hiking

HIKING/MOUNTAIN CLIMBING

The Appalachian Mountains of the Gaspe Peninsula, Quebec, Canada
The Mi'kmaq, who occupied the Gaspe Peninsula when the first Europeans arrived, called their land 'Gespeg' meaning 'the place where the land ends.' Here, the ancient Appalachians, stretching over 1500 miles form Northern Alabama across Eastern North America, reach their continental limit to plunge into the sea. Over sixty miles of backcountry trails in the Parc de la Gaspesie allows us to explore this beautiful mountain range that is also the home of the southernmost herd of woodland caribou in North America as well as moose and white-tailed deer.

Mountains, Monasteries and the River Styx, North Peloponnese, Greece
The mountains that border the Gulf of Corinth in the North Peloponnese were once a part of ancient Arcadia. It is a land of verdant pine forests, cool mountain air and a profusion of wildflowers set against a backdrop of azure skies and a warm, embracing sea. Discover for yourself why Ancient Greeks called it the "Paradise of the Gods."

Samaria Gorge and The White Mountains of Western Crete, Greece
The massive mountains of Western Crete tower over the old Venetian city of Hania to the north and plunge precipitiously into the Libyan Sea on the islands southern coastline. Legendary Titans slashed the land to create the numerous gorges including the longest gorge in all of Europe, the Samaria Gorge. Explore this wildly beautiful landscape for its stunning scenery, exquisite flowers, wild herbs and the elusive Kri Kri (mountain goat) that lives on the cliffs of the gorge.

Villages of the Land Behind the Mountains, Zagoria, Greece
Retrace the footpaths used by the pastoral tribes of Homeric Greece as they moved their sheep to the summer pastures high on the Gamila Massif of the Pindus Mountains. Below, on the heavily forested slopes, discover the Zagorian villages that remain hidden in the land behind the mountains. They are endowed with extraordinary natural beauty, distinctive architecture, cultural wealth and the sheer romance of an ancient way of life.

Blue Mountains, Jamaica
Hike mist covered mountains with pristine montane forests where tree ferns are abundant. Linger among the flowers of a formal English garden high in the mountains and follow a river to the sea. Or, take the path to the Peak, 7,402 feet, and on a clear day, gaze upon Cuba across the vast expanse of the Caribbean Sea.

Cockpit Country, Jamaica
Discover the impenetrable Cockpits where runaway slaves hid and established their freedom over a hundred years before the Emancipation. It is a rugged land where caves and sinkholes abound and remain a challenge even to the most experienced hikers.

The South Coast and Mountains of St. Elizabeth, Jamaica
An area of incredibly diverse terrain, you can walk for miles along deserted beaches, scamper among the rocks of the Great Pedro Bluff, clamber 1600 feet down the Lover's Leap cliff and explore the mountains and caves of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Delightful vistas await your discovery!

The Sierra Tarahumara (Copper Canyon), Mexico
Explore the rugged terrain of the Sierra Tarahumara, a vast canyon system with 5 canyons that are longer and deeper than the Grand Canyon in Arizona, USA. Here, Mexico's Tarahumara people have maintained their native traditions better than any other Native American group.

Anton Valley, Panama
Hike the hills that surround the crater of the Anton Valley. La India Dormida, the sleeping Indian girl won't mind your climbing to the tip of her nose to view the valley below. Square trees, golden frogs, ancient petroglyphs, thermal springs and idyllic waterfalls are all found here along with the beautiful blue morpho butterfly. You can also hike to the hills beyond the valley.

Chiriqui Highlands, Panama.
Explore Panama's most mountainous region, the Cordillera Central. Hike the cloudforests of La Amistad International Park and Volcan Baru, a dormant volcano that is Panama's highest mountain (11,440 feet). It is home to the Guaymi Indians and numerous species of birds including the Resplendent Quetzal, known as the most beautiful bird in the Americas.

Rio Chagres, Panama.
The scattered gold from panicked mules is now hidden on the jungle floor but you can still trek El Camino Real, the trail used by the Spanish Conquistadors who plundered the wealth of the Aztecs and Incas. This fifty mile trail traversing the isthmus of Panama from the Pacific to the Atlantic is thought to be haunted and passes through the dense, tropical rainforest of the Chagres valley.

Mt. Kililmanjaro, Tanzania
Hike the slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro and enjoy the changing flora as you ascend the mountain. Walk through an alpine meadow in the clouds and brace yourself against the frigid winds that swoop down to where the land becomes rocky and desolate. Conquer the continent's highest mountain and stand on the "roof of Africa."

Blue Voyage, Adventure and Ancient Ruins in Southwest Anatolia, Turkey
Follow the path from the ruins of ancient Caunos to the secluded beach at Ekincik. Greek woodsmen once earned their livelihoods in the forested hills overlooking the Turquoise Coast. Venture inland to the high mountain plateau (yayla) of Cicekbaba, the highest point in the Sandras Dagi. Grassy meadows, spring flowers, pine forests and cool, mountain air make this a memorable trek along uncrowded paths. Explore the canyons of the spring-fed streams that flow from this mountain.

Mountain Villages of the Eastern Black Sea and the Coruh River, Turkey
The magnificent Kackar Mountains boast beautiful alpine scenery with coniferous forests, glacial lakes and powerful streams as well as an intricate blend of cultures that include the ethnic minorities of Georgian, Armenian, Hemsin and Laz peoples. An exploration of their ancient cities, summer pastures and old trade routes will take you back in time to the Golden Ages of Georgia and Byzantium and rekindle the adventure of the Old Silk Road.

Havasu Canyon, Arizona, USA
Havasu Canyon is a paradisiacal gorge where turquoise waters cascade into travertine pools and graceful willows and lofty cottonwoods provide shade and greenery in an extraordinary setting of towering red sandstone cliffs beneath a cerulean sky. There are no roads to the canyon home of the Havasupai Indians so visitors must hike into this side branch of the Grand Canyon that was once occupied by a prehistoric people. Beyond the village, the trail winds by gorgeous waterfalls and old zinc mines all the way to the Colorado River.

Mohonk Preserve, New York, USA
Mohonk Preserve is an exquisite wilderness area that is less than a hundred miles from New York City. It is one of the most beautiful places in the state especially in early summer when the mountain laurel blooms and in the fall when the surrounding countryside is emblazoned with color. Mohonk Preserve is located at the northern end of the Shawangunk Mountains (The Gunks) where 75 miles of hiking trails with varying degrees of difficulty are available year round.