Hiking trail guides, gear reviews, packing tips and route planning advice. Everything you need to plan your next multi-day hike — from the HikeLoad team.
The best hikes in Greece for 2026 are Mount Olympus (2,918 m), the 16 km Samaria Gorge in Crete and the 75 km Menalon Trail in Arcadia.
Read articleThe best time to hike Mount Olympus is June to September, when the 2,918 m summit is snow-free and Refuge A is open. Full 2026 season guide.
Read articleA complete Mount Olympus packing list for 2026: layers, footwear and a 40–50 L pack for the two-day climb to the 2,918 m Mytikas summit.
Read articleMount Olympus is a hard but non-technical hike with a Class 3 scramble to Mytikas (2,918 m): 18 km and 1,800 m ascent over two days.
Read articleThe Samaria Gorge in Crete is a 16 km one-way downhill hike, open May to mid-October, with a ~€5 ticket and a mandatory ferry exit.
Read articleThe Julian Alps span Slovenia, Italy and Austria — the 270 km Juliana Trail circuit takes 10–14 days, with trails from 200 m valleys to 2,864 m summits.
Read articleDiscover the best hikes in Austria's Julian Alps in 2026 — from Juliana Trail stages near Hermagor to ridge walks above 2,000 m in Carinthia.
Read articleThe Juliana Trail: 270 km circular route through the Julian Alps across 14 stages in Slovenia, Austria and Italy. Stage guide, gear picks and costs.
Read articleSolo hiking is safer than most beginners think — if you plan methodically. Learn how to choose the right trail, pack smart and handle emergencies alone.
Read articleHiking with a dog changes everything: preparation, pacing, water planning, trail selection and the gear you carry. This guide covers how to assess your dog's trail readiness, what to pack for a dog on a multi-day hike and the most common mistakes that turn a good idea into a difficult day.
Read articleSolo hiking offers a depth of experience that group hiking rarely matches — but it demands a different approach to risk management, communication and decision-making. This guide covers the systems and mindset that make solo hiking as safe as it is rewarding.
Read articleHiking in the Austrian Alps: the best trails and hut-to-hut routes (Stubai, Zillertal, Grossglockner), distances, difficulty, the best time to go and how to plan.
Read articleThe most sustainable and cost-effective gear strategy is maintaining what you own. This guide covers DWR re-treatment, tent seam sealing, pack repair, boot care and the simple techniques that extend high-quality hiking gear from a few seasons to a decade or more.
Read articleAlfred Wainwright's Coast to Coast Walk crosses the full width of northern England in 192 miles, from the Irish Sea at St Bees to the North Sea at Robin Hood's Bay. This 2026 guide covers the 13-day route, the three national parks, accommodation booking and what makes this the most beloved long-distance walk in England.
Read articlePlant-based backpacking is not a compromise — it is a legitimate high-performance nutrition strategy if you know which foods to prioritise. This guide covers calorie density, complete protein on trail, iron and B12 management, and the best plant-based trail foods for 2026.
Read articleTrail running is the highest-return cross-training activity available to hikers — it builds the aerobic base, downhill leg strength and terrain reading skills that hiking demands, in a fraction of the time. This guide explains how to add trail running to a hiking training programme without overloading the body.
Read articleThe Pacific Crest Trail runs 4,279 km from the Mexican border to Canada, crossing the Mojave Desert, Sierra Nevada and Cascades. This complete 2026 guide covers permits, gear, resupply, timing and everything you need to plan a successful thru-hike.
Read articleThe best offline hiking navigation apps — download maps and follow your GPX with no signal, compared on accuracy, battery use and price, with free picks.
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