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About We12travel

Hi! Welcome to We12travel (“we want to travel”). My name is Antonette and I’m a Dutch writer, hiker and world traveller.

After having made various round the world trips and living as a digital nomad for the past seven years most of the time, in the summer of 2023 I bought a house in Swedish Lapland, where I nowadays spend most of my time.

On We12travel you will find my personal stories of the journeys I make and I share my passion for the outdoors, nature and hiking. I’ve been writing on We12travel since 2011 and am one of the longest running personal outdoor and hiking blogs currently still active.

I will help you find the best hikes in the world, either short walks or multiday hikes. As a solo traveler I’ve hiked more than 50 multi day hikes across 5 different continents. I share my experiences about solo adventuring in the outdoors and encourage other females to live a more adventurous life.

Are you Dutch? Then make sure to visit the Dutch section of my website!

Best multiday hikes in the world

Over the past 20 years I have hiked more than 50 multi day hikes in five different contintens. I’ve gathered my favorites in this blogpost, from the Dutch Mountain Trail to the Everest Base Camp Trek and everything in between.

Solo hiking as a female

Most hikes I’ve done, I’ve made solo. Yes, that’s all by myself! Is that something you wish you’d have the courage for? Or want to read my tips and tricks how I prepare for safe solo female hiking? Then check my blog below!

Book your accommodation

Want to be well prepared for your trip? And leave home free of worries? Make sure to book your accommodation ahead to avoid being disappointed and/or having to hassle along the way. I use Booking for my reservations!

Freedom camping in Sweden

Sweden is my new homecountry and over the past decade I’ve spent the majority of my summers backpacking around Sweden. I’ll tell you all about the Swedish every man’s right and the rules of freedom camping in Sweden.

  • A longtime dream of mine came true today as I visited Plitvice Lakes National Park.
Now I know you may think “hmmm shouldn’t it be much greener” but no green = no tourists 🎉
In wintertime, the famous lakes and waterfalls obviously look very different than in the other months but I found it to be extremely beautiful nonetheless. And there were no crowds! No queues, no waiting times, almost no other people. If you’re considering visiting Plitvice in winter, I’d say go for it!
#croatia #plitvice #plitvickajezera
  • Vandaag is het International Women’s Day. Even twijfelde of ik er iets over zou posten want wat kan ik toevoegen met al het leed in de wereld? Hoe kan ik nog doorgaan met het plaatsen van happy kiekjes uit mijn leven terwijl er overal in de wereld vrouwen vermoord, gediscrimineerd en beroofd worden van hun rechten. Iets waar ik normaal gesproken nooit wat over zeg, maar vandaag wel. 
Het enige wat ik kan doen is mijn stem laten horen en hiermee een micro golf in gang zetten. Het ripple effect. Wie weet bereiken mijn woorden een andere vrouw en daardoor weer een andere vrouw en daardoor weer een andere vrouw. Het ripple effect houdt mij al jarenlang staande, wetende dat de inspirerende woorden die ik probeer uit te spreken, een andere vrouw ook zullen inspireren. En zij verspreidt de boodschap weer verder. Mijn boodschap voor vandaag: “Durf te leven. Zet je telefoon uit en leef in het moment. Geniet van wat er op je pad komt. Van de kleine dingen. De ups en de downs. Ze maken je elke dag weer een stukje sterker. Ik ben je grootste supporter.”
#internationalwomensday #internationalwomensday2025
  • About last night 💚
The last weeks have been busy. I’ve launched our new company @experiencehemavan (Dutch and Swedish versions of the website are now live 🎉 as well). I’ve made lots of personalized itineraries for clients. Recorded various podcasts. Worked ahead for my websites so I can close my laptop in the summer while guiding. Even planned business trips and tours for the fall and next winter. 
Yesterday I ended up incredibly tired. After a little skiing incident last week where fell on a hard icesheet, it felt like my whole body was in pain. Yet I still continued to work out. Lift weights. Go to a spinning class. Yoga every morning. Walk around with my weight vest. And then I realized: I’m not 25 anymore. Give your body time to recover from the fall. Treat your bruises well (with Arnica cream I still have from New Zealand). Have fun! 
Last night I invited my neighbours over for dinner. I’d finished my dry month a week earlier and found this a great moment to plop open a bottle of red wine to accompany the spaghetti bolognese I’d been preparing the whole day. And as we sat, the sky lighted up. It was the biggest aurora explosion I’ve seen yet in my hometown. Whát an evening it was! 
Today, my vacation will start. My sister and my niece are on their way up north and we’ll be having an amazing week in the snow together. I can’t wait to show them my new home and my new way of living. Have a good weekend everyone! 💚
#aurora #northernlights #sweden #lappland
  • Ga jij met ons mee op Lapplandsleden komende zomer? In samenwerking met @vitawalking nemen wij je tijdens de 7-daagse wandelreis Zweeds-Lapland mee op Lapplandsleden, een nog zeer onbekende thruhike in het noorden van Zweden. 
Andreas is één van de bedenkers en bouwers van de trail en neemt ons bovendien mee op off trail avontuur, waar we leren navigeren door de wildernis met behulp van kaart en kompas en het lezen van het landschap. 
Pak je kans voordat deze trail ontdekt wordt door de grote massa en loop deze zomer met ons mee! 
Voor jullie trouwe volgers mag ik 50 euro korting per persoon aanbieden op de wandelreis, vul bij boeking de code Anto50 in en de korting wordt direct doorberekend. Vi ses is Lappland i sommaren! 🥾🦌🔥🇸🇪
Videobeeld: @we12travel 
Coverfoto: @andreas.karlsson.12345 
#wandelen #wandelreis #thruhike #lappland #lapplandsleden #outdoor #outdoorwomen #wandelvakantie
A longtime dream of mine came true today as I visited Plitvice Lakes National Park.
Now I know you may think “hmmm shouldn’t it be much greener” but no green = no tourists 🎉
In wintertime, the famous lakes and waterfalls obviously look very different than in the other months but I found it to be extremely beautiful nonetheless. And there were no crowds! No queues, no waiting times, almost no other people. If you’re considering visiting Plitvice in winter, I’d say go for it!
#croatia #plitvice #plitvickajezera
A longtime dream of mine came true today as I visited Plitvice Lakes National Park.
Now I know you may think “hmmm shouldn’t it be much greener” but no green = no tourists 🎉
In wintertime, the famous lakes and waterfalls obviously look very different than in the other months but I found it to be extremely beautiful nonetheless. And there were no crowds! No queues, no waiting times, almost no other people. If you’re considering visiting Plitvice in winter, I’d say go for it!
#croatia #plitvice #plitvickajezera
A longtime dream of mine came true today as I visited Plitvice Lakes National Park.
Now I know you may think “hmmm shouldn’t it be much greener” but no green = no tourists 🎉
In wintertime, the famous lakes and waterfalls obviously look very different than in the other months but I found it to be extremely beautiful nonetheless. And there were no crowds! No queues, no waiting times, almost no other people. If you’re considering visiting Plitvice in winter, I’d say go for it!
#croatia #plitvice #plitvickajezera
A longtime dream of mine came true today as I visited Plitvice Lakes National Park.
Now I know you may think “hmmm shouldn’t it be much greener” but no green = no tourists 🎉
In wintertime, the famous lakes and waterfalls obviously look very different than in the other months but I found it to be extremely beautiful nonetheless. And there were no crowds! No queues, no waiting times, almost no other people. If you’re considering visiting Plitvice in winter, I’d say go for it!
#croatia #plitvice #plitvickajezera
A longtime dream of mine came true today as I visited Plitvice Lakes National Park.
Now I know you may think “hmmm shouldn’t it be much greener” but no green = no tourists 🎉
In wintertime, the famous lakes and waterfalls obviously look very different than in the other months but I found it to be extremely beautiful nonetheless. And there were no crowds! No queues, no waiting times, almost no other people. If you’re considering visiting Plitvice in winter, I’d say go for it!
#croatia #plitvice #plitvickajezera
A longtime dream of mine came true today as I visited Plitvice Lakes National Park.
Now I know you may think “hmmm shouldn’t it be much greener” but no green = no tourists 🎉
In wintertime, the famous lakes and waterfalls obviously look very different than in the other months but I found it to be extremely beautiful nonetheless. And there were no crowds! No queues, no waiting times, almost no other people. If you’re considering visiting Plitvice in winter, I’d say go for it!
#croatia #plitvice #plitvickajezera
A longtime dream of mine came true today as I visited Plitvice Lakes National Park. Now I know you may think “hmmm shouldn’t it be much greener” but no green = no tourists 🎉 In wintertime, the famous lakes and waterfalls obviously look very different than in the other months but I found it to be extremely beautiful nonetheless. And there were no crowds! No queues, no waiting times, almost no other people. If you’re considering visiting Plitvice in winter, I’d say go for it! #croatia #plitvice #plitvickajezera
5 days ago
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1/4
Vandaag is het International Women’s Day. Even twijfelde of ik er iets over zou posten want wat kan ik toevoegen met al het leed in de wereld? Hoe kan ik nog doorgaan met het plaatsen van happy kiekjes uit mijn leven terwijl er overal in de wereld vrouwen vermoord, gediscrimineerd en beroofd worden van hun rechten. Iets waar ik normaal gesproken nooit wat over zeg, maar vandaag wel. 
Het enige wat ik kan doen is mijn stem laten horen en hiermee een micro golf in gang zetten. Het ripple effect. Wie weet bereiken mijn woorden een andere vrouw en daardoor weer een andere vrouw en daardoor weer een andere vrouw. Het ripple effect houdt mij al jarenlang staande, wetende dat de inspirerende woorden die ik probeer uit te spreken, een andere vrouw ook zullen inspireren. En zij verspreidt de boodschap weer verder. Mijn boodschap voor vandaag: “Durf te leven. Zet je telefoon uit en leef in het moment. Geniet van wat er op je pad komt. Van de kleine dingen. De ups en de downs. Ze maken je elke dag weer een stukje sterker. Ik ben je grootste supporter.”
#internationalwomensday #internationalwomensday2025
Vandaag is het International Women’s Day. Even twijfelde of ik er iets over zou posten want wat kan ik toevoegen met al het leed in de wereld? Hoe kan ik nog doorgaan met het plaatsen van happy kiekjes uit mijn leven terwijl er overal in de wereld vrouwen vermoord, gediscrimineerd en beroofd worden van hun rechten. Iets waar ik normaal gesproken nooit wat over zeg, maar vandaag wel. Het enige wat ik kan doen is mijn stem laten horen en hiermee een micro golf in gang zetten. Het ripple effect. Wie weet bereiken mijn woorden een andere vrouw en daardoor weer een andere vrouw en daardoor weer een andere vrouw. Het ripple effect houdt mij al jarenlang staande, wetende dat de inspirerende woorden die ik probeer uit te spreken, een andere vrouw ook zullen inspireren. En zij verspreidt de boodschap weer verder. Mijn boodschap voor vandaag: “Durf te leven. Zet je telefoon uit en leef in het moment. Geniet van wat er op je pad komt. Van de kleine dingen. De ups en de downs. Ze maken je elke dag weer een stukje sterker. Ik ben je grootste supporter.” #internationalwomensday #internationalwomensday2025
2 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
2/4
About last night 💚
The last weeks have been busy. I’ve launched our new company @experiencehemavan (Dutch and Swedish versions of the website are now live 🎉 as well). I’ve made lots of personalized itineraries for clients. Recorded various podcasts. Worked ahead for my websites so I can close my laptop in the summer while guiding. Even planned business trips and tours for the fall and next winter. 
Yesterday I ended up incredibly tired. After a little skiing incident last week where fell on a hard icesheet, it felt like my whole body was in pain. Yet I still continued to work out. Lift weights. Go to a spinning class. Yoga every morning. Walk around with my weight vest. And then I realized: I’m not 25 anymore. Give your body time to recover from the fall. Treat your bruises well (with Arnica cream I still have from New Zealand). Have fun! 
Last night I invited my neighbours over for dinner. I’d finished my dry month a week earlier and found this a great moment to plop open a bottle of red wine to accompany the spaghetti bolognese I’d been preparing the whole day. And as we sat, the sky lighted up. It was the biggest aurora explosion I’ve seen yet in my hometown. Whát an evening it was! 
Today, my vacation will start. My sister and my niece are on their way up north and we’ll be having an amazing week in the snow together. I can’t wait to show them my new home and my new way of living. Have a good weekend everyone! 💚
#aurora #northernlights #sweden #lappland
About last night 💚 The last weeks have been busy. I’ve launched our new company @experiencehemavan (Dutch and Swedish versions of the website are now live 🎉 as well). I’ve made lots of personalized itineraries for clients. Recorded various podcasts. Worked ahead for my websites so I can close my laptop in the summer while guiding. Even planned business trips and tours for the fall and next winter. Yesterday I ended up incredibly tired. After a little skiing incident last week where fell on a hard icesheet, it felt like my whole body was in pain. Yet I still continued to work out. Lift weights. Go to a spinning class. Yoga every morning. Walk around with my weight vest. And then I realized: I’m not 25 anymore. Give your body time to recover from the fall. Treat your bruises well (with Arnica cream I still have from New Zealand). Have fun! Last night I invited my neighbours over for dinner. I’d finished my dry month a week earlier and found this a great moment to plop open a bottle of red wine to accompany the spaghetti bolognese I’d been preparing the whole day. And as we sat, the sky lighted up. It was the biggest aurora explosion I’ve seen yet in my hometown. Whát an evening it was! Today, my vacation will start. My sister and my niece are on their way up north and we’ll be having an amazing week in the snow together. I can’t wait to show them my new home and my new way of living. Have a good weekend everyone! 💚 #aurora #northernlights #sweden #lappland
3 weeks ago
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3/4
Ga jij met ons mee op Lapplandsleden komende zomer? In samenwerking met @vitawalking nemen wij je tijdens de 7-daagse wandelreis Zweeds-Lapland mee op Lapplandsleden, een nog zeer onbekende thruhike in het noorden van Zweden. Andreas is één van de bedenkers en bouwers van de trail en neemt ons bovendien mee op off trail avontuur, waar we leren navigeren door de wildernis met behulp van kaart en kompas en het lezen van het landschap. Pak je kans voordat deze trail ontdekt wordt door de grote massa en loop deze zomer met ons mee! Voor jullie trouwe volgers mag ik 50 euro korting per persoon aanbieden op de wandelreis, vul bij boeking de code Anto50 in en de korting wordt direct doorberekend. Vi ses is Lappland i sommaren! 🥾🦌🔥🇸🇪 Videobeeld: @we12travel Coverfoto: @andreas.karlsson.12345 #wandelen #wandelreis #thruhike #lappland #lapplandsleden #outdoor #outdoorwomen #wandelvakantie
4 weeks ago
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4/4