How To Prepare To Hike In Another Country - Santorini, Greece
Hiking in other countries can be such a joy!
It’s a wonderful way to see the country you’re visiting. It gives you a different perspective; a birds-eye view and often the most beautiful view you can find.
This was definitely the case for the hike we did in Santorini.
It was the tallest peak on the island (which fun fact, it’s actually not an island, it’s a volcano!) which meant that we had the best view. We got almost a 360-degree view!
But if you’re interested in hiking while abroad here are a few things you need to know:
1.Bring only the stuff that is absolutely necessary
Sarah posing on a rocky terrain mountain
Photo taken on iPhone 14 ProIf you’re going for a vacation and fitting in a hike while you’re there (versus having a hiking-specific vacay) then you’ll need to be careful about what you bring. Since airlines charge an arm and a leg for luggage, especially overweight luggage keeping what you bring for a hike to a minimum is key.
The priorities are clothing. They should be suitable for the weather of the place you’re going. Look ahead to know what the forecast will be (which is a pro tip for any travel experience, actually). Even if you’re doing more than one hike I recommend only having one outfit if you can manage it. Footwear is also key. Know the terrain of the hike you’re doing. If you can avoid the large clunky hiking boots you will thank yourself. I only brought my trail shoes and they worked great. You could also bring a hiking-appropriate backpack as your personal item on the plane so it pulls double duty. Just take everything out and load it up with hiking stuff once you arrive.
2. Look up the weather & route ahead of time
Photos taken on iPhone 14 ProI recommend getting an app while you’re back home and searching for the hikes you want to do. Then if your app can do it download the map to be used offline. All Trails is a great one for this. The pro account is only $30 a year and you can easily download lots of different maps and you can program Google Maps or Apple Maps to take you to the start of where that specific route is.
Knowing what you’re walking into is important.
As mentioned above, I also recommend looking up the weather. When you’re hiking in another country you don’t know what will be the same and what will be very different. So, try to ensure you are as prepared as you can be. Know the terrain, the distance and the weather. While we were hiking the weather got hotter and hotter. We couldn’t finish the whole route because we ran out of water and it was so hot it was hard to breathe.
3. Research the hike & see what actual hikers have said
Photos taken on iPhone 14 ProThis was one of the best things I did to prepare us. Google will often tell you one thing and can make it seem great but when you get there it’s pretty awful. On many apps, people can add their opinions to specific routes and you can read through them.
What’s great is many hikers will actually leave some tips and tricks about the hike, things that worked best and any warnings the hike might need. You can never be too prepared when you go and hike in another country. The last thing you want is to have something happen or to get hurt on the hike because you weren’t prepared and be left in a sticky situation.
Sometimes highly rated hikes on Google are not well-liked by actual hikers or they might suggest other routes to make the hike more enjoyable. Listen to real hikers!
4. Stick to the main trails
Photo taken on iPhone 14 ProDebatably the most important tips on the list. Depending on the country you go to they might have stricter rules. There also might be things about the trails that only locals know, that aren’t advertised. In some countries, you can actually be fined for going off the main trail. There can be dangers you aren’t aware of or even conservation efforts.
But when you stick to the main trails that are clearly marked you can still get a great hike and great view while also keeping yourself out of an awkward situation.
5. Keep it light & fun
Photos taken on iPhone 14 ProUnless you are a pro hiker, don’t take things too seriously. Maybe you go on lots of hikes back home so I totally get the allure of wanting to go hard but when you’re in another country and just on vacation try to keep it light and fun. The last thing you want is for the hike to put a damper on your vacation for either you or the person/people you’re with if you’re travelling with others.
Honestly, things will probably come up that you didn’t plan or know about and you just have to roll with the punches. The hike we did in Santorini was amazing but we were not expecting such open terrain (in Canada where I live most hikes I’ve done have lots of forest). We just slowed ourselves down and stopped lots to admire the incredible, expansive view. We also turned around when we ran out of water and still called the hike a victory.
Hiking in other countries can be the highlight of your trip if you go well-prepared and keep things fun.
I highly recommend when you’re travelling, try to find at least one really great hike. Some countries have incredible landscapes that you can really only take in when you are high above.
Happy travelling and happy hiking!
XO,
Sarah
