Italy鈥檚 picturesque mountains have experienced an upturn in tourism this year, and with it, a staggering increase in fatal accidents.

Roberto Bolza, the vice president of Italy鈥檚 national rescue organization, Corpo Nazionale Soccorso Alpino e Speleologico (CNSAS), told 国产吃瓜黑料 that more than 100 people have died in the country鈥檚 peaks since June 1鈥攁 shocking average of three deaths per-day.

“It’s a dramatic figure,” Bolza said.

Bolza said that the uptick in deadly falls and accidents is part of a growing trend that the CNSAS鈥攚hich was founded in 1954鈥攈as experienced over the past decade.

鈥淥ver the past ten years, the Soccorso Alpino has carried out as many rescue operations as in the first 60 years of its history,” he said.

Deaths and Rescues Across the Alps

Most of the incidents have involved hikers, he said, and are similar to others CNSAS sees during a typical year: slips and falls on challenging terrain, sudden illness or cardiac arrest, rock climbing accidents, and situations caused by rapidly changing weather or a lack of proper clothing.

In some of the deaths, overconfident tourists have ventured off-trail, or gotten lost in steep, technical terrain, without proper experience or equipment.

“Too many are treating serious alpine trails with the same casual mindset they’d bring to a stroll in the park,” Maurizio Dellantonio, the head of CNSAS, in July.

Lifesaving missions are up 20 percent compared to 2024, Dellantonio said. One CNSAS rescue involved a 30-year-old hiker who attempted to ascend a 12,000-foot peak wearing tennis shoes. He called for aid after becoming stuck on the peak during the night. In another incident, two Korean hikers in their sixties embarked on a via ferrata鈥攁 climbing route with fixed cables and iron steps that requires users to don climbing gear鈥攚ithout harnesses or helmets. All three lived.

But others have not been so lucky. On July 24, a 15-year-old French boy, Liam Rezac, died after he became lost on a hiking trail and then slipped and fell in the Val D’Aosta region. Also in July, a 21-year-old hiker named Gioele Fortina died after slipping and falling from a trail in Piedmont.

In late July, A 60-year-old hiker died after losing his balance and falling off a trail in the Fassa Valley, deep in the Dolomites. A few days later, an 80-year-old died in a similar accident on the same trail.

Holistic statistics for 2025 are not yet available, but from 2024, the most common deaths in the mountains involve Italian men between the ages of 50 and 60. This demographic is also responsible for 16 percent of all rescue calls.

Why the Uptick?

Some experts point the uptick in disasters to climate change鈥攎elting ice and permafrost increases rockfall on the peaks, and leads to the occasional collapse of glaciers. In 2022, 11 people died when a massive serac on the Marmolada Glacier disintegrated, showering a group of hikers with ice and rock.

But Bolza believes the warming conditions are contributing in a different manner.

It’s so hot in Italy’s lowlands, he said, that 鈥渕ore and more people are going to the mountains.鈥� The Guardian, Italian newspapers have throughout the summer repeatedly run images of overcrowding at popular hiking destinations and at cable cars in the Alps.

Bolza said that other societal dynamics are enticing people to the peaks. “It is driven in part by the influence of social media and the growing promotion of outdoor activities,” he added.

Mountain guides and rescuers who spoke with 国产吃瓜黑料听also blamed the post-COVID popularity of outdoor recreation in the country. The surge, they said, has resulted in jam-packed trails, and inexperienced hikers venturing into dangerous terrain.

鈥淎fter the coronavirus pandemic, we had a really big increase of people visiting,鈥� said Italian IMFGA mountain guide Luca Vallata. 鈥淢any people without the necessary experience have started to enter the mountains.鈥�

Guides told 国产吃瓜黑料 that rock climbing has exploded in popularity in the last decade, aided by an influx of commercial climbing gyms, the exposure of the Olympics, and the success of documentary films. Vallata said that these new climbers have experience in indoor gyms but don’t have the experience to tackle challenging routes on peaks.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a combination of more and more people who have little experience all visiting the mountains at the same time,鈥� said Simon Geitl, an Italian alpinist.

A Reliance on Tech

Overcrowding and a lack of preparedness in the wilderness isn鈥檛 a new issue. Guides told听国产吃瓜黑料 that hikers’ reliance on technology for route finding and adventure advice is also getting people into trouble. Vallata said he’s heard of incidents in which hikers use artificial intelligence to help them discover a route, only to discover that the trail is not safe.

鈥淪ince about one year ago, many people have begun to think everything on ChatGPT is correct,鈥� Vallata said. 鈥淚t is not a tool for mountain advice, for routes, or for planning.”

Geitl said that the reliance on technology can distract people from the dangers along the trail. 鈥淢any people on hiking trails are too often distracted by their cell phones, and are not aware of the danger that a misstep can have,鈥� he said.

鈥淭here is of course a lot of good and accurate information on the Internet,鈥� Geitl said, 鈥渂ut unfortunately there are also many false or inaccurate sources that people trust, and suddenly find themselves in an awkward situation where they don’t know what to do next, and often all they can do is call rescue.鈥�

The Importance of Good Intel

Both Geitl and Vallata recommended that visitors to the peaks hire a guide.

鈥淚f you go with a guide, you are more safe,鈥� Vallata said. 鈥淚 am a guide, so maybe I am biased, but even if you don鈥檛 use a guide, the most important thing is to not trust only information you find online.”

Vallata said that his international clients often arrive underprepared for conditions in the Alps, where rain, sleet, and snow can fall during all months of the year. He emphasized that it’s important to recognize that weather in the mountains can change dramatically.

鈥淪ometimes we meet in the morning, and my clients have only a t-shirt and shorts, and a pair of trainers,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey see that at the moment, the weather is super nice, and it is warm, but they don鈥檛 realize conditions can change super quickly.鈥�

Negligence Has Consequences

The CNSAS does charge for rescues, based on a tiered payment structure that takes into account location and severity of the operation. Dellantino said that half of all those rescued refuse to pay. Some American search and rescue organizations, many of which are also seeing a dramatic surge in distress calls this summer, have also asked for similar fines to be levied on negligent hikers.

On July 31, a British hiker called for rescue from a closed trail in the Dolomites. CNSAS crews were able to locate the man and pluck him from a mountainside with a helicopter.

Authorities later determined that the hiker had ignored repeated signs warning of dangers and then ventured onto a closed trail. Local health authorities issued the . The incident generated global headlines.

Bolza, the CNSAS vice president, said that his organization 鈥渃ontinues to recommend the utmost caution, careful planning of outings, the use of appropriate equipment, and the constant monitoring of weather forecasts before undertaking any high-altitude activity.鈥�

The post More Than 100 Hikers Have Died in Italy This Summer. What the Heck Is Going on? appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Back in September 2024, a 64-year-old climber went missing in Italy鈥檚 Cottian Alps.

In late July, rescuers finally found his body, using a combination of flying drones and an advanced artificial intelligence software program, according to

Nicola Ivaldo, a doctor from Liguria, disappeared on the north face of 12,602-foot Monviso on September 14. Colleagues reported him missing when he failed to show up at work two days later, and search efforts began on September 17.

Ivaldo was an experienced mountaineer, but he was climbing alone. Monviso, which sits near the French border roughly 40 miles southwest of Turin, is a rugged, technical peak.

He also had not told his friends or family his intended route. However, before his disappearance, Ivaldo鈥檚 cell phone had connected to a cell tower north of the mountain, so rescuers believed he was attempting to climb Monviso from the north, likely via the peak鈥檚 northwest ridge.

Over the next several days, drones, sniffer dogs, and helicopters began poring across the northern and western slopes of Monviso, scouring a search area of 452 acres. But the rugged, dangerous terrain, coupled with bouts of foul weather and poor visibility鈥攚ind, rain, fog, and snow鈥攕tymied search and rescue efforts. By October, early winter snows had fallen on the mountain, covering any sign of the missing climber鈥檚 body. The search for Nicola Ivaldo was called off on October 9.

For nearly a year, the missing doctor鈥檚 fate was uncertain. But in late July, two drones, piloted by Italy鈥檚 National Alpine and Speleological Rescue Corps (CNSAS) took up the search again.

On the afternoon of July 29, the pair of drones flew over Monviso. During a span of just five hours, they documented almost every inch of the 452-acre search area, taking roughly 2,600 high-definition photographs from 165 feet above the ground. Later that day, these photographs were fed through an artificial intelligence built to recognize variances in color and shape. This software was directed to analyze the photos with specific focus on any irregularities in the landscape.

The AI program analyzed all 2,600 images the same day. What would have taken weeks or months, scanning hundreds of photos with human eyes, took a few hours. The software flagged a series of suspicious spots, including a smattering of bright red pixels that rescuers thought might be Ivaldo鈥檚 helmet.

They were right.

Less than three days after the initial drone flights, a recovery helicopter found Ivaldo鈥檚 body at approximately 10,335 feet, face down in a couloir high on the north face of Monviso.

One of the two drone pilots, Saverio Isola, told听Wired Italia that the miraculous recovery was 鈥渁 human achievement, but without technology, it would have been an impossible mission.鈥�

Isola explained that Italian rescue crews have been using drones in a similar capacity for roughly five years. 鈥淚n the recovery operations following the , it allowed us to operate in inaccessible areas and recover all the necessary artifacts,鈥� Isola said. 鈥淚t prevented the rescuers from risking their lives.鈥� However, artificial intelligence analysis technologies like the kind used in this operation have only been in use for the last eighteen months. These tools were developed by the CNSAS, in coordination with Italy鈥檚 civil aviation agency.

Rescue teams across the United States commonly use aerial drones to spot missing hikers, and to scour hundreds of acres of terrain when a helicopter is not readily available. In 2021, a drone equipped with thermal imaging spotted a missing hiker outside of Santa Barbara.

In 2023, a stranded motorist so he could send an SOS message to rescuers.

But using drones in conjunction with artificial intelligence software to scout photographs is not as common.

The CNSAS hopes that in the future, rapid implementation of artificial intelligence analysis could save missing hikers and climbers before it鈥檚 too late. In search and rescue missions for living hikers, color and shape recognition software could be combined with thermal imagery analysis. 鈥淎I is also able to interpret thermal data, and provide valuable information in just a few hours,鈥� Isola said. While helicopters or ground rescuers are dispatched, the drones could also deliver lifesaving supplies, like food, water, or first aid kits.

The post Artificial Intelligence Helped Rescuers Find a Climber鈥檚 Remains appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

It鈥檚 early on a Tuesday morning in mid-March, and Isabella Calidonna is ready to run. She鈥檚 got a hydration pack wrapped around her back and a smile on her face while standing next to the Baroque Four Rivers Fountain in the heart of Rome, Italy. This centerpiece of the famed Navona Piazza, she tells me, is among more than 2,000 fountains in the city designed by the masterful Italian sculptor and architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini more than 400 years ago.

Calidonna is the founder of , a Rome-based running tour company, and she鈥檚 leading me on an easy 5-kilometer run that will zigzag through the city鈥檚 maze-like alleys. They鈥檙e paved with black basalt, referred to as sampietrini in Italian.

The iconic cobblestones date back to the 16th century, when they were first used to cover Saint Peter鈥檚 Square in front of Saint Peter鈥檚 Basilica, the iconic Italian High Renaissance church in Vatican City. These are the kind of details that Calidonna, who has a Ph.D. in art history and also studied archeology, easily shares mid-stride.

鈥淚 work in great beauty,鈥� she says, chuckling. 鈥淩ome is very special鈥攆ull of beauty that has been layered over centuries, from the medieval period to the Renaissance. You can see all that history here.鈥�

Save for local shop owners preparing to open, at 7 A.M. Rome is unusually hushed and absent of tourists, an ideal moment to run through Italy鈥檚 most populous city of nearly three million.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a very particular experience,鈥� Calidonna says of Rome鈥檚 pre-breakfast hour ambiance.

From the honeyed rays of sunlight that drench the city鈥檚 historic facades, to the quiet and crowdless streets, Calidonna describes this interval of the day as sacred and magical, insisting that it鈥檚 worth a wake-up call to encounter this tamer face of the city.

A Run-Tour of the Best of Rome

Calidonna, a six-time marathon finisher, no longer trains to race long distances. But she remains an avid runner. She started coaching in 2016 and logs roughly 20 miles per week as the owner of ArcheoRunning, which she founded in 2019. After constantly encountering tourists studying maps mid-run, Calidonna thought it was a prime opportunity to offer a guided running experience while also bridging her love for art, history, and archeology in her beloved adopted home.

鈥淢y running tours are for everyone,鈥� Calidonna says. She adds that she accommodates all paces for the 13 running tours she offers. The company also features seven walking tours.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 use maps. I am the map!鈥� -Isabella Calidonna, founder of ArcheoRunning听

鈥淭he Best of Rome鈥� tour is among her most popular. As part of the experience, she brings runners to iconic public squares and famed spots, like the Spanish Steps鈥攖he longest and widest staircase in Europe built in the 1720s. The tour also traverses architectural masterpieces, like the Pantheon. The ancient temple, dedicated to the 12 gods of the Roman religion, is one of the best-preserved Roman monuments in the world. A visit to the renowned Baroque Trevi Fountain鈥攄ubbed the world鈥檚 wishing well, attracting between 10,000 and 12,000 tourists daily鈥攊s another highlight of the rendezvous.

One of ArcheoRunning鈥檚 more atypical experiences includes taking runners southeast to the city鈥檚 鈥済reen lungs鈥� to log miles on one of the oldest Roman consular roads. Calidonna describes the area as an open-air museum, where six of the ancient Roman aqueducts鈥攗sed to transport fresh water for baths, fountains, and drinking to highly populated areas鈥攁re preserved. Dating back to 312 B.C.E. and built over a period of roughly 500 years, the Roman aqueduct systems are widely considered to be a masterful and advanced display of engineering.

Beat the Crowds Off the Beaten Path

On this Tuesday morning, I joined Calidonna for ArcheoRunning鈥檚 鈥淗idden Rome鈥� running tour to visit a few of the lesser-known spots in the city. Our first stopping point is the ruins of the Stadium of Domitian, which is located beneath Piazza Navona. A rendered image of the stadium illustrates a horseshoe-shaped arena, which was formerly used for wrestling, foot races, and pentathlons. The space could accommodate 30,000 spectators (still significantly smaller than the better-known Colosseum, which could hold up to 80,000 people, while the Circus Maximus, the largest chariot stadium in ancient Rome, could fill more than 150,000).

I follow Calidonna to Via Coronari, an ancient Roman road in the heart of the city. Formerly referred to as Via Recta, the street was used by pilgrims on the journey to Saint Peter鈥檚 Basilica, she explains. These days, it鈥檚 full of renovated apartments sandwiched between art galleries and is also a place to hunt for antiques.

As we head to the Ponte district, Calidonna pauses and points at an inconspicuous arcaded lane, Vicolo San Trifone. This, she says, is one of the most distinct streets in the city鈥攖he narrowest in Rome, a fact that is often lost on tourists and locals alike. We move on to one of Rome鈥檚 oldest markets, Campo de鈥� Fiori, careful to steer clear of vendors meticulously arranging baskets of fruits and vegetables and buckets of fresh flowers. After we quickly pass by, we continue to a medieval courtyard of Ivy-wrapped ochre houses located through Arco degli Acetari. In the past, the area was used by vinegar makers before it was transformed into accommodations.

As we continue still off the beaten tourist track, Calidonna shepherds me to Passetto del Biscione, a tunnel with a stunning blue frescoed ceiling of cherubs and festoons. In 1796, the passage was reportedly the site of a miracle: an image of the Virgin Mary was allegedly seen moving her eyes, attracting pious Christians from around the city. The passage also served as a corridor to the Theater of Pompey, Rome鈥檚 first theater that was dedicated to Pompey the Great, Julius Caesar鈥檚 rival.

By the time we reach our second-to-last stop, I can鈥檛 help but gaze in awe inside the courtyard of the Palazzo della Sapienza. Here, Calidonna shows me the oldest university in Rome, and the largest in Europe, founded in the 13th century by Pope Boniface VIII. The building, designed by 17th-century architectural genius Francesco Borromini, is a Baroque masterpiece.

As we wrap up the run, Calidonna leads me to the back of the Pantheon. It鈥檚 certainly not a hidden gem. Rather, it鈥檚 one of the most popular architecture sites in the center of Rome鈥攁nd the world. This, however, leads to our final stop, the ruins of the Baths of Agrippa. It鈥檚 the formerly private bath complex of Agrippa, the Roman general and son-in-law of Augustus, the first emperor of ancient Rome.

I鈥檓 still absorbing Calidonna鈥檚 granular details as we finish running and arrive at Caff猫 Sant Eustachio, the oldest coffee roasting company in Rome. The cafe uses water from an ancient aqueduct to make its coffee, like the Americano I sip as I gaze outside, noticing how much Rome has come to life, and it鈥檚 only 8 A.M.

A morning with ArcheoRunning feels like stepping into another world, one that serves as an amuse-bouche of the city鈥檚 culture, history, and traditions. I鈥檓 already ruminating on my return to the Eternal City.

___________________________________________________________

This article was first published by RUN.

The post When in Rome, Do as the Runners Do appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

For years, I鈥檝e snubbed Europe鈥檚 mountains as soon as the ski season ended. For me, the Alps were long synonymous with winter: hut-to-hut ski tours in the Italian Dolomites, shots of schnapps at apr猫s in Austria, and cozy cabins and hearty meals of fondue and raclette in Switzerland.

Around a decade ago, a work assignment took me to the Savoie region of France in June. The landscape was even more dazzling when it wasn鈥檛 covered in snow. Azul alpine lakes shimmered. Vast meadows were carpeted in Technicolor wildflowers. Cows, bedecked with giant bells, grazed in the bright green pastures. And the mountain huts that warmed me in winter fueled me with cheese souffl茅s and glasses of crisp ros茅.

Yes, we have plenty of epic hiking opportunities at home in the States, but there was something special about immersing myself in a different culture at such a slow and undistracted pace. When I hike at home in Boulder, Colorado, I tend to be a mountain goat racing to the summit. But hiking in Europe has taught me how to dial it back, embrace the local hospitality, and savor the views.

I鈥檒l admit, some of Europe鈥檚 most storied hikes, such as Spain鈥檚 Camino de Santiago, and the multi-country Tour du Mont Blanc, intimidate me. If you don鈥檛 have a month鈥檚 vacation or mountaineering skills, you have plenty of other options.

The following are some of my favorite multi-day hikes in Europe. I鈥檝e chosen a mix of both mellow and challenging trails; most can be broken up in sections if you don鈥檛 want to tackle the entire route in one go. All require some planning and basic fitness levels.

Newer hikers, or those who want an assist with logistics, should consider booking a self-guided or fully-guided trip. Not only does this guarantee accommodations (mountain huts book up fast in Europe, just like campsites at America鈥檚 top parks), but it also eases your load by taking care of luggage transfers. And fully-guided trips are a great option for nervous solo transfers, or nerds like me who want to know the name of every wildflower and distant peak and understand the history of the region. Happy trails.

1. Mare 脿 Mare Nord, Corsica

Distance: 86 miles
Effort: Challenging

Why we love it: A less congested and less demanding, yet equally scenic alternative to Corsica鈥檚 mythical G20 long distance hiking trail, the point-to-point Mare 脿 Mare Nord is bookended by stunning beaches in the village of Moriani on the island鈥檚 east coast and the fishing port of Carg猫se on the west. Sporty, but not technical, the trail covers more than 7,700 feet of elevation as it winds through chestnut forests, past wild gorges and natural rock pools, and to sleepy mountain villages and coastal towns steeped in tradition.

Need to know: The trail is broken into 12 stages, each taking between four to nine hours. It can typically be completed in 10 to 12 days between mid-April through November. The trail is well-marked with orange paint. Accommodation options can be found and should be reserved in advance. Local tour company offers an 11-day self-guided trip that includes luggage transfers between accommodations (a mix of hotels, mountain huts, and one night camping) as well as most meals (from $1,630).

2. The Causeway Coastal Route, Northern Ireland

Distance: 33 miles
Effort: Moderate

Why we love it: While it鈥檚 primarily known as a road trip, Northern Ireland鈥檚 rugged Causeway Coast also makes for an epic hike. A series of clifftop paths and small coastal roads stretch from Belfast to Derry, taking in the raw landscapes that have served as film locations for 鈥淕ame of Thrones鈥� and 鈥淪tar Wars.鈥� The route showcases cliff top castles and wild beaches, but the UNESCO-listed Giant鈥檚 Causeway, with its 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, is the highlight.

Need to know: This relatively mellow hike is best attempted between June and October. Build in extra time for detours to friendly pubs and Bushmill鈥檚, Ireland鈥檚 oldest distillery. offers multiple variations of itineraries for this hike, including a seven-day group trip that tacks on some hiking in the craggy mountains of Glenveagh, Ireland鈥檚 second largest national park (from $3,255).

3. Laugavegur Trail, Iceland

Distance: 35 miles
Effort: Challenging

Why we love it: Petrified lava fields. Snow-crowned peaks. Electric blue glaciers. Tussock meadows. The drama of Iceland鈥檚 landscape is at its peak along the Laugavegur Trail. Stretching across the heart of Iceland鈥檚 southern region, the trek begins in the highlands of Landmannalaugar, an area known for its hot springs and multi-hued rhyolite mountains, and concludes in the glacial valley of Th贸rsm枚rk. Most people conquer the trek in four to five days; overachievers tack on another two days and trek over the next pass to Sk贸gar to see the nearly 200-foot Sk贸gafoss waterfall.

Need to know: Simple mountain huts (from $65) and tents (from $20) are open on the trail from June 20 to September 17, 2025 and must be . Icelandic Mountain Guides offers ($2,503) and ($1,248) treks.

4. Cortina d鈥橝mpezzo to Alta Badia: the Dolomites, Italy

Distance: 37 miles
Effort: Moderate

Why we love it: The fang-like peaks of the Dolomites provide more than a stunning backdrop for trekking. They also deliver a lesson in history, geology, culture, and cuisine. The journey between the Venetian-influenced town of Cortina d鈥橝mpezzo and the Ladin-influenced villages of Alta Badia in South Tyrol takes hikers through mugo pine and larch trees, past World War I tunnels dug into the mountainsides, around the fortress-like Sella Massif, and into the heart of Puez-Odle Nature Park. Along the way, you鈥檒l stay in charming rifugios that serve typical local dishes such as canederli (bread dumplings).

Need to know: Mid-June to early October is the best time for hiking in this region. Most people devote one week to this trek, planning for four to seven hours of hiking a day. You鈥檒l want to prep your legs for some serious ascents and descents. The Dolomites are known for their vast network of rifugios, which offer private rooms and shared rooms, home-cooked meals, and some, like (from $85 for a dorm-style room), now feature saunas. , one of the region鈥檚 most respected adventure operators, offers seven-day guided (from $4,570) and self-guided itineraries ($1,920) that include transfers, rifugios, and meals.

5. The Great Glen Way, Scotland

Distance: 79
Effort: Moderate

Why we love it: The West Highland Way is considered the granddaddy of Scotland鈥檚 long-distance hikes, but this shorter, tamer coast-to-coast route is a fantastic option for less experienced hikers thanks to its gentler terrain and more gradual ascents. The trail begins beneath the slopes of Ben Nevis, Britain鈥檚 highest mountain, and stretches east across the Highlands to its terminus in Inverness. You鈥檒l be properly warmed up for the second half, when the trail gradually gets more challenging as it winds up the hillsides above the famed Loch Ness. Keep an eye out for Nessie.

Need to know: Your best chance of avoiding midges (pesky, gnat-like flies) is to hike in April or May鈥攁dded bonus, the flowers will be in bloom. Summer is warmer and drier, but more crowded. The leaves are golden in fall, but the midges are still around. The trail is dotted with humble guesthouses and B&B-style accommodations. Give yourself four to eight days to complete the trek. runs an eight-day self-guided itinerary that ranges from seven to 18 miles per day and includes meals, accommodations, and luggage transfers (from $1,302).

6. GR92 Mediterranean Trail, Spain

Distance: 348 miles
Effort: Challenging

Why we love it: Spain鈥檚 answer to Italy鈥檚 iconic Cinque Terre trek, this long-distance trail is broken into that hug the Catalan coastline. Throughout parts, you can dip your toes in the sea at quiet beaches. At other points, you鈥檙e admiring the azure waters and rocky coastline from high up in the massifs of the Catalan coastal mountain range.

Need to know: The entire trail can take anywhere from eight to 16 days depending on your pace. Many people choose to tackle the first four stages (about 42 miles) on the dreamy Costa Brava. Stage one begins near the French border in the town of Portbou, which can be reached by a 2 hour 30 minute train ride from Barcelona. From there, you鈥檒l pass through the fishing town Cadaqu茅s, an artist haven where Salvador Dal铆 found inspiration. The fourth stage provides hikers a glimpse of the wetlands in Aiguamolls de l’Empord脿 Natural Park. The Mediterranean climate allows for hiking year round. Be warned, summer can get hot, even on the coast. Outfitter offers an easy, week-long self-guided itinerary on the GR92鈥檚 Costa Brava stretch (from $1,000).

7. Kesch Trek, Switzerland

Distance: 37
Effort: Moderate

Why we love it: Graub眉nden, Switzerland鈥檚 largest and highest altitude mountain region, is better known for its winter ski resorts, like St. Moritz, Davos, and Laax. But when summer arrives, it鈥檚 a hiker鈥檚 paradise. This classic jaunt between the Fl眉ela and Albula Passes engulfs hikers amid soaring peaks and glacial landscapes. During the hike, glimmering alpine lakes beckon hikers to cool off with a brisk dip. The trek can be completed in four days and connects to three of Switzerland鈥檚 comfiest mountain huts, including the solar-powered Kesch H眉tte, which has its own climbing garden with various bolted routes.

Need to know: The trek is accessible between July and September. Hut reservations are essential and dormitory rooms start at $55 per night. The trek鈥檚 three huts offer a bargain three-night package that includes half-board (breakfast and lunch) and optional picnic lunches for $500. The first day is relatively low-effort. If time allows, consider climbing to the 10,325-foot summit of Fl眉ela Schwarzhorn.

8. Bled to Lake Bohinj: the Julian Alps, Slovenia

Distance: 42
Effort: Test-your-mettle challenging

Why we love it: The sparkling lakes of Bled and Bohinj are downright fairytale worthy, and Slovenia鈥檚 awesome hut system still flies under the radar. The Alpine Association of Slovenia maintains more than 170 mountain shelters across a trail network of 6,200-plus miles. This challenging route in the Julian Alps showcases medieval castles, plunging waterfalls, and the wild beauty of , home to seven lakes and Slovenia鈥檚 highest peak. Along the way, you鈥檒l pop into sleepy villages where locals will renew your energy with homemade brandy and schnapps.

Need to know: You鈥檒l want to mountain huts at least one week in advance during peak season in July and August (but it鈥檚 worth it to see the wildflowers in bloom). Huts start at $25 per person, per night. Note, some have limited water so showering might not be possible. runs an affordable, eight-day, self-guided trip that includes a mix of hut and hotel stays, luggage transfers, and meals (from $1,995).

9. Stubai High Trail, Austria

Distance: 50
Effort: Challenging

Why we love it: Be transported to the 鈥淪ound of Music鈥� as you trek a horseshoe-shaped route high above the lakes, glaciers, and alpine meadows of the Stubai Valley. The hike has a total elevation gain and loss of just over 37,000 feet, so make sure your legs are conditioned. Eight historic connect the of the trail. Each has its own challenges and takes between four to seven hours to complete. But the warm, Tyrolean hospitality (and fresh-from-the oven strudel) that awaits at the end of each stage is motivation to keep trekking.

Need to know: Huts should be booked at least a month in advance. Most offer a mix of accommodations ranging from dorm-style rooms that require sleeping pads (from $20) to private rooms (from $55); all serve hearty, Tyrolean fare. The trail typically takes nine days. Some hikers tack on days and use the Franz-Senn H眉tte, located at stage two, to acclimate and train. Perched at 7,044 feet, via ferratas and climbing parks surround the classic Bavarian lodging, which has wifi, too. Hiking company Hut to Hut Hiking Austria has a nine-day, self-guided itinerary that includes hut reservations and most meals (from $1,585).

10. Classic Loop of Jotunheimen National Park, Norway

Distance: 58 miles
Effort: Test-your-mettle challenging

Why we love it: Jotunheimen translates to 鈥渉ome of the giants,鈥� a nod to being home of the tallest mountains in northern Europe. It鈥檚 possible to loop the park, staying in historic mountain huts managed by the Norwegian Trekking Association throughout the journey. This circuit includes a strenuous ascent of bucket-list Besseggen Ridge, an 8.7-mile trail with 3,608 feet of elevation gain. Panoramic views of emerald and turquoise lakes, electric blue glaciers, and snow-crowned peaks make every step worth the effort.

Need to know: The within the park average $105 a night and should be reserved in advance; note some require to reach and those tickets should also be purchased in advance (from $7 each way). This hike is best during the summer to avoid snow or ice. Give yourself six to eight days鈥攎ore if you want to summit Norway鈥檚 highest peak, Galdh酶piggen. Ease logistics by booking a self-guided circuit with , a tour operator in the park that takes care of transfers to and from Oslo, hut reservations, meals, luggage transport, and boat crossings (from $1,930).

Jen Murphy is a regular 国产吃瓜黑料 contributor. She recently wrote about the world鈥檚 best bike tours and North America鈥檚 best surf schools. She is an avid hiker and will be trekking hut-to-hut in the Dolomites this summer.听

The post After 10 Years Hiking Europe, These Are My 10 Favorite Treks appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

I鈥檝e tackled sections of the Pacific Crest Trail鈥攂ackpacking, day hiking, and trail running鈥攂ut to think of taking months off to complete all 2,650 miles of this trail, which climbs mountain passes and traverses remote California, Oregon, and Washington, feels overwhelming. A long-distance walk, on the other hand, feels more manageable, like something any of us could pull off, given some time. They mostly involve days and weeks rather than many months, and are at more consistent elevations.

I鈥檓 not talking about a mountainous thru-hike where you plan out food caches and sleep on the ground. I鈥檓 talking about a meandering or purposeful walk that goes on for days, weeks, or maybe months. A big commitment, yes. A physical feat for sure. A mental and emotional pilgrimage of sorts. But not so strenuous that most people couldn鈥檛 do it, building up their mileage.

These long walks, on byways and moderate terrain, are more like scenic tours of spectacular landscapes, or adventurous journeys through cities and forests. They are not so much to be completed as experienced.

And I think they’re the most beautiful in the world.

1. Best Urban Trail

Empire State Trail, New York

It took four years to link up and complete the entire , one of the longest multi-sport pathways in the United States, officially finished in late 2020. The route runs 750 miles across the state of New York, from New York City north to the Canadian border and from Albany west to Buffalo. Three quarters of the trail is on off-road pathways. You can walk on converted rail trails through the Hudson River Valley, stroll beside the historic Erie Canal, or move through wetlands and fields along Adirondack Park and Lake Champlain. Eventually the trail will include a 200-mile greenway across Long Island; construction of the first 25 miles of that section begins this year.

Pick a section of this largely urban route, which is also popular with bicyclists, and walk it one direction, then hop on a train back to where you started鈥擜mtrak stations are located in 20 towns and cities along the way. Find community with others traveling the trail or seek tips on good trailside lodging or camping from .

Don鈥檛 Miss:听 听More than 200 craft breweries dot the Empire State Trail, in an aggregate known as the . Get a brewery passport and pick up stamps at the places along the way to earn rewards like a T-shirt or cooler bag. In the Hudson Valley, spend a night at (from $195), which has cabins, canvas tents, and a cedar sauna just a short walk from the trail.

听听

2. Best Pilgrimage

El Camino de Santiago, Spain

Each year, over 300,000 people embark upon sections of this legendary pilgrimage, on a network of trails dating back to pre-medieval times and roadways that vary from cobbled to paved. The most popular route is the Camino Frances, a 500-mile pathway that starts in St. Jean Pied de Port, France, and takes travelers about four to five weeks to walk, passing through the Pyrenees mountains and La Rioja wine region, La Meseta arid range, and through eucalyptus forests into Galicia and Santiago itself. The Camino Portugues, heading up the northern coast of Portugal is another top choice, stretching between 140 and 380 miles depending on your starting point, and crossing through fishing villages such as the UNESCO Heritage Listed cities of Lisbon and Porto. No matter which route you choose, all roads听on the Camino lead to the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in northern Spain, where the remains of the Apostle Saint James the Great are allegedly buried.

You can walk the Camino year-round鈥攖he most popular season is mid-summer鈥攂ut aim for spring or fall for mild temperatures and fewer crowds, and be aware that many lodges and albergues close in winter ). offers guided walks on the Camino through Portugal and Spain lasting from a week up to 22 days (from $1,436), or, if you鈥檇 rather go on your own, has self-guided options (from $718).

Don鈥檛 Miss: Once you reach Santiago de Compostela, head to the Pilgrim鈥檚 Office for your official stamp of completion, having received a pilgrim鈥檚 passport from your entry point to be stamped along the way. Bagpipes will be playing nearby as you enter the gates of the holy Santiago de Compostela.听The cathedral has a Pilgrim鈥檚 Mass at noon and 7:30 p.m. daily; go early if you want a seat. On , await the ancient ritual of the swinging brass Botafumeiro, or cauldron, which is filled with incense and coal and so heavy eight men are required to move it.

3. Best Waterfront Route

Stockholm Archipelago Trail, Sweden

Opening in October 2023, the 167-mile connects new and existing pathways across 20 islands in the Stockholm Archipelago, the largest archipelago in Sweden and home to over 30,000 islands. To walk the whole thing, you鈥檒l need to use a series of public ferries and private boat taxis. You can also pick a section and just walk a few islands at a time; each has an average of about nine miles of trails. You鈥檒l travel along gravel roads, forest paths, and beaches, and through remote fishing and farming communities.

Along the way, camp or stay in hotels or B&Bs. offers a seven-day, self-guided journey on the trail (from $1,095) in spring, summer, or fall that includes lodging in locally owned hotels, luggage transfer, and daily routes that max out at about nine miles.

Don鈥檛 Miss: On the island of Tranholmen, a celebrated chef named David Enmark opens up his home to diners every Friday night鈥�. Or visit the island of Furusund, which contains about five miles of trail and is site of a famed 19^th-century summer resort, now a 16-room boutique hotel: the (rooms from $121), which welcomes guests who arrive by boat or on foot.

4. Best for History Buffs

Lycian Way, Turkey

Traversing the rocky Mediterranean coast of southwestern Turkey, the 472-mile Lycian Way winds through the ancient maritime republic known as Lycia. Mountains rise from the turquoise sea as the route follows old roads, footpaths, and mule trails through long-gone civilizations. You鈥檒l pass by lighthouses, beaches, historic sites like Roman amphitheaters and rock tombs, and lagoons over underwater ruins of sunken cities that can be toured by boat.

Most people take on just a section of the Lycian Way. has five- to 14-day guided tours (from $1,187) that include lodging and luggage transfer, or leads seven-day treks (from $995) with an English-speaking guide. Best to do this historical walk in spring or fall, from February to May or from September to November to avoid the high heat of summer.

Don鈥檛 Miss: 罢耻谤办别测鈥檚 illuminates Lycia鈥檚 ancient capital city of Patara after dusk, making it a magical place to explore by night. Best lodging on the trail: the (from $240), built in 2005 on a hillside, has glass windows, viewing hammocks, and saunas overlooking the Aegean Sea.

See Cheap Flights to Antalya Airport

See Cheap Flights to Dalaman Airport

5. Best for Conservationists

John Muir Way, Scotland

Not to be confused with California鈥檚 more demanding John Muir Trail, the is a relatively new route (established around 10 years ago) that stretches coast to coast across Muir鈥檚 home country of Scotland. This 134-mile walk begins in the western waterfront town of Helensburgh, where quotes from the famed Scottish-American environmentalist mark a commemorative stone bench. The trek ends around 10 days later in the eastern seaside town of Dunbar, where Muir was born in 1838.

On the way, you鈥檒l walk through the cobbled streets of the capital city of Edinburgh, along the shores of , and by the Falkirk Wheel, a rotating boat lift in central Scotland. has self-guided itineraries (from $1,827) for the entire route, including accommodations.

Don鈥檛 Miss: Stay in (from $417), a restored 16th-century castle听just off the trail 20 miles east of Edinburgh. The trail鈥檚 eastern terminus is at Muir鈥檚 birthplace, a humble three-story home in Dunbar that鈥檚 now a historic and free to visit.

See Cheap Flights to Glasgow

See Cheap Flights to Edinburgh

6. Best for Self-Reflection

Shikoku Pilgrimage, Japan

This circular walk across the Japanese island of Shikoku visits 88 temples and sacred sites where the Buddhist saint known as K奴kai is thought to have trained in the 9^th century. The entire route is about 745 miles鈥攎ostly using roads, but also on select mountain trails鈥攁nd takes around six weeks to walk. Or you can choose just a section.

The traditional approach starts at the first temple, Ry艒zenji, in Tokushima prefecture and proceeds clockwise until you reach the last temple, 艑kuboji, in Kagawa prefecture. Many pilgrims dress in traditional attire, including a white cotton robe, scarf, and straw hat, and carrying a walking stick; they also carry pilgrims鈥� books, to be stamped after worshipping at each temple. leads an eight-day tour of the pilgrimage (from $2,303), where you鈥檒l walk up to eight miles daily with an English-speaking guide, staying at guesthouses and temple lodging.

Don鈥檛 Miss: One of the hardest temples to reach is number 21, Tairyuji, or Temple of the Great Dragon. You can ride the tram to reach this mountaintop temple or hike to the site on a steep three-mile trail through limestone rocks and an ancient cedar forest. There you鈥檒l climb a marble staircase leading into the temple gates and visit a bronze statue of K奴kai meditating.

See Cheap Flights to Tokushima Awaodori Airport

7. Best for Wildlife Spotting

Yuraygir Coastal Walk, Australia

The 42-mile point-to-point leads through the beaches and bluffs of Yuraygir National Park in New South Wales. You鈥檒l start in the village of Angourie and follow the sign-posted track, as trails are called in Australia and New Zealand, south to the red-tinted cliffs of Red Rock. Most people take four to five days to do the whole route. Along the way, you鈥檒l spot turtles and whales, swim in the Pacific Ocean, and walk through coastal headlands and the biodiverse Solitary Islands Marine Park.

Spend your first night on the trail camping at the , which is only accessible on foot. Or if you鈥檇 prefer sleeping in a bed, book a guided walk that includes shuttles to trailside properties like (from $234) or (from $125). leads a guided five-day walk of the trail (prices vary according to group size and season) for private groups from November to April that includes luggage delivery, boat and bus transfers, national-park fees, and accommodations. If you鈥檇 rather go it on your own, you can base out of the family-owned in Wooli, and the owners will arrange for lifts to the trail each day (from $499, including lodging and hiker shuttles).

Don鈥檛 Miss: Stop into the beachfront , about halfway through your route, for a sausage roll or pizza. Spend some time at the and estuary, a breeding site for endangered shorebirds including the pied oystercatcher and beach stone-curlew. The trail along the Station Creek estuary is lined with scribbly gum and corkwood trees, and if you鈥檙e lucky, you鈥檒l spot an Australian crane or coastal emu.

8. Most Adventurous

Te Araroa, New Zealand

New Zealand is known for its stellar tracks, and , also called the Long Pathway, is the country鈥檚 most ambitious trail project yet. It鈥檚 a 1,900-mile journey crossing the length of New Zealand鈥檚 North and South Islands, from Cape Reinga at the north end to Bluff at the southern tip. The trail itself climbs mountain passes, crosses verdant plains, and travels through small cities and remote villages. Roughly 2,000 people walk the whole trail each year, taking between three and six months. Most hikers go north to south, starting around October, which is springtime in New Zealand. If you don鈥檛 have that kind of time, pick a section or a single island; the South Island is considered the more challenging of the two due to its more mountainous terrain.

While this video shows a Te Araroa thru-hike, some choose a section or decide to hike either the North Island or South Island. The South Island is more remote and considered more difficult, the North Island route longer but with more road walking. (Video: 国产吃瓜黑料 TV) 听

Before you go, ($34) to receive the latest maps and a Te Araroa walker-information packet. Buy a (from $110) for access to over 70 Department of Conservation-managed backcountry huts and campsites along Te Araroa. The trail also has 听to help you plan and navigate, and the trail notes for each section give details on the route and where to stay and resupply. Or you can book a guided 12-day trip with (from $8,595) and let the outfit take care of the logistics, including hotel bookings.

Don鈥檛 Miss: On the North Island, you鈥檒l climb the extinct volcano of Mount Pirongia and descend to the valley below, where you鈥檒l walk by the glowworm-studded , which are worth a stop; you can see the illuminating glowworms in their grottos by boat. On the South Island, spend a night at the 12-bunk, first-come, first-served near Wanaka, which has stunning views from the porch overlooking the Motatapu Valley and a nice swimming hole in the adjacent creek.

See Cheap Flights to Gisborne (GIS) Airport

9. Best Way to Explore Indigenous Cultures

Vancouver Island Trail, Canada

Vancouver Island, British Columbia, is a rugged and densely forested place, and the 500-mile is among the most challenging routes on this list. The trail goes from the capital city of Victoria on the southern end of the island to Cape Scott on the northern tip, crossing rocky beaches and through lush rainforests and territories sacred to First Nations tribes, including the Songhees in the south and the Tlatlasikwala to the north. The trail is broken up into seven distinct sections, from paved pathways through urban areas to logging roads, hiking trails, and rail trails. Each section takes around five to 10 days to walk鈥攐r you can spend two months doing a complete thru-hike. Some sections of the trail are still being completed and not well marked, so plan on some skilled route finding or that鈥檚 better delineated. If you鈥檙e walking the trail northbound, you鈥檒l end in , where the Cape Scott Lighthouse has been shining light for mariners since 1960.听听

Don鈥檛 Miss: Book a cabin or pitch a tent at the First Nations-owned , between the northern towns of Port McNeill and Port Hardy. At the center of Vancouver Island, you鈥檒l walk through Strathcona Provincial Park, British Columbia鈥檚 oldest park, dotted with high-alpine lakes and jagged snow-capped peaks. The , on the outskirts of the park, has eight seasonal campsites and a sauna.

See Cheap Flights to Victoria International Airport

10. Best New Trail

Camino de Costa Rica, Costa Rica

You鈥檒l walk from the shores of the Atlantic Ocean to the beaches of the Pacific Ocean on the 174-mile-long , or the Costa Rican Way, which was inspired by Spain鈥檚 El Camino de Santiago. This relatively new trail鈥攅stablished in 2018 by the nonprofit Asociaci贸n Mar a Mar鈥攖ravels through coffee plantations and rainforests, over the Continental Divide, and among tiny villages that rarely see tourists. Plan on around 16 days to hike the whole thing.

The trip starts on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, in the town of Barra de Parismina, at the base of Tortuguero National Park, known as a nesting ground for leatherback turtles. It ends in Quepos near Manuel Antonio National Park, filled with coral reefs and white-sand beaches. Stay in guesthouses, campsites, and hotels along the way. You will want to hire a guide, as much of the trail is sparsely marked. leads guided hikes ranging from eight to 16 days (from $1,675) that include meals and stays at local homes and guesthouses.

Don鈥檛 Miss: In the Orosi Valley, stay at the (from $59), which has private casitas and rooms close to the trail. In the town of Orosi, you can visit Iglesia de San Jos茅 Orosi, the oldest church in Costa Rica, dating back to 1743, and its Religious Art Museum, and the .

See cheap flights to Juan Santamar铆a International Airport

11. Best Paved Trail

Paul Bunyan State Trail, Minnesota

Most popular with cyclists, the Paul Bunyan State Trail is still a great long walk for those who want a paved, accessible pathway. The route begins at in Brainerd and ends 115 miles later at in Bemidji, home to a famous giant statue of Paul Bunyan and his Blue Ox, Babe. This is the longest continuously paved rail-trail in the country, moderate in grade throughout as it follows the former Burlington Northern Railroad, abandoned in 1983. You can camp at and Lake , or stay in hotels in the various trail towns along the way.

Don鈥檛 Miss: You鈥檒l walk through the town of Hackensack, where every September chainsaw carvers turn hunks of wood into art in the annual Chainsaw Event. The (from $89) in the town of Nisswa has rooms and lakefront cottages steps from the trail on Lower Cullen Lake. In Pequot Lakes, stop into the trailside for a scoop of ice cream.

12. Best for Foodies

Cinque Terra, Italy

Cinque Terre or 鈥淔ive Lands鈥� refers to five coastal towns鈥擬onterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore鈥攐ver the the Ligurian Sea, all linked by about 75 miles of hiking trails. The most popular route is the Sentiero Azzurro, known as the Blue Trail, which is less than 10 miles and can be done in a day. You can start in Monterosso or Riomaggiore and work your way in either direction, passing through lemon groves and walking staircases directly down to the sea.

For a more expanded tour, consider five- or eight-day self-guided hiking trips in Cinque Terre, where you鈥檒l stay in curated hotels, dine on pizza and gelato from locals鈥� favorite spots, and ride trains to reach new trails each day. If you鈥檙e hiking on your own, be sure to check the for updates on closures (landslides have closed sections of the trail), and grab a (from $7 a day) for access to the two paid hiking trails鈥攆rom Monterosso to Vernazza and from Vernazza to Corniglia鈥攁nd for use of the bus lines within Cinque Terre National Park.

Don鈥檛 Miss: Climb the stairs to Doria Castle, a medieval fortress near the village of Vernazza, to see the remains of one of the oldest surviving towers on the Liguria coast. The five-room guesthouse (from $208) in the Unesco World Heritage Site of Vernazza makes for a good midway stop on your hike.

13. Most Accessible

Cotswold Way, England

The is a quintessentially English experience, where you鈥檒l walk from the historic market town of Chipping Campden, once a busy center for traders, to the steps of the Late Medieval church of Bath Abbey, crossing through farmlands, country parks, and beech woodlands. Stop and admire fields full of sculptures or study English Civil War sites. This well-marked 102-mile trail can be traveled in either direction, taking between seven and 10 days. has both guided and self-guided walks (from $1,154) ranging from between seven and 12 nights, where you鈥檒l sleep in limestone cottages and guesthouses.

Don鈥檛 Miss: Climb the hill to the Broadway Tower, an 18th century tower within a 200-acre estate of parkland offering expansive views across the valley; enjoy afternoon tea at the Tower Barn Caf茅 afterward. The trail also passes by Bill Smylie鈥檚 butterfly reserve, home to some 30 species of endangered butterflies, and , a historic garden filled with seasonal flowers and a lavish mix of Classical, Gothic, and other architecture.

See cheap flights to Bristol Airport

Megan Michelson is an 国产吃瓜黑料 contributing editor and avid traveler who once lived in England for a year and went on a lot of long rambles through the countryside. She recently wrote about trips that may help you live longer and her favorite new backcountry hut in Colorado.

The post The 13 Most Magical Long Walks In the World appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

What if we told you you could buy a home in a quaint Italian village for less than the price of a cappuccino? The fine print, of course, is that the house you鈥檒l get will essentially be a collapsed set of walls. It will need major construction to be livable, and it鈥檒l take much longer than you鈥檇 expect (read: years, not months) to get that remodeling done.

Municipalities across Italy have been joining the so-called 1 euro ($1.05 in U.S. dollars) house program for years now. It all started back in 2008 when art critic and TV personality Vittorio Sgarbi, then the mayor of Salemi in southern Sicily, got the idea from a friend to offer Salemi鈥檚 most rundown, abandoned properties in its city center for 1 euro in an effort to revitalize the town, which had been hit by an earthquake decades earlier and left in shambles.听听

Since then, the concept has taken off in over 30 municipalities across northern and southern Italy, including the islands of Sicily and Sardinia, as a way to entice buyers to restore dilapidated structures. There鈥檚 no all-encompassing website for the program and information about these houses is hard to come by鈥攅ach municipality has its own listings and local realtors are the best way to track those down.

This has a map of where some of these discounted houses can be found, there鈥檚 a听 for those who鈥檝e bought homes or are thinking about it, and the town of Mussomeli in Sicily, a hotbed of the 1 euro house program, has a听.

But we wanted to know, what is it actually like to buy one of these homes? So, we called up Rubia Daniels, a 50-year-old Brazilian who has spent the last 30 years living in Berkeley, California, where she works in renewable energy. In December 2018, Daniels heard about the 1 euro homes in Italy鈥攁 country where she has ancestors and always dreamed of living鈥攁nd promptly got on a flight to Palermo, Sicily. She bought three properties for 1 euro each in Mussomeli in 2019. That was just the beginning of her saga. These are her words.听听

After I heard about the 1 euro homes in Italy, I started researching different towns. I reached out to a realtor, and they replied immediately. Three days later, I booked a plane ticket and a rental car, and I was on my way. When I got to Mussomeli, a place I had never been before, it felt like I was coming home. I come from a small town in Brazil, where people are kind and everyone tries to help each other out. Mussomeli felt the same way. When people ask 鈥楬ow are you doing?鈥� they really mean it.

One of the reasons I picked Mussomeli over other towns is because you don鈥檛 have to leave to get what you need. Everything is there: furniture makers, ceramic suppliers, window stores. When I was researching areas, I would see that some towns didn鈥檛 have a bank, or a pharmacy, or a hospital. I know some people who bought houses in very isolated areas, where you have to drive a long way to get supplies.

The realtor I called only spoke Italian, but I understood enough of the language to get by. My realtor was with me the whole time, showed me around, and was very welcoming. That was 2018 so things are different now. Many realtors speak English, or you can request one who works with English speakers. When I did my first tour of 1 euro houses, it was just me and a bunch of houses to see. But as time progressed, people from all over the world started going there looking for these homes. Now it is a very international community. I know Koreans, Russians, Americans, and Argentinians who all bought a home in Mussomeli.

I was looking for high ceilings and a bigger home. Some houses were in better condition, but they were too small. Some were fully collapsed. You鈥檙e basically getting the house for free, so you take what you can get. The cost? It was actually 1 euro. But of course there were other fees. I had to pay the realtor fee, which was 500 euros back then and more now. I had to pay for the deed, which was 3,500 euros. Total, I spent 4,000 euros to get the keys. I bought three houses and closed on them by June 2019, six months after I had first visited. I returned to Italy with five suitcases full of tools, a generator, and my husband and brother-in-law from Brazil, who were ready to start working on the first house.

The roof on the house had fully collapsed. It was three floors, about 1,800 square feet, and from the bottom floor, you could see the sun coming through the roof. We had to do everything from scratch. The new roof went in first. We had to demolish everything and clean it up鈥攖hat alone took a long time鈥攂efore we could start remodeling. I worked for a full month rebuilding walls and the roof. Then COVID hit Italy and for two years, we couldn鈥檛 return. Construction stopped. The house just sat there.

In 2023, we returned to Italy and began work again. We redid the bathrooms and the kitchen, put in all new tiles and floors. My home will soon be finished, six years after I purchased it. Once we are done with the first home, we will start on the other two. My sons will manage those projects. One may become a restaurant with a house on top, and the other might be a wellness center to give back to the community.

The contractors there are so booked, you have to wait your turn. You have to remember there are 300 houses in a small town all being repaired鈥攎any of those are also 1 euro homes鈥攁nd there aren鈥檛 enough workers to get it all done. I manage the contractors from overseas with help from translators and FaceTime. You can arrange everything over the phone, from furniture delivery to painting to curtain installation.

You must understand that Sicily is an island and people operate on 鈥榠sland time鈥�. The work is going to get done, but Italians don鈥檛 live to work. Everything takes longer. They say they鈥檙e coming today to do the job, but that doesn鈥檛 mean they鈥檙e really coming today. They will come at some point. Sometimes, you have a new contractor who comes in and says, 鈥楾he other guy did everything wrong. You have to demolish this and start from scratch.鈥� It costs more, but that happens everywhere.

So far, I have spent 38,000 euros in repairs and remodeling. I鈥檓 expecting to spend another 12,000 euros to finish. So, it鈥檒l be about 50,000 euros total. But everything in the house is new. I have new plumbing and electrical. For that amount of money in the U.S., you can buy a car. It got me what is now a brand new house in Italy. I go to Italy three times a year to see how much progress has been made.

I鈥檓 going to retire there, that鈥檚 my goal. That will be my home base. From there, it鈥檚 a quick flight to London, Paris, or Istanbul. The air is clean. I can drink the water. The food is produced locally. It鈥檚 a much nicer quality of living and a much lower price than where I currently live. My goal is to retire there in the next 15 years.

Many of these houses became abandoned during World War II, and the towns are trying to revitalize them. It鈥檚 a way of bringing the town back to life. It鈥檚 working. It鈥檚 vibrant now. There are more young families, businesses are booming. The people are welcoming and happy. If you鈥檙e not from Italy, then you need what鈥檚 called a codice fiscal, a tax identification number for foreign citizens in order to purchase a house. It鈥檚 an easy process. You go in person and fill out a form to say which house you are buying. You鈥檒l use that number to open a bank account or pay people. If I decide to stay in Italy for an extended time, I am going to apply for my Italian citizenship.

There are still 1 euro houses for sale in Mussomeli. It鈥檚 not as big an inventory as when I was first looking, but you can still buy a house for 1 euro. Don鈥檛 think everything will be free. Know that the houses may be fully collapsed. Walk around the town, interact with the neighbors. That should help you make your decision. If you鈥檙e someone like me who gets excited about a project, then this is for you.

Book Flights to Italy

Rent a Car in Italy

Megan Michelson is an 国产吃瓜黑料 contributing editor who recently took a trip to Italy, where she kept looking over her shoulder for homes for sale for 1 euro. She鈥檚 also recently written about how to visit Jackson Hole on the cheap, reviewed the coolest Airbnb in Colorado, and how to find incredible ski lift ticket deals.听

The post What It鈥檚 Really Like to Buy a 1 Euro Home in Italy appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

My knees shake and my fingertips cling to the rock. I can鈥檛 bear to move my laser-focused gaze anywhere beyond the metal rung that鈥檚 just out of reach. A moment before, I was climbing up a ladder, but now I feel like I鈥檓 hanging off the edge of a cliff (because, well, I am).

鈥榃hy exactly did I think this was a good idea?鈥� I think to myself. A hike would have been nice.

It鈥檚 June, and I鈥檓 perched on a precarious ledge of granite 75 feet above the forest floor on the new Eagle Cliff Via Ferrata in the Shawangunk Mountains, just 90 miles outside of New York City. Though I鈥檓 currently frozen on this ledge, I somehow summon the grit to keep moving鈥攕weaty palms and all. One hour and a few leaps of faith later, to my delight, I finish the via ferrata feeling accomplished and ready to jump into Lake Mohonk, beckoning from below.

A few weeks later in Italy, I鈥檓 ready to tackle another, much higher鈥� although, surprisingly, less physically taxing鈥攙ia ferrata in the Dolomites.

I climbed my first via ferrata on Whistler Peak鈥檚 a decade ago, when I was younger and more fearless. But in trying out some of the world’s most spectacular ferratas since, I always come to the same realization: they are as fear-inducing as they are exhilarating and rewarding. That鈥檚 why I keep signing up for more.

What Is a Via Ferrata?

A via ferrata (Italian for 鈥渋ron way鈥�) is a protected climbing route with fixed steel cables, metal rungs and ladders that make traversing steep and rocky terrain accessible, but certainly not without challenge. The beauty of via ferratas is that you can experience the highs rock climbers do without needing technical experience.

While there are numerous via ferratas around the world you can climb on your own, I recommend going with a guide as it鈥檚 not only safer, but supports local tourism economies鈥攁nd perhaps you鈥檒l learn a thing or two about where you are. And as long as you鈥檙e reasonably fit, and you don鈥檛 have a paralyzing fear of heights you鈥檒l survive, and you might even enjoy it. (Some level of fear is okay, too. It keeps you vigilant.)

While via ferratas are most common in Europe, with a majority in Italy and Austria, they are growing in popularity around the world鈥攅specially in the United States, where private landowners, resorts, and cities are building routes through incredible terrain. And though this is not a definitive list of the world鈥檚 best, we鈥檝e hand-selected a few spots that are ideal for most adventurous people looking to climb via ferratas. Think: locales as far flung as the Middle East and Kosovo, to well-known meccas like the Dolomites, and a few classics, new and old, here in the U.S.

If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside. Learn more.

Piccola Cir Via Ferrata, Dolomite Mountains, Italy

Best For: Travelers who want to try multiple routes in the via ferrata motherland

There鈥檚 no better place to try a via ferrata than in its birthplace. The roots of via ferratas come from World War I, when climbing routes were strategically created by the Italian army as a way to evade attacks and traverse jagged peaks in the Dolomite Mountains. Over the decades, these paths were reinforced with metal rungs, and today they鈥檙e used for recreation and sport.

In the Dolomites alone, there are over 600 via ferratas. I tried one of the popular and more beginner-friendly ascents this summer, . While the 2.3-mile loop trail is relatively short for the Dolomites, it鈥檚 still a challenge at spots because of its sheer height alone.

The reward? Totally worth it. When you reach the top at 8,504 feet, a sweeping 360-degree view of the Dolomites awaits you: the Sella massif and the entire Val Gardena valley stretches out below. I also loved seeing the summer panorama of the famous Sassolungo peak, which I skied down earlier this year.

More 国产吃瓜黑料s Nearby: , a four-seasons adventure company, arranges guided, multi-day via ferrata trips featuring some of the most classic routes in the range (from roughly $1,400, depending on duration and number of people in your group). The company also offers mixing via ferratas with hiking and biking (prices vary).

Eagle Cliff Via Ferrata, New York, U.S.

Best For: Travelers who want a convenient mountain escape from the city

New York鈥檚 new via ferrata, buried in the Shawangunk Mountains (better known as the 鈥淕unks,鈥�) is the northeast鈥檚 first resort-based route. It鈥檚 located at the 155-year-old Mohonk Mountain House, and sits just 90 miles from New City City, making it a convenient and accessible way to experience one of the top rock climbing spots on the East Coast. I climbed the this summer soon after it opened in May, and while it鈥檚 not as high as its West Coast rivals, I found it physically and mentally challenging鈥攁nd beautiful, to boot. The Nature Conservancy even this mountain range as 鈥渙ne of the last great places on Earth.鈥�

Securely connected to cables, you鈥檒l traverse nearly a half mile across rocky landscapes and quartz ledges. The secluded route then follows the natural features of the conflated rock, and showcases views of Lake Mohonk and verdant forests below. Climbing it in autumn brings a glorious array of the northeast鈥檚 famed fall foliage, too. (Book with Mohonk from $295 per person.)

More 国产吃瓜黑料s Nearby: 85 miles of trails within Mohonk Mountain House鈥檚 grounds provide idyllic hiking, biking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. And if you鈥檙e working your way up to the via ferrata, try the less challenging and also new Pinnacle Ledge Tour (from $75 per person), which features an aerial bridge walkway. Note: you鈥檒l have to to book via ferrata and Pinnacle Ledge tours (rooms from $695 per night, including meals, most activities, and wellness classes).

Panorama Via Ferrata, the Balkans, Kosovo

Best For: Travelers looking for adventure and culture further afield

While many parts of Europe battle overtourism, one of the Balkans鈥� most unexplored mountain ranges beckons outdoor adventurers who ache to get off the beaten path.

Last summer, I trekked portions of the newly established , a 225-mile-long route that connects three former conflict countries: Kosovo, Albania, and North Macedonia. My trekking guides, Taulant Hoxha and Arian Krasniqi, the owners and co-founders of , grew up in Prizren during the Kosovo Conflict in the late 90s. And later, they helped develop both this trail and several new via ferratas around it, deep in Kosovo鈥檚 Sharr Mountains.

Before we started hiking the High Scardus, we warmed up on the nearby Panorama Via Ferrata. This 1640-foot climbing route that鈥檚 less than three miles long sits just outside the historical city of Prizren, and overlooks the ridges of Sharr Mountain National Park and the Lumbardhi River. It only took us two hours, but SuperXplorers can take you on much longer and challenging routes as well.

More 国产吃瓜黑料s Nearby: Go the distance and take a 9-day guided hike of the High Scardus Trail with SuperXplorers (from $1270), or ask about the company’s through these less-trodden mountains and gorges.

Telluride Via Ferrata, Colorado, U.S.

Best For: Experts or those with nerves of steel

You might not want to make the your first, unless you don鈥檛 mind hanging at 500 feet on an exposed canyon wall in southwest Colorado鈥檚 San Juan Mountains. It’s possible to go without a guide on this technical climbing route (it鈥檚 one of the only free and open-to-the-public via ferratas in the U.S.) but it鈥檚 highly recommended to opt for guided expertise.

Pam LeBlanc, an avid outdoors writer, recommends booking a tour with (from $205 per person, depending on group size). The company provides gear, knowledge, and moral support, before taking you over a series of fixed cables, stemples, ladders, and bridges along the east end of Telluride canyon to the backdrop of stunning views of Bridal Veil Falls and the Telluride Valley below.

鈥淚t was terrifying, and I鈥檝e got a fear of heights so clinging to a 330-foot sheer rock wall, nose pressed to gritty rock, knees clicking like castanets, made me want to curl up in a ball and sob. Or barf,鈥� LeBlanc says. 鈥淏ut I was glad I did it, because I felt like a badass afterward.鈥�

More 国产吃瓜黑料s Nearby: Telluride is a full-fledged, four-season town with lots of other fun outdoor activities. LeBlanc recommends ice climbing, as it鈥檚 less crowded than nearby Ouray, as well as mountain biking, downhill skiing, and fatbike touring through the snow. When you鈥檙e finished, warm up with a hot toddy at tasting room.

Al Jabal Akhdar Via Ferrata, Oman

Best For: Travelers looking for a far-flung luxury adventure

Sure, a luxury hotel in the Middle East might not seem like a place for a via ferrata. But surprise, surprise: there鈥檚 a stunning route that鈥檚 actually near two hotels, and , located 6,500 feet high in Jabal Shams, the tallest peak in Oman.

This (from $91 per person) traces the highest protected climbing path in the Middle East, and includes a traverse down a sharp vertical rock face and through a tiny cave to end on a tightrope wire cable bridge suspended 65 feet over the valley below.

Catherine Gallagher, co-founder of , did this via ferrata in Oman and recommends going just before dusk. 鈥淚t鈥檚 so cool,” she says. “The exposure, the sunset, the physical challenge, the mental challenge… When you finish, you top out at the bar where people are enjoying sundowners.鈥� Or you can head to the cliffside infinity pool for a dip.

More 国产吃瓜黑料s Nearby: Hike to Jabal Al-Nab墨 Shu士ayb, the highest peak in the Arabian Peninsula at 12,030 feet, take a to see 800-million-year-old granite rock features ($130 per person), or try Gallagher鈥檚 favorite: off-roading across the dunes in the Wahiba Sands desert鈥攐ne of the world’s most beautiful places you’ve never heard of.

Whistler Peak Via Ferrata, British Columbia, Canada

Best For: Travelers who want to reach the peak of Whistler without skis

This mountain playground and home of the 2010 Winter Olympics might be most known for its world-class ski runs, but Whistler is an all-seasons resort with numerous adventure opportunities year round. While I love skiing on Whistler鈥檚 famed peak (one of North America鈥檚 highest mountains) it was my first experience climbing it that hooked me on via ferratas.

Departing from the top of Whistler Village Gondola at just above 5,905 feet, the took us approximately four hours to climb over 2.5 miles of mountainous terrain, gaining 850 feet of elevation. What I loved most about this via ferrata were the incredible views of surrounding snowy peaks, and climbing in shorts and a tank top.

It鈥檚 open May through October (from $209 per person). Once you鈥檝e summited Whistler Peak walk the that hovers high over Whistler Bowl for 360 views of the still snow-capped Rocky Mountains.

听 More 国产吃瓜黑料s Nearby: Whistler has no shortage of high-adrenaline activities throughout the year such as downhill mountain biking, which is serious business here. (I took a beginner lesson for $193 on ).You can also standup paddle on glacier-fed lakes, and cold plunge if you鈥檙e feeling brave.

The post Oh, Yes, You Can: 6 Breathtaking Via Ferratas for Every Type of 国产吃瓜黑料r appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

When I had the chance to spend some time in Europe this year, the first thing I wanted to do鈥攚ell, besides find some really good cheese鈥攚as figure out how to visit as many national parks as possible. As the editor in chief of , 翱耻迟蝉颈诲别鈥檚 sister brand, I spend a lot of time thinking about national parks. Whether it鈥檚 figuring out how to pack as much as possible into a weekend in Yellowstone, thinking about the implications of reservation systems, or dreaming about units to visit, I eat, sleep, and breathe America鈥檚 best idea.

But narrowing down the European parks to visit proved tougher than I鈥檇 imagined. While the 27 EU member countries share a market and (mostly) a currency, each nation鈥檚 approach to public lands is vastly different. Some European national parks are all pristine wilderness areas and have strict recreation-use laws. In others, you鈥檒l find trendy bars serving Aperol spritzes, with Vespas parked outside. There鈥檚 even a Croatian national park with a zoo, complete with an elephant, ostriches, and zebras. Slovenia has just a single park; Finland has dozens.

While European parks run the gamut, they all have one thing in common. They鈥檝e been set aside as meriting designation, meaning they鈥檙e worth a visit to see something meaningful, whether that鈥檚 glistening glaciers, spectacular mountain peaks, hanging bridges across thundering rivers, or ancient vineyards clinging to cliffs above the sea.

These are the European national parks that top my travel bucket list. I鈥檝e been to several of them and can鈥檛 wait to see the rest.

1. Triglav National Park, Slovenia (Triglavski Narodni Park)

Admission: Free

WHY GO: While Alpine countries like France and Austria get most of the love, many people know almost nothing of one of the Alps鈥� best destinations: Slovenia. On my first visit to the country I was instantly charmed by the country鈥檚 rolling pastures, pretty churches set against the backdrop of mountains and blue lakes, and university-town capital, Ljubljana, which, with its avant-garde metalwork and dragon mascot, has a decidedly punk feel. When I realized that a subrange of the Alps was protected in the northwestern corner of the country as Triglav National Park, I knew I had to return.

Nestled up against the Italian border and nearly touching Austria, Triglav is home to thick forests, rivers, mountain villages, and big peaks that quickly made it one of my favorite national parks. Mount Triglav is the crown jewel at 9,396 feet, but plenty of other impressive summits draw peak baggers from across the world. Vogel Ski Resort can be found here too, offering 14 miles of terrain.

BEST ADVENTURES: Most park visitors flock to the Lake Bohinj region, a nearly 800-acre glacially carved valley filled with deep blue water where you can rent traditional wooden rowboats ($16/hour), among other watercraft. Vogel is in this area, and you can take the gondola and chairlift ($34 roundtrip for adults) partway and hike to the summit. The 6.1-mile trail isn鈥檛 technical, but it is steep in places, secured with cables and pegs. Keep your eyes peeled for the ibex and chamois that live here.

Watch the weather for wind gusts that could shut down the lifts, and stay aware of the time, because it鈥檚 a long trek back down if the chairs stop running before you reach them (they close at 4 p.m. in the summer). At several traditional huts on the mountain, you can enjoy local cheese and mountain dishes like goulash.

While the Bohinj area is the most popular, venturing further into the park is absolutely worth it. Head up and over the steep and narrow Vr拧i膷 Pass to Triglav鈥檚 more remote west side (my favorite), where you鈥檙e as likely to encounter a herd of sheep blocking the road as cyclists riding on it. Tackle the 15-mile , a hike that can be done in a long day, or at a slower pace, where you spend the night in one of several villages along the way. The beautiful trail follows the river, which is so clear and bright it almost hurts to look at. My husband, dog and I got distracted on our hike and instead spent a pleasant afternoon wading听 in the cold snowmelt. Wind your way gradually down valley under larches and across swinging bridges.

If you really want to get away, several long-distance trails, including the Via Alpina red route (1,500 miles) and the Alpe Adria Trail (466 miles), run through Triglav. For less of a commitment than those, head into the Seven Lakes Valley on a multi-day excursion, where you can spend the night in several maintained huts (no camping is allowed in the backcountry).

HOW TO GET THERE: Slovenia has a great public transportation system, making it easy to get from Ljubljana to Bled by train (40 minutes) and then Bled to Bohinj by bus (40 minutes), so you can stay in the capital and still explore the park. Buses run to other parts of Triglav, too, but pay attention to timetables, as they are less frequent and getting a taxi or rideshare won鈥檛 be an option in remote parts of the park.

BEST TIME TO GO: June to September is high season for hiking and hut availability, but can also be crowded. Snow melts early in this part of the world, so low elevation hikes can be done in the spring and fall to avoid the crowds. 听

WHERE TO STAY: Accommodations, from private hotels and guest houses to campgrounds and mountain huts, abound inside the park. My husband and I like staying in Bohinj on the west side for easy access to Vogel and the pretty town of Bled, or the quiet village of Trenta on the east side. For an alpine experience, book a bed at Ti膷arjev Dom ($47 per person with breakfast), the mountain hut at the summit of Vr拧i膷 Pass. You鈥檒l sleep dormitory-style and rise to incredible mountain views the next morning from the patio over a bela kava (coffee with milk).

2. Oulanka National Park, Finland

Admission: Free

WHY GO: If you鈥檙e looking to get into some of the most remote wilderness on the continent, head to Oulanka National Park in Finland. The park hugs the Russian border in the far northeastern part of the country above the Arctic Circle and is an experience in solitude. In fact, the wilderness doesn鈥檛 stop at state lines. It continues east, bleeding quietly into Russia鈥檚 Paanaj盲rvi National Park, with a simple rope forming the border and keeping canoeists in the EU. Last year I visited Levi Ski Resort in Finnish Lapland, four hours to the north, and fell in love with polar night. Getting back is at the top of my list and this time I want to get deeper into the wilderness, specifically at Oulanka.

Planning a trip to this remote land filled with boreal forests, rushing rivers, and limestone gorges isn鈥檛 easy, but I promise the hardest part will be picking which season to visit鈥搘inter or summer? This far north, the year is capped by eternal night in the deep winter, when you can snowshoe, cross-country ski, and try to spot the Northern Lights, and permanent sun in the height of the warm months, with plenty of daylight for canoeing and hiking trips.

BEST ADVENTURES: Summer visitors have two main choices for exploring: by water or by land. Paddlers can rent canoes and camping gear from to embark on a trip down the Oulankajoki River. The lower section is calm, with a short two-hour option to a takeout or a seven-hour route that makes an excellent overnight trip with a stop at any of several campsites or the first-come, first-served Ansak盲mpp盲 Wilderness Hut. There are rapids and a portage on the upper section of the river, so skip it unless you鈥檙e an experienced boater.

On foot, try the , a loop that crosses some of the park鈥檚 famous hanging bridges. In summer months, the trail is one-way (clockwise). Backpackers can head out on the 50-mile Bear鈥檚 Ring, aka . Finland鈥檚 most popular hike traverses the park from north to south, with each stage ending on a bus route in case you鈥檇 prefer to sleep in a real bed, or campsites and huts along the way if you鈥檇 rather rough it. Thundering rivers, placid streams, bogs, hanging bridges, and delicate purple orchids await. Look out for traditional Sami herders and their reindeer, who still inhabit the area today.

In the winter, I love how the mercury plunges when Finnish Lapland freezes over, rewarding intrepid and cold-tolerant visitors with a magical landscape. It鈥檚 my favorite time of year to be in Finland. Pines and spruces thick with frozen snow stand like fuzzy sentinels over ice-crusted rivers and cross-country ski trails. In December and January, you鈥檒l find a scant three hours of daylight. In late winter, you鈥檒l still experience plenty of darkness for northern lights spotting, but will also be treated to long sunrises and sunsets, turning the landscape into a cotton-candy-colored forest.

Use an app like My Aurora Forecast to monitor northern-lights conditions for your best chance at spotting the undulating colors. Other winter options are to rent snowshoes or cross-country skis in nearby Ruka and set off on the park’s many trails.

HOW TO GET THERE: The closest airport to the park is Kuusamo, which has several flights from Helsinki each day, plus a few other major European cities like Brussels and Frankfurt. While renting a car in Kuusamo is the easiest mode of travel, a bus route from the airport accesses the Karhunkierros Trail, Oulanka National Park Visitor Center, and Ruka, if you鈥檙e eager to add downhill skiing to your itinerary. Ruka Ski Resort is Finland鈥檚 best known, and has a long season lasting October to May.

BEST TIME TO GO: Peak season for hiking and canoeing, the park鈥檚 main attractions, is July through September when the weather is warmest and most predictable (think 50s) and the days are the longest. To see the Northern Lights and get out on snowy trails, December through March are the best season, but be ready for temps from freezing to below zero.

WHERE TO STAY: For the most options, base yourself at Ruka Ski Resort. Ruka offers all sorts of lodging options and the park is a quick 30-minute drive away. Winter visitors who want to go all out should stay at , with glass igloos perfect for aurora spotting (from $347/night with breakfast). If you want to be closer to the park, 鈥檚 cozy wilderness hotel borders it (from $109/night for a double room).

3. Cinque Terre National Park, Italy (Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre)

Admission: $21-$35/day for train and trail access

WHY GO: I鈥檇 seen the brightly colored Italian houses clinging to cliffs above an azure sea on my Instagram feed, but had no idea that the five villages making up the Cinque Terre (note the article 鈥渢he,鈥� as you鈥檒l be judged mightily for dropping it) are actually a national park until I visited this past spring. The land here is characterized by its human influence. The steep hills leading straight into the sea have been terraced and cultivated for more than 1,000 years.

BEST ADVENTURES: The most popular hiking route is the Blue Trail (also called the Sentiero Azzuro or SVA), the main path that historically connected all five villages. In 2019, a landslide took out the section of trail between Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore, and maintenance work is ongoing, though the Manarola to Riomaggiore section reopened in July. The sections between Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso al Mare remained open. Whenever you choose to travel, start out as early in the day as possible or plan an evening hike to dinner to avoid the crowded midday hours. Taking the train back is also always an option if the trails get packed (we had to turn around and take the train in April because the pathway was gridlocked).

(grab a focaccia made with the region鈥檚 famous pesto for my favorite mid-hike snack) and on to Monterosso is 4.1 miles one way with 2,000 feet of elevation gain. A less popular, but in my opinion even better, hike on the Blue Trail is the . You鈥檒l climb up to the tiny town of Volastra, perched above the Cinque Terre, and then back down to Manarola. Time your hike so that you can grab a glass of wine and bruschetta at Cantina Capellini, a winery producing the Cinque Terre DOP white wine. The simple patio is right on the trail, situated amongst the vines, and overlooks the sea. Make sure you have room in your pack for a bottle to take home.

Heading south from Corniglia and ending in Manarola is 3.6 miles one way, with 1,300 feet of elevation gain. The descent on this route is heinous (you鈥檒l end lower than you began), so you may want to skip this one if your knees are bad.

When you鈥檙e not on the trail, take advantage of amazing food (cornettos! pesto! wine! fried anchovies! focaccia!) on a patio, or head down to the water. Each town has sea access for swimming, though you won鈥檛 find much of a beach anywhere besides at Monterosso. Spread a towel on the rocks and sunbathe, or ($10.75/hour rentals from Riomaggiore) to explore the coastline.

HOW TO GET THERE: Fly into Florence, Milan, or Rome. Trains run directly from these major hubs to La Spezia Centrale, the closest city to the Cinque Terre, or you can drive to La Spezia Centrale and park your rental car in the large garage at the station. From there, it鈥檚 a quick seven-minute train ride to the first village, Riomaggiore. Each additional village is just a few minutes further up the tracks. If you plan on utilizing both the train and the trails, purchase a in advance, which allows unlimited train rides between villages (including La Spezia), access to the trails, and free use of the toilets at each train station ($21-$35/day).

BEST TIME TO GO: Hiking the Cinque Terre is best done in the off-season. Summer crowds are epic, and the trails can get packed by late morning even in the spring and fall.

While it鈥檚 a gamble to visit in the colder months (November through March), as the trails can close when weather is bad and you鈥檒l have fewer lodging and dining options, it鈥檚 the least busy season. Plan a visit for the fringe months of March or November to capitalize on good weather and to beat the masses.

WHERE TO STAY: You鈥檒l find hotels in Monterosso and Riomaggiore on each end, as well as in the larger city of La Spezia, a quick train ride away. But for the most authentic experience stay in one of the three central villages. Book a vacation rental (Airbnb has plenty of options) in Vernazza, Corniglia, or Manarola, and you鈥檒l get to experience the towns when all the day tourists from the cruise ships have left. Quiet restaurants, empty streets, and coffee with the locals each morning are treats.

My favorite village is Corniglia, for its smaller size and gorgeous view from atop a hill, though the walk from the train station up a long set of stairs to the town makes coming and going a chore. We ended up skipping our dinner reservations one town over in favor of staying put here with a bottle of wine and take-out focaccia.

4. Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park, Italy (Parco Nazionale Dolomiti Bellunesi)

Admission: Free

WHY GO: While each region of Europe鈥檚 Alps has its own flavor, the Italian Dolomiti are particularly impressive. Craggy mountains, mist-filled valleys, and sweeping forests provide one of my favorite landscapes in the world.

The range, which encompasses northeastern Italy, is home to the 12 world-renowned ski areas that make up the Ikon Pass destination Dolomiti Superski. It鈥檚 also a Unesco World Heritage Site and the location of several incredible regional parks, such as Tre Cime. But you鈥檒l only find one national park, Dolomiti Bellunesi, in the region. I鈥檝e somehow missed this corner of the Dolomiti in all of my adventures here, so I can鈥檛 wait to plan a trip back to see it.

Stretching 12-square-miles northwest of Belluno, this somewhat under-the-radar park offers visitors the best of the Dolomiti, with fewer crowds than the area鈥檚 better-known and more northerly destinations of Tre Cime, Seceda, and Lago di Braises. Home to via ferratas, two of the famous Alta Via trails, and countless quintessential Italian villages, this is the place where you want to start your Dolomiti adventure.

BEST ADVENTURES: You鈥檒l want to experience this national park by foot鈥搈iles of trails cross the mountains, including two of the Alta Via, or 鈥渉igh routes.鈥� Alta Via 1 is a classic and one of the least technical of the routes, running 75 miles from Lago di Braies to La Pissa. The final four stages, which are often the least crowded, wind through the park. Alta Via 2 also includes three stages in the national park, from Passo Cereda to Passo Croce d鈥橝une. This route is more technical, with via ferratas required along the way. A climbing harness, helmet, and gloves are needed to tackle this option ( in Cortina d鈥橝mpezzo for $23/day).

Whether or not you embark on one of the park鈥檚 through-hikes, you should definitely experience a via ferrata while in the Dolomiti. Popularized during WWI in the region to help troops navigate vertical terrain, these 鈥渋ron paths鈥� use ladders, rungs, pegs and steel cables affixed to rocks to help people move across the cliffs. The park鈥檚 highest peak, Schiara, has three via ferratas ringing it: Zacchi, Berti, and Piero Rossi, which, linked up, make for a long but doable day in the mountains if you stay at ($74/night for half board). These routes lean toward being difficult, so hiring a guide is advisable. I found to be excellent on my most recent via ferrata adventure, on the Punto Anna route in Cortina d’Ampezzo, an hour and a half north.

Cyclists can test their mettle on the grueling stage 20 of the 2022 Giro d鈥橧talia route, which runs 104 miles (168 kilometers) from Belluno to Marmolada, crossing through the park on SR203. Whatever activities you choose to get up to, make sure to include some time on either end of your trip for a quick detour to the so-called Prosecco Road between Valdobbiadene and Conegliano, where the prestigious DOCG (the highest quality designation) sparkling wine is produced in the hills. My favorite producer, Adami, is one of the oldest in the region and has an excellent tour and tasting experience.

HOW TO GET THERE: Venice offers the closest major airport, and train service to Belluno takes approximately two hours. From there, the Dolomiti bus services many of the roads within the park, but note timetables, as service can be limited. Unless you鈥檙e planning a through-hike, the best way to explore the Dolomiti is by renting a car in Venice or Belluno, then driving to trailheads.

BEST TIME TO GO: Most staffed rifugios (mountain huts) away from the ski resorts are only open to hikers in summer, so June through September are the best months to visit if you鈥檙e planning an overnight adventure. The weather often stays pleasant through October, though, and travel then is a great way to skip out on some of the crowds if you鈥檙e prepared for the possibility of an early season snow storm.

WHERE TO STAY: Hiking the Alta Vias, even just a few linked stages, takes forethought, as many of the rifugios along the route fill up early in summer. Start planning in January or February when availability opens. Otherwise, you鈥檒l find accommodation options鈥攊ncluding hotels, guesthouses, rifugios, and vacation rentals鈥攊n and around the park, but book early as options can be limited. Belluno, with 36,000 inhabitants, is the closest major town.

For a unique experience, plan a stay at an agriturismo, a working farm where you鈥檒l be treated to meals with homemade products like cheese and salumi. Mountain pasture cheesemaking has become a somewhat lost art in the Dolomiti, but this park has worked hard to restore five of these 鈥渕alga鈥� operations. If you don鈥檛 stop at an agriturismo, watch for latterias (like Latteria Perenzin in San Pietro di Feletto) where you can buy the locally made cheese alongside salumi and other products perfect for a picnic.

5. Samaria National Park, Greece

Admission $5.50

WHY GO: Encompassing the longest gorge in Europe, Samaria National Park showcases the best of the Mediterranean, from towering cliffs to fragrant cypress trees, and from white limestone riverbeds to the sparkling sea itself. Since the park is comprised almost solely of one long, steep , you can experience the place in its entirety, from the White Mountains to the Mediterranean, in one day. Samaria Gorge is located on the western side of Crete, Greece鈥檚 biggest island. I haven鈥檛 gotten to Greece yet, but a friend and colleague promises me that it鈥檚 the first place I鈥檒l want to go.

BEST ADVENTURES: The park is open, weather permitting, from May through October. Entry begins at 7 a.m., and it鈥檚 an excellent idea to start out then, before the heat of the day. Much of the trail is exposed and sunbaked, so going the first or last month of the season is wise to avoid the mid-summer heat. The park closes down during excessively hot stretches, or if flooding is possible in the shoulder season. Pay attention to the heat and hold off if the temperatures are dangerous. It鈥檚 usually a five- to seven-hour hike without services, so pack plenty of water and snacks; bring sun protection, a hat and a neck gaiter to help stay cool; and wear hiking footwear. Water from springs is often available along the route, but don鈥檛 count on it.

You鈥檒l start hiking steeply downhill, taking in the views of the surrounding White Mountains, before continuing through a pine and cypress forest and reaching the church of St. Nikolas inside the ruins of an ancient temple. Look around for kri kri, wild Cretan goats. Cross a few streams and you鈥檒l find yourself in the ancient village of Samaria, which is now solely inhabited by park staff.

The gorge gradually narrows as you cross through a (hopefully) dry riverbed, alongside striped rock walls, into the skinniest point in the canyon, where the walls are just under 10 feet apart. The park closes at 6 p.m., so make sure you鈥檙e through the exit by then. Either walk another 1.5 miles or hop on a cheap shuttle to get to the village of Agia Roum茅li, where you can grab a late lunch or early dinner at one of several restaurants and, if time allows, take a well-earned dip in the Mediterranean.

The single ferry leaves the village at 5:30 p.m., only once per day, so don鈥檛 miss it or you鈥檒l have to arrange a taxi boat or stay in the village. Depart at Chora Sfakion or Sougia and take the bus back to your car or lodge. If arranging your own transportation stresses you out, many tour companies offer guided excursions in the park.

HOW TO GET THERE: From Athens, fly into Chania International Airport for the closest access to the park. In Chania, you can either rent a car and drive to the gorge, or purchase a bus ticket to Xyloscalo, at the start of the trail. The full hike is one way, and at the end you鈥檒l take a ferry to Sougia ($16/person) and then the bus either back to your car at the trailhead or your hotel in Chania. Be sure to reserve your return tickets in advance to avoid getting stranded.

BEST TIME TO GO: Samaria Gorge is open May through October, with the beginning and end of the season providing the coolest temperatures.

WHERE TO STAY: Most visitors base in the city of Chania and do the trip to Samaria Gorge in one long day, but if you, like me, would prefer a slower pace and to experience the secluded village of Agia Roum茅li without the crowds, you can stay at one of the few hotels or vacation rentals in town. offers rooms, breakfast and beach loungers starting at $79 per night. You can spend the entire next day enjoying the beach before catching the ferry back.

6. 脡crins National Park, France (Parc National des 脡crins)

ADMISSION: Free

WHY GO: 脡crins National Park, a glacier-filled alpine paradise with more than 150 peaks topping 3,000 meters, sits near the Italian border in eastern France. The Alps are one of my favorite landscapes in the world and, after visiting them in Austria, Italy, Slovenia, Switzerland, and Lichtenstein, I put this French national park squarely on my to-do list. Barre des 脡crins is the tallest summit here, towering 13,458 feet above the park, the most southerly 4,000-meter peak in the Alps. Here, amongst the chamois you鈥檒l almost certainly spot, you鈥檒l feel like you鈥檙e at the top of the world.

BEST ADVENTURES: You could hike the park鈥檚 many trails, including a section of the Grand 脡crins, but this is also a space known for its alpine climbing. If you鈥檙e looking for adventure, a three-day mountaineering- and glacier-skills course with will help you tag the summit of Barre des 脡crins, staying in remote mountain huts ($1,645).

Within the boundaries of 脡crins are two ski areas, and two others just bordering the park might be the area鈥檚 most famous, especially for cyclists. Les Deux Alpes bike park is one of the biggest in the Alps and is home to beginner- to competition-level courses in everything from downhill to enduro with pristine alpine views. Alpe d鈥橦uez offers one of the Tour de France鈥檚 most iconic climbs in addition to the wild Megavalanche, a mass-start mountain-bike race on a glacier. Ride into the national park, which has around 100 miles of marked bike trails.

HOW TO GET THERE: The closest major city is Grenoble, France. Fly into Lyon, Geneva, Marseille, or even Paris and take a high-speed train to Grenoble. From there, if you plan on some serious exploring, it鈥檚 best to rent a car, but bus service is also available to Les Deux Alpes if you will stick to the resorts or hire a guide to get into the mountains.

BEST TIME TO GO: July through September are the months to visit to avoid snow in this mountain environment.听

WHERE TO STAY: The ski resorts and villages in and around 脡crins provide ample lodging, but to really get away from it all, book a stay in one of the 40 throughout the park. While some of these mountain huts simply serve as basic overnight shelters for mountaineers, others are staffed in the summer, offering hot dinner and breakfast and often a lovely patio on which to take in the setting sun in a gorgeous high-alpine setting.

Refuges almost always require a hike to reach, so choose your trail, do your research and book ahead to ensure you have a bed waiting at the end of your day.

Mikaela Ruland is the editor in chief of National Park Trips. She lives for the outdoors, and you can usually find her hiking, skiing, or mountain biking. She’s been to national parks on three continents, including 23 of the 63 U.S. national parks. Her favorite is whichever one she鈥檚 traveling to next.

The post Top 6 National Parks in Europe鈥擜nd the Best 国产吃瓜黑料s in Them 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.

The post 13 Travel Mistakes Our Writers Will Never Make Again appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

If you want to experience a stunning outdoor destination like a local, you need to ask one for advice. That鈥檚 why we talked to Pietro Picco about . The picturesque mountain town has it all鈥攈iking, biking, climbing, and amazing food and lodging鈥攁nd Picco knows it all like few others. He has a deep love for his home mountains鈥攖hey鈥檝e inspired him to climb peaks like Mont Blanc and K2. Here, get Picco鈥檚 insider perspective and advice, and learn why Courmayeur is the ultimate outdoor destination for all kinds of adventurers.

Plan Your Trip

国产吃瓜黑料: What makes Courmayeur so special for alpine travelers?听

Pietro Picco: Courmayeur is a lovely mountain town鈥攁 jewel guarded by the highest mountain in the Alps: Mont Blanc. In Courmayeur, visitors can immerse themselves in Val Ferret鈥檚 nature, find wild experience in Val Veny, or hike the trails in the ski area. Travelers can also find traditional gourmet Italian cuisine, alpine spas, and luxury stores.

Find Your Hike

What are your trail recommendations for beginner, intermediate, and advanced hikers looking to experience the beauty of Mont Blanc?

Whether you’re a new or experienced hiker, there are a variety of trails within walking distance from town to explore. Some lead to refuges鈥攔emote shelters for mountaineers and hikers鈥攖hat make for a rewarding stop.

There are many shops in town that sell and rent anything and everything a hiker could possibly need: boots, poles, backpacks鈥攜ou name it, they have it! You can also book a guided hike with one of the experienced outfitters. They鈥檒l supply essential gear and teach you about the area鈥檚 geology and natural resources.

I also recommend exploring Val Veny and Val Ferret. Both of these scenic valleys are cradled by cols that border France and Switzerland and have scenic trails leading to viewpoints of the Mont Blanc massif. As you plan your visit to Courmayeur, consider one of these hikes:

Beginner

Rifugio Bonatti

Hike to this mountainside hut and soak in the epic scenery of Val Ferret.

• Distance: 7 miles
• Time of Year: May through October

Col de la Seigne

For travelers looking for more of a challenge, this loop offers the perfect balance of technical trail and road.

• Distance: 13 miles
• Time of Year: July through September

Intermediate

Balconata della Val Ferret

This scenic point-to-point trail is easily accessible by bus and offers stunning views of Val Ferret.

• Distance: 5 miles
• Time of Year: June through October

Traverse this point-to-point route past mountain huts and lakes.

• Distance: 9 miles
• Time of Year: June to October

Advanced

Recommended for experienced hikers, this alpine trail explores the Val Sapin, with magnificent views along the way.

• Distance: 14 miles
• Time of Year: Summer

Col de Malatr脿

If you want the best views of Mont Blanc, this is the perfect out-and-back trail to add to your itinerary.

• Distance: 11 miles
• Time of Year: Summer

Try Something New

In addition to hiking, how else can outdoor enthusiasts experience Courmayeur?听

So many ways!

Rent mountain bikes (analog or electric) to explore the trails.

Take the that climbs to 3,466 meters, offering a unique perspective of the area. From the Skyway, it鈥檚 also possible to hike on the nearby glacier by booking a trip with an experienced guide.

Explore the various via ferratas leading to guarded huts鈥攕helters used by mountaineers and managed by guardians in warmer seasons鈥攁nd unmanned bivouacs.

Climb at the many popular crags or to alpine peaks. Guides are available for both of these activities.

There are plenty of ways to get out and explore the outdoors in Courmayeur. But if the weather turns, the Courmayeur Sport Center offers all sorts of indoor activities, including ice skating, climbing, and tennis.

Relax in Paradise

What can travelers look forward to after a day of exploring?

Courmayeur is one the Alps鈥� most attractive villages, with restaurants and bars spilling out onto the car-free center. Aperitivo, gourmet dinners, pizza, traditional Italian food鈥攚hatever you crave, it鈥檚 available here. You can enjoy it all with a spectacular view of Mont Blanc and the Alps. If you鈥檙e looking for some peace and quiet outside the center, you鈥檒l find plenty of restaurants in Val Veny and Val Ferret. Plus, there are shops with luxury brands, sports equipment, and local souvenirs.

For travelers who want a 鈥渉ome away from home鈥� experience, consider staying at the . This alpine retreat has everything you need for a comfortable night鈥檚 rest, with each cozy room looking out on the surrounding nature. At the on-site spa, you can recharge with Secret des Alpes wellness treatments designed for post-alpine recovery, including skin brushing and mountain pasture butter massages, followed with a soak in the heated luxury pool.

There is a place where your imagination can turn into reality. Where leisure and relaxation come in all shades. A place where flavors can amaze, nature and its views can marvel. It is , a jewel guarded by the highest mountain in the Alps: the Mont Blanc.

After all, only when you reach the summit, you see everything clearly.

Enjoy Courmayeur Mont Blanc. Italy at its peak.

The post The Insider鈥檚 Guide to the Heart of the Italian Alps appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.