Hiking activities in Europe
-
Hiking
Gorlice sits at the foot of the mountains and is excellent starting point for hiking into the Beskid Niski. Two marked trails, blue and green, start near the tourist office and wend southeast from the town up the mountains, joining the main west-east red trail that crosses the range.
reviewed
-
Hiking - Xınalıq to Laza
A delightfully rewarding hike links Xınalıq to Laza in 10 to 12 hours. Two routes are possible, around the base of Mt Şahdağ or past the fire-vent and over a shoulder of dramatically crag-topped Qızılqaya. A local guide (around around Manat30 per day) is particularly important for the latter, as fog can descend suddenly even on an apparently clear day, totally hiding the path.
If you have luggage it's also a good idea to hire packhorses (around Manat20 to around Manat40). In Xınalıqi-Ketsh language dzhim onongondeh pshii i hadmé ishkeléh Laza guisu means 'where can I find a horse and guide to take me to Laza?'. Since a new army/customs post was built across the…
reviewed
-
Janapar Trail
Dedicated hikers may want to consider crossing Karabakh on foot, taking advantage of a newly marked path that stretches from Hadrut in the south to Kelbajar region in the north. The 190km-long Janapar Trail is marked with blue signs that depict a yellow footprint.
Starting from Hadrut, the trail continues to Togh, Gtchavank, the Azokh cave, Karmir Shuka, the Skhtorashen giant plane tree, Avetaranots, Mkhitarashen, Karintak, Shushi, Stepanakert, Aygestan, Ptretsik, Kachaghakaberd, Kolatak, Gandzasar, Vaghuhas and Dadivank. If you have permission to enter Kelbajar, you can follow the trail to the hot springs at Zuar and finally Nor Manashid.
The entire route takes 14 days,…
reviewed
-
outdoor activities
Agencies such as 3glav, Life Trek and OSA organise a wide range of outdoor activities in and around Bled, including trekking, mountaineering, rock climbing, ski touring, cross-country skiing, mountain biking, rafting, kayaking, canyoning, caving, horse riding and paragliding.
A 2½-hour rafting trip down the Sava Bohinjka/Soča River costs around €23/around €30, and a three-hour canyoning descent is around €45. Kayak trips lasting three hours cost around €38. Paragliding is around €70. Horse riding starts at around €40 for a two-hour outing.
A half-day tour of the (easy) Bobji Zob cave near Bohinjska Bela is around €20, while the more challenging Simnovo Brezno…
reviewed
-
Sergey Sorokin
Crimea has some fantastic hiking opportunities but a scarcity of really good topographical maps with marked routes. In addition, a total lack of English signs mean that Westerners will find the going more challenging than usual. Guided tours such as those offered by Sergey Sorokin are recommended.
reviewed
-
A
Pyynikki Ridge
Pyynikki Ridge, rising between the two lakes, is a forested area of walking trails with fine views on both sides. There's an observation tower (adult/child €1/0.50; h09:00-20:00) on the ridge, which also has a great café serving Tampere's best doughnuts.
reviewed
-
hikes and walks
The area around Kranjska Gora and into Triglav National Park is excellent for hikes and walks ranging from the very easy to the difficult. One of the best references available is Walking in the Julian Alps (2005) by Justi Carey and Roy Clark, published by Cicerone Press in the UK, which includes some 50 walking routes and short treks.
Another option is A Guide to Walks and Scrambles in the Julian Alps (2003) by Mike Newbury, published by Zlatorog Publications in Perth, Scotland, which uses Kranjska Gora as a base for its suggested itineraries.Between Podkoren and Planica is a beautiful nature reserve called Zelenci (837m) with a turquoise-coloured lake, the source of the…
reviewed
-
Hiking the Gorge
The hike from Xyloskalo (the name of the steep stone pathway with wooden rails that gives access to the gorge), to Agia Roumeli on the coast takes from about four hours for the sprinters to six hours for the strollers. Early in the season it's sometimes necessary to wade through the stream. Later, as the flow drops, it's possible to use rocks as stepping stones.
The Samaria Gorge hike is not a Sunday stroll; it is long and, at times, hard. Do not attempt it if you are not used to walking. If you find that the going is too tough within the first hour, there are park wardens with donkeys who will take you back to the beginning. They will be on the look out for stragglers.
…
reviewed
-
Walking
The flat-topped forested massif overlooking the lake is just the place to escape the tipsy herds. If you'd like to get a running start on your hike, catch one of the open 4WDs marked 'Badacsony-hegyi járat'. The driver will drop you off at the Kisfaludy House restaurant where a large map of the marked trails is posted by the car park. Or you might arm yourself in advance with a copy of Cartographia's A Balaton 1:40,000 topographical map (No 41).
Several Walking paths lead to lookouts - at 437m, Kisfaludy Lookout (Kisfaludy kilátó) is the highest - and to neighbouring hills like Gulács-hegy (393m) and Szentgyörgy-hegy (415m) to the north. The landscape includes abandoned…
reviewed
-
Beskid Sądecki - Hiking
Krynica is an excellent springboard for hiking in the Beskid Sądecki. Two marked trails, green and red, head westward from Krynica up to the top of Mt Jaworzyna. It takes three hours to walk there by either trail (or you can get there faster by the Mt Jaworzyna cable car). At the top, you'll get some good views, and may even spot the Tatras on clear days.
There's a PTTK Mountain Hostel just below the summit, where you can eat and stay overnight in doubles or cheap dorms, or you can return to Krynica the same day.
You can also continue on the red trail northwest to Hala Łabowska (1038m), another three hours' walk from Mt Jaworzyna, where you'll find another PTTK mountain…
reviewed
Advertisement
-
Hiking
Hiking is one of Tihany's main attractions; there's a good map outlining the trails near the front of the Abbey Church. Following the Green Trail northeast of the church for an hour will bring you to the Russian Well (Oroszkút) and the ruins of the Old Castle (Óvár) at 219m, where Russian Orthodox monks, brought to Tihany by Andrew I, hollowed out cells in the soft basalt walls.
The 232m-high Csúcs-hegy (Csúcs Hill), with panoramic views of Lake Balaton, is about two hours west of the church via the Red Trail. From here you can join up with the Yellow Trail originating in Tihanyi-rév, which will lead you north to the ruins of the 13th-century Apáti Church (Ápáti…
reviewed
-
Imbros Gorge
The Imbros Gorge, 57km southeast of Hania, is less hiked than its illustrious sister at Samaria but is just as beautiful. Cypresses, holm oaks, fig and almond trees gradually thin to just cypresses and Jerusalem sage deep within the gorge. The walls of rock reach 300m high, while the narrowest point of the ravine is only 2m wide. At only 8km the Imbros walk is also much easier on the feet. Most people begin the walk in the mountain village of Imbros but you can also do it from the southern village of Komitades. Both places are used by gorge hikers and have plenty of mini-markets and tavernas to fuel up at. There's nowhere to stay in Imbros village.
At only 8km the Imbros…
reviewed
-
hiking
There are plenty of hiking options to choose from. A circular walk around the lake (12km) from Ribčev Laz should take between three and four hours. Or you could just do parts of the walk around the lake by following the hunters' trail in the forest above the south shore of the lake to the Hotel Zlatorog and taking the bus back, or walking along the more tranquil northern shore under the cliffs of Pršivec (1761m).
Much more strenuous is the hike up to Vogel (1922m) from the cable car's upper station. Take a map and compass, and don't set out if it looks stormy; Vogel is prone to lightning strikes. The whole trip should take about four hours. The 1:25,000 Bohinjsko Jezero…
reviewed
-
Mt Medvednica
Mt Medvednica offers excellent hiking opportunities. There are two popular routes: you can take tram 14 to the last stop and then change to tram 15 and take it to the last stop. Here you'll be near the funicular that goes to the top of the mountain; next to the funicular there is a clearly marked footpath that also takes you to the top. Or you can take bus 102 from Britanski trg, west of the centre on Ilica, to the church in Šestine and take the hiking route from there.
Allow about three hours for each of these hikes and remember that this is a heavily wooded mountain with ample opportunities to become completely lost. Take warm clothes and water, and make sure to return…
reviewed
-
Hiking in the Sredna Gora
The Sredna Gora (Central Range) mountains are spread over 6000 sq km from Iskâr Gorge (near Sofia) to the Tundzha Valley (south of Yambol). The highest peak is Mt Bogdan (1603m) near Koprivshtitsa.
The Mountains of Bulgaria by Julian Perry provides a detailed description of the popular two- or three-day hike from Hisar (Hisarya) to Koprivshtitsa (or vice versa).
No dedicated map of the Sredna Gora is available, but most of the mountains and hiking routes are included in the map of Stara Planina that is published by Kartografia. The map of Koprivshtitsa, published by Domino and available in the village, includes a small, but clear, map with five enticing hiking routes…
reviewed
-
Mt Súlur
A pleasant but demanding day hike leads up the Glerádalur valley to the summit of Mt Súlur (1144m). The trail begins on Súluvegur, a left turn off Þingvallastræti just before the Glerá bridge. Give yourself at least seven hours to complete the return journey.
With two days, you can continue up the valley to the beautifully situated Lambi mountain hut (at N 65°34.880', W 18°17.770'), which accommodates up to six people. Alternatively, from the Hlíðarfjall ski resort there's a challenging but beautiful day hike up to the small glacier Vindheimajökull and the 1456m peak Strýta. For more information on hiking in the area, contact Ferðafélag Akureyrar.
reviewed
-
Trekking
Almost all Trekking trails start from Njurgulahti, including a 4km marked nature trail suitable for families with children. The majority of the trekking routes are within the relatively small area between the rivers Lemmenjoki and Vaskojoki. An 18km loop between Kultala and Ravadasjärvi huts takes you to some of the most interesting gold-panning areas.
As you can do this in two days, many trekkers head over Ladnjoaivi Fell to Vaskojoki hut and back, which extends the trek to four to five days. For any serious trekking, you will need the 1:100,000 Lemmenjoki map, available at the Lemmenjoki Nature Centre.
reviewed
-
Lakeland walks
The town makes an excellent base for many well-known Lakeland walks. One of the most popular trails is the easy-going woodland stroll up to Stock Ghyll Force, a 60ft waterfall plunging into a narrow canyon. For something more strenuous, you could try the hour-long ascent to the top of Wansfell, followed by a two-hour return trip via Jenkins Crag, with views across to Coniston and the Langdale Pikes. Serious hikers are spoilt for choice - several classic circuits start from Ambleside, including the 10-mile Fairfield Horseshoe via Nab Scar, Heron Pike, Fairfield and Dove Crag.
reviewed
-
Boka Waterfall
The most popular do-it-yourself walk in the area is to Boka Waterfall, 5.5km to the southwest of Bovec. The waterfall drops 106m from the Kanin Mountains into the valley and is almost 30m wide - it's an impressive sight, especially in late spring when the snow melts. To get there on foot, follow marked walkways B2 and S1 on the Bovec z Okolico (Bovec and Surroundings) map; mountain-bike track No 1 on the map will also take you there.
The trip up to the falls (850m) and back takes about 1½ hours, but the path is steep in places and can be very slippery.
reviewed
-
Hiking to Mt Śnieżka
Bordered to the south by Karkonosze National Park, Karpacz is an ideal starting point for hiking. Most tourists aim for Mt Śnieżka, and there are half a dozen different trails leading there. The most popular routes originate from the landmark Hotel Biały Jar and will take you to the top in three to four hours. When planning a trip to Mt Śnieżka, try to include in your route two picturesque postglacial lakes, Wielki Staw and Mały Staw, both bordered by rocky cliffs.
A couple of trails pass near the lakes.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
Camaderry Mountain
You can hike up Camaderry Mountain (700m), hidden behind the hills that flank the northern side of the valley. The walk starts on the road just 50m back towards Glendalough from the entrance to the Upper Lake car park. Head straight up the steep hill to the north and you come out on open mountains with sweeping views in all directions.
You can then continue up Camaderry to the northwest or just follow the ridge west looking over the Upper Lake. To the top of Camaderry and back is about 7.5km and takes about four hours.
reviewed
-
Walking
Walking through pretty countryside is a much-loved activity in the Sintra region. A pleasant walking trail is from Sintra-Vila to Castelo dos Mouros, a relatively easy 50-minute hike. You can continue to Palácio Nacional da Pena (another five minutes). From here you can ascend the Serra de Sintra's highest point, the 529m Cruz Alta (High Cross) named for its 16th-century cross, with amazing views all over Sintra. You can continue on foot to São Pedro de Penaferrim, and loop back to Sintra-Vila.
reviewed
-
Hiking
You can join up with some excellent hiking trails above the Tourinform office in Aggtelek, affording superb views of the rolling hills and valleys. A relatively easy three-hour (7km) walk along the Baradla Trail, tagged yellow, will take you from Aggtelek to Jósvafő. There are other treks lasting five to six hours, and these can be used for cycling and horse riding. A 20km bicycle route links Aggtelek and Szögliget to the northeast, but unfortunately you'll have to bring your own bike.
reviewed
-
Club Vosgien
The Strasbourg section of the Club Vosgien , a regional walking organisation founded in 1872, runs walks, cycling excursions and snow-shoe trips for its members (guests welcome) in the Vosges and other parts of Alsace; there are departures at around 08:00 each Sunday and sometimes on other days too. No reservations are needed for trips by private car (passengers pay around €0.06 per kilometre) or train; reserve a few days ahead for bus trips (around €12). Insurance costs €4.
reviewed
-
hikes
There are many easy signposted hikes around Bled (numbered signs correspond to numbered routes on the local hiking maps). One of the best is trail No 6 from the southwest corner of Lake Bled to the summit of Velika Osojnica (756m). The view from the top over the lake, island and castle, with the peaks of the Karavanke in the background is stunning, especially towards sunset. The climb to the first summit is steep, but the round trip, returning via Ojstrica, takes only three hours or so.
reviewed