Category: cost

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Why spend MONEY on a hiking holiday?

Psychology Professor Thomas Gilovich from Cornell University has made four studies on the subject over decades and came to the conclusion that happiness is derived from experiences, not things. …

Experiences also reflect more of who we really are. They are closer to our inner selves as we are, according to Gilovich, “the sum total of all our experiences.” And as such, when they are shared, experiences allow us to get closer to others in a way impossible with inanimate objects that we can buy. …

Want Happiness? Buy Experiences, Not Things, Says a Cornell Psychologist

A couple of tourists walk on a trail below the Matterhorn mountain in Zermatt on June 30, 2015. The resort celebrates this year the 150th anniversary of the iconic Alpine mountain's first climb. AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI (Photo credit should read FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images)
A couple of tourists walk on a trail below the Matterhorn mountain in Zermatt on June 30, 2015. The resort celebrates this year the 150th anniversary of the iconic Alpine mountain’s first climb. AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI 
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Makalu Base Camp trek

by site editor Rick McCharles 

As I’ve done most of the easily accessible major hikes in Nepal next time I’m planning on Makalu. Cost most likely between $3000 – $4000. I’m hoping to do it for less with one Guide and carrying my own pack.

Sathya did it independently in 2012.

Mountain IQ has a good overview.

Though not visited by many hikers each year, there are some tea houses available now.

Click PLAY or get a glimpse on YouTube. Two feet of snow on day 8 en route to Base Camp.

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independent trek – Huayhuash Circuit, Peru

Megan “Hashbrown” Maxwell did Huayhuash alone and independently. She’s one tough hiker.

Still … she felt Huayhuash was the toughest hike of her life.

The Huayhuash Circuit is a beast of a trek. I would only recommend it if you have done a trek before and have an idea of what you’re getting into. I would only recommend going guide-less if you are at a confident level of backpacking experience, have taken the time to acclimatize, and are physically fit and able to carry a pack loaded with a week of food.

The guidebook for this trail is Peru’s Cordilleras Blanca & Huayhuash, available on Amazon. I found this to have all the information I needed …

This circuit goes over a pass everyday, ranging from 15,400 to 16,500 feet (4,690 to 5,050 meters). This means you will be hiking slower than usual, due to the altitude, and the walking itself is physically taxing. This also means that you will have spectacular views of the Andes every single day. …

Cordillera Huayhuash Circuit: Planning and Preparing

Huayhuash
Huayhuash

Huayhuash map

That adventure was the best hike of my life. If you want know more, click over to our Huayhuash information page.

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Roraima trek, Venezuela

Stingy Nomads:

Mount Roraima is the highest of the many Table Mountains (tepuis) scattered over the grasslands of The Grand Sabana. The strange rock formations, quarts fields that look like a diamond encrusted fairy land, insect eating plants and many high waterfalls gives the whole area unreal feel and have been an inspiration to writers and movie makers. It is thought to have inspired Arthur Cone Doyle’s book ‘The Lost World’, published in 1912 …

Tours are normally 6 to 8 days, taking three days to reach the top, then one to three days exploring the top and it takes two more days to come down the same trail. You cannot hike this route independent since a guide is compulsory. There are many companies in Santa Elena that offers all-inclusive tours; you can also try to find an independent guide to lead your trek. …

Roraima trek on a budget

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GRANITE GEAR – VIRGA 2 backpack

I bought the Virga 2, my 3rd Virga since seeing it recommended by gearjunkie in 2007. It is  lightweight at 1lb 3oz. But not all that durable.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

You can  buy directly from Granite Gear or Backcountry Gear.

Granite Gear does not seem to want to know me unless I live in the United States. In the end I bought from Amazon.com and had it shipped to an address in the States.

REI lists this pack, but does not have it in stock in many stores. 😦

Granite Gear truly does have crappy distribution.

 

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Choquequirao trek Peru, independently

Stingy Nomads:

Choquequirao is quite big, you need at least one full day to explore it.

… buildings with steep roofs, terraces, massive walls.

… views to the valley and canyon from the ruins are stunning, specially at the sunset.

What we really liked about Choquequirao is its quietness, in all day we saw 6 people, you have ruins all to yourself. Unfortunately Peruvian government is planning to build a cable car all the way to the ruins, it’ll bring a lot of money for the region which is good, but at the same time will destroy unique atmosphere. …

Choquequirao trek without a guide, independently

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Salkan301

Salkan331

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Stingy Nomads – Everest Base Camp

You have two main options on how tho do the trek to Everest Base Camp, you can either do it through an agency or do it yourself.

Doing an organized tour through an agency is easy but expensive, you will probably be in a big group with someone carrying your bag and organizing where you stay.

Doing it yourself is not hard and plane tickets from Kathmandu to Lukla is the only thing that you have to organize. You follow a very clear path, everybody stays in the same little “towns” with many tea houses, it is not necessary to pre-book anything. …

Everest Base Camp Trek on a Backpacker budget

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related – our Everest Base Camp / 3 Passes information page

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trekking the Everest region, Nepal

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Cost is about $40 / day / person in 2016 staying and eating in Tea Houses. Carrying your own pack. There’s no earthquake damage in that part of the Himalaya.

Everest

Check our Everest Base Camp / 3 Passes information page.

(via The Longer, The Better – Three Pass Trek)

 

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Kungsleden trail, Sweden

Cody Duncan:

While the Kungsleden trail is one of the most popular hiking routes in Sweden, as August passes to September and the end of the short arctic summer nears, the crowds begin to thin and the trail grows quiet as the land awaits the coming of winter.

The arrival of September sees the birch forests turn a golden yellow and the blueberries glow bright red, while the wide valleys rise to snow-capped mountains. The days become cold and the air crisp as snow flurries blow over you. The nights become dark again and northern lights once again dance in the sky.

Female hiker with snow covered mountains and autumn colors in southern end of Tjäktjavagge on Kungsleden trail, Lappland, Sweden
Female hiker with snow covered mountains and autumn colors in southern end of Tjäktjavagge on Kungsleden trail, Lappland, Sweden

Autumn is a wild, colorful, lonely, exhilarating, adventurous, time to experience the wilds of Sweden’s north. …

The mountain huts are seasonal, typically closing in mid September. September 21 for 2014.

Candlelight illumintes room Singi mountain hut at night, Kungsleden trail, Lappland, Sweden
Candlelight illumintes room Singi mountain hut at night, Kungsleden trail, Lappland, Sweden

The longest distance between any two huts is 21 km, Alesjaure – Abiskojaure. The average distance for the rest is about 12-14 km.

The price for a bed while the huts are open is between 295 – 330 SEK (in September).

Hiking the (Northern) Kungsleden Trail from Nikkaluokta to Abisko in Autumn, Sweden

300 SEK is about US$40.

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Chili volcanos – Villarrica Traverse day 0

trip report by site editor Rick McCharles 

day 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Traverse info page

Santiago > Pucón

The goal was The Traverse, one of Chile’s best hikes. In fact I now rate it second best after Paine in the far south.

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81km
demanding

A classic longer trek along the rugged volcanic spine of Parque National Villarrica.

I took a night bus semi-cama. That’s almost a bed, but not quite. About 9 hours. I’ll take FULL cama next time. 🙂

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Arrived Pucón early morning. Groggy and disoriented.

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My hostel – ¡École! – restaurant was not even open as yet for coffee. But I dropped my bags.

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I recommend this excellent low cost accommodation. Folks from the Banff Mountain Film festival were there at the same time.

Pucón is one of the great mountain tourist traps of the world. Picture Banff, Canada with volcanos rather than Rocky Mountains.

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If you hate tourists, you might hate Pucón. Young people come mostly for the party.

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Personally I loved Pucón. The infrastructure for foreign tourists is superb. And as a jumping off point for wilderness, it’s ideal.

We shopped for groceries. Packed for the trail.

day 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Traverse info page