Trekking (ˈtrɛkɪŋ): To make a slow or arduous journey; to journey on foot, especially to hike through mountainous areas (Free Online Dictionary).
Our Trekking the Planet Around the World (RTW) journey was just one of a series of trekking adventures. We have completed overnight hikes, or treks, on all six populated continents around the world. Take a look at our short (one minute) overview video below:
The following are a summary of the treks we have completed:
Rae Lakes Loop, Kings Canyon National Park, USA (1996)
One of the premier hikes in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the Rae Lakes Loop is 46 miles long and climbs from 5,035 feet at the trailhead to 11,978 feet at Glen Pass. The trail features rushing waterfalls, deep canyons, quiet forests, soaring alpine views, and lush meadows full of seasonal wildflowers in Kings Canyon National Park.
Abel Tasman Coastal Track, New Zealand (1999)
At the very top of New Zealand’s South Island, the Abel Tasman Coastal Track links a myriad of crescent-shaped coves of golden sand washed by the waters of Tasman Bay. The 31-mile trek wanders along beaches and hikes around headlands with commanding views.
Milford Track, New Zealand (1999)
The world-famous Milford Track takes hikers across suspension bridges along boardwalks and over a mountain pass. The 33-mile trail also passes through rainforest, along lakes, and provides beautiful valley views.
Sikkim, India (2003)
During our Cosmos four-month, five-continent trip with our daughters, we hiked with a guide in the Sikkim region of India. A highlight was viewing Kangchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world.
Colca Canyon, Peru (2005)
We took a multiple-day hike with a guide into Colca Canyon. It is one of the world’s deepest canyons and home to the giant Andean condor, which we got to see during our time there.
Overland Track, Australia (2012)
Our first Trekking the Planet RTW trek was the Overland Track, a famous “bush walk” in Australia. It begins in Cradle Mountain National Park and ends 50 miles (80 kilometers) later in Lake St. Clair National Park. The terrain in this short distance ranges from mountains to rainforest to alpine plains in this World Heritage area.
Hill Tribes, Laos (2012)
We made the decision to journey to the northern Phongsali region of Laos, in an attempt to hike in a remote area that tourists do not normally visit. Trekking here focused on hill tribe communities, their culture, and way of life high up in the mountains. Nights were spent in village homestays.
Kingdom of Lo/Mustang, Nepal (2012)
The former kingdom of Lo /Mustang is a restricted trekking area, which requires a permit to visit. It was only opened to foreigners about 20 years ago and life has remained little changed there for centuries. The trek provided us with the opportunity to learn more about the Tibetan Buddhists who live there, as well as experience incredible Himalayan scenery at every turn.
Tian Shan Mountains and Lakes, Kyrgyzstan (2012)
Tian Shan literally means ‘celestial mountains’ and is a large mountain range located in Central Asia. Within these mountains are beautiful lakes. Two of the largest lakes in Kyrgyzstan are Issyk-Kul Lake and Song-Kul Lake. These alpine lakes feature pastures used by villagers who spend the summer there with their herds.
Kungsleden Trail, Lapland, Sweden (2012)
The Kungsleden, or ‘The King’s Trail’, is a 275 mile (443-kilometer) hiking track in the northern part of Sweden. It passes through one of Europe’s largest remaining wilderness areas, about 100 miles inside the Arctic Circle. We hiked 64 miles of the trail. The environment is harsh there, and we had wet and windy weather almost the entire time we hiked.
Julian Alps, Slovenia (2012)
The Julian Alps are located in the eastern portion of the Alps range. Hiking trails in the Triglav National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) travel below snow-capped mountains, deep gorges, and around mountain lakes. Staying in the huts provided us with the opportunity to meet many interesting people. And we were impressed with the beauty of the mountains, lakes, and forests.
Maasai Mara Walking Safari, Kenya (2012)
During our four day trek in Kenya, we experienced and learned the ways of the Maasai people as these original inhabitants of the area acted as guides during our hike. The route passed through breathtaking scenery of endless savannas, bushes, and forests, full of wildlife in the distance. While hiking we saw zebra and wildebeest.
Simien National Park, Ethiopia (2012)
A World Heritage Site, the Simien Mountain range in Northern Ethiopia is bounded on the north and east by a massive and long escarpment cut along its length by deep gorges. Views over this vast plain are breathtaking. It is possible to see the wild ibex, once hunted close to extinction, the Simien fox and troops of Gelada baboons.
Petra, Jordan (2012)
Petra is in the Middle East country of Jordan and is a historical city dating from the 6th century B.C. Our trek took us through the desert on old Bedouin trails over four days before finally arriving at this architectural masterpiece.
Amazon Rainforest, Brazil (2013)
The Amazon Rainforest is one of the world’s most fragile ecosystems with over 15,000 different species of animals, an array of amazing fauna and plants, and a variety of birds. We spent our time in the community of Xixuau, which is located about 285 river miles (460 kilometers) from Manaus, Brazil. The area around Xixuau contains pristine rainforest and we were able to see a variety of plants and animals while trekking.
Los Glaciares National Park, Argentina (2013)
Parque Nacional Los Glaciares is a national park in the Santa Cruz Province of Argentinean Patagonia. The national park, created in 1937, is the second-largest in Argentina. Its name refers to the giant ice cap in the Andes range that feeds 47 large glaciers, of which 13 flow towards the Atlantic Ocean. The ice cap is the largest outside of Antarctica and Greenland. In 1981 it was declared a World Heritage Site.
Torres Del Paine National Park, Chile (2013)
The “W” Trek in Torres del Paine National Park is a multiple-day hike through one of the most beautiful places on earth. En route are giant granite spikes, bright blue wind-whipped lakes, iceberg-loaded rivers, and the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, which is a vast junction of glaciers. On our final Trekking the Planet RTW trek we walked through valleys, along lakes, and near some incredible mountains and glaciers, including the iconic Torres del Paine and the beautiful Grey Glacier.
Pacific Crest Trail, California / Oregon USA (2016)
The Pacific Crest Trail is a 2,650-mile long-distance hiking along the California desert and the highest portion of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountain ranges in California, Oregon, and Washington. The PCT southern start point is on the U.S. border with Mexico, just south of Campo, California, and its northern endpoint is the Canada–US border in British Columbia. The route travels mostly through National Forest and protected wilderness areas.
We completed 1,828 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail over 4 1/2 months, as we hiked through most of California and all of Oregon.
Isle Royale National Park, Michigan USA (2017)
Isle Royale National Park is located in Michigan’s Lake Superior. Its remote location and winter park closure make it the least visited national park in the lower 48 states.
We backpacked primarily on the Greenstone Ridge Trail. The longest trail in the park, Greenstone Ridge runs 40 miles along the island’s highest ridges from one end to the other. It passes several points with views of the island and Lake Superior, including the highest point on Isle Royale at 1,394 feet.
We didn’t have time to complete the entire trail, but instead covered about 25 miles of its total distance, making a total trek of 30.3 miles in four days. This backpacking trip was part of our TTP NPS journey to 27 national parks in 4 1/2 months.
Camino Portugues, Portugal / Spain (2018)
The Camino de Santiago is a world-famous path also called The Way of St James. However, there is not just one, but many Camino routes. As far back as the Middle Ages, pilgrims walked from all over Europe to the cathedral in the Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela, where it was believed that the remains of the apostle James were buried.
We trekked 150 miles on the second most popular path, the Camino Portugues, completed by about 20% of 2017 Camino hikers. This Camino took us along ancient paths and over bridges directly descending from major roads that once formed the backbone of the Roman Empire. Our hike consisted of 12 stages over 13 days and began in Porto, Portugal.
GR53, France (2018)
The Grand Randonnee (GR) system is a group of long-distance hiking trails. There are more than 100 GR routes in Europe, found primarily in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Spain. Over a six-day period in July, we trekked on a small GR section in the northeast Alsace region of France – the GR53.
Our hike began in Wissembourg, France, right across the German border. We experienced the beauty of the Vosges Mountains as we walked through the Regional Nature Park of the Northern Vosges, designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Our 65-mile hike also took us past ruins of medieval castles dotting the area. We trekked close to about 15 of these structures, with some dating back from the 13th century.
Lechweg, Germany / Austria (2018)
The 158-mile Lech River is tributary of the Danube, Europe’s second-longest waterway. In 2012 a long-distance trail was completed that runs from the Lech’s source, at the Lake Formarinsee in the Austrian Alps, to the city of Fussen, Germany (near the famous Neuschwanstein Castle). In late July 2018, we hiked the 80-mile Lechweg Trail, starting from Fussen and going into the Austrian Alps.
We trekked for six days along the river, spending the night in inns along the way. As we climbed toward the Austrian Alps, we walked through the Tyrolean Lech Nature Park, by several waterfalls, and along a variety of flora and fauna.
Swiss Alpine Pass Route, Liechtenstein / Switzerland (2018)
Our final Europe trek was our longest and most difficult – a 220-mile, three-week journey across the Swiss Alps. The route we chose goes by several names: the Swiss National Walking Route 1, the Via Alpina Green Route, and the Swiss Alpine Pass Route. Our hike began in Vaduz, Liechtenstein.
From there, we trekked a total of 21 stages over 23 days through the Alps, crossing 16 mountain passes, before finishing on the shore of Lake Geneva in Montreux. We alternated our nights between stays in mountain huts and small towns.
Arizona Trail – Flagstaff to Utah Border, Arizona USA (2019)
The Arizona Trail is one of 11 designated national scenic trails in the United States. It runs 800 miles in a north-south direction from the Mexican border to Utah. One of the trail’s highlights is a traverse from the south to north rims of the Grand Canyon.
Over a two-week period, we hiked 13 stages over 14 days, totaling 200 miles, along the northern-most section of the trail. Before we arrived at the Grand Canyon’s South Rim, we hiked about 100 miles in two national forests. We also trekked through a ranch area along winding dirt roads. It is a relatively dry terrain, and much of our daily distance was dictated by the availability of water. After completing our rim-to-rim trek, we encountered snow and cold conditions at the North Rim. Our final push took us to the red cliffs of Utah, adjacent to the Grand Staircase-Escalante and Vermilion Cliffs National Monuments.
Pacific Crest Trail, California / Washington USA (2019)
We continued trekking the Pacific Crest Trail, completing more sections in our quest to finish the entire 2,650-mile distance.
In 2019 we hiked a 33-mile section in California that we had to skip in 2016 due to fire. We also spent three weeks in July completing 317 miles in the state of Washington, from the Columbia River to Stevens Pass, before injuries forced us to stop for the season.
Arizona Trail – Pine to Flagstaff, Arizona USA (2020)
With the world engulfed in the pandemic during 2020, our overseas trekking plans were affected. However, since the Arizona Trail is within a day’s drive from our Southern California home, we could easily plan a hike with little notice. So we waited for a window of opportunity that allowed us to trek with little personal interaction. This allowed us to complete another 104-mile section (110 miles total), from Pine to Flagstaff, in October.
Joshua Tree National Park, California USA (2021)
As 2021 dawned, we looked for some trekking opportunities close to home. We created a custom multi-day “traverse” around the northwest Mojave Desert portion of Joshua Tree National Park, linking together 60 miles of trails, dirt roads, and overland sections. In February we trekked the loop over four days.
Arizona Trail – Sunflower to Pine, Arizona USA (2021)
We continued our Arizona Trail hiking with a 72-mile section through the Mazatzal Wilderness. Located in Arizona’s transition zone between the desert and Colorado Plateau, the wilderness featured a variety of flora as the heat was on with warm temperatures. We completed the distance in May, passing the halfway point of our AZT miles.
Pacific Crest Trail – Sierra Nevada Mountains, California USA (2021)
In an attempt to complete our remaining California Pacific Crest Trail miles, we trekked 268.5 miles in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in July and August. Our hiking took us on both the John Muir Trail and Pacific Crest Trail through two national parks and five wilderness areas. In the process, we climbed over 13 passes and gained over 51,000 feet in elevation (and lost a similar amount) on the trail. Unfortunately, due to smoke from the Dixie Fire, we had to leave the trail with 42.7 miles remaining.
Cotswold Way, England (2022)
The Cotswolds are a series of hills that rise from the upper Thames River to a steep slope, known as the Cotswold Edge. The 102-mile Cotswold Way National Trail runs along this escarpment, which includes traversing through one of the largest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in England. Besides providing views to the north and west along the trail, the Cotswold Way passes through many villages that contain quaint buildings made of Cotswold stone.
Our eight stage trek over nine stages over 10 days in May 2022 took us from the the historic Bath Abbey in the south to the market town of Chipping Campden in the north. Our lodging each night was in an iconic village as we trekked through the heart of this cultural and natural area.
This was the first of eight Trekking the British Isles long-distance hikes that we completed in 2022, totaling 700 miles.
Hadrian’s Wall Path, England (2022)
Hadrian ruled as ancient Rome’s emperor for 21 years, from 117 to 138 AD. To mark the northern portion of the Roman empire at the time, an 80-mile coast-to-coast wall was constructed, using up to 15,000 troops and two million tons of stone. Fortifications, including 16 forts, were built along the way. The 84-mile Hadrian’s Wall Path follows along this ancient border, providing insight into portions of the wall that have been preserved, as well as fortress ruins that can be visited most days of our trek.
Hadrian’s Wall became a World Heritage Site in 1987 and, in addition to the structures along the path, we were treated to sweeping vistas of the Pennines and both coasts, as we hiked over 7 days in May 2022 from Bowness-on-Solway in the west to Newcastle in the east. The completion of an optional seven-mile trail to the North Sea on the final day made this a true coast-to-coast trek of a total of 91 miles.
John Muir Way, Scotland (2022)
Known as “the father of national parks,” John Muir was instrumental in protecting Yosemite Valley, founding the Sierra Club, and becoming an influential figure in the conservation movement. And he was born in Scotland, in a small town called Dunbar. One of Scotland’s Great Trails, the 134-mile John Muir Way journeys through Scotland’s landscapes, history, and heritage. Traversing central Scotland, it links Helensburgh in the west with John Muir’s birth place Dunbar in the east, making it a coast-to-coast walk.
Highlights of the trail include hiking through mountains, lochs, canals, and coastal beaches. In addition to the natural scenery, historic sites, such as the Roman Antonine Wall, and modern marvels, such as the engineering feat of the Falkirk Wheel, are visited during the walk.
We completed our 134-mile trek of the John Muir Way in ten stages, over 11 days, in June 2022.
Speyside Way, Scotland (2022)
The River Spey is the second-longest in Scotland at 98 miles. One of four official Scottish long-distance routes, the Speyside Way is 67 miles long. It passes through the Speyside whiskey distilleries in the heart of Scotland’s whiskey country.
The trail took us us through a diverse landscape of mountain, heath, moorland, woodland and river valley before arriving at the Moray coast. We added seven additional miles to the base route, to take us in a loop through the town of Dufftown. There are nine distilleries adjacent to Dufftown, including one of Scotland’s best-known distilleries, Glenfiddich. In all, we hiked five stages over six days in June 2022, hiking a total of 74 miles.
Causeway Coast Way, Northern Ireland (2022)
The Giant’s Causeway, located along the Northern Ireland coast, is a natural World Heritage Site composed of more than 40,000 hexagonal columns created during a period of intense prehistoric volcanic activity. The 32-mile Causeway Coast Way passes along these formations, as well as along scenic bays, sandy beaches, dramatic cliffs, and off-shore rocks. It is part of the Ulster Way Trail, which makes a 636-mile circuit of Northern Ireland.
We completed our four-stage route, from Ballycastle to Portstewart, in July 2022. While trekking 32 miles we walked through the Causeway Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the World Heritage Site, and several Areas of Special Scientific Interest.
Wicklow Way, Ireland (2022)
The Wicklow Way is one of Ireland’s most popular hiking trails, beginning in the southern suburbs of Dublin and ending in the village of Clonegal. Over its 80 miles, the path travels through mountains and steep glacial valleys before mellowing into rolling foothills. One of the trail highlights is a visit to the early monastic site of Glendalough. The area is known as Ireland’s “Ancient East” because the Wicklow Mountains are older than both the Alps and the Himalayas.
We hiked the Wicklow Way in July 2022, completing the 80-mile distance over seven stages.
South Leinster Way, Ireland (2022)
The South Leinster Way is a 65-mile trek that begins in the village of Kildavin and ends in the town of Carrick-on-Suir. It passes varied terrain, including the shoulders of Mount Leinster and Brandon Hill, the towpath along the River Barrow, and several sections of forest and woodland. It also passes through the beautiful and historic villages and towns of Borris, Graiguenamanagh, Inistioge, and Mullinavat.
We hiked the trail in July – August 2022 over five stages, spending our nights in the quaint villages and towns, and sleeping at a couple of farmhouse stays.
Kerry Way, Ireland (2022)
The longest of Ireland’s National Waymarked trails, the Kerry Way is an up to 130-mile circular path (with many options) that begins and ends in the town of Killarney, Ireland. In the process, the trail circles the Iveragh Peninsula, providing a walkers’ version of the Ring of Kerry road drive. The trail passes through the peninsula’s Killarney National Park, MacGillycuddy’s Reeks mountain range, and parallels the coastline.
We completed a 123-mile route, hiking nine stages over 11 days in August 2022. In the process, we took in the natural beauty of the mountain and coastal scenery while spending each night in pubs, guesthouses, homestays, and B&Bs on the peninsula.
Arizona Trail – Oracle to the Gila River, Arizona USA (2023)
Back on the Arizona Trail, we took a winter section hike to the Sonoran Desert in February 2023. During our four-day trek, we hiked through an area containing thousands of saguaro cactus. We tried to maintain a sense of adventure as we contended with short days, cold nights, heavy rain, and gusty winds.
Our planned 90 miles was cut short with the weather conditions forcing us to stop after 61 miles. But during our trek we experienced some incredible natural beauty.
California Missions Trail, California, USA (2023)
The Spanish mission period was an important part of California’s history. Construction of the mission network, beginning with San Diego in the south and ending in Sonoma in the north, took place between 1769 and 1823. A recent route allows walkers to visit all 21 missions – a “California Camino” of sorts.
Between April and July 2023 we trekked 800 miles over 57 stages, beginning in San Diego. The path passed along the coastal cities of Oceanside, San Clemente, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Monterey, and Santa Cruz. The trail also traversed through the urban areas surrounding Los Angeles and San Francisco. Over ninety percent of the route was along roads, but we were still able to view California’s diverse natural beauty and learn about the cultural significance of the mission period in the state’s history.
Pacific Crest Trail – Northern Washington, USA (2023)
With a goal to complete the remainder of the 2,650-mile PCT this year, we spent 14 days trekking from Stevens Pass to Manning Park in Canada. During our 197 miles (188 PCT miles) of hiking in July and August we gained and lost about 45,000 feet each as we tackled one of the most difficult sections of the entire trail. The steep ascents and decents, coupled with hundreds of downed trees provided us with continual trail challenges. It was also some of the most incredible natural beaufy we had ever seen, providing a fitting end to the majority of this epic PCT trekking adventure.
Pacific Crest Trail – Sierra Nevada Mountains, California USA (2023)
Our final section of the Pacific Crest Trail took us 42.7 miles in a southernly direction from South Lake Tahoe to Ebbetts Pass. Over four days in September we walked along a section shared with the Tahoe Rim Trail and passed a beautiful series of lakes. After hiking through Carson Pass, our final night was spent in an amphitheatre of rocky mountains. It was an emotional end to our 2,650 miles of trekking the entire trail.
Arizona Trail – Four Peaks Wilderness, Arizona USA (2024)
In March 2024 we completed a four-day trek through the Arizona Trail’s Four Peaks Wilderness. During this hike we encountered some beautiful mountain and saguaro cactus scenery. We also contended with significant rain, hail, and snow.
With 42.5 miles completed on this trek, we are just a few miles shy of the 500-mile mark of the 800-mile trail.