Hiking is a universally appealing activity, yet it’s not all that common of a hobby in nomading circles. Though there are certainly a few popular nomad spots in the likes of mountainous Bansko, it seems a lot of the community is too deep in the metropolis of Bangkok to really get their walking shoes on.
However, this is a case for more than just taking a tour up to the top of Doi Inthanon for the day, but getting back in touch with the pilgrims that skated entire country coastlines for days on end.
Key Takeaways
- Your first trip will be the most important, as it’s the one in which you will learn all of your mistakes
- To minimize the number of things that can go wrong, it’s best to book through a travel agency for the first trip
The Physical and Mental Benefits of Hiking
Hiking has been proven to boost physical health by enhancing cardiovascular fitness. It’s not just that your legs and back strengthen through endurance, but each metronomic step helps realign our bodies, which is something that laptop workers are crying out for. The science isn’t even clear on how walking helps our back and posture exactly, but we know for certain it does help.
Of course, getting our heart rate up can slash stress hormones and be good for our heart. But walking for hours on end is a very different task to HIIT sprints, and the results come in the form of body alignment, joint health, and cardio benefits despite not getting our cortisol up. For those that don’t know, if you’re very stressed at work, sometimes it’s not the best idea to try beat your personal best that day in the gym, as you further spike your already-high cortisol.
But even beyond the physical benefits, there is something unique about undergoing a week-long adventure. Surrendering yourself to nature for such a long time can build new connections, and when done on an iconic pilgrim route, can be a transformative spiritual experience too.
Hiking as a Sustainable Way to Travel
A lot of digital nomads have a desire to be sustainable, but worry about their frequent use of planes and hired cars. Choosing pilgrim walks over motorized travel means immediately slashing your carbon footprint, and the walk can also get you back in touch with nature which helps inform future priorities, too.
There are plenty of eco-friendly accommodation spots along the way of established pilgrim routes. Travel agencies can actually book your accommodation for you in certified hotels, be this the Fisherman’s Trail in Portugal or Camino Frances.
Walking from one city to the next sounds kind of crazy, but a lot of nomads carry everything in a 10kg backpack anyway. For those that have more luggage, certain travel agencies like Orbis Ways do actually help with luggage transfer between hotels if needed, but it’s recommended to pack light.
Recommended Trails
Camino de Santiago is a network of trails, and some of the most known trails include Camino Frances, Camino Portugues, and Camino del Norte. However, pilgrim trails stretch all over the world.
Portugal
The Rota Vicentina’s Fishermen’s Trail is perhaps the true gem of Portuguese hiking, as it has all the breathtaking coastal views. The Peneda-Gerês National Park is more suited to those looking for wilderness and nature, but it’s less of a directional walk. Portugal is suited to improvised trails too because of how packed in the nature is with public transport.
Ireland
The Wicklow Way is a great option for Ireland because it begins on the outskirts of Dublin, which you will likely be flying into. From here, you can essentially walk your way down the country, reaching Bunclody after 10 days. To travel 79 miles by foot, you will have seen the Irish countryside in all its glory.
Greece
Many people arrive in Crete, realize it’s much larger than they realized, and then go an hire a car. However, the Crete offers a coast-to-coast walk which can be done in 8 days, starting from Vamos.
Japan
The Nakasendo Trail was once a vital link between Kyoto and Edo. It goes through many historic towns and cedar-lined paths, with plenty of opportunities to take pictures of the mountain landscapes.
Final Word
Your first trip will be the most important, as it’s the one in which you will learn all of your mistakes. To minimize the number of things that can go wrong, it’s best to book through a travel agency for the first trip.
However, if going alone, you should keep the number of nights to a minimum. Always have enough water on you, wear in your footwear, keep your energy up by eating enough, and go for weekend walks to build up some endurance. It’s worth learning some local phrases, or simply undergoing the trail after already nomading in a country for a while so you have your wits about you more.
