Embarking on a self-guided hiking tour in Europe is a thrilling way to explore scenic landscapes and immerse yourself in the continent’s natural beauty. With the freedom and flexibility that come with self-guided adventures, packing thoughtfully becomes essential. Here’s a helpful guide to ensure you’re well-prepared for your hiking tour.

Hiking Gear Essentials

Your gear is the backbone of a successful hiking trip. Start with a durable pair of broken-in hiking boots that offer ample support and grip. Pair them with moisture-wicking socks to prevent blisters. Comfortable, quick-dry hiking pants and a breathable, lightweight shirt are must-haves, along with a waterproof jacket to handle Europe’s unpredictable weather. Don’t forget to pack a sturdy backpack with a hydration system or water bottle, and trekking poles for challenging terrains.

Layers for All Seasons

Europe’s hiking trails can take you through varying altitudes and climates, so it’s vital to layer strategically. Base layers in moisture-wicking materials keep you dry, while mid-layers like fleece or insulated jackets provide warmth when temperatures drop. A lightweight packable down jacket is a great option for cooler evenings, and a sun hat or cap will shield you from the sun during daytime hikes. Consider clothing that can go from day to night, such as lightweight wool shirts in darker colors or grays.

Essential Accessories

On a self-guided hiking tour, accessories can make all the difference. Bring a reliable map, compass, or GPS device to stay on track, even if trails are well-marked. A small first-aid kit is indispensable, including band-aids, antiseptic, and any medications you may need. Sunglasses, sunscreen, and lip balm are essentials for sun protection, while lightweight gloves and a buff or scarf can come in handy for colder mornings. A headlamp or flashlight ensures visibility in case your hike extends into the evening.

Packing Light and Smart

Efficient packing is key for self-guided hiking tours. Stick to lightweight, multi-purpose clothing to reduce bulk. Pack toiletries in travel-sized containers, and include biodegradable soap and a microfiber towel. If your tour includes overnight stays at huts or lodges, a lightweight sleeping bag liner may be useful. Packing cubes can help organize your items, and zip-lock bags are perfect for storing wet or dirty gear. Check out our complete self-guided bike tour packing guide here!

Tips for European Hikers

Many of Europe’s trails pass through picturesque villages, making it easy to restock essentials or enjoy local food. Carry some cash in the local currency, as smaller establishments may not accept cards. Familiarize yourself with trail etiquette, such as yielding to uphill hikers and staying on marked paths to protect the environment.

Our Top-Rated Self-Guided Hiking Tours in Europe

Czech Republic – Hiking Vienna to Prague
This 8 day self-guided hiking tour starts in Vienna and finishes in Prague, spending your days hiking through the historical sites, vineyards, towering castles and charming towns unique to this area of Europe!

Czech Republic – Prague to Dresden Hiking Tour
On this 8 day self-guided hiking tour from Prague to Dresden, hike through the countryside along the Elbe River, where you will encounter medieval castles, exquisite Renaissance and Baroque chateaus, tranquil river landscapes, and the massive Lusatian Mountains.

Croatia – Dalmatian Coast Hiking Tour
Start in vibrant Split and finish in historic Dubrovnik on this 7-day self-guided hiking tour of Croatia. Explore the stunning Adriatic coastline and the picturesque islands of Brac, Hvar, and Korcula, where sparkling waters and breathtaking views await at every turn. With flexible start dates, this journey blends natural beauty, culture, and freedom to explore.

Spain – Alpujarra Hiking Tour of Andalusia
Explore the stunning Alpujarra region of Spain on this 8-day self-guided hiking tour. Discover the rugged mountains of the Sierra Nevada National Park, sparkling streams, and freshly whitewashed villages, all while savoring local wines, cuisine, and Spanish culture. Stay in authentic villages with charming, authentic lodging for an unforgettable experience.

Ready to start planning your dream self-guided bike tour? Let us help! Our team of passionate experts is ready to share their insights and guide you to an unforgettable adventure! Contact us today to start planning your next self-guided hiking tour!

The post Packing Tips for a Self-Guided Hiking Tour in Europe appeared first on Pure Adventures.

In North America, we tend to use “walk” in the same way we’d use “stroll” – a relatively easy excursion, usually along paved roads. We reserve the term “hike” for a more challenging trek through rugged terrain. The UK and the Republic of Ireland, however, use “walk” to describe any trip on foot, whether it’s to the corner shop or up the mountainside. Particularly if you’re talking to an older person, you may also hear the terms hillwalking, rambling, or fellwalking. When you get a hot tip at the pub about a lovely walk nearby, don’t set out in sandals until you’ve asked a few followup questions about length, difficulty, etc.

For instance, the tallest of the Connemara Mountains in Ireland, which we pass through on our Hiking the Western Way tour, reaches a maximum elevation of nearly 2,400 feet. Local guides may refer to the climb as a walk, or at most a “hard walk” or “hill walk.” All the same you’ll definitely want to bring hiking boots. Even less challenging stretches of trail may require appropriate preparations and footwear if the distances warrant. Especially at higher elevations, sunny weather can turn windy or misty on fairly short notice.

So how best to prepare for a day or more of walking, Irish or UK style? Hiking boots as opposed to shoes will give you the best ankle support and be suitable for the broadest range of conditions. If you don’t intend to carry a ton of gear, though, you won’t need the stiffest, heaviest variety available, backpacking boots. Some hikers even prefer lightweight, low-cut trail runners for the comfort and speed they offer. Either way a good fit is very important, so when shopping around make sure you try your intended pair on at the end of the day after your feet have had time to swell, and while you’re wearing the type of sock you intend to bring with you. Avoid choosing a pair so tight they chafe, as you should still have room to wiggle your toes. Speaking of socks, those need to fit well too in order to avoid blistering. Choose a thickness appropriate for the season – thick enough to give you some comfy cushioning, but not so thick as to be sweltering on a warm day. Merino wool is the go-to material for most hikers, sometimes blended with synthetics for durability and faster drying.

The standard outdoorsperson advice also applies to hiking in the UK, of course. Layering a t-shirt, fleece top, and jacket allows you to peel off as you warm up or stay toasty when the weather turns. A brimmed hat and sunscreen will probably leave you feeling less fatigued at the end of the day, and a spare pair of socks never hurt. Snacks, water, and a fully charged phone are reassuring additions to any pack. Just be aware that cell reception can be spotty on some stretches of trail, so it’s always best practice to download map data in advance or bring a good old-fashioned paper map along.

Lastly, if you’re referring to any guides written on hiking in the UK, you may want to make sure you’ve read them over in advance to make sure you haven’t glossed over any more unfamiliar terms (i.e. do you know a moor when you see one? Did you know a “permissive path” is a trail on private property which the landowner has granted access to?). If you travel with Pure Adventures, our local guides will bring you up to speed on anything you might need to know about trails or points of interest. Your job is to relax, enjoy the pastoral countryside and sweeping landscape, and then put your feet up after a long day’s ramble up hill and down dale. 

See all of Pure Adventure’s offerings in Ireland and the UK here.

The post Walking vs. Hiking: Setting out on Foot in the UK appeared first on Pure Adventures.

Well, before you head out to buy that boring backpack, it’s time to get excited about what’s out there! After all it IS the future, so we’ve scoured the internet to find some of the coolest 2016 Tech For The Adventure Traveller Who Has Everything.

It’s all right here in this nifty infographic. Look, enjoy, share!

Share This Nifty Infographic On Your Site!

Please include attribution to https://pure-adventures.com// with this graphic.

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The Grand Canyon is like no other place on earth. Absolutely epic in every way, from the number of visitors (nearly 5 million a year) to it’s ancient geological history (2 billion years worth)  Arizona’s Grand Canyon is a dream hiking destination.

“It’s easy to think of the canyon as a hole in the ground, but when you’re there it’s so much more. Be ready to be blown away,” enthuses hiker John Soltys. “It’s hard to put into words. The scale is unlike anything I’d seen before.”

Hiking the Grand Canyon is an adventure that shouldn’t be taken lightly. At nearly a mile deep, the hiking down into – and then out of – the canyon challenges even the fittest hikers. The dramatic changes in elevation (South Rim is approximately 7000 ft in elevation and north Rim is 8000 ft in elevation), combined with soaring summer temperature are factors that play heavily into a hiker’s ability to complete a hiking trip of the Grand Canyon safely and happily. “Everyone who hikes in the canyon for the first time reports that it was more difficult than they expected,” reports the National Parks Service.

These tips from experienced Grand Canyon hikers and the National Parks Service will help prepare you for a safe summer hiking experience.

Stayed Well Hydrated
“Water, water and then more water!” advises Soltys, who recently visited the Grand Canyon with his young children. The National Parks Service suggests packing at least 2 liters of water in your day pack and know ahead of time where water bottle filling stations are located. Remember that the Park’s ban on the sale of single use water bottles means that picking up extra bottled water isn’t possible and pack accordingly. Alternate drinking water with drinking fluids with electrolytes (commercially-prepared or home-made) to maintain the salt levels in your body. Hyponatremia is just as dangerous as dehydration.

Add These Essentials to Your Day Pack
A flashlight, waterproof poncho, whistle or mirror, sunscreen, spray bottle and a detailed map are all must-haves in your day pack.

Match the Trail With Your Physical Ability
For Soltys, an easy Ranger-led hike was best for his family. Fit hikers seeking a challenge may want to try sections of either the Bright Angel Trail or the South Kaibab Trail, both offering distances ranging from 3 to 6 miles. If you prefer to stay above the rim, the trail along the South Rim offers amazing views along its paved 13 mile route.

Leave The Diet At Home
A hiking trip in the Grand Canyon is not the time to count calories. Salty, high calorie snacks such as trail mix and homemade or commercially prepared energy bars are popular choices. Balance out your food intake with water intake to avoid cramping and other stomach issues. While the descent into the Canyon may feel deceptively easy to some hikers, it’s important to remember that it take a lot of energy to climb back up.

Pick the Right Time To Hike…
With temperatures of the inner canyon peaking at a daytime high of 106F during the summer months, it’s important to hit the trail before sunrise – or shortly thereafter.  Heatstroke and heat exhaustion are serious health threats and can affect even the best prepared hikers. “Experienced desert hikers know that the timing of their hike is the most important factor in avoiding hazards,” writes the National Park Service on their Summer Hiking page. The National Park Service advises visitors to the Grand Canyon to avoid hiking between 10:00am and 4:00pm, when temperatures in the inner canyon are the highest. Stick to the shade during these times and remember to keep drinking water, even if you’re not on the move.

…And Then Take Your Time On The Trails
A general rule is to allow 1/3 of your time to hike into the Grand Canyon and 2/3 to hike out. If you’re finding the pace with your hiking group to be too fast, ask them to slow down. Follow the talk test – if you can’t keep a conversation going because you are winded, it’s time to slow down. Don’t be afraid to take frequent breaks – in the end you won’t lose anytime by slowing down and stopping.

Go On A Guided Trip
If proper planning and packing is done, a day trip in the Grand Canyon along the Bright Angel and South Kaibab trails is achievable for many physically fit hikers. The next step in a Grand Canyon adventure would be a Rim to Rim hiking tour or Phantom Ranch tour with loop hikes, the logistics of which can be challenging if you’re not familiar with the Canyon’s trails. A guided trip takes away many of the worries of planning, which means you can enjoy the trip of a lifetime. Pure Adventures offers several guided trips of the Grand Canyon, each led by experienced guides with wilderness first aid training. Contact Pure Adventures to begin planning your summer vacation in the Grand Canyon.

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On the Pure Adventures blog we’ve talked about how to avoid blisters, pick the perfect hiking boots and suggested ways to save on a hiking trip, setting you up for a memorable self-guided trip to Utah, Arizona or California.

The final piece of the self guided gear puzzle is picking a pack.

Because backpacking forces you to carry all your belongings on your back,  the natural idea is to pack as light as possible. Even when packing light, packs still weigh a lot – and feel heavier the farther you have to carry them – and it’s important to make sure you have one that fits well. So, how do you find a pack? Hiker Elaine Brewer shares her tips on how to pick a hiking pack.

Shop in store, not online

In this age of online shopping, it’s difficult for some people to pull themselves away from the computer and head out to a place that specializes in backpacking, especially if the pack you have in mind is cheaper online. It’s important to try the pack on in person to see how it fits. Next to your boots, it’s the single most important piece of hiker gear you will invest in – fit is critical.

 Abandon brand bias

Have a pack in mind? Because of the color or the brand name? Don’t let that bias your decision. Even if you have a pack in mind, test ALL of the ones in that volume class that are available at the store you visit.

Verify volume

Packs come in different volumes, based on length of trip and in what conditions (i.e. winter gear is bulkier than summer gear). Consider packs under 50 liters for weekend trips, 50 to 70 for multi-day trips (3-5 days), and 70+ liters for extended trips (6 to 10+). The volume size also depends on your packing style – are you a minimalist or do you need the kitchen sink?  If you’re unsure what volume pack you should be looking at, ask the pros at the store. All Pure Adventures’ self-guided hiking trips provide daily luggage transfers, and a pack under 50 liters is more than adequate for your daily gear.

 Size matters

Many packs these days come in different sizes within the model. Usually they are small, medium, large, and sometimes extra large. These sizes typically correspond to the length of your torso and/or your hip circumference. Work with store staff to determine the correct size, then try it on to see if it feels comfortable. Brewer suggests hikers look for these things specifically:

•  Free mobility of my arms. Arms are crucial in hiking and backpacking, especially if there is a scramble involved. When you sway your arms back, you don’t want to be knocking into the body of the pack.
•  I hit my head on the brain, not the structure of the pack, when I look up. When you tilt your head up, you don’t want to smack it into the structure, or frame, of the pack. Most packs have brains (the extra space sitting on top of the pack’s main body) that will rise to head level or higher on the wearer.
•  The hip belt is padded and fits nicely on my hips. Definitely look for a pack that has a padded hip belt. It may seem excessive at first, but your hips will be thanking you after your first day on the trails.

Fill it up

After the initial try-on, take off the pack and fill it with roughly the amount of gear you would use. Most outdoor sport stores will have bean bags to simulate weight in the pack. Put a light, bulky one in first, to simulate your sleeping bag. Then put some heavier bean bags in the middle, and again a light bag or two on top until the weight is something you think you’ll carry/want to carry on your trip.

Put it on

Put the pack back on (don’t just sling it over your shoulders like a school bag!), ask for help if you’ve never donned a pack before. The best way to don one, if there is not seat, is to balance it on your thigh with the shoulder straps facing you. Slide an arm through the appropriate shoulder strap and as you put it onto your back, lean forward so your back and not your shoulders are bearing the weight of the pack. Get your other arm in the other shoulder strap and secure the hip belt. Tighten it to a comfortable level, making sure the belt is snug and sitting on your pelvis. Stand up straight at this point, while you adjust the shoulder straps so the pack is not pulling away from your body. Secure all the bindings to a comfortable level – you want the weight of the pack to fall on the hips and not on your shoulders. The expert that the store can help you learn how to adjust the packs to fit as comfortably as possible.

Take a hike – figuratively speaking

Walk around the store with the pack (preferably with the boots that you’re planning on using for your adventure) for more than 20 minutes, if you can. If the store has an incline – usually in the shoe department – go up and down it a few times to feel how the bag shifts going up and down slopes.

Repeat ’til perfect

Repeat with all the packs that are the volume you’re looking for. Remember, even if the first one you try on is comfortable, there might be one that is even more comfortable. Your body will thank you if you take your time in trying packs on.

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