Tag: #adventuretravel
Otter Trail (Day 4)

Otter Trail (Day 4)

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[Oakhurst Hut → Andre Hut] (13.8 km)

This is the longest, toughest, and most dangerous day of the entire trail! But don’t be discouraged as, since you reached this point already, then you are fit enough to do it, and the rewards along the entire trail are stunning!    

This is the day when the tidal chart you got at the reception on day 1 becomes very very important. Check the low tide and try to plan to reach the Balkrans river half an hour before that for the easiest of crossings, yet you’ll be able to cross at other times but it’ll be more difficult!

The river, itself, is after 10 km from the hut you slept in and 4 km from your next hut, so accordingly plan to start your day which might, sometimes, be at dawn. However, the trail is well-marked and has km markers every 1 km so it’ll be easy to follow even in the dark. Done with all the planning, then let’s start the adventure:)

The first part of the trail will be along the ocean with stunning views and nice sea breeze. This section is fairly easy, so you should be able to hike at a faster pace.

After km 6, the trail will get wilder and tougher. From km 6 to 8, it will be the toughest section before the crossing. In addition to rock scrambling and boulder hopping, it will involve lots of uphills and downhills and you’ll be amazed by the mere fact that such a trail was even built!

The trail will continue inside the forest, and if the weather is hot, beware of where you put your feet because there might be snakes on the trail!

At this point you have done almost 3 hours of hiking today, so take a break and recharge. The final part before the crossing is fairly easy inside the forest and should take you around 1 hour (you’ll be tired by now, so you’ll hike at a much slower pace).

Then the mighty Balkrans river will come into view!!! This is, maybe, the moment you mostly anticipated when you decided to hike the Otter trail…so take a deep breath and enjoy the view.

When you arrive at the river mouth there will be a map showing the crossing routes based on the tide situation. Since we reached the river at low tide, we chose route “A” which is the easiest, yet the longest in which you’ll have to walk in the water.

If you timed it right and had time before the low tide, then this will be an ideal spot for lunch before you cross. In our case, we arrived an hour before the low tide, so we rested, swam and enjoyed the stunning views around us.

Again since we had time, I put on my aqua shoes and decided to test the crossing without the bags and it was really easy as the water was waist level at max.

So when the time came, we decided to cross with our bags on our backs with the rain covers on as we didn’t need neither survival bags nor ropes (didn’t have them anyways since we knew we are going to cross at low tide and had the much cheaper alternative…garbage bags and small dry bags for our valuables… in case we needed them). We crossed 15 minutes before low tide and only the bottom of our bags got a bit wet…nothing more!

The feeling that you crossed and passed the most dangerous part is very refreshing, and since we had time, we celebrated by swimming again; but it is also advisable to relax a bit because the next 4 kilometers are the toughest in terms of hiking.

Immediately after the crossing, you will walk on a very narrow ledge which can be a bit scary, but there are fixed ropes to hold on to if you needed

In this section the adrenaline will be pumping in your veins and you’ll feel like a conqueror who was able to conquer the famous Otter trail, almost:)

After this ledge-walking section, you’ll reach a pebble beach which is very wild and remote.

Then, the first of the two big uphills will start. It wasn’t as bad as previously thought, but after all your effort, the trail will take you down again to another pebble beach:) so take a break here because the next uphill is really grueling. It is the toughest uphill in the entire 5-day trek, so take it slowly and keep going as you know you are almost there.

Finally, you’ll reach the top of the plateau with stunning views and it’ll be all flat and downhills from here to the huts:) 

These last 2 kilometers are really fun and the final steep downhill will take you right to Andre huts which are located on a wild pebble beach 
Otter Trail (Day 3)

Otter Trail (Day 3)

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[Scott Hut → Oakhurst Hut] (7.7 km)

This is the first day when you’ll start encountering the famous river crossings of the Otter trail and you’ll have to plan your hike according to the tide chart to be able to cross these rivers at low tide. The third day of the Otter trail is relatively short, yet it has some challenging uphills. The total distance between the two huts is 7.7 km which will take you around 4 hours, with rests, so you’ve time. However, your start time will depend on the low tide time as the second river that you’ll have to cross, the Lottering River, is after 7 km.    

In this day, you’ll hike on a terrain that, most probably, you never hiked before and you’ll go to places you won’t believe your eyes for their beauty, so get ready and prepare for an amazing adventure:)

The first part of the hike will be, the now familiar, uphill from the hut inside the thick forest. Shortly after that the terrain will completely change and you’ll hike close to the ocean shore.

 

It is an unbelievable background for a hike, what more can an adventurer want other than a blue ocean, green forest, and beautiful sunshine:) You’ll stop a lot here for the perfect ocean picture.

The trail here will involve some boulder hopping and uphills, but every few kilometers you can find hidden pools where you can swim…amazing! 

After 2.5 km, you’ll reach the first of the two river mouths…the Elandsbos river…and it is out of this world.

Crossing this river is very easy, at maximum you’ll only have to take-off your shoes, but the views and the feeling of exclusivity here will make you cross this river back and forth from the excitement.

 

The next section of the trail is the toughest. From here it’ll be an uphill after an uphill and all exposed to the sun without the shelter of the forest trees, but I personally, didn’t realize how tough it was because I was owed by the beauty surrounding me (pic).

After around 4 kilometers, the trail will reach the top of a cliff and start to flatten, to much of your relief. Then in 2 kilometers you’ll start seeing the Lottering river mouth and the huts on the opposite side. At first sight you’ll be scared of the crossing as the huts are directly situated above the river mouth which is deep and wild.

But don’t be as when you start going downhill towards the river, the trail will take you away from the ocean and the crossing will be at a very shallow area. The dissent from here is very steep, so be cautious; and if you reach the river at low tide, you’ll only need to take-off your shoes and cross.

You are now almost at the huts, only 20 minutes left, so secure your bags after you cross the river and go for an amazing swim, but don’t let the fun distract you as the high tide will come. From here to the huts it’ll be a slight uphill and when you reach the huts, you’ll realize that they are situated at an unbelievably amazing spot…so enjoy!

And remember, if you want to check the difference in the water levels between low and high tides, you can go back to the crossing area and try your luck:) and don’t miss the amazing sunset over the ocean.
Otter Trail (Day 2)

Otter Trail (Day 2)

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[Ngubu Hut → Scott Hut] (7.9 km)

Having slept your first night in the wilderness of Tsitsikamma forest and tasted your first experience of the Otter trail beauty, you’ll be all enthusiastic to start your proper Otter trail adventure.   

In day 2, the Otter trail will take you to untouched wilderness beauty that is beyond belief, but you’ll also start your experience with the famous Otter trail steps:) This is fairly tough day but full of diverse rewards. In this day you’ll hike 7.9 km that should take you around 4 hours of hiking, but plan for double of that time because you’ll spend a lot of time enjoying the natural beauties of this day! So have a good breakfast and start early to give yourself plenty of time to enjoy the highlights of this day.

The first section of the trail will be a big uphill in the forest from the Ngubu hut to the top of the plateau. You’ll hike inside the dense green forest away from the ocean but surrounded by the morning sounds of the birds.

When reaching the top of the plateau, there will be a viewpoint above the ocean which will serve as a nice rest stop; however, after that you’ll have a series of small downhills and uphills, inside the forest, till you reach Skilderkrens rock.

Once you put your eyes on this magnificent rock, you’ll know right-away what amazing views await you from its top; it is a very rugged rock that stands all alone on top of the ocean!!

Although hiking to the top of Skilderkrens rock is not part of the trail, believe me…its well worth the detour! So leave your bags at the junction and hike, actually you’ll find yourself running, to the top. 

When reaching the top, just take your time and admire the 360 degrees views surrounding you. From the dramatic waves crushing on the rocky cliffs, to the lush green forest below you, to the wide blue ocean in front of you…so take lots of pictures from every possible angle & enjoy:)

 

After getting back to the trail, proper, don’t forget your bags:) and continue your hike. The next section of the hike will be very enjoyable as it’ll continue downhill inside the forest till you reach this day’s second highlight…the Kleinbos river! This is a nice relaxing picnic spot, but first you’ll have to do some rock-hopping to cross the river, then pick a spot, have lunch, and enjoy.

But wait, this is not what all this river has to offer!! If you venture a little bit upstream, you’ll do some more rock-hopping, then find yourself at a magical water pool imbedded into the forest, so put on your swimsuit and take a dip:)

Being refreshed and ecstatic, get ready for some more uphills and the famous Otter trail’s steps! Take your time, have as many rests as you need, and continue hiking in the forest till you reach the junction for the Blue bay!! At this point you’ll be tired and start doubting whether it is worth the detour or not, especially that it involves a big uphill on your way back to the trail, but I’ll just show you this next picture and the decision will be extremely easy.

Take the detour, you can leave your bag up and hope a baboon doesn’t take it:) we did that! And go down to the bay. You are now in heaven…not only that it is an exclusive heaven, only you and 11 other hikers in this paradise! No matter how I try to describe the beauty of this bay, I won’t be able to really capture it in words…but it is one of the most beautiful sights that I’ve ever seen. Not only that, but you’ll have an opportunity to swim in a clear blue ocean water, surf some waves, and relax in amazing surroundings…it is simply heaven.

 

 

I know you’ll want to spend the night there, and who doesn’t, but unfortunately, you’ll have to go to your hut, so when you are ready, hike back up to the Otter trail, which turned up not as tough as I previously thought. Now take a final rest because the next section of the trail is a big uphill.

It is the final push towards Scott huts, tough one though, so take your time, and put all your effort into it. After this big uphill, you’ll reach an emergency exit, after which it’ll be all downhill to the huts. The huts are located at the Geelhoutbos river mouth, so another opportunity to swim:) 
Otter Trail (Day 1)

Otter Trail (Day 1)

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[Stormsriver Mouth → Ngubu Hut] (4.8 km)

It is the big day, it is the day you have been planning and preparing for for maybe a year. I know you can’t hide your excitement that its finally here and that you’ll finally fulfill one of your bucket list dreams…so don’t! it is the first day of the Otter Trail & it deserves all the excitement you are feeling:) 

The first day of this famed trail is a nice introduction to the trail as it is the easiest of the 5 days. The total distance that you’ll hike today is only 4.8 km from Stormsriver Mouth to Ngubu hut which roughly takes 4.5 hours to complete, yet it’ll be as rewarding as every coming day of this masterpiece of a trail. And being a short day is an advantage as it’ll allow you time for last minute shopping & packing before taking your transport to Stormsriver Mouth, but don’t start later than 2pm (in the summer) to allow yourself time to enjoy all the highlights of this day bearing in mind that if you are based in George, it’ll take you around 3 hours to reach Stormsriver.

When reaching Stormsriver Mouth entrance there will be a designated road for the start of the Otter Trail where, at its end, your transport will drop you at the registration office. Here you’ll sign-in for the entire trail, and do all the necessary paperwork; in addition, they will give you valuable information about the trail, timings of each day, location of emergency exits & numbers to call, the location of the drinking water sources, and above all, a very good map of the trail and the, all important, tide chart (click to request info). After finishing the registration process, there is a preparation room on the opposite side of the street where you can make final adjustments to your backpack, weigh it, and fill your water bottles; and next to this room is the start of your adventure!!

All excited and ready for 5 days of absolute nature beauty away from civilization, then take a picture of this milestone of a step and start:)

The first part of the trail is a downhill hike through the lush green forest. In this part, you’ll be very excited and hike quickly on the sounds of birds & squirrels, then you’ll start getting a glimpse of the magnificent ocean through the thick trees.

You’ll continue hiking downhill for almost an hour till you reach a rocky beach.

At this point, you’ll find a lot of day hikers coming from the direction of the beach aiming for the waterfall which is the furthest they are allowed to go. Right after the beach is the Guano Caves. Often overlooked by hikers who are excited to reach the waterfall, this cave is definitely worth exploring. Although it’s a bit eerie to go inside, the adventurous spirit in you will encourage you to go inside and you’ll feel like a true explorer into the unknown with some amazing rock formations.

After taking your time exploring the cave, the next part of the trail will involve a lot of boulder-hopping along the coast. At first it’ll be physically demanding, but you’ll get the hang of it;

and after, approximately, 2 km from the start you’ll get closer and closer to the ocean and the roaring sound of the waves crashing into the rocks. Throughout this section you’ll find some wooden paths to help you navigate the rocks, but don’t let your enthusiasm to reach the waterfall make you forget that there are amazing pictures to be taken here…so take your time & lots of pictures:)

Just before the 3 km mark you’ll reach the waterfall. Whether the waterfall, itself, is at full force or not, it is still an amazing refreshing sight to admire and the natural pool below it will be a very welcome refresher, so put on your swim suit, unleash your spirit, and take a dip in this amazingly pure fresh water.

Now you are three quarters of the way to the hut so take your time, have a picnic, and don’t let the waterfall distract you from the opposite sight. So grab a comfy rock and relax with a view like no other…the endless ocean and the white washing waves!

Now you’ll realize that all the talk about the beauty of this trail is not exaggerated; and from now on, it’ll be all exclusive for you and your other fellow 11 hikers!!

The final section of this day will start by more boulder-hopping, then you’ll hike a bit uphill info the forest… and it’ll be only you…no more day hikers! Soon after 1 hour, you’ll reach the Ngubu hut and you’ll get a taste of the amazing nights to come.

Settle in, pick a bed for yourself, and get to know your fellow hikers, as they will be the only people you’ll see for 4 days:) At every hut, you’ll find drinking water, fire wood, bbq facilities, fire pits, and toilets, so prepare your first dinner & ENJOY:)
Africa

Africa

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Algeria: Algiers

Egypt: Alexandria, Aswan, Cairo, Hurghada, Luxor, Marsa Alam, Sahl Hasheesh, Sharm El Sheikh, Taba, Western Desert 

Morocco: Casablanca, Marrakesh, Mt. Toubkal, Ouzoud Waterfalls, Essaouira    

South Africa: Addo Elephant NP, Cape Agulhas, Cape Town, Drakensburg Mountains, Durban, Otter Trail, Table Mountain NP 

 
Otter Trail

Otter Trail

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The Otter Trail

It is the crown jewel of South Africa’s national park system, a dream for every nature lover and the one trail on every adventurer bucket list…it is the famed OTTER TRAIL!! 45 km of coastal and forest hiking in 5 days, starting from Stormriver Mouth to Nature Valley; involving: countless uphills, steep downhills, 4 nights sleeping in wilderness huts away from civilization, and, above all, 3 river crossings! All of this can be done independently and on your own…all it requires is some careful planning…So Lets Start the Adventure:)

Without question, the first step is to book your spot on this famed trail as only 12 people are allowed to start the hike per day! Depending on your group’s size, people sometimes need to book a year in advance to secure a spot, so the smaller the group, the higher chance to find a spot. I, personally, was lucky enough to find a spot only a month & half in advance, but they were the last remaining spots in the entire month! So plan ahead and be flexible with your dates.

The booking process itself is very easy and straightforward. You can do it in person, over the phone, or online and pay instantly with your credit card (click to request info).

One final note before setting your date, check the tide chart for the 4th day of your hike to see if you can reach the river crossing at low tide or not as this will play a major role in being able to finish the entire hike and what to pack. Remember, on that day you will need approximately 4.5 hours to reach the river and 2 hours after you cross to reach the hut.

Having booked your spot, the next important thing is to book your transport to & from the trail. Some people prefer to rent a car and leave it at Nature Valley rest camp and book a transport to Stormriver, but this way you’ll be incurring a 4-day rental cost without using the car while, also, leaving the car unattended for 4 nights. So, in my opinion, its best to book a transport from your hotel/hostel to Stormriver and on the last day from Nature Valley to your next adventure. To help you with this, there are two transport companies specialized in Otter Trail transfer, and I contacted both, but found one to be more professional & reliable than the other (click to request info). Booking with them, everything went smoothly from start to end and I, even, left my extra luggage with them till I finished the trail.

Finally, what to pack?? This is the most important preparation step as this will be all the stuff you will have for 5 days. Although you will be tempted to take everything you can, remember that you will carry all this stuff on your back for 45 km, so you have to know what do you exactly need, what your body needs, and, certainly, the weather. I prepared a simple packing list of the items needed based on my experience and if you need help with that, I can send it to you for free (click to request info).

P.S.: some fellow hikers might suggest that you have to train for the Otter Trail or you will not be able to make it…you don’t!! You just need to be moderately fit with a passion for hiking and adventure travel…so enjoy:) It is a once in a lifetime adventure that captures the true spirit of adventure independent travel!

Day 1  Stormriver → Ngubu Hut
Day 2  Ngubu Hut → Scott Hut
Day 3  Scott Hut → Oakhurst Hut
Day 4  Oakhurst Hut → Andre Hut
Day 5 Andre Hut → Nature Valley

X’ian

X’ian

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X’ian

After all the adventures that you embarked on in Shaanxi province, it is time to unwind and get an intense cultural and historical dose in its lively cultural capital…X’ian.

X’ian is a true multi-cultural city in China with the largest Moslem population in China calling it home since the early ages and, unlike Beijing, it still preserves the rural Chinese feeling. So I would recommend that you spend 2 full days in this magnificent city to be able to enjoy all it has to offer from ancient monuments, it has its own wall:), to a multitude of cultural experiences. The following itinerary will highlight the major attractions of the city and how to visit them, and as always, On Your Own using public buses from the central bus terminal (CBT). I know it might sound a bit daunting, but believe me, if you are ready with a good map (click to request map) it will be a cultural experience like no other!

The first attractions of this city that we are going to explore are the drum and bell towers. Being located in the center of the old town, there will be no need for any public transportation. These towers used to serve military purposes in the past, but now they are open for visit both from the outside and inside.

Next stop is the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. This Buddhist temple complex is slightly out of the old town, but there are a number of buses that will take you there from the CBT to a stop with the same name (click to request info). When you get off the bus, you will be greeted with an amazing view of the main temple/pagoda in the horizon which will be a great opportunity to take amazing pictures.

After enjoying the sight, it is time for a short walk to enter the temple complex itself. There, you’ll find monks praying and people making offerings, so be respectful and enjoy the serenity and peace of the place. Inside the complex there are a number of amazing temples which you can enter and inside you’ll find big and impressive gold Buddha statues.

These two attractions will take most of the first day, so its time to head back using the same bus and grab something to eat and there will be no better place than the Moslem street. This street is in the center of the old town behind the market. Its is a nice pedestrian street where you can stroll, sit at one of the various restaurants, grab a bite and drink, and enjoy people watching:) You’ll find the culture here different than any other Chinese city as both Moslems and non-Moslems live together in harmony and cohesion.

The next day you’ll explore X’ian’s own great wall. Although nowhere as grandeur as the famous Great Wall, this is a wall that is full of culture as you’ll find a lot happening on top of it! To explore the entire wall length, we’ll do it in a fun, different, and adventurous way…by Bike! You can rent a bike for a day from the city and go to the top of the wall from one of its 4 gates. When on top, you’ll find a well-paved path on which you can have an amazing bike ride around the old town. Not only that, but people of X’ian love their wall and tend to hang out on top. You’ll find people exercising, playing table-tennis, vendors, and much more.

Finally, after finishing your wall tour, it is time to head to the famous X’ian market, make sure to take a picture with the gate of the market as it is a landmark in its own.

Enter the covered market where you’ll find all types of merchandise and some amazing bargains, so take your time and get yourself a souvenir. When done with shopping, time to head to the food section of the market and believe me you’ll know you are there from the amazing aromatic smells:) To best enjoy all the delicious varieties at the food market, try different small dishes on the go while enjoying the rich traditions of this market.

As you saw from this itinerary, these are the main highlights of this amazing city, but if you have more time, there are some other landmarks worth visiting like the Small Wild Goose Pagoda and much more…so enjoy and keep exploring:)
Mt. Hua

Mt. Hua

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Mt. Huashan

If you are up for one of the most strenuous and dangerous hikes on our planet; yet it also offers a taste of the true Chinese culture besides an amazing surrounding nature, then head to Mt. Huashan, or as it is better known Mt. Hua.

Mt. Hua is part of the granite-faced Qin mountains range with deep gorges and lush forests surrounding it, that will owe you with every step you hike up. Not only that, but being one of the five sacred mountain in China adds a cultural reward to this hike as you’ll visit a number of sacred shrines and meet a lot of Chinese Pilgrims! Then there is the danger part!! But I’ve to stress…this is an optional detour…you don’t have to do it if you find it too scary; yet you’ll still enjoy all what this mountain has to offer. So lets start our adventure!

Mt. Hua is located in the city of Huayin in Shaanxi province and can be reached & hiked On Your Own from X’ian on a day trip. To reach the east gate, head to X’ian North train station and take the train (click to request info), from there, take a green minibus for a 2-hour drive to Mt. Hua.

When arriving at the gate, buy your entrance ticket & start your uphill hike right away to the top from where you’ll start the hikes to the different peaks & shrines (click to request map). This is a grueling 6-km hike through Hushan Gorge, although beautiful, it’ll take a lot time and you’ll arrive to the top very tired (remember you have to time your hike to catch the last bus back (click to request info). The other alternative, which I recommend, is to take the cable car up to the lower station…it is a spectacular ride and you still have a lot of strenuous hikes to do a top and hike the gorge down.

Reaching the lower station, the first hike you’ll start is the one to the north peak at +1,561 m. This is a very strenuous 2 km hike as you’ll go up on 3,999 steps of stairs!! which will take approximately 1 hour.

From the north peak, you should be armed with your map & start hiking to the other peaks and shrines. The route I took, and recommend, is a counter-clockwise hike, as follows:

Start by hiking the Golden Lock Pass to the west peak. This is an uphill hike to +2,038 m and it’s the start of the real rewards of this amazing mountain. The first section heads west to the memorial pavilion; from there the trail forks and, of course, you have to take the trail going up. The trail will pass up the heaven’s ladder where you’ll start getting the views of the unique granite-top mountains till you reach the meteorological reception. At the meteorological reception, the Golden Lock Pass starts. This is a location where the Chinese offer prayers to the Gods for their safety & health. In an amazing display, they attach golden locks, as an offering to God, on both sides of the pass using red ribbons. The entire pass is filled with these colorful locks and witnessing the actual action of the offering is a very moving sight. So take your time and show respect as you are in a sacred place!

At the end of the pass, and after another tough 1.5-2 hours hike, you’ll reach the west peak and the first shrine. The views here are magnificent and people praying at the shrine adds a sense of sacredness to this place…at the end, nature & faith are interrelated…I Guess!

From the west peak, most of the uphill will be done by now and the remaining hikes will be relatively easy. So hike to the South peak next at +2,160 m. Throughout this hike, you’ll be surrounded by an unobstructed amazing views, pass smaller shrines, and don’t look done…its scary:) At the south peak, you’ll reach another shrine, the South Gate. This section of the hike should take around 30 minutes.

Next, you’ll start heading downhill to the east peak at +2,100 m, but the daredevil in you will want to do what is coming next:) Walking along this trail, there is a detour to a shrine called Changkang Zhado, but the only way to visit it is by hiking on hanging wooden planks attached on the side of the mountain with nothing below you!! Not only that, but this shrine is at a dead end, so you’ll have to do it twice:) and it’s a two-way traffic so you should maneuver yourself around people! This part of the hike is dangerous, yet doable, at the time of my visit, you had to pay the guy there CNY 30 to access it and he’ll equip you with belts and locks to tie yourself to the fixed ropes along the trail.

You’ll be scared, you’ll take small steps, but after few steps, you’ll get the hang of it and start walking more comfortably. After this unforgettable adventure, let us continue the hike to the east peak…the most sacred of the four peaks, where you’ll reach the chess-play pavilion and another pagoda with incredible views.

 

Now, unfortunately, it is time to head back after this tough, yet incredible day. Continue the loop to the meteorological reception, then take the trail down to the memorial pavilion.

The final leg of this hike will depend on your time and energy. If you’ve both, then hike down the 6-km gorge trail to the gate. It’s a different type of hike as you’ll be surrounded by towering mountains and will pass by a dozen or so religious shrines. Otherwise, head to the North peak and take the cable car down from there.

Arriving at the gate, you should have timed your arrival with the time of the last bus heading back and you should have bought your bus ticket when entering the mountain. This bus will take you to the train station from which you’ll catch a train back to X’ian North (click to request info).

I know it was a long grueling day, with a lot of tough hikes and a life threatening one, but you are and ADVENTUROUS DAREDEVIL and survived the day…so CHEERS TO U:)

Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu

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[Machu Picchu]

This is the ultimate goal of the whole trip and the amazing trek; visiting this sacred city. In order to make your trip as smooth as possible, there are several logistical things that you need to take care off before embarking on this trip.

First is the entrance ticket to Machu Picchu. There are 3 types of tickets you can purchase: 1) the normal visit with access to Machu Picchu only; 2) Access to Machu Picchu & Montana; 3) Access to Machu Picchu & Huaynapicchu. As you can see, all 3 ticket types give you access to the main site itself, the difference is an additional permit to hike up the surrounding mountains for a view of Machu Picchu from top.

So which ticket to choose? Remember you already saw an amazing view of Machu Picchu on your 4th day of the trek, but if you are up for another very strenuous hike for a closer view, then for me, Huaynapicchu is the one to choose (it is the postcard picture you see for Machu Picchu everywhere). However, you have to take into consideration that the Peruvian authorities limit the number of people hiking this mountain and consequently, these tickets are the hardest to get. On the contrary, Montana’s view isn’t that special, yet it’s still a very strenuous hike and for the same price as Huaynapicchu which makes it not worth it for me. To wrap up this issue, if you feel that you want another view of Machu Picchu and are up for a very strenuous hike after 4 days of trekking, then Huaynapicchu is worth the effort; otherwise, take the cheaper normal ticket, you’ll still get some amazing unforgettable views with this ticket.

Next, having decided which ticket you want, now it’s time to buy it and you should do this in advance especially if you are visiting during the high season (May-September). If you know the exact date of your visit and are familiar with the acclimatization process for high elevation, know your body well and exactly how long you’ll need to spend in Cusco to acclimatize (2-3 days), then you can buy your tickets online through the official website (click to request info). If that’s is not the case and you need to test your body’s reaction to high elevation first, then buy the ticket at the ticket office located in Cusco when you arrive (click to request info), and remember to take your passport with you while buying your ticket. Congratulations, you now have your ticket to Machu Picchu, which should look like this.

 

The final logistical step you need to take care of is how to go from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu. I know the adventurous independent traveler spirit in you will say that you should hike up, but believe me, this is an extremely strenuous hike over endless number of stairs in the forest with no views; and by that time, your body will need a rest after 4 long trekking days. Therefore, I recommend that you take the bus up and hike down on your way back. So, buy a 1-way bus ticket from the ticket office in front on the bus stop in Aguas Calientes (click to request info), it costs $12 and you’ve to pay in cash in US$ and should look like this; and remember to take your passport with you to Machu Picchu as you’ll need it at the entrance.

 

Now that you reached Machu Picchu and fulfilled your dream of visiting this amazing sacred city, I’ll leave you to wander around and explore it on your own.

Take lots and lots of pictures from different viewpoints and different angles, it’s a truly amazing site with amazing surroundings and you are in one of the most special places on our planet…so enjoy, but don’t leave Machu Picchu before taking your special free souvenir on your way out (click to request info).
Letchworth State Park

Letchworth State Park

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LETCHWORTH STATE PARK

One of the hidden gems of upstate New York is Letchworth state park & during the fall season this park becomes at its best. In this park you won’t only find amazing fall colors, but you will also be treated by a combination of nature’s best features: a canyon, nicknamed the Grand Canyon of the east, a lazy river, and roaring waterfalls!

The adventure in this park is different, in nature, as it doesn’t involve strenuous physical activities, but its more about an adventurous drive with scenic overlooks coupled with a number of short hikes to amazing views. So, in this blog post I’ll cover a day trip into this stunning park which will reward you with all what you can crave for; albeit, you can extend your trip here at your leisure as there some longer adventurous hikes with some with the best-located campgrounds in the state (click to request info).

Driving southwest from Syracuse, you will first take I-90, afterwards you will have two options to enter the park: The north & south entrances; depending on which entrance, you will take different driving routes (click to request info); however, if you ask for my recommendation I’ll definitely recommend to enter from the north end and drive the park road all the way to the south end for one simple reason: most of the park’s stunning highlights are at the south end so this way you will save the best for last and whenever you think that you saw it all…you will find more amazing sights ahead till you reach the south entrance.

When you enter from the north entrance, you will be greeted by a glimpse of fall colors, not that spectacular though, then the first overlook will be at Mount Morris Dam. If you are into engineering structures, then this overlook might be of interest to you; otherwise, continue driving.

 

Following the park road south, you will start driving away from the Genesee river with not much views to admire till you reach Highbanks recreation area. At Highbanks, you will get a glimpse of what this park has to offer, yet you will feel that these views are inaccessible because the road will continue to bend away from the Genesee which will frustrate you.

 

Driving south all the way to Gardeau, there won’t be much to see and even the drive itself will get a bit boring and you will not even think that there is canyon in this area! But keep driving as it’ll all change soon!

Approaching St. Helena area, the road will become narrower and more winding which will make the drive more adventurous and challenging till you reach the Great Bend area. Now you will, involuntarily, hit the brakes and park at the nearest parking area you will meet as you won’t believe what started to appear next to you! The canyon will get narrower & deeper, the forest thicker, the colors brighter, and the Genesee river meandering its way below you.

 

From this point onwards you will be in heaven!! The Great Bend itself is a sight to admire, how the river carves its way through massive rock cliffs & the force behind the rushing water are ones of nature’s miracles and if the sun is out that day, the reflection of the light on the tree leaves will offer a spectacular display of fall colors.

Starting at the Great Bend, the real adventure begins and, depending on your time, you can either start hiking the 7-mile gorge trail all the way to the south entrance, or combine driving & hiking by continuing your way south and joining the trail for short hikes at your leisure and back to your car for more driving (click to request info). Recommending the latter option, as the drive itself isn’t to be missed, continue your south route and after the Castile entrance you will start getting the views of the lower falls and feel the mist coming from them on your face!

 

Now you don’t have to follow specific trails or itineraries as you will be overwhelmed by all the beauty surrounding you and want to do it all!! So, set yourself free…drive, hike, play, admire, and take pictures, but always remember that you entered from the north entrance & still the best is to come:)

Whether you decided to drive or hike, ditch your car when your reach “Inspiration Point” lookout as from here the hike will be truly inspirational! At this lookout, you will stand face-to-face with the highest falls in the park: the “Middle Falls” with the mist in your face, you will get wet:) and if you were lucky, like me, a rainbow will come out from the bottom of the falls!

 

You will spend here much more time than you planned…I know that:) so be it…you can only see this once! Continue hiking the gorge trail as well as its tributaries to get closer to the falls till you reach the upper falls where you will find a railroad bridge above.

 

These falls are less spectacular, yet looking back at the middle falls will give you another perspective of this amazing SP.

 

I’m sure you won’t want to get out of the park till it is dark, and you shouldn’t! Enjoy every bit of sunlight here because as the sun comes down the colors change, and you want to take more & more pictures. When you are ready to leave, and depending on your destination, you can either head back to the north entrance or go out through the south one…so enjoy & have a safe trip!

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