Top 10 Treks in Nepal: the best routes in the Himalayas

Sophie Nicholson    trekkingholidays     Hiking, Himalayas, Nepal, Trek, Treking in Nepal, trekking, trekking holidays

For any true mountain lover, trekking in the Himalayas in nothing less than a rite of passage: the ultimate trekking destination. Each year, thousands of trekkers and mountaineers make their way to Nepal to see its awe-inspiring mountains first-hand and to immerse themselves in this sacred and culturally diverse land.

Trekking in Nepal. Image: Flickr/mckaysavage

Nepal is blessed with a rich and demanding landscape of lush green forests, high shining mountains, hilly foot trails, and beautiful lakes and springs. With such an abundance of trekking holidays on offer, it can be difficult to know where to start when planning a trip to Nepal.

This guide hopes to help point you in the direction so that you can find the trek best suited to you. Trekking in Nepal may be a once in a lifetime holiday, so we want to make sure you get it right, right  from the beginning….

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Snowshoe beats boot for winter walking

Sophie Nicholson    trekkingholidays     Iceland, snowshoe, snowshoeing, trekking, Trekking in Iceland, Walking, winter sports

For some, the onset of winter cannot come soon enough. Most skiers, snowboarders, ice climbers and snow leopards spend all year impatiently waiting for temperatures to fall and for snow to start falling on them there hills.

Sometimes boots just aren't enough. Image: Photos: Ragnar Th. Sigurðsson

However, not all outdoor enthusiasts are made of the same stuff, and for many of us average hill walkers, the arrival of winter can actually put paid to any trekking holidays we’ve planned – and be a bit of a pain in the icicle.

If you are not versed in the world of crampons and the art of self-arrest, a hard winter can kind of put paid to any of those fabulously relaxing and invigorating winter walking days out on the hill.

But don’t pack away your trekking gear just yet…

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Trekking Machu Picchu:should we trek on sacred ground?

Jonathan Tait    trekkingholidays     Colombia, Machu Picchu, trekking, trekking holidays, Trekking in Colombia, Trekking in Peru

Ciudad Perdida, Machu Picchu, Roraima.  All sacred places and all top trekking holidays for thousands of tourists every year. But is it right for us to walk free over this holy ground? Does our modern impact anger the gods?  And if we are trekking Machu Picchu and other sites of religious significance, can we ever balance our needs with those of the places we visit?

The view onto Machu Picchu Image: Flickr/Active Steve

Roraima, the great tepuy of Venezuela’s Gran Sabana and inspiration for Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Lost World, is a sacred link between earth and sky for the native Indians of the area. It’s their Mount Olympus, and with its endemic life forms and constantly shifting weather systems, it’s a mystical wonder even to an avid agnostic.

A telling sign of the lasting importance of Roraima’s spirituality is the necessity of all treks to be accompanied by at least one native Indian. It is his duty to offer a blessing to the 1800-metre rock face, and request divine permission to scale its heights. Whilst it may seem phoney to the western tourist, it’s no effort to respect these beliefs and be glad that there is a job that no one can be more qualified for than a native.

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Winter walking: what you’ll need

Mark Pawlak    trekkingholidays     camping, outdoor activity, trekking, trekking gear, trekking holidays, Walking, walking gear, winter, winter walking

During the colder months, it’s all too easy to find excuses to avoid the great outdoors, wrapping up warm and staying in with yet another hearty (and fattening) meal. However, as tempting as it is, staying indoors during winter can be a mistake as nature gears up for a spectacular display of her powers and begins to bless us with some of the most fabulous views you’ll see all year.

Winter Walking with good gear. Image: Flickr/Nick Bramhall

Winter walking is a wonderful way of getting out and enjoying these views, as well as learning to appreciate nature and the frozen ground under your feet. It’s also a great way of keeping fit and active during the cold season, as good food and excess layers of clothing make it easier to pile on the pounds.

But winter walking is a little different from the walks that you’re used to completing in the summer and you need to prepare for them accordingly. Staying warm is your first priority, as lower temperatures can cause problems: look out for clothing designed to deal with cold weather. Companies such as The North Face are especially good for this, with many of their items specially designed to trap body heat and repel water during bad-weather walks.

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Climbing Kilimanjaro: why now is the best time to do it.

Mark Pawlak    trekkingholidays     climbing Kilimanjaro, Kilimanjaro, Mount Kilimanjaro, trekking, trekking holidays, Trekking Kilimanjaro

There’s only a few charity treks that can be achieved by us regular mortals but still demand a determination and preparedness that commands the respect of all, and climbing Kilimanjaro is one of them.

Charity 5 km runs are ‘fun’ and raise a lot of money for good causes but they rarely inspire me to donate. However, climbing Africa’s highest mountain does get me reaching for the coinage.

So, what’s the challenge people are facing when they send you that “Can you sponsor me as I’m climbing Kilimanjaro email”? And is it climbing or trekking Kilimanjaro?

Approach to Kili Image: Flickr/Stig Nygaard

About the mountain

Africa’s top peak is never going to be easy. It’s not Everest, but I’m not a goat – or an experienced mountaineer.

One of the attractions about taking on this mountain is that it is achievable – albeit with a lot of hard work. Brushing 6,000m, it’s well above the clouds and more than 4 times higher than Ben Nevis.

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Trekking in Iceland: Journey to the centre of the earth

Stuart Blackadder    trekkingholidays     glacier, Iceland, Icelandic, Journey to the centre of the earth, trekking, trekking holidays, Trekking in Iceland

Iceland is one of the most geologically exciting locations in the world. With glacial rivers, active volcanoes and enormous mountains, it also offers exciting hiking opportunities. You can expect to find yourself far from civilization on most hikes due to the sparseness of Iceland’s population. This helps create an enormously personal connection with the epic landscapes, one that you will treasure forever.

Trekking in Iceland Photos: Ragnar Th. Sigurðsson

You will have heard rumours about Iceland’s challengingly low temperatures – well it’s in the name – but if you choose to hike in the summer months, you will find the thermometer displaying comfortable daytime averages of 13C.

If you’re tempted to try trekking in Iceland, just be sure to have the appropriate camping gear for some chilly nights! Here’s 10 routes for you to plot.

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We Love Travel Luggage – but why bother with a bag at all?

Jonathan Tait    trekkingholidays     adventure holidays, Adventure Sports Equipment, Overland holidays, RTW, RTW holidays, rucksacks, travel gear, Travel luggage, trekking, walking gear

Everyone needs travel luggage, right? But it’s not the most important gear you’ll need travelling around the world. Most travellers would consider the shoe an invaluable piece of equipment. They come in many forms, they make up an important piece of everyday life; they are our protection from everything that is discarded and our transport to new experiences.

Rucksacks and hats, but do you really need both? Image: Flickr/ ToddMorris

To me, the hat and the shoe are both essentials. Both are practical, both can be easy to transport depending on type. I once travelled with a fedora, which I crushed after a day in my care, yet it still stood the test of time and provided invaluable sun protection  - and a certain element of class.

This got me thinking: could you ever do away with travel luggage ? Seriously, could you go sans bag?

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