We went to EUROPE'S ONLY TRUE DESERT! (Almería, Spain)

Believed to be the only true desert in Europe, Almeria is home to the most beautiful natural landscapes! In this video, we visit the Tabernas Desert, Europe's only true desert and Cabo de Gata to visit the Mermaid Cliffs! This is a great itinerary for Almeria Spain if you ever decide to come to Spain. A TRUE HIDDEN GEM!
After traveling through Spain for the past 2 weeks, we desperately needed to escape the big cities to Almeria, Spain. We really missed hiking and getting away from the crowds. We also take you to the Almeria Alcazaba, where ONE Game of Thrones scene was filmed.
ALSO: for Earth Month, we will be planting one tree per mile walked! Comment on this video how many trees you think we will be planting.
More videos in Spain: • Traveling through Spai...
Next Stop: Granada
TRAVEL RESOURCES
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OUR LUGGAGE:
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OUR TRAVELS
WE'RE TRAVELING ONE MILLION MILES (1,609,344 km)
Miles Traveled: 55,596.28 (89,473.54 km)
Miles Remaining: 944,403.72 (1,519,870.46 km)
OUR STORY
We're Meghan & Matt, two travelers from the United States on a journey to travel 1,000,000 miles! For 2 years, we lived in our self converted van and traveled all over North America! During this time, we caught the travel bug, HARD. So we set a goal to travel one million miles! Now, we’re hiking, biking, driving, flying and even training around the world to discover as much as possible! Recently, we sold our van and packed up our lives into bags and boarded a one way flight to Europe, leaving behind no house, no car and not even a house/car. From now on, we will be living our of suitcases and traveling full time. How long is this lifestyle going to last? I️ guess you’re going to have to subscribe and follow along to find out!
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CHAPTERS
00:00 About us!
00:29 Welcome to Almeria
01:33 Morning in Almeria
03:03 Picking up our adventure mobile!
05:13 Europe's only "True" Desert
08:57 We never learn
13:01 Cabo De Gata
15:15 So happy to be here
18:02 A local dining experience
19:02 First time in the mediterranean
20:18 Agua con gas!
20:56 Almeria Alcazaba
22:56 Reenacting Game of Thrones

[@maruseJapan]

I’m from Almería but I’ve been living in Japan for the last 20 years. I haven’t been able to visit Almería for almost 6 years now and videos like yours help me keep my homesickness in check. (Well, I’m truth it makes me all the more homesick! lol) Thank you!

[@Meghanandmatt]

Almeria is really a beautiful place! Hope you can return to visit soon!

[@pozu1312]

One interesting fact is that the waters of the south mediterranean coast of Spain (Almeria, Granada ...) Are so clear because of an oceanic plant that looks like grass called Poseidonia that cleans the water and makes it clear and transparent, Spain has the biggest poseidonia plains in the world, so that explains the transparency of the water.

[@Meghanandmatt]

That’s interesting! We were just talking about how beautiful the waters were and wondered how they got like that

[@marcoantoniocardosomachado4044]

Really nice information, thank you!!!👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@salozinp]

Spain have deserts,rivers,lakes,woods,high mountains with snow,plains....Spain,It is the European country with the most climatic variety

[@Meghanandmatt]

Yeah! So much variety of beautiful landscapes here. We’ve only been south would love to see the rest of it!

[@benjaminslater]

Great video guys. Beautiful photography and informative, fun commentary. I live in Almeria, we have an apartment in La Almadraba de Monteleva, Cabo de gata, just on the beach where you dipped your feet into the Mediterranean sea! It is certainly a very beautiful part of the world and I'm truly blessed to live here(I'm from the UK originally, but married a girl from Almeria). There are so many great places in Almeria province that are stunning to visit. The coast is truly spectacular and there are a huge amount of mountain paths, rivers, gorges and forests to explore. I hope you're having a great day ❤

[@Meghanandmatt]

Almería was absolutely beautiful! We loved our time there. You’re lucky to have a beautiful place to live!

[@justinianorigoberto7973]

Almeria together with Murcia. They are considered the orchard of Europe, due to their large greenhouses for fruit and vegetables... and they are one of the few human constructions that can be seen from space from the space station... greetings

[@Meghanandmatt]

There were so many greenhouses! I believe it that it’s visible from space. We loved our time in Murcia and Almería

[@zakandfal]

Cabo De Gata looks a lot like Cabo in Baja! Looks beautiful - you guys are just glowing out there - enjoy!!

[@Meghanandmatt]

it's gotta be something in the water 😉 We are having a great time out here, thanks guys!

[@to0muchlove]

It’s so nice to see nature on this channel again ❤❤

[@Meghanandmatt]

Agreed!

[@alfredoarroyo9201]

Glad you are enjoying your trip in Spain. Now that you are in Andalucia, you should visit Sevilla, Cordoba and Granada

[@Meghanandmatt]

We did make it to Granada! It was a cool place to explore for the day

[@greengardengreen6666]

Malaga is must too ❤

[@pablolazaromartinez3541]

Thanks for showing Almería to us guys! Astonishing! ❤️

[@Meghanandmatt]

Glad you liked the video Pablo! It’s a cool city!

[@ChooseThePathYouTake]

Woooww!! These places were soo beautiful! I was cracking up at Meg when she said, "I love the fresh air out here and no one is smoking behind you during dinner" during your hike hahaha.

[@Meghanandmatt]

Lol it’s true though! So many people smoke at restaurants here

[@lindasteinbrenner8065]

Love this video with the contrast of desert and ocean! Looked like many interesting features in the desert. And the Mediterranean.. well it’s the Mediterranean! ❤ Meghan you looked so beautiful and part of the scenery in your white dress. Very elegant. Dorn? I knew that place looked familiar. 😉

[@Meghanandmatt]

It’s amazing that the desert is right there and the Med is just right around the corner!!

[@TheTravelingChefs]

Looks like a dream!! Putting it on the list for sure 👍🏽

[@Meghanandmatt]

And free tapas in Almeria!

[@abeandmel]

Keep enjoying yourselves over there! The ASMR at the beginning of getting ready was stellar

[@Meghanandmatt]

Thank you guys! Appreciate it :)

[@Torosentao]

Great videooo!! Amazing Spain!

[@Meghanandmatt]

Glad you liked the video! We loved our time here

[@luisespineira9882]

Beautiful video of the desert and Mediterranean Coast in Spain

[@Meghanandmatt]

Glad you liked the video Luis!

[@mommygarcia9137]

Now the views of the Mediterranean from that city are absolutely gorgeous ! When you guys were in the desert & said it’s so beautiful here , I wasn’t seeing the beauty I’m not a desert loving person I love the ocean views !

[@Meghanandmatt]

It's hard to show the beauty of a desert on camera, for sure. But we also LOVE rock formations and spent a lot of time in Utah, Arizona. Almeria was definitely the perfect place to get a good amount of variety!

[@felixcervantes5678]

Great video ❤❤❤❤

[@Meghanandmatt]

Thanks! Glad you liked it

[@kentinjivek]

Cool thanks for all these infos 😊, I was wondering about going there for end of December to finish the year, what do you think? And find a good guest house

[@Meghanandmatt]

Glad you liked it! I don’t think there’s a bad time to visit but the water might be cold in December. It was pretty chilly when we were there. I’d just double check what the weather looks like when you’re planning to go

[@salustrever8846]

Spain has an enormous historical variety. Many cities were born in Roman times, the Arab conquest or the Middle Ages. I recommend that you return to see other regions of Spain, you will be surprised by the difference between regions due to different historical currents.

[@Meghanandmatt]

Yeah we explored all over Spain for over 2 months and got to see a ton of different places all with different historical influences

[@mikiex]

If you go north of the Tabernas Desert you reach the Gorafe Desert, which although not a 'true' desert is a spectacular Badlands landscape. Around this area there are also many cave houses, some renovated as modern houses and some you can stay in!

[@Meghanandmatt]

That sounds really cool! Thanks for sharing that

[@juanvargas-em3kb]

Excelentes videos 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍 Muchas gracias......

[@Meghanandmatt]

Gracias Juan! Buen día!

[@marcoantoniocardosomachado4044]

This is a really nice video of Almería, thank you guys so much! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@Meghanandmatt]

Almería is a place we will remember forever! Such a beautiful place

[@RobertRod818]

Almería looks amazing. Thanks for sharing your adventures in Spain.

[@Meghanandmatt]

Almería is incredible! We loved our time around the area

[@pozu1312]

The natural beuty of Spain is incredible, is the most biodiverse country in Europe and the province of Leon that is a tiny territory in yhe north is the region with most reserves of the biosfera by the unesco in all the world.

[@Meghanandmatt]

We’ll definitely have to check out Leon! Thanks for the tip

[@amarino5179]

Thanks for the video I will be there in two weeks.

[@Meghanandmatt]

Have a great time! I don’t remember if we mentioned it in the video but you can get free tapas if you order a drink in many restaurants

[@amarino5179]

@@Meghanandmatt Awesome! Thanks for the tip ;)

[@JuanAmeritano-yj5xt]

Above Orgiva are the three highest white washed villages in Andalucia. I think it's Thursday when they have Orgiva's open air market. The Alpujarras was the last place the muslims lived in Spain. Very heavy influence of Morrocco in the architecture and food. Try rabo de toro Alpujarra style. In the villages above Orgiva you can find trout and rabbit on the menu...shows up as trucha or conejo.

[@fedeLibre]

El Cabo de Gata es bellísimo.

[@Meghanandmatt]

Absolutely!

[@nurseandthenomad]

Drivings no too hard in Spain huh? Ireland is a different story. 😂 was just talking to someone about that and laughed at all the curbs we hit. We’ve never been to the desert in Spain, fun video to watch.

[@Meghanandmatt]

Really not that bad! We mostly drove highways and really narrow city streets (which was definitely nerve wracking!) Thanks guys!

[@tmalloydesign]

Cool video of your adventures in Almeria. We happen to be there right now. And I'm also making a video for my channel! We moved to Spain four years ago and built a house near Madrid. Let me know when you're in Madrid and maybe we can raise a glass together! Peace out.

[@Meghanandmatt]

Almería is beautiful! Enjoy your time there!

[@krijnvandenbergh7761]

Me and my family just bought a house in the mountains an hour north of Almería. You have any more nice tips for us? Thanx for this. That was very helpful already❤

[@Meghanandmatt]

That’s awesome! Almería is definitely a place that we will remember forever. I don’t think we mentioned it in the video but you can get free tapas in most restaurants if you order a drink! And definitely take the road trip to Granada. That drive through the mountains is absolutely stunning

[@javier265]

Wow you used a drone to film the aerial shots?

[@JuanAmeritano-yj5xt]

Go to Guadix and stay in a cave it's just a short distance from Tabernas.

[@rolflin]

Not hide GEM at all XD At least spanish people know it I have been there couple of times, already missing JO Bar

[@Meghanandmatt]

It’s beautiful! We hadn’t heard of it from the US but loved our time there

[@lemurarticotrepador1641]

Almería 😊😇

[@Meghanandmatt]

Un ciudad bellisimo!

[@tritosac]

When you were in the desert did you get any sand burs or goat heads stick to your shoes? I am just curious because in El Paso they are everywhere and painful if you step on them barefoot.

[@Meghanandmatt]

Thankfully not. There wasn’t the same kind of desert plant life that the US has here

[@JuanAmeritano-yj5xt]

Conducir or manejar...go watch Español con Juan...he's the best for improving your Spanish. If you head to Malaga take a detour to Orgiva in the Alpujarra at the base of the highest mountain in Iberia. If you are going to Granada take a short detour of the autopista and visit the castillo of Calahorra.

[@pozu1312]

Did you know that this is the place of tue world that looks more like the wild west movies than anywere in the world.

[@Meghanandmatt]

It looks even more Wild West than Texas!

[@reoexe923]

How did you fly a drone in spain is there something to do before?

[@davidpascuallopez8103]

Hola It is very nice to see how you enjoy my country and your always positive and cheerful attitude. I would recommend many sites in my country Near Almeria you have one of the most beautiful cities Granada. Also I recommend you then go along the coast to the beaches of Cádiz where you have beautiful beaches with dunes. I'm from Valencia But close to where you are you have Granada, Ronda, Malaga, Seville, Cádiz... And I recommend you visit the north of Spain, Asturias, Cantabria, Galicia, Euskadi, The Pyrenees... And if you need some help or information I am happy to help you Even I am now in London 😅 I am also a traveler and travel through many countries

[@davidpascuallopez8103]

Also sooo so many places to visit and recommend to you Like Canary Islands, Balearic Islands in Spain and also recommend Portugal is beautiful And since you are in Europe There are many beautiful countries and places in Europe Enjoy

[@Meghanandmatt]

Gracias! We are loving our time in Spain! Thank you for sending those recommendations! We will actually be visiting both the Balearic and Canary Islands so we would LOVE recommendations if you have them :) Thank you for watching!

[@davidpascuallopez8103]

@@Meghanandmatt But it's a shame that you are so close to Beautiful Granada and Travel so far from Almeria to the amazing Islas Canarias by not visiting Granada Being so close

[@Meghanandmatt]

@@davidpascuallopez8103 we did visit Granada :) it was beautiful but we have since left

[@davidpascuallopez8103]

@@Meghanandmatt La alambra in Granada 😍😍😍 The link I sent you for the Canary Islands is very good and is very simple and perfect

[@OriginalMelmoth1]

Wow, Conan and Cleopatra in the desert of Almería again. 😂

[@Meghanandmatt]

We just looove the desert

[@janres9540]

As a curiosity, being from the USA, do you know the European traffic signs? There are traffic regulations different from the USA in Europe, and being clear about the most important signs and rules of right-of-way is important to drive well. By the way, is the car manual? In Europe we like manual cars.

[@Meghanandmatt]

Yeah it was pretty self explanatory driving and following the signs. I think when we get to the countries where they drive on the other side of the road will be a new challenge. This car was automatic. I need to get better at manual before driving over here

[@gd31102]

😮

[@mattbouthet]

Note to self: wear sunscreen in the desert

[@Meghanandmatt]

YES! lol

[@Windsingerful]

I hope you guys get to visit Malta, a desert a island that’s part of EU. Talk about an amazing little country jam-packed with history!

[@Meghanandmatt]

We've been recommended Malta! We have to do some research and check it out!

[@Windsingerful]

@@Meghanandmatt I travelled there in 2015…they actually have ruins OLDER than the pyramids (although not same type, of course!). Hint - don’t go in August! Lolol

[@Meghanandmatt]

That sounds amazing! And great tip! Haha

[@stevewoods8116]

Are you a bit coin millionaire?😎

[@Meghanandmatt]

Not yet!

[@martiglesias60]

In Navarra there is also a desert.

[@khrlsmax9244]

My city sux, looks prettier than it trully is

[@Meghanandmatt]

Sorry you feel that way. We really enjoyed our time in Almería