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Trekking Holiday
Hello, I'm Simon Peters. Anyone who has ever experienced the magic of a Trekking Holiday knows that after the first time every vacation becomes a Trekking Holiday. Unlike any kind of vacations to a lively city Walking Holidays and Trekking Holiday vacations open our eyes to see the beautiful planet we live in. Only by exploring our earth on foot can we really appreciate our world. Make your next vacations a Walking Holidays or an adventure Trekking Holiday and explore the hidden corners of our world that are waiting for us to see. From great waterfalls to the high peaks of the Himalaya a trekking holiday can be a real healthy treat. |
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Trekking Holiday Fun
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Going on a trekking holiday could be a lot of fun. You get to experience nature up close and see it from a different perspective. You discover a wider and wilder variety of flora and fauna that you have never seen before. You face the challenges of finding tracks to the top and when you get there, you |
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experience a different exhilaration you have never felt in your entire life. Even to a seasoned trekker, every hike is different and every peak gives them an extra ordinary experience.
A Trekking Holiday requires some effort and it is definitely not all fun. In fact, before you get to the top and enjoy the view from above, you would have to work hard for it first. Hiking is basically the perfect exemplar of the saying "No pain, no gain." If you are not willing to at least sweat a lot, run out of breath every now and then, and totally get exhausted, then the sport is definitely not for you. This is why it is very important that you keep a healthy physique before, during, and after going on a trek.
Think of Mt. Kilimanjaro. If you wish to climb its summit, then you would have to be ready to walk up to 1,219 meters (4,000 feet)! Who would be able to reach even just half of it if he or she is in bad shape? So, if you are determined to go on a trekking holiday, make sure that you are not only mentally and financially prepared for it. You should definitely be in peak health to be able to conquer the humongous challenge. If you are not, then read on to learn more about the dangers you may suffer the following:
Dehydration -- You should make sure that you are always properly hydrated lest you would not have the energy to do the task at hand. Fluids are very significant in keeping one's energy levels high and it would be a petty to ruin your trekking holiday for lack of water. It is very important to keep yourself hydrated because you lose a lot of water in the process of trekking. You sweat a lot and you breathe more deeply. The more you breathe, the more water you release from your body and it is important to replace all the water your body uses up to fuel your activities.
Altitude sickness - When you have reached altitudes over 2000 meters, your body needs to acclimatize to the decreased oxygen levels. This is the reason why they say that on top of the mountain, the air is "thin". Since your body is not used to having this kind of thin air, you may feel some conditions that would make you feel uncomfortable. It is important that you go on a slow and steady acclimatization to prevent your body from suffering major shocks that cause altitude illness. The three common kinds of altitude sicknesses are: Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE), and High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE). It would be wise while planning a trekking holiday to arrange a place to sleep at a lower altitude, this may help in letting the body get used to the thin air while climbing.
Although it is normal to feel some headache or dizziness when there's a change of altitude, a serious altitude sickness could be fatal. In order to prevent any of these, it is very important that you condition yourself way before your trekking holiday. Conditioning is done mainly by exercising. If your body is used to doing physical tasks, then it would be easier for it to adapt to the demands of trekking. Remember, going on a trek is only fun when you can enjoy the experience to the utmost of your abilities. Be healthy!
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Trekking Holiday Great Places to Go |
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Going on a trekking holiday is not for the fainthearted. If you initially thought that going on a trek is simply going on a hike or a hill climb, then you are dead wrong. Trekking is how you call backpacking that lasts for weeks or even months that involves crossing the country or crossing countries by going
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through very rough and challenging terrains.
Going on a trekking holiday demands serious physical and mental conditioning. Even seasoned trekkers never fail to condition themselves way before their scheduled trip. This is to make sure that they would be able to reach their destination and enjoy every bit of the experience to the utmost of their abilities. Imagine if you got sick in the middle of your hike, you are in the midst of nowhere and the nearest “safe place” is a strange one very far from home. How are you going to manage such misfortune? This is why the very first thing that you have to make sure of is that you are in the pink of health before you decide to go trekking.
The next thing in your agenda is to decide where to go on your trekking holiday. If you want to have some ideas of where it is great to go, read on and find out the best three trekking sites in the entire world you may spend your next holidays:
Inca Trail, Peru -- The Incas is located in the Andean highlands in Peru and it is one of the most popular trekking spots worldwide. Although the Inca trail is considered good for trekkers of all levels, be forewarned that it’s not totally an easy hike. It requires you to climb and find your way through very rugged terrain and sharp hills. Along the way, you will come across ancient ruins that carry so much beauty, but this isn’t the lone prize for your hard work. After the ruins is the historical ancient Incan City, Machu Picchu. Don’t forget to prepare those cameras on your trekking holiday!
The Himalayas, Nepal—This astounding mountainous region also has some of the most famous trekking sites in the world. There are numerous treks here suitable for people of all ages and physical conditions to ensure them of a fun trekking holiday. For instance, The Annapurnas Circuit is a relatively uncomplicated range which beginners and oldie trekkers would find easy to explore. On the other hand, the circuit of Manaslu and the Dolpo and Mustang regions are more difficult and remote. If you have been trekking for sometime and you are up to the challenge, you may find these destinations enjoyable. Nepal is rich in a lot of natural and cultural surprises that people of every race, background, and color will surely appreciate.
Patagonia, South America – The Alps of Patagonia is in the southern stretch of the Andes. It is very impressive but could be very cold. If you decide to go here, you must be prepared for its harsh climate that sends chills to the bones. The weather could also be extremely changeable that you can experience snow, rain, sunshine, sleet in the span of one hour! This is why you shall never expect to come home with a suntan from your trekking holiday in Patagonia. It’s simply never going to happen. You just can’t have so much sun in this area.
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Walking Holiday |
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Since my cousins were visiting from out of town, we decided to meet at their hotel from which we begin our impromptu walking holiday. There's no rule that it has to be at some exotic location all the time, and it's a great way for them to explore downtown Vancouver. So our itinerary was to walk from the art gallery along Robson Street to the heart of the downtown area and back. |
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If you want to enjoy the thrill and tranquility of walking tours in the countryside or along the elevated slopes of Mont Blanc, then Europe is the place you should go. Just picture yourself walking past quaint Alpine huts in high mountain passes, or hiking up toward the tall peak of Mont Blanc. Maybe you would like to walk Turkey's ancient roads. You have your choice of different walking holidays.
Our goal was to look into as many shops along both sides of the road as possible.
First stop in our walking holiday: The Vancouver Art Gallery. The building was designed in the Greco-Roman style, complete with Doric (or possibly Ionic) columns in front. There were lots of people sitting on the steps, so we decided to be one with the crowd and sat down as well. We could've chosen to go inside the gallery but since the featured exhibit didn't tickle our fancy, we opted to stay outside. Of course we took pictures of ourselves and sitting there gave us a glimpse of how laid-back the Vancouver lifestyle is. Across the museum was a fancy-looking modernist clock counting down the days to the 2010 Winter Olympics. My cousin, Jen, is an aspiring photographer, so she spent ample time snapping some pictures of the clock from various angles.
Our walking holiday took a detour as we headed for Hotel Vancouver to see its architecture up close. It looked so ritzy with its Old World fa?ade. Having pleased ourselves with this, we resumed our walk. We passed by a department store, an electronics store, plus a handful other shops but we prodded on.
Our next major stop was the public library. It was this big, brownstone building, four storeys high and resembles the Roman Coliseum. I decided against going inside; it would take me forever to leave otherwise. We did see a very nice sports car parked at the curb, though.
What made our instant walking holiday more entertaining was counting how many branches of Starbucks Coffee are there along Robson. I think there's one at every corner, or at least two blocks apart. All that coffee made us want to stop for a cup, so on our way back to the art gallery we went further up the street to a local coffee shop. About a block away, Jen spotted the clothing store Roots, so we stopped by and looked around.
At that point we decided to go further up Robson and found better shops on that end. We should've gone there instead of downtown, but seeing European-style architecture was a treat.
Our feet were complaining then, so we agreed to go back to the hotel. Good thing we were all wearing sneakers, so it wasn't that bad. Next time we should have a more structured tour. I'm sure the local tourism office offers walking holidays around the city.
I learned a few things during our walking holiday. For one thing, wear comfortable shoes. It was cold out, so I had to wear sneakers, otherwise I would've gone wearing flip-flops. The next thing to remember is to bring a bottle of water. Walking can really dehydrate a person, and coffee makes it worse. Instead of doing the usual touristy stuff, it's better to follow what the locals do. Sit on the steps of a public building; lay on the grass in the park. I could also try reading a book while sitting on a random bench. A walking holiday is limited only by one's imagination.
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Walking Holiday Charm
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There are innumerable places to walk on. Taking a walking holiday is an exhilarating experience. You expand your horizons as you walk along historic paths and scenic trails. Strolling along a city's streets brings parts of history to life. Down by the countryside, nothing can be more fascinating than being one with nature and reveling at the awe-inspiring views in all their natural glory. |
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In any walking holiday you meet lots of interesting people along the way and possibly form new friendships.
But how does a walking holiday work exactly? If you're from out of town, you have to make arrangements to stay at a hotel near where the tour would take place. At the beginning of the tour, each walker is given a map of the trail, trip notes and a detailed information pack to guide them every step of the way. Local experts and experienced tour guides help make each trip perfect by providing well-researched routes and information. The weather is also taken into consideration to ensure safety and that the walkers have a good time. There are no walks in extreme weather conditions.
Walking holiday basics:
1. Be fit. Make sure that you are physically strong enough to walk long distances at a time. Note that your sense of adventure may not be up to par with your blood pressure, and vice versa. If it were your first time to take a walking holiday, it would be better if you start with sightseeing strolls. After you've gained enough experience, then you could start walking in the countryside for a couple of hours. From there you can go along the more intermediate paths, which may involve a bit of climbing.
2. Bring the right equipment for the walking holiday. Aside from the map, guidebook and camera, you should have a backpack to carry spare clothes, food and water. You should also bring a first aid kit, some insect repellent and sunscreen, a flashlight or torch, and a whistle (in case you get lost in the trail). It would be wise to bring a hat and a light jacket, especially if the trail takes you to the mountains. You might find a good walking stick along the way; take it with you as well. Make sure to invest in a good pair of hiking boots. Regular running shoes just don't make the cut. It's important to keep your feet comfortable during the hike.
3. If taking a walking holiday abroad, make sure you have your passport and visa ready. Get appropriate travel insurance, too.
4. Travel responsibly. As a visitor, you should keep in mind to leave the place as it were when you arrived. Be mindful of littering. Remember that every destination is home to someone else, so be respectful. Buy from local shops to help boost the local economy. br>
If the tour guide permits it, take the chance to enter a museum or gallery that you pass by along the way. Being on tour is not limited to taking pictures of the usual attractions. That is the beauty of joining a walking holiday. You can go off the beaten path to discover more than what the usual travel guidebooks have to offer. Even the most seasoned traveler can find something new in the same place that he has been many times before if he deviates from the norm.
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