Browsing Tag

Hiking

During the pandemic, people have been creative on what to do outdoors since they can’t travel or take their overseas vacations due to some restrictions. One of the things people have been doing to enjoy the outdoors is bikepacking.

Bikepacking is a combination of mountain biking and minimalist camping, and yes it’s kind of different from regular camping.

So you made a decision that you want to take this adventure and first thing first you want to know what will be essential for this trip? In other words, what will be on your packing list to make this bikepacking trip go smoothly?

You can group the essential packing, list in some categories such as bike gear, shelter, sleep gear, cooking, water, navigation, bike repair tools, first aid kit, clothing, and toiletries.

Here are some essential backpacking gear and setup we think are the must on your bikepacking trip

1. Bikepacking Bike

First, you will need a bike, this is obvious that’s why its called a Bikepacking Trip. Keep in mind you don’t just need any bike. You need a bike that works on a trail, a mountain bike will be a good idea. Find a bike that is comfortable and can handle any terrain that you want to explore.

There are different types of bikes that are good such as Fat Bikes, Plus Tire Bikes, Gravel & All-road, Hardtail and Rigid, Plus Tire bikes. Check out some bikes on Amazon

2. Bikepacking Bike Helmet

For safety reasons, you will need a bike helmet. This is must have a piece of safety equipment designed to protect your head in the event of a fall or crash. You never know when or what might happen while you biking, keep yourself safe should always be a priority. Make sure a durable helmet, not just any helmet. Check out some bike helmet at Amazon

3. Bikepacking Bike Lights/Flashlights

You will need lights or flashlights everywhere you go, sometimes your bike lights won’t be enough and you don’t want to stack somewhere in the dark. Try to find the brightest LED bike light sets that can light up your entire road or path ahead, beam up an extensive range of your surroundings, and focus on an object over 500 feet away. Check out some bike lights/flashlights at Amazon

4. Camping Tent For Bikepacking

While on a bike packing trip, somehow you will need to rest, packing a tent will be a good idea on your trip. You want to pack a durable, waterproof, and wind-resistant. If you can try to find an Ultra-lightweight tent that is effortless to carry around during biking. Check out Bikepacking Tents on Amazon

5. Sleeping Bag For Camping

When you are in that tent you will definitely need a sleeping bag to get comfortable while resting on your tent. Make sure the sleeping bag durable and can handle any environment. Check Out Bikepacking Sleeping Bags On Amazon

6. Reusable Water Bottle with Filtration For Bikepacking

A reusable water bottle is a must-have while biking you will need water and you cant bike with a carton or gallon of water, but with a water bottle, you can refill water when you run out of it. Try to find a water bottle that has filters that can filter bacteria etc, this will be easier and safe to refill water anywhere. Check Out Some Reusable Water Bottle with Filtration on Amazon

7. Bikepacking Navigation/GPS System

Although many people are using GPS from their phone, having another navigation/GPS gadget for back up can be useful for bikepacking routes. Most of the time cellphone work where they can get cellular service or wi-fi and sometimes you can be in an area where there are no cellular services. Check Out Some Navigations On Amazon

8. Bike Repair Tools For Bikepacking

Just like a car, a bike can also have some problems which need to be fixed. Don’t forget to pack a bike repair tools kit. Packing a bike repair tool kit should be a priority so in case your bike encounter any problem you will know where t start. Check Out Some Bike Repair Tool Kit on Amazon

9. First Aid Kit For Bikepacking, Camping, and Hiking

There are tons of first aid kits out there, but since you will be outdoors most of the time you need pack the first aid kit that is specific cater to outdoor activities such as camping and hiking. Check Out Some First Aid Kits for Bikepacking Hiking & Camping on Amazon

10. Bikepacking Clothing

What you are going to wear depends on the weather or what time you are going. For instance, if you are going during winter or rainy days make sure you carry clothes that will accommodate that, if you are going during summer, sunny days make sure you do the same. Check Out Bikepacking Clothes On Amazon

Lifestyle, Travel Adventures, Vacation,

Packing Tips For Overseas Hiking Trip

by travzdlaJune 30, 2020

So you’ve arranged your overseas hiking trip, you got your itinerary, booked your accommodation you are excited and ready to go right?

Well, before you leave, there are still a lot of things to check, and one of those is the valuables you packed. Most professional adventure hikers often pay great attention to the things they brought on the trip.

This consideration perhaps stems from the fact that the things you have in hand can affect the outcome of your adventure trip.

For instance, the absence of a very important document will determine not only the degree of your excitement but more on the way you prepare.

It will even determine how ready you are for the trip and in turn, will show how successful your trip is. Since you are considering the overseas adventure the more that you need to pay attention to your personal possessions.

So what’s the solution for this? Simple! Learn how to pack your things properly and here are some packing tips:

Limit Your Luggage

It’s very necessary to limit your luggage as much as possible. Note that you will be traveling overseas and attending to your valuables all the time will not be an easy task.

So before you leave from home for your overseas adventure, try to limit your luggage to one-two medium-sized pieces. Use a medium-sized suitcase or a backpack for convenience.

Also, combine containers if possible, but make sure that things you packed will be useful for your overseas adventure trip.

Finally, make sure that you pack light. It is important to keep in mind that on your trip, you will need to keep an eye and carry your luggage at different times.

So to make everything easy for you, make sure that you can carry your valuables if certain situations call for it.

What to Bring

One very important thing that every overseas adventure traveler should not miss is the passport. Passport is required, so check it and make sure that you have it.

Also, bring shoes that are sturdy enough to carry possible foot challenges you might encounter. Experts often suggest heavy-duty walking shoes or light-weight hiking shoes for walkers.

For those who love to cycle, you should bring good trail running shoes and cycling shoes, but make sure that you are comfortable with it.

Pack the clothes you need. Note that you will be spending days and nights on your overseas trip so don’t forget to bring a wind jacket, sweatshirt, or a cotton sweater as you might be spending nights outdoors.

Also bring lightweight and fast-drying clothes as although you hope you for great weather, certain periods of the month don’t always cooperate.

There are some places out there that run the chance of cooler weather and even occasional shower, so be ready for that.

You can also pack other miscellaneous items such as safety gear, like helmets for cyclists, first aid kit, a camera, a small pocket knife, flashlight, sunglasses, reading, and writing materials, portable chargers for your electronic gadgets and other valuable items.

Don’t forget, one more important thing to fully enjoy your overseas adventure trip is to leave your worries at home.

Gateway, Lifestyle, Travel, Travel Adventures,

The 12 Best Hiking Places Around the World

by travzdlaJune 27, 2020

Where are the best hiking places around the world?

That’s the question and this article has the answers you have been waiting for. If you prefer adventurous long walks or being on the mountain’s edge buckle and get your walking gear ready because we are giving you the list of the best hiking places around the world from the Americas to Australia its a guarantee one of these places will be on your bucket list if not all of them.

1. Hiking Tour du Mont Blanc in Switzerland, Italy, and France.

The Tour du Mont Blanc is one of the most popular hiking places, long-distance walks in Europe. It goes around Mont Blanc massif, covering 110 miles and passes through parts of Switzerland, Italy, and France.

The TMB route goes the counter-clockwise direction that means it is a circular route and it normally walks in 11 days. TMB is one of the best hiking experiences one can get because there’s a lot to enjoy when you are hiking here.

You will travel through three different countries, pass through several mountains, and enjoy the most dramatic views of nature and glaciers of these three countries of Switzerland, Italy, and France.

It is also the route of an annual mountain marathon, which is something else you can enjoy.

2. Hiking Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania

Located in Tanzania, Mount Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain in Africa and the highest free-standing mountain in the world.

There are 10 different routes in the Mt Kilimanjaro trail. Those routes are Machame, Rongai, Lemosho, Marangu, Shira, Umbwe, Northern Circuit, Crater camp, Western breach, and Mount Meru.

The distance on hiking depends on which route you take and usually takes 5-9 days to complete the trail. For instance, if you take the Lemosho route the minimum days to finish are 6 days.

The good thing about this route is it is considered to be the most beautiful route due to its amazing scenery on various sides of the mountain.

Lemosho route has been many people’s favorite routes because of its low traffic, and scenic views. If you take the classic oldest Marang route it will take you a minimum of 5 days.

Most people like this route because it is considered to be the easiest, because of its gradual slope. It is also the only route that offers sleeping huts in dormitory-style accommodations, compared to other routes you have to make tents or camping.

3. Hiking Trolltunga in Norway

Trolltunga hike located in Norway is one of the best hikes in the world and one of the most magnificent cliffs in Norway, situated about 1,100 meters above sea level.

The hike in Trolltunga can take 8-12 hours return trip with a total distance of 17.40 miles. While there you need to take safety precautions because Trolltunga is surrounded by steep cliffs and there are no fences.

Trolltunga has hiking season which is June 1st to September 30th starting before 8 A.M and guided hiking is recommended. The next season is October 1st to May 30th this is for guided hiking only.

4. Hiking Preikestolen in Norway

If you did watch Mission Impossible -Fall out, you will have a little bit of an idea on how this place looks like, most of the scenes of this movie was shot in this area.

Preikestolen is a steep cliff tourist attraction located in Norway. The 3.7 miles hike starts at the mountain lodge Preikestolen Fjellstue and takes 4 hours. Hiking in Preikelston is an experience of a lifetime.

There is an option to combine the hike with a fjord cruise or join a guided tour at night or off the beaten track.

5. Hiking The Appalachian Trail in U.S.A

The Appalachian Trail is the longest hiking-only footpath in the world, measuring roughly 2,190 miles in length. The Trail travels through fourteen states along the crests and valleys of the Appalachian Mountain Range.

The trail starts from Springer Mountain, Georgia, to Katahdin, Maine. This long journey will pass through these states Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.

Completing the entire trail needs time and commitment because it can take 5-7 months. You can choose where to start, from Georgia(Northbound) which is very popular and crowded or you can start from Maine(southbound) which is known to be most challenging. Another option you can start from somewhere in the middle is known as flip flops.

6. Hiking Tongariro Alpine Crossings in New Zealand

Tongariro Alpine Crossing is located in New Zealand’s oldest national park called The Tongariro National Park. Tongariro Alpine Crossing is considered to be a world-renowned trek.

The trail is 12 miles long and it takes 6 to 8 hours to complete. Tongariro Alpine Crossing has dramatic awe-inspiring natural scenery, unique landforms, including the volcanic peaks of Ngauruhoe, Tongariro, and Ruapehu.

The best time to complete the trail will be summertime in New Zealand which is December to March. If you want to go during winter around June to October you will need special skills and a lot of preparation to complete the trail.

This is due to increased risks from snow, ice, avalanche terrain, and sub-zero temperatures.

7. Hiking Indus Valley Trek in India

Located in the Himalaya Ladakh region, close to the borders of Pakistan, Afghanistan, and China, the Indus Valley trek is one of the most popular hiking routes in India.

This place incorporates the regions of Skardu, Leh, and vast glacial icefields that reach into China. The length of this trek depends on the route you take, but on average, you can expect to hike around 42 miles and can take around 10-11 days to complete.

You will be able to enjoy the existence of the spectacular natural vista and steep valleys. The best time to go hike in the Indus Valley is between June to mid-October.

This is when the region has a stable temperature of 68-86°F during the daytime. If you go after October you will experience cold winds and snow that may block some of the higher routes and during that time most tour operators do not offer guided hikes.

8. Hiking Lares Trek in Peru

The Lares Trek is a 2-3 high-altitude hike in Cusco, Peru, the trek starts near the village Lares, approximately 40 miles north of Cusco and 35 miles east of Machu Picchu.

The trail can be completed as a standalone or be incorporated with a visit to Machu Picchu. This trail is considered to be an alternative to the classic Inca Trail because it is a lot quieter than Inca Trail.

The route is also known for being easier than the Inca Trail in that one doesn’t need to deal with as many steps.

9. Hiking Inca Trail in Peru

Hiking in the Inca trail is one of the most popular things to do in South America. It’s also one of the world’s most famous hikes.

The hike itself is one of the life experiences that allows you to see ancient narrow paths, explore the Peruvian countryside, and reach the top of the Andean mountains.

You will also see perfect Incan ruins, cloud forest, and majestic valley views, and don’t forget in the end you will get to the iconic Machu Picchu. The Inca trail is 26 miles and it takes 3-4 days to complete.

10. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Hiking Trails in Uganda

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Hiking Trails is a totally different hiking experience. Located in Uganda, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest it’s known for its mountain gorillas.

There are five different day-trails that take 5 to 8 hours to complete. This means the Hike through Bwindi Impenetrable Forest can take one day or can stay overnight and continue the next day down to scenic Lake Mutanda. There is a lot to see while in these trails such as gorillas, different birds, and animal species.

11. Hiking Schynige Platte Panorama in Switzerland

Schynige Platte Panorama Trail is a 4 miles heavily trafficked loop trail located near Interlaken, Bern, Switzerland that offers the chance to see wildlife and is good for all skill levels.

When hiking at Schynige Platte you get a chance to enjoy the amazing scenery, diverse landscape that offers stunning panoramic views of the Bernese Alps.

12. Hiking Lake Sorapis(Lago di Sorapis) in Italy

Lake Sorapis is one of the most beautiful excursions in the Dolomites Italy. The lake is famous for its intense color, in hues ranging from light blue to turquoise.

Lake Sorapis trail is 8.7 miles long and takes 4 hours to complete. You will enjoy the beautiful Dolomite’s views while walking in the amazing forest path and a few narrow ledges.