Arkansas is known as 'The Natural State' for good reason. This is a place home to sprawling lakes, lapping pine and oak trees, leafy national forests like the Ouachita and Ozark-St. Francis - and to Hot Springs National Park, an urban park bubbling with natural geothermal waters.

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There’s a whole lot of cycling to be found in all that beauty, regardless of your choice of bike. And the 250 mile (402km) Crowley's Ridge Gravel Trail is perhaps the pick of the routes, running from Helena to Piggott through the Arkansas Delta. It caught our attention as part of the latest film from cyclist Markus Stitz.

Crowley’s Ridge is a geological curiosity.

Picture the Arkansas Delta: flat farmland, with horizon-to-horizon views. Now imagine a narrow, forested ridge jutting out of that like a wrinkle on a tablecloth, rising up to 170m. That's Crowley's Ridge. It's a feature shaped by ancient rivers and coated over millennia by dust blown in from retreating glaciers; a long, stretching hill that refused to be swallowed by the surrounding delta.

Crowley's Ridge has really the only elevation in the Arkansas Delta.

The result is a dreamscape for cyclists: a spine of rolling, canopy-covered hills cutting through an otherwise flat landscape of cotton and soybean fields. Well-packed gravel roads, hardwood forest and utter tranquility.

The route is 60% gravel, and the rest is paved. It takes in seven state parks, goes through St. Francis national forest and 18 Delta towns - meaning plenty of stops for delicious food, a local brew or to hear some Delta blues. Broken down into four days, the route is a manageable ride, with one suggested itinerary being:

• Day 1: Helena to Marianna (30 miles/48km)
• Day 2: Marianna to Birdeye  (80 miles/128km)
• Day 3: Birdeye to Jonesboro  (50 miles/80km)
• Day 4: Jonesboro to Piggott  (80 miles/128km)

So, what would each of those days actually look like?

Before you take off from Helena, pop by the Delta Cultural Centre. Exhibits range from those on the 1863 Battle of Helena, part of the Civil War, to those on blues musicians like Sonny Boy Williamson II. The Blues are a big deal here (Memphis is just 90 minute northeast) - and the longest running Blues radio broadcast in the world ('King Biscuit Time') is broadcast from this centre live on weekdays.

A quick note: while the GPX above show the route as north to south, the route overview below describes travelling on the same cycle trail from south to north.

Get riding and you'll find yourself heading north, from Helena, towards the St. Francis National Forest. The canopy closes in and you’ll pass Bear Creek Lake and the Mississippi River State Park before arriving in Marianna. Eat at the Jones Bar-B-Q Diner, believed to be America's oldest black-owned restaurant.

It's canopy covered, shaded, and you just have this sense of being on these historic travel ways.

Day two takes you through Tuni Canyon and out to Village Creek State Park. This is an idyllic park with lakes for boating, but it was also part of the Trail of Tears route - the paths used during the forced displacement and ethnic cleansing of around 60,000 Native Americans between 1830 and 1850 by the US government.

After sleeping in Birdeye, day three will take you by Lake Poinsett State Park and Craighead Forest Park to Jonesboro, home to the Bradbury Art Museum and the A-State Museum, which boasts the skeleton of a (once) wooly mammoth.

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Eat at Native Brew Works, where craft beer meets good food, then the next day ride out to Lake Fierson and Crowley's Ridge State Park. The finish in Piggott, where Ernest Hemingway wrote A Farewell to Arms, lies beyond.

Crowley's Ridge Gravel Trail was launched by studioDRIFT, a non-profit co-founded by Martin Smith, who has been working to revitalise the Arkansas Delta area for over four decades. Smith, who lives in Birdeye, is quoted speaking about the route in Markus Stitz’s short film, which is embedded in the text above

“Crowley's Ridge has really the only elevation in the Arkansas Delta,” Smith says.

“It's canopy covered, shaded, and you just have this sense of being on these historic travel ways. Building a future starts with connecting to the past. Those historic and cultural assets, combined with the natural resources in our communities, tell the story of who we are.”

For me, Arkansas is one of the most intriguing places to ride a bike.

The route was created to provide world-class riding for touring cyclists, and also to bring new income streams to small towns in one of America’s poorest areas, traversing, as the studioDRIFT website describes it, "some of the poorest counties in one of the poorest states in America." It highlights that the average tourist spend was $198 per day in Arkansas in 2023, bringing in millions, and the hope is that this trail will bring in new economic opportunities for people here.

In the film, Markus Stitz rides a 44.7-mile loop at the south of Crowley’s Ridge, near Helena, and a 24.3-mile loop. He found himself impressed by Arkansas.

“Exploring the state with local people gave me a real insight into its diversity," Stitz said. "I’m grateful to share their stories and connection to the places they call home. For me, Arkansas is one of the most intriguing places to ride a bike.”

Inspired? Read more about Crowley's Ridge Gravel Trail and studioDRIFT, or check out our full range of adventure holidays in America now!

At 2am, I awake suddenly. Despite it being almost the height of summer, I’m shivering from the cold. Swaying in a hammock between two trees on the 1066 Country Walk, bundled up in my sleeping bag (and every layer of clothing I have with me), I remember something quite important. I’m a father now. I am literally someone’s dad.

The thought of dying from hypothermia briefly appears in my mind’s eye, and I’m struck by what a ludicrous and undignified way this would be for my life to end. Pictures of my son, years from now, learning about how his old man perished in the wilderness come forth like water from a spring.

‘Mum, what happened to Dad?’ says future-son.

‘Your father was found frozen solid, mere metres from an idyllic footpath in East Sussex,’ says future-widow, understandably annoyed at me for dying in this manner.

‘Was he alone at the end, mum?’ says future-son.

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‘No. His friends were wrapped up warm in a tent right beside him but, your father being your father, he’d insisted that hammocks were much more fun,’ replies future-widow.

‘Right. I mean… that seems… yeah… that seems…’

The sound of wild animals close by brings me back to my bag-in-a-hammock reality. Fox? Badger? Some sort of monstrous hybrid that’s yet to be discovered? What on Earth am I doing here? My body craves the warm embrace of the morning sun that’s still, painfully, many hours away. Or, a bed. Yes, a bed would be nice. I own a bed and that bed is in a flat, and that flat has walls, and amenities, and is – I now realise, while close to death – actually quite nice. It’s not The Ritz by any stretch, but, however you choose to spin it, it’s also not a glorified fabric burrito gently swinging above the dirt.

After getting the all clear from our wonderful partners - and of course, promising to return the favour the next time they wanted a night off - we'd made our plans for this small group adventure. I'd be walking with two childhood friends of mine. One of these friends was, like me, a new dad trying to navigate the highs and lows of being a parent for the first time. The other was a best man at my wedding (and vice versa), but someone who’d yet to experience the frontline of fatherhood in all its messy glory. We’d all agreed that a little adventure would do us some good, especially those of us up to our necks in nappies and toddler tantrums. Getting outside and touching some grass, as the kids might say, was long overdue.

Parental isolation is nothing new, but it’s also a problem that doesn’t seem to be getting any better. Recent research from the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) has revealed that two-thirds of new parents feel isolated or lonely at least some of the time. This study also showed that almost 90% of new parents feel overwhelmed at least some of the time, and that nearly 25% of them believe they don’t have a strong support network around them. In a bid to tackle this mental health epidemic for rookie mums and dads, English Heritage have even introduced “bonding benches” at some of its most famous sites to encourage parents looking for a sense of community and camaraderie to talk to one another.

The mind also has more room to spiral into repetitive thinking; the brain defaults to threat-scanning and self-criticism when it lacks outside signals of safety and connection.

Dr Benjamin Perry is an Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Birmingham, specialising in major mental illnesses like schizophrenia and depression.

“Isolation and staying indoors remove a lot of the inputs that keep mood-regulation systems stable: daylight, movement, social reward, and a sense of perspective beyond four walls. And it does it in stealth too, like a frog in hot water with the temperature gradually creeping up,” he tells me. “Without those mood regulation signals, the stress system – cortisol – stays switched on longer, and in turn this makes sleep and body clock cues drift, which are already off in new fatherhood anyway, and the brain’s “reward” circuits get less stimulation.

“This can culminate in a feeling like flatness, low motivation, and as though everything takes more effort. The mind also has more room to spiral into repetitive thinking; the brain defaults to threat-scanning and self-criticism when it lacks outside signals of safety and connection.”

With the power of hindsight, and looked at now from a position where more of the picture is clear to me, I realise I’ve been that frog in hot water before; lost in a daze and numb to a creeping sense of despondency. Days bleeding into one another, putting on a brave face, telling myself ‘Well, I must be happy because this is supposed to be a happy time’, and forgetting to actually check in with how I’m really feeling. In my case, this wasn’t a permanent state of affairs. Like a cruel cosmic joke, I found it coming in waves – subtly sliding me off my lilo when the waters were calm and I was at my most content.

Research carried out in Sweden, and published on the website of the UK’s largest pregnancy and baby loss charity Tommy’s, has revealed that postnatal depression affects as many as one in 10 men. Alarmingly, almost a third of the men who took part in this study had symptoms that scored above mild levels of depression. And, perhaps most worryingly of all, fewer than one in five fathers who were depressed sought help.

Generally we see that men are less open to sharing their feelings and talking about mental health than women...

Mind Over Mountains, the award-winning mental health charity built around getting into nature with wellbeing coaches and counsellors, has been helping men and women struggling with anxiety and depression since it was founded in 2020. Its 31-year-old founder Alex Staniforth, who’s had two attempts to climb the world’s highest mountain derailed by natural disasters, has seen first-hand the positive impact that connecting with others outdoors can have on parents.

“I'm not a father personally, but generally we see that men are less open to sharing their feelings and talking about mental health than women, and the process of walking and talking side-by-side helps to enable that,” says Alex. “Often parents are so busy looking after others that they forget or don't find the time to look after themselves too.”

Ash Routen is an adventure journalist specialising in polar travel, a prominent outdoor voice on social media, and a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. He’s also, as of the end of 2025, a father to an infant daughter. When I speak to him in early 2026, he tells me that he’s taking a hiatus from his Arctic forays for the year but that plans for a short expedition in 2027 are already afoot. In the meantime, he’ll be making do with family excursions closer to home and seeing if he can arrange a summertime escape to the Peak District for an overnight wild camp.

“Adventure is a big part of my life and identity,” says Ash. “If I gave that up totally, I wouldn’t be the best version of me which would no doubt impact my ability to parent.”

For cynics, it’s easy to baulk at such things and label ‘dadventures’ (a term popularised by British gold medal rower Alex Gregory MBE and father-of-three in his 2018 book of the same name) as the indulgences of men refusing to grow up. But ideas around the benefits that exploring green spaces can bring, either alone or with your children, have been well documented and are now backed up by science.

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For new parents, putting the blinkers on might seem like a sensible course of action when you’ve got nap schedules to map out and tummy times to oversee. This narrowing down of your attention to a single point can, though, cause things to spiral. Shutting yourself off from everything else might, in the heat of the moment when your head is spinning with fatigue and your nostrils can’t shake the smell of baby sick, have a twisted sense of logic to it but it’s ultimately doing more harm than good. This is something Dr. Perry is keen to point out to me during our conversation. “Over time, withdrawal becomes self-reinforcing like a vicious cycle,” he says. “You feel worse so you retreat more, and you retreat more so the brain gets even fewer of the ingredients that help it recover.”

Adventure isn't a bed of roses and neither is parenthood.

And so, here I am in the great outdoors. Not far from the Battle of Hastings site (where Harold Godwinson famously did not recover from getting an arrow to the eye), I’ve finally drifted off to sleep in my hammock. As the sun rises, I feel once again the moreish thrill of waking up in nature. The soul-soothing tranquility of it all is mixing with the coursing adrenaline from surviving the night. Everything feels right with the world. I am tired, yes, but I am also restored. The fact I’ve slept less than I do at home, where my son starts the day at 4:30am like a grindset LinkedIn bro, doesn’t matter. My body and mind feels regenerated, zapped back into equilibrium by being outdoors - and having the air space to think. I am, in the most plainly simple terms imaginable, ready to get home and be a dad again.

Being a father is beautiful and magical, but it has also tested me in ways I never imagined. When a small human being you’re responsible for is screaming at you in the middle of the night, depriving you of sleep and making you feel like you’re being interrogated by the CIA for information you don’t have, it can feel like a lot. Heading outdoors and getting outside of my comfort zone again reacquainted me with the idea that challenges are there to be overcome. Where there is darkness, there is also light. The world turns on its axis, clouds come and go, and the good times are never far away. Adventure isn't a bed of roses and neither is parenthood. And that's fine. That's one of the things that makes both worth doing.

It’s too simplistic, of course, to say that going for big walks on a regular basis can stop young men and new fathers from experiencing depression. But experiences like my overnight  on the 31-mile trail between Pevensey and Rye were, for me, a much-needed reminder of the important role it can play in coping with the challenge. Next time, though, I might pack a hot water bottle.

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Adventure is often goal-oriented. People set aspirational challenges to push their physical and mental limits - setting out to climb the highest mountains in the world, swimming the Channel or taking on ultra-marathons not because they are easy feats, but because they are hard.

Goal-setting can provide a powerful motivation and focus for adventurers, helping to shape training plans and track progress. Achieving these goals can help build self-confidence, widen your comfort zone and boost resilience.

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There is, however, a downside—the impact that failing to achieve your goals can have on a person. If ‘success’ means reaching the summit, then surely not being able to get to that point constitutes a ‘failure’? In theory, that could risk undermining all of those benefits above. But seasoned explorers know that, in truth, that's simply not the case. It is too simple to say success is just about reaching the top. In fact, it's about something more meaningful - growth.

Failures should not upset or embarrass us. They're an essential part of adventure.

For climber Uta Ibrahimi, redefining success didn’t happen overnight—it was shaped by years of confronting what she once saw as failure. As the first woman from the Balkans to have climbed all 14 of the world’s 8,000m+ high mountains in 2025, she is rightfully celebrated for this achievement. However, she says that her personal definition of success and failure has evolved throughout her career.

“In the beginning, when I started climbing, it was always about reaching the summit,” she says. “If I didn't summit, it was a failure. I would try to find who was responsible, who did something wrong.

“I’m talking about the 8,000ers here. In the Balkans if you can’t climb, you can go back the next day and try again. But on 8,000ers it’s a little bit more difficult because there are many more people involved; you have responsibility towards the sponsors and the people supporting you as well.”

Each failure is a learning experience

However, her mindset began to change when she started to reflect on these perceived failures more deeply.

“Each failure is a learning experience,” she says. “Personally, each time I don't summit, when I come back home, I try to write down or draw what happened. I ask, ‘what did I do wrong?’ so the next time I do better. I question how I can improve myself.”

This shift, from assigning blame to seeking understanding, marked a turning point in how she approached climbing.

This mindset was soon tested in the most extreme way possible when she began embarking on more dangerous, high-altitude climbs, where failure carries far greater consequences. An ascent of Shishapangma in 2024 revealed the importance of making the right decisions.

“We were going for the summit push and we were not more than 200 or 300 metres from the summit, but there was a big avalanche and we lost two people,” she explains. “When the first avalanche hit, some people continued. But personally, I just wanted to go down. It happened right next to me. For a few metres on the climb I wasn’t at the front, and that’s why I survived.

“I left. I wanted to run back, I didn’t even want to stay at base camp because I was so anxious. I felt very sad because they were both my friends. Two people continued climbing, but then a second avalanche fell and took those people. It was shocking. But at the same time, it was a lesson that we all learned on that expedition. The mountain wasn't ready, the mountain didn't let us go, and I totally respect that.”

Success for me is no longer the summit—it’s being alive and being complete

In situations like this, Uta realised, reaching the summit is not important. Striving too hard for a goal led to disastrous consequences. ‘Success’ here was synonymous with survival, with trusting your instincts and respecting nature.

“Success for me is no longer the summit—it’s being alive and being complete,” she says. “Even if it matters for sponsorship, it doesn't matter for me, because I want to live. I enjoy the life I have. Why lose your life just to be there, and make other people suffer?”

While Uta’s perspective was reshaped by life-and-death decisions in the mountains, Denisa Krásná’s understanding of failure has evolved in a different arena. A climber and highliner, she’s also an academic researching adventure counternarratives—her book Flow: Women's Counternarratives from Rivers, Rock and Sky highlights ways of thinking about adventure which deviate from dominant narratives of goal-setting or ‘conquering’ peaks. It also shows that concepts of success and failure in adventure are inherently personal.

Denisa has always been interested in adventure as internal fulfilment, rather than a process of goal-setting. Summiting for her was about seeking the best views; climbing was about exploring new routes, rather than trying to perfect each one.

However, this changed when she began learning to highline, which involves walking on a slackline at extreme heights (for which a harness is required). The goal for most experienced highliners is to ‘send’ the route, which means to walk it in one direction without falling.

Falling is not necessarily a failure every time; it’s a natural part of the process

“Every line is different and falling is not necessarily a failure every time; it’s a natural part of the process,” Denisa says. “For me, crossing a line that's one kilometre with a few falls is amazing, a great success. But then if I'm on a 300 metre-line and I don't send it, that can feel like failing.

“What I really consider a failure is when I try to send repeatedly, and fall only a few metres from the end. I know that I can do it, but I feel afraid.  Every time I tried to send a line that would be my personal record, I would just freeze. I would walk normally, and then be afraid of taking another step because I just couldn't trust myself.

“Unfortunately, that was ongoing and it created a pattern for me. What I see in that is failure to control my mind. Physically, eventually, we can all get there, especially if you have the willpower and the motivation to train. But what distinguishes athletes is being able to control your mind.”

Uta, then, falls into this category of athletes. After the tragedy at Shishapangma, she had to spend a lot of time processing her trauma before feeling emotionally ready to return to the Himalayas and climb again. Her next summit attempt was Kanchenjunga in 2024, an 8,586-metre-high (28,169 ft) peak on the border of India and Nepal. This, too, she didn’t summit.

“Kanchenjunga is a really big mountain and it's also quite technical,” she explains. “The summit day has a very long ascent—from 7,200 to 8,400 metres—and there are a lot of rocks and traverses. It is a difficult mountain.

“The weather was great. We had a big team, but we didn't have a leader, so there was no fixing of the rope. If they don't fix it, nobody climbs it. I didn't feel like there was a failure because of me personally,  because I was ready, I was feeling strong  and everything else. But I think it was a failure because of the way the company organised the expedition.

“When the summit push wasn't happening, I tried to bring everyone together and I talked to the company and asked them to bring more rope and a team, and said we would pay extra. I started to take on the role of organising everything for people. But two others went away from the group and started to organise their own thing. It really hurt me.”

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This organisational failure, for Uta, led to another lesson—that she far prefers to climb on smaller teams. For her next ascent, which was of 8,035m-high (26,362ft) G2 on the Pakistan border, she decided to climb only with her partner and a sherpa.

“It was so peaceful. I could make my own plans, could do my own summit push, and it was very important also for me because sometimes I don't feel good just following the crew and being a sheep in the herd,” she says. “I like to be a leader on my own expedition and make my own decisions.

“You learn much more, actually, on the failed expedition. Not just training-wise, but about how people behave in different situations. Personally, I use all these experiences in my everyday life at home, so then I can be a better person.”

Having now finished climbing all 14 of the world’s 8,000m high peaks (including a successful ascent of Kanchenjunga in 2025), Uta has had time to reflect on her journey—both its successes and 'failures'.

“One thing that I regret for the first four years is I was more focused on climbing to the top,” she says. “But towards the end I was far more grateful and happy to be there.

“I want to take my time to understand each mountain; to climb it, to know it. Whichever mountain I have climbed, I know the route exactly. It's in my memory. That's my message to everyone. Feel it, experience it, take your time. A lot of emotions are  involved in mountaineering. So let these emotions be with you and enjoy the whole thing.”

Uta is currently back in Kosovo, guiding in her local Sharr Mountains and planning a trip back to Everest next year to lead a friend’s summit attempt. She’s finding a balance between peace and adventure.

Denisa too, has decided to take a break from chasing longer distances on highlines. Instead of worrying about ‘freezing’ before the finish line, she’s currently more focused on enjoying different types of adventure and re-finding her ‘flow’.

“For me, success in adventure is about finding your flow,” she says. “I first experienced this when I started walking longer distances on highlines. I got really hooked on and addicted to that feeling. I think in that way flow could be a counternarrative to success because it's not about how far you can get on the highline or whether you reach the summit; it’s more about a process than a destination.”

It's a state that we seek because it fulfills us internally; it's not something that we do for external validation

The flow state Denisa describes refers to being fully immersed in an activity, where you’re beyond the point of distraction. Within sport and adventure it’s something to aspire to—not only because it’s an indicator of peak performance, it’s also deeply satisfying.

“It's a state that we seek because it fulfils us internally; it's not something that we do for external validation,” Denisa says.

Both Uta and Denisa’s experiences show that in adventure, success is far more fluid than we often assume. For Uta, it became about survival, intuition and respect for the mountain. For Denisa, it lies in flow and internal fulfilment. In both cases, failure is no longer something to avoid, but something that has helped them learn and develop as adventurers.

In a world that often celebrates summits, speed records and measurable achievements, these perspectives offer a quieter, more sustainable way of approaching adventure—one that prioritises the journey over the destination.

Because perhaps the real failure isn’t turning back before the summit, or falling short. It’s missing what the experience had to teach you along the way.

Inspired? Check out our adventures across the world, including Hike the Sharr Mountains in Kosovo and North Macedonia, designed by Uta.

Yosemite National Park is a remarkable location, and the best hikes in Yosemite showcase that fact. They are walks that will have you gazing at the tumbling water of Bridalveil Falls, looking out over the granite rock of Half Dome or El Capitan, the climbing wall now synonymous with Alex Honnold, or looking out over all of those sites from Tunnel View, a legendary roadside viewpoint in Yosemite.

While Tunnel View doesn't actually require any hiking, we still think the best vistas in this iconic national park are best reached by foot. Get further from the crowds and the landscape imprints deeper; the stillness of the scene singing to the soul.

Yosemite is a place of rest, a refuge from the roar and dust and weary, nervous, wasting work of the lowlands.

As John Muir, father of the US National Parks, wrote of Yosemite, this "is a place of rest, a refuge from the roar and dust and weary, nervous, wasting work of the lowlands, in which one gains the advantages of both solitude and society. Nowhere will you find more company of a soothing peace-be-still kind."

Muir became so enamoured by the ecosystems of Yosemite that it led him to conservation. The three-night camping trip he took with President Theodore Roosevelt in Yosemite in 1903 shaped US conservation policy. In 1906, Roosevelt would sign a federal law making Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove part of the Yosemite National Park. “Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine into trees,” the conservationist wrote.

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In this guide to the best day hikes in Yosemite, we’re going to look at walks that will allow you to do just that, immersing yourself in that same landscape; of trees, mountains and lakes; of tough climbs - up to remarkable viewpoints.

We've selected these five routes as the best day hikes in Yosemite National Park:

1. Tuolumne Meadows to Glen Aulin
2. Nevada Falls Hike
3. The Half Dome Trail
4. Snow Creek Trail
5. Columbia Rock & Upper Yosemite Falls Trail
6. The Four Mile Trail
7. Sentinel Dome

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 (or a local guide!) will be required if you want to safely walk any of the trails featured.

Here are five of the best hikes in Yosemite National Park.

7 of the Best Yosemite Hikes: Mapped

Yosemite is in California's Sierra Nevada Mountains, 32 miles east of Mariposa and a five-hour drive north of Los Angeles, or four-hour drive east from San Francisco. Yosemite is a large space for sure, but it’s not absolutely enormous in terms of US national parks. At 1,880 miles² (4,869km²), it's the 16th largest national park in the US. The Yosemite Falls are also one of the latest waterfalls in the world, crashing down the granite rock from 739m (2,425ft).

7 of the Best Yosemite Day Hikes

1.  Tuolumne Meadows to Glen Aulin

• Start/Finish: Lembert Dome parking area, off Tioga Road, out-and-back
• Distance: 11 miles (17.7km)
• Walking time: 6-8 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Best for: Exploring rivers and meadows

This hike begins at Tuolumne Meadows, one of the largest high-elevation meadows in the Sierra Nevada. The Tuolumne River runs through the middle of it, and the wide open grassland is surrounded by pine trees and granite peaks and domes.

You’ll begin by following a flat gravel trail across the meadows, admiring the views. After just under a mile you’ll reach Soda Springs, where carbonated water bubbles up from the ground. The most active part of the spring is surrounded by the ruins of a wooden cabin built by one of Yosemite’s first settlers, John Baptist Lembert. 

A short distance away from the springs is Parson’s Memorial Lodge, a stone building built in 1915 by the Sierra Club, which is now a small museum.

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Continue on the hike. After the three mile marker the trail meets up with the Tuolumne River, before deviating uphill over slabs of granite until you reach some natural rock stairs leading up to a canyon overlook. From this vantage point you can see high rock domes, their lower slopes surrounded by pines.

You’ll then trek downhill across rocks back toward the river. The trail dips beside granite shelves, crosses wooden footbridges, and follows the river past a series of gentle cascades. You’ll enter Glen Aulin, a part of the river valley known for its waterfalls and granite cliffs. The first of these is Tuolumne Falls, which plunge majestically down a stony cliff face. The trail leads you on towards White Cascade, a smaller waterfall which trickles into a pretty natural pool (people swim here on hot days). 

Continue across a footbridge to Glen Aulin’s High Sierra Camp, with canvas tents perched among granite rock formations and grassland surrounded by pines. Many people camp here overnight before returning to Tuolumne Meadows along the same trail.

2. Nevada Falls Hike

• Start/Finish: Happy Isles shuttle stop #16, circuit
• Distance: 6.9 miles (11.1 km)
• Walking time: 5-6 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Best for: Admiring waterfalls

This hike takes you along the Mist Trail and a section of the John Muir Trail, offering views of two spectacular waterfalls and of the granite cliffs of Yosemite Valley. You’ll begin hiking uphill along a paved trail; after 0.8 miles you’ll cross a footbridge and catch sight of Vernal Fall. 

From here, follow the Mist Trail up a steep granite stairway consisting of more than 600 steps. Spray from the waterfalls can make them slippery, so take care! You’ll have excellent views of 92.6m (317ft) Vernal Falls as you hike. 

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Continue along the Mist Trail towards Nevada Fall, passing Emerald Pool and Silver Pool, a gushing cascade on the Merced River. You’ll follow a series of steep rocky switchbacks for around 1.5 miles (2.4km) before reaching Nevada Fall, an 185m-high (594ft) cascade crashing percussively down the granite.

From Nevada Falls, continue over the bridge to join the John Muir Trail and take an alternative route back to your start point. It’s a longer route but you’ll avoid the stone steps, and catch some great views of Liberty Cap, a granite dome emerging from the pine trees.

3. The Half Dome Day Hike

• Start/Finish: Happy Isles (Yosemite Valley shuttle stop #16), out-and-back
• Distance: A 16-mile (27km) round trip
• Walking time: 10-12 hours
• Difficulty: Challenging
• Best for: An unique Yosemite summit experience

This legendary route will take you all the way to the top of the Half Dome, one of the most iconic sites in all of Yellowstone National Park. It’s not easy though. In fact, from the valley floor, you're looking at around a 16-mile round trip with a cable rope to take you to the top which is sure to test your head for heights.

It's worth noting that you need a permit to hike Half Dome. These permits are balloted, and have been since 2013, before which large crowds on the cables were creating a particularly dangerous environment going up the steep slope. Hundreds of permits are given out a day but demand is high. You enter the ballot in March and find out the result in April. Around a quarter of people who apply get a permit.

This route starts on the valley floor, taking a beautiful path around the Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall, then continuing behind the Liberty Cap rock. After that you'll climb up through Sequoia forests and up the subdome, and to the top of the Half Dome via the cables. In total it’s a climb of over 1,463m (4,800 feet).

The hike up the Half Dome Trail starts on either the Mist or the John Muir Trail - two other great hiking routes in Yosemite (seriously, if you miss out on the ballot for Half Dome, it's worth checking them out in full). If you go up one, you can come down the other, meaning that this route not only gets you to the Half Dome and the remarkable viewpoint at the top, looking out over all Yosemite, you also get to sample two of the other best hiking trails in Yosemite National Park.

The misty staircase to Vernal Fall is remarkable, the cable route steep, smooth and slippery. Don't underestimate it. The Muir Trail on the way back down is a little more gradual, with great views out over the Nevada Fall. This is one of the best day hikes in Yosemite National Park - but also one of the most challenging.

4. The Snow Creek Trail

• Start/Finish: Mirror Lake Trailhead (Yosemite Valley shuttle stop #17), out-and-back
• Distance: A 9.4-mile (15km) round trip
• Walking time: 6-7 hours
• Difficulty: Challenging
• Best for: Switchback punishment, with glorious returns

This is another big climb from the valley floor of Yosemite up to big mountain views. Make no mistake about it, the Snow Creek trail demands a lot from you.

Start on the Mirror Lake Trail, you will soon come to the junction of the Snow Creek Trail. From here, ascend out of the Tenaya Canyon (uphill, very much uphill), taking switchback after switchback as you climb until you eventually reach a viewpoint including Half Dome, Quarter Domes and Clouds Rest.

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What's great about this trail is that though the climbing is tough and steep, you get rewarded with views which unfold as you go. After that vista from the switchbacks, you'll only going to climb higher and get even better vantage points on Yosemite.

To get the best view though, the challenge continues on a path that asks you to climb 822m (2,700ft) relatively swiftly. Is this the toughest route running out of the Yosemite Valley? Quite possibly. Does it also offer some of the best views of Half Dome and the Tenaya Creek Canyon in the entire national park? You know it.

5. Columbia Rock & Upper Yosemite Falls Trail

• Start/Finish: Camp 4 area (near Yosemite Valley shuttle stop #7 and El Capitan Shuttle stop #2), out-and-back
• Distance: A 7.2-mile (15km)
• Walking time: 6-10 hours
• Difficulty: Challenging
• Best for: Chasing waterfalls

The Yosemite Falls trail is one of the oldest in the national park, dating all the way back to 1873. To be fair, if you were going to build a trail to somewhere, this isn't a bad place to do it. The Yosemite Falls are North America's tallest waterfall, and the trail leads you all the way to the top.

This is actually one of the only places you can fit Yosemite Falls and Half Dome in the same photograph.

You may be sensing a theme in this list now, but this is another trail which is going to start you off on the valley floor and switchback you all the way up to a very high viewpoint. When you climb 304m (1000ft) to Columbia Rock you'll get a real big lookout point. This is actually one of the only places you can fit Yosemite Falls and Half Dome in the same photograph.

Next it's a fairly simple path for another 0.5 miles before the switchbacks resume and you head to the top of Yosemite Falls. Make no mistake, this staircase workout is going to be tough. At the summit you'll find the small creek that feeds the mighty waterfall, and you can extend the hike to Yosemite Point or Eagle Peak.

It's worth noting that there isn't water on these walls year round. It depends on rainfall. The best months to go to see the falling water are May, June, July and occasionally in the fall or Spring. If you're after an easier route that offers great views of the falls, consider the Lower Yosemite Falls trail. The Upper Yosemite Falls route can take anywhere from six to 10 hours depending on pace.

6. The Four Mile Trail

• Start/Finish: Four Mile Trailhead along Southside Drive (Valleywide Shuttle stop #11), out-and-back
• Distance: A 9.6-mile (15.4km) round trip
• Walking time: 6-8 hours
• Difficulty: Challenging
• Best for: Vertical views of Yosemite, stacked on top of one another

Ah, finally, a nice and easy four-miler, right? Nope. For a starter, the Four Mile Trail is actually more like five miles, making for an all-rounder just short of 10 miles, and demanding a whole lot of climbing. Hey, look, the lower routes can be lovely but the best views and the best trails in Yosemite are going to be a challenge.

If you're wondering how it got its name, the trail was four miles back when it was first completed in 1872. There was also a toll on it though. So it's got longer, sure, but you don't have to pay to use it. This is a strenuous walk, but you'll be rewarded with fantastic views of the valley, El Capitan, Yosemite Falls and Half Dome.

The view of the Yosemite Valley from Union Point, over the 1,828m (6,000ft) mark is well worth a stop and a gaze.

You'll finish the hike at the famous Glacier Point, where there's a snack stand in summer. One interesting return route, rather than going back the way you came, is to instead continue on for 7.5 miles on the Panorama Trail, which will bring you out at the Happy Isles Trailhead and turn this into a thru-hike.

Alternatively, you could also take the easy route and book a bus to take you up to Glacier Point, then hike back down to the valley to get the views without the effort. We won't tell if you don't, but expect crowds at Glacier Point - it's an attraction.

7. Sentinel Dome

• Start/Finish: Parking Lot on Glacier Point Rd, out-and-back
• Distance: 2.2 mile (3.5km)
• Walking time: 1-2 hours
• Difficulty: Easy
• Best for: Great views with little hiking effort

Only a 2.2 mile round trip... this one must be an easy Yosemite hike, right? Well, yes! We're ending on the accessible, short hike to Sentinel Dome, which gives you jaw-dropping views of the Yosemite Valley without the same sort of arduous climbing that a lot of the other routes on this list demand. There's probably no easier way to earn views this good in the national park.

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At the summit you'll see the fallen Jeffrey Pine. Made famous after Ansel Adams captured the truly unique shape of the tree in a photo in 1940. It fell in 2003, though it had been dead for decades, but remains at the summit of the Sentinel.

Once you've finished your relatively simple hike, with a short, steep section to make you at least earn what's coming, you'll get to look out to El Cap, Yosemite Falls, the Valley and to the east, Half Dome and Clouds Rest.

What animals live in Yosemite National Park?

There are over 400 species of animals in Yosemite National Park, including approximately 90 species of mammals and over 260 types of bird. Perhaps the stars of the show are the black bears, which are of real interest to most visitors, though the Sierra Nevada red fox is also absolutely adorable. Lookout too for Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep, which are back in the range after an absence of 100 years, as well as mountain lions and the illusive Pacific Fisher (tree-dwelling carnivores which look a little like pine martins).

There are also fascinating amphibians; notably Californian red-legged frogs and the Sierra newt, while in the sky, you can see American dippers, brightly-coloured Western tanagers, as well as California-spotted and great gray owls.

Where to stay around Yosemite National Park?

There are a full 13 campgrounds which you can stay in across Yosemite National Park, and we would very much reccomend doing so. If you're going to visit Yosemite, it's because of the natural beauty in the area, and this is the best way to immerse yourself in that - in the style of John Muir and President Roosevelt.

Every campsite in Yosemite needs reserved in advance. The most popular campsites, in Yosemite Valley, need booked five months ahead and are operated by a lottery system. Other campsites can be booked at one-week's notice. Many are on a two week reservation cycle. There are also three first-come, first-serve campsites available in late Autumn, winter and early spring.

Fees range from $10-36 per night to use the campgrounds, with most costing $36.

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Wild camping is also actually legal in much of Yosemite, as long as you have a wilderness permit. The National Park Service note: "Camping is not permitted between Yosemite Valley and Little Yosemite Valley. If you would like to camp in a dispersed wilderness setting, you must camp beyond the Half Dome/John Muir Trail junction or beyond Moraine Dome (toward Merced Lake)."

Of course, there are also a whole host of fantastic lodges in Yosemite National Park. Some of the best include the Evergreen Lodge, the Majestic Yosemite Hotel, the Yosemite Bug Rustic Mountain Resort and the rustic AutoCamp Yosemite, which offers a luxury camping vibe, as well as glamping options.

What to eat in Yosemite National Park?

There are various places to eat around Yosemite National Park, from snack top ups like the Village Store to pizzerias and fine-dining experiences. The latter is at The Ahwahnee, an extremely luxiours grand banquet hall also known for hosting Sunday brunch buffets. More down to earth options include spots like the Village Grill, Meadow Grill, The Loft at Degnan's and Base Camp Eatery food court.

We'd recommend bringing a lot of snacks in too, as hiking food. You can do a lot worse than bringing in some sandwiches and eating them at a scenic picnic bench.

How to Get to Yosemite National Park?

By train: Sadly there is no current rail service which reaches Yellowstone National Park. The rail provider, Amtrak, does run joint rail and bus services though. So, for example, you can get a San Francisco to Oakland bus, a short Oakland to Merced train, and then a bus to Yosemite in around seven hours.

By plane: The closest airport to Yosemite is the Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT), which is 64 miles (102km) from the park. The largest airports near Yosemite are San Francisco International (SFO), Oakland International (OAK), San Jose International (SJC) or Sacramento International (SMF). Each of these airports is around a three-four hour-drive to Yosemite.

By bus: Cities throughout California, and in parts of the rest of the US, offer bus options to reach Yosemite. For example, from San Francisco, you could get a Greyhound to Merced, then transfer to a regional bus to get you to the park. The YARTS bus is one of the best regional services for getting to Yosemite.

Read more:

• The Best Day Hikes in Yellowstone National Park
• A Guide to Denali National Park in Alaska
• Hike the Great National Parks of the Western USA

Inspired? Check out our range of adventure holidays across North America, including multi-day hiking trips in Yosemite National Park.

It was the final day of a month-long trip around Sri Lanka. I had been learning to surf, doing yoga, hiking and learning to cook local dal with its warm and rich aromas, perfect after a day in the water. While it had been a full-on four weeks, there was still time for one final adventure - a sunrise hike to the top of the Adam’s Peak. We had began to make our way up the 2,243m (7,358ft) mountain at 3am, and faced a gruelling 5,500 stone steps on the way.

Despite the struggles of the staircase and the bleary-eyed tiredness, hitting the top of the peak in time for the sunrise drum ceremony - with a group of newly garnered friends that I'd met across the month - was a feeling like nothing else.

The shared camaraderie and sense of achievement hit differently having done it together, having come from different countries, with different backgrounds and all doing it at different stages of our lives.

It’s refreshing to meet cool people, step away from the planning process and enjoy the adventure. Different travel styles open up different experiences.

On the whole, I would say that I’m a capable independent solo traveller. Do I get anxious sometimes, wandering around a new city at night? One hundred percent. But for the most part, I enjoy setting my own itinerary, wandering aimlessly through back streets and rambling around the world on public transport (with varying degrees of success).

Historically, group travel has been perceived as a halfway house for travellers who aren’t quite ready to step into the world of solo travel, but don’t want to wait for their friends to be available. There can be some snobbery from the solo travel community when it comes to group trips. Certainly, there was a point in my life when I was guilty of it. Surely travelling solo was a badge of honour? A sign that you were capable and confident of exploring on your own: cycling through the countryside freely, rather than bumbling on behind with training wheels on.

My first ever small group trip was a two-week adventure through Eastern USA and Canada. After a break-up, I had the classic realisation that the world was wide and I didn’t have to wait for others to explore it, so I booked the trip. The people I met along the way were wonderful. One introduced me to the wonderful world of MLS and to rowdy Ultras in New Jersey. Another struggled on the cycle up the hill to Mont Royal viewpoint in Montreal alongside me, after a hefty breakfast of pancakes and maple syrup. It was a relief not to have to worry about logistics, getting from A to B or booking excursions to make the most of my time.

We travelled through the cities: New York, Boston, Washington D.C., Toronto, Montreal, but the real magic came in the camping and wild places along the way. Kayaking through Algonquin Provincial Park and returning to shore to see a bear was a standout moment. We roamed the coastline of Cape Cod, eating enough lobster rolls to make Anthony Bourdain proud, and enjoyed the peace of Allegany State Park in Pennsylvania, after a few days of city hopping.

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Camping was part of the draw of this trip for me. Not only did it keep costs down, but it meant we stayed in places beyond the typical guidebook. One thing about group camping that works well in a situation like this is that you get to know people really well and really quickly. Everyone has to pitch in (pun intended) to set up and break down camp, and to help get meals ready. You get the measure of people pretty quickly in these circumstances.

More often than not, the small group trips I’m going on are active adventure ones. This gives me a safer, more supportive atmosphere, where I'm able to get out of my comfort zone...

Small group travel is often touted as a way to avoid the dreaded single supplement (an extra fee charged to solo travellers when they occupy a hotel room or cruise cabin alone), but the cost of this particular tour didn't feel cheap. Of course, every operator prices their trips differently, but the surcharge for convenience and competent guides here seemed hefty. So, if it’s cheaper to do it yourself, and you’re competent at finding deals and building itineraries, why go on a group trip at all? Well, that’s a question that I ask myself a lot.

For me, the question often comes down to two things: location and activities.

If it’s a location that I feel somewhat comfortable with, like a city or somewhere with decent public transport, I’m probably not going to shell out the premium for a small group tour. However, group tours can also open up destinations that may not be as accessible for solo female travellers or may be more intimidating.

Similarly, if the trip is more about exploring touristy sites, then I can probably sort that out for myself. More often than not, the small group trips I’m going on are active adventure ones. This gives me a safer, more supportive atmosphere, where I'm able to get out of my comfort zone and try new things. Before I set out on a group Hadrian's Wall trek, for example, I'd never done a multi-day hike. I was a relatively experienced walker by UK standards, but stacking four days of hiking across Northumbria in a climate that changed from rain to blazing sun in minutes was not something I'd have felt comfortable doing solo for the first time.

Sharing the toughness of the hike, the sore legs in the morning, and the well-earned pint at the end...

I recently went on a group trip to the Lake District. Now, being based in the northwest, I’ve been to the Lakes plenty of times with friends, loved ones, and indeed on my own. Getting there by car or by train only takes a few hours, there are plenty of hostels full of friendly faces, and the trails are all well-marked. It’s a straightforward itinerary, perfect for solo travel, so why did I join a group trip?

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Well, simply put, for the social element. As a society, we’re becoming less social. The weekend trip I joined included workshops from OS Maps, a 10-hour hike with qualified mountain guides and paddleboarding on the lake outside of the Youth Hostels Association in Ambleside, where all our meals were included.

It also brought women from their mid-20s to 50 plus together with a united love of being in the great outdoors. While some were more experienced than others, everyone was up for adventure and generally for having a convivial time, sharing the toughness of the hike, the sore legs in the morning and the well-earned pint at the end. Finding other like-minded women to adventure with is an incredible feeling. So much so that a few of us who met on the trip have already planned a follow-up weekend in the Peak District for later this year.

That’s the beauty of a group trip, no matter how confident you are as a solo traveller. Sometimes, you just want someone to share those experiences with. Sometimes, you want the reassurance of safety and someone else sorting out the logistical headaches for you so you can turn up and relax.

Sometimes, you want the reassurance of safety and someone else sorting out the logistical headaches.

My next group trip is a women-only trip to Kyrgyzstan. It combines women-led cultural experiences with world-class hikes and three days on horseback.

Could I put this together myself with enough time and planning? Maybe. Would it be as comprehensive and stress-free? Absolutely not. Would I meet amazing women along the way and have the support and safety necessary for an adventurous itinerary overseas? Again, no.

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Any snobbery which remains around group travel is misplaced. Just because you can travel in a certain way doesn’t mean you have to.

It’s refreshing to mix it up from time to time - to meet cool people and step away from the planning process, relax and enjoy the adventure. Different travel styles open up different experiences. Not better or worse, just different. By writing off group travel just because you’re a confident solo traveller, you’re leaving incredible, unique experiences and long-lasting connections on the table.

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The Dhampus Trek is a short but scenic overnight trek in Nepal’s superlative Annapurna region, close to the lakeside city of Pokhara. It takes you from the village of Kande up to a viewpoint known as the Australian Camp (2,055m/6,742ft) to watch the sun set over soaring Himalayan peaks. After an overnight stay you’ll return the way you came.

However, there is a longer three day variant of the route (also referred to as the Dhampus Trek). This 25.4 mile (41km) circuit winds through the verdant foothills of the Himalayas, passing through rural agricultural communities and forested ridgelines before finishing in the village of Bhumdi. What sets it apart is its accessibility: it delivers sweeping, panoramic views of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges without requiring trekkers to ascend to extreme altitudes.

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“The highest point in this trek is Panchase Hill, which is at 2,500m. That means people who haven’t walked much at high elevations are very attracted to it,” says guide Sanjeet Twayana. “The Dhampus Trek is popular with people who don’t have much time, because you can experience the mountains, their lifestyle and culture, across three days of hiking.”

To experience this variant of the Dhampus trek, you’ll head out of Pokhara towards the village of Hemja, which is close to Kande (the official trailhead). You’ll follow a gently undulating trail upwards through terraced farmland, passing small villages inhabited by the Brahmin, Chhetri and Gurung communities, each with their own traditions, architecture and ways of life. You’ll see locals tending crops, carrying firewood or herding livestock as you walk.

From Baskot, Hemja, you’ll ascend stone steps up through a dense forest of oak and rhododendron, emerging onto a grassy ridgeline. Follow it to the Gurung village of Dhampus, located at an elevation of 1,750m (5,741ft). It’s surrounded by lush green hills, with a panoramic view of Himalayan peaks including Annapurna I (8,091m/ 26,545ft), known as ‘the world’s deadliest mountain’, Manaslu (8,163m/26,781ft) and the distinctive double-summited Machhapuchhare, or ‘Fish Tail’ Mountain (6,993m/22,943ft).

“It’s possible to stay the first night in Dhampus, but most people will continue trekking to the Australian Camp,” says Sanjeet. “It’s around one hour of uphill walking from Dhampus, and a thousand feet higher. It also has a scenic view where we can see the mountains as well as the Pokhara Valley with lots of the green hills. And then, on the second day, early in the morning, we will see the sunrise, which is beautiful from here.”

At dawn, the sunrise transforms the peaks with a soft golden glow

The climb to Australian Camp is short but rewarding. The trail, made of uneven stone slabs, winds through forest with occasional openings in the foliage allowing glimpses of the mountains.  A series of signposts will let you know how much of your hike is left, although some people (especially those unused to hiking) will take longer.

At the top, you’re greeted with a sweeping panorama of the Annapurna range, including Machhapuchhare and Lamjung Himal. As evening falls, the mountains are blue silhouettes against a fiery sky, and at dawn, the sunrise transforms the peaks with a soft golden glow.

The site itself has an interesting history. Locally known as Thulo Kharka (‘big field’), it was once a grazing pasture for nearby villages. In the 1980s, Austrian climbers began camping here, drawn by its flat terrain and Himalayan views. Over time, “Austrian Camp” evolved into “Australian Camp,” a name that stuck — reportedly because it was easier for locals to pronounce. There are now several different accommodation options on offer; fixed tents, small wooden huts and also a couple of local tea houses.

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The second day of the trek takes you from the Australian Camp to the town of Panchase, a distance of 8.7 miles (14km). The trail descends along a gravel track that threads through terraced farmland and small hamlets. It leads to the Gurung village of Bhadaure, where you’ll have a view of Pokhara Valley and Phewa Lake, surrounded by green hills and the misty silhouettes of the Annapurna range. From here, you’ll walk through the forest to Panchase along a gently winding trail. In spring, the rhododendrons bloom in vivid reds and pinks, adding a burst of colour to the landscape.

Panchase is another town with excellent views out over the mountains and terraced hills. It's peaceful and uncrowded — more so than other trekking hubs in the region — with several tea houses where you can spend the night.

“Panchase is a beautiful place, thanks to the panoramic views of the Dhaulagiri, Annapurna and Manaslu Himalayan ranges. It’s also the starting point of the Royal Trek,” Sanjeet says.

The third and final day takes you steadily downhill towards Pokhara. The trail passes through dense forest before opening onto meadowland, with occasional glimpses back towards the mountains you’ve just explored. Eventually, you’ll reach Bhumdi; once a separate village, now part of greater Pokhara. It’s a short taxi ride back to the city centre from here.

Panchase is a beautiful place, thanks to the panoramic views of the Dhaulagiri, Annapurna and Manaslu Himalayan ranges

The Dhampus Trek is a reminder that adventure doesn’t always have to be extreme to be extraordinary. It’s proof you don’t need to tackle high summits or take weeks off work to experience the Himalayas. Across a few short days you’ll travel through farmland, dappled forest and across ridges, watching the light dance across some of the world’s highest mountains and immersing yourself in the silence.

FAQs

How far is Dhampus from Pokhara?

It’s around 15.5 miles (25km) from the city of Pokhara to the village of Dhampus, which takes around an hour by car. The fastest route takes you along the NH03 highway.

Is Dhampus Village near Dhampus Peak?

No. Dhampus village is located in the Annapurna region near the city of Pokhara, at an approximate elevation of 1,750m (5,741ft). Dhampus Peak (6,012m/19,724ft) is located north of Dhampus village, in the Dhaulagiri region.

How long is the Dhampus trek?

There are several versions of the Dhampus Trek. The most common is an overnight out-and-back hike which takes you from the village of Kande and up to the Australian Camp via the town of Dhampus. Another three-day option takes you from the village of Hemja to the Australian Camp, then to the village of Panchase, and on the final day to Bhumdi (a village near Pokhara).

How experienced do I need to be to do the Dhampus trek?

People of all ages and experience levels can do the beginner-friendly Dhampus Trek. However, there are some stone steps and other ascents, so having a decent level of fitness and stamina is necessary.

Do I need a guide for the Dhampus trek?

A guide is not required for the Dhampus Trek, and it is popular with independent hikers. However, a guide is recommended if you are new to trekking or would like to do a longer variant of the itinerary. They can also help you with tea house accommodation, organise luggage transfers and give you insights about local culture.

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We woke to the noise of swelling waves, and the far-reaching waters of Lake Issyk Kul reflecting the morning sun. Peaks rising over 4,000m (13,123ft) form the backdrop for this beautiful lake, and we sat on the sandy shore of the water looking up at them, our eyes fixed on the southeast mountain range. There, deep in the heart of the Tian Shan, the mighty River Naryn begins. Our goal was simple – to travel from east to west Kyrgyzstan, along this vast aorta with a paddle in hand.

Issyk Kul is one of the biggest salt mountain lakes in the world.

The plan was to kayak down the River Naryn, from our starting point near Issyk Kul in the Tian Shan mountains to Lake Toktogul. It would take around 10 days in total - a group mission for an intrepid bunch of kayakers. We would be sleeping under the stars (and mosquito nets) and experiencing local hospitality across mountains and desert, in one of the most remote regions in the world.

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Issyk Kul is one of the biggest salt mountain lakes (and the eighth-deepest lake) in the world. After our morning bakvit (buckwheat) and eggs ritual, and a quick swim in the fairytale lake, we loaded our stuff onto a trailer and were ready to go. The only things that I put in the car were my camera and my down jacket. What lay ahead was a mountain pass 4,000m above sea level, which we were going to climb up to in our 40-year-old, 4x4 Delica from 1985 - to find a good spot to start our descent of the Naryn.

After bouncing along semi-tarmac roads for a while, we reached the southern shores of Issyk Kul and after the first 1,000m (3,280ft), we stopped for lunch besides an enormous rock, into which the face of the cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, the first man to journey into outer space, had been carved.

It felt like we were getting a little bit of everything that the country had to offer.

This place looked like a postcard. Locals riding horses, a mountain creek and magical waterfalls surrounding us. It was also the first time in my life that I had a meal in a yurt camp. We sat with the whole team on carpets, while off-road aunties (middle-aged women, carrying an unfathomable amount of supplies) ran up and down near-vertical hill with loaded plates. It truly felt like an expedition.

It felt like we were getting a little bit of everything that the country had to offer.

From here we climbed steadily up into the mountains, grateful that whilst the landscape changed, there was always a reliable pot of tea to be had over the campfire on the river bank. Slightly light-headed, and feeling strongly moved by the epic views, we could really feel the altitude. The mountain massif of the Tian Shan, with tiny nomad villages spread around the hills, is one of the most beautiful landscapes I have ever seen. Sheer, dark rock cut the sky, above where it rose from the mossy green foothills. But there was no time to mess around. We left the last signs of civilisation, and were approaching the stage of the journey where it was time to descend to the source of our river.

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As we rattled toward the riverbed in our 4x4, hundreds of marmots ran and played by the road. Nomads rode their horses around us, and often stopped us, wanting to take pictures or chat. It was a bizarre sight to behold. Horses ran over these remote mountainscapes and the place had the feel of something from a Jack London book - and then one of the herders would come to me with his iPhone 15 Pro and ask for a selfie. The funny part is that there is no reception here and therefore no real reason to have a phone. But Western influence, it seemed, has reached even these remote places hidden deep in the heart of Central Asia.

After camping overnight by the river it was time to begin our expedition. We loaded our kayaks with supplies for the next three days, said our final goodbyes to our drivers and then headed down the canyon. It was difficult to focus on paddling rapids while pristine nature was all around. One moment I was watching a badger running along the river shore and huge birds of prey dancing in the sky, and the next second I was looking at a stretch of frothy white water. It was beautiful and full-on paddling.

We exchanged a few chocolate bars for a horse-riding experience. What a feeling to sit on the back of a horse in the land of nomads.

On the second evening, we reached a small farm. It was quite a show to see locals transporting herds across this big, fast-flowing glacial river. We exchanged a few chocolate bars for a horse-riding experience. What a feeling to sit on the back of a horse in the land of nomads. I was initially anxious, but the animal I rode was clever. It felt like it had brakes, gas, and steering.

The last gorge we paddled down on this multi-day trip was a proper kayaking mission, and it was a beautiful surprise; a Canadian-style canyon which opened up and spat us out straight into the desert of Great Middle Asia. As we left the river, another yurt camp welcomed us with lamb soup and freshly-baked bread.

I lay down in my hammock by the river and opened a local beer called Mine (Šachta). We had time to rest before heading southwest, where we would paddle the Great Canyon of the River Naryn. For the first time, I really struggled to sleep as I was attacked by mosquitoes, but waking up in this moonscape or Marsscape felt unreal. Red cliffs, desert, and massive vertical walls. 42 miles (68km) of paddling in one day, and memories that will stay with me for the rest of my life.

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Driving south-east through Kyrgysztan towards the Naryn canyon brought a sneak peek into true local culture. Seeing the way that priorities were ordered in society there was a stark reminder that we weren’t at home. It’s hard to imagine living in a house made of clay, falling apart, without running water — yet building and maintaining a family tomb of the same size with much more beautiful architecture. We stopped a couple of times by village wells. It’s tough to see elderly people struggling with heavy canisters full of water. On the other hand, it’s a lovely meeting point for everyone. The Kyrgyz people move through life with a smile.

We spent two weeks in this country of many faces — from luxurious cocktail bars to nights under millions of stars in the dust, and some of the finest waterways in the country. Travelling in Kyrgyzstan gives you an understanding of how rich our Western world is in some ways, and how poor it is in others.

Inspired? Check out our full range of adventures in Kyrgyzstan now!

Zion National Park, in southwestern Utah, is famous for its dramatic rock formations, including towering sandstone cliffs, narrow slot canyons, stone monoliths and natural amphitheatres like the imposing Temple of Sinawava. The most popular area, Zion Canyon, features red and white cliffs soaring above the winding Virgin River.

Originally called Mukuntuweap, meaning “straight canyon,” the park was renamed Zion by 19th-century Mormon settlers, a Hebrew word often translated as 'sanctuary' or 'fortress', used by Mormons to mean "a place of peace and divine refuge." The naming of some of its rock formations further cement this idea, such as 2,110m (6,930ft) high Cathedral Mountain and Angels Landing, which is now famed as an exposed ridge hike with chained sections and panoramic views.

Zion's rock formations are topped by high plateaus and bisected by steep canyons, their lower slopes hugged by pinyon-juniper forests

Zion's rock formations are topped by high plateaus and bisected by steep canyons, their lower slopes hugged by pinyon-juniper forests. Desert areas have been colonised by prickly pears and yucca plants. The Virgin River and its tributaries thread through the park, feeding hidden pools, waterfalls and ‘hanging gardens’ – colourful plants growing vertically from the cliffs.

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The park has three entrances: the south entrance near Springdale, offering access to Zion Canyon; the east entrance, known for its elevated scenic views; and the Kolob Canyons entrance to the northwest.

Zion National Park saw 4.98 million visitors last year, making it the second most visited park in the US. However, according to the park's visitation statistics, 3.4 million of these visitors entered the park by the south entrance, compared to just under 364,000 via Kolob Canyons.  We recommend exploring both areas of the park over a period of several days, combining the iconic views of Zion Canyon with the quieter hiking trails of Kolob Canyons.

The Best Things to Do in Zion National Park, Mapped

10 Things to Do in Zion National Park

1. Explore Kolob Canyons

Kolob Canyons is one of the lesser-visited areas of Zion National Park. It’s an area of narrow parallel canyons hewn into the western edge of the Colorado Plateau, with cliffs reaching up to 610m (2,000ft) and dramatic peaks.

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To visit, take the Kolob Canyons Road from Exit 40 on Interstate 15 – a five mile (8km) scenic route with plenty of stopping points, including the trailheads for the Taylor Creek and Timber Creek Overlook trails. Kolob Canyons is also a start point for backcountry hiking through the remote Zion Wilderness Area (wilderness permits required).

2. Watch the Sun Set from Timber Creek Overlook

Timber Creek Overlook is a viewpoint in Kolob Canyons. You can reach it via the aptly-named Timber Creek Overlook Trail, a short 1.2 miles (2km) out-and-back trail along a rocky ridgeline with minimal elevation gain. There’s also a picnic area located a short distance from the trailhead.

Upon arriving at the overlook, you’ll have wide-ranging views of flat-topped Shuntavi Butte, the craggy Pine Valley Mountains and Timber Creek. On a clear day you can see all the way to Mount Trumbull on the Grand Canyon, around 100 miles (161km) away. The view is even more breathtaking at sunset, when the sandstone rock formations flame fiery red.

3. Stay in a Mountain Ranch

There are plenty of accommodation options in Zion, including campgrounds within the national park and a range of hotels in the town of Springdale, the gateway to Zion Canyon. For something really special, however, we recommend staying at Zion Mountain Ranch.

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This remote, rustic-chic retreat is set high above Zion National Park, amidst pastures where American bison roam freely. You’ll stay in cosy private log cabins, enjoy meals from the farm-to-table restaurant and can spend the evenings stargazing.

4. E-Bike up Zion Canyon

The main road through Zion National Park is Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, which takes you to the trailheads for some of the park's most popular hikes, such as the Riverside Walk. During peak season, car access to Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is restricted to avoid congestion. Instead of driving, park-goers can use a shuttle service. But there’s another option: travelling by e-bike.

Rather than having to queue for a shuttle, you'll travel according to your own agenda, stopping wherever you want. There's no need to worry about busy roads either – the only traffic is the shuttles and cars staying at the one lodge located in this area.

5. Hike the Riverside Walk and the Narrows

The Riverside Walk is a popular trail at the northern end of Zion Canyon. It begins at the Temple of Sinawava, a vast natural amphitheatre with 914m (3,000ft) high sandstone cliffs. After passing through the amphitheatre, the trail traces the Virgin River down a tree-lined path, which is particularly beautiful in autumn. The walls of the surrounding canyon will narrow as you walk.

After around a mile (1.6km) you’ll reach The Narrows, so named because it’s the narrowest section of Zion Canyon, with walls six to nine metres (20 - 30ft) apart. The Virgin River runs through this narrow canyon, its waters between chest and ankle deep depending on the season.

Hiking upriver is a popular activity. If you'd like to walk the Narrows, you’ll need neoprene shoes and hiking poles (we'd also recommend going with a guide). While the entrance can be crowded, head further upstream and you’ll find it much more peaceful. If you do go, it’s important to check flash flooding risks before setting out. On high risk days the Narrows will be closed.

6. Hike to the Emerald Pools

The Emerald Pools are located about halfway up Zion Canyon, tucked into its western wall; three watery oases in a landscape of sandstone, with trickling cascades. You’ll encounter the first of them, Lower Emerald Pool, after walking for around 0.6 miles (1km) along a trail through pinyon-juniper woodland. Continue walking along the trail to reach the middle and upper pools.

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The Emerald Pools hike can be lengthened by following one of the connecting routes, such as the Kayenta Trail; an undulating path with some great views through Zion Canyon.

7. Admire the View at Scout Lookout

Scout Lookout is a popular viewpoint hike (part of the longer West Rim Trail), offering a spectacular panoramic view over the towering sandstone walls of Zion Canyon, with Virgin River twining across the valley floor.

From the trailhead you'll follow a gravel path, which will eventually lead to a series of switchbacks, flattening out to pass through Refrigerator Canyon (named thanks to the cool breeze which sometimes travels through it). You'll then need to negotiate 'Walter's Wiggles', a series of 21 steep switchbacks, before arriving at Scout Lookout.

The view from here is exceptional. You'll be able to see Zion Canyon as well as Angel's Landing, a rock monolith connected to Scout's Lookout via a narrow ridge (which you need a permit to tackle).

8. Go Canyoneering

Zion National Park is a great place to try canyoneering, an adventurous blend of hiking, scrambling, swimming and abseiling through canyons. There are a variety of route options, ranging from beginner to advanced.

Descend through sculpted rock walls, natural pools and tight corridors where sunlight filters down from above

Routes like Pine Creek Canyon and Keyhole Canyon offer incredible scenery as you descend through sculpted rock walls, natural pools and tight corridors where sunlight filters down from above. Specialist equipment and technical knowledge is required to canyoneer, so we’d always recommend going with an experienced local guide.

9. Go Stargazing

Zion has been designated an International Dark Sky Park, thanks to low levels of light pollution and its remote location. On clear nights it’s possible to see thousands of glinting stars, and the glowing band of the Milky Way stretching across the sky.

The darkest skies can be found on the east side of the park and along Kolob Terrace Road. Some of the best stargazing locations include Lava Point Overlook and Checkerboard Mesa Pullout, both of which have flat ground where you can set up a telescope if you wish. It’s also possible to book a stargazing tour by jeep, which will take you off-road and away from any light pollution, into a landscape of rock balconies and mesas

10. Hang out in Springdale

Just outside Zion’s southern entrance, the town of Springdale is the park’s lively gateway, surrounded by towering red rock walls. Alongside its convenient location, it's a fun destination to visit in its own right, with some great restaurants, cafes and galleries exhibiting work by local artists.

The town has a wide range of accommodation options, ranging from campgrounds to upmarket inns with spa facilities.

FAQs

When is the Best Time of Year to Visit Zion National Park?

Visit Zion National Park in spring (March to May) or from late August to the end of October for mild temperatures, smaller crowds, and full accessibility to trails and scenic areas. During the peak summer period, temperatures can exceed 38°C (100°F) and trails and shuttles will be busier.

Where to Stay in Zion National Park?

Stay inside the park at Zion Lodge or a campsite for convenience (advance booking is recommended since spaces are limited). You can also stay in the town of Springdale near the southern entrance, which has plenty of hotels and restaurants, or Cedar City near quieter Kolob Canyons.

How Many Days to Spend in Zion National Park?

Spend between two and four days in Zion National Park and you’ll have time to hike some of the main trails (such as Emerald Pools and Scout Lookout) and enjoy activities such as canyoneering, e-biking and stargazing.

How far is Zion National Park from Los Vegas?

Zion National Park is approximately 152 miles (244km) from Las Vegas, around a 2 hour 30 minute drive via the I‑15 North.

How to get to Zion National Park?

The closest airports to Zion National Park are in Las Vegas (152 miles/244km) and Salt Lake City (274 miles/ 441km), both of which are connected to the park via the I-15 North. Private shuttle services are available from these cities, but many people opt to drive. The closest town to Zion National Park’s southern entrance is Springdale, where you can get a free shuttle service into the park.

Do I need a permit for Zion National Park?

You do not need a permit to enter the park, ride the park shuttle or visit most areas. However, you will need to pay an entrance fee. You need a permit for more technical, demanding activities, including overnight trips into the backcountry, canyoneering excursions and hiking Angel’s Landing. For more information and to apply visit the Zion National Park website.

Inspired? Visit Zion National Park on our Premium: Hike and E-bike Bryce and Zion National Parks adventure, or our Hike the Iconic Landscapes of Utah and Arizona adventure.

The Sri Lanka Coast to Coast Trail is a 276 mile (444km) route taking you from the west coast village of Waikkal to Pasikuda Beach, on the east coast. You’ll head inland and up into the highlands, where spice and tea plantations are backdropped by the craggy Knuckles Mountains. You’ll descend to the east coast, which is an elephant corridor, down which hundreds of elephants migrate annually.

This route was designed by Peter Bluck, who has lived in Sri Lanka for over three decades and runs a cycle touring company there.

“Sri Lanka has become popular very quickly, so everyone tends to be clustered in these backpacker hostels or hotels, where I don't always think you get the true Sri Lanka,” he says.

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“But once you get into the interior, you get that kind of freshness and vibrancy; there’s no overtourism. The best thing about being on a bike is you're immediately off the main tourist trail. The route goes through small villages that seldom see tourists, so that's very refreshing. You're seeing the country as it is.”

After leaving Waikkal, you’ll cycle inland across the coastal belt; flat land lined with coconut palms, rice paddies and farmland.

“You’ll see a lot of churches, which is a bit of a surprise to people,” Peter says. “It's a Christian quarter. On a Sunday morning where the people are coming back from church, all the kids will wave at you.

You may see farming at some points; hand tractors turning up the soil and all the egrets flying in to get the small frogs and leeches

“Then it starts to thin out. There’ll be rice fields either side of the road and a few bits of jungle. And there's always interesting roadside shrines, people with little vegetable stores. You've got these barrows with mangoes piled up into triangles. You may see farming at some points; hand tractors turning up the soil and all the egrets flying in to get the small frogs and leeches. You’ll pass villagers; a lot of them are going to be on bicycles. In that part of the country, people still wear sarongs.”

Break the journey near the town of Kuliyapitiya – there’s a coconut estate where you can stay. To reach it you’ll cycle across an elevated bund, or embankment, with paddy fields submerged in water on either side. People grow lilies and lotuses there – you might see them on an inner tube, picking them to sell at the temple in the evening.

The second stage of the journey takes you further into rice country and past the Deduru Oya reservoir, where you’ll cycle along the dam wall. You’ll trace quiet back roads to Yapahuwa, a 13th-century citadel located on top of a granite rock rising 100 metres from the plains. It can be accessed by a magnificent rock cut stairway, adorned with carvings.

“There’s zero tourists there, because it's not on the main tourist trail,” Peter says.

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From Yapahuwa, you’ll head uphill, past a landscape of rocky outcrops and forested monoliths into Sri Lanka’s spice-growing region.

‘You’ll start seeing things like pepper creepers, cocoa pods and clove trees,” Peter says. “All the spices you're going to see in the market, and try in local dishes, you'll see growing in nature.”

On the fourth stage of the route you climb steadily up towards Riverston, in the Knuckles Mountains. This UNESCO-protected conservation area is known for its exceptional biodiversity, with a landscape of montane rainforest, sprawling grasslands and the misty blue silhouettes of the mountains themselves, bursting out of the tree cover like clenched fists (hence the name). You’ll also pass through tea plantations, hillsides carpeted with emerald green plants.

This is the toughest section of cycling, with undulating topography and some steep uphill climbs – 1,525m (5,003 ft) across the day.

“It is a tough day, but it's shorter by design,” Peter says. “I don't think it matters if the hills are too steep, people can always push their bikes for 15 minutes. They can also stop and take pictures, getting a break while enjoying the scenery.”  

Wasgamuwa is one of the least visited parks. It’s a bit rough and ready, but that's part of its charm

Descending on the other side of the Knuckles, you’ll barely encounter a soul, as you’re heading very much off the tourist trail. Follow jungle-lined roads past Kalu Ganga reservoir and into Wasgamuwa National Park.

“Wasgamuwa is one of the least visited parks. It’s a bit rough and ready, but that's part of its charm,” Peter says. “Because it's a little bit overgrown, it's a little bit difficult to see the elephants who live there, but when we encounter them it's really special.”

From Wasgamuwa, you’ll cycle to the town of Welikanda via Sri Lanka’s ‘elephant corridor’, a migratory route for elephants travelling to Maduru Oya National Park. The route takes you along irrigation canals and through small, sleepy villages.

“It feels like it’s 20 or 30 years behind current Sri Lanka; because of the conflict, it didn't see tourism in the same way,” Peter says. “So it's like stepping back in time. You might see people ploughing their fields with buffalo, for example.”

The final day’s ride takes you towards the coast through flat, predominantly agricultural terrain.

It's an interesting landscape because it's flat, and then you've just got these giant rocks sticking out in the middle of nowhere

“It's an interesting landscape because it's flat, and then you've just got these giant rocks sticking out in the middle of nowhere. They almost have your name calling to you that you've got to go and visit them,” Peter says.

“You’ll pass sugar cane plantations and poor rural communities, where you’ll see people collecting firewood – they’ll have a big stack of logs on the back of their bikes. You’ll also pass some small lakes where you’ll see people fishing on small, brightly-painted wooden catamarans.”

Your final destination: Pasikuda Beach, a curved sandy bay facing the Indian Ocean. The calm waters are an ideal spot for a celebratory dip.

Travelling coast to coast, without breaks for vehicle transfers, gives cyclists a real sense of achievement. The route is doable for most confident riders – Peter says the biggest challenge is the heat.

“Sri Lanka is six degrees above the equator, so when it gets hot at midday, it's very, very hot,” he says. “We've designed stages which are around four hours on a bike. Then you reach the hotel; you can cool off and then do some exploring in the afternoon.

“The advantage of cycling is you've got natural air conditioning, because if you ride at a certain speed, although you're expending energy, you're cooling down from the headwind you're making. There are also plenty of stops for hydration and refreshment; plus we have a support vehicle you can hop onto if a climb is too much.”

Peter firmly believes that the best way to see Sri Lanka is on two wheels. It allows you to get away from the tourist resorts dotting the west coast, and discover a more authentic version of Sri Lanka. In doing so, you are also spreading the impact of tourism so it better benefits locals.

“We stop in all the local tea shops and use them as the muster points, so we're spending money there,” he says. “A lot of the lunch stops are with local houses. They will be cooking lamprais or string hoppers for us. So, they get some money back from that. All the hotels we use are not part of chains; they are family-owned businesses.

“All our guides are Sri Lankan. We’ve also tried to elevate the status of guiding. At first their families weren’t necessarily impressed they were going to be cycle guides but we pay them well. They get a lot out of it, especially in the high season, because they get tips and also pension funds – they are all permanent employees. We also have a bike shop, where they work during the off-season, when there aren’t any tours.”

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Crossing Sri Lanka from coast to coast, then, is both beneficial to locals and to the cyclists themselves. You'll have the chance to experience Sri Lanka not as a series of isolated highlights, but as a connected landscape.

The route reveals a side of the island that many travellers never see: small farming communities, roadside tea shops, spice gardens and national parks where wildlife still moves along ancient corridors. Travelling by bike slows everything down, making it easier to notice the details of the environment, and the steady rhythm of rural life unfolding around you.

Inspired? Check out our Cycle Sri Lanka Coast to Coast Adventure, which takes you along the route Peter designed.

The Dry Creek Valley Loop is a roughly 22-mile (35km) ride through Dry Creek Valley, which is a part of Sonoma County – one of California’s renowned wine-growing regions. It begins and ends in the historic town of Healdsburg, taking you through a sun-kissed landscape of vineyards.

“Sonoma County offers a much more connected, homey experience than Napa Valley, the most well-known wine growing region in California,” says adventure guide Ryan Romito.

Sonoma County is not only known for its wine, but is also a renowned gastronomic destination. You'll find a number of farm-to-table restaurants and microbreweries nestled into the countryside, as well as cideries. The region is also renowned for its artisanal cheeses (in particular fresh chevre and blue cheese), as well as boasting a crop of Michelin-starred restaurants.

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“Sonoma is beautiful as well,” Ryan says. “You have these rolling hills and the colourful vineyards and apple orchards. The sky almost looks painted on some nights. We also have redwoods, and a majestic coastline. One of the reasons I love living out here is there's so many trails and so many beautiful spots to get to.”

You have these rolling hills and the colourful vineyards and apple orchards. The sky almost looks painted on some nights

For wine lovers, Ryan particularly recommends cycling the Dry Creek Valley Loop. The Dry Creek Valley is a 13-mile-long (21km) narrow valley extending northwest from the town of Healdsburg to Lake Sonoma. It’s a landscape dominated by vineyards, framed by rolling hills and the low mountains of the Coastal Range. Surrounding the vineyards you’ll find patches of eucalyptus trees and gnarled oak groves.

Wine has been made in Dry Creek Valley since the mid-19th Century, by European settlers who populated the valley after the California Gold Rush: some of those heritage vines are still used in viticulture today.

Dry Creek has an ideal climate for winemaking. Fog coming from the Pacific Ocean rolls into the valley in the mornings, which then lifts as the day progresses and becomes warm and sunny. This diurnal temperature variation helps the grapes ripen at a steady pace.

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What's more, the diversity of soil composition (gravelly, loamy and volcanic) allows for a wide variety of grapes to be grown. The area is particularly well-known for its heritage ‘old-vine’ Zinfandel, a red wine celebrated for its bold, spicy flavour profile. If you’re more of a white wine drinker, the signature white of the region is a crisp, mineral Sauvignon Blanc.

There’s ample opportunity to stop for a wine tasting along the cycle route, which Ryan says is suitable for people of all ages – particularly if you choose to do it on an ebike.

“You have to be active enough, but you don't have to be a young athlete to make it,” he says.

The trail is very much about relaxing and enjoying the ride, immersing yourself in the surrounding landscapes. By the time you arrive at your lunchtime wine tasting you shouldn't have over-exerted yourself or by pouring sweat.

The Dry Creek Valley Loop starts and ends in Healdsburg, a town with a big gastronomic clout. It boasts a three-Michelin-starred restaurant, artisan bistros and bakeries – and numerous wine tasting rooms. In other words, it’s the ideal spot for indulging after your ride. Beforehand, there's a bike path where you can try out your hired cycle, if necessary. After that, you'll head out towards Dry Creek.

There are these winding country roads that weave in and out through all of these farms, and little fruit stands where people are selling their produce

You'll pass down winding country roads that weave in and out through rural farms, and small fruit stands where people are selling locally-grown produce. Vineyards, with colourful vines rolling through the hills and down into the valley, rise up on either side of the gently undulating path.

Ryan explains that the route – which roughly consists of two loops – can be customised to the rider, and made shorter or longer depending on experience level. There are also numerous places to stop if you want to take photos or buy refreshments. He recommends having lunch at the Dry Creek General Store, which serves delicious tri-tip (sliced steak) sandwiches. And when it comes to wine tasting, you have plenty of options.

“All of the farms and the tasting rooms are unique. Some are much more rustic, some are a bit more opulent,” Ryan says.

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The majority of these tasting rooms are family-owned, in some cases multi-generational. Upon visiting many of them, you'll be struck by the deep sense of pride the sommeliers display in their product. They'll take time to discuss the different varieties of grapes they're growing, the process behind their grape-growing and length of fermentation required for different wines.

After you’ve finished your tasting, you’ll pedal back to Healdsburg, and the ride will have come full circle. It’s about moving at a pace that lets you take in the details — the fog lifting off the vines in the morning, the feel of the sun on your skin and that first taste of old-vine Zinfandel. So take your time and let the day unfold, enjoying the pauses as much as the pedalling.

Inspired? Join us on the Dry Creek Valley Cycle Loop, part of our Hike and E-Bike in Yosemite and California's Wine Country adventure.

Every year, I go on at least one solo hike. The main reason for doing so is to enjoy some peace and quiet. Most recently, I spent a few days alone on the South West Coast Path, barely encountering a soul as I traced the rugged, undulating coastline of north Cornwall. The sound of traffic, of construction, fell away. As I tuned into the rhythmic sound of the waves striking rock and rasping over sand, I felt my shoulders unknot and my stress levels decrease.

I’m not the only one. More and more people are seeking out what the BBC refers to as “quietcations”; trips where peace and quiet are prioritised over all else. These often take place in remote locations as far from human civilisation as possible, with people seeking a break from what is an increasingly noisy world.

I felt my shoulders unknot and my stress levels decrease.

According to the World Health Organisation, over 30% of Europe’s population lives in areas where transport noise levels exceed their recommended limits of 53dB, to the point they are harmful to health. Meanwhile, in Dhaka, often described as the world’s noisiest city, sound levels of 119dB have been measured.

Why does this matter? Because chronic noise is injurious to both mental and physical health. Research suggests that excessive noise leads to a rise in hypertension (elevated blood pressure). It can also lead to sleep disturbance, increased cortisol levels and impaired academic performance. WHO estimates that long-term exposure to noise pollution in the EU contributes to around 66,000 premature deaths and 50,000 cases of cardiovascular disease per year.

Some people might find this surprising, especially those who have grown up in cities and are habituated to urban noise like traffic. As George Michelson Foy points out in Zero Decibels: the Quest for Absolute Silence, noise is subjective.

“Experts in psycho-acoustics are quick to point out that perceived loudness is highly relative, since it cannot be measured by any instrument other than the observer’s hearing; and also because its perceived strength depends on factors such as frequency, bandwidth, masking (the extent to which one sound covers another), and the subject’s degree of habituation to ambient sound levels, all of which will make sounds of the same intensity appear louder or softer compared to each other,” he writes.

In other words, sound is not merely physical; it’s a different experience for each individual.

I myself am one of the more noise-sensitive unfortunates. Cities feel like a sonic assault. I also have mild misophonia, where certain noises (including loud chewing, finger-drumming and whistling) trigger a heady mixture of disgust and rage. For me, that’s all the more reason for those quiet solo hikes. Being away from such noise makes me feel like I can finally hear myself think.

Sitting with Silence

True silence is near impossible to find. If sound is defined as vibrations that travel through a medium and can be heard, then silence is the complete absence of such vibrations.

The quietest place in the world, where the closest thing to silence exists, is the anechoic chamber at Orfield Laboratories in Minnesota, where the ambient sound level in the room measures -24.9 decibels. It has been engineered to absorb almost all sound, blocking external noise and preventing internal echoes. This silence has proven to be far from relaxing.

“Being in an anechoic chamber for longer than 15 minutes can cause extreme symptoms, from claustrophobia and nausea to panic attacks and aural hallucinations – you literally start hearing things,” George Michelson Foy told the Guardian.

Alone on the ice, far into that great white nothingness, I could both hear and feel the silence.

Why could this be? Lack of sound is sensory deprivation, which is used as a form of torture. When deprived of input, the brain tries to restore that lost sensation, which is what leads to hallucinations and the other symptoms.

There’s also the fact that humans are fundamentally unsuited to sitting alone, in silence, with their thoughts. We are dopamine-seeking creatures, constantly in search of stimuli. In 2014, social psychologist Timothy Wilson conducted an experiment where participants were recruited for 15 minute ‘thinking periods’ in a room that contained nothing but a button they could press to administer themselves with an electric shock. A surprising 67% of men and 25% of women chose to press the button and inflict pain on themselves, rather than sit quietly with their thoughts.

Despite our fundamental incompatibility with stillness, especially in a world of increasing distractions, humans have been seeking silence for centuries – particularly in remote natural landscapes. Explorer Erling Kagge once spent fifty days hiking alone across Antarctica with a broken radio, and describes silence as having a type of weight.

“Antarctica is the quietest place I’ve ever been. I walked alone to the South Pole, and in that whole vast monotone landscape there was no human noise apart from the sounds I made. Alone on the ice, far into that great white nothingness, I could both hear and feel the silence,” Kagge writes in Silence in the Age of Noise.

Having no contact with the outside world, isolated and alone, I was forced to further ponder the thoughts that I already possessed.

“The silence adhered to me. Having no contact with the outside world, isolated and alone, I was forced to further ponder the thoughts that I already possessed. And, what’s worse, my feelings.”

Initially overwhelmed, Kagge soon realised the benefits of this silence. He found himself becoming far more attuned to his surroundings. He also found he began to inhabit the present moment, rather than dwelling on the past or projecting into the future – a concept known as the ‘eternal now’ in Buddhism.

Buddhist temples and monasteries are located in some of the world’s quietest places, to encourage silent contemplation. A few years ago I trekked through the Markha Valley, in the north Indian region of Ladakh, or ‘land of the high passes’. It’s one of the quietest places I’ve ever visited, far from traffic-heavy roads or noisy towns.

Rust and purple rhyolite mountains stretch beyond the horizon. Buddhist monasteries (gompas) occupy high rocky outcrops, and you’ll encounter smaller shrines (chortens) with faded prayer flags waving gently in the wind.

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As I walked, I felt my thoughts begin to slow. Thoughts of the next thing on my constantly generating to-do list disappeared. I concentrated on the scenery, on my breathing (louder and more laboured at this high altitude), and experienced a type of peace that rarely permeates my daily life. Around me, my hiking group were similarly quiet, immersed in the landscape.

Another natural landscape associated with silence is the desert. There is no sound of running water. There are no trees for the wind to ruffle. Sand and sandstone are porous, sound-absorbing materials and hot, dry air carries less sound – a process known as attenuation.

Silence is not a little thing, not a sweet or gentle rest cure for weary spirits. It is a huge force; it strips you down and makes you face your own smallness.

The Sinai Desert, an important holy place within Christian tradition, has been attracting monks and hermits in search of silence since the fourth century. They visit in order to conduct a practice called kenosis or ‘self-emptying’, a stripping down of the self. Contemporary travellers to the region can also encounter this sensation.

“In the Sinai desert, and from the monks who have been there so long, I have learned that silence is not a little thing, not a sweet or gentle rest cure for weary spirits. It is a huge force; it strips you down and makes you face your own smallness, fretfulness, and vulnerability,” writes Sara Maitland in the Book of Silence, in which the author journeys in search of quiet places.

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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 Benefits of Natural Sound

Of course, the natural world can’t always be described as silent. Sometimes it’s bursting with noise – gushing waterfalls, choruses of birds and insects. Very biodiverse habitats, such as jungles and rainforests, are particularly sound-filled.

“The sounds of the rainforest set the tone for each day,” says travel writer Stuart Kenny, who recently returned from a trip to Borneo. “First you get the gibbons calling just before sunrise. It's often described as a whooping noise, but they're actually extremely melodic. Then the morning chorus of birdcall and insects follows and later, the six o'clock cicadas come like clockwork. A rustle in the trees when you're out walking is often the first indicator that you're in the presence of an orangutan or a red leaf monkey.”

Listening to nature brings more joy into our lives because we are embodied beings.

However, the noise of the jungle evokes a very different reaction to the noise of a city. The sound of a babbling brook is far more relaxing than a pneumatic drill, for example. This is because natural sounds tend to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which is when the body feels safe and relaxed. Meanwhile, man-made sounds (like the road drill) are more likely to activate the body’s ‘fight or flight’ mode.

“Listening to nature brings more joy into our lives because we are embodied beings. Our ancestors have been listening to birds and touching trees and smelling the wind for hundreds of thousands of years,” says biologist David Haskell, author of Sounds Wild and Broken.

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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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The goal, then, is not absolute silence but relief from intrusive, industrial noise and reconnection with organic sound. Sound creates an embodied connection with nature, a multi-sensory experience that makes us feel part of the world instead of separate from it. Yet that connection is easily severed; all it takes is a pair of headphones.

Perhaps that’s why quietcations are resonating now more than ever. How easy it is to fill every spare moment with playlists, podcasts, constant notifications. Being able to sit in silence and listen to the wind as it moves through the trees suddenly feels like a luxury. It’s not emptiness we crave, but attunement.

Seeking silence, then, may not be about escaping the world. It's about learning how to listen to it again. And where better to do that in the planet’s wildest spaces, from the high mountain passes of Ladakh to the vast Sinai Desert?

Inspired? Check out our adventures to some of the world's quietest places, such as the Sinai Desert, Ladakh and Svalbard!

Madagascar is a place people speak about with reverence. The island has the aura of distance - not only in geographic but in evolutionary terms. It split from Africa at a time when humans were still an accident waiting to happen, and what grew there afterwards grew wondrous and singular.

Lemurs move through bamboo and jump through forest canopies. Some small and chunky with gleaming eyes, others slender and slick, with ringed tails or long legs. Huge baobab trees look like they’ve been planted upside down, and granite mountains rise thousands of metres above heathlands and green valleys. Roughly 90% of Madagascar’s species are endemic, meaning they are found only on this island, which has evolved alone, far from the gaze of the rest of the world.

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This island is a place defined by isolation. That’s part of the romance of Madagascar - but it can also be a problem for the people who live there.

During the global pandemic, that isolation became literal. Flights stopped and roads between cities were blocked. The thread of tourism, which is how much of Madagascar connects economically to the outside world, snapped. And when no one comes in, it isn’t simply a case of hotels closing and guides losing their work here (although that came quickly). Protected areas also lose informal guardians. Threatened forests are chopped, and cash stops flowing to communities.

It's well documented that tourism in Madagascar goes beyond just leisure. It helps to keep landscapes intact. Tourism carries a different kind of weight here.

“Our mission is clear,” says Hanitriniando (Ando) Rabehajaina, the Chief Sustainability Officer at Tamàna Adventure, a Malagasy-owned operator and local partners of Much Better Adventures in Madagascar. “First of all, it's to protect the environment, because Madagascar is so rich with wildlife and biodiversity, and to uplift local communities - because we’re also rich in culture here. To let them benefit from our activities here. We want to ensure that tourism benefits both the people and the nature of Madagascar.”

Our groups visit Anja Park, a community-run reserve where tourism revenue funds local projects, biodiversity and conservation projects, health care, school care and infrastructure maintenance.”

Rabehajaina’s role and remit is part of the new language of travel, but what she describes is more elemental. “At Tamàna,” she describes, “sustainability is not a trend, it’s a commitment woven into our identity as a Malagasy tour operator.”

Ando joined Tamàna Adventure in 2014 as a travel advisor, but during the pandemic she began to study for a Masters in Sustainable Business Management. “And now I’ve launched our first ever sustainability department here,” she says.

Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world, and ensuring that tourism money ends up in local hands rather than leaking out to external economies matters enormously. It is something that is not to be taken for granted, given many tourist institutions here are foreign owned.

“All of our excursions empower and directly support local communities,” says Ando. “Our guides, porters and cooks are from the regions we visit, so the income flows straight into the families of those people. Our tours also include visits to local villages and community-run reserves. For example, with Much Better Adventures, our groups visit Anja Park, a community-run reserve where tourism revenue funds local projects, biodiversity and conservation projects, health care, school care and infrastructure maintenance.”

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The Anja community reserve is also a haven for ringed-tailed lemurs - and they're easy to spot here. It is a place of pointed, layering mountains, forests and far-reaching views reaching out over rice paddy fields, just eight miles (13km) south of the city of Ambalavao on Route Nationale 7 (RN7).

Anja was established in 2001 due to dwindling numbers of ring-tailed lemurs, and now it’s home to the highest concentration of the species in Madagascar. The animals are completely wild. It’s an equally important site as evidence that you can make a living protecting forests rather than cutting them down, and as a showcase of how circular, nature-based economies can benefit local people.

Deforestation has long been an issue in Madagascar. Wood-cutting can be a quick income source for people on the island, so it’s crucial reserves like this exist, to show the long-term benefits of protecting nature - for both wildlife and people.

If you keep the forests, and keep the lemurs, you can make your living every day for many years to come.

“Most of the remaining forests are in national parks and private or community reserves,” Laurence Duband Schaffner, founder of Tamàna Adventure, had previously told me. “But they are now doing well at explaining to people that this is a long-term income. You can get some money now if you cut the wood, but then it’s a 20 year wait for another tree to grow there. But if you keep the forests, and keep the lemurs, you can make your living every day for many years to come.”

Tamàna Adventure also work in parternship with communities to actively restore ecosystems. They've planted thousands of trees since August 2024, and plant more for each traveller they welcome. It's not just about trees - these actions also support farmers and long-term jobs as technicians and forest guardians.

The bigger picture is clear. A study from the University of Toronto in November 2025 found that every 1000 tourist visits to a given protected area (PA) decreased deforestation within that PA by 3.2% of the mean annual rate - though the rate just outside the PA would increase, showing the importance of protection, which comes with monitoring, staffing, and incentive to prevent illegal extraction.

It is easy, from a distance, to imagine conservation as something imposed - fences, rules and outsiders. But in places like Anja, it is more practical than that. Protection is a local economy.

We have a programme for mangrove plantation, which is really important for carbon capture, for biodiversity and for the employment of the local villagers.

Ando continues: “Almost all people here benefit from tourism directly or indirectly with shops, handicrafts or through entrance feeds and so on.

“We craft experiences driven by sustainability and ethical tourism. And often when travellers return home, inspired, they talk about that and play the role as advocates for Madagascar’s biodiversity and for ethical tourism here.”

With the exception of founder Laurence (who has lived in Madagascar for over three decades), 100% of the staff at Tamàna Adventure are Malagasy, an impressive stat. They have ensured a fair gender divide in the company, and delivered over 160 hours of training to their team around the country.

This is rarer than you think in the tourism industry, and it’s crucial in ensuring locals are meaningfully employed in a way that provides opportunities to grow.

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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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They also source their procurement locally.

Walk the remote trails of Madagascar and this, quite rightly, might not be your first consideration. You’ll be more focused on the long, winding footpaths, the high ridgelines and the lemurs and chameleons you're hoping to see perched in the trees. But it all adds an authenticity and backbone to the visitor experience.

“We also send visitors to VOI, a community-run reserve near the Andasibe national park,” says Ando. “And we work with the Zazamalala Foundation in Morondava, which works for biodiversity conservation with lemurs and the fauna and flora of the western part of Madagascar.

"We also have a programme for mangrove plantation, which is really important for carbon capture, for biodiversity and for the employment of the local villagers. In the south of Madagascar, in Ambositra, we do wood-carving workshops - a cultural exchange between travellers and artisans - and in Sandrandahy we visit local villages which are renowned for their silk weaving process.”

Boundaries do still remain in Madagascar. Guiding largely remains the preserve of men - though there are now female tour guides.

We try to empower women here. That's important.

“Our culture, since the beginning, is one where the place of women is at home,” Ando said, with the bluntness of someone describing weather. “So we try to empower women here. That's important."

Change, she implied, is slow, but it is coming.

When travellers leave Madagascar, they talk about lemurs, baobabs and the view from Pic Boby, the highest trekking peak. They also talk about the people.

“Our wildlife can't be seen anywhere else in the world,” Ando says. “But tourists always say that they also met the most welcoming people. Wherever tourists go - even in really remote regions - people welcome them with a smile.”

In the end, Madagascar’s positive tourism movement is a reminder that travel, done carefully, can be something other than consumption. Here, it can be a kind of participation - in protection, in livelihoods, in continuity and tradition. And perhaps that is the only kind of tourism that makes sense in a place so singular as this island, which once drifted away from Africa to become its own world.

Inspired? Check out our 12-night adventure holiday in Madagascar!

Mountaineer Hari Budha Magar, MBE, has recently returned from successfully completing the Seven Summits, a colossal feat which involves climbing the highest peak on each of Earth's continents.

Magar finished his challenge on Mount Vinson in Antarctica, on top of that 4,892m (16,050ft) peak, where -25℃ temperatures, vicious winds and freezing ice fields tested him to the extreme. To reach Vinson’s high camp, Hari and his team climbed over 1,000m (3,280ft) up a 45° slope of soft snow and windblown ice. To reach the summit, Hari had to crawl along an exposed rocky ridge.

The most physically tough was Denali. It was so cold. I had blisters and I had to just keep going.

“It feels a bit unreal that I’ve done all Seven Summits,” Hari says. “I don't know how I did it. I just can't get my head around how it was possible. It was financially, physically and mentally tough. But it's done. So I'm very pleased.

“The most physically tough was Denali. It was so cold. I had blisters and I had to just keep going. If you’ve spent $200,000 to go up a mountain with your team, can you imagine just giving up and coming back down because you’ve got a blister? It’s not going to happen. Vinson was also difficult because of the weather and the way you climb. There's no permanent camp up there so we had to set it up ourselves.”

What makes Hari's achievement even more remarkable is that he is a double above-knee amputee. He is now the first to have reached each of the Seven Summits. One reason for committing to the challenge was to show how much is possible for someone with disabilities—something he didn’t always believe.

Hari’s early career was spent in the Gurkhas, a specialist Nepalese regiment of the British Army. While serving in Afghanistan in 2010, he stepped on an IED (improvised explosive device), losing both his legs and sustaining numerous other injuries in the process.

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“Before my injury I didn't know anything about disability. So I wasted nearly two years of my time because I did not know what I could do,” he says. “I thought that I would sit in a wheelchair for the rest of my life. Possibly I would need a carer. I didn't know whether my wife was going to stick with me, and I thought my family and society would look down on me. I couldn't see my future. I lost confidence. My legs were gone and my career was definitely gone.”

How did Hari manage to keep going when all felt lost? In a word: resilience.

Learn to Help Yourself

Hari is a firm believer that resilience isn’t something you’re born with, it’s something that you build. For him, one of the most essential building blocks is independence, and for Hari, this came early.

“I was born in Nepal in a cow shed,” he says. “I grew up in a civil war and that made me resilient. We were very poor. I didn’t even have flip flops so I went barefoot to school, walking about 45 minutes to get there. There was only a primary school in the village, so I had to walk all day to go to my secondary school. I had to cook for myself when I went to high school.”

He drew on these stores of independence when recovering from his injuries.

Whatever you’re struggling with, try to do it yourself. Nobody's going to come and help you. It's you at the end.

“At first, I couldn’t eat by myself because I was injured and in plaster, so somebody had to feed me,” he says. “I wasn’t able to transfer myself from my wheelchair to the bed or the chair, because I had lots of scars, and so much pain. But I learned to eat with my left hand. I learned to use the toilet by myself and got my privacy back—and more confidence.

“Whatever you’re struggling with, try to do it yourself. Nobody's going to come and help you. It's you at the end. I think you need to be in the driving seat of your life. Sometimes we feel that our life is driven by someone else, but we can take control. So don't give up. Keep going, whatever you’re doing, and you’ll find your purpose.”

His message is that you’re the one who has to carry yourself over the finish line, or to the top of that summit. Every time you dig deep and push yourself beyond your limits, you’ll have gained in both confidence and independence.

The ‘Easy Way’ Doesn’t Always Work

Hari is laughing as he tells me about one peak he failed to climb—Pen Y Fan in the Brecon Beacons National Park, standing a whopping 886m (2,907ft) tall.

“We climbed Everest and came back in December. Then we went to hike on Pen Y Fan for charity,” he says. “We couldn't do it because it was completely iced up and there was so much wind; it was raining and it was not safe to climb. So I made it my principle that no mountain is too small.”

The Seven Summits have gone to plan but most of the rest of my life didn’t. I think that's what made me resilient.

Hari sees the funny side of this moment, rather than perceiving it as a failure. It’s one of many examples of something you could take for granted not going to plan.

“The Seven Summits have gone to plan but most of the rest of my life didn’t. I think that's what made me resilient,” he says. “I lost my legs and that definitely wasn’t part of the plan; it was a complete opposite turn.”

But resilience didn’t emerge cleanly, or all at once, after Hari’s accident. Before he came to terms with his disability, he spiralled into addiction.

“There are so many coping mechanisms that we can try; some are the easy way out and others are harder,” he says. “It's easier to pour a bottle of whiskey in your glass than get ready and go out in the cold to the gym. So initially I chose the easy route and used alcohol to control my pain. But when the alcohol leaves you, you feel guilty and ashamed. I tried to take my life. I was in a mess.

“Then one day I realised that I had a three and a half year old son and if I died, it would be the end of my story - maybe I would have solved my problem - but I would create a new problem for my family. It felt like a selfish thing to do. So I decided to live my life and guide my children, even if I did it from a wheelchair.”

This moment, for Hari, was a complete shift in mindset. He realised he needed to find a new sense of purpose. The first thing he tried was skydiving, because, he says, he was still ‘half-suicidal’.

“I went 15,000ft into the sky and looked down and I realised that even if you want to die you can still be scared,” he says. “But I remembered the Gurkhas’ motto, which is that it's better to die than be a coward. So I closed my eyes and when we landed I realised that even if you don't have legs you can still do things.

“I began to wonder what else I could do physically. I started trying different sports and adventures. Later, I remembered my childhood dream of climbing Mount Everest. I grew up in Nepal and we take it as our pride and identity. I couldn't climb it when I was in service so I decided I should try it now.

How could I climb Everest without legs? It took a long time—13 years after my injury—but it happened and I didn't give up

“But how could I climb Everest without legs? It took a long time—13 years after my injury—but it happened and I didn't give up.”

Most of the time, we hear an adventurer’s story once it’s ended: once they’ve reached the summit; or after they’ve crossed the Atlantic. We learn about the achievement, not the many years of struggle that led to it. But each story is an example of someone choosing not to take the easy route, and deciding to test themselves to the extreme, moving beyond what they ever thought possible.

Take it One Step at a Time

For Hari, completing the Seven Summits is made even more difficult by the prosthetics that he has to use, and the fact he can’t bend his legs. Learning to use them properly was a three and a half year process.

“I started by putting them on for five minutes, which was really painful,” he says. “And then the next day you do it again. Eventually you increase that time. I still don’t walk that well, but I’m grateful and privileged to have those legs where many people around the world wouldn't be able to afford them.”

Walking on his prosthetics, especially on uneven, mountainous terrain, is still difficult for Hari. “I call it a torturous journey, because it’s so painful,” he says.

For Hari, completing the Seven Summits is made even more difficult by the prosthetics that he has to use, and the fact he can’t bend his legs.

He takes each journey one step at a time. This, he says, is his best advice for someone who is struggling to complete any form of adventure challenge.

“Forget the next summit, the next camp, the next stop. Just keep going,” he says. “If I can, I just keep going. I know it’s going to be painful every step of the way. I’m mentally prepared for that. It's more about how much more I can bear.

“There’s a very fine line between getting to the summit and failing. Obviously, you have to be fit enough to be on a mountain. On Everest it took 25 hours non-stop, up and down. But physically I'm not as strong as other people. It's your resilience, your pain, your mindset, that gets you to the top.”

Comparison is the Thief of Joy

There’s a saying often attributed to Theodore Roosevelt, “comparison is the thief of joy”. It’s also a sure-fire way to convince yourself you aren't as successful as other people, which can then become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

“Our perception of the world builds up from how we grew up, whatever school we went to and who our friends are,” Hari says. “You can see the people around you as your competitors and be jealous of them or you can just change your perception and realise they are doing something really amazing, and that you want to learn from them.

“If you look at people who have achieved more than you, you always feel really down. But there are so many people who haven't got what you have; when you look at them, you feel grateful for what you have. It’s just a matter of perception.”

You have to earn everything and just take responsibility for yourself—your words, your actions, your habits, your mindset.

Hari’s story is often described in terms of achievement: summits reached, records broken, challenges completed. But he is clear that resilience isn’t something that conveniently appears when you most need it. It’s something built quietly, day after day, in moments that don’t look impressive at all.

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Join a 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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“Nothing is given,” he says. “You have to earn everything and just take responsibility for yourself—your words, your actions, your habits, your mindset.”

That belief has carried him across ice fields, up ridgelines and through years of pain, the likes of which most people will never experience. But it also applies far beyond the mountains. Whatever challenge you’re facing—whether it’s an expedition, recovery, or a moment where your life takes an unexpected turn—resilience isn’t about seeing the whole route ahead. It’s about taking responsibility for the next step, and then the next.

Inspired? Check out our adventures to Everest Base Camp and Mount Kilimanjaro, as well as our other Extreme Adventures.

As unapologetic champions of soul-stirring adventures in wild places, we’ve noticed something still missing in the discourse around the world's best solo travel destinations - a genuinely adventure-minded guide built for soloists who want more than museums and mojitos.

Choosing your next solo travel destination can feel like spinning a globe and hoping for the best. Sometimes we default to places where we have a shared language, or with particularly good infrastructure. That has benefits, of course, but it can also rule out some wild, truly remarkable travel destinations.

Travel solo in a group and you get the independence and the camaraderie.

Travel guides can be a useful starting point for culture, logistics, and cost, but if you want real adventure, the shortlists get strangely thin.

We have a whole lot of experience designing solo-friendly adventures for small groups (the kind where you arrive as strangers but leave as friends). So, we decided to ask our expert trip designers for their views on the best places for a solo traveller adventure in 2026. In our rankings, we've taken infrastructure, price and visa entry processes into consideration, but we've put our biggest emphasis on places which feel truly adventurous and exciting; pushing people out of their comfort zone and making for transformative solo travel experiences.

Here are the top 10 destinations on their list:

1. Kyrgyzstan
2. Italy
3. Japan
4. Portugal
5. Uzbekistan
6. Réunion Island
7. Spain
8. Norway
9. Tanzania
10. Nepal

Our handpicked destinations are backed by solo travel signals, including:

• Global Peace Index score out of five (lower = more peaceful)
• Average cost of a meal for one at a local restaurant (for budgeting)
• Ease of entry for UK & US travellers (visa access etc.)
• Biodiversity proxy score to indicate wildlife and nature potential
• Established hiking routes to explore, and how crowded they are
• On-the-ground customer feedback to tell you what spreadsheets can’t
• Solo travel customer booking trends, for both 2025 and 2026
• Insight from our experts, on the pulse of the hottest adventure spots

Without further ado, here are our top 26 countries for 2026 solo adventure travel, chosen by travel experts with decades of experience planning trips.

1. Kyrgyzstan

Over the last 12 months, we've seen a huge rise in interest from seasoned solo travellers around one particularly wild destination: Kyrgyzstan. This central Asian country is one of high passes, beautiful mountains, alpine lakes and sweeping skies. It's home to a nomadic culture which prides itself on hospitality.

I felt like I travelled back in time and across multiple worlds - kayaking on the water of Issyk Kul Lake and hiking the red-rock fairytale formations of Skazka Canyon.

"Kyrgyzstan is wedged between Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and China, and it's often overshadowed by its Silk Road neighbours," says Marta Marinelli, a trip designer for Much Better Adventures. "But after exploring its mountains, valleys, and high pastures last year, I can honestly say it’s one of the most memorable journeys I’ve ever taken. The country mixes wild landscapes with ancient traditions and simple comforts with big adventures.

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"On my visit there, I felt like I travelled back in time and across multiple worlds - kayaking on the water of Issyk Kul Lake and hiking the red-rock fairytale formations of Skazka Canyon, to cycling and horse riding across windy grassy steppes dotted with yurts in Song Kul. Beyond the landscapes, it was the people, the food, and the traditions that made my experience so rich."

This is the ultimate location for a micro-expedition in 2026 - properly wild, but still doable within the confines of annual leave. It's a trekking country, where established routes remain uncrowded. Camp in yurts under star-splashed skies, meet the famous eagle hunters in remote villages and vast blue lakes.

Language barriers can exist, but they are surmountable. The locals are friendly, and the landscapes so big they're sure to become life-long memories.

2. Italy

The country of la dolce vita has just about everything to offer adventurers.

Italy is globally adored for its cuisine and culture, but it's the diversity of landscapes here that keep us coming back. This is a place of storied mountains steeped in history. It's a place where wolves and bears still roam emerald green valleys, and yes, of olive groves, wine and volcanic isles.

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Do Wild Things on an adventure holiday in Italy. Hike the Dolomites, cycle through the Prosecco hills or kayak round Sardinia in solo-friendly small groups.

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There's a good reason Italy was number one in our solo travel index in 2025, and it's the same reason we keep expanding our range of adventures there.

“Whether you’re hiking in the Dolomites, cycling through olive groves in Tuscany, or walking coastal trails in Liguria, Italy offers that rare mix of adventure and culture that keeps you wanting to come back," says Marta Marinelli of her native country. "You won’t see it all in one go, but that’s what makes it so special: every region has its own striking landscapes, food, and way of life. It’s like multiple countries in one."

There are affordable trains to well-connected (beautifully-built) towns, so getting around is easy and can be spontaneous. "Locals, especially in small towns or popular stops, tend to be curious and welcoming," says Marta, "and it’s often easier than you’d think to strike up a chat - even if your Italian’s a bit rusty.”

3. Japan

Japan offers effortless logistics, clear signage and a feeling of safety that lets you roam confidently - whether you’re weaving through neon cities or stepping onto ancient trails with centuries of stories to tell. From omakase to onsens to powder-covered mountains, the historic of Japan spills out into every activity.

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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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Outside of the fast-paced cities, the vast pilgrimage trails of the Komano Kodo offer slower yet captivating adventure experiences. You can follow in the foosteps of ancient samurai, and visit remote temples, hidden in leafy forests.

Follow in the footsteps of ancient samurai, and visit remote temples, hidden in leafy forests.

“Japan is one of the safest countries in the world, making it a fantastic destination for solo travellers," Marta says. "The trains are fast and efficient, towns are clean and easy to navigate, and the whole experience feels smooth, even when you’re bouncing between neon-lit cities and peaceful rural villages.

“That said, language barriers can sometimes make it harder to connect and certain experiences can be pricey. Joining a small group tour can really help: it’s a great way to share costs, go beyond the typical hotspots, and experience the country and its unique culture in a more immersive way.”

4. Portugal

Portugal is a country of multitudes. Mountain bike, hike or relax on the wild island of Madeira, go whale watching in the Azores, or visit the wine trails and Atlantic coast of Portugal. There's more variety here than most people think.

There's an excellent, well-developed trail network here, and while the capital city of Lisbon may be overtouristed, there's a whole lot of the country where tourism can still have a positive impact on local communities, with a quieter feel.

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Join a small group hiking trip on the Rota Vicentina, exploring the Algarve’s rugged cliffs and hidden coves on one of Europe’s wildest coastal routes.

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Look beyond Libson and look beyond the Algarve for a start. You'll find long-distance trail networks like the Fisherman's Trail, which introduces you to authentic Portugal. “It’s all about getting people off the beaten path and trying to sustain people," says Luis Coelho, a Potuguese destination expert. Luis recommends going to areas "where people still live without the internet, far from any Instagram stories.” Visit during the off-season for fewer crowds.

5. Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan recently changed its policy to offer US travellers visa-free entry for 30 days, and with that has come a surge of interest for this Silk Road wonder.

Uzbekistan is a destination with immense history and dramatic landscapes. It's off the radar of most visitors (meaning fewer crowds), but it still has a tourist infrastructure in place which is handy; and established hiking routes to explore.

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Trek between remote Nuratau Mountain communities, then explore Bukhara & Samarkand’s Silk Road wonders. Book your Uzbek adventure today.

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Hike from village to village through the remote Nuratau Mountains, follow ancient trails across valleys, orchards, and rocky hillsides. Share daily life with locals in cosy village homes and traditional yurts, gaining a genuine insight into rural Uzbek culture and friendly local communities. Journey across the Kyzyl-Kum steppe to the shores of Lake Aydarkul, stopping for a cool dip in the waters. Back in the cities, Registan Square, in the heart of Samarkand, is a masterpiece of Islamic architecture - with intricate mosaic tiles, domes and geometric designs.

This is a destination for the culturally curious traveller. Legendary cities like Bukhara and Samarkand don't just boast world-class architecture, they tell the story of Uzbekistan's role at the historic crossroads of trade on the Silk Road.

Plus? Uzbekistan landed on CNTraveler's list of most affordable places to travel.

6. Réunion Island

Réunion is a shield volcano isolated in the Indian Ocean, 440 mile east of Madagascar. It is known as l'île intense - the intense island - and it lives up to that name. This is where you'll find Piton des Neiges, the highest point in the Indian Ocean (3,070m/10,072ft), and it's also home to Piton de la Fournaise - a 2,632m (8,635 ft) volcano which is one of the most active in the world.

Between the summits and the corals on the coastline are volcanic cirques; lush jungle, rivers and mountain faces which rise up to form ridgelines sharp as razor blades. And there are hamlets (and hostels) dotted in amongst that scenery.

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Join a small group adventure for an unparalleled hike across a mountainous paradise in the Indian Ocean. Led by expert guides.

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It's important to know Réunion is a French Department. This means there are direct flights from Paris and the island is home to two Grande Randonnée (GR) walking routes - well-maintained, long-distance routes that are a trekker's dream. The pick - the GR-R2 - goes from the north to the south of the island.

“Réunion as a whole is a remarkable place to go hiking," says Stuart Kenny, Editor of the Much Better Adventures Magazine. "The volcanic cirques are full of dense rainforest and exciting, exotic birds which flutter around. Watching the sun set over Piton des Neiges is one of the most incredible sights I've ever seen.

"The waymarking on the routes is pretty good, but I would definitely advise getting a local guide. It would be easy to get lost in the cirques without one. The islets in amongst it all are super remote and heard to reach, but that just makes them so much more special when you reach them. The views are jaw-dropping."

7. Spain

Look beyond the resorts and sun loungers to the lesser known areas of Spain.

The Picos de Europa, in the north, are a mountainous haven of deep gorges and high, dramatic limestone mountains which rise above the Atlantic coast. Galicia, famed for its seafood and the stunning city of Santiago de Compostela, makes for idyllic paddling - and courtesy of the Camino de Santiago, perhaps the most famous hiking trail in the world - there is superb infrastructure for walking.

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Adventure holidays in Spain. Hike the dramatic Picos de Europa, kayak tranquil bays in Menorca, cycle through the Basque country and more!

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There's so much variation in Spain in terms of both landscape and culture. From the sidra and cave cheese of Asturias to the Rioja wine and rolling hills of the Basque country to the hearty mountain dishes of the Sierra de Grazalema.

We'd encourage solo travellers to look beyond the well known spots. Even on islands like Mallorca and Tenerife, you can discover superb mountains which give you an authentic feel for the island and have a positive impact for locals.

Spain is still one of Europe’s adventure all-rounders, whether you're looking to trek iconic walking routes, paddle the coast or indulge in the mouthwatering gastronomy. A small group trip makes it easier to travel responsibly and connect to local communities - so you can have a positive impact while you visit.

8. Norway

The Norwegian fjords are rightly considered to be one of the world's great beauty spots. Many explore them by cruise, or look on from touristic viewpoints. But by far the best way to see the beauty of the fjords is with a paddle in your hand.

Kayak out into the UNESCO-listed Nærøyfjord and you'll find yourself beneath cruising beneath incredible, sheer rock faces, by snow-capped mountains and majestic waterfalls, as fat seals watch on from the grassy banks of the fjords.

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Our top wish-listed weekend adventure. 4 days kayaking, hiking and wild camping in the Norwegian fjords. Book with just a deposit now.

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“I think that a lot of people who come here have had Norway on their radar for years, but most people are still surprised by the beauty," says Jan Neilsen, a kayaking guide on the fjords. "The whole spirit of the area is serene, and very pretty. Even our airport pick ups are very, very scenic.”

There are stunning fjords on so much of the Norwegian west coast, right up to the Arctic Circle. Up in those Arctic forests, you'll also find dreamy trails through trees heaped in snow and bent by the wind. Explore on snowshoe or by fat bike.

Look out for the northern lights in winter, or in summer, the midnight sun.

Train journeys like Oslo-Bergen are bucket-list trips in their own right here, and they make Norway not only easy to get around, but an adventure in itself.

9. Tanzania

There is one word which dominates adventure travel in Tanzania: Kilimanjaro.

The mountain is the highest peak in Africa and the tallest free-standing mountain in the world. It's surrounded by lush forests and astounding biodiversity which means that after reaching the summit of one of the world's great mountains, you can head out on safari and make more lifelong memories.

"Heading into some of Tanzania’s iconic National Parks (Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara and Tarangire) on safari for three days was the perfect tonic to climbing Kilimanjaro," says Kirsty Holmes of Much Better Adventures. "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 the summit was the icing on the cake of an unforgettable, life-affirming adventure."

For solo travellers, a small group format is a game-changer in Tanzania. It helps keeps the costs more manageable, simplifies transport, and turns those once-in-a-lifetime sightings into shared memories. The Serengeti is world famous and a lot of solo travellers also like to head to Zanzibar before finishing their trip.

10. Nepal

Nepal is where you experience the world's ultimate grandeur. In terms of hiking, this is it - the home of prayer flags, gorges, suspension bridges, teahouses, dal bhat and the world's highest mountains. It's a Himalayan wonderland.

Whether you’re looking to walk to Everest Base Camp, tackle your first 6,000m mountain peak or raft through wide, gushing rivers, this is the place for thrills.

From hiking in the Annapurna region to travelling by coach to Chitwan, I soon felt at home in this small but diverse nation.

Kirsty Holmes of Much Better Adventures has solo travelled around the country. "While it's undeniable that arriving into Nepal is a sensory overload, you'll soon find that the welcoming nature of Nepalis make this a fantastic place to travel solo," she says. "In the cities, many people speak English and are well-versed when it comes to helping international travellers. If you're planning to go trekking, a local guide is mandatory in many of the national parks, and they can facilitate your stays at village teahouses. From hiking in the Annapurna region to travelling by coach to Chitwan, I soon felt at home in this small but diverse nation."

Adventure Holidays in Nepal | Much Better Adventures

Do Wild Things on an adventure holiday in Nepal. Explore Everest Base Camp, Yala Peak, Annapurna and more via interesting and unusual routes.

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Nepal is a destination that reorders your sense of scale. The Himalayas have a way of making everyday life feel very small - in the best possible way.

The Solo Travel Index 2026

Methodology

Much Better Adventures’ expert trip designers drew on decades of experience planning solo-friendly adventure travel to create an expert-led list of the 25 most desirable countries for solo adventure travel in 2026 - with “solo travel” defined as travelling solo within a small group adventure, where you get both independence and community. That experience and industry insight was the main driving force for the placements on this list, but it was also supplemented by the following:

• Safety score comes from the 2025 Global Peace Index. The lower the safer.
• Average meal price comes from Numbeo
• UK entry notes come from the UK Gov's Foreign Travel Advice
• US entry notes come from Travel.State.Gov website
• Biodiversity scores come from The Swiftest's Global Biodiversity Index

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