How to plan your first international hike

If you are planning your first international hike, you have come to the right place.

There are two types of backpackers in the world: those who want to disappear into the mountains and not see a soul for weeks, and those who prefer a croissant and a glass of wine at the end of a 20-mile day. I’ve hiked thousands of miles through the most remote parts of the US, as well as through the heart of the European Alps, and let me tell you one thing: they are not created equal.

If you want your first international trek to be a success and not a survival story, there are some crucial things you need to know before you even book your flight. International hiking can be intimidating. There are many factors to consider, including visas, flights, reservations, how to resupply, how to talk to people, language barriers, etc.

And while it can be a little complicated, it’s ultimately not that difficult if you know what you’re doing.

Hi, my name is Lauren, or Longway on the trail, and I have hiked extensively around the world, including North America (trails like the Pacific Crest Trail and Colorado Trail), Europe, trails like Hexatrek and Via Dinarica, and in Oceania, I hiked Te Araroa in New Zealand.

We will cover:

• How to choose the right international trail

• Visa rules you need to know before traveling abroad

• Gear Considerations When Hiking Outside the US

• Budget for an international hike

• Navigation apps and technology for global trails

• Manage language barriers while traveling

• Safety Tips for International Solo Hikes

1. Choose the right international trail

So first things first: before you even book a flight or consider a visa, we need to choose the right international route for you.

Now, not all international trails are created equal. That’s the truth. Some of them suck. Basically, of the dozen international trails I’ve hiked at this point, some are amazing and some I wouldn’t recommend to my worst enemy. (Actually. I thought about that while I was hiking in Croatia and thought: I wouldn’t even want someone I don’t like to do this tour. It was so bad.)

When choosing an international trek, there are a number of factors to consider. These include things like language barriers, infrastructure, terrain or difficulty, and rescue options. When looking at international trails, keep in mind that just because it’s called a straight hike doesn’t mean it’s a straight hike. What I have found in my personal experience is that the word “thru hike” has been applied too liberally, because people want recognition for their trail and the word “thru hike” is popular.

The word hike itself comes with a certain set of expectations, and those aren’t always what you get when you show up to a trail.

An important note when choosing the right path is to know yourself. You should accurately assess your level of experience, whether you are comfortable navigating in a foreign language, your walking skills, your backpacking skills, and your comfort navigating unfamiliar terrain. In my personal experience, it can be very easy to feel overwhelmed when you already have a difficult challenge ahead of you and you are adding additional complications.

So my advice would be to choose something beginner-friendly if you are new to hiking or haven’t done much international travel vcxvcx.

I personally didn’t follow my own advice and although it worked well, I don’t know if I would recommend it to anyone else. I went into the Hexatrek basically blind. I did very little research and thought I would just show up and fix the problem, and that approach works great for me. But I’ve also traveled a lot internationally and lived abroad, so I’m comfortable navigating foreign terrain.

2. Understand visa rules before you travel

The second thing you should consider is the availability of visas and how long you can stay in a country. Assuming you have an American passport, this may vary depending on where you want to hike.

If you want to go hiking in Europe, for example, there is the 90-day rule of the Schengen Zone that hinders many people’s plans. Basically, the rule is that you can only spend 90 days in Schengen countries within a 180-day period. Considering the length of some hikes, this may not be enough time to complete a long trail.

What this means is that you may need to apply for a long-term visa. That process may require a consulate appointment, additional fees and waiting for your passport to be returned. All of these things must be taken into account in the planning schedule and budget. However, both US and Canadian passports are relatively strong and many destinations are easier to navigate visa-wise than people expect.

Another tip: look outside the box when it comes to visa options. Sometimes a work permit or youth mobility visa can be easier to obtain than a standard long tourist visa.

Long road along the Transcaucasian Route.

3. Think about the availability of equipment abroad

Next, let’s talk about equipment.

Many American hikers rely on handcrafted ultralight gear that is manufactured in small batches in the United States. That can create problems abroad. For example, when I was doing the Hexatrek in France, my tent flew into a fence during a storm and destroyed my rain fly. Big Agnes does not have an office in France, so replacing it was practically impossible.

I ended up buying sheets of duct tape and repairing the entire rain fly, which worked, but was definitely stressful.

Fuel canisters may also vary by country. In the past, France used a different style that did not fit with international stoves. Fortunately, this problem has virtually disappeared as screw-top containers have become more common.

4. Budget for an international hike

Next up: money.

Your biggest expenses will probably be:

• Gear

• Flights

• Food

• Accommodation

• Transport

Flights are usually the biggest cost, although travel points can help reduce this significantly.

Interestingly, I typically spend about the same amount of money on international trails as I do on American trails.

Accommodation can vary greatly depending on the trail.

For example:

If you are trying to save money, tent camping is the cheapest option. If you want a more comfortable experience, lodges can be a great occasional treat.

Cash is important too. Many mountain huts and rural locations do not accept cards. Fortunately, you can simply withdraw local currency from an ATM using your debit card.

5. Navigation and applications

On US trails, most hikers rely on FarOut. International trails are different.

Some trails have their own applications. Others rely on GPX files and mapping applications like Gaia.

For example:

Use whatever navigation system you are comfortable with and consider carrying a satellite communicator like a Garmin inReach.

6. Linguistic and cultural barriers

Language barriers are something that intimidates many hikers. In reality, they are often easier to navigate than expected.

Most people want to help.

Even if you speak terrible French or rely on Google Translate, people will often work with you.

I’ve gotten surprisingly far with basic hand gestures, charades, and learning just a few key phrases.

About the pilgrimage of the 88 temples in Japan.

7. Safety and solo travel

At this point in my life, I have traveled primarily as a solo woman. And honestly, the world is a much safer place than we are often led to believe.

Over dozens of hikes in different countries, I can count on one hand the number of times I felt unsafe, and most of those situations involved the weather more than the people.

The most important safety tip is simple:

Trust your instinct.

If a camp or situation feels uncomfortable, move on.

Final thoughts

In short, going on an international hike is not as scary as it seems. Any problem you encounter, you can solve it. It may require a little more creativity, but you will be able to solve any problems you encounter.

Something I personally love about international hiking is that it continues to change the way I see the world. It reminds me of the goodness of people and that people are just people no matter where they go.

If you love hiking, I really think you should try at least one international trail in your life. You won’t regret it.

If you could choose any international hike in the world, which one would you choose? Let me know below.

And don’t forget to like and subscribe to Trek’s YouTube channel.

Again, my name is Lauren and happy hiking!

The above is a transcript. Minor edits have been made for clarity and readability, while preserving the original message and intent. This video is part of a new series about Youtube of the trip. Be sure to check the full video and subscribe to our YouTube channel.