interesting trip actually. I pretty travelled through all of Italy Including San Marino, and it was no problem really I got to the airport fine. Even got to see a couple of the churches in Milan whilst I was here and by the end of the night I actually had made it to Tunisia.

Highlight of my few days in Italy. Definitely seeing the Colosseum but there was some other beautiful sights too such as the mountains and seascapes on the coach trip.

October – Tunisia and Turkey

It was so great to get to Tunisia after all the trouble I had in Italy with missing my ferry, and all the travelling. Getting into my room was the best feeling. I felt so tired from the past week and it was just so nice to relax. I was bitten alive in Italy too and I couldn’t believe how soothing the sea water was here.

I don’t usually do luxury but the Alhambra Thallasso Hotel was very nice to stay at. Even though after all this drama my sister and her family had their holiday changed by the tour company. So I was here and they were now staying in Turkey in Alanya a week later.

This was the crazy part though. I secured a business loan before getting to Tunisia so I had money and I actually couldn’t help myself – I see the flights were quite cheap to Antalya so I booked a flight for 2 days after I got back into the UK.

Getting all my eBay orders (from 2 weeks away) done in a day was quite a mission but basically the day after I was on a flight out to Turkey. It was mad – I came here in a thunderstorm as well. I couldn’t believe I was doing it but here I was.

My highlights were going to the beach in Tunisia, and eating the nice food at the hotel. Visiting the zoo here (a big reason for me coming to visit) and when I got to Turkey – really I was just so excited to see my baby niece here. Of course the rest of my family too but I think actually this was why I came to Tunisia and why I came here. Just for the memories.

November – Georgia and Armenia

I booked to come to Georgia just after I got back from Estonia. This was before I went to Italy, Tunisia and Turkey as well, and it was my friend that arranged the Estonia trip – he had such a good time out there he was chatting to me on Facebook about going away again.

I was thinking about Georgia after hearing a waiter in Estonia talk about how nice it is here. Prior to this it wasn’t somewhere I was too Interested in but I suppose this was the seed planted in my head.

My friend I don’t think was really that serious about coming here with me but myself on the other hand searched for flights and I found what looked like quite a good deal to fly here via Milan Italy. There was no cheap flights back until 10 days later but I think £50 I found a flight back for to my local airport (Luton).

It was an Incredible 10 days. Going up the mountain on the cable car to Mtatsminda Park, going on the big wheel, visiting Tbilisi Zoo, the Bear Sanctuary and of course Armenia.

I actually, really liked Yerevan – it’s a lot like Tbilisi but with it’s own charms. I had maybe just over 2 days here and I booked a tour going all round the country visiting some Incredible places such as Dilijan Armenia’s answer to Switzerland, the Sevan Monastery and it’s nearby Lake.

My highlights from the 10 days were Tbilisi Zoo, Matitoma Park and the day tour of Armenia. I would say this was my best trip of the year and I would love to come back. (Bring on February 2026).

December – Lanzarote and Fuerteventura

This was my 3rd year in a row coming to Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. It’s kind of something I think I could just do every year. I’m sure December 2026 will be no different, but we shall see.

It’s just nice here – good weather for winter, cheap flights if you can be smart about it and generally no trouble talking to the locals. Although, it’s a bit naughty here – I found this out the first time I come here back in December 2023. There is kind of a bit of a seedy underbelly of this place and you really have to be quite careful if you are drinking here.

It was a funny time to come here actually – I was on a tour that day where they said how it never rains here in Lanzarote to being stuck outside at night when it started raining. This was crazy because it actually just got worse and worse with the rain.

My last day in Fuerteventura thankfully was good weather but when I got here even still the streets were completely flooded. It was quite unbelievable really like the rain must have followed me all the way back from England.

My highlights were I think the 12 Euro steak dinners and the 1.50 euro pints of beer. I did pretty much the same things as before really but it was cool – it was a nice end to the year.

So, just to summarise I went to a lot of places in 2025 – here is the full list;

Morocco – Agadir (x2), Marrakech (x3), Tangier and Casablanca (briefly)
Gibraltar (x2), and Spain (x2) – Malaga and La Linea
Italy (x3) and San Marino – Rome, Milan, Napoli, Salerno
Czech Republic, Poland and Malta – Prague and Warsaw
Estonia – Tallinn and Tartu
Tunis, Tunisia and Alanya Turkey
Georgia and Armenia – Tbilisi and Yerevan
The Canary Islands – Lanzarote and Fuerteventura

14 countries if you count Canary Islands as separate from Spain. I think it was less countries I visited than the year before. I don’t have a round up post for 2024 (starting these from this year 2025) but still pretty impressive really. Going away 10 out of 12 months of the year – how many people you know who have done that? Sure there is some people out there but anyway…

Where Am I Off To Next?

Actually, just before booking my flight to Lanzarote I also booked a return flight to Amman Jordan. So, I am off to Jordan next. Israel is pretty easy to get to from here as well but whether I will go there as well – I am still undecided but anyway look out for my blog post about Jordan coming soon…