Category: volcanoes

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Indonesia – Bromo Volcano at Dawn

Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles

I’ve long wanted to get to this famous vista.  It didn’t disappoint. 

Mount Bromo 2,329 meters (7,641 ft) is an active somma volcano and Hindu pilgrimage site in East Java, Indonesia.

The name Bromo comes from the Javanese pronunciation of Brahma, the Hindu god of creation.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Getting there is a wild ride.   Almost everyone signs up for a jeep tour.  Only these small Toyota Landcruiser Jeeps are allowed up the mountain.

I departed my hostel in Malang City at 12:45am.  It was a scary Mad Max ride over dirt tracks before reaching the viewpoint at 3:15am. 

They get you there so early in case of road problems.  And jeep breakdowns.  It happens. 

They also hope you’ll rent warm jackets and blankets.  Or buy some souvenirs.  

It’s well worth being there at very first light through dawn, in any case.  The volcano vista keeps changing.  Every photo a possible postcard. 

Here are just a few of the dozens I shot. 

It’s crowded!  Everyone scrambling for the best position.  

The adventurous bushwhack down the hillside looking for more unique framing. 

I’ll never forget Bromo. 

From here the jeep takes you down to the smouldering caldera for a crowded, dusty climb up stairs.  I was disappointed with this and the sea of sand beneath.  There are many better volcanoes to climb in Indonesia.

DETAILS

Of a number of 1, 2, or 3 day options, I ended up doing the most popular ➙ Bromo Sunrise Tour. Very inexpensive at CAD $50 which includes entry fees.

Itinerary:

  • 00:30: Prepare for pick-up from Malang hostel by 4×4 Jeep
  • 01:00: Journey to Penanjakan (sunrise viewpoint by jeep).
  • 03:30: Arrive at the viewpoint and wait for sunrise
  • 05:00: Witness the magical sunrise from Penanjakan.
  • 06:30: Drive down to the Bromo crater area.
  • 07:00: Free time exploring the Bromo Crater.
  • 08:30: Visit the Sand Sea area and the Savanna.
  • 09:00: Begin the journey back to Malang.
  • 11:30: Approximate arrival back at the hostel.

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BestHike – Tongariro Circuit, New Zealand

Tongariro Northern Circuit is one of our top 10 hikes in the world.

Click PLAY or watch a 1 minute introduction on YouTube.

Tongariro Circuit

Our favourite multi-day tramp in our favourite hiking region of the world — glorious New Zealand.

AND our top volcano hike worldwide.

by Jeff Pang

AT A GLANCE

  • one of our top 10 hikes in the world
  • non-stop superb hiking
  • mostly volcanic & desert environs
  • 34+km (19+mi) depending on route
  • 3-days, 2-nights minimum
  • option to climb a volcano, or two
  • medium difficulty hiking, with challenging sections
  • wonderful variety of scenery
  • Dec – Mar best months
  • maximum elevation Red Crater 1886m (6188ft)
  • very crowded on the Tongariro Crossing section

Read more on our Tongariro Northern Circuit information page.

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Timberline Trail – around Mt Hood

Clever Hiker updated details in 2024:

Timberline Trail Backpacking Guide

  • Distance: 38.3-mile loop
  • Time Needed: 3-4 days
  • Highest Elevation: 7,350 ft. Timberline High Point 
  • Lowest Elevation: 3,300 ft. Near Ramona Falls 
  • Elevation Gain (approx.): 9,000 ft.
  • Best Time to Hike: July-September
  • Permits: Yes (May 15th to October 15th)
  • Difficulty: Challenging

Permits

Permits are required for overnight trips on the Timberline Trail from May 15th to October 15th, but they are free and can be found at trailheads around Mt. Hood. Simply fill one out before you hit the trail. Some trailheads do require a Northwest Forest Pass for parking.

Jon posted a detailed trip report on their August 2019 circuit of Oregon’s highest peak. It’s close to Portland.

This report is all you need to organize that adventure for yourself. 

Plenty of climbs and descents. Quite a few creeks crossings. Not what we’d call an easy week.

They started and ended at Timberline Lodge. And hiked clockwise.

The report includes excellent photos so you really get a feel for what to expect.

Mount Hood (photo credit: Dan Nevill, CC 2.0)
Ramona Falls (photo credit: Dan Nevill, CC 2.0)

Check it out:

TIMBERLINE TRAIL – MOUNT HOOD WILDERNESS, OR (40 MILE LOOP)

Timberline is one of our best hikes in North America.
 
Similar adventures in the Pacific N.W. include the Wonderland Trail around Mt Ranier and / or a partial circuit around nearby Mt Adams.

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#6 best hiking region in the world is the …

Patagonian Andes

Patagonia is massive and bleak. Yet we love the Patagonian Andes, 2000km (1243mi) in length, but averaging less than 100km (62mi) in width. You could take years exploring just the eastward (drier) side of the mountains.

Towering granite peaks, untouched lakes, massive glaciers, huge volcano trekking peaks. This land is phenomenal.

Trekkers target five areas:

  • The Araucania
  • Lakes District
  • Central Patagonia
  • Southern Patagonia
  • Tierra del Fuego

Start in Mendoza, Argentina and visit the highest mountain outside Asia, Aconcagua. Next bus to the Switzerland of South America (Lake District). Some of the highest volcanoes of the world are here. Finally, work your way south by air and ferry to the granite spires at the south tip of the continent.

Trekking season here is Nov-Apr. (Feb-Mar often the best weather) That said, the wind and weather in Patagonia is notorious. Independent hikers need be prepared for anything and everything.

Conversational Spanish highly recommended for those travelling independently.

More information on our new Patagonia information page.

Our favourite hike in the Patagonian Andes is the Paine Circuit in Chile.


John Grey Pass, Paine Circuit – flickr – Patagonia set – Michael Bollino

See our Paine Circuit Information page.

Click PLAY or see how to trek Aconcagua Base Camp independently on YouTube.

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BEST Hikes in the World

According to one AllTrails list.

It includes both challenging multi-day and short single-day adventures.

Our favourites from this list are in bold.

These lists are far from definitive. They are more conversation starters to get you thinking where you might want to go next.

For example, the Tonquin Trail is a 4.0-km out-and-back trail near Tofino on Vancouver Island. I’m on the island right now and can name easily a dozen better hikes close by. 😀

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

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BestHike – Skógafoss Waterfall Way, Iceland

One of our BEST VIDEOS.

Perhaps 25 waterfalls and spectacular canyons in series.

I can’t recall better anywhere else in the world.

Trail starts at massive Skógafoss and continues 8km (5 miles). The views just as good on the way back.

I waited about 5 days for a good weather window. Hiked the Waterfall Way twice, up-and-down, over 3 days.

I wanted the trail as empty of people as possible. And to catch the sun low in the sky.

Trip Report

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

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Amazing Stuðlagil Canyon, Iceland

Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles

When the construction of Kárahnjúkar Hydro Dam was finished 2009, Stuðlagil (Studlagil) Canyon became fully visible.

The water level in the river Jökla, that runs through the canyon, dropped and amazing basalt columns have since become one of the most popular tourist attractions in eastern Iceland.

Click PLAY or get a glimpse on YouTube.

The landowners were still building tourist infrastructure in 2024.

I stayed at the simple campground on the northern side of the river.

A German couple — world travellers — in a camper van, offered me lamb dinner with locally picked mushrooms. And wine! It was my best meal in Iceland. 😀

Once the tourists were gone in the evening, I climbed down a long set of stairs to have the northern viewing platform all to myself.

Next morning, I cycled over to the southern side of the river. It’s the better experience. Go to both sides, if you can.

Stuðlagil (Studlagil) is a canyon in the Eastern Region of Iceland.

It is known for its unusual amount of large columnar basalt rock formations and the turquoise coloured river that runs through it.

The canyon also has an interesting story as it became an unexpected tourist sensation in 2016 after Einar Páll Svavarsson published an article in August of that year on hiticeland.com with spectacular photos.

A year later Einar also wrote an article about Stuðlagil in WOW air magazine in June 2017 and after that the canyon became a popular tourist destination.

It’s an easy detour off the Highway 1 Ring Road. About a 19km/11.8mi sidetrip along road 923. Mostly paved in 2024.

related – All you need to know before visiting Stuðlagil Canyon

official website – studlagil.is

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TOP 10 hikes ➙ Tongariro Circuit, New Zealand

Tongariro Northern Circuit is one of our top 10 hikes in the world.

Click PLAY or watch a 1 minute introduction on YouTube.

Tongariro Circuit

Our favourite multi-day tramp in our favourite hiking region of the world — glorious New Zealand.

AND our top volcano hike worldwide.

by Jeff Pang

AT A GLANCE

  • one of our top 10 hikes in the world
  • non-stop superb hiking
  • mostly volcanic & desert environs
  • 34+km (19+mi) depending on route
  • 3-days, 2-nights minimum
  • option to climb a volcano, or two
  • medium difficulty hiking, with challenging sections
  • wonderful variety of scenery
  • Dec – Mar best months
  • maximum elevation Red Crater 1886m (6188ft)
  • very crowded on the Tongariro Crossing section

Read more on our Tongariro Northern Circuit information page.

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Visiting the Faroe Islands

Planning my own visit to the remote Faroe Islands, I watched Ryan Shirley’s video most.

You need your own motor vehicle and quite a few days to duplicate what Ryan did. Often you want to wait on the weather to see highlights.

Ferries are sometimes cancelled due to wind.

The capital and largest city, Tórshavn, receives the fewest recorded hours of sunshine of any city in the world.

There are about 500km of roads to navigate, though you wouldn’t normally need a 4 wheel drive for most.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.