Category: culture

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Climbing Kilimanjaro February 2026

It’s official.

  • Feb 14–22, 2026
  • 9 days, 8 nights Machame Route
  • Zara Tours
  • 5,895 meters (19,341 feet)
  • $3495 USD

Expensive — but I finally signed on to the single best trekking peak in the world.

I’d long been a fan of hiking vlogger Eric Hanson. When he announced a personally guided adventure — I signed on instantly.

Machame Route (Whiskey Route) for me should be relatively easy. BUT many have to turn back due to altitude sickness symptoms.

My plan is to spend some weeks in Ecuador above 3000m and — hopefully — have some acclimatization ➙ then fly directly to Kilimanjaro airport. Altitude sickness is near impossible to predict. (I’ve never had any despite hiking higher than 6000m many times.)

I’ll stay on in East Africa following Kili. My first visit.

This is the 2nd time I’d signed up for Kilimanjaro. The first was in 2020 — cancelled by Covid.

Eric Hanson

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El Camino de Costa Rica 280 km

El Camino de Costa Rica is a breathtaking 280 km / 174 mile hike from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, which is no easy feat even for the most experienced hikers.

While it can be intimidating to take on this type of adventure, there are so many incredible things to see and do while trekking this route, from tropical beaches and dense trails to mountain villages and indigenous communities.

official website

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

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Campuhan Ridge Trail, Ubud, Bali

Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles

The Bukit Campuhan Ridge Trail is super popular with Ubud tourists as you can walk there from almost any accommodation in the city.

I went early and saw very few, other than morning trail runners.

You can continue to the end — but I turned back after about 2km when the paved-block track ended — at buildings and roadway.

The trail starts at the evocative Gunung Lebah Temple as you’ll see in the video.

The word “Campuhan” itself means “where two rivers meet”. You’ll be on a ridge between those rivers. Vistas are mostly overgrown so you don’t actually get to see much water. 😀

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

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TOP 10 Hiking Towns ➙  Namche Bazaar, Nepal

BAD NEWS.  As of April 1, 2023 the Nepal government required that major treks can no longer be done independently.  Hiring a guide is mandatory.  The obvious alternative for independent hikers is the Indian Himalaya.    

UPDATE April 2024. The Everest region refused to enforce mandatory guides. Hikers are doing Base Camp independently.

Every hiker dreams of trekking in the footsteps of Hillary and Norgay. Climbing to Mt. Everest Base Camp Qomolangma (Tibetan), Sagarmāthā (Nepali) should be on your bucket list.

Here is the finest alpine scenery in the world, we reckon.

Namche Bazaar … at 3,440 metres (11,286 ft) … is the main trading center for the Khumbu region with many Nepalese officials, a police check post and a bank. …

Namche has a permanent population of around 800.

Almost everyone trekking in the Khumbu region will visit Namche Bazaar, as it is the gateway to the high Himalaya.

More interesting photos tagged Namche Bazaar.

Want more information? Check WikiTravel – Namche.

Everest Base Camp – Khumbu Ice Fall

Our favourite hike hikes out of Namche are:

• Everest Base Camp / 3 Passes
• Everest Base Camp / Kala Pattar
• Everest Gokyo

Everest seen from Kala Pattar

Many consider the mountain people and Tibetan culture an even bigger highlight than the peaks.

Flapping

Best months are from October to early-December, cold but normally with clear views of the world’s highest mountains.

Spring is also a good time to visit the Everest region, though the skies may be hazy. Some argue that pastures are greener in the Spring.

Check the trip report posted by besthike editor Rick McCharles, Nov. 2009 – Everest Base Camp / 2 Passes

Or start on our Nepal information page.

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300 km Pekoe Trail, Sri Lanka

The Pekoe Trail is a NEW 22 stage hike through Sri Lanka’s tea plantations.

You can walk it — or sections — year round. Low altitude. Mostly easy, scenic walking.

The major complaint I’ve heard is about leeches on rainy days.

I can relate. I once spent a month in Sri Lanka and was sometimes removing leeches with salt water while still on the move. 😀


ThePekoeTrailSriLanka.com

Home

AllTrails – Pekoe Trail

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Mountain Kingdoms offers a 2-week walking holiday that follows the most scenic and culturally interesting sections of the Pekoe Trail including Horton Plains, the tea capital of Nuwara Eliya and the fabulous views from Ella Rock.

Fully supported, you walk between small hotels, original bungalows and mountain lodges carrying just a day pack, with all transfers, meals and sightseeing included.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.


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Visiting Lesotho, Africa

At high elevation, Lesotho offers terrific hiking — almost everywhere. Cultural walking.

I’ve only done a 1-day day trip, myself. And found the people very welcoming of tourists.

ZacZac and Ine give us a good overview of the small nation fully surrounded by South Africa.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

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Hillwalking Dumyat, Sterling, Scotland

Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles

To the east of Stirling, the Ochil Hills dominate the skyline with the highest peak in the range being Ben Cleuch, although Dumyat is more noticeable from town.

Dumyat is a popular climb with tourists and visitors to the Trossachs area, due to the historical nature of Stirling and the proximity of the Wallace Monument.

I downloaded Dumyat via Blairlogie Carpark on AllTrails.

Took the bus from town to lovely University of Stirling. That’s the Wallace monument in the distance.

Picked up some pizza at the Student’s Union.

Then started uphill to intersect the trail.

The reservoir left looked interesting, so I detoured around the water way.

Hillwalking

It’s 394 m ascent from the actual trailhead. I must have climbed another 100 m from the University.

Certainly my legs felt this hillwalk. 😀

Adrianmckie, CC BY-SA 4.0

Mostly the trails are good. Well used.

There are plenty of dog walkers.

Screenshot

Things get rougher as you ascend.

By the top, wind was howling.

There are several commemorative installations.

I felt this was very typical Scottish Hillwalking.

Over the afternoon I had hot sun, blue sky, rain, hail, sleet, wind — multiple times.

Bring layers ready for anything.

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5 Great DAY HIKES in Morocco

Markus Rosehill picked 5 different kinds of hiking environments in Morocco.

00:00 Intro

00:35 Best Coastal Hike

05:12 Best Summit Hike

13:31 Best Oasis Hike

20:14 Best Sahara Hike

24:43 Best Gorge Hike

Note. The video incorrectly mentions that Mt. Toubkal 4,167 m (13,671 ft) requires a guide. Not so. You can easily do it independently though it’s longer than an easy day hike. And altitude sickness is a big risk.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.