Paul Scott Mower once said, "There is nothing like walking to get the feel of a country?" If you've ever contemplated going abroad to find your next trail, here are 3 classic hikes to consider.
New Zealand's Milford Track: The best known "track" through New Zealand's beautiful fjords, this 32.9 miles (53 km) easy 4-day hike, starts at Glade Wharf (Lake Te Anau), winds over Mackinnon Pass and ends at Sandfly Point (Milford Sound). The scenery includes rainforests, alpine meadows and waterfalls at every turn, including the worlds third highest, the 3-leap Sutherland Falls. With its ethereal, dream-like scenery, some have described this hike akin to "walking through a Lord of the Rings movie."
Milford track is highly regulated for tourism and restricted to a one-way route during summer season. All hikers (independent or guided) are required complete the track in 3 nights/ 4 days and stay in the designated commune-styled huts along the way. Day-specific reservations and trail permits are required
Peru's Inca Trail: This 30 mile trail attract hikers from all over the world seeking to walk the ancient, ruin-studded path to the sacred site of Machu Picchu. The trail meanders over high passes, offering breathtaking views of glaciated mountains and lush green valleys of cloud forest. Along the trail, you'll pass early Inca stonework and abandoned outposts and villages until you reach the trail's end at Machu Picchu. There you'll pass into the sacred site through the Sun Gate, just as the Incas did centuries ago. This walk involves considerable climbing (at altitudes up to 14,000 feet), especially during the first half of the trail, and takes about 4 days.
Most trips start at the 88km mark (also known as (Qoriwayrachina) on the Cuzco to Machu Picchu rail line. Due to over-use (and abuse), the Peru's government no longer allows independent hikers on the trail. You are now required to go with a licensed tour operator and reservations need to be filed with the government 30 days before your arrival.
China's Great Wall: Hiking sections of China's Great Wall is a fantastic way to see and experience some of China's most significant and best-known sites. For centuries, the 4,163 mile long wall served several dynasties as an efficient military defense. Now, with a history spanning over 2,000 years, many of the Great Wall's sections are in ruins or have completely disappeared. Still, depending on where you start your trek, you'll pass through rugged mountain scenery, areas of unforgiving desert and glimpse traditional Chinese culture in a way most tourists will never experience.
Unless you have a friend in China that can round up all the difficult to obtain, but necessary permits, you'll need to hire a guide or tour company that specializes in hiking sections of the wall. Many Chinese tour companies include wall hiking in combination with other sightseeing tours or offer the opportunity to hike several sections over the course of a few days or weeks. In any case, each step along this ancient monument will be a hike back through China's history.
© 2005, Kathy Burns-Millyard. This article is provided courtesy of DoHiking.com - http://www.dohiking.com - a large and growing hiking website featuring articles, tips, advice and shopping for hiking & camping enthusiasts. This article may be freely published on any website, as long as the author, copyright, website address and link, and this notice are left intact.
Hello Again,Today we will be talking about meal planning. Meals... Read More
Picture this. You are stuck at home knee deep in... Read More
White-water rafting can be one of the most exhilarating experiences... Read More
TENT CAREYou should seal all floor seams and those seams... Read More
You aren't lightweight backpacking if you are carrying twenty-five pounds... Read More
Mount Rainier National Park is the most popular park in... Read More
You would think that a cheap safari in Africa for... Read More
Have you ever seen an authentic Japanese garden? Well, I... Read More
Drive along one of South Africa's scenic strips and you... Read More
The Northern Circuit is probably Africa's most dramatic wildlife area.... Read More
The Cairns Fishing Adventure A Great Australia Road TripYou love... Read More
Backpacking is a great way to escape the rat race... Read More
When you are planning a vacation to Maui or Rio... Read More
This truly beautiful country at the southern tip of dark... Read More
How to get the most out of your trekking poles... Read More
Barnegat Light, NJ is the home to "Old Barney" a... Read More
You CAN grab something to eat, enjoy every bite, AND... Read More
The kind of things you pack when you go on... Read More
Inflatable boats are made from flexible material, usually rubber, canvas,... Read More
Paul Scott Mower once said, "There is nothing like walking... Read More
Magnetic declination is an essential principle to understand when navigating... Read More
Campgrounds are a perfect Pigeon Forge lodging option for visitors... Read More
If anyplace on earth is a natural paradise, Plitvice Lakes... Read More
Camping for fun is a great way to enjoy the... Read More
Camping mixed with outdoor activity is a great way to... Read More
If you're looking to spot a whale, the first few... Read More
Once described in a 1950 article as "The Town That... Read More
It seems like the most adventurous thing in the world.... Read More
There is something about a town tucked between the mountains... Read More
Touted as one of the world's fifty destinations of a... Read More
With so many different designs, packing a backpack will vary... Read More
It was the end of my first year as a... Read More
An inflatable boat trailer is needed if the user has... Read More
Mystic Seaport celebrates the seafaring past of New England. Known... Read More
White-water rafting can be one of the most exhilarating experiences... Read More
We love spending time outdoors and if you are expecting... Read More
The kind of things you pack when you go on... Read More
I bet you're wondering where the heck this articles going.... Read More
Truly a small wonder, the eTrex takes the best features... Read More
Croatia has quickly become Europe's hottest destination, and for good... Read More
The first recorded mapping of what is now Koombana Bay... Read More
1. Take the early morning drives on safari even though... Read More
A camping gear checklist is an important tool to help... Read More
It was the end of my first year as a... Read More
Thousands of golfers flock to the Carolinas each spring and... Read More
There are so many selections available when it comes to... Read More
Base camp sits at 12,000 feet - stark, windy, unshaded... Read More
Western Australia ? South-West Coast driving holiday. Great Australian Road... Read More
Spring:Essential items when preparing for a walk-Compass-First aid kit -... Read More
Eaton Canyon Natural Area Nature Center, entrance, 1750 N. Altadena... Read More
River rafting is a major attraction in California. The most... Read More
Mt. Washington Valley Trails & Mt Washington - NHThe highest... Read More
Are your kids begging you to take them camping, but... Read More
Okay, it wasn't quite a sleeping bag. However, it was... Read More
An inflatable boat trailer is needed if the user has... Read More
Welcome to Bragg Creek! Bragg Creek is located in the... Read More
Camping is an excellent way to explore and experience the... Read More
Organized river rafting trips are a good idea for novices... Read More
A rigid inflatable boat is defined as a hard-hulled boat... Read More
Have you taken up hiking as a new form of... Read More
I've been traveling and writing about places I believe others... Read More
Block Island is a seaside jewel lying 12 miles off... Read More
The islands of Samoa are emerging as an exciting new... Read More
When you think of "adventure travel," what crosses your mind?... Read More
Why should you use hiking poles is perhaps the first... Read More
Dude Ranches first gained popularity in the 1920s, in large... Read More
Outdoors |