- Hiking the Tatras Mountains in a Weekend
You’ve probably heard of the Alps, but I’m guessing you’ve never heard of the Tatra Mountains. We thought it was a hidden secret in Europe, but as it turned out – not so much. This relatively small mountain range is nestled between Poland and Slovakia. It is massively loved and visited by both countries. So, …
- Hiking Along the Ak-Suu Traverse in Kyrgyzstan
Nestled in the heart of Central Asia, the Ak-Suu Traverse is a hidden gem for avid hikers and adventure seekers. This 110km trail, winding through the rugged Tian Shan mountains of Kyrgyzstan, takes you through one of the world’s most pristine and untouched landscapes. Starting from the picturesque village of Jyrgalan and ending in Jeti-Öguz, …
- The Best Day Hikes in Réunion Island
With hundreds of trails weaving across mountains, gorges, beaches, and waterfalls, you’ll be spoilt for choice on Réunion Island. Unless you move to the island (why not?), you’ll only have enough time for a handful of hikes. The best way to experience Réunion is by spending several days on one of its many hiking trails. …
- A Multi-day Hike into the Cirques of Réunion Island
La Réunion is known as the “intense island” – a place for adventure lovers. For hikers, the scenic mountainous interior lined with hundreds of trails is absolute paradise. Hiking is by far the best way to get close to the dramatic ravines and massive peaks, but also to soak up the essence of the island …
- Where to Find the Best Waterfalls, Beaches and Swim Spots in Reunion
Reunion is often overlooked by travellers in favour of its famous neighbour – Mauritius. While Mauritius boasts postcard perfect white sand beaches with crystal blue water, Reunion tends to be known as a hiker’s dream. But between the many mountain trails, the French island also has a handful of swim spots of its own that …
- One Week Hiking the Alta Via 1 in the Dolomites
The Dolomites in north-eastern Italy are known for their stunning rock formations and crystal blue lakes. There are many ways you can experience the mountains, but one of the best is through one of the many multi day hikes. There are many official trails – Alta Via routes – ranging from 6 to 13 days …
- Hiking in the Accursed Mountains (or rather, the Albanian Alps)
After decades of being closed off to foreign visitors up until the 90s, Albania is increasingly becoming a coveted travel destination, right up there with the likes of Greece and Croatia, but for a fraction of the cost. People rave about the Albanian riviera which is still relatively free of the crowds you might face …
- Hikes Accessible by Public Transport In and Around Dublin, Ireland
While Dublin is famous as the capital of Guinness and also as the ‘Emerald Isle’, a lesser known fun fact is that it has a number of cliffy coasts and a sizeable national park to the south. The coastal walks in Bray and Howth are two of the most popular routes for city dwellers, but …
- Europe’s Sunniest Winter Escape: Andalusia, Spain
If you ever find yourself in the Northern Hemisphere around December to February, bogged down in the winter blues, and in serious need of vitamin D, southern Spain is your answer. Specifically Andalusia. With only on average 7 days of rain in the rainiest month of December (compare that to 23 in Ireland…), it’s a …
- 10 Unforgettable Hiking Trails in the Western Cape
South Africa spoiled hiking for me. There’s no better paradise for hikers than at the tip of Africa, specifically in the Western Cape. Where else in the world can you get jagged peaks, lush valleys, hidden waterfalls, refreshing swimming holes, and epic views for days? Read on for ten of my favourite hikes in the …
- Two Days on the Highlands Trail, Kogelberg Reserve, South Africa
Accessible just an hour and a half outside of Cape Town, the 35km Highlands Trail is the ideal starter trail if you want to get a taste of an overnight multi-day hike. Since we were keen on doing the 3 to 4 day Congo Nile Trail hike in Rwanda but had never done a multi-day …
- Visiting Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) in a Weekend
If you’re trying to plan a trip to the Kingdom of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), you’ll probably have realised by now there’s very little useful information to plan your trip. To be fair, Eswatini is overshadowed by the epic Drakensberg Mountains in the south and the rich wildlife of Kruger National Park in the north. That …
- A Day Along the Blyde River Canyon – Panorama Route
If you’re headed out to find the Big Five in Kruger, you might want to consider tacking on a detour to the Panorama Route to stretch your legs after all the safari drives. The route lies just west of Kruger National Park in Mpumalanga, stretching from Graskop in the south up to the Three Rondavels …
- Hiking Arangieskop – Mount Kilimanjaro of the Cape
Arangieskop is considered to be the ‘Mount Kilimanjaro of the Cape’, not necessarily because of its height, but because of how the whole first day is ‘up, up, up’ and the second day is ‘down, down, down’. The 21km loop trail up and down the 1696m mountain is typically hiked in two days, with an …
- Starry skies, Arches, & San rock art: A weekend in the Cederberg
If you’re looking for a change of scene from Cape Town or want to experience something unique during your trip to South Africa, head over to Cederberg. Just 3 hours drive from Cape Town, and you’re in an entirely different world. While fynbos is lovely and all, nothing beats some really nice rocky landscapes. The …
- Two Weeks in Brazil: From Rio to Paraty to Foz to Salvador to Chapada Diamantina
I’m ashamed to admit that Brazil wasn’t on my travel radar until I received funding to attend a conference in Fortaleza in June 2018. Naturally, I had to take the opportunity to sneak in a two-week visit to a few places around Brazil while I was there. In hindsight, I could have used a full …
- 5 Days Along the Garden Route, South Africa
Overview The Garden Route stretches between beautiful coastal towns from Witsand to Nature’s Valley in the Western Cape, South Africa. Technically, TsiTsikamma isn’t part of the Garden Route, but its lush forests tempted us to include this park as our farthest point east on our Garden Route trip. We only had 5 days we could …
You’ve probably heard of the Alps, but I’m guessing you’ve never heard of the Tatra Mountains. We thought it was a hidden secret in Europe, but as it turned out – not so much. This relatively small mountain range is nestled between Poland and Slovakia. It is massively loved and visited by both countries. So, …
Nestled in the heart of Central Asia, the Ak-Suu Traverse is a hidden gem for avid hikers and adventure seekers. This 110km trail, winding through the rugged Tian Shan mountains of Kyrgyzstan, takes you through one of the world’s most pristine and untouched landscapes. Starting from the picturesque village of Jyrgalan and ending in Jeti-Öguz, …
With hundreds of trails weaving across mountains, gorges, beaches, and waterfalls, you’ll be spoilt for choice on Réunion Island. Unless you move to the island (why not?), you’ll only have enough time for a handful of hikes. The best way to experience Réunion is by spending several days on one of its many hiking trails. …
La Réunion is known as the “intense island” – a place for adventure lovers. For hikers, the scenic mountainous interior lined with hundreds of trails is absolute paradise. Hiking is by far the best way to get close to the dramatic ravines and massive peaks, but also to soak up the essence of the island …
Reunion is often overlooked by travellers in favour of its famous neighbour – Mauritius. While Mauritius boasts postcard perfect white sand beaches with crystal blue water, Reunion tends to be known as a hiker’s dream. But between the many mountain trails, the French island also has a handful of swim spots of its own that …
The Dolomites in north-eastern Italy are known for their stunning rock formations and crystal blue lakes. There are many ways you can experience the mountains, but one of the best is through one of the many multi day hikes. There are many official trails – Alta Via routes – ranging from 6 to 13 days …
After decades of being closed off to foreign visitors up until the 90s, Albania is increasingly becoming a coveted travel destination, right up there with the likes of Greece and Croatia, but for a fraction of the cost. People rave about the Albanian riviera which is still relatively free of the crowds you might face …
While Dublin is famous as the capital of Guinness and also as the ‘Emerald Isle’, a lesser known fun fact is that it has a number of cliffy coasts and a sizeable national park to the south. The coastal walks in Bray and Howth are two of the most popular routes for city dwellers, but …
If you ever find yourself in the Northern Hemisphere around December to February, bogged down in the winter blues, and in serious need of vitamin D, southern Spain is your answer. Specifically Andalusia. With only on average 7 days of rain in the rainiest month of December (compare that to 23 in Ireland…), it’s a …
South Africa spoiled hiking for me. There’s no better paradise for hikers than at the tip of Africa, specifically in the Western Cape. Where else in the world can you get jagged peaks, lush valleys, hidden waterfalls, refreshing swimming holes, and epic views for days? Read on for ten of my favourite hikes in the …
Accessible just an hour and a half outside of Cape Town, the 35km Highlands Trail is the ideal starter trail if you want to get a taste of an overnight multi-day hike. Since we were keen on doing the 3 to 4 day Congo Nile Trail hike in Rwanda but had never done a multi-day …
If you’re trying to plan a trip to the Kingdom of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), you’ll probably have realised by now there’s very little useful information to plan your trip. To be fair, Eswatini is overshadowed by the epic Drakensberg Mountains in the south and the rich wildlife of Kruger National Park in the north. That …
If you’re headed out to find the Big Five in Kruger, you might want to consider tacking on a detour to the Panorama Route to stretch your legs after all the safari drives. The route lies just west of Kruger National Park in Mpumalanga, stretching from Graskop in the south up to the Three Rondavels …
Arangieskop is considered to be the ‘Mount Kilimanjaro of the Cape’, not necessarily because of its height, but because of how the whole first day is ‘up, up, up’ and the second day is ‘down, down, down’. The 21km loop trail up and down the 1696m mountain is typically hiked in two days, with an …
If you’re looking for a change of scene from Cape Town or want to experience something unique during your trip to South Africa, head over to Cederberg. Just 3 hours drive from Cape Town, and you’re in an entirely different world. While fynbos is lovely and all, nothing beats some really nice rocky landscapes. The …
I’m ashamed to admit that Brazil wasn’t on my travel radar until I received funding to attend a conference in Fortaleza in June 2018. Naturally, I had to take the opportunity to sneak in a two-week visit to a few places around Brazil while I was there. In hindsight, I could have used a full …
Overview The Garden Route stretches between beautiful coastal towns from Witsand to Nature’s Valley in the Western Cape, South Africa. Technically, TsiTsikamma isn’t part of the Garden Route, but its lush forests tempted us to include this park as our farthest point east on our Garden Route trip. We only had 5 days we could …