Profound silence on the tundra in sub-Arctic Canada, the gunshot of a calving glacier heard from a tent in Greenland’s backcountry, the reflection of snow-crowned peaks in a mirrored lagoon in the high plateau of Bolivia. Some of my most awe-inspiring travel experiences have been in the vast wilderness, where I felt humbled by the scale of time and space while simultaneously more connected to the natural world.

I鈥檝e rounded up ultra-remote places to stay around the world where you can feel the same pull of the wild. Whether these adventures inspire introspection or not, their wow factor is undeniable, from a five-room lodge in the middle of a glacier, to a mountain biking mecca on the rim of 鈥淎frica鈥檚 Grand Canyon.鈥� And while these lodges might not be the most accessible due to the effort they require to get there鈥攏ot to mention the sometimes steep cost鈥攖he sublime solitude alone makes these once-in-a-lifetime journeys worth it.

Dreaming of an adventure in some of the planet鈥檚 most remote stretches? These are nine of the wildest lodges and camps in the world where you can truly get off the grid.

Sheldon Chalet, Alaska

It鈥檚 just you and miles of snow, ice, and starry skies at , an intimate, fly-in lodge perched on a razor-sharp ridge in the middle of Ruth Glacier in Denali National Park.听 The nearest town is 50 miles away, and there鈥檚 no cell service, WiFi, or TV, only limitless views of snow-encrusted Denali and the white expanse of the glacier outside your window. With only five bedrooms in the chalet, you鈥檒l feel like you have this pristine wilderness to yourself.

The spirit of adventure has been part of the lodge since its early days (read our review of Sheldon Chalet here). After helping to map much of the Alaska Range, aviator and explorer Don Sheldon and his wife, Roberta, built the 鈥淢ountain House鈥� on the lodge鈥檚 current site in 1966 as a refuge for alpinists, skiers, and intrepid travelers who wanted to experience the majesty of Denali. The couple鈥檚 children ushered in a new era for this remote escape when they opened the luxury Sheldon Chalet in 2018. While the helicopter arrivals christened with champagne and oysters are a far cry from the chalet鈥檚 humble mountain hut beginnings, the legacy of rugged adventure remains.

国产吃瓜黑料 intel: A stay here is all about ski-touring and snowshoeing across the Ruth Glacier in the shadow of mythic Denali or repelling into its luminous blue crevasses. From fall through spring, head out on a or witness rippling electric green and pink northern lights, then warm up around a bonfire or in the sauna. In the , turquoise pools bloom on the glacier鈥檚 surface and the boom of far-off avalanches thunders across the white wilderness.

How to get there: Reach the town of Talkeetna via a two-hour drive from Anchorage and then board a helicopter for the 30-minute flight to the chalet. You can also opt for a 1.5-hour airplane flight from Anchorage. Both options are included in your stay, along with all meals and experiences. From $4,250 per person, per night for an all-inclusive trip with transportation from Talkeetna or Anchorage.

Ungava Polar Eco-Tours Camp, Canada

Even in some of the quietest natural havens in the world, there鈥檚 the hum of insects, water caressing a shoreline, or the unfortunate buzz of a rogue drone. But as I laid on my back gazing up at the cloudless blue sky during a fat-biking break in Nunavik鈥攖he northernmost part of Quebec just below the Arctic Circle鈥擨 couldn鈥檛 even hear a whisper of wind. This rare, precious silence was part of what drew Jonathan Grenier and James May, the founders of , to set up the company鈥檚 outdoor adventure base camp here.

The ecotourism company is the first 100 percent Inuit owned and operated business of its kind in Nunavik, and brings travelers to the uninhabited Gyrfalcon Islands. Set on the shores of Ungava Bay on听 postage-stamp Tiercel Island, the camp is marked by five cozy heated domes that echo traditional igloos and can withstand the island鈥檚 tempests and as well as any curious polar bears. When I visited during their inaugural season in 2024, the first autumn chill had turned the sub-Arctic tundra into a fiery patchwork of orange and umber. We explored and motored around by boat, with the waterways entirely to ourselves, learning about Inuit culture and tradition along the way.

国产吃瓜黑料 intel: Days here are spent wildlife viewing while exploring the land on a fat bike or on foot on guided interpretive hikes. If you visit in late summer or early fall, the tundra turns into an all-you-can-eat berry buffet, where tart, juicy crowberries and cloudberries provide the perfect mid-hike snack. Head out onto the water to sail around the archipelago, keeping your eyes peeled for breaching minke whales and bearded seals, as well as shaggy muskoxen鈥攐ne of the few megafauna to survive the Ice Age鈥攁nd Arctic wolves patrolling the shoreline.

How to get there: A week-long stay includes all flights, including from Montreal north to Kuujjuaq, the largest town in Nunavik. From there you鈥檒l catch an Air Inuit charter flight to Tiercel Island where you鈥檒l land on the tundra runway, but not before getting a fantastic bird鈥檚-eye-view of camp from the bush plane. From $10,500 per person for an all-inclusive, seven-night trip with flights from Montreal.

Ramaditas Mountain Lodge, Bolivia

鈥淵ou travel from Mars, to Earth, to the moon on this trip,鈥� said my guide Aida Belen, referring to Explora鈥檚 week-long , an adventure-packed, private overland journey. The trip traces a route from the Martian Atacama Desert to Bolivia鈥檚 lunar Uyuni Salt Flat following the Qhapaq 脩an, a network of ancient Incan roads that spans six countries and nearly 19,000 miles. But as our jeep rumbled down a steep dirt road, obscuring a herd of vicuna in a veil of dust, Bolivia鈥檚 Ramaditas Lagoon below looked as otherworldly as the two iconic destinations that bookend the journey.

Ramaditas sits on the edge of the mirrored lagoon at over 13,000 feet, and is one of two mountain lodges set in remote locales along the 罢谤补惫别蝉铆补鈥檚 Altiplano section. Designed by Max N煤帽ez, the minimalist, stilted lodge has just four rooms that overlook the lagoon, and in the distance, snow-capped mountains and Bolivia鈥檚 dramatic, barren plateau. 国产吃瓜黑料s abound in the region, and at night, a rainfall shower, glass of smoky carm茅n猫re, and a modern room clad in warm mani wood with a picture window await.

国产吃瓜黑料 intel: Hiking and mountain biking across the windswept plateau are the main draw in the region and a five-mile trek in Pastos Grandes is a highlight (which feels a lot longer at 16,000 feet). Weave through boulders and around desert plants to reach ancient pictographs emblazoned on the walls of skyscraper-high yardangs (tall rock formations sculpted by the wind), before catching your breath during a picnic lunch.

How to get there: The guided overland journey begins in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile, a two-hour flight from Santiago. The Jirira Lodge, which overlooks the and marks the end of the 罢谤补惫别蝉铆补 can also now be booked independent of the overland trip. Joya Andina in Uyuni is the closest airport to Jirira Lodge and is a 1.5-hour drive across the salt flat during the dry season, from April to November, or a five-hour drive around it during the wet season, from December to March. From $8,500 per person for an all-inclusive, seven night trip excluding flights.

Three Camel Lodge, Mongolia

Mongolia is one of the most sparsely populated countries on Earth, and in the heart of the Gobi Desert, a vast 500,000-square-mile expanse of wilderness, sits Three Camel Lodge. Nestled at the foot of Bulagtai Mountain, each cozy, wood stove-warmed traditional ger (a Mongolian yurt-like dwelling) opens out onto the endless steppe, where wind whispers through sunbaked grasses. Hidden in this ancient landscape are Bronze Age petroglyphs and a geological and paleontological history even older.

Part of the collection, the property was founded on a vision of preserving the land, wildlife, and nomadic culture and traditions of Mongolia鈥檚 people. So, while this is likely one of the most remote locales on Earth for a lodge, every guest is immersed in local culture, food, and storytelling through visits with nomadic families鈥攚ith wild desert adventures on your doorstep.

国产吃瓜黑料 intel: Head out on a hike through the cinnamon-hued Flaming Cliffs, an iconic site in the Gobi Desert and one of the world鈥檚 most important paleontological sites (dinosaur eggs were first discovered here in 1923), or embark on a trek through the green Yol Valley National Park, a tapestry of sparkling streams and wildflowers. Horses are an important part of Mongolian culture throughout history and into the present. Saddle up to visit a nomadic family and get a look at their culinary and artisan traditions inside their home or try your hand at Mongolian archery.

How to get there: Travelers can reach via a 1.5-hour flight from Ulaanbaatar to Dalanzadgad, located on the edge of the Gobi Desert. There, a 4脳4 vehicle awaits to ferry guests along a scenic one-hour drive to reach the lodge. 听From $4,915 per person for two nights.

Kongde Lodge, Nepal

The trek to Everest Base Camp, a place steeped in the spirit of mountaineering expeditions both infamous and celebrated, is still one of the world鈥檚 most celebrated adventures. While making the journey to camp at the foot of the Khumbu Glacier has drawn criticism in recent decades for being overcrowded and unsustainable on multiple fronts, Mountain Lodges of Nepal offers a way to traverse this storied landscape in a way that鈥檚 gentler on the environment and local communities.

Their 12-day trip begins at 9,300 feet in Lukla and ends with a helicopter ride into camp surrounded by the staggering beauty and scale of the nearly mythical, snow-shrouded mountains. Along the route, trekkers engage with local culture and stay at the mountain lodges that dot the trail, including . Sitting at nearly 14,000 feet, this is the highest-altitude lodge on the trip and the most remote, hours away from the usual tourist circuit. Cradled by mountains with sweeping views of the Khumbu Valley and Mount Everest in the distance, the scenery and solitude here is unrivaled in the region.

国产吃瓜黑料 intel: The week-long journey on foot through the high Himalayas to reach Kongde Lodge will take you through small Sherpa villages and over high suspension bridges. You鈥檒l wind through fragrant fir and rhododendron forests and visit the world鈥檚 most remote monastery. Central to the trek is connecting with the region鈥檚 Sherpa people, and learning about their culture through song, dance, and food. After two nights at the lodge, a short but cinematic helicopter flight marks the last leg to base camp.

How to get there: A helicopter flight from Deboche Lodge, which is reached on day six, whisks you up to Kongde Lodge, where, far away from the 鈥淓verest Highway,鈥� you鈥檒l refuel with champagne breakfast in the clouds on arrival. From $9,800 per person, all inclusive for 12-day Everest Base Camp Trail trip, including return domestic flights from Kathmandu to Lukla.

Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia

Australia is home to some of the most far-flung, primordial swaths of wilderness in the world, and on the coastline of Western Australia, almost 800 miles north of Perth, sits Sal Salis. The secluded safari-style camp rests in bone-white dunes that hem the brilliant turquoise lagoons of Ningaloo Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Wake up to birdsong and drift off to the ocean waves in a breezy tent鈥攐ne of only 16 and the only property around for miles, meaning you鈥檒l have beach stargazing almost to yourself.

The waters here are home to spectacular marine wildlife, including humpback whales, manta rays, sea turtles, and one of the largest aggregations of whale sharks in the world, making this spot a Shangri-La for ocean lovers. Each year between March and August and October, whale sharks migrate past Ningaloo Reef, congregating in great numbers, and a stay here offers the rare opportunity to responsibly swim alongside the majestic giants. From July to August, you can also swim with humpback whales as they make their way back down to the Antarctic.

国产吃瓜黑料 intel: Swimming alongside whale sharks and humpback whales is one of the most moving wildlife experiences Australia offers, but snorkeling, , kayaking, and stand-up paddle boarding are also on the menu. If you want to keep your feet on terra firma for a day, hike through Mandu Mandu Gorge, part of Cape Range National Park just two kilometres behind the camp. Tread through a landscape of craggy limestone and acacia trees steeped in ancient geological history and Aboriginal mythology, with the bright blue ocean in the distance.

How to get there: is an hour drive south from Exmouth in Cape Range National Park. Daily flights run from Perth to Exmouth鈥檚 Learmonth Airport. Tents from $650 per night.

Fish River Lodge, Namibia

Truly rugged, active adventures are few and far between in Africa, but Namibia offers remote slivers of desert for visitors who want to see a less-traveled鈥攁nd sweatier鈥攕ide of the continent. Among these pockets is Fish River Canyon in the south of the country, Africa鈥檚 answer to the Grand Canyon. 鈥淣amibia’s relatively low wildlife density and expansive terrain encourages outdoor adventures that go beyond game drives,鈥� says Jeff Stivers, co-founder of Outlier Journeys, a U.S.-based travel company that organizes trips to the region. 鈥淣ot many people even know about how massive Fish River Canyon is and it鈥檚 perfect for people looking to connect with nature in an immersive way.鈥�

The rift stretches for 100 miles and is 1,800 feet at its deepest, and right on the edge is Fish River Lodge, a haven for outdoor adventure. You can take in the view of the chasm from the rim pool with Fish River tumbling along far below and ochre mesas stacked endlessly toward the horizon.

国产吃瓜黑料 intel: Set out on around the rim right from the lodge. As sunrise paints the rocks crimson only the call of baboons echoing between rocky escarpments punctuates the silence. Multi-day biking and hiking adventures are on the table here, too. You can pedal or walk your way to two smaller camps, , out in the far reaches of the canyon on two-to-three-day backcountry adventures. The lodge is already one of the most remote in Africa, but you鈥檙e nearly guaranteed to be the only one around for miles at these two camps.

How to get there: From the capital city of Windhoek, is a full day鈥檚 drive south. A 4×4 vehicle is recommended if you鈥檙e driving yourself. From $190 per person, per night exclusive of activities. Two- and three-night hiking and cycling packages are also available.

White Desert, Antarctica

While prone to seasickness, I somehow managed to muster the courage to cross the Drake Passage on an expedition cruise to Antarctica. But if I were to do it again, I鈥檇 be inclined to travel with White Desert. Not only do you skip the journey across some of the roughest seas on the planet by arriving on a charter flight from South Africa, but you gain access to the interior of the world鈥檚 most remote continent, a part of Antarctica that few see. While icebergs and rocky shorelines dominate the Antarctic coastline that cruise ships navigate, the heart of the continent is another world, one of shimmering blue ice tunnels and crevasses, jagged mountain peaks, and vast moonscapes.

On an east to west traverse of Antarctica in 2005, co-founder Patrick Woodhead was so captivated by the rugged beauty of the interior that he and his wife, Robyn, were inspired to give other intrepid adventurers the chance to experience it. If the landscape doesn鈥檛 feel extraplanetary enough, the two domed camps, Whichaway and Echo, give a nod to the early days of space exploration with a striking futuristic aesthetic and elegant amenities. And while White Desert is a singular luxury experience鈥攔ates start at $49,500 per person for a six-day trip鈥攕ustainability is at the core of the carbon-neutral company鈥檚 ethos. The camps鈥� design has a light footprint, the company utilizes sustainable aviation fuel, and they鈥檙e committed to combating climate change through their conservation arm, White Desert Foundation. The foundation supports Blue Carbon initiatives and climate researchers on the ground in Antarctica.

国产吃瓜黑料 intel: Trek through labyrinthine ice tunnels, strap on crampons, and use an ice pick to climb a sheer cliff face, or abseil down a 100-meter cliff surrounded by an incandescent blue amphitheater of ice. Fat biking, skiing, and mountaineering expeditions that traverse remote mountain ranges are also part of the outdoor adventure roster.

How to get there: Aboard a five-hour charter flight, travelers fly from Cape Town into the Antarctic Circle and land on Wolf鈥檚 Fang Runway, an ice-hardened private runway. From $49,500 per person for an all-inclusive, seven-day trip with return flights from Cape Town. A one-day trip from Cape Town to Antarctica and back is also available for $15,950 per person.

Nanoq Lodge, East Greenland

Much like Antarctica, eschewing the cruise ship and opting to get out into the backcountry in Greenland is exhilarating. Certain slivers still feel like some of the last untouched places on Earth. On a week-long, land-based with Hinoki Travels in East Greenland, I trekked across tundra carved with the vestiges of Thule history (the ancient ancestors of the Inuit), and camped on the edge of cobalt fjords with views of glaciers and jagged mountain peaks cloaked in snow. In glacier-carved valleys, the wind carried the smell of ice and taste of the sea, and our small group of seven didn鈥檛 come across another soul.

The journey began in Kulusuk, a small Inuit village on an island of the same name just below the Arctic Circle, at . The small, hand-built wooden lodge serves as a home base for intrepid travelers heading out into the wilds of East Greenland with Pirhuk, the ski touring and mountaineering experts that Hinoki partners with to lead trips. While staying here before heading out on our trek, I woke to sled dogs howling into the lonely dawn and a flotilla of icebergs gliding by on the bay. I helped catch Arctic char and forage for sorrel under a bright blue sky, which we enjoyed for dinner after hiking to the island鈥檚 hilltop to watch the crayon-box houses aglow at sunset.

国产吃瓜黑料 intel: To reach the first campsite on Hinoki Travels鈥� seven-day trip, I kayaked across Tunu Sound toward Apusiaajik Glacier, escorted by breaching humpback whales. The journey鈥檚 two remote campsites are reached by traversing spectacular terrain on foot across glaciers, up icy slopes, and through glittering blue ice caves. In addition to Hinoki Travels鈥� unique expedition, which weaves local life and culture into the adventure, Pirhuk offers expedition ski touring, trekking, climbing, and kayaking along hundreds of miles of isolated coastline.

How to get there: The island of Kulusuk is reached by a direct flight from Keflavik, Iceland, that鈥檚 just under two hours. A 30-minute hike or ski from the small airport brings you down to the lodge on the water鈥檚 edge. From $6,750 per person for Hinoki Travels鈥� seven-night Interdependence: East Greenland trip, excluding flights from Reykjavik.听

Chloe Berge is a travel journalist drawn to adventures in the world鈥檚 rugged, remote corners, preferably exploring them on foot. Recent stories have brought her into the backcountry of Greenland, across Bolivia鈥檚 high plateau, and to Arctic Canada, and she has her sights set on the Himalayas next. She writes for publications including National Geographic, The Globe and Mail, AFAR, Travel + Leisure, and Sierra.

The post The Most Remote Places to Stay on Earth That Are Worth the Trek appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

In 2010, a camping trip to the Sahara opened my eyes to the magic of the night sky. I was a college junior spending the summer abroad in Morocco, and until then I鈥檇 never seen the Milky Way, let alone a meteor shower, due to light pollution back in my suburban hometown of Dayton, Ohio. But that night, tucked into a sleeping bag beneath the African desert鈥檚 real-life planetarium, I saw them both. The experience opened me up to all the unfathomable marvels of the universe.

In the years since, I鈥檝e built a travel-writing career around my fascination with the moonlit world. Recently, my noctural adventures have included: watching nesting sea turtles with Indigenous guides in Panama, pitching a tent on the Greenland ice sheet in a snowstorm, chasing the northern lights in Iceland, and searching for fluorescent rocks on the shores of Lake Superior鈥攁mong many other sleepless excursions.

These trips, and many more such outings, fill the pages of my upcoming book, 100 Nights of a Lifetime: The World鈥檚 Ultimate 国产吃瓜黑料s After Dark, published by National Geographic and available on December 3. I hope the following three adapted excerpts鈥攕ome of my favorite experiences鈥攊nspire you to skip sleep and soak up the night鈥檚 wonders, too.

The 国产吃瓜黑料: Ice-Sheet Camping in Greenland

Spend an icy night camping above the Arctic Circle, following in the crampon-carved footsteps of polar explorers on the Greenland ice sheet. It鈥檚 a rare and immersive way to admire the world鈥檚 second largest expanse of ice, a blustery behemoth that blankets nearly 80 percent of Greenland鈥檚 landmass with icy mountains, teal lakes, and a minefield of crevasses and moulins (deep shafts in the ice).

Given the harrowing surroundings, most overnight ice-sheet jaunts are reserved for professional exploration or scientific research teams. But makes the dream possible for more amateur, yet still intrepid, guests. The outfitter鈥檚 two-day, one-night camping trip offers a taste of expedition life鈥攂ut don鈥檛 let the short duration fool you. A sleep on the unforgiving 656,000-square-mile sheet of white鈥攁n expanse roughly the size of Alaska鈥攊s no walk in the park.

On the trip, you and a team of trekkers haul tents, sleeping bags, and fuel for roughly one hour of hiking into the ivory abyss. Once you reach your overnight accommodations鈥攁n open patch of ice鈥攊t鈥檚 time to build camp from the ground up. You鈥檒l crank ice stakes, sort gear, pitch tents, and collect snow to boil for water.听It鈥檚 grueling work, but the sweat鈥檚 worth it for quality time with this rare wonder.

Once camp is set, you鈥檒l have the opportunity to hike among ice mounds and pristine cerulean water bodies, aurora hunt (in the spring or fall), and admire the midnight sun come summer. Just as memorable are the deep conversations shared over freeze-dried dinners in Camp Ice Cap鈥檚 orange globe mess tent. One topic that鈥檚 sure to arise among these fragile landscapes: climate change.

As the news headlines show, Greenland鈥檚 ice sheet is ground zero of earth鈥檚 shifting climate. The white mass is expected to lose up to 110 trillion tons of ice by 2100鈥攁 change that could raise sea levels by a foot. To do its part protecting this natural resource, Camp Ice Cap tour operator Albatros Arctic Circle has a strict Leave No Trace policy. That means everything you bring with you must be carried out.

Each season introduces a different flavor of adventure. Come in the calmer summer months for ice hikes with endless hours of daylight and, on the warmest days, even short dips in meltwater 鈥渓akes鈥� (water temperaturess hover slightly above freezing this time of year, but a warm sun can make the quick swim surprisingly refreshing). Visit in the shoulder seasons鈥攕pring or fall鈥攆or a chance to see auroras. But be prepared for particularly unpredictable and unforgiving weather that time of year. You could have a snowstorm, clear aurora-streaked skies, or both in the same night.

Weather is all part of the Camp Ice Cap adventure, as is the journey to get there in the first place. The trip begins in Kangerlussuaq, located inland in central-west Greenland. This town, home to one of the island鈥檚 main international airports, has the only road in Greenland that connects to the ice sheet. It鈥檚 a potholed 15.5-mile route, with potential reindeer and musk ox sightings along the way.

A good base level of fitness is required for a Camp Ice Cap visit, as the hiking can be strenuous and requires a bit of agility on the ice. Albatros Arctic Circle provides tents, sleeping bags, trekking poles, crampons, and food, but it鈥檚 up to you to pack warm-weather essentials: coats, gloves, hats, wool layers, headlamps, and, by all means, an extra pair of socks.

While You鈥檙e in Greenland

If a night at Camp Ice Cap whets your backcountry Greenland appetite, Kangerlussuaq has more where that came from. The town is connected to the island鈥檚 famed , a 100-mile thru-hike that runs from inland Kangerlussuaq to Sisimiut on the west coast. Expect unspoiled tundra sprinkled with musk oxen and reindeer on this roughly ten-day trek.

Other Greenland Marvels

A quick 45-minute flight north from Kangerlussuaq will drop you in Ilulissat, home to the Unesco World Heritage site Ilulissat Icefjord. This 34-mile patchwork of icebergs, some 10 to 20 stories tall, stems from the Sermeq Kujalleq (also known as Jakobshavn Glacier), which runs from the Greenland ice sheet. It鈥檚 one of the world鈥檚 fastest-moving glaciers, and scientists believe it produced the fateful iceberg that struck the Titanic in 1912.

The 国产吃瓜黑料: Riding the Star Train in Nevada鈥檚 Great Basin Desert

In the early 1900s, the Nevada Northern Railway put the remote town of Ely on the copper-mining map. More than a century later, the railway鈥檚 historic locomotives still tote riders into Nevada鈥檚 听pi帽on- and juniper-dotted Steptoe Valley鈥攁lthough visitors now come seeking a different sparkly prize: clear, bedazzled nightscapes. They鈥檒l find this rare bounty aboard the special-edition , which runs deep into the Great Basin Desert.

Up to 80 percent of Americans can鈥檛 see the Milky Way due to light pollution. The same can鈥檛 be said for those at the far-flung Great Basin, which covers much of Nevada. This 190,000-square-mile high-desert patchwork of sagebrush grasslands, rolling mountains, and broad valleys boasts some of the country鈥檚 darkest nightscapes. The Nevada Northern Railway, now a national historic landmark in Ely, roughly four hours north of Las Vegas by car, makes the most of the celestial entertainment via the Star Train, which departs around sunset on select Fridays between May and September.

As the desert transitions from honey-hued golden hour to coal black night, onboard rangers from nearby Great Basin National Park and railway staff share tidbits about the night-sky attractions that await. Once you鈥檝e reached your final destination鈥攁 private Great Basin viewing pad with high-powered telescopes鈥攔angers narrate the universe鈥檚 marvels, from Saturn鈥檚 iridescent rings to any stargazer鈥檚 beloved treasure, the glowing Milky Way.

The 国产吃瓜黑料: Hunting the Southern Lights in Australia

You鈥檝e heard of the northern lights, but did you know you can chase those sky fluorescents in the Southern Hemisphere, too? Spotting these elusive green and violet streaks, known as the southern lights, or aurora australis, requires a bit of luck. Like the northern lights in the Arctic, southern-lights sightings are most frequent over Antarctica. But the Antarctica travel season鈥攕ummer鈥攃oincides with the all-hours midnight sun. What鈥檚 an aurora hunter to do?

Head to Tasmania, a landmass better positioned for aurora sightings than virtually anywhere else in the Southern Hemisphere, excluding the White Continent. Its aurora potential has to do with its geographic position and the mechanism through which auroras occur.

During solar storms, the sun flings charged particles into space. When the protons and electrons reach earth, they congregate near the north and south geomagnetic poles, then react with the atmosphere to create ribbons of green, purple, red, or blue. Typically, the lights appear over far north or far south stretches of earth such as Iceland or Antarctica, but when a solar storm is strong enough, you can catch them farther in toward the equator. Tasmania, situated close to the south geomagnetic pole, is one of the hemisphere鈥檚 most reliable perches.

鈥淲e have no landmass in the Southern Ocean that corresponds with Norway or Iceland,鈥� says Tasmania-based Margaret Sonnemann, author of . In the Arctic or Antarctica, where the charged particles collide with the atmosphere in the skies above, you can see the reaction鈥攖he auroras鈥攕traight overhead. In Tasmania, you鈥檒l typically admire the show from a distance, roughly between 45 to 60 degrees on the horizon.

This vantage point offers a unique perspective. When the lights are overhead, green colors are the most noticeable, says Sonnemann. 鈥淪ide on, you see the layers of color.鈥�

Given Tasmania鈥檚 pristine night skies, you can spot these colorful night swirls all over the island. Look for a panorama with minimal obstructions to the southern horizon; the northern banks of a large lake looking south, or the island鈥檚 southern coast looking out to sea, are ideal.

Some tried-and-true Tasmania aurora spots include Goat Bluff Lookout on the South Arm Peninsula, Carlton Beach, Tinderbox Bay, and the . For a southern lights鈥揻riendly hotel, try , which has minimal light pollution and unobstructed south-facing views across Lake Pedder. Hit Taroona Beach, south of Hobart, during the warmer months to catch a thrilling after-dark duo: auroras snaking across the sky as electric blue bioluminescence pulses across the water.

One advantage of Tasmania aurora hunting: you can catch the lights year-round. Tasmania experiences nighttime darkness in every season. Though you鈥檒l have more hours of potential aurora displays in the darker winter, you could snag a stellar show on a warm summer night.

Fast Aurora Facts

The hue of an aurora depends on where the sun鈥檚 charged particles collide with earth鈥檚 atmosphere. Red auroras hit at the ionosphere, around 150 miles high. Green streaks occur in a mildly dense stretch of the atmosphere, roughly 60 to 150 miles from the ground. The rarer purple hues appear when the reaction strikes in our thick lower atmosphere, about 60 miles above earth鈥檚 surface.

Stephanie Vermillion is a travel and adventure journalist with a particular interest in after-dark adventures, from the wonders of the night sky to the nocturnal happenings on planet earth. She recently wrote about how to take great aurora photos on an iPhone.

100 Nights of a Lifetime: The World鈥檚 Ultimate 国产吃瓜黑料s After Dark, by Stephanie Vermillion

The post 3 of the Most Wonder-Filled Night 国产吃瓜黑料s on Earth appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I鈥檒l admit, I鈥檓 biased toward lush tropical landscapes, like Tahiti, and rugged stretches of coast, such as Vancouver Island, British Columbia. But there鈥檚 something magical about the endless expanse of badlands or a snowcapped mountain reflected in an azure alpine lake. So they made my list of the most beautiful places on earth.

I鈥檝e done a lot of globe-trotting in my decade as a travel journalist. When 国产吃瓜黑料 asked me to consider writing about the most beautiful wild places on earth, I immediately thought of Lagoa das Sete Cidades in the Azores, green-blue twin lakes within a crater, and the Na Pali Coast of Kauai, with emerald cliffs that tumble steeply to the sea.

But these places are already on most people鈥檚 radar, and the last thing I want is to contribute to overtourism. Instead, I came up with a list of stunning, lesser-known destinations that are also full of adventure potential. You鈥檙e going to be amazed.

I purposely highlighted more sites close to home to make this list accessible.听My biggest tip is to live in the moment when visiting these places鈥攐r any place that bowls you over. You can鈥檛 experience it fully if you鈥檙e glued behind your camera, shooting images to share. Here are my picks for the most beautiful places on earth.

1. Cedar Breaks National Monument, Utah

Why It Wows: Utah has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to otherworldly rocky landscapes, but the geologic amphitheater that is steals the show (entrance fee from $15). Rich mineral deposits in the cliffs and hoodoos resemble a sweeping sunset of orange, yellow, red, and purple. During July and early August, some 250-plus species of wildflowers bloom, creating a Technicolor landscape.

国产吃瓜黑料 Intel: Tucked in the mountains 20 miles east of Cedar City, this three-mile-long cirque gets a sliver of the foot and vehicle traffic seen at nearby Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks but offers just as many options for outdoor lovers. Because it鈥檚 located at an elevation of 10,000 feet, summer temperatures are comfortable, with highs hovering around 70 degrees.

Hikes range from the ADA-compliant, two-mile round-trip , which skirts part of the rim overlooking the amphitheater, to the 12.8-mile Rattlesnake Creek Trail, a two- to three-day hike in the Ashdown Gorge Wilderness that drops into the amphitheater.

Five miles north, is a mountain biker鈥檚 dream, with more than 100 miles of downhill singletrack and 100 miles of cross-country trails.

Stargazers know Cedar Breaks as a designated International Dark Sky Park. Every Sunday and Saturday from late May through early October, the monument offers free four-hour astronomy tours at the North View Overlook.

2. Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, Alberta

Why It Wows: Often referred to as Banff National Park鈥檚 lesser-known sister, this 76,800-acre patch of wilderness in the Canadian Rockies is the epitome of postcard perfection, with its snow-crowned peaks, sparkling alpine lakes, glacial streams, and evergreen valleys. In autumn the park is most dazzling, when larches鈥� needles turn gold and the trees are reflected in the lakes.

国产吃瓜黑料 Intel: , 85 miles southwest of Calgary, is one of Canada鈥檚 most accessible parks, with multiple barrier-free trails wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs (entrance fee from $12).

Stay at , fresh off a $6 million renovation (from $21 for a campsite; from $31 for a cabin). It overlooks Lower Kananaskis Lake, prioritizes people with disabilities and seniors, and features 22 accessible cottages, plus 13 campsites, and 11 miles of accessible trails on-site.

The park is full of hiking and mountain-biking trails, as well as seven miles of paved biking paths. In fall, check out Elephant Rocks and Chester Lake via when it鈥檚 positively ablaze with yellow larches. In winter, bring along your cross-country-ski gear and spend a day on the park鈥檚 more than 50 miles of groomed trails.

In the area without your outdoor essentials? rents everything from canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards to e-bikes and full-suspension mountain bikes.

3. Lefkada Island, Greece

Why It Wows: Sea and sky meld together in an ombr茅 of blues on this under-the-radar Ionian isle. Chalky cliffs and white-sand and pebble beaches also woo those in the know, but the interior is just as wondrous, filled with a dense forest of ancient oak, dramatic gorges, and tumbling waterfalls.

国产吃瓜黑料 Intel: A five-hour drive west of Athens, Lefkada is one of the few Greek islands that doesn鈥檛 require a boat to reach鈥攊t鈥檚 connected to the mainland by a bridge. A playground for recreationists, you can spend days and biking its trails, or opt for guided or self-guided e-bike excursions with .

Windsurfers and kitesurfers head to Vasiliki, Ai Gianni, and Myli beaches. , in the village of Vasiliki, rents equipment and provides lessons. All of the beaches are stunners, but Egremni, on the southwest coast, is widely considered the prettiest in the country. Surrounded by limestone cliffs, you must hike a steep trail from the parking lot, then descend more than 300 stairs to reach the sand. Trust me, the effort is worth it.

4. Shariqiya Sands, Oman

Why It Wows: Stark and remote, this seemingly endless stretch of rippling, wind-sculpted dunes spans 5,000 square miles of Oman, a small sultunate on the southeastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula. The highest dunes鈥攕ome as tall as 330 feet鈥攁re found closest to the coast. But the big reason to see these ever-shifting sands is to witness the mesmerizing way they change color from pale gold in the afternoon to deep amber and copper as the blazing sun cuts across the sky.

国产吃瓜黑料 Intel: A three-hour drive south from the capital city of Muscat, this desert was recently renamed the Sharqiya Sands to reflect its geographic location more accurately (sharqiya comes from the Arabic word for 鈥渆astern鈥�), but everybody still refers to the area by its former name, Wahiba Sands, a nod to the region鈥檚 Bani Wahiba tribe.

, an Oman adventure specialist with 17 years of experience in the country, sets up mobile camps deep within the desert and can arrange activities like sandboarding, camel safaris, dune driving, and visits with local Bedouin families (from $6,234 per couple for two nights, all-inclusive). Bonus: the lack of light pollution means campers are treated to incredibly clear, diamond-studded night skies.

5. Las Coloradas Lagoon, Yucat谩n, Mexico

Why It Wows: These glimmering cotton-candy-colored lakes pop against a backdrop of powdery white-sand beaches and pastel blue skies within the protected reserve of the R铆a Lagartos Biosphere. The lagoons get their blush tint from the plankton, red algae, and brine shrimp that thrive in the super salty waters.

国产吃瓜黑料 Intel: The biosphere is off the beaten path鈥攁round three and a half hours from major tourist hubs like M茅rida, Canc煤n, and Playa del Carmen鈥攁nd area accommodations are limited. Your best bets for an overnight stay are , a four-room, family-run eco-lodge in the reserve that also offers tours (from $95), or the in the sleepy nearby fishing town of R铆o Lagartos (from $66).

The biosphere is a birding paradise, home to 380 species, including 30,000 flamingoes that match the water. It鈥檚 also possible to spot spider monkeys, coatis, and jaguars, and from April and October, hawksbill and green turtles lay their eggs on the shores. Book a tour at the reserve鈥檚 visitor center for a better understanding of this ecosystem, but don鈥檛 plan on swimming here; as tempting as it might be to dive into the pink waters, the activity is prohibited, due to the high salinity and because the salt is harvested there for consumption.

6. Rio Sucuri, Brazil

Why It Wows: Eleven miles outside Bonito, the self-declared ecotourism capital of Brazil, you’ll find Rio Sucuri, whose Avatar-blue waters are considered some of the clearest on the planet. Set against the lush jungle, its spring-fed waters glow a surreal electric blue.

国产吃瓜黑料 Intel: Bonito is located in the central-western state of Mato Grosso do Sul. It takes some effort to reach. After an approximate two-hour nonstop flight from S茫o Paulo to Campo Grande, it鈥檚 a three-and-a-half hour drive to Bonito; from there, the access point to Rio Sucuri is another 12 miles away.

and (from $160 and $160, respectively) are both great boutique stays around 50 minutes away, set on the banks of the Rio Formoso, another pristine, spring-fed waterway.

Rio Sucuri has been developed as an ecotourism project and can only be experienced with a guide. To reach the river鈥檚 headwaters, it鈥檚 a quarter-mile walk through the forest to a reception area at the S茫o Geraldo ranch, which outfits everyone with a wetsuit and snorkel gear. Then you鈥檒l board a boat for the quick ride upstream, where you鈥檒l jump in and allow the gentle current to drift you back, lazy-river style.

You鈥檒l no doubt spy pacu (a vegetarian piranha) and red-tailed pirapitanga darting between swaying emerald-green grasses. With exceptional visibility, you鈥檒l feel like you鈥檙e floating in an aquarium.

7. Pico Ruivo, Madeira, Portugal

Why It Wows: Topping out at nearly 6,110 feet, Pico Ruivo is the third-highest point in Portugal and the tallest peak in the archipelago of Madeira. From the top, you鈥檙e rewarded with panoramic vistas of the entire archipelago.

国产吃瓜黑料 Intel: Two trails lead to the summit. (PR 1.2) is the more direct route; it climbs 1.7 miles to the viewpoint. The more scenic path, however, is the 3.3-mile (one-way) (PR 1.1). Many consider this the most spectacular hike in all of Madeira. It crosses the island鈥檚 central massif, tunnels through volcanic tufts that once sheltered shepherds, and heads up steep slopes home to colossal urzes trees.

That said, it鈥檚 a test-your-mettle trek. Rise early to score parking at the trailhead at Pico Areeiro, the archipelago鈥檚 third-highest peak, and catch the sunrise before heading out.

8. Tarkine Rainforest, Tasmania, Australia

Why It Wows: The second-greatest expanse of cool temperate rainforest in the world could easily have been the inspiration for Fern Gully. Filtered light dances through the canopy of massive eucalyptus and leatherwoods, and velvety moss seems to cover everything. Hugging the island鈥檚 rugged northwest coast, the 900-plus-square-mile area boasts wild, remote beaches and sand dunes, waterfalls, and numerous sinkholes.

国产吃瓜黑料 Intel: The coastal village of Arthur River is a good jumping-off point for forest and beach adventures, or base yourself at , 67 miles south, for immediate access to river activities (from $176). The hotel has a fleet of 16 canoes and kayaks to rent, and from there it鈥檚 a three-hour paddle down Pieman River to 130-foot-tall Lover鈥檚 Falls.

Hikes through this 65-million-year-old rainforest are magical. Tackle the 5.5-mile, out-and-back Whyte River and Savage River Trail, keeping an eye out for wallabies, pademelons, and platypuses, which tend to be more active at dawn and dusk. Eco-outfitter runs four-, five-, and six-day hiking and camping expeditions to the region鈥檚 most incredible spots.

9. The Sermilik Fjord, Greenland

Why It Wows: This 50-mile-long fjord in eastern Greenland spans is a frozen wonderland of luminous blue crystal cliffs, calving glaciers, and a flotilla of colossal icebergs.

国产吃瓜黑料 Intel: Most visitors explore eastern Greenland by ship, but I like 鈥� new, climate-friendly, human-powered itinerary ($6,750 for eight days). You鈥檒l explore the region on foot or by kayak, and sleep in tents and cabins. Inuit hunter and guide Jokum Heimer Mikaelsen, along with a guide from the Greenland mountaineering company , lead hikes up small mountains, into ice caves, and across glaciers and offer insight on how Native people forage on the tundra.

Powderhounds can discover the slopes on a ski-tour trip with (from $4,910 for eight days). Dogsleds and local boats are used to access different terrain each day.

10. Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness, New Mexico

Why It Wows: These sprawling badlands look like a high-desert fantasy world dreamt up by Salvador Dal铆. Shaped by wind and erosion, the hoodoos create a natural sculpture park, with rock formations resembling alien eggs and manta ray wings.

国产吃瓜黑料 Intel: Two trailheads access the area鈥檚 43,420 acres, both located less than an hour鈥檚 drive south of Farmington, New Mexico, or 90-minute drive south of Durango, Colorado. The Bisti Trail on the west side is the main portal and most popular, thanks to its moonscape-like terrain.

The De-Na-Zin Trail on the southeast side features less of the classic badlands topography but is still wildly beautiful. It starts out in sagebrush, transitions to juniper and eventually badlands studded with huge petrified logs and eroded cliffs and mesas.

Most visitors head to Instagram-sensation attractions like the Bisti Wings. But Stan Allison, an outdoor-recreation planner at the BLM Farmington Field Office, recommends a more exploratory approach. 鈥淢any of the unnamed areas have features that are just as interesting as the named ones,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 navigate by following the normally dry arroyos and then veering off or up side drainages when I see interesting features.鈥�

Wheeled vehicles are not allowed on BLM land, and there are no designated hiking trails, so be sure to download a topographic map of your route to a well-charged phone ahead of your visit, because cell signals can be spotty. This is an area where packing a paper map and compass is also a smart idea.

Or considered a guided visit. The wilderness boundaries overlap parcels of private Navajo land, and offers five-hour trips that delve into the history of the area and its cultural significance to Indigenous people.

11. Bazaruto Archipelago, Mozambique

Why It Wows: I visited this archipelago of five dune islands almost a decade ago, and from the plane, they looked听like a white-and-aquamarine swirl-art painting. A designated national park, the marine life in its protected waters is as incredible as the powder-fine beaches. The archipelago lays claim to the second most diverse coral reefs in the world and supports over 2,000 species of fish, and on dive and snorkel excursions I听saweverything from vivid corals and manta rays to reef sharks and even the endangered dugong.

国产吃瓜黑料 Intel: The large coastal town of Vilanculos is the gateway to this cluster of islands, which can be reached by air via or by boat (most hotels provide complimentary boat transfers).

Bazaruto and Benguerra islands offer next-level offshore snorkeling and diving opportunities, as well as hiking/biking to听 crocodile-filled inland lakes surrounded by towering sand dunes. It鈥檚 worth splurging on a stay at or , both barefoot-luxe eco-hotels on Benguerra Island (from $5,744 and $1,108, respectively). The resorts can organize sailing excursions on traditional dhow boats, kitesurfing lessons, kayak trips through mangroves, whale-watching excursions between July and October, and scuba-dive outings to famed sites like Two Mile Reef, accompanied by research scientists.

12. Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan

Why It Wows: Reminiscent of the wild beauty of Hawaii Island, this district in Japan鈥檚 southernmost island, Kyushu, has 250 miles of surf-blessed coast, active volcanic craters, and wild horses. More than 75 percent of the mountainous interior is covered with forests dotted with sacred shrines and cascading waterfalls.

国产吃瓜黑料 Intel: Located on the east coast of Kyushu, Miyazaki is about a 90-minute flight from Tokyo鈥檚 Haneda Airport or a 60-minute flight from Osaka鈥檚 Itami Airport. Legendary waterman Kelly Slater has pilgrimaged here to ride waves, a testament to the area鈥檚 surf cred. The guide company offers surf trips led by local pros, and if you鈥檙e experienced, they鈥檒l lead you to a secret big-wave spot that breaks from August to October.

A visit to Cape Toi, Miyazaki鈥檚 southernmost point, is a must. The scenery is straight out of a fairytale, with a seemingly endless panorama of sapphire ocean, a forest of rare, native sago palms, and 100 wild horses called Misaki-uma, considered a national treasure. Even cooler: you can camp here, at the (from $20).

13. Lake Willoughby, Vermont

Why It Wows: Nicknamed America鈥檚 Lucerne, this five-mile-long, glacier-carved lake is sandwiched between the fjord-like peaks of Mounts Pisgah and Hor. The water is remarkably clear, and come fall, it takes on the autumnal hues of the surrounding foliage鈥攁 gorgeous sight.

国产吃瓜黑料 Intel: Situated in the heart of Vermont鈥檚 rural Northeast Kingdom, Willoughby State Forest encircles the lake’s southern end and is webbed with 12 miles of hiking trails. is a 2.5-mile out-and-back route with fantastic lake views.

Summer is the most popular season for boating, paddleboarding, and kayaking, and public beaches on its north and south ends are popular with swimmers and sun seekers (note that the latter is clothing optional). Willoughby is also a haven for anglers who come to hook jumbo trout and salmon. (Willoughby Lake Store, near Westmore, sells bait.) Visibility is so good some people even scuba dive here.

On the south side of the lake, the family-run has tent sites, RV hookups, and waterfront cabins, plus an on-site caf茅 and country store, plus kayak, canoe, and SUP rentals (from $38).

Jen Murphy is 国产吃瓜黑料 Online鈥�s travel-advice columnist and a frequent contributor to the magazine. She dreams of returning to the Bazaruto Archipelago to dive its clear waters, and a camping trip in the desert of Oman is on her wish list.听

The post The 13 Most Beautiful Places on Earth You鈥檝e Never Heard Of appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

There’s no perfect trip. Despite the best planning, the unexpected happens, like the ferry service doesn’t run the only day you need it, or you didn’t know that there are two German towns named Frankfurt.

We asked our longtime travel writers and editors to tell us about their most memorable travel mistakes, the ones that taught them a significant lesson or two. Some of their stories made us chuckle, and most were relatable. If you’ve ever been seriously sick while abroad, frustrated with others on a group trip, or ignorant of the rules of the road in some foreign locale, you’ll appreciate these sticky situations.

1. Desperately Seeking Arctic Apparel

While on my first and only small-ship cruise along the southeast Alaskan coastline one September, I was so excited for the adventures ahead that I mistakenly left my luggage on the airport conveyor belt. The shuttle picking me up transported my group directly to the Mendenhall Glacier for an initial hike before dropping us off at the dock for departure. The boat had set sail before I realized that I had nothing more than the clothes on my back for a chilly seven-day itinerary. I was mortified.

Thankfully, the ship captain and company owner raided the vessel鈥檚 supply closet and were able to deck me out with a staff T-shirt and sweatshirt. An angel fellow passenger loaned me an extra puffy and a few essential layers. Disaster averted, with the help of a few kind people. 鈥�Stephanie Pearson听

2. Double-Check That Google Maps Route

After skiing powder all day in the Alpine mecca of Chamonix, France, my husband and I grabbed a baguette and a hunk of cheese and hit the road in our rental Peugeot bound for Tignes, France, the next stop on our winter European road trip.

Still giddy from our time at the iconic resort, we didn鈥檛 consult Google Maps as closely as we should have. It navigated us east through the Mont Blanc Tunnel鈥攁 seven-mile-long feat of engineering that cuts through the massif and connects Chamonix to the neighboring ski town of Courmayeur on the Italian side. The one-way toll costs about $55. Baffled but believing in Google Maps, we continued to follow the directions and enjoyed the finest of scenic drives for another 30 minutes. Then the cobbled streets turned into a one-lane dirt road that soon dead-ended at a snowbank, with skiers cruising atop it.

There was nothing to do but turn around and try a different route, which, of course, directed us back through the tunnel (forcing us to pay again) and added several hours to a long day. But it made for a good story afterward. 鈥�Megan Michelson

3. Pack Back-Up Meds in Case You Get Sick

I habitually get sick in foreign countries. I鈥檝e suffered numerous bouts of strep throat while visiting family in Sweden, food poisoning on a rural train in northern India, and came down with scarlet fever on a five-day backpacking trip in the remote Alaskan bush. That last trip was a turning point for me. I now always carry antibiotics with me when I travel. 鈥�Emily Pennington

4. Why Overpreparing Isn鈥檛 a Bad Idea

I was invited to Nepal in 2003 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first ascent of Mount Everest. I signed up for a 30-day trip with an outfitter that took the scenic route from the steamy jungle up over a series of very high passes, including 19,100-foot Amphu Labtsa La, and back down into Tengboche, the original base camp for the 1953 climb, which was hosting a big celebration.

The trek was absolutely stunning and supremely remote. It was also nerve-wracking. Every day we had reports that Maoists were going to intercept us. That never happened, but incompetence among some in our own group proved to be far more dangerous.

The crux of the trip was an almost impossible ask: we had to summit a 鈥渕inor鈥� 17,000-foot pass, cross an ice field, and then get both up and down Amphu Labsta La鈥� all in a day.

I was toward the front of the group when I reached the top of Amphu Labsta La in the afternoon and took a gander at the descent. What I saw terrified me: a 50-degree slope of solid blue ice running at least 400 feet. Getting everyone down was going to be a huge ordeal, since not everyone could rappel on their own.

We ended up having to sleep atop the pass for two nights. Because much of the clients鈥� gear had been lowered with the porters after the initial night (everyone thought the full group would have rappelled down that day), we found ourselves stranded atop the peak with insufficient equipment. A quick tally revealed we had just three tents, three sleeping bags, and two sleeping pads for 11 people. Four of us piled into my three-person tent, and I spread my sleeping bag as best as I could over us. I didn鈥檛 sleep at all, just shivered and prayed a storm wouldn鈥檛 roll in. At first light, exhausted and pissed off at how miserable I鈥檇 been, I packed up, clipped into the rope down the pass, and rappelled myself, not waiting for anyone to lower me. You can bet I partied my ass off when we finally got to Tengboche. 鈥�Tim Neville

6. Bugged Out

Failing to zip my backpack after sleeping outside in the jungle of Panama had me toting not one, not two, but three massive (and I mean massive) cockroaches with me back to the Panama City hotel where I stayed the night at before my flight home. Between the surprise discovery and the aftermath of dealing with them, I got zero sleep and am still haunted to this day. 鈥�Stephanie Vermillion

7. Renting a Car in a Foreign Country Can Come with Pricey Curveballs

In 2019, my wife and I bought cheap tickets to Milan, rented a Fiat, and road-tripped through northern Italy. It was thrilling to speed on the mountainous highways and cruise through quaint villages via winding roads that topped out on ridgelines with views of the Mediterranean below. Because it was spring, there were few tourists, so we鈥檇 simply park, walk around visiting a plaza or ancient buildings and churches, and continue on. It was all perfect鈥攗ntil we got home.

On a monthly basis, I started getting fines in the mail鈥攆or improper parking, speeding, and driving in restricted residential areas without the requisite permit. At first I thought this was a mistake. Then I realized that every fine was in the place we鈥檇 visited that day.

After paying hundreds of Euros in penalties, I swore off ever traveling to Italy again. I took to retelling the story of my travails to any Italian who would listen, only to discover this is a common occurrence. One Italian told me that when he returns home, he borrows his mom鈥檚 car, breaks countless rules, and racks up ticket after ticket.

My stance on Italy has since softened, but I still get occasional fines in the mail. I refuse to pay them and try to view them as mementos of one of the best trips of my life. 鈥�Ryan Krogh

8. Start Earlier than You Think You Need To

Lesson one: Don鈥檛 underestimate the approach to a backcountry cabin. My friends and I had booked the Eiseman, a popular Tenth Mountain Division hut in the Gore Range outside Vail, Colorado, and getting there required a six-mile ski tour with nearly 3,000 feet of elevation gain. No problem, we thought. We were a hardy crew of experienced backcountry skiers.

What we didn鈥檛 consider was that April鈥檚 warming temperatures had turned the snowpack to mush. Combined with a later than expected afternoon departure, the soft, sticky snow glommed to our skins, making travel considerably slow and challenging.

Lesson two: Less is more in the backcountry. We naively stuffed our packs with margarita fixings, avocados, jars of salsa, a foam roller. Needless to say, the ski in took twice as long as expected鈥攚e didn鈥檛 get to the hut until after dark鈥攁nd half our crew ended up dropping gear there and returning to lighten the load of the slower folks. We were a total junk show. That said, the taco party sure was fun. 鈥拟.惭.

9. The Pitfalls of an Undocumented Pilgrim

When I thru-hiked Spain鈥檚 Camino de Santiago, I carried the obligatory pilgrim鈥檚 passport鈥攁 thin leaflet littered with official stamps, tucked in a protective plastic bag. It proved I鈥檇 walked what amounted to nearly a marathon a day, and it was also my ticket into cheap albergues: glorified hostels reserved solely for pilgrims, where I could soak my feet, thread blisters, rinse my clothes, and crash hard before rising to repeat it all again.

But one day near the end of the trek, in Galicia, a massive storm rolled in while I was eating a sandwich on the side of the road. I hastily repacked my gear and booked the remaining four miles to the nearest town. When I arrived at the albergue that evening, soaking wet and exhausted, I couldn鈥檛 find my pilgrim鈥檚 passport, and no pleading with the check-in lady in Spanish would persuade her to give me a bunk without it.

So I retraced my steps, blisters bursting, leg muscles screaming, my head hammered by hail, until I found it blown up against a fence near where I鈥檇 stopped for lunch. I never misplaced that passport again. 鈥�Patty Hodapp

10. A Different Kind of Wildlife-Watching

Last year on an off-trail backpacking trip to Wrangell鈥揝t. Elias National Park, I learned the importance of carrying two to three days of extra food in Alaska. My group was dropped off by a bush plane for a five-day expedition and halfway through the trip, an adolescent grizzly bear ran off with one of our bear cans packed with food. We had to ration supplies for our remaining time, but fortunately, our resourceful guide cobbled together some pretty creative and delicious meals for the final two days. 鈥抬.笔.

11. A Case for the Carry-on

At the check-in counter for my flight to Germany, where I鈥檇 be joining friends to climb in the , I noticed that airline personnel were chatting as they tagged bags. A fleeting thought crossed my mind: Always look at the tag before your bag sails away. But I didn鈥檛.

I arrived in Nuremberg to watch an unfamiliar duffle bag circle around on the carousel, while someone in Newfoundland was looking at mine. I was in northern Bavaria in late autumn, with no sleeping bag, tent, or puffy jacket. I did have my climbing shoes and harness in my carry-on, so I went on to a house in nearby Erlangen owned by extremely generous German climbers, who were letting some of our group occupy their basement.

When I explained my dilemma to the leading free climber (RIP and bless him forever), he shrugged, waved me toward his closet, and told me to take any of his clothes. There was only one problem: I鈥檓 five foot seven, while he was easily six foot one. I wore his stuff for two days. 鈥�Alison Osius

12. Frostbite Has Never Felt So Imminent

When I camped on the Greenland Ice Sheet two years ago, I learned the hard way to test my gear before bringing it on a trip. I brought 鈥渨aterproof gloves鈥� that actually weren鈥檛 waterproof at all. My hands were soaked and freezing within minutes of pitching my tent in a very wet, cold snowstorm. It was 14 degrees out. The next morning I had to thaw the gloves over the mess-tent cookstove. 鈥擲.V.

13. Tetotaling at Elevation

Alcohol and altitude don鈥檛 mix, a rule of thumb that took me two notable times in my life to learn. Once I flew from New York City (sea level) to Vail, Colorado, (8,239 feet) for a fun trip with a friend who was writing a story about a professional skier. The skier was going to take us all around the mountain to his favorite spots. The night before, I enjoyed two large glasses of red wine at dinner but had failed to drink much water that day. I woke up nauseous at 2 A.M., threw up for the next three hours, and missed the ski tour.

The second time I was in Chile鈥檚 Atacama Desert, located at 8,200 feet. I was staying at a gorgeous lodge with fantastic food and wine. This was a few years after Vail, and I had long forgotten that incident. So when the beautiful Chilean cabernet was served at dinner, I drank it, but I was hugging the porcelain again early the next morning. I missed an amazing hike up a volcano. Suffice it to say I now don鈥檛 drink at altitude and focus on hydrating instead. 鈥�Mary Turner

14. Tiny Things That Bite When You Least Expect It

I was working for the student newspaper at Montana State University when I got a fax announcing ridiculously low airfare to Costa Rica for spring break, so my brother, girlfriend, and I all went down there to dirtbag it for a week. We were poor, so we packed hammocks, intending to string them between trees on the beach and sleep there.

We made our way to Montezuma, on the Nicoya Peninsula, which back then had one restaurant and a few houses on sandy 鈥渟treets.鈥� It was pitch-black when we arrived at the beach, and none of us had a headlamp. My feet felt wet as we crossed what must have been a small stream slipping out of the jungle through leaves. But then the sensation changed and my legs and feet exploded in what felt like fire.

鈥淎nts!鈥� my brother yelled. We鈥檇 stumbled right into either a nest or a train of fire ants that proceeded to bite the piss out of our legs. There was nothing to do but strip down and race for the ocean, which we also couldn鈥檛 see. Waking up to howler monkeys and swimming the next morning made everything right. 鈥擳.狈.

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