The Boyana Church sits just outside the Sofia center and as a UNESCO World Heritage site, it’s a popular place for tourists to visit. While some day trips will include a trip to this church to see the historic frescoes, it’s easy to visit on your own. Plus, if you visit on your own, you’ll …
Located two hours away from Sofia, Bulgaria, the Rila Lakes are a stunning slice of nature. These lakes were formed by glaciers and now sit nestled in the mountains, providing a fantastic backdrop. Hiking at these lakes is a very popular day trip from Sofia and as someone who enjoys hiking, I eagerly signed up …
Durmitor National Park is located in northern Montenegro and is a hiker’s paradise with dozens of trails interweaving through the park. These trails range from paths through forests to rocky, mountain views to lakes with plenty more in between. Honestly, one of the hardest things about visiting this region is trying to decide where to …
The hike from Valbona to Theth is part of the Peaks of the Balkans Trail and is the most popular sections of the trail. Instead of hiking for multiple days, many hikers, including myself, choose to just do this section as a day hike. It’s a beautiful hike that takes you up through the mountains …
Cotopaxi National Park is one of the most famous places in Ecuador. So many travelers include a stop at the Cotopaxi Volcano on their trips, whether that’s a day trip or spending a night in one of the lodges near the base of the volcano. While you could just admire the view of Cotopaxi (if …
The last day of the Quilotoa Loop involves hiking from Chugchilan to Quilotoa. The first two days of the trek are training for today. It’s not only the longest day of the trail, but it’s also the hardest. Today has minimal downhill and more than half of the trail is just one very long climb …
The second day of the Quilotoa Loop involves hiking from Isinlivi to Chugchilan. I found it to be a bit harder than day one, but it’s still pretty manageable. Like every other day on this trail, you’ll hike down to the valley before ascending to an even higher elevation in the mountains of Ecuador. Here’s …
The first day of the Quilotoa Loop is a hike from Sigchos to Isinlivi. It’s the shortest of the three days spent hiking on the Quilotoa Loop, but it still comes with a decent amount of elevation gain. Walk through farmlands as you descend into the valley before climbing back up the mountains as you …
Located in Ecuador, the Quilotoa Loop is a popular hiking trail for tourists. While the exact route can vary slightly, most visitors start in Sigchos and spend three days hiking through the valleys and mountains to reach the Quilotoa Lagoon. The Quilotoa Loop is not the most difficult multi day trek I’ve done in South …
Hiking the Inca Trail brings many emotions. Over four days you’ll ascend into the mountains of Peru to hike over mountain passes and back down as you work your way to the legendary city of Machu Picchu. If you’re like me, you’ll also get added stress and anxiety due to mess ups with my booking. …
