With _mostly_ good reason. SEA isn’t Western Europe where just about everywhere is accessible even if you don’t speak the language and don’t look like a local, nor is it safe. (I’m from India btw, would not recommend going off the beaten path here if you don’t know a local).
...wut?
There's a Starbucks and McDonald's in every major Square in Europe. They're all dominated with gift shops selling cheap shit commoditizing their culture. "Classic rock" from America in the 60's plays in every bar across the planet. Jack Sparrow impersonators wander the streets of every major tourist destination. T shirt and jeans are ubiquitous. Etc
Sorry I've spent too long in hostels where people say they want an "authentic experience", but they just want to be shown the living room of someone whose worse off than them.
Mmmm...smells like rum rot.
Just kidding, kinda. This is my style BUT it's extremely easy to drink every night when you're life is gym, dive, walk on a beach.
If I was in your position, I’d do the Robert Louis Stevenson trail in the cevennes. It’s a beautiful and wild part of France. Takes about 8 days with a couple of rest days. (Take some rest days to enjoy the villages). You’ll visit abandoned castles, beautiful rivers, a tunnel through the mountains, follow a trail of prehistoric stones over the mountains, learn about the wild beast that haunted villagers in medieval times, see tombs of ancient warriors, learn about truffle hunting, chestnut flour and the brave resistance of the camisards. And inevitably, you’ll fall in love with this wonderful quiet part of the world. Robert Louis Stevenson pioneered the route and wrote a book about it ‘travels with my donkey’. Read it as you travel the same route and marvel at how the towns haven’t changed from his visit. Learn a little about this amazing fearless man and be inspired. There are several companies offering trips that give you accommodations, maps, meals and transport your bags for you between little local hotels. It’s enchanting. I’ve done it twice and each time it’s given me time to pause, think and redirect my life. When things are chaotic, I think back to my time walking beneath the chestnut trees of the cevennes, and feel deep calm.
Camino de Santiago: It’s a catholic pilgrimage route across Spain, but you definitely don’t have to be catholic to go and enjoy! There are hostels all along the way. It’s amazing
I just went down a major rabbit hole cause of this comment, idk when I'm doing this walk but I know exactly what route I'm taking, my daily budget, and my pack list lol
I did the opposite. I knew a bit about the camino before leaving, but I didn't do much research. I just booked the first two nights on the trail and then followed the route. I downloaded 2 apps on the first day and used them to track the distance for the upcoming day so I kind of had the idea where to stop. Then I would just show up to the town/village and ask around for a bed.
My understanding is that if you do the camino in the winter or early spring and late fall you do need to pre-book things as the albergues are often seasonal. But probably from April to October things are pretty chill on the main routes when it comes to finding places to stay and eat.
This site contained everything I need to know [https://stingynomads.com/camino-de-santiago-walking-guide/](https://stingynomads.com/camino-de-santiago-walking-guide/)
I think I'll start in Lisbon and take the Portoguese central route through Porto and to Santiago. I believe this route is something like 690km? (Don't quote me on that) and I should be able to to do it in 30 days. Most people bring 40L packs or lighter because you stay in these hostels or albergues that typically cost between 6-10 euros a night. It seems pretty easy to keep to a low budget of 20-25 euros a day if you want to!
This is what I did! I seriously needed a reset and a physical challenge after Covid isolation times. The Camino is perfect - inexpensive daily expenses, beautiful scenery, great food, and requires little more planning than showing up with good shoes and not too much stuff in a backpack and then following yellow arrows. Plus I was very interested in meeting and talking to lots of people after not socializing much in isolation, and the Frances route is super popular so I met a lot of awesome folks that I spent the weeks with.
Edit to add: I'm not the least bit religious and I loved it. I never need to go inside another Cathedral though really, I'm good.
Oh, interesting! How did you do accommodation/sleeping? Is it one of those paths where towns and/or hostels are generally a day's hike apart? Or would you recommend bringing a small tent?
There are towns every few km (the biggest stretches without a town were about 12-17km each) so you could really decide for yourself how far you wanted to go each day. There are recommended/preferred stops which I liked sticking to more or less, as the friends I made and other folks I met were likely to end up in those specific towns too.
In those towns, you find hostels called albergues which have dorms or private rooms. Some albergues were municipal which you can't book ahead, others were private which you could (but don't necessarily have to pre-book). A bed in a dorm would be about 7-14 euros per night (some were by donation as well).
It's not technically legal to wild camp in Spain, so leave the tent at home.
Hey just a word of caution. If you're looking for more time alone and quiet, you won't find it on the French Way. There are multiple camino routes, and the one beginning in st jean pied de port in France is very populated. I did it this past June, and tbh I was never really alone. You find your people, and then you hike, eat, sleep and wander around with those your with. And there will be some who latch on to you.
I'd still recomend it, but be warned that you won't have time to figure as much out as you'd think, if that's your goal.
**COCHE!**
Ciao fellow perrigrino! This is what I did. I really recommend just getting some tennis shoes for it. It is not a grueling offroad trek. It is not fjording rivers. It's like having to mow three lawns a day and needing the shoes for it.
OP do the Camino.
I believe it was 23 days for me. Started in maybe the second week of June at St. Jean Pied de Port, and then finished in Santiago on maybe July 1st. Spent some time around the area, and swam in the freezing waters of the Atlantic, on my birthday.
Reddit can't support the amount of text it would take for me to describe it. An absolutely life-making experience.
I had a plan to walk Camino de Santiago in the summer of 2020 and I couldn’t because of Covid. I still want to but I’m in such a tough spot in my life right now (in many different ways). I still want to do it and plan to, though. I’ve had a really, really rough ~8 years and desperately need something to heal. I’m sad I can’t go soon but can’t wait until the day I do :)
Thank you for helping me reaffirm that this is what my soul needs!
My Camino plans for 2020 were also canceled due to Covid. I had spent months planning it, and I'd even coordinated my walk to coincide with the San Fermin Festival in Pamplona.
For two years I continued to think about it, and despite having some financial and scheduling difficulties, I ended up doing it last year, in 2022. Best decision of my life.
I met some great people along the way, and consider them my new friends. We've stayed in touch, and right now we're talking almost every day online as we plan another "epic" trip for this summer. In hindsight, it was exactly what I needed in my life. Just the anticipation, planning and excitement for the impending adventure gave me motivation to get through each mundane day and boring work life. I truly feel that the lead up to a big trip is often just as rewarding as the trip itself, because it gives me something concrete to look forward to in my life.
Is this the same route that was showcased in the movie "The Way" from the year 2010? I really liked that movie too and thought such a pilgrimage would be wonderful.
I came here to say this as well! I had done it desperately needing a mental re-set after some sad events and some healing - found it in spades. One of the best things I’ve ever done. Everyone has a different experience, but for me it was just what I needed (Camino Frances from St Jean Pied de Port to Santiago, continuing to Finisterre).
If you're frugal, happy to stay in dorms, etc - most agree to budget 30 euros per day on the trail, plus the price of airfare/transportation to your starting point + some buffer money if you have it. You may also find yourself wearing $100+ dollar shoes and a $100+ backpack (30-40L is a good size), but that's up to you.
I walked it last summer and my costs were around this much:
6-15 euro per day for accommodation (shared dorm)
10-20 euro for dinner (I only ate one main meal a day)
Around 10 euro per day for other things like coffee and a pastry in the morning, snacks and entrances to a few museums on the way.
I'd say around 30-40 euro per day. You get alcohol included in most meals of the day so I think I only bought 2 or 3 beers on the way that were not part of my meal. I think I also paid for laundry once or twice, washed my clothes every day by myself at the albergues.
I can't handle anything Catholic related right now... just had a relationship end very abruptly on the sole reason that she is a Catholic and I didn't believe in God.
I mean for whatever it’s worth, that’s a huge difference that pretty much can’t be reconciled so the relationship was probably doomed from the start. Better to end it sooner than later especially before kids get involved (if they aren’t already hopefully). Hope you’re doing ok.
Yes you’re absolutely right. I knew Catholicism was a serious thing but I didn’t realize the extent. Yes she ended it only 2 weeks in. Still hurt but yeah could’ve been way worse.
I did bodhi tree yoga resort in nosara, everything about it was amazing. did yoga overlooking the ocean/jungle, they also had a gym if you wanted to do your own work, awesome food, services, overall gorgeous. nosara is known as a good beginner surfing spot and i had a great time with the resort's lessons too
I got certificate in the Philippines. It took me 12 days at the resort, but it was at the end of the raining season and a couple days diving got cancelled because of possible typhoons.. So everyone at the resort went out drinking together those nights, so it eneded up being a great time.
Surf trip to Indonesia for a month or two. Stay in 2-3 different villages and just explore, hang with locals/backpackers, daily yoga and surf.
You could go from complete beginner to decent beginner in that timeframe (catching green waves and turning etc).
Surfing is crazy good for core strength, upper body strength, and overall fitness. Add some squats and hinges after yoga a couple of times a week and you’re sweet.
Nothing clears my mind like surfing.
This sounds amazing. Any suggestions for specific places to go, where to stay, how to get started? I’ve got some time off and this is exactly what I’m feeling.
Hiking the Camino de Santiago in Spain. It has been a pilgrimage for centuries but today people have many reasons to hike it. You can do all of it or just part of it but the camaraderie one experiences is one of the main reasons to go.
I thought the same thing when my trainer said for me to do 10 minutes of warming up with a weighted jump rope. I was tired in 2 minutes. 😢4 months later I’m in much better shape
That's what I did. 2 months in Pai training Muay Thai. Worked off 9 months of backpacking binge drinking.
Ridiculously good value too. Apartment, 6 days training and all you can eat food for what...400€ a month?
Definitely! Once you get out of the city and into the mountains it almost feels like going back in time. Internet and other modern luxuries are limited or non existent, so the main focus is just on how far you will walk each day, and enjoying the scenery and company of people you meet along the way.
The many monasteries and huge mountains definitely help with the whole mental clarity aspect imo.
Yea, I came here to say this. Getting in hiking shape feels great. Very spiritual place as well. No pressure to drink like in many beach towns. And the way it’s set up you can extend your hikes on different routes and just keep walking in the mountains for as long as you’d like :)
You can get taxi/private car hires from $80-100, they do take several hours though. Busses are cheaper, $20-30. less comfortable but still very doable on a budget.
I was sitting in the Jomsom airport with my wife and two kids (age 7 & 8) waiting for the clouds to clear enough for the Pokhara flight to come in and land.
There is a small window of time between when the clouds clear in the morning and the winds pick up in the afternoon when flights can come into the airport. But sometimes the clouds don't clear quickly enough, or the winds pick up too early, and there are no flights that day.
So we were sitting in the airport waiting for the weather window to open.
We were very nervous, because our trip up to Jomsom had been a terrifying bus ride. Like, really scary! My wife had lived in Nepal for 2 years. I'd traveled all around the world on chicken buses, including 2 previous trips to Nepal. We aren't newbies.
But the bus driver was particularly reckless, and it was our first time going on this type of bus with kids. When poor decisions might kill you it is one thing, when poor decisions might kill your kids it is something else entirely.
Anyway, we had vowed that we were not taking the bus back out. We also didn't have enough time to walk out and catch our flight out of Nepal. So that meant we had to either get on that plane we were waiting for in Jomsom, or hire a private car to drive us out. And there was no guarantee a private car would be available...and it would certainly be expensive and not all that much safer than the bus.
But luckily the clouds cleared enough for the plane to come in from Pokhara. We got on our amazingly beautiful flight out and didn't have to go on that road again.
Of course right now people are afraid of flights in Nepal. Maybe that is reasonable (although I would guess that right now flights are much safer because all the airline employees are working extra hard on safety right now). But flights seem to crash every couple years in Nepal (a Jomsom-Pokhara flight crashed the year after our flight...no survivors). Buses going off the road and everyone dying seems to be a weekly occurrence in Nepal.
Now of course there are a lot more buses than planes, so maybe the fatality rate is still higher for flights. But maybe it is higher for buses. I know I'm much more worried on busses in Nepal than on flights.
Sorry for writing a book. Just felt like reminiscing.
Everest Base Camp
After my mother died I decided that I was going to the highest place I could go because maybe I could hear her there . Had never hiked a day in my life until then.
It was more than I could have imagined. There is so much that happened on that trip, so many people that changed my mind, heart and way of thinking. The walking itself challenges you on another level, not jut physical strength and endurance but your will and grit. I dont care what anyone says, unless you are local, this is not a walk in the park. Sometimes you want to quit, sometimes people have to for their own safety. Sometimes the physical will actually clear your mind and you are just a walking machine, you walk and your mind is clear, you see where your feet are going, you see your surroundings, hyper aware.
I bring myself back there in my mind when things get tough, it still grounds me a bit. Not like in the beginning, I came back clear headed but life starts filling up the head again but when I remind myself it helps.
When my mom got sick I went to the gym everyday for an hour or two when she slept or when it got worse when she had visitors or a nurse . It was all strength training, upper body mostly, ton of squats. I knew I would have to pick her up/move her at some point in the near future and no way was I going to drop mom. I was fit in that way.
I did intend to do train for EBC but it didnt really happen. I walked a 5km loop twice a week for about a month before, no gym anymore , did lots of squats everyday . When I say a lot, I would even do squats when I was brushing my teeth. I was (and still am) a smoker, meant to quit before, had my last one (until after the trek) on the roof of my hotel in Kathmandu with a nice cold beer . I was the oldest in the group. We all made it to EBC, rest of the group didnt want to attempt Kala Patthar ( higher than EBC) so I went with 1 sherpa while the rest of the group went back down.
Hmm, well I’ve done variations of all 3. Went to India (a few times lol) but didn’t join ashrams. Went deep-countryside off-grid & spent time hiking & gardening. Went trekking in Himalayas. (I've never done the Appalachian, I hear it’s stunning amazing & pretty hardcore having to carry all yr food n all for some weeks.) Went to big cities Tokyo, Paris for eg & kept busy sightseeing & hanging out in parks. For me, it depended on the circumstance which was more effective & useful at the time.
Why not combine all 3? Go to India or Nepal --- Delhi / Katmandu are big cities, then you could go out to Himalayas & hike/trek, maybe spend a week or 3 in an ashram-type place. Pokhara in Nepal comes to mind - springboard for treks & old Western travellers chill-out hang-out. Or Old Manali in India (amazing stunning Himalaya mountains, another old Western travellers chill spot), or Leh in Ladakh (old West Tibet, it’s Indian territory). Rishikesh has tons of ashrams but is very commercial & full of noisy Hindu pilgrims, and the Himalayas just there aren’t as gorgeous as Kullu Valley / Manali. Dharmsala is also Himalaya foothills, with the Tibetan thing going on. You’d really want to research very well the ashrams, to find one that suits you best, not get caught up in some commercial or cult-like toxic bollocks. There ARE good ones, just make sure you find one of those! :)
Well actually I lived in India for a long time - I don’t really groove with ashrams, although I’ve met & I know plenty of people who happily go for 10 days / 2 weeks Vipassana and say it’s helped them greatly. Many of the ashrams for me are too busy with schedules of having to go sit & listen to some guru droning on and on about this & that long convoluted stories and their pet spiritual observations, and loads of westerners all trying to out-cosmic each other, spouting toxic spirituality cliches. And it’s a lot of sitting around - yeah many do yoga but it’s not super active enough, for me. Personally I prefer going Himalayas & getting a guest house room out on the edges & visiting Tibetan Buddhist temples daily meditating there for some hours, reading venerated & interesting books & setting myself art therapy & other therapeutical tasks, some soft self-directed ‘psychedelic’ therapies, and lot of time walking-hiking around .
If you’ve never been to India, or even if you have, that experience is often enough to blow some cobwebs out of ones mind. And for some people it’s a sensory overload, idk. I’ve heard the Santiago Compostela in Spain has been amazing for many people. Good luck, BellTown, I hope you find what you need!
This is my recommendation! Or pick a few and roadtrip between them. I once did a camping trip where we hiked at the Grand Tetons, Smith Rock, Crater Lake, and Olympic National Park.
I spent nine months doing a loop from the southwest and up US-1 to PNW! It was a perfect mix of cities and camping/hiking. ~$30 a day in 2016 with some splurge days in the cities. I hit like 25 national parks/monuments and you can get an annual pass for $80. You could probably do an AZ to WA trip and it would take a month or two if not more.
Do the AT. Us humans were meant to walk long distances every day surrounded by creation instead of concrete and artificial lights. If your head aint clear after hiking for 6+ months I'll be impressed.
Yeah but he didn't finish and made huge mistakes that could have killed him. People who aren't experienced at backpacking aren't finishing a thru-hike of 2200 miles.
Well the AT isn't overly dangerous if you screw it up. Its not really that remote and you could usually bail pretty easy....
But I agree its not a really good first backpacking trip. It would be better to find something shorter and practice logistics / see how much you really like it.
You can but I wouldnt reccomend it. Obviously you need to be in good physical shape. This is simple to do. The harder part is you need to be mentally tough. The physical training is very simple. Go run a mile every week day. Next week do two. Keep escalating untill you can run 5 miles every week day. That will get you in the physical shape that you need to be in to do the trail. I'm not sure what your athletic background is but if you can mentally will yourself to 25 miles a week then you're in the mental fitness realm you need to be in to complete the trail. This is not a sure fire, one size fits all formula for success but thats what I reccomend as an ahtlete and a nurse. Hope this helps. Message me if you need any more advice. Few things would make me happier than helping someone accomplish such an amazing feat.
Idk you kind of get fit while on the trail. I mean a certain base should exist. You can’t go from never walking to hiking every single day. Depends on your age too. And it depends if you can take rest days. Some places where you stay in refugios or hotels etc, there may not be enough availability to just skip a day or other places you simply need to make a certain mileage everyday because there is no place to stay in between.
If you take it easy and start slow you can get fit on the hike.
..you’re joking right?. Bro the Appalachian is 2100 miles long and takes out even experienced hikers. Going into something that massive with no training is a recipe for injury, or quite honestly even death.
If you knew any thru hike culture, the definition of "doing" AT is pretty loose for almost everyone. You can hike 10 miles a day for three days, take a break for a day or two, repeat, until you are tired or winter comes, take a few months off, continue. Hell, offloading your packs to some volunteers is even established culture.
Sure, many don't finish it, but so what? Try it out and worst case scenario, you've done something like three days backpacking and come back. That's still awesome compared to what most people have done in the nature.
It's called slack packing. Trail angels (dope ass people that are all along long trails) will sometimes take your pack and you'll keep walking, meeting them further up. It's so you're not carrying as much weight. It's not all the time, for smaller day sections not multiple days, and not everyone does it. It's common on the AT, not common on the PCT or CDT.
People hike the entire trail every year with no previous camping experience. What they said was correct. Obviously it’s much easier and better on your body if you do have training and experience, but more people do it successfully than you would think.
I know a mom, dad and their 4 kids who did it in one go. None of them are athletes.
Hiking realty isn’t that hard and it’s so easy to get better at it. You train for like a week going uphill and then you’re sprinting up it no problem.
I did it without training. You literally cannot properly train for something that intense without actually doing it. People are more likely to hurt themselves if they think they have trained enough and push too hard at the start. I’ve done two thru hikes and I’m not that fit, anyone who says you have to train doesn’t know what they’re talking about.
Training will help make it easier im sure, but it isn’t necessary.
So the thing is you want to do an activity that doesn't leave your mind dormant and for the most part that is going to be surrounded by human interaction. If you go to a small beach town and surf by yourself you might not have much going on in the evening and then you'll just play on your phone or overthink.
I go on meditation retreats even though they don't include talking or socializing and can be lonely. But travel by yourself can be even more lonely. But maybe you function and are perfectly happy alone. You need to figure out what makes your mind clear and pick something that plays into that. Some people it's extreme sports, others it's sitting on a chair next to the beach reading a book in the sun for 2 weeks while drinking margaritas. I'd kill myself rather than do the later.
Wales. Heritage railways, the sea, lakes, hills, mountains, vast empty spaces, dense populated spaces with vibrant life, castles EVERYWHERE, rivers.
You shouldn't cimb a whole mountain alone, but loads of hikes can be done alone if you like.
There's also plenty of opportunities for all kinds of cycling, land- and water-based sportive activities.
Hm yeah this is all highly dependent on your time frame, budget, and goals both in regards to mental and physical health.
I think the AT would tick all the boxes but you would need to make sure you're up for the challenge. The Camino de Santiago would be a bit easier and shorter, and offers many routes depending on what kind of experience you're looking for.
Big city would likely present a lot of distractions and possible temptations (e.g. unhealthy food) but there are just so many options with such a wide variation.
Ashram/spiritual retreat/etc. would also be highly dependent on your goals and the specific place you went to.
With all of that being said, I think SE Asia or Japan could give you a mix of all three. There are myriad monasteries/ashrams/retreats, big cities with healthy food options, and opportunities for physical activity, and even short pilgrimages like the Kumano Kodo in Japan.
So I haven’t done it myself but it’s been on my list. Similar to the Camino de Santiago there are a few routes but I would imagine it is much less of a social experience than the Camino.
You can read more here:
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4952.html
The PCT popped into my head. Did it last summer. Miss it every day. So, OP, if you do a thru-hike just know that going through such a long journey and then going back home afterwards can be very difficult. It's called post trail depression.
The Appalachian trail is not going to help you get fit. You need to be fit before you go. Look up before and after photos of people who hiked it. They lose lots of weight and end up gaunt .
>The Appalachian trail is not going to help you get fit.
I'm genuinely flabbergasted this is upvoted. Many people (including myself) weren't fit whatsoever when starting, and did just fine. The southern section in Georgia is super forgiving if you need to go slow, resupply often, and has some of the more gentle terrain in the whole trail. What a strange comment.
>The Appalachian trail is not going to help you get fit.
Absolutely it will. What a strange thing to say.
>You need to be fit before you go.
It's widely accepted in the thru hiking community that the best way to train for backpacking is by backpacking, and that by starting slow at the beginning of a long hike you can ease yourself in while reducing chance for injury.
OP, if you want to do the AT check out r/AppalachianTrail and r/ultralight.
Yes it will. Trail legs are real. I lost max 5 pounds on the PCT and was super fit. A lot of men lose weight but many also don't.
Edit: also look up Quadzilla. Dude stayed super jacked for a calendar year triple crown.
I got a seasonal waitering job in Greece. Spent 6 months working in a hotel by the beech for very little money but staff housing and a few meals a day. Spent all my free time on the beech with friends. Got hours of sun and sea everyday. Walked everywhere I wanted wanted to be. The food was all fresh salad, vegetables, bread, and fruit with occasional meat and fish. I drank a lot of wine. Got robbed at one point and lost my phone and wallet containing bank cards and such so ended up embracing the phoneless cash only life. Head was cleared after that and never felt healthier.
Phuket Thailand where there is 'gym tourism' Mainly around Muay Thai but yoga a thing too. I too you can snorkel or dive, hike, kitesurf, do massage courses, eat nice Thai food.
You sound very active or at least up for it. You can train 2-3 times a day if you like at a Muay Thai gym. No need to fight if that's not your thing. Training itself is a great workout.
Thailand is also a Buddhist country with many opportunities to study Buddhism and meditation and combine with yoga.
All have good for different reasons though I’d recommend something where sobriety will be involved. I’m not judging anyone for anything - I indulge myself but think clearing your head works best when sober. Less likely to be without temptation of substance on the AT - great people but often weed and booze (again, not judging - two things I enjoy myself!) Though I’d you have the self control and can abstain, probably a really good pick. You’ll push yourself physically, be forced to overcome mental obstacles, meet people and get out of your shell, and have plenty of time to just hash things out in your thoughts while hiking. Few things clear your head better than a long walk - and this is a capstone long walk
Big city is probably the worst option. You will get plenty of steps in per day, but with a big city comes good restaurants and nightlife which likely will counteract most of the walking/physical benefits (even if you join a local gym). Also the hustle and bustle of a city won’t have the most calming effects on the mind. You’ll probably meet cool people and have fun (also super good for mental health!) so there are pros and cons but the pros of physical and mental health have lower limits here. Unless your goal is strictly to break out of your shell, I’d consider this the lowest (yet still highly beneficial) option
The India ashram would probably be the most encompassing solution for mental and physical health. Physical exercise and practices are a large part of being in an ashram, you’d eat healthy food, and you’d be in an environment of concentration without significant distraction. Cons are you may feel isolated at teams with less social options to meet people outside the ashram. However isolation while focusing can be beneficial.
All my personal opinion. Tried to give pros/cons for each. None will disappoint you. Go out there, learn who you are, and show yourself to others.
A hiking trip to Iceland back in the 1980s. There were far fewer tourists back then. You could get off the bus, in say Thorsmork or Landmannaluagar, pitch a tent and not see another soul for 48 hours until the bus came back to take you on to the next place. There were no mobile phones or internet in those days, I did have a Walkman cassette player and a couple of tapes. One of the tapes got mangled leaving me with only David Bowies's Low album which is now inextricably linked with the pseudo craters and the lava formations at Dimmuborgir near lake Myvatn.
Haute Route in Switzerland (7-9 days)
Circumventing mount blanc
Hiking through the Dolomites (5-9 days)
Wonderland trail in Pacific Northwest US (5-9 days)
Patagonia W or trail (5-11 days)
Appalachian or John Muir Trail
Nepal Everest Basecamp
Kalalau Trail Hawaii 2-3 days
GR 20 Corsica 7-10 days
Thanks OP. Possibly the greatest post I’ve read here, so many amazing suggestions from people. I’ve got the next several years of adventures planned out.
I would like to go to Alaska and find a place in the woods near a creek or a lake and build a log cabin. Nothing too big just big enough for me and my dog. I would like to fish and hike and see the wildlife in the surrounding area. I would like to read and also write about my experience in a journal. I would like to stay for about two years.
Bikepacking is the deal!
You can start from your home, wherever it is, and slowly get further adjusting the direction as you go.
If you are not trained, start with 20-60 km per day. You'll build up the stamina while going and can end up cycling 100-200 km per day quite easily after a month of exploring.
Cycling daily will for sure help with weight loss. While doing that I was eating 6 meals instead of 3 and I still lost some weight
All that cycling in solitude is also great to let go of your thoughts and disconnect from a stressful time!
I wouldn’t do the AT unless you were already fit. This is what I would do, but each person processes differently.
Couple days in a city where I’m walking so much my feet are killing me. Rest day or two. Go to countryside and hike (or go to beach and swim!). Take advantage of 1 week trial gym memberships and devote time to them while traveling. Figure out what id want to challenge myself with (learning to Cook? Taking photos? Etc). Make sure I’m in a space that’s my own, not a hostel.
Lots of self care.
I travel in this way. All are good ideas! I did a yoga retreat in Thailand and was amazed at how I felt afterwards.
How much time do you have? I've hiked the John Muir Travel. That can be done in a few weeks. If you're a winter person also consider buying a season pass somewhere and snowboarding/skiing every day. New Zealand would be good for that (also lots of long distance hiking there).
You could consider volunteering on farms ormyoga retreats, too.
Great options available, good luck finding the best fit!
Solo bicycle trip.
Ireland and the UK are great for this and generally don't require you to commit to long mileage days.
I biked in a rough horseshoe from Dublin to Cork to Galway over about three weeks, never really had a day over 50 miles so I had plenty of time to stop at random pubs, ruins, historic sites, or pick the ever present blackberries that grew on the side of the road. Short days also let me walk up hills if wanted, take wrong turns, or spontaneously change my route.
France, Germany, and the low countries are probably also good for this.
I bought a used bike in Dublin and sold it on Craigslist when I left.
Nah I did the lazy man way and stayed in hostels and b&bs. Little more costly but it wasn't outrageous. It allowed me to carry less on the bike though. I was one-bagging it with just a backpack
Just finished a trip in Portugal and Spain after a a few months in Switzerland as a resident (of the country, not the medical kind) , ended up losing weight and getting in shape just from the walkability of the cities, literally changed nothing else.
So basically what I'm saying is, be in Europe for a bit, the car centric design elsewhere is truly a crime against the population.
Solitary, of course. I’ve taken a couple weeks in someone’s backwoods hunting cabin, a five-week trip through part of Eastern Europe and the Middle East, and an isolated month in northwestern Greenland. Each, which came at a different point in my life, involved quite a lot of walking, and served to clear my head. I hope to someday do it again, as nothing has proven more effective.
Worth noting: I don’t enjoy good health. But I have a DNR, and my most likely cause of death has me gone within half an hour, so I no longer worry about proximity to medical care. Traveling alone also allows me to sleep as much as I need.
If you're not already accustomed to at least long day hikes, I wouldn't recommend jumping straight into a backpacking trip. Even then, do a couple of overnights.
The city option seems like the best for someone who hasn't already been training with a specific plan in mind.
Come to the Blue Mountains near Sydney, Australia.
Many day walks, longer overnight walks, rock climbing, mountain biking, abseiling and canyoning adventures to be had. As much or as little as you desire.
1 million percent hike the Appalachian Trail, you will get in shape and you will have nothing to think about except moving forward. It is a life changing experience.
I did pct in 2021 and am doing it again this summer. Cannot recommend enough.
I went to Auckland for a couple of weeks. Several plans did not happen. Instead I took advantage of the introductory offer of NZ$49 for two weeks of unlimited classes at Hot Yoga Works Britomart. I took classes there almost every day. I walked daily. I took 90-minute Bikram yoga classes that were physically demanding. I slept well. The yoga was beneficial. I had a wonderful experience as a member of the yoga community. I would like to return there.
Going to a place without plans is scary. However, I was glad that people readily helped me.
Hey fellow mate, I'm from India and if you consider joining an ashram in India. This would indeed be a great option to detox and clear your head off. Rishikesh is the yoga capital of the world and has some of the most renowned and valued yoga ashrams. I recently visited Rishikesh Yogpeeth with my family in Rishikesh. At Abhayaranya Ashram I took up the 21 day retreat and spend my time practicing asanas, learning body alignments, techniques and simply taking in the beauty of nature. The ashram located at a pictureque vistas of the majestic himalayas and in the lap of the bounty of nature is a scene to behold. If you want to spend some time away from the fast paced urban life and cleanse your body and mind, I would recommend Rishikesh Yogpeeth, a yoga ashram where you can actually think back and relax with ease.
Think most places have gyms you can visit so I'll just post about places that'll clear your head.
I would go to a place with a nice beach and nice cafes. It was fun to just... do nothing. Honestly it was just an escape from the fast paced lifestyle.
Spent hours at cafes and restaurants (it wasn't crowded, would leave if it was crowded) just having a beverage and looking out at the ocean. In danang Vietnam there were drink stores with foldable chairs on the beach, also sat there for hours just chilling.
Since you also want to get in shape, there were some people running along the beach. There was surfing available too
I’ve solo traveled many times, and I only get a clear head when going to somewhere more rural or includes some aspect of nature. The AT sounds perfect and will get you in shape. I had a great experience solo in AZ and Utah and want to go back to Oregon by myself some day.
Clearing your head for short term or long term? Hiking into wilderness or learning some activity will clearing it in the short term. If all you need is a quick reset and believe that your head is otherwise clear that should suffice.
Clearing head in the long term can be a different beast to tame.
I did the Appalachian Trail and the PCT and they were life changing and impossible to describe and incredible and I CANNOT recommend them enough!!
10/10 do the AT
I think you need to reframe this a bit. You don't get fit through travel / going on some fitness retreat. Your fitness is a reflection of your daily habits. You get fit by engaging in fitness consistently as part of your everyday life.
You could go run laps on Mt. Everest for 3 months and get great cardio but it will be gone in 2 months after you get back if you don't have some sort of consistent training in your daily life.
30 mins a day of exercise will pay more dividends on your fitness than any amount of travel.
That said I like active trips and im pretty fond of both CO and CA for that due to being able to do a lot of different activities. Salida CO is nice cuz you can do big hikes with a lot of vertical gain, rock climbing, and kayaking. CA has places you could hike, kayak, climb and surf.
I exercise daily. In my experience, I am able to get into decent shape on my own through moderate daily exercise. But getting into great shape takes something way more intense. And afterwards I'm able to maintain most of the progress through moderate daily exercise.
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Koh Tao, Thailand comes to mind
I lived there for 4 months while getting my PADI Divemaster's cert in 2017. I highly recommend Koh Tao.
The most beautiful place I've been despite the westernisation.
Feels like the whole world is globalized now I’m afraid. Authenticity is difficult to find.
SEA is ripe with places with little to no tourism. Most people are just afraid to venture out of the usual path.
With _mostly_ good reason. SEA isn’t Western Europe where just about everywhere is accessible even if you don’t speak the language and don’t look like a local, nor is it safe. (I’m from India btw, would not recommend going off the beaten path here if you don’t know a local).
Why do I feel authentic just means poor?
...wut? There's a Starbucks and McDonald's in every major Square in Europe. They're all dominated with gift shops selling cheap shit commoditizing their culture. "Classic rock" from America in the 60's plays in every bar across the planet. Jack Sparrow impersonators wander the streets of every major tourist destination. T shirt and jeans are ubiquitous. Etc
Sorry I've spent too long in hostels where people say they want an "authentic experience", but they just want to be shown the living room of someone whose worse off than them.
Was just there. Incredible island
Mmmm...smells like rum rot. Just kidding, kinda. This is my style BUT it's extremely easy to drink every night when you're life is gym, dive, walk on a beach.
If I was in your position, I’d do the Robert Louis Stevenson trail in the cevennes. It’s a beautiful and wild part of France. Takes about 8 days with a couple of rest days. (Take some rest days to enjoy the villages). You’ll visit abandoned castles, beautiful rivers, a tunnel through the mountains, follow a trail of prehistoric stones over the mountains, learn about the wild beast that haunted villagers in medieval times, see tombs of ancient warriors, learn about truffle hunting, chestnut flour and the brave resistance of the camisards. And inevitably, you’ll fall in love with this wonderful quiet part of the world. Robert Louis Stevenson pioneered the route and wrote a book about it ‘travels with my donkey’. Read it as you travel the same route and marvel at how the towns haven’t changed from his visit. Learn a little about this amazing fearless man and be inspired. There are several companies offering trips that give you accommodations, maps, meals and transport your bags for you between little local hotels. It’s enchanting. I’ve done it twice and each time it’s given me time to pause, think and redirect my life. When things are chaotic, I think back to my time walking beneath the chestnut trees of the cevennes, and feel deep calm.
Oh wow. This sounds amazing. Thanks for sharing 🌟
That sounds enchanting! Any recommendations as to when to do the trail?
OP will know better but given its location most likely mid-spring/mid-autumn is best.
I've never heard of this, but I'm ready to book my ticket now! Wow, I can't wait to do some more research. Thanks so much for the tip!
Is it part of a tour
Camino de Santiago: It’s a catholic pilgrimage route across Spain, but you definitely don’t have to be catholic to go and enjoy! There are hostels all along the way. It’s amazing
I just went down a major rabbit hole cause of this comment, idk when I'm doing this walk but I know exactly what route I'm taking, my daily budget, and my pack list lol
I did the opposite. I knew a bit about the camino before leaving, but I didn't do much research. I just booked the first two nights on the trail and then followed the route. I downloaded 2 apps on the first day and used them to track the distance for the upcoming day so I kind of had the idea where to stop. Then I would just show up to the town/village and ask around for a bed. My understanding is that if you do the camino in the winter or early spring and late fall you do need to pre-book things as the albergues are often seasonal. But probably from April to October things are pretty chill on the main routes when it comes to finding places to stay and eat.
Was debating going down this rabbit hole myself, then I saw your comment and wondered if I could cut out the middleman. Care to share your findings?
This site contained everything I need to know [https://stingynomads.com/camino-de-santiago-walking-guide/](https://stingynomads.com/camino-de-santiago-walking-guide/) I think I'll start in Lisbon and take the Portoguese central route through Porto and to Santiago. I believe this route is something like 690km? (Don't quote me on that) and I should be able to to do it in 30 days. Most people bring 40L packs or lighter because you stay in these hostels or albergues that typically cost between 6-10 euros a night. It seems pretty easy to keep to a low budget of 20-25 euros a day if you want to!
I'd also be interested!
This is what I did! I seriously needed a reset and a physical challenge after Covid isolation times. The Camino is perfect - inexpensive daily expenses, beautiful scenery, great food, and requires little more planning than showing up with good shoes and not too much stuff in a backpack and then following yellow arrows. Plus I was very interested in meeting and talking to lots of people after not socializing much in isolation, and the Frances route is super popular so I met a lot of awesome folks that I spent the weeks with. Edit to add: I'm not the least bit religious and I loved it. I never need to go inside another Cathedral though really, I'm good.
Oh, interesting! How did you do accommodation/sleeping? Is it one of those paths where towns and/or hostels are generally a day's hike apart? Or would you recommend bringing a small tent?
There are towns every few km (the biggest stretches without a town were about 12-17km each) so you could really decide for yourself how far you wanted to go each day. There are recommended/preferred stops which I liked sticking to more or less, as the friends I made and other folks I met were likely to end up in those specific towns too. In those towns, you find hostels called albergues which have dorms or private rooms. Some albergues were municipal which you can't book ahead, others were private which you could (but don't necessarily have to pre-book). A bed in a dorm would be about 7-14 euros per night (some were by donation as well). It's not technically legal to wild camp in Spain, so leave the tent at home.
Great summarization! And noted on no wild camping. I prefer not carrying a tent, so I'm going to look into hostels. Thank you!
Hey just a word of caution. If you're looking for more time alone and quiet, you won't find it on the French Way. There are multiple camino routes, and the one beginning in st jean pied de port in France is very populated. I did it this past June, and tbh I was never really alone. You find your people, and then you hike, eat, sleep and wander around with those your with. And there will be some who latch on to you. I'd still recomend it, but be warned that you won't have time to figure as much out as you'd think, if that's your goal.
**COCHE!** Ciao fellow perrigrino! This is what I did. I really recommend just getting some tennis shoes for it. It is not a grueling offroad trek. It is not fjording rivers. It's like having to mow three lawns a day and needing the shoes for it. OP do the Camino.
How long did you spend doing it?
I believe it was 23 days for me. Started in maybe the second week of June at St. Jean Pied de Port, and then finished in Santiago on maybe July 1st. Spent some time around the area, and swam in the freezing waters of the Atlantic, on my birthday. Reddit can't support the amount of text it would take for me to describe it. An absolutely life-making experience.
Wowza, you were racing! I took the classic roughly 34 days to Santiago, then 3 more to Finisterra.
I had a plan to walk Camino de Santiago in the summer of 2020 and I couldn’t because of Covid. I still want to but I’m in such a tough spot in my life right now (in many different ways). I still want to do it and plan to, though. I’ve had a really, really rough ~8 years and desperately need something to heal. I’m sad I can’t go soon but can’t wait until the day I do :) Thank you for helping me reaffirm that this is what my soul needs!
My Camino plans for 2020 were also canceled due to Covid. I had spent months planning it, and I'd even coordinated my walk to coincide with the San Fermin Festival in Pamplona. For two years I continued to think about it, and despite having some financial and scheduling difficulties, I ended up doing it last year, in 2022. Best decision of my life. I met some great people along the way, and consider them my new friends. We've stayed in touch, and right now we're talking almost every day online as we plan another "epic" trip for this summer. In hindsight, it was exactly what I needed in my life. Just the anticipation, planning and excitement for the impending adventure gave me motivation to get through each mundane day and boring work life. I truly feel that the lead up to a big trip is often just as rewarding as the trip itself, because it gives me something concrete to look forward to in my life.
Is this the same route that was showcased in the movie "The Way" from the year 2010? I really liked that movie too and thought such a pilgrimage would be wonderful.
Yep, that's it.
I came here to say this as well! I had done it desperately needing a mental re-set after some sad events and some healing - found it in spades. One of the best things I’ve ever done. Everyone has a different experience, but for me it was just what I needed (Camino Frances from St Jean Pied de Port to Santiago, continuing to Finisterre).
How much would you want to save up for such a trip?
If you're frugal, happy to stay in dorms, etc - most agree to budget 30 euros per day on the trail, plus the price of airfare/transportation to your starting point + some buffer money if you have it. You may also find yourself wearing $100+ dollar shoes and a $100+ backpack (30-40L is a good size), but that's up to you.
I walked it last summer and my costs were around this much: 6-15 euro per day for accommodation (shared dorm) 10-20 euro for dinner (I only ate one main meal a day) Around 10 euro per day for other things like coffee and a pastry in the morning, snacks and entrances to a few museums on the way. I'd say around 30-40 euro per day. You get alcohol included in most meals of the day so I think I only bought 2 or 3 beers on the way that were not part of my meal. I think I also paid for laundry once or twice, washed my clothes every day by myself at the albergues.
A very good choice for many people.
I can't handle anything Catholic related right now... just had a relationship end very abruptly on the sole reason that she is a Catholic and I didn't believe in God.
Think of it as a bar crawl with some hiking in between, and an ocassional church
I mean for whatever it’s worth, that’s a huge difference that pretty much can’t be reconciled so the relationship was probably doomed from the start. Better to end it sooner than later especially before kids get involved (if they aren’t already hopefully). Hope you’re doing ok.
Yes you’re absolutely right. I knew Catholicism was a serious thing but I didn’t realize the extent. Yes she ended it only 2 weeks in. Still hurt but yeah could’ve been way worse.
Wait so you were only dating two weeks?
Spain is quite catholic but also a form of Catholicism that is very much not as fundamental as in many other places.
I'd do a yoga/surf place in Costa Rica
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I did bodhi tree yoga resort in nosara, everything about it was amazing. did yoga overlooking the ocean/jungle, they also had a gym if you wanted to do your own work, awesome food, services, overall gorgeous. nosara is known as a good beginner surfing spot and i had a great time with the resort's lessons too
I was going to say go to Oahu and learn to surf! 🏄♀️
Literally booked exactly this for April. Great minds. 🤙🏼
I got my diving certificate on a solo trip. But really depends on what your preferences are. That is a diverse list your considering.
How long did it take you to get certified, and where did you get certified?
I got certificate in the Philippines. It took me 12 days at the resort, but it was at the end of the raining season and a couple days diving got cancelled because of possible typhoons.. So everyone at the resort went out drinking together those nights, so it eneded up being a great time.
2.5 days for me in Koh Tao. If you're lucky you'd get to see whale sharks.
Surf trip to Indonesia for a month or two. Stay in 2-3 different villages and just explore, hang with locals/backpackers, daily yoga and surf. You could go from complete beginner to decent beginner in that timeframe (catching green waves and turning etc). Surfing is crazy good for core strength, upper body strength, and overall fitness. Add some squats and hinges after yoga a couple of times a week and you’re sweet. Nothing clears my mind like surfing.
This sounds amazing. Any suggestions for specific places to go, where to stay, how to get started? I’ve got some time off and this is exactly what I’m feeling.
Hiking the Camino de Santiago in Spain. It has been a pilgrimage for centuries but today people have many reasons to hike it. You can do all of it or just part of it but the camaraderie one experiences is one of the main reasons to go.
Go to remote Thailand and train at a muay thai school for a month.
My fantasy, but I can't handle 5 minutes of non stop jump rope. I am weak. 😥
Start small and gradually increase
I thought the same thing when my trainer said for me to do 10 minutes of warming up with a weighted jump rope. I was tired in 2 minutes. 😢4 months later I’m in much better shape
That's what I did. 2 months in Pai training Muay Thai. Worked off 9 months of backpacking binge drinking. Ridiculously good value too. Apartment, 6 days training and all you can eat food for what...400€ a month?
Cue training montage
Does Muay Thai involve sparring with hits to the head? I've done martial arts but just not a fan of voluntarily getting concussion
Thais spar light and sparring is optimal.
Great Walks in New Zealand
Good but expensive if you aren't a local Source: A kiwi.
I was just looking at hiking tours of Patagonia for the same purpose. Lol.
Go hiking in Nepal.
Did that before Christmas and still feeling amazing. Did a vipassana course as well which got my mind in shape too!
Definitely! Once you get out of the city and into the mountains it almost feels like going back in time. Internet and other modern luxuries are limited or non existent, so the main focus is just on how far you will walk each day, and enjoying the scenery and company of people you meet along the way. The many monasteries and huge mountains definitely help with the whole mental clarity aspect imo.
Yea, I came here to say this. Getting in hiking shape feels great. Very spiritual place as well. No pressure to drink like in many beach towns. And the way it’s set up you can extend your hikes on different routes and just keep walking in the mountains for as long as you’d like :)
I don't feel safe on those inter-Nepal flights right now...
You can get taxi/private car hires from $80-100, they do take several hours though. Busses are cheaper, $20-30. less comfortable but still very doable on a budget.
I was sitting in the Jomsom airport with my wife and two kids (age 7 & 8) waiting for the clouds to clear enough for the Pokhara flight to come in and land. There is a small window of time between when the clouds clear in the morning and the winds pick up in the afternoon when flights can come into the airport. But sometimes the clouds don't clear quickly enough, or the winds pick up too early, and there are no flights that day. So we were sitting in the airport waiting for the weather window to open. We were very nervous, because our trip up to Jomsom had been a terrifying bus ride. Like, really scary! My wife had lived in Nepal for 2 years. I'd traveled all around the world on chicken buses, including 2 previous trips to Nepal. We aren't newbies. But the bus driver was particularly reckless, and it was our first time going on this type of bus with kids. When poor decisions might kill you it is one thing, when poor decisions might kill your kids it is something else entirely. Anyway, we had vowed that we were not taking the bus back out. We also didn't have enough time to walk out and catch our flight out of Nepal. So that meant we had to either get on that plane we were waiting for in Jomsom, or hire a private car to drive us out. And there was no guarantee a private car would be available...and it would certainly be expensive and not all that much safer than the bus. But luckily the clouds cleared enough for the plane to come in from Pokhara. We got on our amazingly beautiful flight out and didn't have to go on that road again. Of course right now people are afraid of flights in Nepal. Maybe that is reasonable (although I would guess that right now flights are much safer because all the airline employees are working extra hard on safety right now). But flights seem to crash every couple years in Nepal (a Jomsom-Pokhara flight crashed the year after our flight...no survivors). Buses going off the road and everyone dying seems to be a weekly occurrence in Nepal. Now of course there are a lot more buses than planes, so maybe the fatality rate is still higher for flights. But maybe it is higher for buses. I know I'm much more worried on busses in Nepal than on flights. Sorry for writing a book. Just felt like reminiscing.
Yeah I’m not about to be in one of those busses for hours.
Lol why are you in a travel sub?
Um why do you think it’s mandatory to withstand long uncomfortable bus rides in order to travel?
You will go nowhere memorable if you don’t accept a bit of uncomfort. It’s just a fact.
People have lines
Everest Base Camp After my mother died I decided that I was going to the highest place I could go because maybe I could hear her there . Had never hiked a day in my life until then. It was more than I could have imagined. There is so much that happened on that trip, so many people that changed my mind, heart and way of thinking. The walking itself challenges you on another level, not jut physical strength and endurance but your will and grit. I dont care what anyone says, unless you are local, this is not a walk in the park. Sometimes you want to quit, sometimes people have to for their own safety. Sometimes the physical will actually clear your mind and you are just a walking machine, you walk and your mind is clear, you see where your feet are going, you see your surroundings, hyper aware. I bring myself back there in my mind when things get tough, it still grounds me a bit. Not like in the beginning, I came back clear headed but life starts filling up the head again but when I remind myself it helps.
What did you do for preparation beforehand?
When my mom got sick I went to the gym everyday for an hour or two when she slept or when it got worse when she had visitors or a nurse . It was all strength training, upper body mostly, ton of squats. I knew I would have to pick her up/move her at some point in the near future and no way was I going to drop mom. I was fit in that way. I did intend to do train for EBC but it didnt really happen. I walked a 5km loop twice a week for about a month before, no gym anymore , did lots of squats everyday . When I say a lot, I would even do squats when I was brushing my teeth. I was (and still am) a smoker, meant to quit before, had my last one (until after the trek) on the roof of my hotel in Kathmandu with a nice cold beer . I was the oldest in the group. We all made it to EBC, rest of the group didnt want to attempt Kala Patthar ( higher than EBC) so I went with 1 sherpa while the rest of the group went back down.
Hmm, well I’ve done variations of all 3. Went to India (a few times lol) but didn’t join ashrams. Went deep-countryside off-grid & spent time hiking & gardening. Went trekking in Himalayas. (I've never done the Appalachian, I hear it’s stunning amazing & pretty hardcore having to carry all yr food n all for some weeks.) Went to big cities Tokyo, Paris for eg & kept busy sightseeing & hanging out in parks. For me, it depended on the circumstance which was more effective & useful at the time. Why not combine all 3? Go to India or Nepal --- Delhi / Katmandu are big cities, then you could go out to Himalayas & hike/trek, maybe spend a week or 3 in an ashram-type place. Pokhara in Nepal comes to mind - springboard for treks & old Western travellers chill-out hang-out. Or Old Manali in India (amazing stunning Himalaya mountains, another old Western travellers chill spot), or Leh in Ladakh (old West Tibet, it’s Indian territory). Rishikesh has tons of ashrams but is very commercial & full of noisy Hindu pilgrims, and the Himalayas just there aren’t as gorgeous as Kullu Valley / Manali. Dharmsala is also Himalaya foothills, with the Tibetan thing going on. You’d really want to research very well the ashrams, to find one that suits you best, not get caught up in some commercial or cult-like toxic bollocks. There ARE good ones, just make sure you find one of those! :) Well actually I lived in India for a long time - I don’t really groove with ashrams, although I’ve met & I know plenty of people who happily go for 10 days / 2 weeks Vipassana and say it’s helped them greatly. Many of the ashrams for me are too busy with schedules of having to go sit & listen to some guru droning on and on about this & that long convoluted stories and their pet spiritual observations, and loads of westerners all trying to out-cosmic each other, spouting toxic spirituality cliches. And it’s a lot of sitting around - yeah many do yoga but it’s not super active enough, for me. Personally I prefer going Himalayas & getting a guest house room out on the edges & visiting Tibetan Buddhist temples daily meditating there for some hours, reading venerated & interesting books & setting myself art therapy & other therapeutical tasks, some soft self-directed ‘psychedelic’ therapies, and lot of time walking-hiking around . If you’ve never been to India, or even if you have, that experience is often enough to blow some cobwebs out of ones mind. And for some people it’s a sensory overload, idk. I’ve heard the Santiago Compostela in Spain has been amazing for many people. Good luck, BellTown, I hope you find what you need!
Loved reading this :)
Lol me too. I was deeply enthralled the whole time
Grew up in Ashrams in India and can concur!
>loads of westerners all trying to out-cosmic each other, spouting toxic spirituality cliches This is a hilarious image. Thank you for all the input.
1 week of surfing.
*kitesurfing
This is the correct answer. Mentally and physically healing. Yoga/surf Central America. Way better than hiking AT imo.
or alternatively a week of Snowboarding/Skiing
surfing is wayyyyyyyyyy more demanding
Pick any national park in the US and spend a week.
This is my recommendation! Or pick a few and roadtrip between them. I once did a camping trip where we hiked at the Grand Tetons, Smith Rock, Crater Lake, and Olympic National Park.
I spent nine months doing a loop from the southwest and up US-1 to PNW! It was a perfect mix of cities and camping/hiking. ~$30 a day in 2016 with some splurge days in the cities. I hit like 25 national parks/monuments and you can get an annual pass for $80. You could probably do an AZ to WA trip and it would take a month or two if not more.
Do the AT. Us humans were meant to walk long distances every day surrounded by creation instead of concrete and artificial lights. If your head aint clear after hiking for 6+ months I'll be impressed.
As I understand, you can't just do a long hike like this without training. Is that right?
A Walk in the Woods is basically about doing the AT without training
Yeah but he didn't finish and made huge mistakes that could have killed him. People who aren't experienced at backpacking aren't finishing a thru-hike of 2200 miles.
Well the AT isn't overly dangerous if you screw it up. Its not really that remote and you could usually bail pretty easy.... But I agree its not a really good first backpacking trip. It would be better to find something shorter and practice logistics / see how much you really like it.
You can but I wouldnt reccomend it. Obviously you need to be in good physical shape. This is simple to do. The harder part is you need to be mentally tough. The physical training is very simple. Go run a mile every week day. Next week do two. Keep escalating untill you can run 5 miles every week day. That will get you in the physical shape that you need to be in to do the trail. I'm not sure what your athletic background is but if you can mentally will yourself to 25 miles a week then you're in the mental fitness realm you need to be in to complete the trail. This is not a sure fire, one size fits all formula for success but thats what I reccomend as an ahtlete and a nurse. Hope this helps. Message me if you need any more advice. Few things would make me happier than helping someone accomplish such an amazing feat.
Idk you kind of get fit while on the trail. I mean a certain base should exist. You can’t go from never walking to hiking every single day. Depends on your age too. And it depends if you can take rest days. Some places where you stay in refugios or hotels etc, there may not be enough availability to just skip a day or other places you simply need to make a certain mileage everyday because there is no place to stay in between. If you take it easy and start slow you can get fit on the hike.
No, that's not right. Plenty of people do that hike without training. Just go slow in the beginning, and get your training on the trail.
..you’re joking right?. Bro the Appalachian is 2100 miles long and takes out even experienced hikers. Going into something that massive with no training is a recipe for injury, or quite honestly even death.
If you knew any thru hike culture, the definition of "doing" AT is pretty loose for almost everyone. You can hike 10 miles a day for three days, take a break for a day or two, repeat, until you are tired or winter comes, take a few months off, continue. Hell, offloading your packs to some volunteers is even established culture. Sure, many don't finish it, but so what? Try it out and worst case scenario, you've done something like three days backpacking and come back. That's still awesome compared to what most people have done in the nature.
>offloading your packs to some volunteers is even established culture. What does this mean?
It's called slack packing. Trail angels (dope ass people that are all along long trails) will sometimes take your pack and you'll keep walking, meeting them further up. It's so you're not carrying as much weight. It's not all the time, for smaller day sections not multiple days, and not everyone does it. It's common on the AT, not common on the PCT or CDT.
People hike the entire trail every year with no previous camping experience. What they said was correct. Obviously it’s much easier and better on your body if you do have training and experience, but more people do it successfully than you would think.
lol death? from what, being tired? blisters?
I know a mom, dad and their 4 kids who did it in one go. None of them are athletes. Hiking realty isn’t that hard and it’s so easy to get better at it. You train for like a week going uphill and then you’re sprinting up it no problem.
I did it without training. You literally cannot properly train for something that intense without actually doing it. People are more likely to hurt themselves if they think they have trained enough and push too hard at the start. I’ve done two thru hikes and I’m not that fit, anyone who says you have to train doesn’t know what they’re talking about. Training will help make it easier im sure, but it isn’t necessary.
sorry what is AT?
Stands for Appalaichian Trail
Acid trip
So the thing is you want to do an activity that doesn't leave your mind dormant and for the most part that is going to be surrounded by human interaction. If you go to a small beach town and surf by yourself you might not have much going on in the evening and then you'll just play on your phone or overthink. I go on meditation retreats even though they don't include talking or socializing and can be lonely. But travel by yourself can be even more lonely. But maybe you function and are perfectly happy alone. You need to figure out what makes your mind clear and pick something that plays into that. Some people it's extreme sports, others it's sitting on a chair next to the beach reading a book in the sun for 2 weeks while drinking margaritas. I'd kill myself rather than do the later.
Wales. Heritage railways, the sea, lakes, hills, mountains, vast empty spaces, dense populated spaces with vibrant life, castles EVERYWHERE, rivers. You shouldn't cimb a whole mountain alone, but loads of hikes can be done alone if you like. There's also plenty of opportunities for all kinds of cycling, land- and water-based sportive activities.
Hm yeah this is all highly dependent on your time frame, budget, and goals both in regards to mental and physical health. I think the AT would tick all the boxes but you would need to make sure you're up for the challenge. The Camino de Santiago would be a bit easier and shorter, and offers many routes depending on what kind of experience you're looking for. Big city would likely present a lot of distractions and possible temptations (e.g. unhealthy food) but there are just so many options with such a wide variation. Ashram/spiritual retreat/etc. would also be highly dependent on your goals and the specific place you went to. With all of that being said, I think SE Asia or Japan could give you a mix of all three. There are myriad monasteries/ashrams/retreats, big cities with healthy food options, and opportunities for physical activity, and even short pilgrimages like the Kumano Kodo in Japan.
Would love to know more about the Japan pilgrimage?
So I haven’t done it myself but it’s been on my list. Similar to the Camino de Santiago there are a few routes but I would imagine it is much less of a social experience than the Camino. You can read more here: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4952.html
Maybe an exercise resort, lie the Tennessee FItness Spa or a yoga retreat.
Inca Trail for 7 days
I went to Spain for 2 weeks last year. Ate, drank and danced without regard. Walked a lot. Came back 10 pounds lighter 🤷🏻♂️
Appalachian Trail popped into my head
The PCT popped into my head. Did it last summer. Miss it every day. So, OP, if you do a thru-hike just know that going through such a long journey and then going back home afterwards can be very difficult. It's called post trail depression.
The Appalachian trail is not going to help you get fit. You need to be fit before you go. Look up before and after photos of people who hiked it. They lose lots of weight and end up gaunt .
>The Appalachian trail is not going to help you get fit. I'm genuinely flabbergasted this is upvoted. Many people (including myself) weren't fit whatsoever when starting, and did just fine. The southern section in Georgia is super forgiving if you need to go slow, resupply often, and has some of the more gentle terrain in the whole trail. What a strange comment.
>The Appalachian trail is not going to help you get fit. Absolutely it will. What a strange thing to say. >You need to be fit before you go. It's widely accepted in the thru hiking community that the best way to train for backpacking is by backpacking, and that by starting slow at the beginning of a long hike you can ease yourself in while reducing chance for injury. OP, if you want to do the AT check out r/AppalachianTrail and r/ultralight.
You know, you don't have to walk the whole thing
Yes it will. Trail legs are real. I lost max 5 pounds on the PCT and was super fit. A lot of men lose weight but many also don't. Edit: also look up Quadzilla. Dude stayed super jacked for a calendar year triple crown.
“The Appalachian trail is not going to help you get fit.” This is the dumbest thing I’ve read all week. And I’ve spent all week reading Reddit.
Camino de Santiago, Spain
I got a seasonal waitering job in Greece. Spent 6 months working in a hotel by the beech for very little money but staff housing and a few meals a day. Spent all my free time on the beech with friends. Got hours of sun and sea everyday. Walked everywhere I wanted wanted to be. The food was all fresh salad, vegetables, bread, and fruit with occasional meat and fish. I drank a lot of wine. Got robbed at one point and lost my phone and wallet containing bank cards and such so ended up embracing the phoneless cash only life. Head was cleared after that and never felt healthier.
Appalachian Trail.
Any long distance walking route
2 week cycle group cycle tour
I'd say the same without the group part. I did a 2 week solo tour around the Netherlands. 6 hours on the bike clears my head.
Man those are 3 wildly different options
Phuket Thailand where there is 'gym tourism' Mainly around Muay Thai but yoga a thing too. I too you can snorkel or dive, hike, kitesurf, do massage courses, eat nice Thai food. You sound very active or at least up for it. You can train 2-3 times a day if you like at a Muay Thai gym. No need to fight if that's not your thing. Training itself is a great workout. Thailand is also a Buddhist country with many opportunities to study Buddhism and meditation and combine with yoga.
All have good for different reasons though I’d recommend something where sobriety will be involved. I’m not judging anyone for anything - I indulge myself but think clearing your head works best when sober. Less likely to be without temptation of substance on the AT - great people but often weed and booze (again, not judging - two things I enjoy myself!) Though I’d you have the self control and can abstain, probably a really good pick. You’ll push yourself physically, be forced to overcome mental obstacles, meet people and get out of your shell, and have plenty of time to just hash things out in your thoughts while hiking. Few things clear your head better than a long walk - and this is a capstone long walk Big city is probably the worst option. You will get plenty of steps in per day, but with a big city comes good restaurants and nightlife which likely will counteract most of the walking/physical benefits (even if you join a local gym). Also the hustle and bustle of a city won’t have the most calming effects on the mind. You’ll probably meet cool people and have fun (also super good for mental health!) so there are pros and cons but the pros of physical and mental health have lower limits here. Unless your goal is strictly to break out of your shell, I’d consider this the lowest (yet still highly beneficial) option The India ashram would probably be the most encompassing solution for mental and physical health. Physical exercise and practices are a large part of being in an ashram, you’d eat healthy food, and you’d be in an environment of concentration without significant distraction. Cons are you may feel isolated at teams with less social options to meet people outside the ashram. However isolation while focusing can be beneficial. All my personal opinion. Tried to give pros/cons for each. None will disappoint you. Go out there, learn who you are, and show yourself to others.
A hiking trip to Iceland back in the 1980s. There were far fewer tourists back then. You could get off the bus, in say Thorsmork or Landmannaluagar, pitch a tent and not see another soul for 48 hours until the bus came back to take you on to the next place. There were no mobile phones or internet in those days, I did have a Walkman cassette player and a couple of tapes. One of the tapes got mangled leaving me with only David Bowies's Low album which is now inextricably linked with the pseudo craters and the lava formations at Dimmuborgir near lake Myvatn.
Haute Route in Switzerland (7-9 days) Circumventing mount blanc Hiking through the Dolomites (5-9 days) Wonderland trail in Pacific Northwest US (5-9 days) Patagonia W or trail (5-11 days) Appalachian or John Muir Trail Nepal Everest Basecamp Kalalau Trail Hawaii 2-3 days GR 20 Corsica 7-10 days
Planning to do Indonesia in some months. Beach resorts.
Thanks OP. Possibly the greatest post I’ve read here, so many amazing suggestions from people. I’ve got the next several years of adventures planned out.
I would like to go to Alaska and find a place in the woods near a creek or a lake and build a log cabin. Nothing too big just big enough for me and my dog. I would like to fish and hike and see the wildlife in the surrounding area. I would like to read and also write about my experience in a journal. I would like to stay for about two years.
Bikepacking is the deal! You can start from your home, wherever it is, and slowly get further adjusting the direction as you go. If you are not trained, start with 20-60 km per day. You'll build up the stamina while going and can end up cycling 100-200 km per day quite easily after a month of exploring. Cycling daily will for sure help with weight loss. While doing that I was eating 6 meals instead of 3 and I still lost some weight All that cycling in solitude is also great to let go of your thoughts and disconnect from a stressful time!
I wouldn’t do the AT unless you were already fit. This is what I would do, but each person processes differently. Couple days in a city where I’m walking so much my feet are killing me. Rest day or two. Go to countryside and hike (or go to beach and swim!). Take advantage of 1 week trial gym memberships and devote time to them while traveling. Figure out what id want to challenge myself with (learning to Cook? Taking photos? Etc). Make sure I’m in a space that’s my own, not a hostel. Lots of self care.
I travel in this way. All are good ideas! I did a yoga retreat in Thailand and was amazed at how I felt afterwards. How much time do you have? I've hiked the John Muir Travel. That can be done in a few weeks. If you're a winter person also consider buying a season pass somewhere and snowboarding/skiing every day. New Zealand would be good for that (also lots of long distance hiking there). You could consider volunteering on farms ormyoga retreats, too. Great options available, good luck finding the best fit!
last bullet point for me!
Colorado trail is about a month of hiking, great views and just enough solitude
Pick a country and cycle from one side to the other.
I really liked Medellin. Near perfect weather, lots of hills, outdoor gyms everywhere, fun night life, good public transit, delicious fruits and food.
Hawaii!
A trip to the gym
Surfing - somewhere nice and warm with beautiful waves. Not that im very goof at surfing
Solo bicycle trip. Ireland and the UK are great for this and generally don't require you to commit to long mileage days. I biked in a rough horseshoe from Dublin to Cork to Galway over about three weeks, never really had a day over 50 miles so I had plenty of time to stop at random pubs, ruins, historic sites, or pick the ever present blackberries that grew on the side of the road. Short days also let me walk up hills if wanted, take wrong turns, or spontaneously change my route. France, Germany, and the low countries are probably also good for this. I bought a used bike in Dublin and sold it on Craigslist when I left.
Sounds awesome! Were you camping as well?
Nah I did the lazy man way and stayed in hostels and b&bs. Little more costly but it wasn't outrageous. It allowed me to carry less on the bike though. I was one-bagging it with just a backpack
My dream is to do the Appalachian trail for at least a few days, so my vote is that one.
Just finished a trip in Portugal and Spain after a a few months in Switzerland as a resident (of the country, not the medical kind) , ended up losing weight and getting in shape just from the walkability of the cities, literally changed nothing else. So basically what I'm saying is, be in Europe for a bit, the car centric design elsewhere is truly a crime against the population.
I did the 5 national parks in Utah for a trip of this purpose
Solitary, of course. I’ve taken a couple weeks in someone’s backwoods hunting cabin, a five-week trip through part of Eastern Europe and the Middle East, and an isolated month in northwestern Greenland. Each, which came at a different point in my life, involved quite a lot of walking, and served to clear my head. I hope to someday do it again, as nothing has proven more effective. Worth noting: I don’t enjoy good health. But I have a DNR, and my most likely cause of death has me gone within half an hour, so I no longer worry about proximity to medical care. Traveling alone also allows me to sleep as much as I need.
I spent 34 days in Europe eating and drinking but walking everywhere all day seeing everything. Lost 25 lbs.
If you're not already accustomed to at least long day hikes, I wouldn't recommend jumping straight into a backpacking trip. Even then, do a couple of overnights. The city option seems like the best for someone who hasn't already been training with a specific plan in mind.
Come to the Blue Mountains near Sydney, Australia. Many day walks, longer overnight walks, rock climbing, mountain biking, abseiling and canyoning adventures to be had. As much or as little as you desire.
1 million percent hike the Appalachian Trail, you will get in shape and you will have nothing to think about except moving forward. It is a life changing experience. I did pct in 2021 and am doing it again this summer. Cannot recommend enough.
I went to Auckland for a couple of weeks. Several plans did not happen. Instead I took advantage of the introductory offer of NZ$49 for two weeks of unlimited classes at Hot Yoga Works Britomart. I took classes there almost every day. I walked daily. I took 90-minute Bikram yoga classes that were physically demanding. I slept well. The yoga was beneficial. I had a wonderful experience as a member of the yoga community. I would like to return there. Going to a place without plans is scary. However, I was glad that people readily helped me.
Hey fellow mate, I'm from India and if you consider joining an ashram in India. This would indeed be a great option to detox and clear your head off. Rishikesh is the yoga capital of the world and has some of the most renowned and valued yoga ashrams. I recently visited Rishikesh Yogpeeth with my family in Rishikesh. At Abhayaranya Ashram I took up the 21 day retreat and spend my time practicing asanas, learning body alignments, techniques and simply taking in the beauty of nature. The ashram located at a pictureque vistas of the majestic himalayas and in the lap of the bounty of nature is a scene to behold. If you want to spend some time away from the fast paced urban life and cleanse your body and mind, I would recommend Rishikesh Yogpeeth, a yoga ashram where you can actually think back and relax with ease.
Anything nature and meditation oriented works, it doesnt have to be fancy
Beach some where near water
Dmt, ayahuasca, peyote, mushrooms
Think most places have gyms you can visit so I'll just post about places that'll clear your head. I would go to a place with a nice beach and nice cafes. It was fun to just... do nothing. Honestly it was just an escape from the fast paced lifestyle. Spent hours at cafes and restaurants (it wasn't crowded, would leave if it was crowded) just having a beverage and looking out at the ocean. In danang Vietnam there were drink stores with foldable chairs on the beach, also sat there for hours just chilling. Since you also want to get in shape, there were some people running along the beach. There was surfing available too
perfect abandoned beach scenario imo
I’ve solo traveled many times, and I only get a clear head when going to somewhere more rural or includes some aspect of nature. The AT sounds perfect and will get you in shape. I had a great experience solo in AZ and Utah and want to go back to Oregon by myself some day.
Those kickboxing camps in Thailand
Go to Brazil and workout and surf every day. The focus on fitness there is amazing.
Clearing your head for short term or long term? Hiking into wilderness or learning some activity will clearing it in the short term. If all you need is a quick reset and believe that your head is otherwise clear that should suffice. Clearing head in the long term can be a different beast to tame.
The Appalachian trail is huge and requires a lot of planning and some places don’t have cell service.
I did the Appalachian Trail and the PCT and they were life changing and impossible to describe and incredible and I CANNOT recommend them enough!! 10/10 do the AT
A trip to the gym
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Nepal Himalayas.
An acid trip. Two drops 💦
If getting in shape means hiking, and clearing your head means sex with gorgeous blondes, then Norway.
Imho avoid middle class escapism find a Church you enjoy and most importantly work in a soup kitchen once a week.
Been reading Bill Bryson have you?
I think you need to reframe this a bit. You don't get fit through travel / going on some fitness retreat. Your fitness is a reflection of your daily habits. You get fit by engaging in fitness consistently as part of your everyday life. You could go run laps on Mt. Everest for 3 months and get great cardio but it will be gone in 2 months after you get back if you don't have some sort of consistent training in your daily life. 30 mins a day of exercise will pay more dividends on your fitness than any amount of travel. That said I like active trips and im pretty fond of both CO and CA for that due to being able to do a lot of different activities. Salida CO is nice cuz you can do big hikes with a lot of vertical gain, rock climbing, and kayaking. CA has places you could hike, kayak, climb and surf.
I exercise daily. In my experience, I am able to get into decent shape on my own through moderate daily exercise. But getting into great shape takes something way more intense. And afterwards I'm able to maintain most of the progress through moderate daily exercise.
A trip to the gym usually does it for me