Useful Links
Here are some general links that should be useful. There are (or will in time be!) specifically relevant links on the individual walk pages. We are filtering the information on this page, to avoid a jumble of not always useful sites and save you scrolling time.
Your suggestions for useful links to add to this page would be much appreciated.
The best starting point for background information on an area is often the magnificent www.wikipedia.org.
Walking/hiking websites
www.onedayhikes.com - a great site, mainly North America focussed, with a good selection of day walks.
www.besthikes.com - some good walks and information (best on North America), nicely presented.
www.traildatabase.org - a bit hit and miss, but can come up with some useful stuff.
www.peakware.com - basic information on huge number of mountains: many for serious climbers, but many for walkers too.
Travel advice
UK Foreign Office: excellent for up-to-date information (including information on health) by country: www.fco.gov.uk/travel
US State Department: provides regularly updated information on each country, with travel tips, travel alerts and travel warnings – includes information on health. www.travel.state.gov
Health information
Fit for Travel: UK government site for country-specific vaccination and other preparatory advice: www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk
UK National Travel Health Network and Centre (for information sheets on particular illnesses and health issues) www.nathnac.org
UK Dept. of Health: for general health information and information on major diseases: www.dh.gov.uk/travellers
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): American site on health and disease, including lots of detailed information for prospective travellers: wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/default.aspx
Expedition organisers
The following are some good expedition organisers. Browse their expeditions to get drool-inducing ideas…
Worldwide
Great Walks of the World: we have used them in the Himalayas and Tibet and were very pleased - www.greatwalks.net
Explore! – www.explore.co.uk
Steppes East: we have used them in Mongolia, Pakistan and Central Asia; while they are not cheap, they have always provided top grade expeditions and support – www.steppestravel.co.uk
Exodus: A fine selection of great walks – www.exodus.co.uk
World Expeditions:www.worldexpeditions.com
Wilderness Travel: have a fabulous selection of expeditions – possibly at the more expensive end – www.wildernesstravel.com
Classic Journeys:www.classicjourneys.co.uk
Inntravel:www.inntravel.co.uk
Sherpa Expeditions:www.sherpa-walking-holidays.co.uk
www.justyou.co.uk - some great walking holidays around the world, for singles.
Europe
Alternative Travel Group: groundbreaking firm with a fabulous selection of walks (guided and “meet your baggage”) throughout Europe and further afield - www.atg-oxford.com
South America
Condor Journeys:www.condorjourneys-adventures.com
Journey Latin America:www.journeylatinamerica.com
Asia
Mapping websites
www.nationalgeographic.com - USA Maps
Books, maps
Our favourite trekking books:
Trekking Atlas of the World, Ed. Jack Jackson
Classic Treks, Ed. Bill Birkett
The World’s Great Adventure Treks, Ed. Jack Jackson
Classic Hikes of the World, by Peter Potterfield
Guidebooks:
The following are the best guidebook publishers (we will be developing recommendations for walk-specific guidebooks on our walk pages).
- Cicerone (superb)
- Lonely Planet
- Odyssey (good, especially on Asia)
- Trailblazer
- Bradt
- Footprint
- Cadogan
- Sunflower (delightful; Europe focus)
Car rental
Here are links to well known international firms. Links to local providers, who may be cheaper, are given on some individual walk pages.
- Avis: www.avis.com
- Hertz: www.hertz.co.uk
- Europcar: www.europcar.co.uk
- Budget: www.budget.co.uk
- Alamo: www.alamo.com