There is so much to love about New Zealand. For starters, it has some of the best alpine trekking in the world, a seemingly infinite number of beautiful lakes, rivers, and waterfalls, a booming wine region, wild beaches with pumping surf, and a crazy assortment of adrenaline-fuelled activities that[...]
Set against the spectacular backdrop of The Remarkables and bright Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown is a lively, backpacker-filled resort town in the SW of New Zealand's South Island, best known for its seemingly infinite number of adrenaline-fuelled activities. With alpine peaks perfect for tramping in s[...]
With an incredibly sophisticated network of well-maintained trails, campsites, and mountain huts all looked after by the Department of Conservation, New Zealand is inarguably one of the world's premier trekking destinations, before you even consider its abundance and diversity of stunning natural s[...]
Nestled in the foothills of the Southern Alps just an hour's drive from Queenstown (New Zealand's adventure capital), the little town of Wanaka is emerging as another fantastic trekking destination on the South Island. Best known in the area is the steep climb up Roy's Peak— you'd surely recognis[...]
As we prepared for our trip around New Zealand and looked into the seemingly infinite number of incredible hikes on offer, the trek to Mueller Hut was an immediate standout. If the stars aligned and we were lucky enough to have clear skies, we'd be rewarded with unparalleled views of the majestic,[...]
At the chilly, distant tip of New Zealand's South Island, Fiordland National Park is home to some of the country's most spectacular landscapes, perhaps none more breathtaking or better known than Milford Sound (Piopiotahi in Māori). Considered by many to be the 8th Natural Wonder of the World, she[...]
When you think Peru, chances are it's Machu Picchu on your mind. But, although spectacular, the famous Incan archaeological site outside of Cusco is only one of a million reasons to visit this incredibly vibrant Latin American country! Encompassing large stretches of beautiful coastline, lush r[...]
Although somewhat unsung, Peru is one of the best trekking destinations in the entire world, rivalling even the Alps and Himalayas with its rugged, high-alpine beauty and dramatic, untouched landscapes. What really sets Peru apart in terms of hiking, though, is the ability to escape all crowds and[...]
Thanks to Peru's rich history and incredible diversity, it's possible to journey from a bustling metropolitan city on the Pacific Coast, through Cusco's cobbled lanes, along a high-alpine trail to an ancient Incan citadel in the mountains, and then wind-down in an untouched stretch of Amazon Rainfo[...]
In terms of diversity, Peru is second to none— within a relatively small country, you can experience pumping surf beaches, golden deserts, dense cloud forest, incredible high-altitude trekking, 15th century holy sites, and stunning colonial cities. You'll barely scratch the surface of this Latin[...]
When people think of trekking destinations, it's usually the Himalayas or the Alps that immediately spring to mind. Flying somewhat under the radar, the Peruvian Andes attract far fewer hikers but seem to leave every single one with the resounding impression that this is the best trekking[...]
Once considered the spiritual and political heart of the vast Inca empire, Cusco (meaning "centre of the universe" in Quechua) is still one of the most vibrant and historically significant cities in Latin America. Its close proximity to Machu Picchu and some of the country's best high-altitude trek[...]
There is absolutely no high like coming off the trail after a long hike— dead-tired, covered in dirt, but with a feeling of accomplishment that almost makes you savour the pain of aching muscles and bleeding feet, as if they are some sort of hard-earned badge. The Huayhuash Circuit pushed me[...]
Widely regarded as one of the best alpine treks in the entire world, the Huayhuash Circuit is a remote and impossibly scenic high-altitude route in Peru's Cordillera Huayhuash (pronounced why-wash). The trail, totalling 135km and crossing 12 mountain passes all above 4,500m, circles some of the hig[...]
The final day of the Huayhuash Circuit is a triumphant farewell to the mountains, threading through some of the most spectacular and least-traveled scenery of the entire trek. Departing Yaucha Punta, the trail traverses quiet ridgelines and climbs toward Cerro Huacrish, with condors soaring overhea[...]
The penultimate day of the Huayhuash Circuit is a gruelling push back into the high mountains, stacking elevation gain upon elevation gain across some of the trek’s most colourful valleys. Departing Huayllapa, the trail climbs steeply past waterfalls and sagebrush before easing into the rolling h[...]
Although today's hike is quite short and lacks a lot of the previous day's dramatic scenery, it is incredibly dramatic and memorable in other ways. From our camp at the base of Rasac and its chilly glacier, we descend to Huayllapa, passing waterfalls and the most green vegetation we've seen in days[...]
My custom Huayhuash Circuit adventure route now veers completely off the traditional trail, adding an entire day of wild exploration in one of the range’s most dramatic valleys. After departing Laguna Juraucocha, ascend through glacial moraines into Quebrada Sarapococha, a surreal landscape of ic[...]
The sixth day of the Huayhuash Circuit is rugged, remote, and wildly scenic, offering a thrilling climb to the highest official pass of the trek. After departing Cuyoc camp, the route ascends steeply toward Paso Santa Rosa (5,060m), revealing sweeping views of Siula Grande, Yerupajá, and a chain o[...]
The 5th day of the Huayhuash Circuit delivers jaw-dropping scenery from start to finish. From Viconga camp, the trail climbs steadily alongside towering glaciers, topping out at Punta Cuyoc (5,050m) before skidding down steep scree slopes into a wide, open pampa at Cuyoc camp. For those with en[...]