The Italian Dolomites are well known for their impressive jagged peaks and kilometres of picturesque hiking trails. Here’s what you need to know before hiking Alta Via 1.
Tag: Hiking
Hiking Maderas Volcano, Nicaragua
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.
After taking a short 90 minute ferry ride for about $1.50 from the Nicaraguan port of San Jorge, I arrived in Ometepe’s port of Moyogalpa. Despite its size, it offers a great selection of hostels not far from the ferry terminal. The longer you are willing to walk, the cheaper the accommodation is likely to be.
I decided not to book anything ahead of time and I’m glad I didn’t because hostel owners were waiting for the new arrivals with good deals. I just followed the guy who offered the best value accommodation.
Moyogalpa itself is not too exciting with its handful of bars, but the street food is excellent and cheap. Plus eating with locals is a great culture immersion.
Climbing Maderas
After a few days in town, I journeyed to the El Zopilote eco-hostel at the base of the Maderas volcano ahead of my hike.
Maderas volcano is only 200 meters smaller than its bigger (and more famous) brother, Concepción – which many people aim to hike during their Ometepe stay. The reason I chose to do Maderas instead was because it’s not quite as steep and is supposed to take less time to climb than Concepcion. The 1394 metre Maderas with its luscious rainforest and crater lake seemed more inviting for me personally.
Together with two other girls, I headed up Maderas. We decided not to pay for a guide, but boy I have to say that was the wrong decision. The lower third of the hike is fairly easy and straight forward, but as I reached the cloud base and I could not rely entirely on sight, it became harder.
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Day hikes on Lofoten Islands
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 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.
Reinebringen Peak
If you only have time to do one hike in the Lofoten Islands, make sure it’s the Reinebringen hike.
The Reinebringen peak is 448 metres high and getting there is pretty much straight up. It’s very popular these days so expect crowds.
If you’re scared of heights, don’t do this hike. I’m not scared of heights but there were a few moments when I looked down and realised the sheer drop below me and if I put a foot wrong I was going to end up all the way down a steep cliff. But I continued on with the help of a Portuguese hiker I met on the trail who helped me get up some of the slippery rock sections.
I made it to the top in about an hour, but it was a hard slog. But the views were absolutely worth it – they actually take your breath away! You get a spectacular view over Reine – seeing how the bridges link up all the islands. There’s also a brilliant crater filled with water.
If you keep going up to the peaks on your left and right, you can get 360 degree views but it’s a very steep and tricky climb to some of higher peaks.
Kvalvika Beach
The Kvalvika Beach hike starts opposite a small parking space, but get there early as the hike is popular.
The start of the trail can get pretty muddy – but you’ll get used to all the mud after a few days on the Lofoten Islands! The first section is well marked and the muddiest sections have wooden planks laid over them.
Be warned, the trail itself is not that well marked once you’re clear of the trees and on the hillsides. I had to double back a couple of times, particularly making my way across the pass as you start the descent down to the beach.
The descent down to the beach is steep and slippery. It’s very slow going and hard to keep to any sort of trail. But even if you don’t make it all the way down, you can catch a good view of the beach from about halfway down the pass.
Plan the hike to take about 90 minutes to two hours each way depending on how well you can stick to the trail and negotiate the downward hike to the beach.
Offeysoykammen Peak
The Offeysoykammen Peak starts just off the E10 Highway. The hillside overlooks the Nappstraumen waters and a hillside with small lakes. If you get a summit free of cloud though – you’re very lucky.
To get to the starting point, look for the road named Skreda. Coming from the south, it’s just past the Nappstaumen tunnel on your right. Park at the end of this road, cross the E10 and look for a small opening that marks the start of the trail.
The climb starts off fairly easily but once you’re out of the trees – it gets steeper and steeper and then it’s pretty much straight up. It’s also one of those peaks where you think you’re nearly at the summit, then you realise you have much more to go.
In the information I read, the trail is marked as easy. I would say it’s moderate at a minimum as it’s fairly steep. But it’s a good short hike with panoramic views. Expect the trail to take about 90 minutes up.
Another hike you can do is the Bunes Beach trail. The trail starts from the Vinstad village. You’ll need to take a ferry there from Reine – ferries leave several times a day during summer and the timetable is posted on a signboard at the Reine harbour.
The return Bunes Beach hike will take around three hours.
A few Americans I met out hiking also said the hike starting from the row of fish heads (you’re sure to spot them) across the road from the carpark serving the Å township has rewarding views but features a whole lot of mud. Maybe bring a spare pair of shoes and socks.
How to get to the Lofoten Islands
I reached the Lofoten Islands from Sweden’s Stockholm Arlanda Airport, but you can also fly in via Norwegian cities. I flew into the town of Leknes via Bodo, and I exited also via Bodo to Stavanger.
You can also take a ship from Bodo to Moskenes on the southern tip of the islands but I’m told it’s a rough crossing – so if you get sea sick like me, stick to flying.
There’s regular flights offered by the airline Wideroe to reach Lofoten Islands from Bodo. You can fly into either Leknes or Svolvaer.
Leknes is a small town and there’s not much to see, but there’s a couple of car rental agencies represented at the airport and in town. It’s best to book ahead.
Accommodation is limited and can be on the expensive side, so I opted for an AirBnB accommodation near the Fredvang Bridge and it was an excellent choice. I stayed with a lovely family who made me feel incredibly welcome and helped me find hikes to do.
The Lofoten Islands is easy to get around. The main highway is the E10 and goes the length of the islands. The main towns are well marked.
Things you should know
The best hikes near Canberra
Canberra is left off most traveller’s itineraries for the bright lights of Sydney and Melbourne and the marine life of the Great Barrier Reef. But the Canberra region is blessed with a couple of very good national parks and nature reserves with well-maintained and scenic trails.
Which Greek Island should I visit?
There’s a lot of Greek Islands out there – some are party islands, others are family resort islands. Here’s a brief rundown of what you can expect to find on some of the more popular islands.
Be careful on quad bikes in Mykonos. They’re not that sturdy and helmets often aren’t included. If you’re looking at hiring a quad bike, make sure you’re covered for any mishaps with your travel insurance. Quad bikes are often not included in the standard cover.
You’ll need plenty of sunscreen and a wide brimmed hat during the summer months. It can get very hot in Greece during the warmer months.
Be prepared for large crowds at Oia on Santorini to watch the sunset during high season. Get there early and be prepared to mingle with the crowd to get out once the show’s over.
Greece has accommodation for all sorts of budgets from beach camping to upmarket resorts.
If you’re taking a taxi on the islands such as from the ports, settle on a price with the driver before you leave. Most island taxis don’t have meters.
Large sea ferries are a great way to go between islands. There are several companies that service the Cyclades Island routes but I can recommend Seajets, but I also saw a lot of Blue Star Ferries operating.
The Cyclades Islands are the group of islands I hear brought up most often when people talk about Greece. These include Santorini, Mykonos and Ios.
Santorini
Best for sunsets, quad biking, shopping, water activities and hot springs.
Santorini has everything – stunning views and beaches, delicious food, snorkelling, hot springs, and quad bike rental shops on nearly every corner. Santorini is the island most likely to suit everyone’s taste and it was the very first Greek Island I visited.
I’ve stayed in Thira and Kamari Beach during my visits to Santorini. Thira is the main town of Santorini and is a good place to base yourself, but it can get noisy. But all roads lead to Thira. If you stay out of town and don’t have your own transport, be prepared to always have to change buses at Thira to get to your intended destination. The buses are modern, efficient and regular and cost from €2 each leg of your journey, so if you going from Kamari to Akrotiri for example, the cost will be €4 with a stop in Thira to change buses.
One of the most famous parts of Santorini is Oia because of its spectacular sunset.
Its cobbled winding streets are interesting to wander and are the place to do a bit of souvenir shopping or have dinner and drinks in a restaurant looking towards the volcanic caldera and the sunset.
Be prepared to get to Oia early to secure a prime spot to watch the sunset particularly in high season – it gets very crowded and there are selfie sticks galore.
Santorini is also the place to hire a quad bike. You can hire a quad bike seating two from around €35-€50 euro a day including helmets and insurance. There are quad bike hire places everywhere, and hiring one is a great way to see the island and not as time consuming as taking the bus.
Make sure you venture out to Red Beach, and you can also combine this with a visit to the Akrotiri archaeological site. The black sand beach, Kamari, is also a nice spot and there’s plenty of accommodation and food options here. There are also numerous tours on offer to the volcanic caldera and hot springs.
Mykonos
Best for beach parties and beaches.
It’s all about the beach parties on Mykonos or you can choose to drink and dance until after the sun comes up at Cavo Paradiso.
The beaches off the beaten track across Mykonos Island are beautiful so a quad bike is a great way to get around.
But be careful who you hire these bikes off – the bikes are far less sturdy than what you can pick up in Santorini and most often helmets and insurance are not included so ask if you want it. Expect to pay from €25 for a two person bike for 24 hours.
Super Paradise Beach is a great swimming spot as well as a beach party spot.
Cavo Paradiso is situated on nearby Paradise Beach and is open from midnight to 8am. Expect to pay a cover charge on entry.
In Mykonos town, the Skandinavian Bar is one of more popular bars.
In the town, check out the iconic windmills and wander the streets of Little Venice.
There are regular buses out to some of the more popular beaches such as Super Paradise from the bus station at Fabrika in Mykonos centre. Buses also go to Cavo Paradiso at night.
If you’re hungry, make sure you go to the Attica Bakery right near the bus station. They have treats to suit all tastes but I loved the orange cake and Greek yoghurt with honey. Also find Premier Crepes – it’s cheap and there’s a great selection of savoury and sweet crepes, and the owner is lovely. My friend and I went there for lunch every day of our stay.
Ios
Best for nightlife.
Ios is full of many Australians there to drink away the night, and sleep away the day. If you’re lucky, you’ll see maybe a dozen people wandering Ios before 4pm during peak season. It’s a bit of a ghost town during the day.
Ios is filled with bars and pubs offering very cheap drinks.
The island itself has pretty views and is worth exploring for a couple of hours before preparing for a big night out.
Make sure you head up to the churches on the top of the hill in the old town Chora for views over to the port and sparkling blue water of the Aegean Sea.
Corfu
Best for hiking and history.
Corfu lies in the Ionian Sea on the opposite side of Greece from the Cyclades Islands.
A lot of British families flock here during the summer for their annual holidays and it’s more of a family resort town than a party island. But the island is stunning and it’s worth hiring a car to see the island outside the old town.
The old town itself is worth at least a half day to wander and visit the two fortresses on opposite hills. The old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Start with the Old Fortress, and then make your way through the town to the New Fortress, which was built to strengthen the fortifications of the island.
Spare half a day to visit Double Bay at Porto Timoni, about an hour’s drive from the old town past numerous olive groves.
Drive to the village of Afionas and park near the entrance of the whitewashed streets. From there, you walk through the village, past an ocean lookout, and down a narrow dirt path to Double Bay. This is a stunning swimming spot so plan to spend a few hours here before you tackle the walk back up the hill.
Corfu is also a great jumping point to take day boat trips to Saranda in Albania and the Greek Islands of Paxos and Antipaxos.
The waters of Antipaxos are a stunning, clear blue, and Paxos has a picturesque port area. The highlight of the Albania boat trip is the visit to Butrint. About 20km outside of Saranda is this former Greek town which was abandoned in the late Middle Ages. It’s now a site of fascinating ruins.
The islands listed here are just a sample of what’s on offer in the Greek Islands. Other islands you may want to consider visiting at least for a day or two include Naxos, Paros, Samos, Milos, and Crete.
Things you should know: