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 Everest Base Camp trek is moderately strenuous: 130 km round trip to 5,364 m over 12 to 14 days. Altitude, not terrain, is the real challenge in 2026.
Read articleEverest Base Camp vs Three Passes Trek compared for 2026: distance, altitude, difficulty and scenery to help you choose the right Khumbu Himalayan trek.
Read articleThe best backpacks for multi-day Alpine trekking in 2026, from ultralight 50 L hut packs to supportive 65 L loads for routes like the Walker's Haute Route.
Read articleThe best hikes in the Swiss Alps in 2026, from the 180 km Walker's Haute Route to the Tour des Combins, ranked by scenery, difficulty and huts.
Read articleThe best time to hike the Walker's Haute Route from Chamonix to Zermatt is mid-July to mid-September 2026, when all 11 passes are snow-free and huts open.
Read articleA complete Walker's Haute Route packing list for 2026: hut-based gear, layers and a 7 to 9 kg base weight for the 180 km Chamonix to Zermatt trek.
Read articleThe Menalon Trail is a moderate 75 km route across 8 sections in Arcadia, Greece. Difficulty, daily stages and a full packing list for 2026.
Read articleMount Olympus is a 2-day alpine summit (2,918 m); the Samaria Gorge is a 16 km one-day coastal descent in Crete. Full 2026 comparison.
Read articleThe best gear for hiking in Greece in 2026 handles heat, sun and rocky descents: a ventilated pack, UPF sun layers and grippy footwear.
Read articleThe 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 articleSamaria Gorge is a roughly 15 km downhill hike on Crete: €10 entry, open until 31 October at the latest, ferry out from Agia Roumeli. Tickets and packing.
Read articleThe Julian Alps span Slovenia and Italy — the 270 km Juliana Trail circles the range in 16 stages, and Mount Triglav tops out at 2,864 m.
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 is a 270 km loop around Slovenia's Julian Alps in 16 stages from Kranjska Gora. Stage distances, difficulty, season and booking.
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.
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