4 stunning hiking trails that no one should miss this summer
Photo courtesy of Tharik Hussain
It’s that time of the year. The weather is perking up, flowers are beginning to bloom, and that can only mean one thing: walking season!
So, this list is designed to inspire (and prepare) everybody. Whether you dread even the “trek” to the corner shop or can’t wait to do your next hike, you’ll find our list of four beautiful trails from around the globe truly inspiring!
1. DRAGON’S BACK, HONG KONG (EASY)
Photo courtesy of Tharik Hussain
Part of the 50km-long Hong Kong trail that spans the entire Island, the Dragon’s Back is a section along a ridge noted for its views overlooking the uber-modern city.
The path begins at Shek O Road, close to Tei Wan Village, through a stunning green tunnel of overgrown bamboo. The soundtrack to your walk is immediately set: birdsong, trickling water, and the flutter of exotic butterflies. Later, panoramic views of Big Wave Bay, Tai Tam Harbour, the South China Sea and, in the distance, Nine Pins Island, will keep your Instagram account busy as the walk opens up along the lush green spine of what locals believe is a living dragon. This is one of Asia’s best “urban hikes” because of how accessible it is from the city of Hong Kong.
Photo courtesy of Tharik Hussain
Distance: 5 miles
Time: 4–5 hours
Season: April–September
http://www.discoverhongkong.com/uk/see-do/great-outdoors/hikes/dragons-back.jsp
2. THE FOUR FALLS TRAIL, BRECON BEACONS, WALES (MODERATE)
Photo courtesy of Tharik Hussain
Britain, the spiritual home of walking, is a land crisscrossed with trails designed to satisfy the nation’s eager “ramblers”, as they are called around here. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the country’s famous national parks. We could have picked a route from any one of them to include in this list, but we’ve opted for a gentle entry with maximum reward, especially for those of you who like a good waterfall.
Photo courtesy of Tharik Hussain
Starting south of the small village of Ystradfellte, this pleasant circular route meanders through beautiful green forest above the River Mellte along a clear, signposted route. At marked intervals, there are access points for each of the four waterfalls on the trail, but beware: these involve a steep climb down and then back up. There’s Sgwd Clun-Gwyn, Sgwd Isaf Clun Gwyn, Sqwd y Pannwr, and the highlight of the trail, Sgwd yr Eira, a stunning curtain of water behind which, like a scene from a fairy tale, lies a hidden path that takes you into the waterfall itself. Magic!
Photo courtesy of Tharik Hussain
Distance: 5–6 miles
Time: 5–6 hours
Season: April–September
http://www.breconbeacons.org/waterfall-country-walking-trails
3. LAUGAVEGUR, ICELAND (HARD)
Photo courtesy of Tharik Hussain
This trail is a geographer’s dream, for it makes its way over volcanic rock, across arctic deserts of jet black sand, through pristine nature and past two immense craters, Modi and Magni, named after the sons of the Nordic God Thor. As if that wasn’t enough, for much of the route, you will catch glimpses of two huge glaciers and the wild North Atlantic in the distance.
Photo courtesy of Tharik Hussain
Photo courtesy of Tharik Hussain
Laugavegur has campsites and huts along its windy pathway as it heads into Thorsmork (“Thor’s forest”). It then enters a cascade-frenzy ravine leading to Skogar and ends close to the 200-foot high Skogafoss waterfall. If you like drama with your landscape, this is for you!
Photo courtesy of Tharik Hussain
Distance: 48 miles (There is a shorter 15-mile option from Thorsmork.)
Time: 3–5 days
Season: June–September
https://www.volcanohuts.com/laugavegur/
4. THE INCA TRAIL, PERU (HARD)
Photo: Machu Pichu, Peru - May 16 : The Lost City of the Incas or Machu Pichu, beautiful site in Peru. May 16 2016, Machu Pichu Peru. / Wollertz / Shutterstock.com
Probably the most famous hike for explorer-types, the Inca Trail retraces the route that led to the discovery of Machu Picchu, the forgotten 15th-century Inca citadel, high up in the Peruvian Andes.
The Camino Inca, to give it its Spanish name, starts from Cusco, close to the Urubamba River, where you are already 2,800 metres above sea level. Here, heading into the Sacred Valley, you will pass local villages, forests in the clouds and several Inca ruins as you wander up mountain trails, many of which were originally constructed by the very people whose abandoned city you are trying to reach.
Photo: Machu Picchu, Peru - 13 Oct, 2016: View of the Lost Incan City of Machu Picchu near Cusco, Peru. Machu Picchu is a Peruvian Historical Sanctuary. People can be seen on foreground. / Manvmedia / Shutterstock.com
Past campsites dotted along the way for an overnight stop, the route culminates at the ridge known as Inti Punku, or Sun Gate, where a million pictures have been taken of the iconic view overlooking Machu Picchu. This is the only trail where you will need a permit; it is that special.
Distance: 55 miles (Shorter options are available.)
Time: 4–5 days
Season: May–September
http://www.incatrailperu.com/
THE ESSENTIALS
Photo courtesy of Tharik Hussain
Hiking is no fun at all if you are ill-equipped. Turning up in soft, fashionable trainers and your credit card as the only emergency resource just isn’t going to cut it, so here are the essentials:
Good walking boots: Be kind to your feet and they’ll be kind to you!
Waterproofs: No one wants to walk in wet clothes.
Water bottles: Walking is thirsty work.
Hiking sticks: Very useful going uphill.
High-energy snacks: There are no shops on ‘real’ hikes.
Maps: Not all trails are signposted.
Rucksack: To carry the above!
Photo courtesy of Tharik Hussain
(This article is written by Tharik Hussain. Tharik is a freelance British Muslim travel writer, journalist, broadcaster and photographer specialising in the Muslim stories of Europe. Hussain’s first ever radio documentary, America’s Mosques; A Story of Integration, has been declared one of the world’s best radio documentaries for 2016. All his work can be viewed at www.tharikhussain.co.uk)
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Tharik Hussain