The beginner’s guide to hiking

I was recently talking to a friend who is new to the hiking game. She mentioned it would be great to have a guide on hiking tips for people starting out so they know what to expect when they hit the trail. You asked for it and here it is – the beginner’s guide to hiking.

Have the right gear

Before you go anywhere near a hiking trail, make sure you have the right gear. Hiking is a serious business – trails can be steep, slippery or on cliff edges; there could be wildlife; and weather is also a consideration. read more

Hiking Maderas Volcano, Nicaragua

By Lisa Owen2 Comments

Here’s the second post from Guest Adventurer Fanni Bartanics from the My Seven Worlds travel blog. Fanni is currently exploring Central and South America and is now in Colombia. Read about one of her recent adventures hiking a volcano on Nicaragua’s Ometepe Island.

Ometepe is the tenth largest lake island in the world and it’s where I spent an incredibly exciting week in March this year. With its two volcanoes, Ometepe Island rises from the water like a camel, providing two great options for adventurers. read more

Day hikes on Lofoten Islands

By Lisa OwenLeave a comment

Do you like beautiful landscapes, road trips and hiking? If you answered yes, then you owe it yourself to make the journey to Norway’s Lofoten Islands – before everyone discovers one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen.

The relatively untouched Lofoten Islands – located within the Arctic Circle – offers kilometres of spectacular mountain landscapes scattered with quaint fishermen cottages and bridges spanning azure water. And one of the best ways to reach them is by pulling on your hiking boots and navigating muddy and steep mountain sides to see them. You won’t be disappointed. read more

Why it’s ok to travel solo

By Lisa Owen5 Comments

I don’t know how many times people have asked me ‘are you travelling by yourself?’ with a look of surprise. Yes, yes I am. And it’s perfectly fine.

No I don’t get lonely or bored, sometimes I get scared in certain situations but I’ve only had a few near misses in eight years of travel. I have to take the occasional selfie – or trust my camera to another tourist. I have to be independent and find places on my own – but the journey is half the fun!

I don’t know if it’s because I’m petite or simply because I’m a woman that people are surprised I predominantly travel alone. read more

See St Petersburg without a visa

By Lisa OwenLeave a comment

Did you know there’s a simple (and 100 per cent legitimate) way to visit St Petersburg without going through the visa process? The only catch is you have to enter the city by cruise ship. But hey, cruises can be pretty fun.

I first heard about the loophole through a friend – who had heard it from someone he met at a hostel when he was in Moscow. The loophole allows you to visit Russia for up to 72 hours as long as you’re part of an organised tour starting from a cruise.

My first thought was this couldn’t be true – you board a ship and you’re able to get around the visa rule? My antenna was up and it sounded like a scam. But I did a bit of research and it seemed like it was true and so I booked my passage on a cruise ship from Helsinki in Finland. read more