Trekking

If you do not have the temper to go trekking in Greenland in the winter, where temperatures can easily reach down to minus 50 degrees Celsius, it is advisable to go in the summer in July-September, when it is around plus 3 to 10 degrees Celsius in daytime and minus 2 to plus 5 degrees Celsius at night. For example, you can fly with a small Twin Otter propeller aircraft for half an hour outside Kangerlussuaq and trek around among hills, rivers, and wild animals. It is also a fantastic and almost meditative experience to stand and fish all alone in an icy river in the sunset, while musk oxen graze on the other riverbank.

World class hiking is not usually associated with West Africa. Let alone Guinea. That is, however, what Guinea's Fouta Djallon offers. The landscape is dominated by rivers, rainforest, waterfalls and large mountainous plateaus that resemble giant chocolate bars. Hiking here is in its infancy, which inevitably adds to the excitement. Official guides are available in Conakry, but not in the region itself, though many locals happily act as guides. The exception is an excellent outfit in the village of Doucki that arranges a range of exceptional hikes. Hikers on multi-day walks need to be self-reliant and bring everything they might need. After the initial preparations, the rewards are plenty. It's possible to climb rocky hills for sweeping panorama views of the region's valleys, swing around in vines and lianas, and spot monkeys and chimpanzees. The region also holds more waterfalls and rivers than it's possible to explore in a lifetime, including the source of both the Gambia and Senegal rivers.

One of Guinea's few well-known attractions is a rock face east of the village of Mali (or Mali-ville, not to confuse it with the country of the same name) that ressembles a woman in profile. While this in itself might not be enough to set out on the back-breaking drive from Labé, the area around Mali is excellent for hiking. The village is, sitting at above 1300 m, the highest town in Guinea and to both the east and west two small mountains, Mont Lansa and Mont Louta, dominate the landscape. The Dame is on the eastern side of the latter. There is a small, private tourist office in Mali that operates a basic tourist camp close to Louta and can arrange guides. Market day is Sunday.

Hiking doesn't come better than this. The Kalalau Trail starts at Haena State Park and continues all the way to Kalalau Beach 11 miles away. However, most hikers settle with just the first section to Hanakapi'ai Beach (6.5 km return). This hike is among the best in Hawaii and is truly spectacular. More adventurous hikers can add a side trip to Hanakapi'ai Falls (13 km in total return). The trail is muddy and slippery, and you need to cross several streams on the way. It follows the jungle covered cliffside with many breathtaking lookouts of the pristine Na Pali Coast's deep, enchanting pleats. If lucky and in season, you might able to spot dolphins and humpback whales off the shore. Do not swim at Hanakapi'ai Beach as the current is dangerous.

Manoa Falls is an impressive waterfall which drops 46 meters into a pool in the middle of the jungle. To reach the falls you need to hike 1.3 km (one-way) along a muddy trail, which can get very crowded. It passes through the lush rainforest under the canopy of tall trees, and ends at the pool at the bottom of the falls.

This hike is more of a climb and is absolutely only for thrill seekers. The trail is officially closed, so you have to enter the grounds the "alternative way" (through a hole in the fence and then circumvent a guard) to get to the start of the trail. The trail is also called Haiku Stairs and was originally laid out with wooden ladders during WWII to reach a secret radio station. During the 1950s the stairs were replaced with metal ones. Though the steps and rails since have been repaired (latest in 2003), there are several mangled sections and even some broken steps. Some sections are nerve-racking steep, while others are balancing on a razor-sharp ridge with deep vertiginous drops to both sides. The trail ends at the broken satellite (756 m), where it's either the same way down (another 3,922 steps) or follow a longer trail with mud and ropes.

Another gem of the Big Island is the Waimanu Valley. The only drawback is it requires a difficult full day 16 km (10 mi.) hike. There are ten campsites that sit along the black sand beach and it is the perfect place to relax for a few days. You access the trailhead from the Waipio Valley. If you are in the valley after a good rain, the valley walls will be covered with waterfalls that drop from 700 m (2,300 ft.) above the valley floor. If raining, caution is required because the trail to the valley floods easily becomes hazardous to hike.

While most of the Honduran tourism seems to centre around ruins and islands, hiking is becoming more popular. With a range of accommodation options and plenty of cafes and restaurants, the sleepy mountain village of Gracias is quickly becoming the base for this burgeoning industry. Surrounded by a number of national parks, like Celaque National Park, visitors have their choice of wilderness experience. And after the hike, a number of natural hot springs, like Posada Aguas Termales, await to wash away the aches and pains. With a combination of clean air, colonial architecture and access to unspoilt nature, Gracias will not be a hidden treasure for long.

The Eastfjords boast a huge array of hikes, from short hill-climbs to multi-day expeditions. Many of these are straight-forward enough to do without a guide, although the ever-changing weather conditions in Iceland mean that it is necessary to be properly prepared if venturing out of sight of settlements or major roads: compass, maps, clothing and food. One of the most popular summer hikes in the region is the four-day Borgarfjörður to Seyðisfjörður hike, which takes in some of the best views in the Eastfjords without forcing you to carry a tent – there are huts and farm stays along the way. You won’t find the kind of extreme isolation and solitude that the Westfjords’ Hornstrandir can offer here, nor the other-worldly landscapes of Laugavegurinn, but it is nonetheless beautiful hiking country, especially if the sun makes an appearance.

Almaty is beatifully located at the foot of the mountains. If it wasn't for the highrises, you would have panoramic views over these parts of Tian Shan from anywhere in the city. One of the valleys, Malaya Almatinka, was developed into one of the best ski resorts, Shymbulak, in the region with several cablecars and even a giant ice skating rink. Other valleys are still undeveloped with great outdoor activities possible during both summer and winter. For one day trek, try the Shymbulak – base of Pik Komsomola (4330 m). Just follow the road from Shymbulak (one cablecar ride from Medeu), which quickly turns into a rough 4x4-only track, to the end at 3300 m (about 8 km). There are also multi-day treks connecting the valleys for those with a tent and sleeping bag. For the lazy ones, there is the cablecar which can take you up to the Talgar pass at 3163 m. Bring warm clothes for it's cold up here.