Despite the despotic Chinese government, Hong Kong offers the BEST urban hiking of any major city in the world.
Logistics are EASY getting to and from trailheads.
Click PLAY or watch Kraig Adams on YouTube.
5 Fantastic Hikes
#3 day hike – Besseggen Ridge, Norway
One of our top 10 day hikes in the world.
Why?
A stunning and unique walk in Norway’s most popular National Park – Jotunheimen.
- Jotunheimen National Park has most of the highest mountains in Norway
- Besseggen … or Besseggi … in Jotunheimen, is a thrilling ridge walk with alpine lakes on either side: Gjende and Bessvatnet.
- recommended from the end of June to mid-September
- 13.3km (8.25mi) plus one-way ferry
- 6-9 hours
- 950m elevation gain
- highest point, Veslfjellet (1743m)
- dogs on leash allowed
- trail runners enjoy it
World → Europe → Norway → Besseggen Ridge
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
For details click over to our Besseggen Ridge information page.
Vancouver Island Route – Documentary
Krysta Norwick and her husband Brian are two of the (relatively few) adventurers who have successfully thru hiked what’s called the Vancouver Island Trail.
It’s a work in progress. Watch the VIDEO and you’ll see plenty of route finding and bushwhacking.
It’s being built and maintained by the non-profit Vancouver Island Trail Association.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
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. 😀
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.
Top 10 Hiking Destinations ➙ 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.
Our original hiking bible is the now discontinued Lonely Planet Trekking in the Patagonian Andes:
Respectful Bear waits until Couple Finishes Fighting 😀
Saying the pair sounded as if they were going through enough as it was, a respectful grizzly bear told reporters Friday that he was waiting to attack a tent until the couple inside had finished their fight.
Queenstown, New Zealand – Adventure Capital of the World
Queenstown is one of our top 10 hiking towns in the world.
Jumping off point for …
• Milford Track
• Routeburn Track
• Kepler Track
There’s MUCH more to do in Queenstown, however.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
#9 – Haute Route (Chamonix-Zermatt), Alps
The Haute Route in Europe is one of our top 10 hikes in the world.
Sometimes called …
- The Walker’s Haute Route
- “High Route”
- Mt Blanc to the Matterhorn
- Chamonix to Zermatt
Why?
Chamonix to Zermatt, Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn – in two weeks of mountain travel you will see the greatest collection of 4000 metre peaks in the Alps!
- Alpine charm: valleys, lakes, glaciers
- great food, history, culture
- from Mont Blanc, the highest peak in Europe (4810m, 15,781ft) …
- … to the Matterhorn, the most beautiful peak in the alps
- 9-15 days
- 180+kms (112mi)
- best months June-Sept
- crosses 11 passes, gains more than 12,000m elevation
- difficult hiking
World → Europe → Alps → Haute Route
Click PLAY or watch a 1 minute preview on YouTube.
For details click over to our Haute Route information page.
Apple Watch for Photos / Videos 2025
My main use case is taking a photo / starting video recording remotely.
Of course I put my iPhone on a tripod.
- Camera Remote on Apple Watch is fantastic. Within about 33 feet or 10 meters it provides these options:
- photo timer delay
- switch Camera (front or rear)
- LIVE PHOTO (auto, on, or off)
- all iPhone camera modes work with the app — aside from panorama
- framing the photo / video from a distance is a plus
- I always use LIVE PHOTO to later choose the best image
- I set up the iPhone to get closer to birds / animals. And then click remotely when they are in frame.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
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