Following the traditional AV4 route, today is neither long nor difficult— but there are two spectacular via ferrata and a handful of small sidetrips within Parco Naturale Tre Cime that absolutely shouldn’t be missed! Get an early start to allow 8hrs of trail time, not counting breaks.[...]
From San Candido to the trailhead and finally taking your first steps on AV4, what I’ve recommended in this post is a pseudo-“day 0” with just 90min of hiking that will perfectly set you up for trek to come. Rather than spending the night in San Candido before starting AV4[...]
The final day of AV2 features dramatic and often unexpected views of yet another spectacular National Park, Dolomiti Brunello. At 21km, it's no slouch for a final day, so soak in the final stage of this epic route before finishing in Croce d’Aune, a tiny town just outside of Feltre, where pizza a[...]
Today is slightly longer than the previous day's leisurely stroll, with the initial climb up to Passo Comedon presenting the greatest obstacle. Once over the pass, descend through wildflower-dusted meadows and lush mountains, savouring the peaceful setting and the feel of an almost entirely differe[...]
Climbing gently out of the forest into a spectacular landscape of verdant foliage and misty Dolomite pillars, today marks a distinct change of scenery from the first 2/3rds of AV2. Gone are the arid lunarscapes and high-altitude peaks, but so are the bustling mountain passes, leaving you to enjoy t[...]
Today is an interesting contrast, with truly spectacular views from both the trail and via ferrata routes (which are among the best on AV2, yet woefully underrated and very quiet!), followed by an absolutely miserable 1,300m descent that will traumatise even keen hikers. Enjoy the highs a[...]
From the lunar landscapes of Cima Rosetta to the striking tower of Cima Canali, the Palo di San Martino are on full show today as you journey towards Rifugio Pradidali. There are several sections of cable along the standard AV2 route, as well as a quick side summit to enjoy, making this another exc[...]
Following what may have been a large day yesterday, day 7 is short and undemanding as it journeys through the Pale di San Martino to charming Rifugio Mulaz. Aside from a few short trails you might wish to scamper up, there isn’t much in the way of extension or side-trips (and only a short, e[...]
Today’s recommended route features a wonderful via ferrata just out the door of Rifugio Castiglioni Marmolada. Ascending and eventually wrapping around the distinctive Padon Ridgeline, its volcanic rock at immediate odds with the limestone (dolomite) that dominates this region, Via[...]
Drop from the highest point on AV2 to the shores of Lago di Fedaia beneath Marmolada, the tallest mountain in the entire range and aptly named Queen of the Dolomites, enjoying spectacular views and flower-filled meadows en route. The day has a wonderfully scenic lunch spot and an exciting alternati[...]
Following the traditional AV2 route, day 4 is very short and not terribly remarkable, but there’s a wonderful addition that might just change that— Piz Boè. Rather than stopping in the midst of the barren, lunar landscape of Rifugio Boè, ascend further to the summit of Boè and[...]
Day 3 is where via ferrata along AV2 really take centre stage, with three excellent climbs possible throughout the day. Even if you aren’t tackling my “adventure route” on your own hike, you’ll still have some unavoidable via ferrata cables today and may just find that i[...]
The second day on AV2 is incredibly scenic and features some of the best views in Parco Nazionale Puez-Odle within the first couple hours. If you’re looking to add a bit of extra adventure, there are also 3 short side trips and a great via ferrata easily incorporated into the day’s itinerary as[...]
The first day of Alta Via 2 is one of the longer stages of the trail— although not overly demanding, it racks up nearly 20km with an easy via ferrata taking you up your first summit for amazing views of Puez-Odle Nature Park. It’s an excellent introduction of what’s to come over the next two[...]
There's a common fantasy among vanlifers about opening your doors to a private sandy beach and running into crystal clear water while colourful fish leap around you and a local man cracks open a fresh coconut. It's the kind of easy living that has made vanlife into the instagram sensation it is now[...]
On 4 May, 2022, after a year and a half of living on the road, I walked out of my van with the essentials crammed into 2 backpacks and said goodbye to the place that has felt more like home than anywhere I’ve ever lived. I spent the last decade shifting constantly between countries and state[...]
Back in Central Mexico, we spent this week skirting Mexico City to visit 2 of the most spectacular attractions in the country: the sprawling pre-Aztec city Teotihuacán in the State of México and the jaw-dropping network of hot springs and limestone caves that comprise Grutas Tolantongo in nearby[...]
As we continue our journey north through Mexico, we spent this week exploring a new and surprisingly wonderful state, Veracruz. Long and slender, it occupies an enormous swathe of the Gulf Coast, while also containing some of the country’s densest jungle, best coffee regions, and even the highest[...]
Our final week in Chiapas was spent chasing countless waterfalls and generally attempting to avoid the sweltering jungle heat of Palenque and surrounds, before heading somewhat spontaneously through the neighbouring state of Tabasco. Alongside Oaxaca and Baja, Chiapas has turned out to be one of ou[...]
By our third week in Chiapas, we’d made it down to the Guatemalan border (and even managed a few day-trips across), but rather than continuing south through Central America as we'd once intended, we instead drove a wide loop around the perimeter of Chiapas. Often within spitting distance of her i[...]