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Hiking Vacations
From WikiVerde
For those who are interested in trying different hiking destinations around the world, there is definitely no shortage of places to see. The idea of a hiking vacation not only provides the most beautiful scenery seen anywhere but it also gives you the security of knowing you will have a place to stay for the night and a hot meal provided to you if you choose. The fun part of the trip is planning the entire adventure before you begin the trek.
Where to Vacation
The best way to choose the right hiking vacation is to begin with knowing your own level of fitness. It is not a good idea to try a harder trail until you have a few of the shorter, smaller ones under your belt. No matter which you choose make sure you give yourself the time to take it slow and enjoy everything the trails have to offer.
Annapurna Circuit (Nepal)
This hiking adventure is centered on the Himalaya Mountains. On this adventure, you will see the best that Nepal has to offer. The 26,000 foot high mountain peaks of the Annapurna mountain range will cover your hike in splendor. Sights to see include herds of yaks, hot springs, prayer flags of the Buddhists, green valleys, and the Tibetan desert. For this hiking vacation, one will need at least three weeks to see everything.
Appalachian National Scenic Trail (USA)
This famous hiking trek extends 2,158 miles through the Appalachian Mountains beginning in Maine and ending in Georgia. Along the way, the hiker will travel through fourteen states. It requires at least five or six months to complete the entire trail. Some hikers choose to take on the trail all at one time while others will stop at certain scenic points to include the Franconia ridge Loop.
Crow Pass Trail (Alaska, USA)
To the south of Anchorage lies the beginning of the trail on this hiking challenge. It takes about four miles to reach Crow Pass which has beautiful views of the Raven Glacier and the Chugach Mountains. If you feel like continuing on, you can then take on another 26 miles along the Old Iditarod Trail infamous for the gold miners and those traveling by dogsled teams until the Alaska Railroad came in 1918.
Darien Gap (Panama)
This destination will require a two week obligation from the avid hiker. This vacation will consist of short treks in a dugout canoe. It will begin and end with the direct route taken by the Spanish traveler Balboa in the early part of the 1500’s. The hiker will experience coconut plantations, settlements of Indians, under some of the lower mountain ranges of the area, and through the national park. If lucky, one might even be able to see the popular Jaguar of the area.
Havasu Canyon Trail (Arizona, USA)
This is not the typical trail leading hikers through the glory of the Grand Canyon but will explore trails off the majestic path. The trail itself will provide a steep, but quiet eight mile trek through Supai village. Once through Suppai, hikers will experience beautiful waterfalls which include the 200 foot Mooney Falls. From the Mooney Falls, hikers will experience the smaller waterfalls along the trail until the last eight miles reveals the final stop at the Colorado River.
Inca Trail (Peru)
More people each year travel to Peru to visit the Inca ruins located here. For those who want a more up close and personal experience, the four day vacation on the Inca Trail will give you just that. Along the Inca Trail, the hiker will enjoy the Andes Mountains, the forests, and the ruins. The vacation will also take the traveler through Inca-carved tunnels and up stone steps.
K2 Base Camp (Pakistan)
This is not one of your ordinary hiking vacations. It is also definitely not one for the beginning hiker. This trail is located on the second highest mountain in the world. Unlike some of the trails, this trek will provide the traveler with the most beautiful scenery ever shown. It will take approximately two weeks for this hiking adventure. The trail is not a difficult one as it is much defined in the landscape.
North Devon Coast Path (England)
British natives are very serious about their hiking vacations for good reason. The North Devon Coast Path is one to be very proud of with the long 594 miles that travels through four countries. It provides beautiful scenery including the Bristol Channel and the high cliffs of England that extend 1200 feet above the sea. The path travels through the Exmoor National Park and includes sights of the breathtaking heather, wild ponies, horned sheep, and red deer.
Torres Del Paine Lookout (Chile)
This trail runs through South Patagonia National Park and provides all hikers with something extra. Rugged and beauty combine in the mountain peaks as the condors are seen in the distance. The trail runs twenty-one miles and can be completed by a hiking expert in a day or two. A real treat may be the sighting of the flamingos and the Guanaco or Llama cousin.
Wildkirchli Trail (Switzerland)
This hiking vacation is not one of the longest trails to experience, but it is one of the nicest. It begins with a ride up to the top of the Ebenal Peak by cable car or hiking trail. Once on the 5400 foot peak, you can begin the only fifteen minute hike downward. The trail is a narrow one that leads you to the Wildkirchli 400-year-old church cave that was the home of the hermit monks from the middle 1600’s until the middle of the 1800”s. Next to the cave is a small hut that is set on the side of the mountain. This hut was used by the multitudes of pilgrims who came to pray for the monks.
