Wrangell-St. Elias, in Alaska, is the largest national park in North America - six times the size of Yosemite. It encompasses the Chugach, Wrangell and St. Elias mountain ranges and boasts the largest collection of mountains over 4,880 metres (16,000ft) in North America.

“Wrangell St. Elias is enormous. It’s larger than the country of Switzerland and only around 65 people in total live in that area on a year-round basis,” says adventure guide Ryan Romito. “Imagine 16 to 18,000 foot mountains out there with large glaciers and icefields. And it butts up against Kluane National Park, the largest national park in Canada. So it's just this vast, vast wilderness where you’ll find Alaska’s most iconic wildlife: black bear; brown bear; lynx; dall sheep.”

It’s larger than the country of Switzerland and only around 65 people in total live in that area on a year-round basis.

Alongside its mountains and ice fields, you’ll find a diverse range of habitats within the park, from spruce forests to braided rivers and vast tracts of grassland. It stretches all the way from the mountains to the coast, where tracts of temperate rainforest lead down towards pounding surf. Only a small portion of the park is accessible by road or marked trail, allowing for preservation of this wild landscape.

“It’s a question of how adventurous are you? Most people are nowhere close to adventurous enough to get out there. There's still mountains that have not been summited,” Ryan says.  “People who are trying to get deeper into the park need to do so by small plane. Now those places are extremely expensive, geared towards extreme outdoors people.

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“How most people experience the park is by driving down the McCarthy Road, which is a 63-mile (101km) dirt road that lies across much of the old train tracks that ran out there. The road eventually just dead ends to where there's a footbridge, and from there you have to walk to McCarthy.”

McCarthy is an old mining town with roughly 30 residents, adjoined by the now-abandoned mining town of Kennicott (also called Kennecott). They’re the gateway to the accessible area of Wrangell-St Elias, and as a result, four out of the five hikes we’ve selected begin in this area. You can explore the northern regions of the park by driving down the 42-mile (62km) Nabesna Road; unpaved and intermittently maintained, it often floods after mile 29, and is very much the road less travelled. We’ve selected one hike, the Caribou Creek Trail, accessible via the Nabesna Route, for intrepid adventurers.

These are our favourite hikes in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park:

1. The Root Glacier Trail
2. The Jumbo Mine Trail
3. Dixie Pass Trail
4. West Kennecott Glacier Trail
5. Caribou Creek Trail

It’s important to note that these route descriptions are only short summaries, designed to inspire but not to serve any navigational purpose. They are not intended to guide you on the route and further mapping and planning will be required if you want to safely walk any of the trails featured. If you plan on hiking away from these trails and into the park’s backcountry, an experienced local guide is definitely needed.

Here’s our guide to the best walks in Wrangell-St Elias, when to visit and where to stay.

The Best Hikes in Wrangell-St. Elias, Mapped

Wrangell-St. Elias attracts backcountry backpackers in search of adventure. However, there are plenty of marked trails within the park - we've mapped some of our favourites.

5 of the Best Hikes in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

1) The Root Glacier Trail

• Start/Finish: Kennicott (out and back)
• Distance: 4 miles (6.4km)
• Walking time: 2 hours
• Difficulty: Easy
• Best for: Glacier Hiking

From the Kennecott Visitor Centre, walk through the town on the road towards the Root Glacier. After half a mile, the road splits - keep going straight. The trail crosses both Bonanza and Jumbo Creek and winds through the moraine of both the Kennicott and Root Glaciers.

“It's not a very difficult trail; it’s a very gently undulating path,” Ryan says. “You have the mountains on one side and you're overlooking the glacier and coming in and out of the woods for different viewpoints along the ice, and then you get right up to the edge out there towards the end.”

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Many people choose to combine this short trail with a guided glacier hike. Once you reach the tongue of Root Glacier, you’ll strap on your crampons and head out over the ice, passing along the ridged ice and past striking blue meltwater pools. You’ll likely be taken to see Stairway Icefall, a 2,133m-high (7,000ft) vertical wall of ice.

2) The Jumbo Mine Trail

• Start/Finish: Kennicott (out and back)
• Distance: 10 miles (16 km)
• Walking time: 6-8 hours
• Difficulty: Challenging
• Best for: Mountain and glacier views

The Jumbo Mine Trail begins by following the Root Glacier Trail for around half a mile, before turning off to the right, and climbing a steep hill. After around a mile you’ll see a sign pointing towards Jumbo Mine. Follow the trail, which will eventually cross Bonanza Creek - the flow of the river varies across the season, and might result in wet feet - and then take a steep trail to the left towards the old Jumbo Transfer Station, a tumbledown hut with views of the glaciated Chugach Mountains and the more verdant Kennicott Valley.

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Continue upwards towards the mine. The trail narrows and winds through rocky and sandy areas before reaching the scree slope leading to the mine. Here, the trail becomes less visible. Climb the slope, crossing some narrow tributaries of Jumbo Creek, and make for the nearest tram cable tower. Follow the path of the tram cables up a limestone slope, and up to the ruined mine; the area is still littered with ruined buildings and old tools. Castle Rock, an austere rock tower, looms over the site.

Ryan says the hike is a strenuous one. “There’s over a thousand metres of elevation gain from Kennicott,” he says. “It's a rarity that you would get a full group of people capable of making it up and back to one of those places. But because the initial path follows the Root Glacier Trail, people can divide up and choose the option that suits them best.”

3) Dixie Pass Trail

• Start/Finish: Kotsina Road (out and back)
• Distance: 18 miles (29.8km)
• Walking time: Overnight
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Best for: Wild alpine scenery

This trail gets you into Wrangell-St Elias’s pristine and remote alpine scenery via a road-accessible trailhead. Begin the trail at Kotsina Road, which branches off from Mile 14.5 of the McCarthy Road. Park in the small layby just after the Nugget Creek Trailhead (3.8 miles/6.1km from the McCarthy Road turnoff). Follow the trail through a woodland and along Strekna Creek. You’ll need to cross the creek at the first confluence (where the stream divides), after which point the trail becomes indistinct. Continue alongside the creek, following the left hand fork to a canyon. You can either wade up the canyon or scramble around it.

The route is a wildlife corridor for bears, so it’s imperative that you take bear-proof food storage containers with you.

After the third confluence, you’ll see a trail zig zagging up a hillside - follow it over the hill and into the bottom of an alpine valley. From here, you’ll need to pick a route up the next hillside towards Dixie Pass. In total, there’s around 1,143m (3,750ft) of elevation gain as you make your way up a rocky slope surrounded by craggy mountains. At certain times of year there might be a covering of snow on the pass.

This is a remote route suitable only for experienced hikers - we’d recommend travelling with a guide. You can camp along the route, although camping at the top of Dixie Pass isn’t recommended. The route is a wildlife corridor for bears, so it’s imperative that you take bear-proof food storage containers with you. For help with planning this trip, contact the Wrangell-St Elias visitor centre.

4) West Kennecott Glacier Trail

• Start/Finish: McCarthy (out and back)
• Distance: 2.4 miles (3.9km)
• Walking time: 1-2 hours
• Difficulty: Easy
• Best for: Mellow hiking with glacier views

The trailhead for this hike is located just past the Glacier View Campground on the outskirts of McCarthy. It’s a short, signposted trail across flat land, skirting the side of the mountain - and it will lead you up to the west side of the vast Kennecott Glacier. A mellow, easy hike with a big pay off in terms of views - but Ryan says, you don’t have to stop there.

“Getting to where the maintained area of the trail ends is about as far as most people that are novices go, because you really have to be paying attention beyond there,” he says. “However, it’s also an access point for some of the people that are going further out along the west side of the glacier. And once you get out there, you can continue hiking, meandering round the different glacial lakes there, and even following the rivers and streams.”

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In other words, it’s possible you can use this hike as a mini introduction to backcountry hiking. But Ryan cautions against going too far if you don’t have much experience - stay within the sight of the trail end unless you're seriously experienced, or better yet (as always), with a hired, expert guide.

5) Trail Creek Trail

• Start/Finish: Nabesna Road, Mile 29.5 marker (out and back)
• Distance: 20 miles (32.1 km)
• Walking time: 8-10 hours
• Difficulty: Challenging
• Best for: True wilderness

A full day hike beginning at Mile 29.8 of the Nabesna Road. Follow Trail Creek along a marked trail; after four miles (6.4km) you'll reach the mouth of Trail Creek Canyon. Two miles later, the canyon will narrow, and the marked trail ends.

From here, follow the first major path leading off from the canyon, and ascend towards the top of a 1828.8m-high (6,000ft) pass through lush alpine tundra, surrounded by mountains and rocky glaciers, following sheep trails. You'll reach the top of the pass, and can either turn back and return the way you've come, or continue hiking along the Lost Creek Trail.

This is a challenging hike if you complete the entire climb up to the pass, and is best undertaken with a guide.

When is the Best Time to Hike in Wrangell-St. Elias?

Hiking season in Wrangell-St. Elias is from mid-May to mid-September, which is when the McCarthy Road is open. Outside these times, it’s not maintained and could be impassable due to snowfall. You’re likely to find snow on the trails still in mid-May and into June. By mid-June the weather has become warmer, and the wildflowers are starting to bloom.

From mid-July to August is peak season in the park, with long daylight hours and the most stable weather of the year. The average summer temperature is 11°C (53F), with highs of 19.4°C (67F). It’ll get cooler as you transition to autumn, but you’ll be treated to the sight of autumn foliage, and the trails will be quieter. All throughout this period, however, you need to come prepared for all weather conditions, including rain and snow.

“When I spent my summers guiding in Alaska. I used to always say the Scottish phrase, ‘there's no such thing as bad weather, just bad gear’,” Ryan says. ‘I’d tell people that if we just get geared up, we can deal with whatever comes our way.”

What Animals Live in Wrangell-St. Elias?

Wrangell-St. Elias is home to a wide variety of animal species, including grizzly bears and black bears. Wolves, coyotes and lynx are other predators residing in the park. You’ll also find dall sheep in the alpine regions, moose and caribou, and small mammals such as beavers and porcupines.

Salmon, trout and Arctic grayling inhabit the park’s rivers and lakes. Golden eagles and peregrine falcons soar on thermals in the skies.

Where to Stay in Wrangell-St. Elias?

Ryan recommends basing yourself in McCarthy, one of the few towns within the park.

“It’s a really cool little town. A lot of the buildings are still from that time when it became a mining town. So Kennicott was where all the mining happened; McCarthy's where all of the nightlife happened - miners’ nightlife,” he says.

McCarthy has a handful of accommodation options, including several scenic campsites, a couple of B&Bs and some wooden cabins - these cater to a range of different budgets.

From McCarthy, you can take a shuttle van or hike the old Wagon Road to Kennicott, to explore this abandoned mining town with its stunning mountain and glacier backdrop. There are several accommodation options in Kennicott, including a restored mining lodge.

What to Eat in Wrangell-St. Elias?

If you’re travelling to Wrangell-St. Elias, we recommend you bring food and camping supplies with you, especially high energy hiking snacks. However, there is a small grocery store in McCarthy, and a few restaurants.

One of the most popular restaurants is The Potato, where you can expect carb-loaded comfort food including the ‘spudnik supreme’, handcut curly fries topped with cheese, sausage gravy, eggs and jalapenos. The Meatza Wagon, a food truck overlooking Kennicott Glacier, is another local favourite. Stop there after a busy day of hiking for subs, tacos and more.

How to Get to Wrangell-St. Elias?

By plane: The closest international airport to Wrangell-St. Elias is in Anchorage. Most travellers to the park fly in here and then hire a car. However, it's also possible to fly to the park from Anchorage. You'll need to take a flight to Gulkana and then one to McCarthy - an option offered by Reeve Air Alaska and Copper Valley Air a few times a week.

By Car: To get to Wrangell-St. Elias, you’ll need either to drive down the 60 mile (96.5km) McCarthy Road, which begins in Chitina and ends near McCarthy, or down the 42-mile (67.5km) Nabesna Road, which turns off the Glenn Highway and heads into the northern reaches of the park. Both roads are gravel - not all car rental companies allow you to drive down unpaved roads, so make sure you find one that does (Alaska Overlander is one option).

If you want to drive beyond Mile 29 of the Nabesna Road, you’ll need a high clearance vehicle like a jeep or SUV, as the road conditions deteriorate from this point.

Inspired? Explore Wrangell-St. Elias with us on our Ultimate Adventure Through Alaska.

I recently returned from a hiking trip where I climbed Morocco’s highest mountain, Mount Toubkal, setting off before dawn and struggling up steep scree slopes in the dark. We reached the ridgeline as the sun rose. The early morning light softly gilded the craggy silhouettes of the surrounding peaks. I snapped a photo, producing an insipid simulacrum of the view. Too tired to persist, I put my phone away and decided to enjoy the moment, instead of trying to record it.

The urge to capture moments from our lives is not a new part of being a human - we’ve been doing it since we painted the stories of our lives on the walls of caves. But the extent to which we do this has increased and intensified as technology has evolved. Our smartphones enable us to take hundreds of photos a day and to access those images instantly. We share these images on social media, where they're seen by hundreds of strangers, then we eagerly await the first ‘likes’.

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The usage of digital media, from online gaming to smartphones, has transformed the fabric of our daily lives. On average, people in the UK check their smartphone every 12 minutes of the waking day, whilst two in five adults look at their phone within five minutes of waking up. A 2022 report found that the average screen time among UK adults (in addition to work) is five hours a day.

Technology has numerous benefits. Messaging platforms like WhatsApp enable us to stay connected with friends across the world. Social media can help people build communities of likeminded individuals. But while we acknowledge these benefits, this feature focuses on the negative effects of technology.  It questions what about digital media is taking up so much of our time and attention. Are there any adverse effects to excessive technology use? What can be gained from doing a ‘digital detox’ - putting our phones away and abstaining from digital media use altogether?

The Effects of Technology

Dr Daria Kuss, an academic specialising in cyberpsychology, has been researching the problematic usage of technology for over 15 years, including gaming, smartphone usage and online dating. She quickly makes the distinction between addictive behaviour and problematic use - the former, she says, can only be applied to a small number of people.

“The key criteria for addiction is significant impairment - when you find that your usage is significantly impairing your work, your school life, your relationships with peers, family members and partner,” she says. “If this is the case for an extended period of time, this may be the indication that there’s a more serious problem.”

Excessive screen time has been associated with anxiety, depression and body dysmorphic disorder in some instances

While few of us experience this level of impairment, chances are we’ve been distracted from work by a juicy bit of gossip on a WhatsApp chat, or from what a partner is saying by a funny video on Instagram. And the more time we spend online, the higher the likelihood of experiencing adverse mental and physical effects.

“From a physical perspective, sedentary behaviour is very problematic - it can lead to obesity which is associated with a number of physical and mental health problems,” Dr. Kuss says. “Then there is the impact on sleep. We know, especially in young people, sleep can be detrimentally impacted by technology usage, especially just before bedtime - exposure to bright lights at night negatively impacts circadian rhythms and melatonin production, which are essential for good sleep. During stages of psychosocial maturation, when children’s brains and bodies are still developing, not getting enough sleep can lead to developmental problems. Lack of sleep is associated with depression and anxiety in adults.

“From the psychological perspective we also know that excessive screen time has been associated with anxiety, depression and body dysmorphic disorder in some instances,” Dr. Kuss says. “When people have problems with their body image it can be exacerbated through excessive social media use.”

If we want to understand the extent to which technology impacts us, we need to understand the concept of ‘neuroplasticity’, which is how the brain changes in response to new stimuli and experiences. The most basic unit in the brain is a neuron, which transmits signals and information to adjacent neurons via synapses, and creates connections within the nervous systems. Synapses that are used frequently become stronger, whereas those used less frequently atrophy through underuse.

For example, musicians have more developed motor, auditory and visuospatial brain regions than non-musicians; basketball players have enlarged cerebellums (the area of the brain coordinating the body’s movements). In other words, the activities you engage in affect the structure of your brain - even passive processes such as scrolling through social media.

Digital technology use has shaped our brains in numerous ways. An increasing body of research suggests that heavy media multitasking (juggling multiple media streams) is associated with increased activity in the brain’s prefrontal regions - the area associated with maintaining goals in the face of distraction - meaning people are having to work harder to focus. Heavy media multitasking impacts concentration, and can cause burnout and fatigue.

Excessive social media use can also cause changes in brain chemistry. A 2017 study by He and al. suggests it can lead to a ‘pruned’ amygdala - a part of the brain associated with emotional processes and decision-making - making it harder to regulate emotions. But what is it about social media that demands so much of our attention?

“When you use social media, the first thing you see will probably be a lot of colours and lights. Our brains get engaged with that sort of thing, and all the nice photos and videos you might see,” Dr Kuss explains. “Then of course there are also the reward functions of a lot of social media applications - likes and comments. Whenever we receive a like for one of our posts, our brain will immediately be triggered, and a reward will be associated with that sort of ‘like’ button press.

“The brain learns to associate a reward with the activity of scrolling through social media, and it will then expect you to use social media in order to get that reward. In time you’ll have to use it significantly more - spending significantly more time on social media and your smartphone - to get the same pleasurable result. In some people this can lead to habituation, excessive use, and the development of some addiction symptoms.”

The bottom line is that tech companies are trying to make money, and they make money by way of people’s attention

An increasing number of articles even go as far as to suggest that big tech companies are deliberately manipulating us into ‘getting hooked’ to their products.

“I don’t necessarily think that companies have the intention of getting people addicted to their technology in the clinical sense,” Dr Kuss says. “But I have no doubt that they are trying to get people to spend as much time as possible on the platforms, because from their point of view it makes sense.

“It’s an attention economy. The bottom line is that tech companies are trying to make money, and they make money by way of people’s attention. If they can get people’s attention, that’s how they can sell them advertisements. So from that perspective, from a business point of view, it makes sense to get people to stay on your platform as long as possible, and interact with it as much as they can.”

Reasons to do a Digi Detox

There’s evidence to show that even just having your smartphone in front of you can impair your concentration. The obvious solution: put it away.

“Out of sight, out of mind. If you put your phone away, you’ll be free to do other things - things that are maybe more important,” Dr Kuss says. “Specify a certain time in the day where you decide to use your social media - maybe half an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening, to get it out of your system and use it to connect with people.

“In a family environment, make sure everyone puts their phones away while having dinner together, so you’re modelling these behaviours for children. Also, in the work environment, if the phone is not essential for your job, if you can put it in your bag or a different room, I would really recommend that.”

If you’re going away on a trip into nature for a couple of weeks, you’ll find it so much easier to not use your technology in comparison to your regular working life

But what about completely switching off? No phone, no computer and no Wi-fi for a specified period of time - a full digi detox. Dr Kuss has conducted a social media abstinence trial, where users were asked to abstain from using social media for a week. Overall, participants reported an increase in mental wellbeing, a decrease in FoMo (‘fear of missing out’), and overall spent an hour less on their smartphones every day.

Some people might find the idea of being without a smartphone or technology difficult. The easiest way to ‘detox’, Dr Kuss says, is to remove yourself from your everyday life.

“Certainly from case study reports, people find it much easier to detox from technology when they are outside of their regular environment,” she says. “If you’re going away on a trip into nature for a couple of weeks, you’ll find it so much easier to not use your technology in comparison to your regular working life, where you’re accustomed to using technology throughout the day.

“I would certainly advocate a digi detox that enables people to get some headspace, not feel like they have to fill every second with scrolling through social media channels, and to do something else instead.”

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My husband and I do a digital detox every year. We stay in a shepherd’s hut in Snowdonia, where there is no electricity and no phone signal. We spend our days walking, our afternoons reading and nights around the campfire. A river runs past the campsite, and we fall asleep (much earlier than usual) listening to its soothing burbling sound.

Whenever I do this, I notice that I’ve become calmer. Time feels somehow slower and richer. My attention isn’t as scattered - I can concentrate better on my book, or on conversations with my husband. Without digital distractions to occupy my attention, I’m able to reclaim it. What’s more, I’m also experiencing the myriad physical and mental benefits of being out in nature: improved focus and decreased stress.

A study into the effects of Shinrin-yoku, or ‘forest bathing’, showed participants had decreased levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) and reduced activity in the prefrontal cortex, an area referred to as ‘the brain’s command centre’, giving this overused area time to rest and rejuvenate. In short, nature is restorative - a way to counteract the stresses of modern life - and putting your phone away allows you to experience it without any distraction.

But not everyone likes the idea of a quiet nature retreat. Especially if you’re used to being busy, the silence and stillness might feel unnerving. If that’s the case, an active adventure might be a better option for a digi detox.

When I was hiking in Morocco, my entire focus was taken up by the physical and mental challenge of reaching the summit. I had neither the energy nor the interest to wonder whether anyone had messaged me. My smartphone didn’t stand a chance against the arid peaks of the High Atlas in the competition for my attention. Surrounded by mountains, I was reminded how small I was in the grand scheme of things, and of the vastness and beauty of the world around me.

Inspired? Try a digi detox on one of our expeditions around the world, or any of our other epic adventures.

November is the cold end of autumn in the northern hemisphere; the start of winter and not a month traditionally associated with travel. The days get dark earlier in November, and the seasonal chill means that certain mountains will require specialist winter equipment. The world is a big place, though - and even a quick bit of research will show you that while November might rule out certain locations for trekking, in other places, it means fewer crowds, cheaper accomodation, vibrant autumn colours or even sunshine.

As the American naturalist Henry David Thoreau scribbled: "the thinnest yellow light of November is more warming and exhilarating than any wine they tell of."

Hike amongst eternal spring, visit archipelagos where you can bask in summer heat - or climb snowy mountains fitted with crampons.

Life moves at a slower pace in November. Tourists are less common - so locals are a bit more relaxed. Of course, in the southern hemisphere, the scene is different. November in New Zealand, for example, marks the end of spring and the beginning of summer. Temperatures are heating up, and the hiking season is well underway. This is a great time for those who like their adventures social.

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What this ultimately means - obviously - is that the best place to go in November is subjective, and entirely dependent on what sort of conditions and activities you’re looking for. What we can say for sure, though, is that you shouldn’t write off the month of November. While everyone else is sulking at the days getting shorter, you can be hiking amongst eternal spring, visiting archipelagos where you can bask in summer heat - or climb snowy mountains fitted with crampons.

Here’s our guide to the best travel destinations in November - a month for those with wanderlust, who like to travel smart.

1. Madeira, Portugal

• Season: Autumn/winter
• Temperature: 14°C high, 9ºC low
• Time zone: GMT+1
• Currency: Euro
• Best for: Escaping to eternal spring

Madeira is a Portuguese island which sits 607 miles (978km) off the coast of Lisbon in the Atlantic Ocean. You may have heard it referred to as the “Hawaii of Europe” (albeit, usually in clickbait headlines) but the hype is real. Madeira is covered in high mountains ideal for hiking, surrounded by dreamy surf waves and it’s made a name for itself in the world of mountain biking, too.

Most famously, it’s known as the “land of eternal spring”, as it doesn’t get particularly cold at any time of year. Conditions remain cool, often warm, and ideal for adventure year-round. This may make a little more sense when you realise that the island sits on the African plate, and is actually closer to Morocco than it is to Portugal. It’s an obvious spot for a November adventure.

How to get there? You don’t need to be a football fan to get this reference. Fly into the Cristiano Ronaldo Madeira International Airport, in the city of Santa Cruz.

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2. The Albanian Riviera, Albania

• Season: Autumn/winter
• Temperature: 17°C high, 8ºC low (for Dhërmi)
• Time zone: GMT+2
• Currency: Albanian Lek
• Best for: Coastal hiking

The Albanian coastline has become a popular getaway in recent years for people looking to soak in the sun on white sand beaches, where warm water laps up on the shores, without a mega price tag. It certainly ticks all those boxes, too. Looking out at the Greek island of Corfu, with beaches backdropped by mountains, Albania is an affordable, astonishingly beautiful place to visit.

Rather than going in the high season, when the beaches and towns are crowded, why not visit in the off-season, when the locals are more relaxed, and the well-marked hiking trails are empty? Even in November, the weather here is still good for hiking, the rivers for rafting - and the coastline is likely to be even more affordable than in summer; plus, you won’t see so many crowds.

How to get there? The closest international airport to the Albanian Riviera is the capital of Tirana, which is 75 miles (121km) away. The Riviera is a four hour bus ride from here.

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3. Santiago and Fogo Island, Cape Verde

• Season: Autumn/winter
• Temperature: 29°C high, 23ºC low
• Time zone: GMT-1
• Currency: Cape Verdean Escudo
• Best for: November beach weather

Cape Verde is an island of music; of African-Portuguese culture and remarkable nature. Hit the ash-covered slopes and hike to the top of Pico do Fogo (2,829m), which is an active stratovolcano and the highest point in all of Cape Verde. Then take to the Calabaceira Valley and Serra Malagueta Natural Park and wild swim in crystal clear pools, sculpted by lava.

The trekking in Cape Verde is very much good year-round, but in November you’ll find temperatures more palatable to most - the average high is 28°C. Leave the sideways rain at home and walk up mountains, with blue skies above.

How to get there? Amílcar Cabral International Airport is the main airport of Cape Verde. It’s on Sal Island. There are also international airports on Santiago, São Vicente and Boavista.

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4. Picos de Europa, Spain

• Season: Autumn/winter
• Temperature: 18°C high, 7ºC low
• Time zone: GMT+1
• Currency: Euro
• Best for: A rocky, rugged, autumn experience

This small but mighty mountain range in northern Spain has so much to offer; from serious mountaineering and rock climbing to leisurely - but remarkably-scenic hikes like that along the Ruta del Cares gorge. Then there’s the canoeing and kayaking to be done in the area, and the gorge walking through natural cracks in the rock faces, while families of (benevolent) vultures circle above.

The area is becoming increasingly popular with adventure enthusiasts for obvious reasons. Go in summer and while beautiful, it may be busy. Visit in November and you’ll catch the tail end of the autumn colours, dotted around the landscape, and you’ll find tourists are few and far between.

How to get there? The Picos de Europa are served by various airports. Santander and Asturias Airport are around a 90-minute drive from the Picos de Europa. Bilbao Airport is an hour further.

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5. Viñales, Cuba

• Season: Dry season
• Temperature: 29°C high, 19ºC low
• Time zone: GMT-4
• Currency: Cuban Peso
• Best for: A multi-activity adventure in the sun

The colourful cars and mojitos of Havana are world famous, but get out along the western coast of the country and you’ll find Jurassic landscapes with far-reaching views of glimmering ocean.

Head to the Viñales Valley and you’ll find the Mural de la Prehistoria, a colourful mural painted on a stone hillside, and explore the countryside and mountains beyond. This is a World Heritage Site, famed for its farming practices but remarkable for its beauty. There are tobacco farms here where you can learn about cigar production and there’s a small town to explore at your own pace. Visit in November and the temperature is typically warm, without rising to baking heat.

How to get there? There are a full 10 international airports in Cuba. The main two are the José Martí International Airport in Havana and the second largest airport in Cuba, Varadero Airport.

Cycle the Backroads of Cuba | Much Better Adventures

Join a cycling adventure across Cuba with like-minded folk. Discover old fishing villages, white sand beaches, Che Guevara’s hideouts and sip mojitos in Havana.

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6. Yasuní National Park, Ecuador

• Season: End of rainy season
• Temperature: 31°C high, 20.5ºC low
• Time zone: GMT-5
• Currency: US Dollar
• Best for: Wildlife watching

The facts are clear on this one. Yasuni - which sits within Amazonian Ecuador - is home to 1000s of species of plants. It’s also a place where over 650 species of tree can be found within a single hectare of forest. You’ll find 130 globally-threatened species of animals here, including giant armadillos and white-bellied spider monkeys, and remarkably, there are over 1400 distinct species of animal in Yasuni National Park alone. Welcome to one of the most biodiverse places on planet Earth. November is a particularly good month to visit for wildlife watching, as it is technically still rainy season, which means you’ll get more wildlife out and about, but the rain is seriously easing up, so you shouldn't have to hike in it all day.

How to get there? Start your adventure by reaching Quito, the capital of Ecuador, where there is the Mariscal Sucre International Airport.

Amazon Rainforest Adventure in Ecuador | Much Better Adventures

This epic Amazon adventure trip sees you hike through primary rainforest & camp on the river’s edge in the Yasuni Biosphere Reserve, which teems with wildlife.

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7. The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains, Colombia

• Season: End of rainy season
• Temperature: 32°C high, 24ºC low (for Santa Marta)
• Time zone: GMT-5
• Currency: Colombian Peso
• Best for: A full-on jungle experience

Hiking into the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta jungle - the highest coastal mountains in the world - is an immersion in greenery. One moment you’ll be hiking along a narrow, winding trail deep in the flora, the next you’ll be wading through a river, and after that, you’ll find yourself on an open plane looking out over a layering forest, which reaches as far as the eye can see.

The jungle is today still home to a range of indigenous tribes, who now guide tours to reach the Lost City, a sacred, ancient citadel hidden at the top of a long, winding staircase deep in the mountains. They use the income to uphold their traditions and to buy land. November is the tail end of the wet season here. You’ll probably see the odd downpour, but they tend to come thick, fast and then end relatively quickly. In return, you’ll have a more tranquil hiking experience.

How to get there? It’s likely your adventure will start at either the international airport in Medellin (Jose Maria Cordova International Airport) or El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá; though the closest airport to the jungle is the Simón Bolívar International Airport in Santa Marta.

Trek Colombia’s Mountains and Lost City | Much Better Adventures

Journey through dense jungle and high-altitude paramos, wade across waist-deep rivers and climb ancient volcanoes to discover the secrets of Colombia’s Lost City.

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8. The Drakensberg Mountains, South Africa

• Season: Spring/Summer
• Temperature: 25°C high, 12.4ºC low
• Time zone: GMT+2
• Currency: South African Rand
• Best for: Summer vibes and fantastic flora

The Drakensberg is a huge green wall which rises up to backdrop rolling hills and rivers. The range forms the natural border between South Africa and Lesotho, and in the higher reaches of the mountains, you’ll find challenging hiking trails which include chain ladders, leading to peaks.

November is summer in South Africa, and is possibly the best time for those who want to see as much of the flora as they can. It's also the rainy season, so do be prepared for sudden storms - particularly as this area can be very exposed.

How to get there? The best way to reach the Drakensberg is to fly into King Shaka International Airport in Durban or the O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.

Hike, Kayak and Wild Swim South Africa | Much Better Adventures

Join expert guides to hike, paddle and swim your way from the Drakensberg Mountains to the Wild Coast with a small group of like-minded adventurers.

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9. Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda

• Season: Rainy season
• Temperature: 26°C high, 16ºC low
• Time zone: GMT+2
• Currency: Rwandan Franc
• Best for: Seeing mountain gorillas and birds

Rwanda is a place of ancient rainforests, emerald lakes and mountain gorillas. Head to the Nyungwe National Park and you can take a canopy walk above treetops. Kayak on Lake Kivu, one of the Great Lakes of Africa, and camp under the stars. Cycle through the coffee fields and visit Volcanoes National Park - where you can take the famous hike to see mountain gorillas.

Now, it may seem slightly wild to suggest visiting during the rainy season, but if you don’t mind the odd shower (or downpour), then there are a lot of rewards to be had. The flora is more vibrant and pungent, and the wildlife more active during the rainy season. Notably, birdwatchers like to visit during this time, as the rights plants are in the right season to attract more birds.

More than 200 species of bird live here - most of which you won’t have heard of. Rwenzori turaco, anybody? It’s a small plump, multicoloured bird. Adorable.

How to get there? Your adventure is most likely to start at Kigali International Airport, in the capital of Rwanda.

The Ultimate Adventure Through Rwanda | Much Better Adventures

Join our action-packed small group adventure among ancient rainforests and emerald lakes in Africa’s wild heart, home to the iconic mountain gorillas.

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10. Mount Toubkal, Morocco

• Season: Autumn/winter
• Temperature: 25°C high, 10ºC low (for Imlil)
• Time zone: GMT+1
• Currency: Moroccan Dirham
• Best for: A winter mountain summit

If you’re looking to tackle your first serious mountain summit in winter, then consider the mighty Mount Toubkal - the tallest peak in Morocco and North Africa.

This hike is typically split over two days. The first takes you up to the Toubkal refuge. The second will then take you up to the summit of Mount Toubkal and back down to the base. Snow usually starts gathering on Toubkal around October or November, so while you may not find the mountain entirely coated in the white stuff in November, it’s likely you’ll get a taste of it. Depending on conditions, ice axes and crampons may be required on the summit hike.

How to get there? Most people visiting the Atlas Mountains first fly into Marrakech Airport.

Climb Mount Toubkal: The Winter Edition | Much Better Adventures

Don your crampons for a serious adventure and trek your way up the mighty Mount Toubkal in the height of winter. Expert mountain guides will lead the way.

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11.  Okavango Delta, Botswana

• Season: Start of wet season
• Temperature: 34°C high, 20ºC low
• Time zone: GMT+2
• Currency: Botswana Pula
• Best for: A November safari

The Okavango Delta is an enormous alluvial fan; a thriving wetland which is home to over 400 species of bird and around 200 species of mammals - from African elephants, hippopotamus, rhinoceros and wild dogs to lions, crocodiles and leopards. The concentration of animals across the delta makes this one of the best places to watch wildlife in the world.

If you’ve got your heart set on safari, don’t rule out doing so in November. This is considered a shoulder season here, with the high season being the dry, summer months (as animals congregate round the watering holes, and you can see the zebra migration). In November, the first rains come and green grass returns to the delta. It's the calving season, and so you can expect to see extremely small antelope dotted around, the weather will be a lot cooler with the arrival of rain, but many animals will still be in the habit of drinking at the main watering holes.

How to get there? ​​Windhoek International Airport is the gateway to adventures combining Namibia and Botswana, while the nearest international airport to Okavango Delta is Maun.

Desert to Delta Journey in Namibia and Botswana | Much Better Adventures

Join a small group adventure for the ultimate Africa combo – via towering sand dunes, the Kalahari Desert and wildlife-packed national parks.

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12. Dahar, Tunisia

• Season: Autumn/winter
• Temperature: 20°C high, 12ºC low
• Time zone: GMT+1
• Currency: Tunisia Dinar
• Best for: Combining hiking trails with cultural immersion

There are a lot of even seasoned travellers who don’t know too much about Tunisia. So let us tell you a little bit about it. In the rocky south, which can feel a bit like a mountainous moonscape, there are orange-hued canyons, remote Berber settlements, vast Saharan dunes and nestled amongst it all, lush green oases.

Dahar is home to one of the oldest mountain ranges in Africa - inhabited by the indigenous Amazigh people (who most refer to as the Berbers). The Great Dahar Crossing is a long-distance, 12-day trail in the area, and walking it is a total, complete immersion in both landscape and culture. Tunisia is a hot country. Go in November and you’ll find the trails quiet and the intense heat will have gone.

How to get there? The main airport in Tunisia is Tunis-Carthage International Airport. Many adventures, however, will start at the Enfidha-Hammamet International Airport.

Hike Desert, Canyons and Berber Villages in Tunisia | Much Better Adventures

Join this small group adventure to hike amongst orange-hued canyons, lush green oases, Berber villages and vast Saharan dunes.

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13. The Kumano Kodo, Japan

• Season: Autumn/winter
• Temperature: 18°C high, 9ºC low
• Time zone: GMT+4
• Currency: Japanese Yen
• Best for: Experiencing Japanese fall

The Kumano Kodo is a historic, 190-mile (370km) network of pilgrimage trails south of Osaka, The network consists of five interconnected routes which run through the Kumano region of Japan, on the mountainous Kii Peninsula. Alongside the legendary Camino de Santiago in Spain, they’re actually the only pilgrimage routes in the world with UNESCO World Heritage designation. Walk them, and you can connect with the beauty and spirituality of Japan.

This route is heavily based in forests which start to take on autumnal yellows in October. For a full autumn colour palette, walk the route in November.

How to get there? Japan has an excellent rail service, which extends to the Kii Peninsula. The nearest international airport is the Kansai International, which is just outside of Osaka.

The Ultimate Adventure Through Japan | Much Better Adventures

Join a small group of travellers to hike to Japan’s iconic sites & wild spots via neon cities, ancient temples, sacred mountains and pilgrimage trails.

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14. The Pekoe Trail, Sri Lanka

• Season: North-east monsoon season
• Temperature: 30°C high, 22ºC low
• Time zone: GMT+5:30
• Currency: Sri Lankan Rupee
• Best for: A long-distance hiking trip

Sri Lanka is an island which pulls at the heartstrings. Most people know about the likes of Sigiriya, the ancient rock fortress in the northern Matale District, and many will have seen photos of the famously beautiful train route from Kandy to Ella. Take on the long-distance Pekoe Trail and you can experience both of these - and so much more. This relatively new walking route is an 186-mile (300km) epic through the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka. You’ll combine tea plantations with mountain terrain, rarely straying far from immersive, lush greenery.

November is shoulder season in Sri Lanka. That means you might get the odd thunderstorm (which is pretty cool to watch, although you do have to be prepared for it), but you’ll also find lower prices, shorter lines at the famous spots, and the locals tend to be a bit more relaxed too.

How to get there? Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo (which is the capital city) is the main airport in Sri Lanka.

The Ultimate Adventure Through Sri Lanka | Much Better Adventures

Join an active, small group trip to hike, cycle, surf and do yoga through Sri Lanka’s jungles, rural villages, wildlife reserves, and tropical beaches.

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15. The Maldives

• Season: End of wet season
• Temperature: 30°C high, 27ºC low
• Time zone: GMT+5
• Currency: Maldivian Rufiyaa
• Best for: Forgetting about winter altogether

When most people think of the Maldives they think of flop and fry tourism; and the all-inclusive resort. There’s a whole lot of that on the Maldives, sure, but go down that route and you'll miss the community-centred tourism which is now thriving here - and which lets you both benefit locals and really discover the island culture.

The Maldives is made up of 1,192 islands in total, 187 of which are inhabited. Here, you can swim with whale sharks, snorkel above colourful reefs, explore the quiet and dreamy islands of the Maldives by kayak and SUP. Travel in November and you can do all of the above - enjoying high-20ºCs weather all month. If you're looking for summer in winter, then this is the place to go.

How to get there? Fly to Male Velana International Airport to start your adventure in the Maldives.

Island Hopping Adventure in the Real Maldives | Much Better Adventures

Relax into authentic island life on this easygoing adventure in South Ari Atoll, paddling in tropical waters away from the resorts with a local guide.

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16. Tian Shan Mountains, Kyrgyzstan

• Season: Autumn/winter
• Temperature: 22°C high, -2ºC low
• Time zone: GMT+6
• Currency: Kyrgystani Som
• Best for: Those with wanderlust

Kyrgyzstan makes people fall in love with the world all over again. This is a vast country - home to ancient cultures, nomads and to the Tian Shan mountains, which are perhaps the most spectacular mountain range in Central Asia.

Snowshoe through the snowy landscape of November and you will see this wilderness in all its glory. Valleys are dotted with mountain lakes and forests rise up the slopes. Go horse riding in the backcountry and meet the legendary eagle hunters of the region - combining stunning landscapes with utterly unique culture.

November is a time when the skies are clear, the water has a shallow, glacial blue and wild spaces are touched with snow. Travel is Kyrgyzstan takes planning - but it’s a place where you can reconnect with nature; and indeed with the world.

How to get there? The most popular way to reach Kyrgyzstan is to fly into Manas International Airport in Bishkek.

Kyrgyzstan in Winter: Snowshoeing, Horseriding & Sauna Trip | Much Better Adventures

Join a small group tour on this winter adventure of hiking, horse riding and snowshoeing through Kyrgyzstan, warming up in banya saunas as you go.

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17. The Jordan Trail, Jordan

• Season: Autumn/winter
• Temperature: 22°C high, 8ºC low (for Petra)
• Time zone: GMT+3
• Currency: Jordanian Dinar
• Best for: Combining a world wonder with a proper hike

Everyone knows about Petra. This legendary, ancient city, built into the rocks in Jordan, is one of the world’s most fascinating cultural and architectural sites.

The history, which dates back to the 3rd century BC, defies belief. This was one one of the world's great trading posts. Today, Petra attracts a lot of tourism, but many travellers bus into the destination, have a look around, and then leave again - meaning that not only do they not see the beauty of the surrounding area, they also don’t have much positive impact on the local economy.

The Jordan Trail is a long-distance route through Jordan which runs the length of the country, passing through both Peter and Wadi Rum, the otherworldly landscape where The Martian was filmed, but also taking in so, so much more. It was set up to improve the benefits of tourism for the communities of Jordan.

So, why November? Hiking in Jordan can be tough due to the heat in the height of summer. This isn’t so much of an issue in November - although it should be noted that as the winds come in, nights do get cold.

How to get there? The capital of Jordan, Amman, and its airport are the gateway to Jordan.

Cycle the Jordan Trail to Petra | Much Better Adventures

Pedal with local experts through desert landscapes on sections of the Jordan Bike Trail. You’ll pause at Petra, be wowed by Wadi Rum and float in the Dead Sea.

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18. The Himalayas, Nepal

• Season: Autumn/winter
• Temperature: 9°C high, -2°C low (for Lukla)
• Time zone: GMT +5:45
• Currency: Nepalese Rupee
• Best for: Experiencing the world’s biggest mountains

The Himalayas of Nepal are home to the highest mountains of the world; notably Mount Everest, which at 8,848m (29,028ft) is the tallest peak in the world. The long-distance trek to reach Everest Base Camp is famous in its own right, of course, but it’s not the only excellent trek in the region. There’s also the Annapurna Circuit, or the Annapurna Sanctuary trek, which runs to the base camp of the eponymous Annapurna, the 10th highest mountain in the world.

The Himalayas are a hiker's dream; a place where nature is at its largest, and so you will always feel small, in awe, and in a state of sheer tranquility. This is a sublime, awesome place. Visit in November and you’ll be hiking with clear skies, before the winter season kicks in, and without the extreme heat of summer.

How to get there? You’ll first need to get to Kathmandu. If it’s the Everest Base Camp trek that you’re doing, you’ll then want to fly on to the famous Tenzing-Hillary airport in Lukla.

Climb Mera Peak (6461m) | Much Better Adventures

Join expert climbing guides in the Himalayas to conquer the highest trekking peak in Nepal and bask in epic views of the world’s highest mountains.

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19. Cao Bằng, Vietnam

• Season: Winter
• Temperature: 24°C high, 16ºC low
• Time zone: GMT+7
• Currency: Vietnam Dong
• Best for: Idyllic waterfalls

Vietnam is a backpacking haven, but focus on the north of Vietnam and you’ll also find that there’s a quiet adventure paradise waiting to be discovered.

Cao Bằng is a city on the bank of the Bằng Giang river. It’s the perfect base from which to explore. The remarkable Bản Giốc waterfalls look like the sort of place a Disney character would stumble upon while looking for Atlantis. There are layers of waterfalls and turquoise blue lagoons surrounded by tall trees and lush greenery. Elsewhere, explore the Ngườm Ngao Cave system, and visit Thang Hen Lake - where 36 smaller lakes connect through caves and passages.

November brings the perfect temperature for outdoor activities here; and the sunsets are sublime.

How to get there? Fly to Hanoi and then you can grab a five hour bus to Cao Bằng.

Trek the Remote Trails of Northern Vietnam | Much Better Adventures

Join a small group of adventurers to explore a wild corner of Southeast Asia, on this remote trek in Vietnam’s far north. Led by local, expert guides.

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20. The South Island, New Zealand

• Season: Spring/Summer
• Temperature: 20°C high, 10ºC low
• Time zone: GMT+12
• Currency: New Zealand Dollar
• Best for: An adventurous heart

Ask around and you’ll soon find out that while the north island might be beautiful, the south island of New Zealand is where the real adventures are at.

On the west coast, you can traverse the Southern Alps and ride the West Coast Wilderness Trail. A crossing of Goat Pass will take you deep into the interior, on a boulder-hopping, river-crossing adventure, and if you hike up to Bealey Hut you’ll earn a sublime view of the Waimakariri River and the peaks of Arthur’s Pass National Park. Incidentally, the Waimakariri River - which is a remarkable, bright shade of blue - is also an ideal spot for rafting between high canyon walls.

Arriving in November here means you’re arriving just as summer is about to kick off. You won't be alone; but you will have great conditions - for both outdoor adventure and meeting new people.

How to get there? Fly to Auckland (the capital, which is on the north island of New Zealand), then fly or get the bus to Kerikeri or Kaitaia. From their, take a tourist bus to Cape Reinga.

Coast to Coast Expedition Across New Zealand | Much Better Adventures

Join a small group of active adventurers for the challenge of a lifetime, hiking, biking and rafting across New Zealand’s South Island.

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Inspired? Browse our full range of adventure holidays now!

October is considered the ‘shoulder season’, in many countries of the world - after the summer crowds and heat have abated in Europe, or at the tail-end of the monsoon season in Asia.

In the northern hemisphere, we associate it with the arrival of autumn. With crisp, cool mornings and a blaze of autumn foliage, making it an ideal time for hiking - especially in the more southerly mediterranean countries, which see less rainfall. Meanwhile, in the southern hemisphere, October heralds the beginning of spring - and the advent of warmer weather - for much of South America, and particularly for countries such as New Zealand and Australia.

In countries such as Nepal, India and Thailand, the monsoon season will have abated by October. The landscape is verdant from months of rain, but the weather is settled - it's the start of the hiking season in the Himalayas. In Thailand, the rivers will still be full from the recent monsoon season, so it’s an ideal time to go kayaking or canoeing.

October is also a prime month for visiting Africa. In the northern countries, such as Morocco, the searing summer heat has died down. Meanwhile, African countries in the southern hemisphere - such as Botswana and Madagascar - are heading into the sizzling summer months. It’s a good time to go on safari, October being one of the best game-viewing months in southern Africa, when thirsty animals gather around watering holes.

We’ve compiled a list of the best places to visit in October in the world, which showcase the variety of this month. You can be trekking in the Himalayas, island-hopping in Sicily, or on safari in Botswana’s Okavango Delta.

1. The Turkish Riviera, Turkey

• Season: Autumn
• Temperature: 28°C high, 13ºC low
• Time zone: GMT+3
• Currency: Turkish Lira
• Best for: Swimming in the Mediterranean

The Turkish Riviera, also known as the Turquoise Coast thanks to its sparkling waters, is located in the southwest of the country. Alongside its 620 miles (997km) of shoreline, there are numerous cultural attractions, from the perpetually flaming rocks of Chimera to two of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: the Mausoleum of Maussollos in Halicarnassus; and the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus.

There are plenty of opportunities for adventure in the region, whether that’s hiking along the coastal trails of the Lycian Way, sea kayaking to the sunken city of Dolikhiste or SUPing through the Kapuz Canyon.

Hike, Kayak and Sail in Turkey | Much Better Adventures

Join a small group of like-minded travellers to paddle to crystalline coves, wander along the Lycian Way, and cool off in the glittering sea as you go.

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October is an ideal time to visit the Turkish Riviera - temperatures across the month average around 20°C, with three to four days of rain across the month. What’s more, the ocean temperature during these months is a balmy 24°C.

How to get there? The coast is served by two airports, both international - Antalya, in the east, and Dalaman in the west.

2. Menorca, Balearic Islands

• Season: Autumn
• Temperature: 23°C high, 16ºC low
• Time zone: GMT+2
• Currency: Euro
• Best for: Deserted beaches

Most people visit the island of Menorca to relax - and with hundreds of golden coves tucked into its rugged coastline, it's an ideal place for a beach break. But you can have more active adventures here too, with plenty of quiet hiking trails - the multi-day Camí de Cavalls encircles the island. -or sea kayaking around the island’s coast, swimming and wild camping on beaches only accessible by boat.

Sea Kayak and Wild Camp in Menorca | Much Better Adventures

Sign up to an epic Menorcan mini-adventure paddling to secluded coves & wild camping on deserted beaches - 100km of coastal kayaking over four incredible days.

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Temperatures are pleasant in October in Menorca, averaging around 19ºC. You may experience a few showers (October has an average of seven rainy days, but only 8.5mm of precipitation spread out across the month), so pack a light rain jacket. The potential of rain might put you off sunbathing on the beach, but it’s an ideal month for watersports and swimming, since sea temperatures are around 23°C.

How to get there? Head to Menorca Airport (MAH), to explore the rest of the island.

3. Abruzzo, Italy

• Season: Autumn
• Temperature: 15°C - 23°C high, 7°C - 13°C
• Time zone: GMT +2
• Currency: Euro
• Best for: Autumn foliage and flavours

The relatively undiscovered Italian region of Abruzzo has three national parks and 37 nature reserves.  “They say the region is the greenest in Europe, because such a big portion of the land is protected by parks or reserves," says Angela Tavone, of Rewilding Apennines.

One of these is Maiella National Park, protecting an area of the Apennine Mountains; karst peaks and limestone caves, enshrouded in verdant forest. The province extends to the coast, where you’ll find sandy coves fringed with pine trees.

Hike, Bike and Canoe in Abruzzo | Much Better Adventures

Discover Italy’s great wilderness on a small group adventure. Explore lunar landscapes, high plateaus and sparkling rivers in the Central Apennines.

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Hike through dense pine forest to reach Anfiteatro Murelle (2596m), an imposing rocky ampitheatre overlooking a lunar-like environment. Canoe up the Tirino River, said to have the cleanest waters in Europe. There are also plenty of cultural landmarks to explore - we recommend the fortified hamlet of Rocca Calascio, with its dramatic castle ruins.

October is a delightful month to visit Abruzzo, with autumn colours beginning to tinge the foliage, and the summer tourists having departed. Come expecting several days of light rain, pleasantly warm days and cooler evenings.

How to get there? Pescara Airport is the closest to the Abruzzo region, but there are more international flights from Rome, several hours’ drive from Abruzzo.

4. The Okavango Delta, Botswana

• Season: Dry (summer)
• Temperature: 37°C high, 20°C low
• Time zone: GMT+2
• Currency: Botswana Pula
• Best for: Epic safaris

Botswana’s Okavango Delta is one of the world's largest inland deltas (a convex wetland formed when a river flows into a lake or sea - in this case where the Okavango River empties onto a tectonic trough in the Kalahari Basin), and a UNESCO heritage site. This vast network of channels, lagoons, and islands supports an incredibly diverse array of wildlife, including elephants, hippos lions, and countless bird species.

It’s the place to go for a safari with a difference - navigate the rivers with a mokoro (traditional dugout canoe), looking out for animals drinking from the waters. You can camp on one of the delta’s islands, and head out on extended bushwalk safaris through the grassland.

Botswana Safari Adventure | Much Better Adventures

Join this overland odyssey from Namibia to Zimbabwe on a small group trip, going on safari in the wildlife-rich Okavango Delta & Chobe National Park.

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October is one of the hottest and driest months in the Okavango Delta, with daytime temperatures averaging around 35°C. It’s one of the best seasons for safari, considering that the foliage is dry, making it easier to see animals when they come to drink.

How to get there? Maun is the gateway to the Okavango Delta. You can fly into its small airport from Cape Town or Johannesburg. We recommend visiting it as a destination on a longer road trip - perhaps combining it with a drive through the Kalahari Desert.

5. The Atlas Mountains, Morocco

• Season: Autumn
• Temperature: 28°C high, 17°C low
• Time zone: GMT+1
• Currency: Moroccan Dirham
• Best for: Mountain trekking

The Atlas Mountains are a series of mountain ranges extending across north Africa, passing through Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. The jagged, sky-piercing High Atlas in Morocco are perhaps the most well-known. This is where you'll find snow-capped Mount Toubkal, the highest peak in north Africa at 4,167m-high.

There are plenty of treks in Morocco’s High Atlas. Hike between Berber red clay villages, such as Tiziane (1,750m) through verdant forests and along stony mountainsides. October is also a good time to trek to higher peaks such as Toubkal, before the heavy snows of winter make the summit more challenging.

Trek the Atlas Mountains in Morocco | Much Better Adventures

Explore the remote landscapes and Berber villages of the Atlas Mountains with the support of an experienced guiding team, surrounded by Morocco’s highest peaks.

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October is a great time to visit Morocco, as the oppressive heat of summer has finally abated. The Atlas Mountains will see a few rain showers across the month, but temperatures average around 21°C, which is pleasant for trekking. It will, of course, be cooler at higher altitudes - on the summit of Mount Toubkal it can be as low as 4°C.

How to get there? Fly into the international airport at Marrakech and take a short drive south. Imlil, considered the gateway to the Atlas Mountains, is around a 90 minute drive from the city.

6. The Himalayas, Nepal

• Season: Autumn
• Temperature: 18°C high, -10°C low
• Time zone: GMT + 5.45
• Currency: Nepalese rupee
• Best for: Soaring snow-capped peaks

Nepal’s Himalayas boast some of the highest peaks in the world, including the iconic Mount Everest (8,848m/29028 ft) and the deadly Annapurna I (8,091m/26,545ft). Only the most experienced climbers ascend these peaks, but there are also plenty of trails for intrepid hikers at lower altitudes.

One of the most well-known is the Everest Base Camp trek, taking you through the forests and suspension bridges of Namche, and then ever deeper into the mountains, passing summer pastures and remote gompas (monasteries), whilst surrounded by glaciated peaks. You’ll end up at Everest Base Camp, at an altitude of 5,380m (17,650ft).

Everest Base Camp Trek - 14 Nights | Much Better Adventures

Join a 14-night small group adventure to trek Nepal’s famous trail to Everest Base Camp and follow in the footsteps of Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay.

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Another option is to climb Mera Peak. At 6,461m-high (21,197ft) it’s the highest trekkable peak in the Nepal Himalayas. The ascent to the summit will push you to your physical and mental limits - but the sense of achievement is unparalleled.

October is one of the best times of year to trek in Nepal's Himalayas as it falls in the post-monsoon period, often with stable weather conditions and clear skies. Daytime trekking temperatures are pleasant - between 8°C to 18°C - but nighttime temperatures drop below freezing, especially at higher altitudes, so make sure you come equipped with good cold weather gear.

How to get there? Fly into Nepal’s capital of Kathmandu. For both the Mera Peak trek and the Everest Base Camp trek you’ll need to drive to the remote region of Manthali, and from there catch a flight to Lukla.

7. The Aeolian Islands, Sicily

• Season: Autumn
• Temperature: 23°C high, 18°C low
• Time zone: GMT +2
• Currency: Euro
• Best for: An under-the-radar island hopping experience

The Aeolian Islands are a volcanic archipelago located north of Sicily, in the Tyrrhenian Sea. The largest island in the archipelago is Lipari, known for its striking sea cliffs and local wine culture. Two islands within the archipelago, Stromboli and Vulcano, are active volcanoes - you can hike to a vantage point near Stromboli’s regularly erupting crater, or across Vulcano, where you’ll pass steaming fumaroles.

Island Hopping in the Sicilian Archipelago | Much Better Adventures

Join a small group of like-minded adventurers to hike, kayak and swim in the Aeolian Islands, summiting the volcanic peaks of Mount Etna and Stromboli.

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The islands offer up a compelling mixture of nature and culture. They’re a paradise for trekkers, with clear offshore waters ideal for swimming and snorkelling. Meanwhile, the islands are dotted with ancient necropolises, prehistoric villages and roman settlements - which you can find out more about at Lipari’s fantastic archaeological park and museum. And don’t forget about the wine - the archipelago has a unique viticulture, using grapes grown in its volcanic soil.

October is an excellent time to visit the archipelago - it's shoulder season, and the summer crowds will have disappeared. The weather is pleasant, with average highs between 23-25°C and cooler evenings (although there may be a few rain showers) - ideal hiking weather. The sea is still warm enough for swimming and other watersports.

How to get there? There are no airports on the Aeolian Islands. Fly to Catania Airport, in Sicily. From here, you’ll need to head to the Sicilian port of Milazzo by taxi, driving or train. From Milazzo, you can take a hydrofoil or ferry to Lipari.

8. Sarawak, Borneo

• Season: Shoulder season
• Temperature: 32°C high, 22°C low
• Time zone: GMT+8
• Currency: Malaysian Ringgit
• Best for: Jungle trekking

Sarawak is a state in the northwest of Borneo, known for its pristine rainforest - it has more national parks and wildlife reserves than the rest of Malaysia combined. One of these is Bako National Park, an area of small sandy bays, mangroves and rainforest

“This is one of the most famous parks in Sarawak,” says destination expert JC Chua. “It’s quite small, but to get there you need to take a boat. Bako National Park is famous for the proboscis monkey, with the unusual nose. I remember staying overnight there once, and during sunset, seeing the proboscis monkeys jumping from tree to tree, in a herd, carrying their babies. It’s a highlight.”

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Join a small group adventure in Sarawak to hang out with orangutans and hike through steamy rainforests. Relax on wild tropical beaches along the way.

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There’s plenty of other things to do in Sarawak for adventurous travellers. The Bengoh Waterfalls Trek (near Bengoh Dam), which takes you through an area of virgin jungle likened to Jurassic Park to a series of cascades, is an excellent day hike. Kayaking down the wild Sarawak River also comes highly recommended, as does watching for endangered orangutans at the Semenggoh Nature Reserve.

October in Sarawak sees the end of the dry season and the start of the wet season. There are frequent showers across the month, normally during the afternoon (around 250 mm to 340 mm of precipitation, depending where in the region you are). However, with daytime temperatures in the low thirties, the rain is refreshing and helps dispel the humidity.

How to get there? Travellers to Sarawak tend to fly into Kuching International Airport, the region’s capital.

9. The Cyclades, Greece

• Season: Autumn
• Temperature: 23°C high, 15°C low
• Time zone: GMT+3
• Currency: Euro
• Best for: Island hopping

The Cyclades are a group of 33 Greek islands and islets in the Aegean Sea, renowned for their whitewashed villages, clear azure waters, dramatic sunsets and ancient ruins. The islands are popular with tourists - Santorini and the ‘party island’ of Mykonos are particular hotspots, and prone to overtourism during the summer months. However, it’s still possible to get off the beaten track by visiting some of the lesser-known islands in the archipelago - especially in October, when the summer crowds have disappeared.

The island of Kythnos is known for its unspoilt villages, wild and arid landscape and natural hot springs. Serifos - said to be the island where Ulysses encountered the Cyclops - has some beautifully deserted beaches. And we also recommend the verdant island of Kea, which is scattered with remnants of ancient cities - including the well-preserved ruins of Agia Irini (not to be confused with the town of Agia Irini in Crete).

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Sail the Greek islands on a small group tour in the unspoilt Cyclades. Discover hidden hiking gems, pristine beaches and sleep on a private liveaboard yacht.

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One way to navigate between the islands is by sailing boat. This allows you to drop anchor in some of the quiet and most picturesque sites in the Cyclades.

October is an ideal time to visit the Cyclades, especially if you don’t want to spend the entire holiday sunbathing on the beach. Daytime temperatures range between 20°C-23°C, dropping a few degrees when the sun goes down - ideal for hiking and exploring. The sea temperature is still a warm 22°C, so watersports and swimming are possible, and rain is still infrequent.

How to get there? Fly to  Athens International Airport and take a 30-minute taxi to Lavrio Port. From here, you can catch a ferry or yacht to the Cyclades. For islands further from the mainland, it might be more convenient to fly directly to the Cyclades - the two main international airports are on Mykonos and Santorini.

10. Yasuni Biosphere Reserve, Ecuador

• Season: Shoulder season
• Temperature: 31°C high, 21°C low
• Time zone: GMT-5
• Currency: USD
• Best for: Exploring the Amazon Rainforest

Yasuní National Park is a 3,792 square miles (9,823 square km) reserve in the Amazon basin in northeast Ecuador, lying between the Napo and Curaray Rivers. It is considered one of the most biodiverse places in the world, where over 650 tree species can be found within a hectare; and where more than 130 threatened animal species can be found.

“In Yasuní there still remain some of the last few uncontacted groups in the whole Amazon,” says destination expert Henry Sisa. “In Yasuni there is an area called the Intangible Zone, where the uncontacted people live, but the closest related to them is the Huaorani - one of the last contacted groups. On our trip we camp with a Huaorani family and spend a night in one of their houses.”

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This epic Amazon adventure trip sees you hike through primary rainforest & camp on the river’s edge in the Yasuni Biosphere Reserve, which teems with wildlife.

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Henry recommends going on a guided expedition into Yasuní; camping, canoeing and hiking, with local indigenous guides to show you the wildlife and the trails. “Every person that goes into this part of the Amazon with us says it’s a life-changing experience,” he says.

Ecuador crosses the equator, so there’s little seasonal variation in temperature - it’s warm year-round. However there are differing amounts of rainfall during the year, which varies across different parts of the country. October is one of the drier months to visit Yasuní; but you need to expect showers year round - it is the rainforest, and lives up to its name!

How to get there? Access to Yasuní is via the town of Coca - from there you’ll need to travel by motorised canoe down the Rio Napo to the park entrance. Reach Coca from Quito by driving (six hours), or by a domestic flight (40 minutes).

11. The Caucasus Mountains, Georgia

• Season: Autumn
• Temperature: 18°C high, 1°C low
• Time zone: GMT+4
• Currency: Georgian Lari
• Best for: Quiet mountain trails

The Caucasus Mountains in Georgia stretch from the Black Sea to the Caspian Sea - a series of dramatic peaks and lush valleys. The wild, remote Svaneti region is particularly picturesque; in its UNESCO-designated mediaeval villages, a traditional way of life has been preserved.

The mountains are an ideal spot for trekking enthusiasts, especially those who like quiet trails. We recommend hiking a section of the newly created Transcaucasian Trail (1,864 miles/3,000km) - the Upper Svaneti stage from Jabeshi to Khalde is particularly scenic.

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Early to mid-October is a good time to trek in Georgia, especially in the lower foothills, where the temperature can be as high as 18°C, and the hills and forests are gilded in the colours of autumn.  As you climb to higher altitudes, it will be cooler - especially when night falls, and the temperature can drop to a couple of degrees - and you can expect rain, or even snow towards the end of the month.

How to get there? Trekkers tend to fly into Kutaisi International Airport or Tbilisi International Airport to reach Georgia’s Caucasus Mountains. You’ll need to arrange a transfer or hire a car to reach the remote mountain villages after this.

12. Utah, Arizona and California, USA

• Season: Autumn
• Temperature: 28°C high, 5°C low
• Time zone: GMT-7
• Currency: US dollar
• Best for: Iconic road trips

The Western United States of Utah, Arizona, and California - offer some of the most iconic landscapes in the country within its national parks. In Utah, the sandstone cliffs of Zion National Park and the multi-hued hoodoos and rock formations of Bryce Canyon offer endless opportunities for hiking. Arizona’s Grand Canyon is renowned around the world.

In California’s Sierra Nevada  you’ll find Yosemite National Park, with its towering granite cliffs, waterfalls and forests. There are plenty of hiking trails here, including the famous Half Dome Trail - and there’s also a shuttle bus taking you to various points of interest around the park. But outdoor guide Ryan Romito urges you not to forget about California’s other, often overlooked, national parks.

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Join expert guides to explore all the greatest hits of of Utah, Arizona and California as you road trip from Las Vegas to San Francisco.

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“Sequoia National Park is one of my favourite places to explore,” he says. “It’s in the Sierra Nevada, like Yosemite, so it has similar geographical features. However the main attraction is its giant sequoia trees. It’s really hard to envision just how magical they are until you're face to face with one. They're just so massive.”

To get between the national parks we recommend taking a road trip, beginning in Los Vegas and ending in San Francisco. Make sure you spend some time on the iconic Route 66, passing through stunning natural landscapes and unique attractions such as the ghost town of Oatman. October is an excellent time to visit for hiking - places such as Bryce Canyon and Los Vegas will hover around the mid-twenties, although it will be cooler at higher altitudes such as the Sierra Nevada. In Sequoia National Park, the forest will be transformed by autumn foliage.

How to get there? The best way to explore this region is by flying into a major airport such as Las Vegas (for Utah and Arizona) or San Francisco/Los Angeles (for California). From there, renting a car offers you a lot of flexibility to explore.

13. The Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

• Season: Dry season
• Temperature: 26°C high, 18°C low
• Time zone: GMT-6
• Currency: USD
• Best for: Wildlife viewing and island hopping

The Galapagos Islands, an archipelago of volcanic islands in the Pacific Ocean (and a province of Ecuador), are famous for their incredible biodiversity and unique wildlife. The islands offer visitors a chance to see rare species including the endemic Galapagos giant tortoise, marine iguana and blue-footed booby.

"It’s like a paradise here on earth," says Ecuadorian destination expert Henry Sisa. "In the Galapagos, there are two incredible ways to discover animals. One is by walking, and the other one is snorkelling. Half of the wildlife you will see in the Galapagos is by land and maybe the other half is marine wildlife."

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Join local experts for a Galapagos Islands adventure. Hike, bike and snorkel the unique archipelago on an action-packed adventure immersed in the natural world.

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The best way to experience the Galapagos is on an island-hopping adventure. On Santa Cruz, check out the El Chato Giant Tortoise Reserve and the paradisiacal Tortuga Bay. On Isabela, hike the burnt slopes of Sierra Negra Volcano and snorkel at Concha de Perla, a lagoon teeming with wildlife, including sea lions.

October is the dry season in the Galapagos, with daytime temperatures hovering between 20°C to 26°C - ideal for hiking, sightseeing and watersports.

How to get there? The Galapagos Islands are accessed via flights from mainland Ecuador - often from Quito to the airports on Baltra Island or San Cristobal Island. From there, you can join a guided island-hopping tour, or take local ferries between the islands.

14. The Prosecco Hills, Italy

• Season: Autumn
• Temperature: 18°C high, 8°C low
• Time zone: GMT +2
• Currency: Euro
• Best for: Wine tasting

The Prosecco Hills, located in the Veneto region between the towns of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, are one of Italy’s best kept secrets - a region of steep hills carpeted in vines, set against the mountainous backdrop of the Pre-Alps, renowned for its Prosecco wine. It’s also beginning to open up to adventure tourism.

“There's a good mix between nature tourism, with quiet hiking and cycling trails to be explored, and of course there’s the wine and the sumptuous food,” says Vania De Paoli, a guide from the region. “Rather than having big commercial wineries, there tend to be smaller, family-run wineries. Most of the best prosecco isn't exported internationally, so to taste the best wine you have to come and visit.”

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A trip to the Prosecco Hills can see you cycling through the region at a leisurely pace or hiking the Cammino delle Colline del Prosecco - - a 31.6 mile (51km) walking trail through the ridges, hills and vineyards of the region.

October is an ideal time to visit, with pleasant temperatures and autumn foliage. You’ll also be able to witness the grape harvest being done by hand, and try local autumn delicacies such as porcini mushrooms and chestnuts.

How to get there? Fly to Venice International Airport. The Prosecco Hills can be reached by car - it’s an hour’s drive - or by taking the train from Venice to Conegliano.

15. Madeira, Portugal

• Season: Autumn
• Temperature: 23°C high, 17°C low
• Time zone:  GMT+0
• Currency: Euro
• Best for: Hiking, canyoning and other adventures

Madeira is a Portuguese archipelago situated in the North Atlantic Ocean. It left behind its image as a destination of ‘the newly wed or nearly dead’ and is now a renowned spot for adventure travellers. People are attracted to its diverse landscapes, from volcanic peaks to rocky shorelines and endangered laurisilva forest; hiking and canyoning are particularly popular activities.

The island has a variety of ‘PR’ hiking routes, many of which run alongside levadas - ancient irrigation channels. These can be linked together to create a coast to coast traverse of Madeira, or can be done as day hikes - we particularly recommend an ascent of Pico Ruivo (1,861m/6,105ft). Canyoning down the network of trails, rivers, waterfalls and natural pools of Ribeira do Lajeado is a fun, adrenaline fuelled activity.

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Join an expert local guide on a hike across the peaks, cliffs and forests of this Atlantic island known as the ‘Hawaii of Europe’, including Pico Ruivo.

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Madeira has a mild climate year round, and temperatures will likely be in the low twenties if you visit in October. You might experience some rain (the island receives around 82mm across the month), but you’ll also see far fewer crowds, and the sea temperatures are still warm enough for swimming.

How to get there? Madeira's main gateway is Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport, located near the capital of Funchal. Direct flights are available from many European cities.

16. The Sinai Desert, Egypt

• Season: Autumn
• Temperature: 30°C high, 17°C low
• Time zone: GMT+2
• Currency: Egyptian Pound
• Best for: Desert trekking

The Sinai Peninsula is located in the northeast of Egypt - a sparse desert region surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Red Sea to the south. Coastal resorts such as Dahab are ideal spots for scuba diving and snorkelling, thanks to year-round warm waters and abundance of marine life.

Intrepid explorers can also head inland to trek in the vast Sinai Desert. You’ll hike on little known trails boulder-strewn wadis, dramatic switchbacks, remote ravines and lush oases; you can even climb to the rocky summit of Jebel Um Shomer (2,587m/8,487ft) for panoramic views of the undulating desert and the sea beyond. This is an experience we recommend you undertake with a guide. Hiking with a local Bedouin will also enable you to experience some of the traditional hospitality of these semi-nomadic people.

Trek Through Egypt’s Sinai Desert | Much Better Adventures

Join a small group of like-minded adventurers to follow ancient trails with Bedouin nomads as your guides, for a wild expedition through the Sinai Desert.

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“The guides who go there know the area really well, so that means they can be safe. They know about any wild animals, or trouble in the area,” Said Khedr, a Bedouin adventure tour operator, says. “You are also able to support the people who live in the area, which isn’t very touristy, by staying in their accommodation.”

Summer in the Sinai Desert is far too hot for hiking, but it’s perfect in October, with temperatures averaging around 26°C during the daytime, and around 10 degrees cooler once the sun goes down.

How to get there? The most convenient entry point to the Sinai Desert is Sharm El Sheikh International Airport, which receives flights from major cities in Europe and the Middle East. From Sharm El Sheikh, you can arrange transfers or join guided tours that will take you into the heart of the desert.

17. Andringitra National Park, Madagascar

• Season: Dry season
• Temperature: 29°C high, 13°C low
• Time zone: GMT+3
• Currency: Malagasy Ariary
• Best for: Wildlife watching and trekking

Madagascar is one of the world’s most biodiverse countries. Thanks to its geographical isolation, 260 miles (420km) off the west coast of Mozambique, 92% of Madagascar’s mammals are endemic. These include over 100 species of lemur and the lowland streaked tenrec (a hedgehog-like creature with bright yellow spines).

A good spot for wildlife watching is Andringitra National Park, which is also an ideal place to go trekking. It’s an area of rainforest and towering granite peaks, savannah and stony plateaus. One of the most intrepid treks in the area takes you through the lunar-like landscape of Diavolana ('moonlight' in Malagasy), and up the granite peak of Pic Boby (2,658m/8720ft).

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Join a small group of adventurers on this truly remote ramble through two wild national parks, spotting lemurs as you go. Led by local guides.

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The park is also renowned for its unique flora and fauna. As you trek through Andringitra, you may encounter ring-tailed lemurs, the white-spotted Campan’s chameleon and rare birds like the blue-and-yellow sunbird-asity.

October is the end of the dry season, and a good time for wildlife watching thanks to sparser vegetation. Temperatures hover in the mid-twenties during the day, dipping lower at higher altitudes (and during night time), making it an ideal time for trekking.

How to get there? The journey to Andringitra National Park typically begins in Antananarivo, Madagascar's capital. From here, it’s an 11 hour road trip south to the park.

18. The ‘Ring of Fire’, Guatemala

• Season: Shoulder
• Temperature: 24°C high, 14°C low
• Time zone: GMT-6
• Currency: Guatemalan Quetzal
• Best for: Volcano hiking

A spine of volcanic peaks runs down the Central American country of Guatemala, part of the Pacific Ring of Fire. Some of them are still active, belching smoke and flames into the night sky - and there are plenty of trails up to their summits.

The best way to explore these volcanoes is on a guided hiking trip, where you’ll tackle a string of summits including Acatenango (3,976m/13,044ft), where you can see the adjacent Volcan de Fuego belching smoke and flames into the sky, and Tajumulco (4,220m/13,845ft), the highest point in Central America.

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Join our Guatemala trip to hike on 5 volcanoes, watch Volcan de Fuego erupt & reach the highest point in Central America with like-minded adventurers.

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Hiking in Guatemala isn’t all about volcanoes. We also recommend you visit some of the indigenous Maya villages in the highlands, and soothe your aching limbs in the region’s natural hot springs (such as Fuentes Georginas).

October is the end of the rainy season in Guatemala, with rainfall easing off throughout the month, before the dry season in November. The temperature in the highlands is in the mid twenties during the day, making it a good time of year to hike - although on the summits, it’s much cooler, and you’ll need warm layers.

How to get there? Fly to La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City. From there, the volcanoes are accessible by road - Pacaya, for example, is around a 90 minute drive from the airport.

19. The Andaman Coast, Thailand

• Season: Shoulder season
• Temperature: 31°C high, 24°C low
• Time zone: GMT+7
• Currency: Thai Baht
• Best for: Kayaking and island hopping

Thailand's Andaman Coast is a stunning region known for its white sand beaches, karst rock formations and steamy jungles. Despite its popularity with tourists, you can get off the beaten track in the region by visiting some of the quieter islands. We highly recommend Koh Yao Yai, a quiet island with a majority muslim population, where you can take a guided hike through rubber plantations or visit beaches to rival the Maldives.

The Andaman region also boasts a number of national parks, including Than Bok Khorani National Park; a network of sea caves and lagoons surrounded by twisting mangroves- an ideal spot to kayak in.

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Join a small group of adventurers to explore tropical jungle, islands and beaches, sleeping in unforgettable spots like floating bungalows and forest lodges.

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October - before the start of peak season in December - is a good time to visit the region. It’s the transitional period between the wet and dry season, and a good time for paddlesports since the rivers and lagoons are high. There may be infrequent afternoon showers, but you’ll find them refreshing after the midday heat.

How to get there? The main entry points to the Andaman Coast are Phuket International Airport and Krabi International Airport. Another option is to fly into Bangkok and get the night train to Surat Thani, the gateway to the region.

20. Gran Canaria, The Canary Islands

• Season: Autumn
• Temperature: 26°C high, 12°C low
• Time zone: GMT+0
• Currency: Euro
• Best for: Exploring a ‘continent in miniature’

Gran Canaria, one of Spain's Canary Islands, is described as a ‘continent in miniature’, thanks to the diversity of its landscapes.

“On Gran Canaria it feels like you're travelling while you stay on one Island,” says hiking guide Rachael Hollwey. “When you hike you go from laurisilva forest to volcanic rock formations to sand dunes. It’s just such a cool island.”

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Join local experts for a challenging hike in the heart of Gran Canaria. Cross craggy mountains, cool pine forests, sunken calderas and sky-skimming ocean views.

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Gran Canaria is one of our top destinations for hiking in Spain, thanks to its diverse landscapes. We recommend a multi-day hike, beginning in the centre of the island near Barranco de Guayadeque. Hike through the Caldera de Tejeda, a massive volcanic crater studded with intriguing rock formations - like the Roque Nublo monolith - and ancient cave houses. From here, hike through ancient laurisilva forest and the verdant Agaete Valley towards the coastal town of Agaete. End your mini-expedition with a dip in the ocean.

October is a good time to visit Gran Canaria - in between the summer and Christmas holidays. Temperatures will be in the mid twenties in the lower elevations, but it’s cooler up in the highlands, likely between 18-20°C; perfect hiking weather.

How to get there? Fly to Gran Canaria international airport, which flies to destinations across Europe and Africa.

Inspired? Check out our adventures departing in October.

The numbers of solo female travellers is rising every year, yet so many attitudes towards women travelling alone remain archaic. As a woman who has been travelling solo for a decade, and in that time has had two long-term relationships, I find myself questioning – is it weird for me to travel solo and leave my partner at home? Or is it the sign of a healthy relationship that empowers me to seek adventure both by my partner’s side and solo?

“Is it safe for you to travel without your partner?” ask some.

“But, don’t you miss him?” say others.

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These questions have become the soundtrack to my travels, an ongoing fascination from the people I meet that I could possibly enjoy travelling without a man by my side.

I was recently interviewed by the BBC and one of the questions put to me by the presenter was – “but wouldn’t you enjoy your travel experiences more if you shared them with your partner?” For those who have only ever travelled with others, I can understand this more traditional view that life experiences are to be shared and celebrated together. After all, we humans crave and seek connection.

But this is no different when travelling solo, it simply manifests in different ways. Of course, if you have a partner at home, you will miss them when you are travelling solo. But these solo trips are also an opportunity for a unique adventure, one that will challenge you and push you outside your comfort zone. I’ve always found that solo travel has been the biggest catalyst for my personal growth and this is because I am forced to face these challenges solo. The self-reliance and resilience you discover when nothing goes to plan and you have to figure things out alone are life skills that will continue to serve you in every aspect of life when you return home.

There is also a real misconception that travelling alone means being constantly alone, when in fact it has been during my solo travels when I have made some of the greatest friendships in my life. There’s something about being pushed outside your comfort zone that really drives you to connect with others. I’ve found as a solo female traveller that both locals and other travellers are always quick to reach out to try to help you, to support you or even just to make friends. It’s something I experience every day of my solo travels, but I find it rarely happens when I travel with a partner.

These days, we choose our relationships based on connection, respect and support for one another’s dreams...

There are many countries where I’ve found that as a mixed race woman, many people will actually speak over me to my partner instead of treating me as an individual. Travelling alone helps me to reclaim my individuality and feel empowered as a woman.

Several surveys released this year have shown a notable rise in the number of solo female travellers and women travelling worldwide. Travel organisation, Road Scholar, reported that 85% of solo travellers are women. They also revealed that 60% of their solo travellers in 2022 were married but travelling without their partner. Condor Ferries shared that 64% of travellers worldwide are women and that there has been a 42% increase in solo traveller bookings over the last two years. With such vast numbers of women exploring the world solo, it makes sense that many of these women could also be in relationships or even married but are still choosing to explore the world solo.

I know that I am not alone in this; women travel solo and leave their partners at home for many reasons. Often work can become a factor, too. While I work full time as a solo travel blogger and writer, my partner is an accountant and has limited annual leave. So that leaves me with the option of limiting my travel and my own business, or simply travelling without him at times which is what I choose to do. It also means that when we travel together, it is a holiday and not simply a work trip.

For others, it might be the trip of a lifetime that they have dreamed of taking one day  but perhaps their partner does not like to travel as much, or perhaps they have different interests, or physical abilities. I plan to take my dream trip to India later this year. It's a solo trip I have been dreaming of for years, long before my partner and I were together. My partner has no interest in going and has encouraged me to take the trip – so is it weird for me to travel to India without him?

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Once upon a time, it would have been strange for women to travel alone and to not have their partner or husband by their side. But perhaps we need to interrogate our preconceptions and ask ourselves whether this is simply interlinked to outdated ideas of ownership? We live in a time when women have careers, disposable income and, perhaps, don’t need the security of relationships like they once did. These days we choose our relationships based on connection, respect and support for one another’s dreams. So is it merely a sign of a healthy, connected relationship that a couple can survive across different time zones while you chase your travel dreams?

When we live in an era of Facetime, Whatsapp and free wifi, there are endless ways to connect with your partner at the tap of a button. So, does the physical distance really matter?

At a recent talk I gave on solo travel, I was interested to find a new wave of women in the 35-55 age bracket who were eager to try solo travel. Some were in relationships or married, others were recently separated or divorced. But the one thing that tied this group of women together was their zest for chasing an adventure that they felt had not been an option for them earlier in life. More often than not, women in families or relationships are the travel planners pulling together itineraries and researching the next holiday. So the skills are already there for the initial stages of organising a solo trip. Often it is merely building your confidence as a solo traveller that provides the first challenge.

I find that my lone adventures have enriched our relationship and given us the time and space to grow as individuals as well as together.

The opportunity for solo travel has become more accessible than ever before with entire companies cultivating unique offers for lone travellers, group trips designed for solo travellers to meet other like-minded folk, or even travel insurance policies designed for long-term solo travellers. Many of these didn’t exist when I started solo travelling a decade ago, but this natural shift is exciting and is inspiring a new wave of solo travellers who are taking on the world one adventure at a time.

Yes they may be leaving their partners at home to experience the world – but is it really that weird to take the opportunity to experience the world around us?

As someone who lived nomadically for the best part of a decade, there’s something really special about getting to travel the world solo and then returning to my partner in our own home and unpacking my bags. If anything, I find that my lone adventures have enriched our relationship and given us the time and space to grow as individuals as well as together. After every trip, I’m always so excited to share my adventures with my partner, and to plan our next trip together.

Every relationship is different, but if the person you love doesn’t allow you to be true to yourself and chase the things that excite you the most – isn’t that weirder than travelling alone?

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This multi-activity coast to coast trail on the South Island is a 188.2 mile (303km) route from Ross on the west coast to New Brighton on the east coast, taking you through a variety of landscapes on the way.

“The diversity is just unfathomable,” says Philip Wyndham, whose adventure travel company created the route. “You set off from a coastline of pounding surf, travelling through ancient forests which haven't been logged - they’re like Jurassic Park in places, with large rivers. There’s a lot of rainfall here.

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“Then as you head east towards The Divide and cross the Southern Alps, you get into tussock country, with Alpine peaks all around you. After you’ve crossed The Divide you’ll see less rainfall, but the mountains are still significant. From here you head into gorge country and through the Waimakariri Gorge. It's the most incredible sight - it’s like an axe wound in the land, which the river has caused. From there, you emerge onto the Canterbury Plains, before heading to the east coast.

“Each landscape has unique flora and fauna, and you’ll see it change so much that the place you have lunch in is completely different to where you start the day.”

One of the most unique things about this coast to coast route is that to get from one end to the other you’ll hike, cycle and raft. This gives it the feeling of a self-powered expedition, rather than the more conventional hiking trails that New Zealand is well-known for.

“New Zealand is the home of adventure, and we created this expedition to give you a taste of that adventure,” says Wyndham. “I love the thought that I can look on a map and tell people I went from one coast to another, travelling under my own steam.”

I can look on a map and tell people I went from one coast to another, travelling under my own steam

The coast to coast adventure begins in the quaint, former gold mining town of Ross. It follows the West Coast Wilderness Trail, a long distance cycle route, along old logging tramways through the rainforest for 20.5 miles (33km) to the coastal town of Hokitika, where you can stay overnight.

Day two continues along the West Coast Wilderness Trail for 43.4 miles (70km) to Kumara. It follows the Kaniere River inland through the forest to Lake Kaniere, nestled into the foothills of the Southern Alps. You’ll cross swing bridges and pass old mining and forestry artefacts, eventually crossing the Kawhaka Pass and descending to Kumara.

The third day is the most challenging of the entire expedition - hiking across Goat Pass as you cross the Southern Alps. It’s an 18.6 mile (30km) stage which can take up to 14 hours to complete, and includes around 1,000m (3,280ft) of ascent.

“You start off down in thick verdant forest, with huge rocks, boulders and scree - you lose count of the amount of times that you have to cross rivers,” Wyndham says. “It’s a very technical and demanding day because there isn’t a marked trail; you’re just following cairns. So you've got to be on your toes in terms of balance - you’ll be jumping from rock to rock and scrambling around. If you don't have a good level of fitness that day is going to be a challenge.

“Once you get up onto the pass, it gets much easier because you’re on a boardwalk. You leave this verdant green bush behind and the views really open up - you can see down into a valley and across the Eastern flanks of the Southern Alps. Throughout the whole day, the views are just spectacular. You don't see anyone else. There's a couple of historical huts that you do pass, but no roads, no power lines - a real wilderness day.”

The next day you’ll hike along a tussock ridge to Bealey Hut, before swapping onto your bike and cycling down a gravel road with mountains on either side. Your destination is Mount White Station, a historic ranch now known for its land regeneration and sustainable farming practices. You’ll have a rest day to explore the property as there’s plenty to do there, from beekeeping workshops to SUPing.

On day six, you’ll return to the Waimakariri River, which you’ll spend the next two days rafting down - a total distance of 31 miles (50km).

You head into gorge country and through the Waimakariri Gorge. It's the most incredible sight - it’s like an axe wound in the land, which the river has caused

“It's one of the wildest rivers in the South Island - it's not dammed,” Wyndham says. “‘Waimakariri’ means ‘cold water’ in Te Reo Māori - it's snowmelt in the spring. The rapids are grade one and two, but I think the most enjoyable part of it is the feeling of going on a journey; of leaving braided river countryside to go through the Waimakairi Gorge.

“The gorge is about 15 kilometres long, with high cliffs on all sides, and just a completely different landscape. When I first went through it I wondered why it wasn’t as famous as the Grand Canyon. To me, it’s just as epic, and you can literally only get into it by boat.”

You’ll emerge through the canyon onto the Canterbury Plains, where your rafting journey will end. The final day is a 46 mile (74km) ride across the plains. Part of the route follows the Waimakariri, but you’ll also be passing through unspoilt farming communities and cycling through the pine forest of Bottle Lake Park before reaching New Brighton.

The trail is an immersion into New Zealand’s untrammelled wilderness. Much of the route passes through DOC (Department of Conservation) land, where commercial trips are highly regulated. Wyndham’s company is one of only a handful of tour operators allowed to operate in certain areas.

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“When you go through these places, you're not going to see any other tourists. It’s not from people not wanting to visit, but it's through protecting the ‘whenua’, which means ‘land’,” he says.

You’ll relish the challenge, but perhaps, too, you’ll appreciate the quiet moments. Camping on the banks of the Waimakariri, falling asleep listening to the river. Watching a fiery-winged kea soar on a thermal above you as you hike in the mountains. Experiencing a side to New Zealand’s South Island that few tourists get to see.

Inspired? Check out our Coast to Coast Expedition Across New Zealand, an adventure along this route.

When people say that Sri Lanka is beautiful, you should know that is an understatement. I’ve been on quite a few Much Better Adventures, so I knew this trip would be great, but it totally exceeded expectations.

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Our first hike was at sunset. We were all a little skeptical about that, after the heavens opened up and there was a torrential downpour - not to mention full cloud cover. Nonetheless, we tackled the steady climb up Pidurangala Rock.

The top section was a scramble, especially for a short person like me, but we were welcomed by an epic view of Sigiriya Rock. The views were amazing, with luscious green landscapes for miles and we had a break in the clouds just in time for sunset.

The following day we visited Sigiriya itself. A very early start was needed this to beat the heat. We cycled our way to the start point, before a sweaty climb up 1200 steps to get to the top. We were again welcomed by panoramic views of  jungle and learnt about the history of the Lion Rock, which was formerly a palace.

I savoured every moment – utter peace and tranquility with just the sound of falling water.

The drive to the next location was a little long but nothing an elephant sighting couldn't fix, and it was so worth the journey. On arrival an oversized tractor drove us off road into the middle of nowhere, it was intriguing to say the least but I was quite excited to see where we would be staying – the literal definition of 'off the beaten path'.

It felt very surreal walking into the place we would stay for the next two nights – Wild Glamping Gal Oya. We were surrounded by mountains, the sounds of nature and it was utter bliss: camping, but done in style.

It was the literal definition of 'off the beaten path'...

The following morning was another early start, but the sunrise was just beautiful to wake up to. Today’s hike was with the indigenous Vedda people who guided and navigated us through dense jungle into Gal Oya National Park.

The terrain was tough, with towering trees, rocks to scramble over and lots of streams complete with leeches, not to mention the abundance of flora and fauna in the area. However, what made the day special was spotting a wild elephant in the distance, that was an experience I’ll never forget.

The next day we took to the water and spent a couple of hours on Senanayake Samudra Reservoir to catch glimpses of wildlife. There were plenty of birds, buffalo and lizards to look out for before setting off on our journey to Kandy.

In the evening we had a yoga session in the treetops to find our zen and to relax our tired muscles. I’m not usually one for yoga, however being in the jungle with just the sound of nature was incredibly relaxing. I slept like a baby that night.

After fuelling up on breakfast we set off for a gentle hike through the village wandering amongst different types of fruit and spice trees. We built up quite a sweat since we were blessed with gorgeous blue skies, so it was only right that our hike ended at waterfall. It was so refreshing taking a dip in the water, even if the fish were nibbling at our feet.

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Having at lunch by the waterfall with no-one else there but us was amazing. I loved the fact that we were in our own little bubble and could actually enjoy our surroundings without any crowds.

The following day was one I was most excited for - the train ride from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya. I'd heard great things about this journey, however, it really didn’t prepare me for the reality of it. When people say pictures do not do it justice, they really mean it. I was in awe. The views were truly breathtaking. I didn’t even notice the time on this four-to-five hour journey. I just stood by the door of the train and watched the rolling hills of the tea plantations, an unforgettable experience. I could never get bored of those views.

It was certainly cooler up in Nuwara Eliya and we felt it at our 5am wake up call, but it was also nice to have a little relief from the heat. Today's hike was in the Horton Plains National Park where we were doing a section of the Pekoe Trail. First we had to take a drive up into the plateau where our hike began – the morning mist looked very eerie but we came across some very majestic sambar (the Sri Lankan deer).

After having our breakfast – making sure all remnants and wrappers were packed away to dispose of, to protect the environment – we began the hike. As we walked across a plateau with open grasslands, it felt a lot easier than the previous days, however the views were still incredible. A viewpoint called World's End did not disappoint, with clear skies we were able to see for miles!

We next made our way down to a waterfall, although we couldn’t swim in this one, it was still refreshing having the falling water spray on us. We spotted a few colourful lizards on the way, but not the elusive leopard.

At the end of the loop we had tuk tuks waiting to take us down for lunch, however this journey turned hairy. The heavens opened up with cold, torrential rain, as the poor drivers had to navigate down steep roads in this weather. We held on for dear life, but our driver managed well.

After a spot of lunch, thankfully the skies cleared up and we were back on our feet as we hiked to our guesthouse in the mountains, nestled within the tea plantations. The only way to reach it was by foot so we were cut off from the world, again in our own little bubble, surrounded by the sounds of nature and lush greenery – it really was something special.

We continued hiking the Pekoe Trail the following morning as we headed back down the mountain. It was quite something being so close to the tea plantations we had seen from the train, it all looked so very surreal. We managed to get a glimpse of the Devil's Staircase too – unfortunately we weren’t able to hike on it the previous day because of the rain.

It was a scorcher of a day and thankfully we were heading to a waterfall to cool off. Upon stepping in, it took my breath away as the water was so cold, but it was refreshing. I was the first to arrive so I had the whole waterfall to myself before the rest of the gang got there, I felt very spoilt and I savoured every moment of it – utter peace and tranquility with just the sound of falling water.

The drive to Talalla was a long one and we reached there at nightfall. We were all rather hungry so we settled in for the night – although some frogs in our room had something to say about it. Although the next morning offered a leisurely rise, I still woke up at 6am and took a walk along the beach. The sound of crashing waves as the sun was coming up was a perfect start to the morning, even though I didn’t like the reality of the trip coming to an end. The beach was so clear and pristine.

Our surfing instructors picked us up after breakfast to take us to a beginners' beach to learn how to surf. We started off on the sand before making our way into the sea. They made it look so easy but I can safely say it was not.

I think I must have drank half the Indian Ocean attempting to stand up on the board, but the instructors were very patient with us and made sure we were safe. It was much more fun than I anticipated, but I don’t think I stood for longer than 30 seconds. A yoga session afterwards was the perfect end, to relax our tired muscles.

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An all round adventure in Sri Lanka, this is probably one of my favourite trips I’ve done with Much Better Adventures. It really is off the beaten path, and with nature, wildlife, remote stays, hiking, surfing... what more could you want?

Inspired? Check out our Ultimate Adventure Through Sri Lanka.

When we visited New Zealand, the pristine beauty of its landscapes had us mesmerised. We marvelled over the volcanic landscape of the North Island, and the glacial lakes and snowcapped mountains of the South Island. We discovered why this country is so popular - legendary - with hiking enthusiasts. It's diverse, show-stopping, and even on day hikes you can utterly immerse yourself in nature.

According to destination expert Philip Wyndham, the South Island is best for hiking - although he admits he's biased, given it's where he lives.

"What makes the best hike to me is a truly mountainous Alpine setting," he says. "I've been spoiled in spending a lot of time in the Himalayas and you can get that same Himalayan grandeur of views and epic mountains, of glaciers and ridgelines here in the South Island - but you can do from 800m (2,624ft) elevation, and there's not all the hassle and discomfort that high altitude brings.

"But the North Island is often overlooked - it has a lot to offer hikers. It has the volcanic central tablelands. It's got the greenery and the big rivers - and it's the volcanic story of the North Island, which often will dominate the hiking side of things. Whereas down here on the South Island it's just straight out Alpine passes, tussock country and glaciated lakes, and huge braided rivers."

You can get that same Himalayan grandeur of views and epic mountains, of glaciers and ridgelines here in the South Island

We've selected 10 of our favourite hikes across New Zealand, ranging from easy day hikes to multi-day 'tramps' (which is the local word for backcountry hiking. You'll come across it a lot!). In doing so, we've barely scratched the surface of what the country has to offer - but we hope we've given you a glimpse of its diversity, from its volcanic peaks to its mighty glaciers.

It’s important to note that these route descriptions are only short summaries, designed to inspire but not to serve any navigational purpose. They are not intended to guide you on the route and further mapping and planning will be required if you want to safely walk any of the trails featured.

5 of the Best Hikes on New Zealand's South Island

The South Island is renowned for its dramatic mountain landscapes. The Southern Alps, including the sky-piercing Aoraki/Mount Cook (3,724m/12,217ft) extend along the length of the island, and are bisected with deep valleys and covered with glaciers. Fiordland, in the south, is one of the island’s most dramatic regions - where the Southern Alps give way to ancient rainforest, where steep, glacier carved valleys lead down to glassy lakes.

Although the South Island is known for mountains, you mustn't forget about its beaches, from the windswept west coast to the golden coves of Abel Tasman National Park in the north.

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When faced with the difficult task of choosing the best hikes in the South Island, we aimed to highlight this diversity. Our five top walks in the South Island will take you up mountains, into rainforests and past glaciers - sometimes in a single day. We’ve selected three day hikes and two of New Zealand’s iconic Great Walks, multi-day tramps through the country’s most spectacular scenery.

1. Robert’s Point Track
2. Hooker Valley Track
3. Abel Tasman Coast Track (multi-day hike)
4. Climb Ben Lomond
5. The Milford Track (multi-day hike)

Below, you'll find a short description of the best hikes on the South Island.

1. Robert’s Point Track

• Start/Finish: Franz Josef Glacier Car Park
• Distance: 7.6 miles (12.3km) out and back
• Walking time: 5-6 hours
• Difficulty: Challenging
• Best for: Glaciers, mountains and rainforest in a single day

A day hike in Westland Tai Poutini, which combines rainforest tramping with some fun light scrambling and an excellent view of the Franz Josef Glacier. Leave the car park and walk down a wide gravel trail through lush native rainforest. After around 500 metres you’ll reach a clearing where Peter’s Pool, a small kettle lake, reflects the mountains behind. You’ll continue past the pool, crossing the first suspension bridge of the walk over the vivid blue Waiho River.

The trail becomes less manicured as it winds upwards through the forest, crossing over a few small streams. After around 0.6 miles (1km) you’ll cross Rope Creek on a small, wobbly rope bridge. Here, the trail becomes rockier, with tree roots twisting across the path. Soon you’ll arrive at a 100m (328ft)-long suspension bridge - and as you cross it, you’ll have a stunning view of the surrounding mountains and waterfalls cascading down the rocky slopes.

After the bridge, the track becomes steeper, with sections requiring you to scramble up some rocky slabs. Tree roots make good handholds.

Eventually you’ll reach Hende’s Hut (a corrugated iron shelter built in 1907) - from here, ascend a wooden staircase attached to the clifftop. At the top of the staircase, the path levels out, before one final scramble. You’ll emerge onto Robert’s Point lookout platform, where you’ll be greeted by a breathtaking view of the Franz Josef Glacier sandwiched between two rocky peaks. Once you’ve enjoyed the view, it’s time to head back the way you came.

We underestimated this hike, believing that, due to the distance, it couldn’t possibly take five hours. It did - the path was steep and slippery after recent rainfall (which also swelled the small rivers you cross over), and some scrambling was required on the steeper bits. It’s nothing an experienced hiker won’t be able to handle, though - and the view from the lookout point is more than worth the effort.

2. Hooker Valley Track

• Start/Finish: White Horse Hill Campground
• Distance: 6.2 miles (10km) out and back
• Walking time: 3 hours
• Difficulty: easy
• Best for: Mountain scenery without an uphill struggle

Aoraki/Mount Cook (3,724m/12,217ft) is the highest mountain in New Zealand, located in the Southern Alps. It’s a technically demanding mountain, which around 240 climbers have lost their lives to since 1907. We are not going to recommend you climb it. But what we are going to recommend is the Hooker Valley Track, which takes you right up to the foot of Aoraki/Mount Cook - offering views of this mighty summit, without the risk.

You’ll hike from the car park along a gravel track, which leads you through the sacred Tōpuni area of the Hooker Valley; glacial moraine encircled by the Southern Alps. On your left you’ll pass the Alpine Memorial, a stone pyramid dedicated to those who lost their lives in these mountains. After around a kilometre (0.6 miles) you’ll reach a lookout point over Mueller Lake, a milky blue glacial lake. Cross the Hooker River on the first of three swing bridges.

Continue along the track, which follows the curve of the lake  over old moraine ridges and up several small steps to the second swing bridge. From here, the valley widens out, and becomes grassier - wooden boardwalks have been erected to take you over soggier ground. Once you’ve crossed the third and final swing bridge, the path leads up to Hooker Lake, with Mount Cook looming behind. The lake waters are studded with icebergs, which break away from Hooker Glacier, at the lake head. Sometimes, if you’re lucky, you can see this happen.

Because the walk is a relatively easy one, it gets popular. We’d recommend doing it early on  in the day - even at dawn, so you can watch the sunrise over Aoraki. However, in winter, the track gets icy and high winds can howl through the valley - in adverse weather conditions, the track or swing bridges might be closed, so make sure you check the latest updates from the Department of Conservation.

3. Abel Tasman Coast Track

• Start/Finish: Mārahau to Wainui
• Distance: 37.2 miles (60km)
• Walking time: 3-5 days
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Best for: Coastal rainforests and secluded beaches

Abel Tasman National Park hugs the South Island’s north coast; a landscape of golden beaches, forested hills and granite tracks. One of its most popular hikes is the Abel Tasman Coast Track, one of New Zealand’s Great Walks - a 37.2 mile (60km) route leading north from the Mārahau Estuary along the coast to Wainui.

The walk can be done in three days, but five days is recommended, as there are many possible side trips, including to the famous Awaroa Beach and Cascade Falls, a waterfall and natural pool hidden deep within the bush.

The first stage takes you across the Mārahau estuary to the secluded Tinline Bay, passing through beech forests and rounding headlands before finishing up on the white sands of beautiful Anchorage Bay. Stage two crosses Torrent Bay Estuary before winding up into forested hills, curving through two valleys before crossing a 47m (154ft)-long suspension bridge and descending through coastal forest to Bark Bay. Stage three involves a steep climb up to a forested saddle, with amazing views of Tonga Island and the clear waters of the surrounding marine reserve. Yu’ll end up at Awaroa Campsite.

The fourth stage takes you across the Awaroa inlet and past several bays, before climbing steeply to a lookout above Skinner Point before descending to Tōtaranui, then onto Whariwharangi Bay. The short final stage takes you through the coastal forest to Wainui Bay. From here, you can take a water taxi back to Mārahau.

4. Climb Ben Lomond

• Start/Finish: Queenstown Gondola Base Station
• Distance: 8.6 miles (14km) out and back
• Walking time: 6-8 hours
• Difficulty: Challenging
• Best for: An easily accessible summit hike

This is one of the South Island’s most accessible mountain hikes - not to be confused with the Munro of the same name in Scotland. An ascent of Ben Lomond (1,748m/5,735ft) involves 1,438m (4,717ft) of elevation gain in a single day. The track begins at the gondola station, and winds up through Douglas fir forest on the Tiki Trail. At about 8,00m elevation you climb up above the treeline and hike through rough grassland to the Ben Lomond Saddle (1,326m/4,350m).

From here, the terrain becomes steeper and rougher. As you begin to climb up to the summit, the path becomes even steeper, with sharp drop offs. Eventually, you’ll reach the top, and on a clear day will be rewarded with views of The Remarkables range in the south east, alongside Lake Wakatipu and Cecil Peak in the south, and canyons and valleys to the north.

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The accessibility of this hike makes it popular - and it’s often underestimated. During the winter months, the path can be snow-covered and the weather unpredictable. We’d recommend only experienced hikers undertake it. However, you can shorten the route by taking the gondola up to Top Station to start the hike - you’ll save yourself 450m (1,476ft) of ascent and descent.

5. The Milford Track

• Start/Finish: Lake Te Anau/ Sandfly Point
• Distance: 33.2 miles (53.5km)
• Walking time: 4 days
• Difficulty: Challenging
• Best for: Immersion in the landscapes of Fiordland

One of the most popular tracks in New Zealand (and another of the country’s Great Walks), the Milford Track leads through the heart of the Fiordland backcountry - a region of deep fjords, u-shaped valleys and mountains carpeted with rainforest. This is nature at its most wild and pristine, kept that way by restricting the number of hikers allowed on the trail to 40 a day.

To reach the trailhead, you’ll need to catch a boat trip across Lake Te Anau, from Te Anau Downs to Glade Wharf. From the wharf it’s a mere 90 minute walk through beech forest, along the banks of Clinton River to Clinton Hut, where you’ll spend the night. On day two you’ll climb up to Lake Mintaro, which is surrounded by steep mountains. Climb up the Clinton Valley, catching a glimpse of Pompolona Ice Field. You’ll sleep at Mintaro Hut (640m/2,099 ft).

Day three involves a steep climb to the top of Mackinnon Pass, the highest point of the hike at 1,154 metres (3,786 ft), where you’ll have panoramic views of the towering peaks and glacial valleys that characterise Fiordland. Descend to Dumpling Hut.

On day four, the track follows the Arthur River past the dramatic Mackay Falls. The track widens out for the last mile or so - it was constructed by a prison labour gang between 1890 and 1892 - and ends at Sandfly Point, where the Arthur River flows to Deepwater Basin. From here, you can catch a 20 minute boat ride to Milford Sound, where you’ll find buses back to Te Anau.

Camping is not permitted on the Milford Track - instead you must stay in the huts listed. During the Great Walks Season (October to April) these must be booked well in advance. During the winter (from May to October), heavy rain and snow make the path slippery and river crossings are required - only experienced mountain hikers should visit during this period.

5 of the Best Hikes on New Zealand's North Island

The North Island is often overlooked when it comes to hiking, or tramping if you prefer to use the New Zealand terminology. But just because the South Island of New Zealand might be more famed for adventure, doesn’t mean that the north doesn’t have a whole lot to offer too. On Mount Taranaki even the most adventurous will be challenged. On the Pinnacles Walk, you can reach remarkable views - and elsewhere, active volcanoes and steep coastlines await.

Looking to highlight that diversity, these are the five hikes we’ve selected as being the best walks on the North Island of New Zealand. Four are day hikes, while one is a multi-day endeavour.

1. Climb Taranaki Maunga
2. The Kauaeranga Kauri Trail (The Pinnacles Walk)
3. The Tongariro Alpine Crossing
4. The Te Pua-a-Tāne Circuit (multi-day hike)
5. Cape Brett Walkway

Below you’ll find a short route description of each of these north island hikes.

1. Climb Taranaki Maunga

• Start/Finish: North Egmont DOC Visitor Centre, out-and-back
• Distance: A 7.8 miles (12.6km) round trip
• Walking time: 8-12 hours
• Difficulty: Challenging
• Best for: A demanding, remarkable volcanic adventure

Mount Taranaki (in Egmont National Park) is a beauty of a mountain; perfectly triangular, standing high in isolation and with a snow-sprinkled summit looking out on lakes and coastline.

Walk on a clear, summer day, and you’ll find a wonderful route up to 2,158m (7,080ft) on a dormant volcano. Starting from the visitor centre at 936m (3,070ft), you’ll leave on a dirt track through forest, then cross moorland on your way to reach Tahurani Lodge at 1,492m (4,895ft). From here, it’s only 1.4 miles (2.3km) to the summit - but it’s steep, tough and stunning.

From here you head into a remarkable gully, where you’ll need to hike and scramble up to a staircase which guides you to a scree ridgeline, taking you to The Lizard - a section of tougher rocks at 2,134m (7,001ft). This section is as much a scramble as a hike, and can be vertigo-inducing.

It’s a couple of hours from here to the summit crater. From the top, you can look out over the west coast of the North Island, out to Mt Ngauruhoe and Mt Ruapehu in the centre, and over to the South Island. It is requested that hikers not stand directly on the summit stone of Taranaki, or camp or cook in the area, as the mountain holds spiritual significance for the local Iwi people.

Note that this hike is only achievable for hiking from January to April. From May to December, the mountain is covered in snow to a depth that mountaineering experience and equipment is required. Ask at the North Egmont DOC visitor centre for conditions before starting.

2. The Kauaeranga Kauri Trail (The Pinnacles Walk)

• Start/Finish: Kauaeranga Visitor Centre, out-and-back
• Distance: 9.3 miles (15km)
• Walking time:
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Best for: A year-round, immersive hike

If you think of Jurassic Park-style mist, mountains and untouched greenery when you think of New Zealand, then this is the hike for you.

This walk takes place in Coromandel Forest Park, guiding you on a flat gravel path and then ascending through the forest. There are some stone steps which were installed for pack horses and logging back in the day and plenty of turn offs. Follow the signs for Pinnacles Hut via Hydrocamp. The hut comes around two hours into the hike. From here, the hike gets more exposed as you climb up a staircase which weaves up the pinnacles.

After reaching the high saddle, there’s a short final section that involves ladders and rungs up to the summit. This section can be tough for those with vertigo, and shouldn’t be attempted in bad weather. It’s a 40-minute walk from the hut to the summit viewing platform, where you can look out over the Coromandel Peninsula; with rugged rocks coated in greens and rolling hills beyond.

To add an extra bit of bite to the trek, turn off onto the Billygoat Walk on your return leg. It’ll add an extra hour or so to the trek back and involves a river crossing.

For most people this is a day hike, but families also do this as an overnighter, staying in Pinnacles Hut (or at the campsite nearby). If you’re going to do this, book in advance.

3. The Tongariro Alpine Crossing

• Start/Finish: Mangatepopo Carpark to Ketetahi, point to point
• Distance: 12.1 miles (19.4km)
• Walking time: 7-9 hours
• Difficulty: Challenging
• Best for: Mixing volcanic grandeur and backcountry beauty

This big day hike mixes otherworldly volcanic scenery, colourful lakes and alpine landscapes. You’ll climb and descend an active volcano (Mount Tongariro, 1,978m/6,490 ft) - and feel like you’re moving between continents.

The route begins with a gentle climb on a boardwalk to Soda Springs. This section isn’t challenging, but the landscape is already remarkable, with vast plains and the mountains rising high around. From here, you’ll ascend to South Crater, take a stroll to Red Crater, and then ascend an exposed, steep ridgeline which guides you to the high point of the route - looking out over the spectacular, surrounding landscape.

From here, you descend to Emerald Lakes, which are as colourful as the name suggests. There are steam vents in this area (and the ground around them can be unstable), so stay on the track, leading you to the sacred Blue Lake, a stunning spot surrounded by volcanic rock. From here, it’s a 6.2 mile (10km), three-hour descent to Ketetahi, taking you down 1000m in altitude with expansive, far-reaching views over lakes and mountains.

Note that there are more search and rescues on this route than on any other in New Zealand, so come prepared with proper gear and ensure that you’re confident in navigational terms.

4. The Te Pua-a-Tāne Circuit

• Start/Finish: River Road Car Park, loop
• Distance: 49 miles (78.7km)
• Walking time: 5 days
• Difficulty: Challenging
• Best for: A hut-to-hut forest hike

The Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park is home to the Ngāti Whare Māori tribe, as well as specially-protected native prehistoric forest. This circuit will take you through much of it - while making use of the conservation area’s superb network of low-cost huts.

Day one will take you from the car park to Vern’s Camp, the site of an old track cutter’s camp, and on to Central Whirinaki Hut, which has 25 bunk beds. The next stage runs to the Upper Te Hoe Hut, forking before the Taumutu Bridge, while the third stage runs to Mangakahia Hut, crossing the Te Hoe suspension bridge for lunch, then backtracking across it later. The route concludes with a climb over a saddle, with the trail then following Moerangi Stream to reach Moerangi Hut on day four, then concluding by returning to the River Road carpark - though not before a notable climb up and over the Moerangi saddle (955m/3,133ft) and a walk through podocarp forest..

The park is home to stone pines, North Island ironwood (known as rātā to the Maori), as well as to fern trees, to rimu resin yew and a plethora of other varieties which combine to form a rainforest. You’ll see geckos nipping around the trees, and possibly some less familiar species. A newly-discovered lizard called the Whirinaki Skink was found here as recently as 2003.

5. Cape Brett Walkway

• Start/Finish: Oke Bay, out-and-back
• Distance: 20.5 miles (33km)
• Walking time: 7-9 hours
• Difficulty: Challenging
• Best for: Dramatic coastal Views

This big tramp across the island is one of the best ways to discover the far north of New Zealand’s north island. Starting in Oke Bay, the route runs just over 10 miles (16.5km) each way, and features rugged, remarkable coastal views, big cliffs with sheer drop-offs and native bush.

You’ll walk on Maori-owned land, along fantastic, forested ridges and out to superb coastline.

The final stretch of the hike runs from Deep Water Cove to Manawahuna on conservation land. This segment of trail is quite exposed, with some remarkable drop-offs over the edge of the trail.

You’ll reach an old lighthouse which marks the end of the trail, with views out to the outer Bay of Islands, as well as to Cavalli Islands to the north and Whangaruru and the Poor Knights Island to the south. Take in the coastal views, looking out for dolphins, then retrace your steps.

You can also actually stay at the lighthouse keeper’s house. Book in advance to do so.

Inspired? Check out our adventure holidays in New Zealand now!

Article written by Dani Redd and Stuart Kenny.

I took a deep, contented breath as soft sunlight filtered through carpets of moss draped on the branches, making the forest feel ancient and primordial. Furry little tree hyraxes scampered in the canopy above, while at ground level purple blossoms and the red and yellow 'trunks' of the endemic 'elephant flowers' decorated the side of the trail.

Giant ferns reached for the sky, and boughs corkscrewed downwards – nature astounding me with the regularity of its fractal patterns amongst the wild disorder of the forest. This felt like what the earth should look like.

Just 24 hours earlier as I made my way to Tanzania, there was a not-insignificant part of me wondering why I'd felt the need to clamber up a huge mountain to mark my 40th birthday, instead of, say, having a party or lying on a beach somewhere sipping a cocktail. But finally hiking on the flanks of Mount Kilimanjaro, my mind quieted with the simple act of putting one foot in front of the other. From now on, that was all I had to focus on.

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I'd had a ton of questions whirling around my brain as I contemplated the reality of climbing the highest mountain in Africa and the tallest freestanding peak in the world. How hard is it going to be? Will I get altitude sickness? Will I be able to sleep? Will it be cold? Will I get altitude sickness? Where will I go for a wee? Will the camping be uncomfortable? Will I get altitude sickness?

Neurotic, or reasonable? Perhaps a little of both.

I kept in mind Sheila MacDonald, who’d climbed Kilimanjaro on something of whim in 1927 (the first reported woman to do so)...

Of course, I’d done my research, I was prepared, and I knew that expert guides would be leading us the whole way up. So really, I knew the answers to these questions (“it depends,” in all cases). But having never hiked at such altitudes before, this was uncharted territory for me, so the excitement of the adventure was tinged with a little anxiety. However, I kept in mind Sheila MacDonald, who’d climbed Kilimanjaro on something of whim in 1927 (the first reported woman to do so) – if she could do it back then, I certainly was going to give it my best shot.

Happily, after meeting our head guide Andrew and my fellow travellers, my nerves abated. The detailed briefing Andrew gave us, where we could ask all of the questions we had, plus a thorough check of our kit against the list, meant we all knew we were ready for our adventure to begin the following day.

Summiting Kilimanjaro via the Machame Route takes seven days (including the hike back down). I’d chosen it partly because this route has a decent success rate (as it allows longer for the body to acclimatise to the altitude than the shorter Marangu or ‘Coca Cola’ Route), but also because this trail passes through such a variety of terrain and different climatic zones.

I do like my hikes to be scenic, and boy, did it deliver.

The trail up the mountain

The Machame Route is one of the more popular routes up Kilimanjaro, because of that aforementioned higher success rate. This route profile works well with the walk-high, sleep-low principles of acclimatisation. Along with the number of people completing the hike, there are also a huge amount of porters accompanying each group, yet thanks to the expertise of our guides who determined our pace and when we set off each day, the trail never felt overcrowded or busy.

In fact, saying hello to our cheery crew as they passed by with dismantled pieces of our camp (which had magically been put back together again when we arrived at the next campsite) added to the camaraderie on the trail. Whilst we occasionally overtook other climbers, a lot of the time it felt like our group and porters had the trails to ourselves. It was only when arriving at each campsite that we had a grasp of how many people had followed the trail that day.

As the hike began, we followed the trail through Kilimanjaro’s verdant foothills. I was taken aback as we trekked among ancient-looking trees dripping with lichens and mosses and were dwarfed by ferns. With so many Kilimanjaro photos being of the barren, dusty summit, I somehow hadn't expected such fecundity.

Warm hues glinted through the trees as the sun got lower in the sky on our approach to camp. We left montane forest and entered the alpine moorland zone.

From the second day of hiking, the tree line was below us. Dust was king here and we were often able to look down on the clouds. Still, Kilimanjaro’s peak towered above, seeming impossibly far off. Pretty alpine flowers lined the path; stark lava formations rose from the earth; the thin air was increasingly difficult to breathe and made us thankful for the slow pace.

Carpets of draping moss made the forest feel ancient and primordial. This felt like what the earth should look like.

Each day, views were frequently hidden by thick cloud rolling in, but it usually drifted away again just as quickly. Giant senecio trees lined streams, revealing their age with the number of branches they had (each one takes 10-15 years to grow). The trail undulated high then dipped back down into valleys.

One of the most memorable parts of the trail was the scramble up the Barranco Wall. Tucking our hiking poles away, we tackled the interesting climb, carefully placing our hands and feet as we made our way along the narrow path that snaked up the 250m+ (820ft) rock face. Climbing in thick cloud all the way, we couldn’t really see how high we were (which was perhaps a blessing!).

The day we reached Barufu Camp (base camp for the summit day on the Machame Route) we hiked only around 2.5 miles (4km). But although this sounds short, our pace was super slow to allow us to acclimatise and have a greater chance of reaching the summit. From here, the trail wound through alpine desert: arid, rocky and grey, it had all the hallmarks of a volcano.

Camping on Kilimanjaro

Our group of climbers was half solo travellers, half people travelling in pairs. Our ages ranged from 20s to 50s and it was great getting to know each other. But it wasn’t just about us trekkers: the Tanzanian team accompanying us on the mountain made the adventure extra special.

The crew was made up of men and women from local villages as well as Maasai from the region, and they offered expertise, strength, comfort and good cheer. Not only did the team carry our overnight kit, all the camping gear, fresh water, plenty of food, and our own private toilets, but it was done with joy. We were always met at each camp with smiles, encouragement and congratulations.

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Our guide Andrew joked about our ‘four-star hotel on the mountain’ but in all seriousness, it was so much more comfortable than I’d anticipated.

We were provided with hot water to wash with morning and evening; we had our own toilet tents; our sleeping tents were perfectly roomy enough for two, and we had a group mess tent where we spent time relaxing and ate our meals. Oh, and did I mention the views?! Camp was the place where we could truly take in the majesty of our surroundings – glimpsing the mighty peak through shrouds of cloud; witnessing unforgettable sunsets, and basking in a twinkling sky filled with more stars that I’ve ever seen in my life.

As for the food... oh my, the food. Our chef and our waiter (yes, we had our very own waiter) both worked tirelessly to ensure that we ate the largest meals of our lives, three times a day, with multiple courses. Fortunately these were also delicious, fresh and varied; plantain stew with chapatis was a personal favourite.

Each day began with porridge, eggs, sausages and hot drinks; each lunch time and dinner time we were offered delicious soups, pasta, potatoes, meat and vegetable sauces, all rounded off with fresh fruit.

To the summit of Africa

We began our trek to the summit in the dead of night, under the light of many, many stars, with the Milky Way clearly visible. Slowly, slowly (or ‘pole pole’ in Swahili) we trudged in the dark, the air cold and still around us. Up, up, up we shuffled along a path of scree and switchbacks, heads down to follow the light of our torches.

Our guides and summit porters sang intermittently to keep us motivated as we followed the feet of the person in front of us. Sunrise was a treat and a mood-booster – gradually the stars faded and light began to fill the inky sky with glorious sunrise colours, before the sun burst through and warmed us a little. Switchback after switchback we continued on the barren, dusty ground, surrounded by astonishing views.

First reaching Stella Point on the crater rim, then continuing to Uhuru Peak, clear blue skies made the perfect backdrop. Kilimanjaro’s retreating glaciers came into view, and finally – we were there. There were a fair few people at the summit of course, but not an overwhelming amount. There was plenty of space to enjoy the moment. We spent some time taking in our surroundings – and our achievement – with our team, before tackling the descent.

As for the descent, it was pretty brutal. Unless you love a faceful of volcanic dust, plus a path that you can barely look up from as it varies from loose rocks to slippery mud to gnarled roots, all after hours of hiking up the tallest mountain on the entire African continent, then it’s going to be tough. But it had its positives too: as we descended to lower elevations, that sweet oxygen filled the air and kept us strong until we reached Mweka Camp at 3100m, where we crashed out.

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After a very deep sleep, our final day of hiking took us back through that magical and ancient forest, with clouds atmospherically drifting in and out as we powered on towards the promise of showers, clean clothes and soft beds.

The aftermath

There's a lot to explore beyond Kilimanjaro, and I decided not to wrap up my adventure there and head straight home. Rather, I wanted to take a few days to process the experience of the trek, and to relax before the long flight home.

Heading into some of Tanzania’s iconic National Parks (Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara and Tarangire) on safari for three days was the perfect tonic – and the nights spent at a lush, countryside lodge with huge, soft beds were a real treat. Seeing lions, elephants, buffalos, hippos, and even a leopard in the wild following Kilimanjaro's summit was the icing on the cake of an unforgettable, life-affirming adventure.

Inspired? Browse all our Kilimanjaro treks, including climbing via the Machame Route and going on safari.

As a traveller with hearing loss, I have a cochlear implant which helps me hear the beautiful sounds in the world and enables me to communicate with people. However, even though the implant is hard-wearing and can be replaced, it also means that over the years, some doctors have advised me to avoid certain activities. This includes things like skydiving, contact sports such as kickboxing, any water sports, or even going places alone. Believe you me, I've done all of these and I love proving people wrong.

Rafting, hiking and kayaking in Albania was the adventure that I had been looking for: solo, but not alone. It’s nice to share experiences with like-minded people, who are all looking for a trip jam-packed with activities.

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One of the other travellers and I arrived to Albania pretty late in the day, meaning that we missed our chance to explore the city of Berat and its castle – but when we arrived at our accommodation, we were surprised and delighted to be staying in a castle hotel with a balcony that came with a view.

The next day, the weather changed our plans to go hiking, so our host Arti swapped this day in the itinerary to go river rafting in the Osumi Canyon. Most of us had never done rafting before and together, we worked as a team. It was amazing being inside the canyon, rafting down some of its narrow gorges with imposing walls and beautiful waterfalls along the side. I loved admiring the view and the chance to be under a waterfall.

I don’t really have the words to describe it, but I enjoy every minute I can take in nature. So in the Osumi Canyon the peace of the wild, the sound of the waterfalls hitting the river, our voices echoing around the narrow gorge... it was unreal. What a feeling to be alive!

Afterwards we went back to the city of Berat, where Arti took me and the other traveller to catch up on exploring Berat Castle during the afternoon downtime, before we met for wine tasting and dinner. Our day ended at the hotel with a full brief of the next day: hiking in the remote Tomorr Mountains.

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Wow! What an experience it was be driven along a rocky road by 4x4 to reach the trailhead in the mountains. I was grinning like the Cheshire Cat all the way, as well as on the hike up, the view was breathtaking. Although the trail was quite rocky, I didn't find the hike too difficult, but I was glad that I'd brought my hiking boots with me. These mountains are sacred in Albania, and the paths really felt like a place to wash away any negative feelings and instead think positively.

We then had a picnic with a panorama of Mount Tomori, before we hiked back down to a lovely village for lunch.

The next two days were the best of my life, having done some strength training for few months to prepare myself for kayaking and whitewater rafting. It paid off: I could enjoy the pleasure of the view while I was paddling.

I was grinning like the Cheshire Cat all the way, the view was breathtaking.

As we got fully kitted up with our wetsuit and our PFDs, we were ready to kayak. We paddled our way through a beautiful and calm stretch of the wild Vjosa River for a couple of hours or so. After that, we went to chill at the thermal baths in Benja.

Most of us were excited about the prospect of rafting where there would be lots of splashing and a chance to swim in the wild river. Out of all the things we were doing during the trip, this was the activity that we were most looking forward to – and the host did not fail us.

The excitement of getting into the river, the rush of the rapids... we were all delighted to get stuck in and again, to raft together as a team. The best part was when we had the opportunity to jump into the clear waters of the river and go for a swim. It was freezing cold and we didn’t care!

Booking a holiday with activities alone may sometimes seem daunting at first, but to find friendships within the group is something that hits the heart. I truly enjoyed this Albanian adventure.

Inspired? Join our adventure to Raft, Kayak and Hike in Albania, or check out all our Albanian adventures.

The landscape of Norway is pockmarked by fjords; deep, water-filled valleys carved out by glaciers over a period of around 2.5 million years. Two of these fjords - the Nærøyfjord and Geirangerfjord - are UNESCO sites, thanks to their “exceptional natural beauty”.

I spent a few days kayaking and hiking the Nærøyfjord on a small group adventure. Around us, steep limestone cliffs rose up to 1,100m-high on either side of a narrow glacial inlet. Waterfalls cascaded down the rock and thundered into the water below. Forests cling to the lower parts of the cliffs in this landscape, while the tops are striated with snow. As you kayak through the fjord you’ll pass tiny villages of red wooden houses nestled in verdant grassland.

Yet despite its beauty, the Nærøyfjord doesn’t see a huge influx of tourists. When we were kayaking, I only saw a couple of boat tours, and no other paddlers. On our hike, which took us to the summit of Breiskrednosi (1,189m/ 3,900ft), there was only one other group on the trail. One of the keys to this is that the Nærøyfjord is indeed very narrow - so the mega cruise ships don't come in.

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Remote, wild and beautiful - this Norwegian fjords trip was one of the most epic weekends I’ve had in a long time. However, with the benefit of hindsight, there are some things I wish I’d done differently. Here’s everything I wish I knew before visiting the Norwegian fjords, alongside some top tips for having a brilliant time on your adventure in one of the world's most beautiful spots.

You Can Experience Four Seasons in a Single Weekend

I visited the fjords in mid-May. Across our three day visit we experienced brilliant sunshine and cloudless skies, misty mornings evocative of autumn, rain and even snow, as we hiked up to Breiskrednosi.

I got pretty cold when kayaking back to base on the second day, and really wish I had started off wearing warmer clothes...

In short, weather during the fjords can be unpredictable. Don’t come here expecting brilliant sunshine, even during the summer months, as you might be disappointed. I'll be honest - I was when I saw the weather forecast.

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However, there’s something very special about this changeable weather, and getting to experience the fjords in different conditions. One of my high points was when we reached Breiskrednosi summit and found the view hidden by clouds. Those clouds soon parted, just for an instance, to give me a view of the fjord below.

Whatever time of year you visit the fjords of Norway, make sure you’re prepared for all weathers. That means bringing a down jacket, thermal layers, waterproofs and layering up - also, sunscreen. I got pretty cold when kayaking back to base on the second day, and really wish I had started off wearing warmer clothes, rather than storing them out of reach in the bulkhead of my kayak.

Squeeze in a Wild Swim

Sometimes, when I see a lake or the ocean, I experience a sinking feeling - I know I’m going to be compelled to swim in it, whatever the water temperature and the weather. When I visited in May, the water temperature of the fjords was somewhere between 4°C and 6°C. Even so, I highly recommend a swim, even if it’s just a quick plunge - the cold water is exhilarating.

I had a dip when we stopped for lunch on our kayaking trip, when the sun was shining (and I was still wearing my wetsuit). But another opportunity presented itself at the hostel on the first night, as it’s situated on the shores of Vangsvatnet lake - and so, too, is its wood burning sauna.

You can either book a drop-in sauna session, or hire out the entire thing privately; it’s worth asking about it when you arrive, as it takes a while to heat up, and might already be busy. We chose private hire - throwing yourself in a freezing lake and then heating up nicely in the sauna was an excellent bonding experience to start off the trip.

You (Probably) Won’t Have to Do a Wild Poo

Whenever I look at an adventure itinerary, one of the things I most want to know (and hate to ask about) is about going to the toilet. Here’s the down-low, to save you the embarrassment.

There are lots of clean flushing toilets at the base where you begin kayaking, in Gudvangen - seize the moment. Along your kayaking trip you’ll stop a couple of times for a break. Several of these pit stops have long drop toilets (bring your own toilet paper with you). There are no toilets on the Breiskrednosi hike, but there are plenty of trees!

Different campsites are used on the Norwegian fjords trip, depending on availability. I was lucky enough to be staying at the one with a flushing toilet, but the other sites have one or two long drop toilets. They’re pretty basic, but for many of us, preferable to doing a ‘wild poo’ when you’re out camping with strangers.

If you do end up needing to answer nature’s call in, well, nature, check out our handy guide on how to poo outdoors responsibly.

Bring Waterproof Socks or Gaiters

The walk up to the summit of Breiskrednosi takes you through some gorgeous scenery. But parts of the trail were covered in snow, and other sections were sodden with meltwater. The goal: to stave off wet feet for as long as possible.

Waterproof hiking boots and shoes are, of course, an instrumental part of this. But even Gore Tex has its limits, and those limits might be exceeded on a 10 hour hike. Plus, the snow was higher than ankle deep in some places, and had a habit of sliding down into your boots.

If you’re travelling at the beginning or end of the season, I recommend waterproof socks, such as Sealskinz. They kept my feet dry for the majority of the day, although they were soaked through by the time I got back to camp. I definitely wish I had brought gaiters so that I could have had dry feet for the entire day.

Embrace the Opportunity to Disconnect

There’s no electricity when you wild camp (obviously). No Wi-Fi signal. And for some people in the group - including yours truly - there was no phone signal either. In other words, you’ll spend three days completely off-grid.

You could spend those three days bemoaning the lack of connectivity, and scanning your phone desperately for signal as you climb higher up Breiskrednosi. Or, you could tell friends and family you’ll be out of range for a few days - and then truly switch off.

Enjoy toasting marshmallows around the campfire, listening to the crackling flames. Fall asleep listening to the calls of the oystercatchers, or light rain striking the canopy of your tent. It’s a privilege - and a necessity - to disconnect from technology and immerse yourself in nature.

Pack Light For Your Kayaking Expedition

There’s limited space in your double kayak, especially when you consider you’ll need to help carry the camp gear, which includes tents, cooking equipment, sleeping bags and drinking water for everyone. You’ll be given a 22 litre drybag to fit all your stuff into, and if you’re anything like me, you’ll struggle to restrict yourself.

Things I didn’t regret bringing were a waterproof jacket, a fleece and dry shoes to wear at camp. And snacks, of course. You never regret bringing snacks.

What I didn’t need to bring: a book (talking to your group and enjoying the environment is entertainment enough) and pyjamas (just bring a pair of comfy dry trousers to wear around camp and sleep in). Things I didn’t regret bringing were a waterproof jacket, a fleece and dry shoes to wear at camp. And snacks, of course. You never regret bringing snacks.

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Don’t feel like you have to pack ultralight when you arrive in Norway, though - especially if you’re travelling somewhere else afterwards. You’ll leave the rest of your luggage in a secure lockup at the base in Gudvangen, and will be able to get it back afterwards. Pack some toiletries - you should be able to grab a welcome hot shower at the base before heading back to the airport.

Stick Around After the Trip

One of my biggest regrets about my time in the Norwegian fjords is that I didn’t spend longer there. On the return transfer to Bergen Airport, you pass Bergen and can be dropped off there instead. There are plenty of things to do in Bergen, from mountain hikes to exploring art museums.

It’s also possible to stay in Voss (or arrive there a few days before the trip begins) as you can get there easily between Voss and Bergen by train - it’s a scenic 70-90 minute ride through the Norwegian fjords. Voss is known as the ‘adrenalin capital’ of Norway, as it’s a hub for adventure sports such as white water rafting, skydiving and much more.

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And there’s also the opportunity to spend more nights out in nature. This 43 mile (73km) expedition through the wild heart of the Norwegian Fjords is tempting me back there already.

Don’t Miss the Hot Dogs

Food on this trip was tasty and abundant - but there's always time for a hot dog.

That first bite of sausage, topped with potato salad and crispy onions, was delicious. Reader, I had two.

If you find yourself in the airport hungry, and you only have a few minutes in Arrivals before you catch your transfer, grab a hot dog from the convenience stand. It’s a two hour journey to Voss, which is also the next opportunity to grab a bite.

Hotdogs are popular throughout Scandinavia and my food of choice when I travel in the region. They’re quick, cheap and tasty. There's a famous hot dog stand in central Bergen called Trekroneren. It's excellent - but equally, never has a hotdog been so welcome as when I returned to Bergen Airport, hungry after a day of kayaking. That first bite of sausage, topped with potato salad and crispy onions, was delicious. Reader, I had two.

Inspired? Check out our Hike, Kayak and Wild Camp the Norwegian Fjords in a Weekend adventure, and our other trips to Norway.

September is a global shoulder season, and one of our favourite travel months. The European summer begins to fade into autumn colours, while the southern hemisphere is waking up to the birdcall of spring. The days are long enough for adventure and the sun stays high, punctuated, albeit, by the odd raincloud and an extra breeze which only serves to cool you down on hot hiking trails.

There are fewer visitors, so you have the area to yourself. There’s less waiting time. There is lower pricing.

Better yet, the crowds that come with summer in Europe and Africa, and in particular with July and August, largely disperse in September - and the sizzling heat, which can make adventure unbearable, also eases in the sunniest spots. This is the benefit of shoulder season; of travelling before the summer tourism boom begins in adventure hotspots like New Zealand, and just as often hectic destinations like Croatia, Italy and Spain bring an end to their high season.

“The locals are more relaxed because they’re under less pressure,” Ricardo Fahrig, an Albanian tourism expert, told me. He was talking specifically about the Albanian Riviera, but his words apply much more generally too. “There are fewer visitors, so you have the area to yourself. There’s less waiting time. There is lower pricing. I think you get a much more authentic insight because you won’t just meet foreign visitors, you’re going to meet a lot more locals too.”

Cheaper and less crowded, with more chance of an authentic travel experience.

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Generally speaking, September is a good month for global travel, regardless of location (and especially if you own a good waterproof and don’t mind a little shower). In this list, we’ve picked out a range of destinations around the world which demonstrate exactly why - but if your dream destination isn’t on the list, don’t sweat it. There’s a good chance it wears September well too.

Here’s our guide to the best travel destinations in September - a month for seasoned travellers.

1. The Albanian Riviera, Albania

• Season: Summer/Autumn
• Temperature: 27°C high, 15ºC low (for Dhërmi)
• Time zone: GMT+2
• Currency: Albanian Lek
• Best for: Mixing coasts and mountains

Since we included a quote from Albanian trekking expert Ricardo Fahrig in our introduction, we’ll start in his neck of the woods. Albania is a dream destination for those seeking sun - the beaches are idyllic and the coast looks out to Corfu, across the Ionian Sea, so you get world class beauty at an affordable price - but with that has come elements of overtourism in the summer months.

The best way to experience the beauty of the Albanian coast? Get off the main drag and onto the hiking trails, and do it in the shoulder season, once the bulk of the tourists have left. Think olive groves, ghost towns, white sand beaches, ocean views and mountain backdrops, on quiet trails. “You only see the flashy, glitzy part of a beach resort in summertime,” says Ricardo Fahrig. “Here you get to see what really goes on without the crowds.”

How to get there? The closest international airport to the Albanian Riviera is in Tirana, the Albanian capital, and is 75 miles (121km) away. The Riviera is a four hour bus from here.

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Join a small group trip to hike untrodden trails from coastal mountains down to hidden coves on Albania’s shimmering riviera. Led by local experts.

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2. The Dalmatian Coast, Croatia

• Season: Summer/Autumn
• Temperature: 25°C high, 16ºC low
• Time zone: GMT+2
• Currency: Euro
• Best for: Perfect paddling

The Dalmatian Coast is one of Croatia’s four historical regions, sitting on the west of the country and on the eastern edge of the Adriatic Sea. The coast is narrow but long, and owing to the fact that it’s covered largely by the Dinaric Alps - as well as being home to 79 islands and around 500 islets, just off shore - it’s a real adventure hub. The most famous cities on the coastline are Split, Zadar, Šibenik and Dubrovnik - the latter of which in particular, partly due to Game of Thrones-related tourism, is famously busy in the summer months.

Visit the coastline in September, though, and choose to paddle, and you can see the beauty of this wonderful coastline (and the historic cities along the way) in peace. The water will still be warm enough to tempt you in for a swim.

How to get there? The best international airports for the Dalmatian Coast are Split or Dubrovnik, naturally depending on where on the coast you are planning to visiting.

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3. Sardinia, Italy

• Season: Summer/Autumn
• Temperature: 27°C high, 18ºC low
• Time zone: GMT+2
• Currency: Euro
• Best for: A proper challenge in a beautiful place

When a lot of people think of Sardinia they think of all-inclusive resorts and sun loungers. We do not. Dig deeper on this sun-soaked Italian island and you’ll soon begin to hear tales of the Selvaggio Blu - a 25 mile (40km) trail with 4,200m (13,779ft) of vertical gain, five abseils and two via ferratas. No wonder it’s known as the toughest trek in Italy. This is an emphatically beautiful trail, and it’s also one that will test you in a lot of different ways, from technical climbs or descents, to your regular mental and physical challenges of hiking. We wouldn’t advise doing it in July or August, though. It’s too hot, and it can be crowded. Pick September instead.

How to get there? Cagliari Elmas Airport is the largest airport on the island of Sardinia.

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4. Picos de Europa, Spain

• Season: Summer/Autumn
• Temperature: 23°C high, 14ºC low
• Time zone: GMT+2
• Currency: Euro
• Best for: A lesser known side to Spain

Situated in the north of Spain, the Picos de Europa are a small but mighty mountain range and national park. This spot has long been famous with serious rock climbers, but in recent years, it’s also gained a big reputation within the wider adventure world. It’s a place of canyons, rivers, forests and rugged peaks - so it makes a lot of sense for those interested in doing a few different adventure activities while out on a trip.

Visit the Picos in September and you’ll find that the weather remains decent (though do note that the north of Spain is rainier and chillier than the south), there’s still plenty of daylight and even the most popular trails, like the famous Ruta del Cares, are really only populated by locals.

How to get there? The Picos de Europa are served by various airports. Santander and Asturias Airport are around a 90-minute drive from the Picos de Europa. Bilbao Airport is an hour further.

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5. The Cairngorms, Scotland

• Season: Summer/Autumn
• Temperature: 15°C high, 4ºC low (for Aviemore)
• Time zone: GMT+1
• Currency: British Pound
• Best for: A Highland adventure

The Cairngorms are the adventurous heart of Scotland. Within the national park, you can do all sorts - from rafting and kayaking on the Spey to mountain biking on flow trails to hiking up the UK’s second highest peak, Ben Macdui, which stands 1,309m (4,296ft) tall.

I’ve been hiking in Scotland for all of my life, and when I plan a long-distance trek with friends, I usually aim for September. This is for the same reasons as most other spots on this list. While the weather may be a little more erratic (though it’s hardly predictable in the height of summer), you’ll find the trails in Scotland significantly emptier in September than you will in July or August. There’s another big benefit to walking in September too: less midges.

As the Cairngorms enter autumn, the red and yellows begin to come out, and if you’re camping, you’ll begin to hear rutting stags. There are mushrooms to be picked, too (careful now).

How to get there? The train station in Aviemore is well served by services from across the UK. The closest airports are Aberdeen and Inverness, though Edinburgh and Glasgow also work.

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Join a small group adventure, hiking and canoeing from the Cairngorms to the North Sea, via the rapids of the River Spey. Led by expert, local guides.

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6. The Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

• Season: Dry season
• Temperature: 27°C high, 19ºC low
• Time zone: GMT-5
• Currency: US Dollar
• Best for: Marine wildlife

The Galapagos Islands are a year-round destination for wildlife lovers. “You’ll see wildlife even if you don’t do any specific activity,” says Henry Sisa, a Quito-based guide who has led tours in Galapagos. The most famous residents are perhaps the Giant Tortoises, but if you go in September, you’ll find the marine wildlife particularly active too. September is the coolest and driest month on the islands, and with that comes cold water currents that bring nutrients to the surface of the water. It’s not cold - but it does mean you have a better chance of spotting whales and dolphins, for example. Plus, if you go snorkelling, you might end up swimming with sea lion pups. All this marine life brings a lot of birds out too. You’ll see Albatross chicks dotted around.

How to get there? The Galapagos Islands are reached from Ecuador. Most people fly from the capital of Ecuador, Quito, to Baltra Island in the Galapagos. It’s a gorgeous flight.

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7. Machu Picchu, Peru

• Season: Dry season
• Temperature: 9°C high, -3ºC low
• Time zone: GMT-5
• Currency: Peruvian Sol
• Best for: Avoiding peak season at an iconic site

Machu Picchu is legendary, but this ancient Incan site, surrounded by mountain peaks, is also well known for being crowded.

Visit Machu Picchu in September, the shoulder season, and at least some of those crowds will have dispersed, but the weather will be largely the same. Naturally, the Inca Trail is the busiest route up to Machu Picchu at any time of year. We’d recommend looking at the Salkantay Trek instead, or if you’re really after a challenge, take a look at the trek to Choquequirao first.

How to get there? Cusco, the gateway city to Machu Picchu, is reached from the Peruvian capital of Lima. From Lima, you can fly to Jorge Chavez Airport or it’s an overnight bus.

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8. The Drakensberg Mountains, South Africa

• Season: Winter/Spring
• Temperature: 20°C high, 7ºC low
• Time zone: GMT+2
• Currency: South African Rand
• Best for: A demanding African adventure

The Drakensberg is a sight to behold; a great green wall, rising up over rolling hills and rivers and forming the natural border between South Africa and Lesotho. The hiking trails here are serious and strenuous. Some of the higher reaches are accessible only by chain ladders.

September (as well as October) in the Drakensberg is a happy medium. Spring arrives, and with it the greens get more vibrant and the flora bursts with colour. The birds chirp, the rainfall stays low during this time and you’ll also be getting in before the thunderstorms come in summer.

How to get there? The best way to reach the Drakensberg is to fly into King Shaka International Airport in Durban or the O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.

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9. Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

• Season: Dry season
• Temperature: 29°C high, 17ºC low
• Time zone: GMT+3
• Currency: Tanzanian Shilling
• Best for: Big summit baggers

The pull of climbing Africa’s highest mountain, the mighty Kilimanjaro (5,895m/19,340ft) is obvious. This is one of the world’s great peaks, and the highest summit of an entire continent. As though that wasn’t already enough of a pull, the area that Kilimanjaro looks out over is home to some of the world’s most iconic animal species. In Amboseli National Park, 30 miles away, roam leopards, lions, cheetahs, buffalo, elephants and so much more. So, why September?

Climbing Kilimanjaro is not easy, but by opting to do so in September, you actually increase your chances of a successful ascent. This is because the temperatures are a little cooler and you’re unlikely to see rain. It’s also not quite as busy in September as it can be in July or August.

How to get there? You can fly into Kilimanjaro airport, which serves Moshi, Marangu and Arusha. Or you can fly to Nairobi or Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam.

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10. The Atlas Mountains, Morocco

• Season: Summer/Autumn
• Temperature: 32°C high, 18ºC low
• Time zone: GMT+1
• Currency: Moroccan Dirham
• Best for: A big weekend adventure

The Atlas Mountains are a hiker’s dream. We’re particularly big fans of Mount Toubkal, which at 4,167m (13,665ft) is the highest peak in Morocco and North Africa. The ascent of Toubkal is a two-day climb, with an overnight at a high refuge en route. Being such a high peak, the seasons have a big impact on the ascent of Toubkal. Do so in January or February, for example, and you’ll be hiking through snow, which can be a wonderful experience if you’re up to the task.

The prime hiking season runs from April to September, though. Go in September and the top of Toubkal may still be touched with a little snow, making it a hike of real contrast. Do note that out of summer, Morocco can get cold, particularly up high in the mountains, so pack appropriately.

How to get there? Most people visiting the Atlas Mountains first fly into Marrakech Airport.

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11. Etosha National Park, Namibia

• Season: Dry season
• Temperature: 35°C high, 14ºC low
• Time zone: GMT+2
• Currency: Namibian Dollar
• Best for: Primetime animal watching

Visiting Etosha National Park is all about wildlife watching and safari. This is a dreamland of lions, leopards, elephants, giraffes, cheetahs, hyenas, rhinos, zebras and so much more. There is a particularly notable population of black rhinoceros here. Visit in September and you'll be coming in the prime dry season viewing time. Head to watering holes and you're guaranteed to see a superb selection of wildlife. It is going to be hot though - with highs exceeding 30°C.

How to get there? ​​Windhoek International Airport is the gateway to adventures in Namibia.

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12. The Island of Mauritius

• Season: Winter/Spring
• Temperature: 24°C high, 18ºC low
• Time zone: GMT+4
• Currency: Mauritian Rupee
• Best for: Mixing volcanic beauty and coastal class

Mauritius sits off by itself, 500 miles east of Madagascar, in the middle of the Indian Ocean.

It’s a place ringed by coral reefs, with white sand beaches and a volcanic heart; where lush greenery spreads through the Black River Gorges National Park and craggy basalt peaks rise high and overlook the water. You can spot sperm whales and dolphins out at sea, while there are rainbow sand dunes to explore on the shores. The big reason to visit Mauritius in September is that it’s one of the drier months on the island; and you’ll be arriving just as Mauritius comes out of winter, with the daylight increasing and the wildlife waking up.

How to get there? The airport most international flights arrive to on Mauritius is (deep breath)  Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport.

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13. The Kumano Kodo, Japan

• Season: Summer/Autumn
• Temperature: 29°C high, 21ºC low (for Osaka)
• Time zone: GMT+4
• Currency: Japanese Yen
• Best for: An immersion in autumnal forest

The Kumano Kodo is an 190-mile (370km) network of pilgrimage trails. All in all, it consists of five interconnected routes which run through the Kumano region of Japan, on the mountainous Kii Peninsula, south of Osaka. These routes have been walked for over 1000 years, and they still are today. In fact, they’re the only pilgrimage routes in the world with a UNESCO World Heritage designation, other than the famous Camino de Santiago, which runs from Porto in Portugal to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Walk the route in September and you’ll be doing so outside the busy summer months, and just as the forests begin to colour for autumn.

The trail is also hot and humid, and walking it in September avoids the worst of the heat.

How to get there? Japan has an excellent rail service, which extends to the Kii Peninsula. The nearest international airport is the Kansai International, which is just outside of Osaka.

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14. Bali, Indonesia

• Season: Dry season
• Temperature: 31°C high, 22ºC low
• Time zone: GMT+8
• Currency: Indonesian Rupiah
• Best for: A coast to coast in the sun

There was a time where if you mentioned Bali the eyes of those with wanderlust would light up. It’s had a bit of a tougher time recently. Usually when Bali enters the news and tourism is involved, it has something to do with overtourism, which does indeed plague parts of the island. But this is a bigger place than most realise, and if you get off the beaten track you can still find the tranquillity, lush nature and beautiful coastlines that make this island so utterly special.

We’d recommend checking out this 100km coast to coast walk across Bali, which takes 62 miles (100km) across the island, avoiding the tourist traps. “Some people think that Bali is all about Kuta,” says Benny Onor, a local tourism expert involved in the creation of the route. “By going coast-to-coast, we can show it’s really not. We want to show the different landscapes that Bali has. The trail goes through dense jungle, through rice fields and plantations, past waterfalls and up mountains. In some places along this route, you won’t find another tourist there at all.”

Why September? It’s hot, and the chances of rain are incredibly low. One for sun-seekers.

How to get there? The international airport on Bali is Ngurah Rai International Airport.

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15. Sarawak, Borneo (Malaysia)

• Season: Dry/Wet season
• Temperature: 33°C high, 22ºC low (for Borneo)
• Time zone: GMT+8
• Currency: Malaysian Ringgit
• Best for: Rainforest wildlife spotting

Borneo is the third largest island in the entire world, and it’s a place with ancient rainforests, with extensive wetland and mangroves, with mountains which reach up over 4,000m and with white sandy beaches - all of which are bustling with (often endemic) wildlife. The island is divided into Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei. The most popular area to visit is the Malaysian side, which is divided into the states of Sabah and Sarawak. The former is home to beautiful rainforests and famous rivers, but visit the lesser known Sarawak and you can visit huge national parks and barely see another tourist - plus there’s the wonderful, eclectic city of Kuching to explore.

In September, the weather in Borneo is slightly less predictable than in the months previous. You’ll likely get a bit of rain and a bit of sun. So why go then? Because with rain, comes life, and if you visit Borneo in September, you have the ideal conditions for spotting the famous wildlife - from orangutans and pygmy elephants to hornbills, gibbons and brightly-coloured frogs.

How to get there? To explore Sarawak, first fly to the Kuching International Airport in Borneo.

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16. Tian Shan Mountains, Kyrgyzstan

• Season: Summer/Autumn
• Temperature: 8°C high, -4ºC low
• Time zone: GMT+6
• Currency: Kyrgystani Som
• Best for: A true escape

Think Kyrgyzstan and there’s a good chance that you think of big mountains and vast wilderness. If you do, then you’re thinking of the Tian Shan Mountains. This is one of the most spectacular mountain ranges in Central Asia. Visit, and you can walk the 3,800m (12,467ft) Jukku Pass, pass glimmering mountain lakes and meet the legendary eagle hunters.

During autumn, which runs from September to November, the skies are at their clearest, and the rivers run slightly lower, giving them a unique turquoise blue blaze. The higher passes, like the Jukku Pass, may be sprinkled with snow, while village farms are vibrant with colours.

How to get there? The most popular way to reach Kyrgyzstan is to fly into Manas International Airport in Bishkek.

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17. The Jordan Trail, Jordan

• Season: Summer/Autumn
• Temperature: 28°C high, 14ºC low (for Petra)
• Time zone: GMT+3
• Currency: Jordanian Dinar
• Best for: Exploring an ancient site in a new way

The Jordan Trail is a 420-mile (675km) route which runs from Umm Qais, a town in the north of the country, all the way to Aqaba and the Red Sea in the south. On the way, you’ll pass through the capital city of Amman, you’ll visit the ancient city of Petra, and you’ll visit the famous desert of Wadi Rum, an expansive red and orange landscape dotted with sandstone monoliths.

The trail was invented to expand the benefits of tourism beyond Petra, and benefit locals. “Some people who live just an hour away from Petra never get to see the benefit of the travellers who come through the area,” says Ayman Abd Alkareem, one of the founders.

In September, You get warm weather, but it’s a lot more manageable than the often oppressively-warm summer. You’ll also miss the crowds. “These trails help to stretch the season,” says Ayman.

How to get there? The capital of Jordan, Amman, and its airport are the gateway to Jordan.

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18. The Himalayas, Nepal

• Season: Summer/Autumn
• Temperature: 17°C high, 7ºC low (for Lukla)
• Time zone: GMT+5:45
• Currency: Nepalese Rupee
• Best for: A full Himalayan experience

Anyone who loves mountains has considered visiting Nepal. This is the home of the highest mountains of the world; of the mighty Himalayas and the towering Mount Everest. Walk to Everest Base Camp on Lukla, take on the Annapurna Circuit or if you’ve caught the mountaineering bug, test yourself at high altitude by walking to Mera Peak. It’s one of the highest peaks in the world that you can reach without technical mountaineering equipment.

September is primetime for trekking in Nepal. The weather isn’t too hot or too cold, the transfers and travel are reliable and in September, Namche Bazaar is buzzing with hikers. There’s an energy to these adventurous pursuits which you don’t always get at other times of the year.

How to get there? You’ll first need to get to Kathmandu. If it’s the Everest Base Camp trek that you’re doing, you’ll then want to fly on to the famous Tenzing-Hillary airport in Lukla.

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19. Cao Bang, Vietnam

• Season: Summer/Autumn
• Temperature: 30°C high, 22ºC low
• Time zone: GMT+7
• Currency: Vietnam Dong
• Best for: Seeking paradise in September

This sensational province of Northern Vietnam is bursting with must–see areas, none moreso than the Bản Giốc Waterfall, which is the fourth largest in the world and looks an awful lot like the sort of thing fictional movie characters stumble across on their way to the Lost City of Atlantis. Imagine water tumbling into huge lagoons, across various levels, surrounded by otherwise intense greenery. September is the low season here, meaning that you can explore the falls without the crowds. More frequent rainfall means full, wonderful waterfalls, and you’re also able to swim in the surrounding waters, to cool yourself down in the autumn heat.

How to get there? Fly to Hanoi and then you can grab a five hour bus to Cao Bang.

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20. Te Araroa, New Zealand

• Season: Winter/Spring
• Temperature: 17°C high, 9ºC low (for Auckland)
• Time zone: GMT+12
• Currency: New Zealand Dollar
• Best for: The island of New Zealand on one, big trail

The Te Araroa is the all-encompassing trail of New Zealand. It is the country on a walking route. Naturally, since the trail runs from Cape Reinga in the north of the north island to Bluff at the southern edge of the south island, this is an incredibly long trek. We’re talking about 1,864 miles (3,000km) in total, so if you do walk it all, it’ll take you a few months.

If you’re only going to walk a segment though - and you want to immerse yourself in it - you can do a lot worse than walking it in September, when spring has just sprung, and the scents of nature coming out and waterfalls gushing heavily as the snow melts off the mountains and tumbles on down. The Alexandra Blossom Festival is popular in September for cherry blossoms, though lovers of the outdoors will see plenty of native flora - the likes of totara, beech and Giant Kauri trees - and colourful flowers in full bloom while they’re out exploring in spring.

How to get there? Fly to Auckland (the capital, which is on the north island of New Zealand), then fly or get the bus to Kerikeri or Kaitaia. From their, take a tourist bus to Cape Reinga.

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At 2,469m-high (8,100ft), Galdhøpiggen is not only the tallest mountain in Norway - it’s also the highest peak in Scandinavia. It’s located in the majestic Jotunheimen mountain range, which translates as ‘Land of the Giants’ and occupies an important place in Norse mythology. Jotunheimen certainly lives up to its name, with more than 250 peaks rising higher than 1,900m (6,233ft), and a landscape littered with boulders that look as if they’ve been carelessly scattered by a giant hand.

Galdhøpiggen dominates the landscape, with a curved ridgeline up to the summit. Much of its dark rocky surface is covered in a glacier, Styggebreen, a name which translates as “ugly glacier”. But ‘stygg’ also means dangerous in the local dialect - the glacier has deep crevasses, which are hidden under a blanket of snow; a guide will be necessary to help you navigate it.

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Reaching the summit requires a careful traverse of Styggebreen (for which a guide is required) and a scramble over bare rock. It’s a challenging day hike with a big pay off - a view of the ancient snowcapped Jotunheimen peaks, valleys and glacial lakes.

Here’s our guide to climbing Galdhøpiggen, which includes two route options and answers some FAQs relating to kit list, accommodation and logistics.

Where is Galdhøpiggen Located?

Galdhøpiggen is located in the Jotunheimen mountain range. The mountains form part of Jotunheimen National Park, located in Lom, a municipality in the south east of Norway. The closest settlements are the villages of Galdbygde and Slåligrende, which lie a few miles north of Galdhøpiggen along the closest road, Scenic Route Sognefjellet (Road 55), which runs through the national park.

Climbing Galdhøpiggen: The Routes

There are two hiking routes up to the top of Galdhøpiggen. The most popular, from Spiterstulen mountain hut, is a longer hike with around 1,300 metres (4,265ft) of ascent. An alternative route, encompassing around 650 metres (2,132ft) of ascent, begins at Juvvasshytta mountain hut, and crosses the Styggebreen Glacier. This intrepid route requires the use of ropes, crampons and a trained guide. We’ve outlined both options below.

It’s important to note that these route descriptions are only short summaries, designed to inspire but not to serve any navigational purpose. They are not intended to guide you on the route - further mapping and planning will be required to safely walk any of the trails featured.

Spiterstulen to Galdhøpiggen

• Distance: 8 miles (13km)
• Walking time: 6-8 hours
• Elevation gain: 1,300m (4,265ft)

This is the longer route up Galdhøpiggen, and also the steepest - you’ll be tackling 1,300 metres of ascent over a single day. However, it’s the most popular of the two main routes since it doesn’t involve a glacier crossing (and can therefore be hiked independently).

The hike begins near Spiterstulen hut, located at 1,100m/3,609ft. You’ll follow a marked trail through Alpine tundra, an environment of cotton grass tussocks, stunted trees and summer flowers, threaded with small streams. It’s fairly relentless uphill hiking, so take some breaks to enjoy the view. As you climb higher, the tundra is replaced with bare gravel, carpeted in patches of snow - the amount of snow increases as you climb higher.

The trail takes you along a rocky ridge and up two smaller ‘false summits’, Svellnose (2,272m/7,454ft) and Keilhaustopp (2355m/7,726ft). Eventually, however, you’ll reach the summit itself - it’s a steep hike up snow-covered rocks and boulders to the top. Enjoy the panoramic view of the Jotunheimen Mountains and glaciers - you’ve earned it. There’s even a small refreshment kiosk, open during peak times, where you can get refreshments before the long trek back down.

Juvvasshytta to Galdhøpiggen

• Distance: 7.4 miles (12km)
• Walking time: 7 hours
• Elevation gain: 650m (2,132ft)

This out-and-back hike approaches Galdhøpiggen from the north, and begins at the Juvvasshytta hut, located at an elevation of 1,850m (6,069ft). It might have less ascent than the Spiterstulen route (around 650m/2,132ft), but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s less challenging. This is because it involves a crossing of the Stygebreen glacier, which requires a guide.

The first mile or so of the hike follows a trail from Juvvasshytta that winds gently uphill across rocky terrain. After around an hour of hiking, you’ll reach the edge of Stygebreen Glacier. Your guides will divide you into small groups - you’ll put on your harnesses and be roped together. In certain weather conditions, you might also need crampons. You’ll move slowly, being careful of crevasses covered with a layer of snow.

After around an hour, you’ll reach Piggura - the ridge leading to the summit. For this you’ll be unroped and be able to continue onwards to the top. This is the hardest, and steepest part of the climb, made even more difficult by the loose scree underfoot. At times, you might have to use your hands to scramble to the top.

After enjoying the view, and a refreshment break, you’ll return the way you came, although it is also possible to descend via the Spiterstulen route if you’d prefer a point to point hike.

How Hard is Climbing Galdhøpiggen?

You don’t need technical mountaineering skills to climb Galdhøpiggen, but you will need a good level of fitness - especially for the Spiterstulen route, which involves 1,300 metres of ascent. You’ll be walking over boulders and scrambling over scree. We’d rate the hike as moderate - it’s achievable for experienced hikers.

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If you take the Juvvasshytta route, you’ll be traversing a glacier. This will require use of ropes and harnesses. Your guide will give you important safety advice and techniques for glacier walking, which helps mitigate both the difficulty and the risk.

Where to Stay on Galdhøpiggen

If you’re climbing Galdhøpiggen, the most obvious accommodation choices are the mountain huts at the two trailheads - Juvvasshytta and Spiterstulen. Both offer a range of accommodation options, from a bunk in a dormitory to private doubles with bathrooms. It’s also possible to camp at both huts. Facilities are clean and comfortable, with hot showers available. Each hut has a bar and dining area - hearty Norwegian cuisine is served for dinner, as well as a substantial breakfast.

Juvvasshytta and Spiterstulen are not open year round. Juvvasshytta is open from mid-May to mid-September, and Spiterstulen is open from mid-March to early May (for the winter ski season), then mid-May to mid-September.

There is also a wide range of accommodation options within the wider Jotunheimen National Park. You’ll find everything from campsites to farm stays; mountain huts to more upmarket hotels. Check individual websites for opening times.

It’s also worth noting that, this being Norway, wild camping is permitted so long as you adhere to ‘leave no trace’ principles.

What to Pack for Climbing Galdhøpiggen

Even during the summer months, you can expect ‘winter weather’ - snow, rain and wind. It’s important to pack warm clothes and waterproof clothing. We’d recommend bringing:

• Waterproof, windproof jacket with hood
• Waterproof trousers
• Warm jacket
• Long trousers
• Fleece
• Base layers
• Worn-in waterproof hiking boots
• Gloves
• Beanie
• Sunhat

For a full packing list, check out the Kitlist section of our Ultimate Norwegian Fjords Adventure.

When is the Best Time of Year to Hike Galdhøpiggen?

Galdhøpiggen can be hiked year round, but conditions can be inclement - with wind, rain, fog and snowstorms. We’d recommend climbing Galdhøpiggen during the summer months, from June to September. This is when the weather is most settled, although you’ll still find snow on the trails, and the glacier is there year-round. This is also when the closest hut accommodation is open.

Another option is to hike during the colder months of March to May. At this time of year, you’ll need to use touring skis. Spiterstulen is open during these months - it organises ski tours up Galdhøpiggen.

How to Get to Galdhøpiggen

Most people will reach Galdhøpiggen by car. It can be accessed via Scenic Route Sognefjellet (Road 55), which begins in the town of Lom and winds through meadows and past fjords to the mountains.

To reach the trailhead at Spiterstulen you’ll need to drive for 11 miles down an unpaved private toll road - the last few miles of road are closed by barrier in the months that the mountain lodge is closed. To reach Juvasshytta, take Galdhøpiggen road, which turns off from Road 55 into the mountains.

You can also use public transport to reach Galdhøpiggen during the summer months - the Fjellruter buses run from late June until September. To reach Juvasshytta take the 202 Bus from Lom, and for Spitersulen take the 201 Bus (also from Lom) - they both run twice a day.

Inspired? Check out our Ultimate Norwegian Fjords Adventure, which includes a guided ascent of Galdhøpiggen via Styggebreen.

Jessica Hepburn spent her forties adventuring. A self-described "unlikely athlete", she successfully swam the English Channel, ran the London marathon and even reached the summit of Mount Everest - all of which she has written books about. Her thirties, however, were spent in pursuit of motherhood, rather than adventure.

“I got into adventure via a lot of pain,” she says. “In my early 30s, my partner and I decided we wanted to have a family, but we weren't able to conceive. We were diagnosed with unexplained infertility. We went through 11 rounds of IVF and multiple miscarriages. It was a horrible time.  

“I turned 43 and I still hadn't had a baby. I decided I needed to do something completely different. I decided to swim the English Channel, which was totally nuts. It was a sort of childhood-dream-turned-midlife-crisis.”

Now in her early fifties, Jessica describes herself as an "adventure activist". Her goal: to inspire people to live adventurously, even if life hasn’t gone to plan. Because life doesn't always unfold how you expect it to. And in your thirties, when it feels like all your friends are buying houses, getting married and having kids, the gulf between where you are and where you want to be can be particularly upsetting.

What Are the Panic Years?

‘Panic years’ is a term coined by journalist Nell Frizzell in her book The Panic Years: Dates, Doubts, and the Mother of All Decisions. She uses it to describe the period in a woman’s life (between the ages of around 28 and 40) when she is often faced with a series of life-changing decisions around her career and relationships. But there’s one all-important question underpinning it all.

“Should you have a baby? And if so, how, where, when and with whom? It is a question that smacks into us like a train at the beginning of what I call 'the panic years', a period of turmoil in your 30s, during which all decisions about love, work, friendship or where to live are given a special sense of urgency by the fact that you can mark your declining fertility with each monthly cycle,” she writes.

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This is not to suggest that all women in their thirties are constantly beset with panic, or that such panic is gender-specific. Frizzell created the term to describe her own experience, and that of her friends. It’s also indicative of the position society puts you in as a woman - even if you’re perfectly happy being childfree, you may have experienced pressure to have a baby from family or a partner.

Everyone’s experience of the panic years is different. In 2011, when she was 28, Jo Hodson ditched a career in architecture for an alternative lifestyle. During the pandemic she converted a van, and now splits her time between travelling and house sitting, whilst working as a creative coach and copywriter. Her Instagram account will make you green with envy. Hodson loves the freedom her life offers her - but that doesn’t mean she’s never thought about having children.

“I spent most of my life believing I'd be a rubbish parent,” she says. “I was a kid with undiagnosed ADHD. My mum was a childminder, so I saw her as the perfect parental role model. I would come home from school burnt out and want quiet, but the house was always full of kids. She'd get frustrated at my intolerant attitude and on a number of occasions she said ‘for goodness sake Jo, never have kids, will you?’

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“It was a statement made in the heat of the moment, and now I know she didn't mean it, but that bedded itself. I ruled out the option of having kids. It was only in my mid-30s that I realised the idea of being a rubbish parent was a story I carried, not the truth. I was suddenly faced with a choice that I had never even considered was a choice before.

“That was a tough time because I was in my 30s, single, suddenly wondering if I wanted kids. I didn't know who to talk to. It felt like I should know what I wanted. Most of my friends were having kids or at least had partners and stable jobs, and I didn't. I felt very alone. Without a partner in the equation that I could visualise a family with, the whole thing was so abstract - like a parallel life was unfolding in slow motion past me.”

Jo and Jessica had different experiences of the panic years, but something they both experienced was feeling out of control of what was happening to them. For Jessica, this was compounded when her relationship broke down and alternative routes to parenthood (such as surrogacy or adoption) closed off.

One of the hardest things about going through a fertility journey is that the outcome is unknown. You're living with uncertainty

“One of the hardest things about going through a fertility journey is that the outcome is unknown. You're living with uncertainty,” Jessica says. “If you knew the outcome, you could just relax and go through all the shit because you would know the ending. But nobody can tell you how your story is going to end.”

Freedom and Acceptance

Amidst the uncertainty of the panic years, Jo and Jessica both sought to focus on things beyond motherhood in search of excitement and fulfilment. For Jo, this has been about discovering a lifestyle outside of what convention dictates - converting her van and going wherever the mood takes her. A recent diagnosis of ADHD has also helped provide acceptance.

“I spent all my thirties trying to fit in, desperately trying to prove that I was normal,” she says. But in the last couple of years I’ve put aside the whole ‘kids thing’ and taken all that noise out of the equation. I’ve also begun owning the fact that I am a bit of an alternative ADHD ‘never going to quite fit the mould’ kind of person, and that’s absolutely fine.

I look at my friends who are in more typical lives and I don't know anyone who has got more freedom than I have

“The other thing I realised is that we’re conditioned to believe that birth is delivering a baby from your own body. But there are so many other ways of birthing things, whether it be ideas or concepts, or just adopting. When I thought about what I actually wanted to give, beyond the expectations of society, I realised it’s that sense of nurturing and contributing something that’s important. I don’t need to give birth - if I decided to have a child, I'd be open to adopting. That realisation brought me a lot of peace.”

Jo is now in a new relationship, but she still lives life on her own terms, and is enjoying the benefits of a child-free lifestyle. When we spoke, she was part-way through a solo trip around Europe in her van.

“I look at my friends who are in more typical lives and I don't know anyone who has got more freedom than I have. Whilst it has its downsides and it can be very unanchored and untethered and uncertain, the payoff for that level of freedom is huge,” she says.

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Jessica, now 53, has long accepted that she will not be a mother, in the biological sense of the word. But adventures, she says, have helped her heal from this heartbreak.

Adventure helps you make the most of the life that you've got in the face of the things you haven't got

“The sea and the mountains have been such journeys of redemption for me - they've created a very profound relationship between me and nature,” she says. “My relationship with nature was broken, because I felt nature hadn't given me a baby. I'm an animal. Animals reproduce. There are lots of things we can't have, but we tend to assume we'll be able to have a baby - I felt like nature let me down.

“When I realised that it didn't matter how good a swimmer I became or how hard I trained, I might not get across the channel because nature was in charge - again - it was terrifying. But then she let me get across, and it was a perfect adventure.”

“If you ask any adventurer what adventure gives them, the most common answer is it makes you feel alive. There's something about doing something new, achieving something that's an effort that makes you feel energised and excited, living life to the full. Adventure helps you make the most of the life that you've got in the face of the things you haven't got.”

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For Jessica, then, adventuring provides her with excitement, while immersion in nature has helped her heal her relationship with her own body. For Jo, being out in nature is also restorative.

“Sometimes I feel disconnected from society, which can feel very lonely and isolating,” she says. “But getting out into nature connects me in a very deep way and really addresses that balance. So when I'm having a wobble that I don't fit in or I haven't succeeded as a woman or any of those panic years thoughts, nature resets the balance.”

I ask both women what advice they would give to other women going through their panic years.

“Give yourself the space to grieve for what you thought life should have been, or what you wanted,” Jo says. “And then be curious as to what space opens up. Curiosity is so important. If we can get curious about our lives we can be the owner instead of the victim. If we can take a step back and live life on our own terms, that is hugely empowering.”

When I'm having a wobble that I don't fit in or I haven't succeeded as a woman or any of those panic years thoughts, nature resets the balance

Jessica believes that it’s important to switch your focus away from the parts of life you can’t control, and instead focus on other ways to be happy.

“I lost a decade of my life to ‘project baby’. Then I realised that I had lost sight of ‘project me’,” she says. “My advice is don't lose sight of ‘project you’ in the face of whatever you're panicking about.

“Adventure enables you to live in that limbo of uncertainty - that’s why it is so life changing. People tell you it’s all about the journey, and it doesn’t matter about the destination, but that’s not true - the destination really matters in an adventure. But the destination isn’t always going to be the top of the mountain. It might not always be a baby. But there will be a destination. And the exciting thing is not knowing what that is, or how you will have changed by the time you get there.”

• Jessica's latest book, Save Me From the Waves: An Adventure From Sea to Summit, about her Everest climb, is available now.

Inspired to live more adventurously? Check out our Epic Adventures across the world.