The Otter Trail on the Garden Route out of Capetown is arguably the most famous in Southern Africa.
Click PLAY or watch a 1 minute introduction on YouTube.
Lush forests, rugged shorelines, mountain streams and waterfalls and fragrant fynbos make this a unique coast adventure.
Book 12 months in advance to get one of the exclusive permits. .
Read more on our Otter Trail information page.
Johnston Canyon is a MUST SEE attraction for visitors to Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies.
On a summer day it is packed. Narrow trails with far too many people.
Recommended is to do the hike very early or late in the day. Avoid the crowds.
OR do Johnston Canyon in the winter with some kind of ice traction or micro spikes for your shoes. The access road is closed each winter, further reducing the traffic.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
I took the bus from Banff ($10 return) end of April 2023. Too late, in my opinion.
I still needed my YakTrax. But it was far too crowded.
The highlight for me were the catwalks between narrow canyon walls.
Seeing the frozen waterfalls up close is cool — but they were looking quite dirty end of April. These will be gone in a week or two.
A minority of hikers carry on up to the “Ink Pots“, mineral springs that differ in colour because each pool fills at a different rate.
Distance: 5.7 km (3.5 miles) one way
Elevation gain: 330 m or 1,083 feet
Time needed: 2.5 – 4 hours to do the return hike
Difficulty: Easy
Read more on Hike Bike Travel – Ink Pots hike via Johnston Canyon
Of all celebrities, the one I’d like to most go for hike is Nick Offerman.
I got to know him as the hilarious Ron Swanson in the sitcom Parks and Recreation (2009–2015).
He’s an actor, comedian, boat builder, wood craftsman, and author.
This book starts with day hikes in Glacier National Park with friends Jeff Tweedy and George Saunders. The three are well prepared — but ultimately incompetents.
It’s very entertaining while being smart and philosophical.
Nick is a humane and thoughtful guy.
I recommend Where the Deer and Antelope Play.
Matt and Anderson put together another entertaining VIDEO with some epic glissading on the way down. … Would they cliff out? 
20km round trip – Strathcona Park on Vancouver Island. 1800m elevation gain.
It’s tough. I tried and failed myself. There was too much snow June 15th of that year.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
I was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Gateway to the Canadian Rockies.
Over the years I’ve spent a lot of time on and around the Bow River and the Elbow River which joins the Bow in Calgary.
The Bow flows through Banff all the way to Hudson’s Bay.
The other day it seemed Spring had finally sprung — so I grabbed the drone and headed off trail to walk the river.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
UPDATE. BAD NEWS. As of April 1, 2023 the Nepal government required that major treks can no longer be done independently. Hiring a guide is mandatory. The obvious alternative for independent hikers is the Indian Himalaya.
Every hiker dreams of trekking in the footsteps of Hillary and Norgay. Climbing to Mt. Everest Base Camp Qomolangma (Tibetan), Sagarmāthā (Nepali) should be on your bucket list.
Here is the finest alpine scenery in the world, we reckon.
Namche Bazaar … at 3,440 metres (11,286 ft) … is the main trading center for the Khumbu region with many Nepalese officials, a police check post and a bank. …
Namche has a permanent population of around 800.
Almost everyone trekking in the Khumbu region will visit Namche Bazaar, as it is the gateway to the high Himalaya.
More interesting photos tagged Namche Bazaar.
Want more information? Check WikiTravel – Namche.
Our favourite hike hikes out of Namche are:
• Everest Base Camp / 3 Passes
• Everest Base Camp / Kala Pattar
• Everest Gokyo
Many consider the mountain people and Tibetan culture an even bigger highlight than the peaks.
Best months are from October to early-December, cold but normally with clear views of the world’s highest mountains.
Spring is also a good time to visit the Everest region, though the skies may be hazy. Some argue that pastures are greener in the Spring.
Check the trip report posted by besthike editor Rick McCharles, Nov. 2009 – Everest Base Camp / 2 Passes
Or start on our Nepal information page.
I really, really want to get back to Iceland.
Especially after watching this inspirational edit.
Magical.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
I’d made dozens of flights with a tiny Swiss Army knife in my carry-on without a problem.
But flying out of Vegas, the TSA told me that NONE were allowed — not even those with blades no longer than 2.36 inches long and no wider than 1/2 inch.
Those were allowed at one time but are not in USA 2023.
related – Flying with a Camping Stove in your carry-on luggage.
Many have had clean camping stoves confiscated from their personal luggage.
I put my pot in one carry-on bag. The tiny screw-in stove part mixed in with other small electronics and metal pieces in another bag.
So far that’s worked for me. I don’t check luggage for a hiking trip unless absolutely necessary.
I’d say Red Rock Canyon is the best hiking and scrambling destination in the world this close to a major city. Las Vegas.
Over the years I’ve done all of the established hikes.
BUT more recently I park or cycle to nearby Calico Basin. Free entry. Free parking.
THEN take the Calico Hills Overlook Scramble to Red Rock Canyon. It’s obvious and easy from the parking lot.
Once in the red rock, I wander and scramble wherever I like.
Click PLAY or watch an example from April 2023 on YouTube.
