I recently hiked the 14-day Huayhuash Circuit in the Peruvian Andes, a 120km trekking circuit which circumnavigates the Huayhuash mountain range, and is one of the most beautiful high altitude treks in the world. I’ll share more information and photos of the trek in one of my next posts! On one of our rest days, the local cooks and horsemen prepared a celebratory feast for us, known as pachamanca. In Quechua, the language spoken in the area since the Incan Empire, pacha means

It’s winter in Patagonia and the steppe is covered in fresh snow. This far south, the sun rises just before 1000h and it’s still pitch black as Benja, our Patagonian guide, gets ready for his day hike in the eastern part of the Torres Del Paine National Park. The Patagonian steppe is rich in wildlife, and it is common to see herds of guanacos, one of the four South American camelids, here. Even while they are grazing, guanacos have to stay alert, keeping an eye out for the el

Let’s be honest - outdoor gear is expensive. When I was starting out, I was often confused by the variety that’s available (even though I enjoy spending hours in the REI store when I’m in the US). If you are looking for a windbreaker for your first hiking trip, there really isn’t a need to splurge on a branded jacket. Here's why we like the MH100 Jacket from Quechua: At less than USD40, this is a very affordable windbreaker, It has a hood to protect your head and neck from wi

Aleksei, our trusted guide in Kyrgyzstan, shares a quick snapshot of eagle hunters. Q: What can our guests expect when they meet the eagle hunters? A: A demonstration of the eagles and their skills, as well as some training process. The prey used could be just a fur or a live animal, usually a rabbit or a fox. The hunters would rarely take our guests on an actual hunt, but this could be negotiated. Q: When is the best season to participate in this? A: You can watch the eagle

Gino, a trekking guide in Patagonia, shares about a day trek to see the condors in the Torres Del Paine National Park and tips for wildlife photography. Q: The impression many travellers have about Torres Del Paine National Park is that you can only see the best bits by doing multi-day hikes, and this is not true! Tell us about one of your favourite day hikes. A: There are many places within the park with many attractions and good views to enjoy, other than the W and Paine ci