Category: hiking

Trekking Mont Blanc

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Outdoor dining, Chalet La Moraine, Chamonix, France.

Western Europe’s highest peak, Mont Blanc, aka Monarch of the Alps, is one of the most popular mountain destinations.

It’s a place where you’ll find some of the world’s best ski chalets, skiing and hiking.

Trekking holidays company Walks Worldwide has launched a new summer 2011 Tour du Mont Blanc.

This new, 8-day trip is self-guided for two or more people traveling together and highlights the best parts of the classic Alpine circuit.

Says Walks Worldwide:

“Walking through France, Switzerland and Italy the Tour Mont Blanc is perhaps the most iconic and famous of all walks in the Alps. This circuit of Mont Blanc affords spectacular views at every point and is quite simply a ‘must’ for all mountain walking enthusiasts.”

The tour takes mountain trekkers beneath glaciers, through valleys and across summer meadows.

Each trekkers’ main baggage will be mostly transferred to overnight accommodations so trekkers will only carry day packs.

The package includes 7 nights’ accommodation (hotels, auberge and mountain huts); some meals (7 breakfasts, 5 dinners), route notes, maps and luggage transfers.

For more info, visit the Walks Worldwide site.

Image courtesy of HomeAway Holiday-Rentals

The Great Himalaya Trail Blog

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World Expeditions has launched its 157-day Full Nepal Traverse of the Great Himalaya Trail.

The expedition company has dedicated a blog, The Great Himalaya Trail Blog, to the adventure.

This adventure features trails up to 6,190 metres above sea and views of all of Nepal’s 8,000m peaks.

The blog will document “the stories of those people who experience first hand and for the very first time this truly exploratory venture.”

Two trekkers committed to the full 157-day route, Toni Wilson and Greg Babbage, are also blogging about their experiences.

The World Expeditions blog will be updated almost daily.

Blog posts will also be written by other trip participants and leaders including:

  • Stephen Venables (the first Brit to climb Everest without oxygen);
  • Greg Mortimer (the first Australian to summit Everest);
  • Robin Boustead (the man behind the development of the Great Himalaya Trail concept) and
  • Carlos Buhler (member of the first American team to climb Everest from Kangshung Face in Tibet).

For more info, visit the World Expeditions site.

Image courtesy of World Expeditions.

Trekking New Zealand

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Ice Climbing, Franz Josef Glacier, South Island, New Zealand.

Trekking in New Zealand, this year?  Then check out adventure travel company Kiwi Experience.

Kiwi Experience is a New Zealand hop on, hop off adventure bus touring for backpackers and independent travelers.

The company features several travel passes – Full Monty (32 days); Kitchen Sink (22 days) and The Whole Kit and Caboodle (26 days)

During their journeys, adventure travelers can book accommodation and tailor to their needs from hostels or flashpacking hotels and lodges.

Here are New Zealand adventure ideas from Kiwi Experience:

  • Explore Northland. “Rich in history and Maori culture with pristine waters, huge kauri forests and 144 islands, (there is so much to) explore.”
  • Visit Middle Earth. “Explore the bubbling mud pools of one of New Zealand’s largest geothermal wonderlands with its spectacular geyser…and descend into the depths of the underground glow worm cave system at Waitomo.”
  • Venture to Westland National Park. “Cross the Cook Straight to the South Island through the Marlborough Sounds to Abel Tasman National Park and heli-hike on the Franz Joseph glacier.”
  • Discover Southland. “Head to the extreme South with the Catlins, offering a pristine wilderness of 180 million year-old fossilised forest and beaches.”

trans Trekking New Zealand

Here are more scenes from Kiwi Experience:

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Lake Mapourika, Franz Josef, Westland National Park, South Island, New Zealand.

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The Kiwi Experience Bus.

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Hiking in Tongariro.

Images courtesy of Kiwi Experience.


Trekking Albania

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Accursed Mountains in Albania.

Walks Worldwide has introduced three departures for its Accursed Mountains trekking holiday to Albania.

These small group trips to the Accursed Mountains will depart in June, July and September.

Says Walks Worldwide:

“Whether you’re more inspired by the well-documented and somewhat debauched adventures of Lord Byron, or the more recent antics of the BBC Top Gear presenters, this trip provides you with a chance to discover the remote north of the largely untrekked mountains and passes of Albania.”

Mountain travelers will walk between four and eight hours a day at altitudes of up to 2,000 m. Trekking is graded as demanding.

The small group trip will be designed for a maximum of 8 travelers.

They will be accompanied by an expert local guide in exploring the wild mountains.

This 8-day itinerary will include 7 nights’ accommodation; most meals; expert guide; maps and baggage transfers.

Image courtesy of Walks Worldwide.

Trekking Patagonia

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Patagonia.

Patagonia is a stunning mountain travel destination.

If you’re a mountain traveler interested in guided trips, World Expeditions offers trekking adventures to this dramatic mountain region.

Here are 3 trips to Patagonia:

  • Patagonia Adventure, 11 days: This trip is an introduction to the parks of Patagonia. The trip covers Perito Moreno Glacier in Argentina to Los Glaciares National Park. It continues across the border to Chile and takes a cruise from Puerto Natales via the Balmaceda Glacier into Torres del Paine National Park.
  • Patagonia Parks and Wildlife, 18 days: This trip includes viewing the Perito Moreno Glacier; cruising the Beagle Channel; visiting the Magellan penguin colony at Punta Tombo and bird watching in the Tierra del Fuego National Park.  Highlights also include Puerto Madryn; Ushuaia; national parks of Los Glaciares and Torres del Paine; a lakes crossing from Chile to Argentina and Bariloche.
  • Chile End to End, 18 days: This trip explores the best of Chile and the Patagonia region. Highlights include the Torres del Paine National Park; Puerto Natales; Serrano Glaciers; Santiago, Puerto Montt and the Atacama Desert.

For more info, visit the World Expeditions site.

Image courtesy of World Expeditions.

Trekking Peru

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Machu Picchu.

Planning a trekking trip in Peru?  If you’re seeking a travel company, KE Adventure features treks along the Inca Trails of Peru.

The treks will offer travelers views of the iconic Machu Picchu, one of the most famous mountain destinations.

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The travel company’s 2011 Adventure, Bike and Family brochures are now available. The Adventure section features 220 trips including 35 new adventures.

In Peru, The Choquequirao to Machu Picchu trip combines the country’s two premier Inca archaeological sites and a trek off-the-beaten track.

The new Quillarumi Trek is a short and easy adventure holiday and the Vilcanota and the Sacred Valley for Connoisseurs holiday offers insights into the culture of Peru.

For more Peru trekking holidays info, visit the company’s site.

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Images courtesy of KE Adventure

Trekking South Africa

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South Africa is a hot travel destination in 2010.  If you’re planning a  trekking trip there, travel company Slackpacker South Africa offers multi-day trails, tours and day hikes.

Based in Cape Town, the company has an “affinity with the Table Mountain chain” but also offers trekking trips in other parts of South Africa.  Trips include qualified guides, local transportation, luggage transfers, meals and accommodation.

“South Africa is ideal hiking country with incredible mountain and safari options,” says Frank Dwyer of Slackpacker South Africa. “For a world-class hiking experience, come walk with us through a National Park that is fully contained within the municipal boundaries of a world-class city.”

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Cape Town.

The Table Mountain range falls within the Cape Floral Kingdom Natural World Heritage Site which has views over Table Bay, the Atlantic Coastline and False Bay and Cape Point.

These trips range from a short overnight excursion to the three-day Hoerikwaggo Trail.  One of the most popular trips is the two day/two night trail, that includes Table Mountain’s major attractions and a night at the Overseer’s Cottage, above Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens and False Bay.

Here are other trip photos:

Trekking South Africa

Trekkers Frank and Malcolm.

Trekking South Africa

12 Apostles.

Trekking South Africa

The Diving Board.

For more info, visit Slackpacker SA.

Images courtesy of Slackpacker SA.

New Alaska Hiking Trips

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If you want to experience the National Parks in Alaska, Rust’s Flying Service now offers three new summer hiking trips.

“Flying to Alaska’s great National Parks and hiking in the wilderness is a memorable way to see the real Alaska, and we are excited to show Alaska to our visitors,” says Todd Rust, owner.

The new trips, from June 15 to August 30, are planned for Denali National Park and Lake Clark National Park offering a “direct to wilderness experience.”

Here are the 3 new Alaska hiking trips:

Denali National Park trip.  The flight from Anchorage lands on Backside Lake inside the National Park near the Ruth Glacier.  On this 3-night guided hiking trip, travelers will learn about the area’s geology, biology and history and off-trail hiking skills.

Twin Lakes trip.  The flight leaves from the Rust’s Flying Service’s Anchorage float plane base and lands at upper Twin Lakes inside Lake Clark National Park.  On this 5-night hiking trip, travelers will visit Proenneke Cabin, the log home of Dick Proenneke who lived for 30 years at Twin Lakes.

Lake Clark rafting trip.  The flight from Anchorage lands in a small lake inside the National Park. On this 5-night hiking trip, travelers will paddle Tlikikila River and hike up creek beds. The trip’s guide will highlight the area’s geology, biology and history.

For more info, visit Rust’s Flying Service.

Image courtesy of Rust’s Flying Service.

Trekking Morocco

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Organized trekking trips can be shorter adventures.   Take the Toubkal Weekend – The Ultimate Morocco Short Break offered by KE Adventure Travel.

This new 4-day trip will trek to the top of North Africa’s highest peak, Mount Toubkal.  From Marrakech, there will be a short transfer and a half-day hike through Berber villages to the Neltner Refuge, on Mount Toubkal.  Then the next day will be a challenging summit.

On this weekend adventure holiday, travelers will have options to extend their trip in Marrakech and other areas of Morocco.

For more info, check out KE Adventure Travel.

Image courtesy of KE Adventure Travel.

Trekking Corsica

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Thinking about trekking the mountains of Corsica?  Walks Worldwide calls the GR20 walking route through the mountains of Corsica “the toughest trek to be found this side of the Himalaya.”

The company’s 15-day Corsica trips depart in June, August and September and include flights, all transportation, 14 nights’ accommodation, most meals, baggage transfers and guide.

Says Mike Wynne, managing director, Walks Worldwide:

“We are very careful who we take on our GR20 trips because if you do not have a very high level of fitness, and have tough-trek experience, quite simply, you won’t make it. The trail traverses the island diagonally following the high granite barrier of mountains that form the natural boundary across the country.”

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Hikers will learn about the authentic and traditional working mountain community.  They will meet shepherds who spend the summer months with their flocks on the high fresh airy pastures.  Trip accommodations will include a mix of camps, refuges, gîtes and shepherds’ cabins.

The mountain terrain will be over 1000 metres with steep ascents over high ridges, deep descents into dramatic chasms and some ‘via ferrata’ across granite slopes.  This trek promises challenging ascents over high mountain passes with the possibility of ,weather permitting, the summiting Paglia Orba (2525 metres).

For more info, check out WalksWorldwide.com.

Images courtesy of Walks Worldwide.