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November 12, 2026November 12, 2026

Türkiye’s Lycian Way – Kaş to Demre

Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles

Lycian Way is the most famous long trail in a nation famous for long trails.

approximately 760 km (470 mi) in length
the 1st way-marked long-distance footpath
originally conceived by Briton Kate Clow, it takes its name from the ancient civilization that once ruled the region
Lycia was very wealthy beginning at least 500 BC. There are historic ruins everywhere.
I’d call this trail quite safe. But Friederike Elisabeth Newrzella was found dead on October 30, 2026 in a rocky area near Üçağız on my route. Probably killed from a fall.

It’s fantastic. I highly recommend Kaş to Demre if you get to Türkiye.

Click PLAY or watch my 3 day hike on YouTube.

I’d done a week on another section of the Lycian in 2017 and was happy to return in 2026.

By Caliniuc – Lycia: Asia Minor in the Greco-Roman period – general map – regions and main settlements.jpg, CC BY-SA 4.0

Today Turkish Tourism promotes the Lycian coast as part of the Turkish Riviera or the Turquoise Coast. It’s very popular with visitors from Russia, Germany, and the U.K. I’ve seen many Ukrainians on the trail, even in 2026.

Though the most famous ruins are on the western end, the BEST SECTION of the Lycian Way for most hikers is Kaş to Demre.

Day 1

I didn’t leave my private room in Kaş until noon, leaving me only about 6 hiking hours before dusk. Days are short in November.

There are a few beach resorts west of town.

For much of the 3 days, I saw no people — not even local farmers. November is a terrific month for hiking, but it’s late in the year for everyone else. Many tourism companies, restaurants, and hotels are closed.

I did see some pleasure boats along the coast.

The scenery beautiful.

I used AllTrails Lycian Way: Kaş – Limanağzı – Üzümlü. And it was very accurate for this segment 17 of the full trail.

In 2017 I navigated another section of the Lycian with the Kate Clow guidebook — and was constantly lost. GPS phone apps are far, far better. Download for offline use as there are places with no phone service.

I particularly liked the marked possible tenting spots in AllTrails. In fact, I rushed to get to this one — setting up just about in the dark.

A few mosquitoes. Otherwise perfect weather. I didn’t put on the fly.

Day 2

A terrific camping spot is not all that easy to find on this rugged shore. The AllTrails app really helped.

Wild camping is widely tolerated along the Lycian Way on public, non-protected hillsides, beaches, and pine forests away from villages.

While Turkey does not have a formal “right to roam” law, dispersed tenting is standard practice for thru-hikers as long as you practice strict Leave No Trace principles and respect restricted zones.

I did try to set up camp late in the day. Pack up early. And stay out of sight as much as I could.

A bigger concern for hikers on this section is WATER. There’s not much free running water here, especially in November.

First top of conversation with hikers passing the other direction is the next water source.

Folks hike in both directions — but west is better as you have the sun more often on your back, and not in your face.

I resupplied with bottled water every chance I had, starting with 2 – 4 litres most of the time.

Surprisingly, I didn’t see much wildlife. Plenty of lizards. Dragonflies eating mosquitoes. And some birds.

Many of the trails are overgrown with thorny attack bushes. Long protective pants are a good idea.

The plant I most appreciated is the sea squill. Broad, wavy, bright green leaves emerge in the autumn or winter.

All parts considered toxic if ingested or handled directly!

The highlight of the day was scrambling these ruins dating back at least to 400 BC.

I had more time today to find a good campsite off the main trail. And set up in daylight.

It did look like it might rain, so I eventually put on the fly.

Another lovely night.

Day 3

I did get a bit of rain during the night. But the WindQuester Horizon Lite 2 Pro kept me secure and dry.

Kordon Market (also known as Cord Market) is the only real shop on the trail between Kaş and Demre.

I chatted with some hikers here who had a feral dog follow them the previous day. I feared it might follow ME — so took a different way back to the Lycian.

In November I saw many different boats in dry dock undergoing maintenance.

Highlight of day 3 was visiting Simena Castle (Kaleköy Castle or Kale Castle) just above the car-free coastal village of Kaleköy.

It’s known for the smallest Lycian rock-cut amphitheatre seen above.

Here’s the vista from the top.

Though it dates back to at least 400 BC, it had been improved by many over the centuries.

Many tourists combine a visit to this castle with a glass bottom boat tour of a nearby partially sunken ancient city. It sunk due to earthquakes in the 2nd century AD.

I’d actually signed up for a kayak tour — but it got cancelled due to too few tourists.

That castle was one of the few place I saw regular tourists. Back on the trail, I was on my own.

The only river.

There were plenty of possible campsites, but I thought I’d wait for the beach again.

This seemed to be a group on a kayak tour taking one last walk at sunset.

Day 4

Early morning I packed up my tent.

I walked back to the only river of the hike to wash off some of the sand.

I was only a few kms road walk from here to Demre, the end of my hike.

Timing was perfect. This just the beginning of a few days of overcast. Time to leave.

The only flamingos.

I thought I might do some sightseeing in Demre, … but it’s not much of a tourist town.

I caught the next bus back to Kaş. That IS a terrific tourist town. I ended up staying 4 nights.

November 10, 2026November 5, 2026

Backpacker Steve – 10 Best Hikes in Chile & Argentina

I’ve done most of these myself — but tempted to go back after watching this excellent. video.

0:00 Intro – Best Hikes in Patagonia

0:33 Where is Patagonia?

0:57 Best Time for Hiking in Patagonia

1:23 #1 Conguillío – Sierra Nevada Trail

2:01 #2 Refugio Otto Meiling – Tronador

3:44 #3 Queulat Hanging Glacier

4:18 #4 Cerro Castillo Trek

5:02 #5 Parque Patagonia – Tamango

5:40 #6 Laguna de los Tres – Fitz Roy

6:20 #7 Los Huemules Reserve

7:07 #8 O Circuit (O Trek) – Torres del Paine

7:52 #9 Mirador Ferrier

8:50 #10 Dientes de Navarino

9:28 Bonus: Huemul Circuit

Of those, my favourites were the O Circuit and Huemul.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

November 6, 2026November 3, 2026

Hiking the Hook of Holland, Rotterdam

Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles.

Easy access by train from Rotterdam.

It transitions from wide, breezy sand beaches into a protected, undulating dune network, and finally into a tranquil, lush woodland.

BUT it was a very windy & cold day when I was there in October.

I used AllTrails Hook of Holland Beach – Dune – Hoekse Bosjes Forest for navigation.

8.5 kilometer loop
first 2.5 kilometers on the beach
next through the dunes
finally through the Hoekse Bosjes forest

In better weather, I might have rented a bicycle.

Getting off the train, it’s a bit of a tourist trap.

The impressive beach is maintained, even in winter.

I certainly wouldn’t want to swim with all the Jellyfish I saw washed up.

Wandering the dunes is interesting.

But the surprise for me was all the bird life in the forest section.

November 3, 2026October 29, 2026

Tenzing – 2026 Movie

Excellent.

And about time for Tenzing Norgay to be the main focus of the historic 1953 first-ever successful ascent of Mount Everest.

Widespread critical acclaim.

Genden Phuntsok as Tenzing Norgay: A breakthrough performance portraying Norgay’s journey from a humble yak herder to an international icon.
Tom Hiddleston as Sir Edmund Hillary: Portrayed as a robust, practical outsider who forms a deep bond of trust with Norgay.
Willem Dafoe as Colonel John Hunt: The strict but eventually persuaded leader of the British expedition.

The narrative explores the complex tensions of empire, class, and competing ambitions within the British expedition team, ultimately showing how rank falls away at high altitudes to leave two men bound by raw human survival and mutual respect.

The film is noted for its grueling, immersive production values. To maintain authenticity, director Jennifer Peedom rejected green screens, choosing to film on location in extreme mountain conditions—including New Zealand’s Remarkables range—requiring the cast to learn real mountaineering and ice-cutting skills.

The story of his first wife, Dawa Phuti, and their children is historically accurate.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

October 30, 2026October 25, 2026

3,252km Great Colorado Route in 141 days

Donovan Rice — Iceman — is an experienced thur hiker, who’s done the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) and Continental Divide Trail (CDT).

Rice started thinking about a massive thru-hike loop of his state, Colorado. His idea was to stitch together existing trails and form new ones where necessary.

All 11 of Colorado’s national forests, three of its national parks, 13 14,000’ers and 47 13,000’ers.

Rice set off on his Great Colorado Route from Gunnison National Park on May 14, 2026. He traveled ultra-light, carrying just six kilos of gear, with just a quilt instead of a sleeping bag and a tarp rather than a tent. …

… he describes the route as “definitely not beginner-friendly” — due to plenty of cross-country terrain, off-trail navigation, and route-finding — it doesn’t require mountaineering skills.

Colorado Hiker Creates Ultimate Thru-Hike Across His Home State

October 25, 2026

South West Coast Path – St Ives to Penzance

Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles.

The South West Coast Path is England’s longest established National Trail, stretching 630 miles (1,014 km) around the southwestern peninsula of Cornwall.

Many feel the best section is St Ives to Penzance, taking in Land’s End, the most westerly point of mainland England.

For me that meant:

about 41 miles (66km) plus side trips & detours to campgrounds
I hiked 3.5 days. It was more demanding than expected.
about 3,860m (12,660ft) of cumulative climbing
cost for tenting was good value. Average 15 pounds ($20USD)

Click PLAY or watch my highlights on YouTube.

For navigation I used AllTrails – South West Coast Path: St Ives to Penzance offline. About 95% accurate. A few of the trails have changed over the years.

When in doubt, I checked Maps.me offline.

If you want more detailed advice, get the Cicerone guidebook – Walking the South West Coast Path.

I flew in to Cornwall Airport Newquay, the main flight hub for the region.

As a result, ended up staying 2 nights before and 2 nights after in charming Newquay.

I love that tourist town ➙ PHOTOS & VIDEO.

It was easy to get to St. Ives via bus and/or train.

Crowded with tourists, I walked through town to quickly get started.

Day 1 – Sept 15 – St Ives to Wild Camp

This spectacular hike is well posted. But you can get lost by accidentally taking local side trails.

Very quickly I was into dramatic maritime heathland, coves, and steep drop-off cliffs.

Over the 4 days, I was surprised how little beach walking is involved. Mostly you drop down to the ocean — and climb directly back up.

Many historic mine shafts, adits, and engine house ruins sit close to or directly alongside the coastal path. You should respect the frequent warnings.

Weather was terrific for this part of the world. Summer 2026 quite mild here — part of the European heat wave and global warming.

Still … it rains frequently. Sun showers in this case.

By dark, I’d only made it to Zennor Head. So decided to wild camp. For safety.

This was the best spot I could quickly find. Great view.

Actually, it’s very difficult to find places to wild camp. I’d strongly recommend the campgrounds, instead.

Low-growing, wind-swept shrubs like heather and gorse are densely packed. There’s no way to put up a tent on it.

I did put on the fly and tie down the tent thoroughly, just in case typical Cornwall wind & rain happened during the night. It did. 😀

Day 2 – Sept 16 – Wild Camp to YHA Land’s End Campsite

Happily, it was very windy when I packed up camp. I could dry the tent quickly.

I felt very lucky with the weather, so far.

Here’s my best photo illustrating how this section goes. See the Path high above the coastline?

And here’s a typical vista from the Path.

I would have enjoyed more beach walking. But you must side trip to reach most of the pocket beaches.

Quite a few people hike with their dogs.

Interesting along the route are old ruins. There’s a lot of history here, of course.

A highlight of the day was exploring the Botallack Mine ruins. Part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site – Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape. It had tunnels extending under the sea, in places for half a mile.

You can wander most of these structures. Try not to fall into any shafts.

Onward.

I took plenty of breaks, dropping my full pack. Enjoying the vistas.

I saw less fishing activity than I would have expected. Perhaps it all happens early morning.

The most magical sight was Cape Cornwall. That chimney stack dates back to 1864.

Day 3 – Sept 17 – YHA Land’s End Campsite to Treen Farm Campsite

More strenuous Cornish ups and downs, unfenced cliff edges, and rocky granite steps.

Weather as reliable as a baby’s diaper. 😀

Reaching Land’s End was a highlight. The most westerly point of mainland England.

It’s a busy tourist trap.

Scenery got better and better.

I stopped at Nanjizal Cove for some boulder scrambling.

Gwennap Head: A great spot for spotting seals, basking sharks, and seabirds near the National Coastwatch lookout.

I really didn’t see any sea life, aside from birds.

Onward.

I arrived just after the end of a show in the famous open-air Minack Theatre hewn into the granite cliffside overlooking turquoise waters.

The old red British telephone boxes have been repurposed for all kinds of things.

Here’s a typical campsite. Hot showers. Simple kitchen.

A rarity for this part of the world. Clear night sky with plenty of stars.

Day 4 – Sept 18 – Treen Farm Campsite to YHA Campsite Penzance

On this trip I was testing a new tent ➙ WindQuester Horizon Lite 2 Pro.

Heavier and slightly more complicated than my Hubba, but definitely more stable in wind and wet. More room, as well, as it’s a 2 person tent with 2 vestibules. I like it.

Last day different than the rest. I was approaching civilization. And it was more overcast.

Here’s Lamorna Cove.

If you live here, ready for severe winter storms.

Of course there have been many shipwrecks, over the centuries.

I should mention there are some sharp plants that you need to navigate carefully.

Bigger boulders this day.

I ended up boulder hopping here — perhaps off trail.

You finally get into some trees.

Here’s quaintly named Mousehole.

The Mousehole Rock Pool is a historic, community-built tidal sea plunge.

Once set-up at camp in Penzance, I hopped a bus to see St. Michaels Mount. Though I arrived in time for the low tide crossing, wind and waves made it impossible.

Great hike. Highly recommended.

October 22, 2026October 21, 2026

Iceland Traverse (Stages 1 & 2) – Cam Honan

I’d love to hike across Iceland — but this is not an adventure for any but the hardiest.

Cam “Swami” Honan did it with Kate “Swept Away” Pickett in late August/September, 2023.

This post covers the first 2 stages from Hraunhafnartangi Lighthouse to Lake Mývatn.

Finding protection from the WIND is just one of many problems they faced.

Of course there are other routes across Iceland.

IF you ever consider this adventure, study Cam’s trip reports carefully:

A Quick & Dirty Guide to the Iceland Traverse (Stages 1 & 2)

October 15, 2026October 25, 2026

Camino del Norte, Spain. French border to Bilbao.

Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles.

I had A.I. software remake me into a proper pilgrim. 😀

I cycled 300+km of the French Way in 2022. That was terrific. It’s the most popular of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage routes.

By comparison, the Camino del Norte (Northern Way) totals 817 kilometres (508 mi) across northern Spain from the border with France to Santiago de Compostela. It’s only the 6th most popular of the many Caminos. Over 21,000 pilgrims / year.

SO … in 2026 I did 6 days from French border town Irun to tourist mecca Bilbao.

The red section on the map below.

Click PLAY or get a glimpse of what it’s like on YouTube.

Camino pilgrimage routes attract many different kinds of people. Much different than on other thru hikes, I find. Some are spiritual seekers & reflective travellers. The highlights for others are the food, history, and culture.

Since the Camino del Norte attracts less than 5% of the Camino Francés numbers, accommodations are not all booked. It’s not nearly as crowded.

Many feel Irun to Bilbao is the best and most scenic section of the Camino del Norte.

Steep climbs, rugged coastal cliffs, and longer stretches between services make the START of the Northern Way the most challenging.

I stayed in combination of albergues (pilgrim hostels), hostels, and emergency tent one night. Accommodation is quite inexpensive.

Flying into Bilbao

It’s easy and comparatively inexpensive to fly into Bilbao.

I arrived late night on an inexpensive flight.

More PHOTOS.

Bilbao downtown Guggenheim museum titanium metallic facade by night

I picked up my Camino de Santiago pilgrim passport (credencial del peregrino) at the Cathedral. This gains you entrance into some of the pilgrim accommodation en route.

Bus to Irún

It’s easy to find a direct bus to Irún close to the the French border.

I stayed at the Jakobi Pilgrim Hostel (Albergue de Peregrinos Jakobi) in Irun, the official starting point for the Camino del Norte. Payment is by donation.

Next morning, off and running.

The rain in Spain falls mainly in the NORTH. Over the coming week I had all kinds of weather, including lightning storm.

The Camino is well signed. I mostly used AllTrails to confirm turns. But it seemed there were many other apps in use.

There’s one ferry crossing – the Pasaia River.

First night I stayed just outside San Sebastián, a tourist city very competitive with Bilbao.

San Sebastián

Some stay 2 nights here as there’s a lot to see. I toured the town one evening and again the next morning.

This is the kind of place in Europe some feel is over-touristed.

San Sebastián is a beach town, popular with surfers.

Onward.

One problem with ALL the Caminos … you end up doing a lot of walking on concrete and cobblestone.

By day 6 I felt one of my feet was bruised.

Zarautz Beach

I did enjoy the coastal sections.

Getaria

I happened upon a hostel in Getaria that was just serving up dinner. I stayed.

Early next morning I wandered the town before many more people were awake.

Got an early start on the hiking day.

It’s a very rural area. Plenty of farm animals to keep you company.

Some vineyards.

And eventually back to the coast.

Mutriku

Sections are very remote.

No bus. You might ride a horse out. 😀

Markina-Xemein

Monasterio de Zenarruza

Everyone wants to stay at the Monastery. Paid by donation.

Meals and room are quite basic.

But the place is beautiful.

Guernica

The town of Guernica is infamous for the 1937 painting by Pablo Picasso.

One of the best known anti-war paintings. Germans had bombed the people here relentlessly.

Many stay over in this historic city.

Bilbao

Early enough in the day, I walked on.

Skies darkened. I decided to wild camp before the rain. This is not legal — except in emergency situations like this one.

Surprisingly, I didn’t hear much about the Basque separatist movement.

With an even more torrential rain storm looming, I caught the first bus I saw on arrival to civilization to the centre of Bilbao. Happily, I made it to my very cool Pod Hostel before the worst of a deluge.

31 litres of rain / square meter in just a matter of minutes. It does rain in Spain.

Here I am at the Bilbao Cathedral. The rest of my clothes in the laundry. 😀

Bilbao Cathedral (Basilica of Saint James)

I’m considering a return to the Camino del Norte in future. Perhaps Vilalba to Santiago de Compostela, the final 100km. It merges with the bustling Camino Francés for the final 2 days of walking.

October 13, 2026October 8, 2026

Arizona’s 4th National Park – Chiricahua

Trump is expected to transform Chiricahua National Monument into a new National Park.

I’m surprised as his regime has been mainly hurting the National Park system with defunding, staffing cuts, funding diversions, and widespread censorship of historical exhibits.

He’s expanded the use of public lands for grazing, hunting, and mineral exploration.

BUT Chiricahua seems to be an exception. And — for once — those who love hiking can praise the ReTrumplican party for getting this done.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.