Julian Alps Hike

Hiking the Julian Alps: Vršič Pass to Sleme and Slemenova Špica

Julie Slovenia 17 Comments

This is a wonderful day hike to do in the Julian Alps of Slovenia. You start at the Vršič Pass, one of the highest roads in Slovenia, and hike to the summit of Slemenova Špica. Along the way, you get to walk through quiet, flower-filled valleys and enjoy spectacular views of the Julian Alps. On a clear day, you are also …

Zion Narrows

Zion Narrows Bottom-Up vs. Top-Down: Which One Should You Choose?

Julie United States 4 Comments

Hiking the Zion Narrows is a very unique experience. For miles you hike through a massive slot canyon with the North Fork of the Virgin River as your hiking trail. There are two ways you can hike the Narrows. Most people hike it from the bottom-up, an out and back journey that takes you through some of the most scenic …

Zion Narrows Guide

Zion Narrows Top-Down Route: Stats, Map & How to Do It

Julie United States 54 Comments

The Zion Narrows is one of Zion’s most popular hikes, for good reason. This is the quintessential slot canyon hike. For miles, you hike in the North Fork of the Virgin River, surrounded by sheer rock walls and amazing beauty. It’s challenging, it’s unique, and it makes for a very memorable experience. There are several different ways you can hike …

Zion Narrows Photos

Journey through the Zion Narrows in Photos

Julie United States 20 Comments

For millions of years, the Virgin River has been carving its way through layers of rock, forming the Zion Narrows. This canyon twists and turns for miles, creating one of the most unique hiking trails in the world. There are several different ways you can hike the Narrows. Most people hike from the bottom-up, an out-and-back journey that takes you …

Rysy Hike

How to Hike Rysy from the High Tatras of Slovakia

Julie Poland, Slovakia 20 Comments

Rysy is a mountain in the High Tatras that straddles the border between Poland and Slovakia. It is the tallest mountain in Poland and the highest mountain in the High Tatras that you can hike to without a guide. There are two approaches to the summit of Rysy. From Zakopane, Poland, you hike past Morskie Oko lake to the peak, …

Northern Norway Itinerary

10 Day Northern Norway Itinerary with the Lofoten Islands

Julie Itinerary, Norway 124 Comments

The islands of northern Norway are the perfect destination if you enjoy hiking, scenic drives, and jaw-dropping landscapes. On this northern Norway itinerary, road trip from Tromsø down through Senja and the Vesteralen Islands, ending with several magical days in the Lofoten Islands. This is the type of trip where every day just seems to get better than the one before it. …

Top Ten Lofoten

Top Ten Things To Do in the Lofoten Islands

Julie Norway 22 Comments

The Lofoten Islands are a wonderland of jagged mountains, beautiful fjords, and white sandy beaches. This is a spectacular part of Norway to explore, especially for those who love scenic drives, hiking, and being outdoors. If you are planning a trip to Norway, here are 10 awesome things to do in the Lofoten Islands. Best Things to Do in the …

Kara in Slovak Paradise

Our Experience in Slovak Paradise National Park

Julie Slovakia 37 Comments

While researching what to do in the Slovakian Tatras, I stumbled across this cool spot called Slovak Paradise. Located in Slovensky Raj National Park, this is a very unique outdoor obstacle course. With long, wooden ladders and metal catwalks attached to vertical cliffs, you can spend days hiking and climbing through gorges and up waterfalls. It looked like the perfect …

Best Hikes in Norway

14 Best Hikes in Norway to Put on Your Bucket List

Julie Norway, Svalbard 16 Comments

If you ask us, putting one foot in front of another on a hiking trail is the best way to experience Norway. Hike along the jagged mountain peaks of the Lofoten Islands, the picture perfect fjords in southern Norway, and through some of the world’s most awe-inspiring landscapes. Stand on iconic Trolltunga and Pulpit Rock and even Kjeragbolten (if you …

Ryten

How to Hike Ryten and Enjoy the View over Kvalvika Beach

Julie Norway 18 Comments

The hike to Ryten has all of the ingredients of a perfect Lofoten Islands hike: sweeping vistas across the mountains and fjords, a fun but slightly strenuous hike to a mountain peak, and a breathtaking view of a white, sandy beach. The icing on the cake is a “mini Trolltunga,” an outcropping of rock where you can get creative with …

Festvagtind

Hiking Festvågtind in the Lofoten Islands, Norway

Julie Norway Leave a Comment

From the top of Festvågtind, the views over the fishing village of Henningsvaer are breathtaking. This hike is very similar to Svolvaer Fløya and Reinebringen, in that it’s a steep, somewhat unexciting climb to an awesome viewpoint. It’s absolutely worth it on a clear day but consider skipping this hike on a cloudy, rainy day. On the day we hiked …

Things to do in Svalbard

Svalbard Travel Guide & Itinerary for First Time Visitors

Julie Norway, Svalbard 16 Comments

Svalbard. An arctic playground where there are more polar bears than people. This is a land of glaciers, the northern lights, the midnight sun, and frozen tundra. Svalbard may seem barren, but it is filled with arctic wildlife like reindeer, walrus, and polar bears. If you like the idea of exploring the great outdoors, your options are almost endless, winter …

Matind Hike

Hiking to Måtind on the Stave-Bleik Coastal Trail, Vesteralen, Norway

Julie Norway 8 Comments

Norway never ceases to amaze me. You know how you see photos online and think to yourself, “yeah, that looks nice…I’d like to do that.” And you get there and it’s so much better than you thought it would be? For us, that was the Stave-Bleik Coastal Trail on the Vesteralen islands. It’s not an overly difficult hike, the views …

Koscielec Hike

How to Hike Koscielec in the Polish Tatras from Zakopane

Julie Poland 25 Comments

Zakopane is Poland’s gateway city for exploring the mountain range known as the Tatras. From Zakopane, you can take your pick from quick, easy hikes to longer all day affairs that have you climbing among the tallest mountain peaks. We hiked to the summit of Koscielec, one of many options if you are looking for a full day hiking trip …

Reinebringen Hike

How to Hike Reinebringen (+ Helpful Tips & Photos)

Julie Norway 8 Comments

Reinebringen, with its dazzling view over the fishing villages of Reine, Sakrisøy, and Hamnøy, is the most popular hike in the Lofoten Islands. It’s a hard, steep, challenging hike on long, stone staircases and muddy, rocky trails, so it’s not to be underestimated. Don’t let the short distance fool you…it’s a tough hike and you need to have a good …

Lake Bohinj Travel Guide

Lake Bohinj Travel Guide: Itineraries for 1, 2, and 3 Days

Julie Slovenia 11 Comments

Lake Bohinj is a lovely lake located in Triglav National Park, Slovenia. While you are here, you can fill your time with short hikes, gorgeous views of the lake, stand up paddle boarding and other water sports, and even a ride on a cable car to a mountain peak. Whether you are visiting Lake Bohinj on a quick day trip …

Segla Hike

How to Hike Segla, One of Senja’s Most Popular Hikes

Julie Norway 14 Comments

The hike up to the summit of Segla is one of Senja’s most popular hikes. And this was our main reason for visiting Senja. Many visitors skip past Senja, heading directly to the Lofoten Islands. But those people are missing out seeing a gorgeous part of Norway and some hidden gems. That’s fine…that means less crowded hiking trails for people …

Pack for Svalbard

Svalbard Packing List: What to Pack for the Summer Months

Julie Norway, Svalbard 4 Comments

One of the biggest questions we had while planning our trip to Svalbard was “what do we pack?” Svalbard is located so far north that it’s easy to assume that it will be ice-cold all year round. Good news! That’s not the case, at least not during the summer months. Even so, we packed an assortment of lightweight, warm clothes …

Svolvaer Floya

How to Hike Svolvaer Fløya & Djevelporten in the Lofoten Islands

Julie Norway 13 Comments

There are two ways to get a spectacular view over the town of Svolvaer…hike to the top of Svolvaer Fløya or climb Svolvaergeita. We did both on the same afternoon, making this one of our most memorable days in the Lofoten Islands. Svolvaer is one of the largest towns in the Lofoten Islands. Fløya is the mountain that forms the …