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Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve been deeply in love with the mountains. Every time I see them appear in front of me, whether it’s from a car or the plane, my heart is skipping a beat. I immediately want to put on my hiking boots, put my backpack on my back and get out and explore. This blog is about my favorite and best day hikes in the world in the mountains, in random order. Enjoy!   Note that this article was first published in January 2017 and has been fully updated in August 2021   Harding Icefield Trail, Alaska The trail to Harding Icefield is a 6-8 hour trek through the Alaskan wilderness. I hiked it twice, the first time in June when there was too much snow left to make it all the way to the ice field. The second time I had a bruised ankle but I made it all the way to the trail end. Even though the weather was poor, I was extremely happy about reaching the ice field because I had been dreaming about this forever. It was especially important to me because it was my first solo-hike in bear country Alaska and I had injured my ankle severely during a cycling accident the week before. Below you fill find a picture of a sunny hike in 2007 and a cloudy hike in 2015.   More reading: – Solo hiking as a female in bear country Alaska – Hiking wish: Harding Icefield Trail in Alaska     Laguna de los Tres, Argentina From the village of El Chaltén in Argentinean Patagonia the hike up to Laguna de los Tres will take you roughly 4-5 hours one way. Ik was lucky because the weather was stunning but as I was up early in the season, the lagoon was still frozen. The hike isn’t too hard, the only part where you have to work a bit is the last bit up, it’s about a half hour climb up to the lagoon. If you’re not an experienced hiker, you may not really enjoy this last part. It’s worth the effort though. When the weather isn’t too good, you can also hike to Laguna Torre instead. The good thing about both hikes is that it goes back the same way so you can always turn around when you don’t feel like walking anymore.   More reading: – Hiking to Laguna de los Tres – Mountainous Monday: Cerro Fitz Roy     Aurlandsdalen, Norway Described as one of Norway’s Classic Hikes, the Aurlandsdalen hike was high up on our list when booking a trip to Norway. We were here in the first week in June, pretty early in the trekking season, meaning quiet trails but lots of snow and mostly closed tracks. Luckily the lowest part of this 40 km hike was possible to do, and left us speechless from start to end. Enjoy this post about Aurlandsdalen, hiking in Norway’s Grand Canyon!   More reading: – The Aurlandsdalen hike – The best unknown Norway hiking trails     Brennisteinsalda, Iceland One of the most magical places in the world are the Icelandic highlands, at least to me. I’ve been hiking in Landmannalaugar for three times and never get bored of its colored mountains, the hot springs and boiling mud pools. All three times I was here, I climbed Brennisteinsalda, also known as the Red Mountain. Your hike starts with a trek through an ancient lava field. Then you will pass some boiling hotpots and eventually you will start your climb towards the top of the mountain. From here, you have a stunning view over the surrounding mountains. I even got lost here last summer, which I can not really recommend you. The picture on top of this blog was made from the top of Brennisteinsalda. Nice, right?   More reading: – About solo hiking in Landmannalaugar and getting lost – Hiking the Laugavegur trail in Iceland     Tongariro Alpine Crossing, New Zealand Although I didn’t officially hike the Tongariro Alpine Crossing as such, I did fully hike it, but then in the opposite direction and as a part of the Tongariro Northern Circuit. You’re surrounded by volcanoes and the highlight of the hike is definitely seeing the emerald lakes down below you when coming down from Red Crater. It’s an alpine hike though so be careful, people who think it’s just a walk in the park need to be rescued occasionally. The weather can be pretty unrelenting, but when you have a good day, it’s pure magic up there!   More reading: – Hiking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing – All you want to know about Tongariro National Park     From Kaiser-Frans-Josefs-Höhe to Heiligenblut The best day hike in Austria if you ask me! This is officially section one of the Alpe Adria Trail, but due to public transportation options you can easily do it as a day hike. This track takes you from the base of the highest mountain in Austria to Heiligenblut, one of the most scenic villages in all of Austria. Make sure to take all day as the views will be stunning.   More reading: – Section one of the Alpe Adria Trail – All my Alpe Adria Trail blogs     Lost Valley, Scotland It’s an understatement that walking in the Scottish Highlands is a pure pleasure. It was a hard decision to pick my favorite hike but eventually I picked Lost Valley near Glen Coe. This hike isn’t too easy and you will have to grab some ropes occasionally when hiking up. Yet when you have made it into the valley, it’s truly stunning. I made this hike early in the season, at the end of May, so it was fairly quiet, I expect it to be quite a bit busier in the summer though.   More reading: Sorry, no blogs about this yet. Maybe one day…       Conclusion and disclaimer of best one day hikes in the world These are my favorite day hikes in the world. Many of my other favorite ones are in a multi-day trek, so I did not include them. My blog about the best multi-day treks in the world can be found here. Have you ever done any of these? What are your most beautiful day hikes in the world? Let me know below! This article may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase or reservation through any of those links, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.  

About a year ago I went on a two week solo trip through Sweden. On this trip I went as far north as Sälen, Sweden’s southernmost fjäll. Here someone told me about Grövelsjön: a mountain area on the border with Norway, a little further north than Sälen. He also told me that he had made the most beautiful hike in Scandinavia here: the Sylen hike. With a boat you’ll sail across the lake from Sweden to Norway and you hike back through the mountains. We were curious about that and so we decided to visit Grövelsjön this year during our summer vacation. We spent a few days here in collaboration with Visit Dalarna and I can definitely say that Grövelsjön pleasantly surprised us.     Drive to Grövelsjön We’ve arrived by ferry from Kiel in Germany in Göteborg that morning and drive to Grövelsjön in one go. Normally the quickest route is through Norway, but due to closed borders this is not possible for us. We therefore take the route up along Lake Väner, the E45, and eventually drive further north via Mora and Sälen. On the way the rain is pouring down on us and the weather doesn’t look good for the next few days either. But you can’t change it, so that’s part of the package when you decide to travel in Sweden or any nordic destination. Once past Idre, it becomes quiet on the winding road, which takes us straight into the Swedish wilderness.   I was told that Grövelsjön is the southernmost place in Sweden where reindeer live. Immediately after leaving Idre, they are already on the road ahead. Reindeer on the road means slowing down and waiting for them to clear the way for you. Honking or accelerating makes no sense, after all, you are a guest in their habitat. Seeing reindeer on the road always makes driving in Sweden a joy for me. The nordic feeling that I love so much always immediately reappears when seeing them. It’s simply amazing to be back in Sweden after a strange year.     Staying at STF Grövelsjön We overnight at STF Grövelsjön – or the mountain station of the Swedish Tourist Association. A room has been booked for us here. Although there are also ‘normal’ hotels and cottages in Grövelsjön, we always find the atmosphere in the mountain stations very pleasant. The people who stay there are very likeminded: they enjoy the outdoors. As soon as we drive into the parking lot we notice that it is bizarrely busy. It’s packed with people and check-in is also chaotic. We have to get used to the crowds and the Swedes don’t seem to care about the one and a half meter rule as much as back home. But it’s fine really, we’re happy to be on the road again!   The mountain station is old and creaky, which is what makes it so charming. Our room is tiny: a bunk bed, a sink and just enough space to store a bag. We do not need more space, this is fine for the first few nights of our holiday. We share the shower and toilet with the other guests.     Hiking in Grövelsjön The next day I decide to hit the trail after breakfast. David would like to rest a bit after the long journey (to be honest, we underestimated the drive to Grövelsjön a bit and he drove most of it). I decide to put on my hiking boots for the first time on this trip and ask the reception about the hiking trails in Grövelsjön. As the boat to Norway is not going because of the pandemic, I ask them ‘if I only have one day here, which walk should I do?’ The answer is the walk to the Silverfallet. The booklet I buy says it’s a three hour walk, but that’s from the parking lot by the lake. The fjällstation is about half an hour’s walk away which makes it about a 4 hour hike in total.     On the way to Silverfallet It’s still dark weather outside and I might expect a shower. Rain arrives earlier than expected though and while I’m still walking on the main road to the lake, I’m already getting soaked. Once at the lake I cross the suspension bridge over the river and I’ve arrived at the fjäll. The great thing about Grövelsjön is that its location is relatively high, almost on the tree line. This ensures that you immediately have beautiful views in good weather and don’t have a lot of forest hiking to do before the views come into sight.   The trail to Silverfallet is clearly marked and not difficult. I climb steadily, sometimes on a path, sometimes on steps. It’s relatively busy on the trail but that’s OK. There are only Swedes out and about, mainly families. All with the same goal: being outside and with plenty of respect for nature.   After about an hour I reach the emergency shelter. Some Swedes have made a fire here. Everyone is sitting here with a net around their head and that is not without reason: it’s a favorite place for mosquitoes. I descended slightly and entered a narrow valley where there is a forest. The mosquitoes love it here, I don’t. Not much later I climb above the tree line again and the path becomes narrower. Then I suddenly come face to face with a reindeer and her young. And I’m loving it!   A little further on is the Silverfallet. I had confused fallet (waterfall) with fjället (mountains) so I didn’t realize the destination for this hike was a waterfall at first. Once at the waterfall, it starts to rain again. The waterfall is not big, I take some pictures and then continue walking. I come to a fork without a signpost but choose the wrong side, a moment later I’m in the swamp up to my ankles. I should have chosen the left fork, I see the other hikers in the distance. They walk along the border with Norway, which is marked with a huge fence. I walk between the reindeer, who sometimes don’t even realize I’m so nearby.     Behind the clouds the sun always shines And then suddenly the sun shows herself. She carefully pokes through the clouds and as fast as I can blink my eyes, it seems to clear up and I finally see the special landscape I’m surrounded by. I’m in the mountains, see the lake below me and can even see the snow-capped peaks in Norway. The mountain station is across the valley showing off in the sun.   I decide to take a long break in the sun and think that it is quite bizarre that, using the ferry between Kiel and Gothenburg, you are already in the middle of the Swedish mountains within 36 hours of travel.   The rest of the hike takes me mainly across boardwalks through the swamp. A little later I reach the shores of the lake, where I have a quick look. It’s such a shame that the boat to Norway doesn’t go, but we’ll just save that hike for another time, it’s a good reason to come back here some day.     Back at the Fjällstation Eventually I stroll back to the Fjällstation. Arriving here, the sun is now shining and I enthusiastically tell David about my great hike. It appears that he has already bought a hiking map of the area and the decision is quickly made: tomorrow we’ll pack our backpacks and go on a real adventure! It’s too beautiful to be here for just one day. But first we settle down on the terrace of the fjällstation. By now most of the clouds have disappeared and we can actually sit outside in our t-shirt. We stare at the other side of the valley while enjoying a beer and a reindeer sausage. At mountains, the wind, the downpours in the distance and the wilderness that awaits us there. Our well deserved vacation has started!     About Grövelsjön in Sweden Grövelsjön is a lake on the border of Norway and Sweden. “Sjön” means lake. It is a touristic spot about half an hour’s drive from Idre, in the far northwest of the Dalarna province. The surrounding mountains belong to the Långfjället Nature Reserve. The area is popular with hikers and winter sports enthusiasts in both summer and winter. Except for a few hotels and cottages there are no facilities, you can do your grocery shopping and refueling in Idre.     About the STF Fjällstation The STF Fjällstation is your perfect base for your visit to Grövelsjön. It’s a hotel and hostel in one: in other words, you have dorm rooms and private rooms. There is a kitchen but you can also eat in the (excellent) restaurant. There is a small shop, a sauna (closed during the pandemic) and there are hiking maps, tips and other things everywhere that will make your heart beat faster as a lover of the outdoors. The atmosphere in mountain stations is very relaxed. If you are a member of STF you will receive a discount on your stay. Prefer to stay somewhere else? There are some hotels and some cabins that you can rent. You can camp on the STF campsite or at the lake. Prices and availability of the Fjällstation can be found here.     Other hikes in Grövelsjön The hike to Silverfallet is, after Sylen, the most beautiful hike you can take in Grövelsjön. This hike takes about 3/4 hours and is relatively easy. Many people also choose to go up the Långfjället, the mountain range ‘behind’ the fjällstation. Here are countless hiking trails to mountain peaks, lakes and mountain huts. We visited this area during an overnight hike, I’ll tell more about that in a later article. If you go hiking in Grövelsjön, it is smart to buy a topographical map (fjällkartan), because I did not find the trails very well marked. Or at least, well marked but without signposts. The southern Kungsleden also crosses the area.     Conclusion and disclaimer We had a great time in Grövelsjön! I’d already heard that it was super beautiful, but I did not expect that we would have such a good time here. The blog about the trek we made here will be online soon. Do you want to read more about Sweden in the meantime? Be sure to check all our Sweden blogs here.   Our visit to Grövelsjön was made possible in collaboration with Visit Dalarna. All opinions given are, of course, entirely our own. This article contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase or make a reservation through such links, we will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.  

Introduction Welcome to this guide! I hope it helps you as much as it helped me to plan your trip to the United States, to understand step by step the car rental process in Atlanta, which will be very useful when you need to get around. Also, you can get to know some places for hiking in the city and its surroundings, where the abundant vegetation, canyons and animal species are synonymous with its natural diversity.   From Amsterdam International Airport to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta After many friends repeatedly told me “you’re going to love Atlanta, it’s greener and more colorful than you can imagine!” I packed comfortable clothes, my camera, some personal documents, my insatiable desire to see new places in the world and flew to the East Coast of North America.   The first time I went to the United States I was impressed by its size and knew I would return many times to enjoy its extensive roads, valleys and national parks, so I decided that the flight from Amsterdam International Airport to Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, the most popular in Georgia, would be non-stop. The same thing was true for the return flight, because I wanted to optimize time.   Weeks before traveling, I rented a van through the internet and ensured its availability, so I picked it up once the flight landed. In order for you to have a great trip in Atlanta, here are the requirements to rent a car and not fail in the attempt (later on I will give you some tips and tell you about places to go hiking).   Requirements to rent a car in Atlanta Renting a car has become almost indispensable when traveling to the United States, millions of tourists use this service because the distances are usually very long and, to tell the truth, public transportation is not very comfortable. Here, I explain what documents you need. I rented the Van very easily and I traveled at my own pace! – Driver’s license: It must be issued in your country of origin, in Latin alphabet and be valid, otherwise you will – International credit card: It must have the name of the reservation holder and be available to make a guarantee deposit. Please note that most transactions will be done in US dollars, the official currency of the US. – Guarantee deposit: It is a price that will be frozen on your credit card, something like a guarantee required by the agencies while you use the car. – Minimum age of 25: Most rental agencies will require the reservation holder to be 25 years of age or older, however, some companies will allow persons between the ages of 21 and 24 to rent certain cars in their fleet. – Valid Passport. – Roundtrip air tickets.   Do you have all your documents already? I gathered them easily, truth is that there are not that many and at the moment of picking up the Van everything was very simple and I didn’t have any inconvenience. Keep reading to understand more step by step!   Tips to rent a car in Atlanta: Now that you know the requirements to rent a car in Atlanta, take pencil and paper, I will give you some tips for you to do it in the fastest and most economical way possible.   – I recommend that you determine which car you really need for your trip that can withstand the demands of the roads. In my case, since I was meeting some Dutch friends and I knew we would go hiking in different State Parks, I decided to rent a van, which was also useful to store various objects we acquired along the way. – Use a prestigious broker to reserve a rental car in Atlanta, because on their platform you will find the best rental agencies and you will be able to compare among hundreds of cars instantly, while saving a good part of your budget. – I advise you to check the reputation of the brokers on worldwide consumer review websites such as Trustpilot, where you will find the opinions of other travelers about the quality of service of these comparators. – As I mentioned before, making an online reservation of a rental car in advance is vital, since you will ensure the availability of the car at the destination. Keep in mind that if you decide to do it until the last day, you will find less offers and these will be more expensive. – Safety is the most important thing on a trip and even more when you are a foreign tourist, that is why we purchased two policies: – The Rental Car Insurance (CDW) that exempted us from liability in case of damage to the van. – Third Party (or Liability) Insurance that protected us against claims for injuries to other people or damage to property. – If you want to exchange the steering wheel, it is best to include a second driver in your reservation. Please note that the second person who would be in charge of driving must meet the same requirements as the main driver. – Optimize your time by including the first tank of gas in your reservation and return the car empty, or at your desired fuel level. – Verify at the counter that the rental contract does not differ from what you previously agreed with a broker. Keep in mind that if you are being offered additional services, those are not mandatory and you can decline them. – Check that the car is in perfect condition and that it has been disinfected between each use; rental agencies have committed to follow biosecurity protocols to avoid further Covid-19 infections. – Pick up and drop off the car at the same time to avoid extra charges when you return the rental car. – Last but not least, you can take a road trip through the highways of this area of the United States and reach, for example, Florida, where there are many natural attractions that you will surely love. By following these easy tips, you will be able to find the car that best suits your type of trip and your style, check the options here and book yours without hassle.   On the move for Georgia’s protected areas! Months ago I had visited Oregon, at the other end of the country, and I suggested you what to do in this coastal state, where I breathed fresh air and visited some places that, despite not being so popular in the USA, offer unforgettable landscapes and experiences. Now I’ll tell you about the natural attractions I visited by car in Atlanta. Take paper and pencil! Maybe these will inspire and excite you.   Providence Canyon From the first day in Providence Canyon I was very enthusiastic, because I will always find it interesting to hike in a country of continental lands, so I took the Van and, a few blocks from my hotel, I picked up some Dutch friends who had been in the United States for a few hours.   I drove a little over two hours to Providence Canyon, a state park of hundreds of acres of protected land, renowned for its canyons that attract thousands of local and foreign tourists every year. Miles before arriving, I could already sense the unmistakable energy of this State Park, and as I chatted with my friends and laughed about past experiences, our Georgia adventure began.   At the beginning, we walked along some trails, from there I could glimpse large canyons that impressed me with their depth. I took pictures of the landscapes, the sky, the water and I felt that mother earth was welcoming us with open arms, not only us, but also hundreds of people who were in Providence Canyon at that moment. After visiting this park, I understand why it is one of the most visited on the East Coast of the USA, so it is natural that you also want to visit it, but to get to Providence and hike there, and to the other places I mention in this article, it is necessary to have an autonomous transport, so I invite you to book in advance for example a van or a pickup truck because they will allow you to move easily on the roads of Georgia.     Vogel State Park During our second day we visited Vogel State Park which was one of the first State Parks in Georgia, recognized for having some of the highest peaks in the State. It has several streams, but Lake Trahlyta, which is visited by thousands of hikers every year, is the most outstanding among its natural attractions. I must confess that the water makes me melancholic and happy at the same time, because it brings back memories of my childhood!   In addition, it has cabins and other places that serve as lodging for travelers. You can also enjoy non-motorized water sports, fishing and I, who enjoy photographing landscapes, walked to the highest point of the park and captured the blue sky, trees, water, animals, among other works of nature.   This natural wonder is located two hours from Atlanta, so we arrived easily in the van I booked (which has served us to store vintage items that my friends have bought while we were traveling, because if I had chosen a smaller car I would have been literally bursting at the seams).   Silver Comet Trail On the third day we visited Silver Comet Trail, one of the most popular trails in Georgia, its entrance is free and it has more than 60 miles where you can hike. It is not motorized, so the experience is a little more leisurely for hikers, bikers, skaters, among others.   I drove about an hour to Pumpkin Vine Trestle, parked the van in a safe place and together with my friends we ventured down this trail for several hours: we walked, ran, laughed, cried, and talked about different experiences and memories of when we were younger.   The following days we did some road trips throughout the State of Georgia, enjoying the excellent attention of the locals and their willingness to serve foreign tourists.   Conclusion and disclaimer I hope you find this article helpful to plan your trip, choosing the right natural attractions for hiking and that you have understood, of course, what is the process to rent a car in Atlanta, US, which in any case is almost indispensable for traveling the long distances between its State Parks and protected natural areas. Every time I return to this country, I am impressed by the beauty of its nature, I travel long trails, rivers, valleys, roads and I reaffirm, once again, that the best trip I have ever taken in my life was undoubtedly to dedicate myself to travel the world and to transmit to thousands of my compatriots in the Netherlands my experiences in other cultures.   To finish, in the reading you will find some affiliate links and in case you make any purchase or reservation through them, I will be able to earn a small commission that does not represent any additional price for you, but that helps me to continue with this beautiful project. Thank you so much for understanding!   This article was written by one of our guest writers.  

Let me start by saying that both treks are tough and should not be underestimated. If you have no experience in trekking, you will have to carry lots of stamina and willpower in order to make it to either basecamp. It’s not easy but not impossible either. Which of the two is the most difficult is hard to say and really depends on various factors. If we look at altitude, Everest Base Camp Trek is definitely the most challenging reaching 5.364 meters above sea level. If you decide to trek via Gokyo, which I strongly recommend so you won’t have to hike the same route twice, you will have to cross Cho-La Pass which is even higher and reaches as high as 5.420 meters. Annapurna Base Camp is located at 4.130 meters above sea level, meaning you need less time to acclimatize.

Iregularly have discussions with friends about whether you have to travel far away (= outside of Europe for me) every year. Not only because of the flying embarrassment that seems to be on the rise, but also because there are plenty of nice walks in Europe. You don’t always have to go far to see beautiful landscapes. Need inspiration? Then read on in this article with the beste places to hike in Europe, from north to south. All trails have been made by myself so I only advise you from my own experience, as you are used to from me. Enjoy reading and hiking!

The good thing about hiking in New Zealand is that it can be done from anywhere as there are numerous of trails all over the country, whether it’s close to the city or far away from civilization. In addition to my old post, I will also add more information about the best multi-day hikes in New Zealand as well as shorter hikes that can be done by anyone. Enjoy this list with the best hikes in New Zealand!

When planning to hike a long(ish) track, it’s wise to figure out as much as you can about the trail. What the distance is, how to get to the start and end and what the current trail situation is. Many of these things can be found online nowadays and by doing some research beforehand you can avoid unpleasant surprises along the way. Such as not carrying enough drinking water or having to make a river crossing. But also there may be ferries that are not running on certain days or the bus service you may need could be limited on certain days. All these things can be found out well in advance.

We found another hiking paradise and it’s called Tasmania. Located on the opposite part of the world for us, we spent a month here, exploring what Australians call ‘the Apple Island’ by foot and by bike. We knew that Tasmania had some pretty spectacular scenery to offer but we kept on being surprised over and over again by the diversity of this place. One day we’d stand with our feet in the sand on some stunning beach and the next day we’d be in a rain forrest discovering the prettiest little waterfalls. When you are going hiking here, there is no way you will get disappointed. Here is our selection of the best hikes in Tasmania!

For me, a visit to Crater Lake National Park had been on my bucketlist for many years. Being from The Netherlands it’s not nearly as well known and popular as other US National Parks such as The Grand Canyon or Yellowstone National Park. However, after hearing about this place from a friend, I knew I wanted to go here one day. I kept on googling Crater Lake National Park year after year, at some point I knew it was my time to head on another trip to the US and go for it. And so I finally got to visit Crater Lake National Park after wanting to go for such a long time.