Exploring the Isle of Skye in Scotland
Like the finest single malt whisky, the Isle of Skye is an intoxicating distillation of all that is great about Scotland’s Highlands and islands. Its dramatic landscape embraces everything from bleak, wind-scoured mountains to sheer sea cliffs and edge-of-the-world, seashell-strewn beaches.Throw in
Cappadocia from the ground and from the sky
From above, the curvaceous landscape of Cappadocia spools out to the horizon in rippling waves of rock tinged shades of blushing pink. Hot air ballooning may be big business in this geological wonderland, but dont make the mistake of thinking this is the only way to view it.Ballooning companies such
The Dragons Back and beyond: the best hikes in Hong Kong
You’d be forgiven for thinking that hiking isn’t among the must-try activities in Hong Kong – that the only place you’ll cop an eyeful of green is in Yau Ma Tei’s Jade Market. But a quick look at a map tells a different story: the territory is mostly painted in swathes of emerald and azure, fringed
The Hebrides: Scotlands magical western islands
An emerald shore receding behind, a sea breeze in your face, a dolphin surfing the bow wave as escort. The magic begins as soon as you board the ferry from Scotland’s rugged west coast and head for the Hebrides, a scattering of over 50 inhabited islands that takes in the stirring mountainscapes of S
First time Rocky Mountain National Park: discover the best of the Colorado wilderness
With over 300 miles of trails, jagged, snow-encrusted granite peaks and a remarkable array of wild creatures, Rocky Mountain National Park is a perfect introduction to the Colorado wilderness. For the first-time visitor, wildlife is one of the major draws to the park, which is home to a massive 800-
Know your gompas: a Lonely Planet guide to Tibetan Buddhist monasteries
One of the most surprising things about the Himalaya is how this desolate, almost monochrome landscape has produced so much vivid colour. From Kathmandu to Dharamsala and Lhasa to Ladakh, Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, or gompas, guard a treasure trove of religious art, executed in an almost hallucin
Hiking Namibia’s Fish River Canyon
A multi-day hike through the worlds second largest canyon is as challenging as it is unforgettable. Situated in the far south of Namibia, the startlingly beautiful Fish River Canyon is 550m deep, 27km wide and 160km long. The intense 85km trail through it, which takes hikers through 1.5 billion year
Rocky Mountain National Parks best hikes
Lace up your boots and get ready to explore the vast wilderness of Rocky Mountain National Park, where the windswept tundra contains an ecosystem of hundreds of species of wildflowers, and the sculpted peaks silhouetted against the blue sky serve as a dramatic reminder of the last ice age. Traverse
Top walks around El Chaltén
Trekking in Patagonia is a highlight for many travelers to South America, and it’s never been easier than from Argentina’s trekking capital, the village-cum-fledgling-city of El Chaltén. Whether you prefer to rise late and dawdle the afternoon away next to picturesque tarns, or enjoy getting fully t
Get up close to the Matterhorn in Zermatt
Step off the train in Zermatt and be stunned by the speed with which you become hopelessly obsessed with Switzerland’s Matterhorn – a hypnotic pyramid of a mountain. Clouds can sweep across a China-blue sky in the flash of an eye and obliterate the mountain for days on end. Even on perfect sunny day
How to reach Machu Picchu without the Inca Trail
One of the world’s great wonders, Machu Picchu is the holy grail for any traveler visiting South America. A common misconception is that one needs to complete the four-day trek to reach this incredible sight, and for many, surviving the Inca Trail is very much part of the Machu Picchu experience.But
Another view from the roof of the world: alternative Tibet in Sichuan
With epic mountain vistas, lively Buddhist monasteries, and grasslands peppered with yaks and alpine lakes as far as the eye can see, Tibet is, without a doubt, one of the most remarkable places to visit in the world. But the paperwork required to get here can be daunting. Fortunately, Sichuan provi
Revolutionary trails: Cubas best hikes
Cuba’s montage of dramatic landscapes, inscribed with mist-cloaked valleys, looming mogote hills and biologically rich reserves, presents tempting possibilities for hiking.Once a heavily restricted activity, Cuba has at last started to cotton on to the fact that opening up its countryside to willing
Exploring Sumatra’s Kerinci Seblat National Park: where tigers still roam
Kerinci Seblat National Park sprawls from the coastal plains of West Sumatra, up the forested valleys and over the deep river gorges of the Barisan Mountains. Stretching across a swathe of land more than twice the size of Bali, Sumatra’s largest national park offers ample adventure for those dreamin
Hiking in Albania’s Accursed Mountains
While Albania may have gone from a virtually unknown land to a well-established stop on the Balkan backpacker trail in barely a decade, its interior remains little known. But a popular three-day round trip that combines a spectacular ferry ride and a fantastic day hike between two remote mountain ha
Exploring Viñales, Cubas scenic backyard
The Valle de Viñales is a stunning national park blessed by fertile rust-red soil, layered in chartreuse green expanses of tobacco plantations and studded by precipitous limestone buttresses of rock. It offers Cuba’s very best hiking, climbing, caving and vistas, based around the tranquil farming to
Hiking in Greece
Most of Greece is mountainous and a hiker’s paradise – you can even climb the mountain of the gods, Mt Olympus. The most popular routes are well maintained, others barely more than an overgrown sheep’s path. Hiking on the islands is particularly rewarding, from kalderimia (cobbled or flagstone paths
Ten of New Zealands most scenic day hikes
New Zealand may be justifiably famous for its Great Walks and other multi-day hiking trails, but don’t break out the cooking stove and sleeping bag just yet. Much of the same wilderness can be explored on day hikes, which means less gear, less effort, and quite possibly more fun. 1. Twilight–Te
Following in royal footsteps: Romania’s ‘Prince Charles Walk’
Over a decade ago, Prince Charles developed a particular interest in Romania’s countryside. During various visits he added a strong voice of dissent to a proposed ‘Dracula Land’ amusement park and toured several villages, commending their dedication to heritage and traditional lifestyles. In 2003 he
Hiking Mt Ramelau: a guide to scaling Timor
At the centre of the mountainous interior of Timor-Leste, Mt Ramelau (or Tatamailau in the local Tetun language) is not only the nation’s highest peak, but also a site of deep religious and cultural significance. Adorned with a statue of the Virgin Mary at its peak, Ramelau is the site of an annual
