Comfortable Hiking Holidays

LA DOLCE VITA BEGINS OCTOBER 1ST! 🇮🇹

We are very excited to announce that we begin accepting RSVPS for our popular Amalfi Coast holiday on October 1st.

This is Southern Italy at its best. Bathed in sunshine, surrounded by sapphire-blue waters and offering panoramic vistas in every direction. Italy’s Amalfi Coast has a monopoly on beauty!

From our home base in the charming town of Sorrento, we shall take you hiking in the hills high about Positano and Amalfi, while discovering the hidden charms this region has to offer. Of course, the local restaurants will also play a big roll in making this the complete “Italian” experience! One added bonus is our stay on the opulent island of Capri, where the rich and famous come to vacation.

Come join us and discover why everyone falls in love with the Amalfi Coast.

👉 We begin accepting RSVPS for both trips on TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1ST - 12 NOON (Toronto time)

DATES:
April 21 to May 3
AND
October 13 to 2

SEEMS SOME ARE RARIN’ TO GO!! 💪

A huge thank you to all you adventurer-seekers who sold out our 2025 Tour du Mont Blanc trek in mere minutes!!

Delighted that there are so many of you up for an epic adventure!

If you are still considering joining us, please email us to put your name on the wait list - an opening may always come up.

TOUR DU MONT BLANC RESERVATIONS BEGIN TODAY, SEPT 24 at noon EST

The Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB) is one of the top long-distance hikes in Europe, and in fact the world – looping around the Mont Blanc massif and crossing through 3 countries (France, Italy and Switzerland) and 7 valleys, measuring 168km in distance and 10,600m of total ascents and descents. It delivers superlative, pristine mountain scenery day after day! True, it’s not for the faint of heart, but if you are willing to undertake this challenge with us, the rewards are nothing short of spectacular! This is a premium tour so that means, no sleeping in tents or huts and the food is outstanding – after all, it is worth rewarding ourselves for all the hard work!

HOW TO BOOK THIS TRIP:

1️⃣ Go to www.letshike.com and click on the TRIPS tab at the top, then 2025 DESTINATIONS. On the left-had side is a list of all our trips; click on TOUR DU MONT BLANC. In the middle of the page, click on the orange button that says TRIP DETAILS & BOOKING. This orange button will be live at 12:00 noon.

2️⃣ Scroll down that page to the tab called BOOK THIS TRIP and fill out the online reservation form. We will automatically receive your reservation and will confirm your spot via email later in the afternoon. Please do not fill out the form repeatedly as this jams the site for others who are also trying to book their holiday as well.

3️⃣ Later that day or the next, you will receive an online form where you can securely pay the deposit (deposits cannot be taken over the telephone). The deposit is $500 CAD per person. Note that the deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable.

Thanks so much, and we hope you can join us.

‼️24HRS TO GO‼️

We are just one day away from taking RSVPS for our epic Tour du Mont Blanc trek, so we just had to tease you a bit with some of the stunning scenery that awaits you!

Enjoy the views and hope you consider signing up for this adventure tomorrow – September 24th at 12 PM (Toronto time).

BIRDS! BIRDS! BIRDS! (Colombia Holiday)

Colombia is the second most bio- diverse country (after Brazil) and the country with the biggest variety of bird life in the entire world. This fact is on display at the National Aviary just outside Cartegena. This Aviary is the biggest in the Americas and counts for 1,800 birds of more than 138 distinct species of birds on 7 hectares of land!

The colours are amazing. Tropical plummed stunners such as the scarlet macaws, vibrant green jay, pretty blue winged tanager and so many more. The Andean condor played coy with us and wouldn’t turn her head but you could tell she was massive and impressive just watching her.

This visit concluded our most interesting hiking holiday in Colombia. It was everything and more than we expected. Our celebratory dinner was in the heart of the old town where the streets were crammed with partiers and a good time was had by all.

ASANTE SANA
(Kenya Walking Safari 2024)

A big shout out to the 6 gentlemen who made our trip in Kenya the trip of a lifetime! Their knowledge, kindness and expert driving skills made our safari something we will never forget. Plus they have great dance moves (you know the saying … what happens in Kenya, stays in Kenya 😉).

Asante sana (which is Kiswahili for ‘thank you’) to (in order of appearance in the photo below) Michael, Benjamin, Kenneth of Lappet Faced Travels, Paul, Martin, and another Martin. We will miss your heartfelt daily hugs as much as we will miss the giraffes.

LEARNING THE WAYS OF THE FISHER PEOPLE (Colombia Holiday)

There is an Afro-Caribbean community a short distance from Cartagena where life remains very much as it was. La Boquilla is a thriving fishing village providing much of the seafood that finds its way onto the tables in Cartegena. Today we visited this village, paddled into the mangrove tunnels and maze of waterways to learn how to fish with nets and drop traps to catch crabs.

The local fishermen threw the first set of nets and asked us to follow suit. First comment was that these nets are much heavier than they look. The trick is to get the nets to spread like a blossoming flower which then sinks to the sandy bottom trapping the small fish that are used as bait in the crab traps. It may a while before we get hired.

Following our mornings heavy work we were offered coconut water and fresh coconut as refreshment. Fun for us and fun for them (I think).

“WHENEVER WHEREVER” SAID SHAKIRA! (Colombia Holiday)

Today was transfer day and we now find ourselves in Cartagena on the northwest coast of Colombia. Cartegena has a long-storied history told to us by our local guide. It was an indigenous fishing village claimed for Spain in 1533 and due to its location grew into a key port where gold and silver pieces were shipped to the continent and where enslaved people were traded. The city’s wealth attracted other pirates from Europe including sir Francis Drake in 1586 and following his attack the walls fortifying the city were built for protection. They still stand today.

Our invigorating journey included a stop in Barranquilla, where we celebrated Shakira, the trailblazing Queen of Latin music, whose artistry inspires generations. Her statue being a major attraction in the region and one we just had to admire!

GOOD TO THE LAST DROP
(Kenya Walking Safari 2024)

Our last day in Kenya was very well spent learning all about one of Kenya’s most satisfying beverages - COFFEE!

Thank you to Elvis at Fairview Estates for a most educational and enjoyable tour. We followed the entire process, from bean to cup, and luckily we had just enough room left in our luggage to bring some home with us!

A MAGICAL SLICE OF COLOMBIA’S CARIBBEAN COAST (Colombia Holiday)

Tayrona National Park is a 37,000 acre ecotourism park which includes reefs, beaches, mangroves and Tayrona Indian ruins.

We saw many of these today as we hiked along the coast to Playa Brava. The hike was taxing because it was hot and humid and up and down over boulders but the chance sightings of holler, tamirand and capuchin monkeys, blue tailed lizards and a type of bat that live in the leaves of the palm tree and brown tail noddy’s over the ocean, made it such an interesting hike. Of course the ocean views were both spectacular and oh so inviting!

We were served an amazing variety of fish and sea food at lunch time that we thought we had gone to heaven. Then we enjoyed swimming in the waters of the Caribbean. Many comments were that we did not remember swimming in such warm water.

A perfect conclusion to our last official hike in Colombia!

WELCOME!
(Kenya Walking Safari 2024)

Today, we had the privilege of experiencing a Masai homestead, home to arguably Kenya's most iconic tribe and instantly recognizable by their vibrant red tartan. We were warmly welcomed with enchanting singing and dancing, including their renowned jumping dance, whose purpose is to impress potential girlfriends 😉

We also had the opportunity to sit with them in their homes, learning a lot about a culture so vastly different from our own. Today was both interesting and enlightening!

THIS IS GOING TO BE EPIC!

September 24th at Noon (Toronto time) is the day we begin taking RSVPS for our Tour du Mont Blanc adventure!

3 countries (France, Italy and Switzerland), 7 valleys, 168km in distance and 10,600m of total ascents and descents will provide you with an experience that is nothing short of spectacular.

This is one of the world’s most famous treks and one that is must for all hiking bucket lists! We hope you will consider joining us next July 18 to August 1 and you can find more information about the trip on our website.

Yes, it will be EPIC!

Hope to hear from you on September 24.

A STEP INTO THE PAST (Colombia Holiday)

Today's hike to the Kogui Tayku community was a powerful reminder of the importance of preserving cultural heritage and living in sync with the environment. This tribe much prefers the solitude of the hillside and doesn’t often interact with the “outside” world, so it was quite the treat.

We were humbled by the tribe's dedication to their traditional way of life. The community's resourcefulness in crafting palm leaf string and woven threads was truly eye-opening. Our own hiker Francine got in on the action, demonstrating the value of cross-cultural exchange. Finally, we were treated to a delicious community-prepared lunch, which showcased the tribe’s sustainable practices.

Our guided return hike uncovered the jungle's secrets, including rare frogs and a digesting lizard, making this day nothing short of extraordinary.

A WILDLIFE EXTRAVAGANZA!!
(Kenya Walking Safari 2024)

Our first full day in the Masai Mara kicked off with a bang ‼️

Today was utter pandemonium – in the best possible way. We're talking over 200,000 animals – okay, we didn't actually count, but trust us, it was a lot. Our cameras are now overflowing with animal selfies.

The day began smashingly enough with lions, buffalo, zebras, wildebeest, and gazelles. Then elephants, giraffes, more zebras and wildebeest, and cheetahs (yaaas, excitement!) crashed the party. Every direction we looked, the Masai Mara was teeming with wildlife.

That sneaky leopard, however, refused to make an appearance. We stalked her spot all day, but she played hard to get. Just as we were leaving, our radio crackled to life – the leopard was out! We sped back, and voila! She was frolicking with her adorable cub.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, we stumbled back to camp, grinning from ear to ear. Today was the awesomest day ever!

BEYOND SANTA MARTA (Colombia Holiday)

Today’s trek took us through the foothills of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta down from the town of El Campano all the way to Cascada de Marinka. We spent time spotting butterflies, listening to the birds, talking to the farm animals that we met and generally appreciating the peacefulness of the mountains.

Then we arrived at the cascada! Ohh it felt good to get wet and cool off and standing under the waterfall refreshing ourselves was such a great way to end our day!

TRANSFER DAY (Colombia Holiday)

Today we transferred to the north coast of Colombia and are now in Santa Marta in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Martha mountain range. From here we intend to begin exploring this mountain range and the dramatic coast of Colombia.

This transfer north also brings us closer to the equator and the heat that comes that. A little R&R in the pool was exactly what the doctor ordered.

WHAT THE HELL!
(Kenya Walking Safari 2024)

Okay, so Hell's Gate National Park might be small, but it's got some serious wow factor! We're talking lazy zebras, sassy baboons, and lammergeyers (those fancy bearded vultures) nesting in the cliffs like they're in a high-rise. Then we've got Fischer's Tower, and after that, we'll head down into Hell's Gate Gorge, where the valley floor is lined with shiny obsidian from two volcanoes that are now extinct - because who needs lava when you've got scenery this good?

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT..(Colombia Holiday)

Peñas Blanca’s Eco Park is located at the mountain of the same name. This land was purchased by Javier Salazar and his wife in 1999 as a piece of land denuded of trees and used for cattle. In 1999 there was also a huge landslide in the area. Javier decided at that time to plant trees on his property and to date he has planted approximately 40,000 and plans on planting 10,000 more.

Today we met with Mrs. Salazar who gave us a brief presentation on their dreams to return the land to its natural habitat.

Following this fascinating presentation we hiked from the entrance of the Eco Park to the top of Peñas Blancas. An elevation gain of 515 meters. The views at the top are stupendous. Needless to say what goes up must come down and we retraced our steps down the mountain to a tasty hot lunch prepared by the staff at the park.

This trip would not have been complete without a ride in the Jeep Willys to take us back to our starting point in the town of La Virginia.

Another beautiful day.

AT ONE WITH NATURE
(Kenya Walking Safari 2024)

Our hike today took us through the Crater Lake Game Sanctuary, where towers of giraffes 🦒 , herds of gazelles, and dazzles of zebras 🦓 call home. We were the ONLY ones here (well, besides all the animals, of course!). Comfortable Hiker Lisa said it was the place she felt most at one with the natural world.

But let’s not forget that this is a “walking” safari so it’s not just about the animals; it’s about the hike too. So this afternoon, we walked the rim of Crater Lake. GORGEOUS views of Lake Naivasha and Crater Lake, the geothermal activity far in the distance, and a few more giraffes down below!

Only a cold Tusker can top a day like that!

The Magical Valley of the Palms (Colombia Holiday)

We started our day off with a quintessential Colombian mode of transport – jeeps! These vehicles are the backbone of coffee country transportation and no road is too tough for these work horses. What a hoot it was!

We hiked in the Valle de Corcora aka the magical valley of palms where we saw the Palma de Cera (wax palms) the largest palms in the world and Colombia’s national tree. Amazing views as we climbed up to 2990 meters on our way to the Acaime Hummingbird reserve and returning across many wooden bridges as we crossed back and forth across the Quindio River. A unique experience was to see all the hummingbird’s seeking out nectar in the area.

The diversity here is truly spectacular!

A FLAMBOYANCE OF FLAMINGOS !!
(Kenya Walking Safari 2024)

Isn’t that a great word: FLAMBOYANCE. And isn’t it the perfect word for a flock of flamingos?!

While we didn’t count them one by one, we think we saw about 1500 flamingos today on our walk at Lake Elementaita. Lake Elementaita is salty and full of minerals, perfect for the blue-green algae the lesser flamingos love so much.

A DAY FOR THE SENSES (Colombia Holiday)

“I’d never met a coffee that wasn’t wonderful. It was just a matter of how wonderful it was.”

Today we came to one of the best places in the country to learn all about the coffee growing process from the bean to the cup. We picked our beans, we cleaned the beans and then we were instructed in the art of using our senses to identify the aroma and texture of enjoying a good cup of coffee.

Truly a Colombian must. Following this unique experience, a little exercise was in order so we climbed to the mirador overlooking the town of Salento to take in the sunset over the town and the Andes mountains. Just wow!

OUT OF AFRICA
(Kenya Walking Safari 2024)

Crescent Island rose to fame after the 1985 movie “Out of Africa” showcased the beautiful nature of Lake Naivasha and its surroundings. In fact, some of the animals on Crescent Island were brought here specifically for the movie and then left here.

There are no predators here, and the atmosphere is tranquil and peaceful. The zebras and the giraffes and the waterbucks were so close that we could almost touch them (which we didn’t, of course). They were totally unfazed by our presence, and went on just doing what zebras and giraffes and water bucks do. It was an outstanding experience.

BTW, we also looked around for Meryl Streep and Robert Redford, in case they were left here too but they weren’t 😉

BACK TO SCHOOL
(Kenya Walking Safari 2024)

Comfortable Hiking Holidays has a long-standing tradition of visiting and helping (whenever possible) the Naivasha Highway Primary School, so it was a day we were looking forward to since arriving in Kenya.

Not sure if this day was more memorable for the students or for us, but we had the most wonderful experience. These children are so affectionate and love having their pictures taken. We visited several classrooms and chatted with the kids. They had great questions about Canada and what kids learn in school there. We were treated to a dance and musical performances by very talented students, with a little bit of audience participation by our Comfortable Hikers 😜

And as is our tradition whenever we visit, we try to help the students somehow. This year, we found out that the school was in dire need of a new printer as they are responsible for printing course materials and exams for over 500 students. Thanks to the generosity of our Comfortable Hikers, we were able to purchase for them a brand new, high efficiency printer plus reams of paper and toner!

Tonight, our hearts are full.