Everyone knows Kos, Corfu, Crete or Santorini, but Greece has more than 200 inhabited islands. And they all have something to offer. We visited Skopelos and Ikaria – lesser known but far from unloved scions of the Greek archipelago. Where the rule is: Long live the long life!
Continue Reading →Tag: hiking
How to pack your backpack for a long-distance hike
Imagine having to pack your backpack for a hike like an overworked warehouse worker racing against the clock – hurriedly cramming everything in, haphazardly and brutal, with no regard for order or balance. If you dream of back pain and frequent stops to search for your sunscreen or your lunch pack, then by all means, go ahead. In contrast, a correctly packed backpack provides balance, safety and a lighter load on your back and shoulders. And you’ll always have a granola bar at hand.
Continue Reading →Taking a tent on a hike? Here’s how to find a garden to camp in
As a child, every summer meant waiting and waiting. We didn’t go on holiday until mid-August, so it always took a while before my holiday spirit bubbled up. Camping in the garden provided an excellent antidote to that endless wait. I pitched my tent in the backyard, but, or so I reasoned, away from parental control. Even if I had put my pegs into the ground in Yellowstone, I would not have felt one iota freer than in that garden in Mol-Ginderbuiten.
But camping in the garden does not only appeal to an impatient child. As an adult, I regularly bivouac in the yard of strangers, especially during multi-day hikes in densely populated areas like Flanders. Wild camping is illegal here, an official bivouac zone not always on the route. With some luck, you will find a campsite within stumbling distance of your trail. As a self-sufficient hiking camper, however, you’ll often end up sleeping between walls of mobile homes, white fridges towering so high that it feels like camping between New York apartment buildings. Not always the experience I look for on such a trek.
A small, cosy garden becomes a worthy alternative. But how do you find a suitable spot?
Continue Reading →Tips for a lighter backpack for long-distance hiking and camping
During a long-distance hike, the weight of your backpack can make the difference between an unforgettable experience and a journey from hell. Nothing puts a damper on the spirits than a heavy burden on your shoulders. A lighter backpack makes hiking more enjoyable. With fewer kilos, you can also walk further. But how to get a lighter backpack without sacrificing safety and comfort whilst hiking?
Continue Reading →The Transardennaise: in slow motion through the woods of the Ardennes
The Transardennaise leads the hiker straight through the thickest forests of Belgium. These dark woods are perhaps the only ones in the country where you can wander for hours without meeting anyone. A seven-day crossing of the Ardennes is adventurous and rough, but on a human scale. Allons-y!
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