Whether you’re planning a family camping trip or just want to hang out with the guys in the woods for a while, you are probably going to need at least one tent. Thankfully, a number of online retailers are making a great variety of tents available in all kinds of shapes and sizes. Whatever your price range and sleeping arrangements are, there is a tent for you waiting to be found online. There are enormous festival tents for outdoor events, all the way down to a personal, one-man camping setup. In this article, we’ll go over some of the most popular types for different situations, and what these tent types can offer you.

The ultimate in backpacking, the one-man bivi tent is a versatile, light, and easily set up sleeping arrangement that is guaranteed to keep you warm and safe. It is fully breathable, allowing you to remain totally secure from bugs, rain, raccoons, or whatever it is you are trying to avoid. The aluminum poles are extremely lightweight (the entire tent weighs in at less than a kilogram!) but also incredibly durable, and provide ample headroom for reading or even eating. These are the perfect tents for cycling long distances or roughing it on your own in the wild.
The Vaude Base Camp tent is the ultimate in having a spacious indoors in the great outdoors. Designed to comfortably sleep seven adults, this is one of the technical highlights of the Vaude company. The twelve poles are so constructed so that the tent can be pitched in under ten minutes, even in the event of very strong winds or rain. The frame is very durable and is designed to withstand rigorous use by large teams of outdoorsman, and its tension system can withstand gale force winds once the tent is set up. There are flaps to prevent snow and even sand from entering, and there is enough space inside to comfortably seat up to fifteen people. The entire tent weighs roughly twelve kilograms, and can be easily carried by a single person.

Another very popular tent for large groups is the Vaude Family Tent, designed to comfortably sleep between four and six people. The unique design is set up so that the tent features two side rooms, each big enough to sleep two adults, with a main area roughly twice the size of either of the side rooms. There is an optional third area that can be set up behind the main one, and the square shape features an additional pole for increased stability.

By: Sandy Lee

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With the world’s tourism leaning away from themed vacations, a new trend sees families traveling to jungles instead of Disney; taking cruises to Alaska instead of the Bahamas. This sect of tourism, aptly referred to as eco-tourism, flourishes in response to the times; as conservation consumes every aspect of our lives.

But this should come as no surprise. We have become so desensitized to the novelty of amusement parks—the flashing lights and loud noises—that we have reverted back to the basics. No longer do television audiences demand compelling dramas and convincing dialogue, but instead vicariously invest their lives into the lives of others. The number of active reality television programming now exceeds sitcoms. The lives we were once content with, we have outgrown and now we crave the intangibles; the streamlined cityscape of an overwhelming Japan; whale-watching among a sea of glaciers in Antarctica. The experiences that we once relied on television to provide for us, are now within reach and in demand.
Panama, like most countries with an eclectic array of remaining natural resources, are well aware of this recent surge. Hence commercials not for specific attractions, but for the locations themselves. Cancun will likely show clips of white beaches and romantic sunsets; Venice—gondolas streaming along Canal Grande. Panama, on the other hand, subscribes to the loose-adage “if you’ve got it, flaunt it.” What the country happens to be in excess of is forest land.

Planning a vacation around a particular park in Panama is a very intimidating assignment, so it’s best to, instead, construct it around a hotel or specific area of the country and from there, select a park relevant to where you are staying. This guide will help you take that final step toward completing your vacation planning.

La Amistad National Park – Covers 511,000 acres of mountainous terrain in the Cordillera de Talamanca Mountain range. The park is known for its cloud forests and display of 7 of Panama’s 12 naturally occurring life zones.

Over 100 species of mammals, including primates like the howler monkey, black handed spider monkey, white throated capuchin and night monkey are found here. The park is also home to 5 species of cat including the puma and jaguar, 91 species of amphibians, and 61 species of reptiles.

The 3 towns nearest the park are Cerro Punta, Volcan in Chiriqui Province, and Changuinola in Bocas Del Toro; all providing transportation to La Amistad Park.

Bastimentos Island National Park – Encompasses 13,000 hectares of Bastimentos Island of the Zapatilla Cayes in Bocas Del Toro; composed of both land and ocean. A popular beach area of the park among tourists is Red Frog Beach, named for the red poison dart frogs that are native to the area. The park also opens its waters to snorkeling and diving, allowing visitors to experience unspoiled coral reef and over 200 species of fish.

Cerro Hoya National Park – Covers 80,500 acres in Los Santos and Veraguas and is about 215 miles from Panama City. The Park’s terrain stretches from coastline to volcanic mountain. Although Cerro Hoya is one of the least explored parks in Panama, it is home to coral reefs, 95 species of bird and many large cats.

Chagres National Park – Located within Panama and Colon Province, covering 320,000 acres. The primary purpose of this forest is to protect water sources important to the Panama Canal and Panama City; however, does not close the park off to human interaction.

The park is comprised of steep mountain, lakes, rivers and tropical forests. While the park is home to a complicated ecosystem of plants and animals, it is also home to a tribe of Embera Indians.

Coiba National Park – Located within the western portion of Veraguas and consumes 667,000 acres of terrain. Because of its size, number of islands, and virginal beaches, Coiba is considered one of Panama’s premier parks.

Thirty-six species of mammals have been recorded to live within the park, including 147 bird species, 69 fish species, and 39 amphibian species. Coiba Park is also the habitat to humpbacked whales, orca whales, pan tropical spotted dolphins and bottlenose dolphins.

Altos de Campana National Park – Comprised of approximately 39 species of mammals, 267 species of birds, 62 species of reptiles, and 82 species of amphibians. Altos de Campana is considered Panama’s first national park and was established in 1966.

The park is mostly rugged terrain, leading to lava fields and El Valle Del Anton Volcano. As it is located in the western portion of the Panama province, about 1-1.5 hours West of Panama City, it is one of the closest national forests to many of Panama’s resorts; including Melia Panama Canal and

To assume that Panama is one massive forest is understandable; much of the Panamanian land is coated in lush vegetation. However, the country is more than trees and wildlife and streamlets. Other branches of Eco-tourism reach the country in the forms of Smithsonian Institute research centers, the Camino Cruces Trail, the small fishing communities of Las Perlas, and the San Blas Islands. Whether a trend or something more, it is worth recognizing Panama, with all of its forestry and inhabiting animalia, as a country that truly feeds the world’s ecological obsession.

By: Enid Glasgow

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In the future, The LifeTracker may become one the most effective and popular camping equipment and hiking gear since the sleeping bag.The LifeTracker is a device that in case of an emergency will, with the pull of a cord, jettisons a heavy gauge red balloon attached to a 1000 ft fishing line up high enough for searchers or a rescue plane to see. What would you do if you or one of your children were lost in the wilderness? You hear it on the news all the time. Parents get separated from their kids on a camping trip, and aren't found for days or even a week or more. Sadly, sometimes it is a retrieval rather than a rescue. Even if dad had one of those expensive GPS units, the search and rescue team will be able to locate him, but where do you go from there?

Well if the entire family had been outfitted with either a LifeTracker Belt or The LifeTracker Vest, there would be no panic from either side. After a few hours the searchers would merely have to look up. 

The LifeTracker makes it possible for people to be found before panic ever sets in. It not only will save lives, but millions of dollars in search and rescue man hours. There are three products available for campers, hikers, or anyone traveling to or over the wilderness. The LifeTracker Belt, The LifeTracker Vest, and The LifeTracker flare Gun, can be offered inexpensively enough to allow an entire family to outfit themselves with The LifeTracker for what it might cost to purchase one GPS unit.

The National Association of Search and Rescue estimates that there are more than 50,000 searches and rescue missions launched each year in the United States alone. The majority of them are for victims whose location is unknown. Sadly in many cases the rescue turns into a retrieval. The LifeTracker is a series of 3 different products designed to locate anyone lost in the wilderness, in hours rather than days.

The LifeTracker Belt...is 4" wide with pockets on the outside to store a thermal blanket and other survival supplies. 

The LifeTracker Vest...Using the same concept as the "Belt" the vest inner side unzips to release a folded lean-to tent complete with telescopic 3 ft poles. Some people will prefer a vest and are willing to pay extra for the complete survival package. This offers a great option, and like the "Belt", is very marketable.

The LifeTracker Flare Gun...Flare guns are very expensive and, of course, the flare only has a short life. With a small adjustment to the LifeTracker Device, it can easily be kept in a lightweight pistol, that can be stored in any backpack, vehicle, boat or plane. It might even have military use.

The thing that makes The LifeTracker unique is, first of all, the name THE LIFETRACKER ...It really tells it all. Also, In this day and age of electronics, it's refreshing to find something that is completely mechanical. There are no batteries or bad reception to worry about. Also, both the "Belt" and "Vest" have practical use. Even if the rescue device is never activated, the gear becomes part of everyday wilderness attire
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I have been camping since I was five years old. My dad would drag (literally at first) me and my brother out into the woods to enjoy a weekend of camping, fishing and hiking. Little did I know then as I was throwing a fit to not leave the comforts of my warm bed, that I would become a campaholic.

Ok campaholic is not a “real” word but I added it to my Microsoft Word dictionary so it would not be mistaken as an error. If you ever used MS Word then you know what I am talking about. In any event my definition, for you purists out there, would be any person who is addicted to camping.
That describes me to a tee now. I love to go camping and although my schedule prohibits me from going each and every weekend, I try to get out about 3 times in the spring and 3 times again in the fall. I personally do not like camping in the summer. The summer is hot and when it’s hot you can’t enjoy the campfire which is one of the draws to camping in the first place.

Since I have been camping a lot I have also gotten a lot of my friends into it as well. The question I receive the most is, “what should I bring?” That is an open ended question, and you really could answer with anything. But what I wanted to touch on are some of the things that I consider essentials (the items beyond bringing your food of course).

Tent
Well it goes without saying that if you forget your tent you will be sleeping under the stars. Now I have done that myself, but let me be the first to tell you that it is only enjoyable up to the point when it starts to rain, then you just get wet. Don’t forget your tent. Also buy a tent that will fit the number of people you will be sleeping in it comfortably. Never go by what the instructions on the tent say. If it says it sleeps 4, it more than likely can only sleep 2. My rule of thumb is to add 2 to the number of people that will actually be using the tent. For example, if three people will be staying in the tent look for a tent that sleeps 5 or more. Usually the numbers come in even notation, i.e. sleeps 2, sleeps 4, sleeps 6 and so on.

Sleeping Bag
You could bring blankets from home and they will work fine, but a decent sleeping bag wraps you up and helps use your own body heat to do the trick. They are specifically made for outdoor use and a good one is worth its weight in gold. Unless you will be camping in extreme cold temperatures you can pick up a good one at any Wal-Mart, Target, Dick’s Sporting Goods or where ever camping supplies are sold in your area.

Lantern
Back when I started camping with my dad there were two types of lanterns sold in stores, propane and gas (liquid). Today you have those same options but the battery powered ones are just as good, just as strong and last just as long. It really comes down to preference. I love using my Coleman propane lantern. It brings back memories of yester year and gives me that “I’m camping feeling”.

Some might say what about a stove? I do own a propane stove and it works great, but if you are camping in a campground, chances are they are supplying you with a fire ring and the grate to cook on. Just fire up some wood and do all the cooking you want. I prefer cooking over the open flame. I think the food tastes better, and let’s face it you aren’t cooking over a fire ring at your home. Of course the downfall is you really can not regulate the heat as much when cooking in this manner so you have to keep a close eye on whatever it is you are making. Mmmmm, nothing like the smell of bacon cooking over the open flame first thing in the morning!

Happy Camping!

By: Bruce A Tucker

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If you are new to camping or are thinking about taking this activity up then I say what took you so long. Camping is a great way to enjoy the great outdoors and everything the environment has to offer. The best part is there are many levels of variety to camping and there is certainly one that fits your level and your needs.

The first thing you need to ask yourself is what exactly is the reason for you to go, or start going if you have never done it? If you are an absolute beginner and have never gone before, I recommend going with someone that has. Not to say that you won’t be able to handle camping without them, but going with someone that has some experience will fill in the blanks, so to speak, of things you might miss or forget to bring.
Like I said previously, there are a few ways you can enjoy camping. You can go tent camping, sleep in a cabin or rent an RV. All three ways are fine and it really depends on your personal preference. If you are feeling really adventurous you can sleep under the stars, but I don’t recommend that to anybody who is just beginning so I won’t address it here in this particular article.

Tent camping is one of the most common ways to go camping although in recent years RV camping has had a serious boost to its popularity, more on RV camping in a moment. Basically you set up a ten on the ground, and that is where you will sleep. Tents have a come a long way since I started camping some thirty years ago. Today they are well water-proofed, have great ventilation and at the same time keep some warmth in. They have all kinds of neat extras, such as pockets for your keys and other belongings, and small windows where you can put a cooler out front and grab that beer, er um, I mean water without having to leave the tent. If you want to invest in something even more advanced, they have tens now that are like houses, called cabin tents. In there they have heaters, fireplaces and some come even with full blow kitchens. However, at what point is it no longer camping right?

Maybe the idea of sleeping close to the ground is not your sort of thing but you still want to be in the outdoors. A cabin could be for you. Constructed of cedar or pine timbers, cabins give you just enough space to sleep and change without making it feel like you are at home. Although there are plenty of campgrounds out there that provide cabins that seem more like vacation homes, then structures set up for campers. The choice is entirely up to you. They are more expensive to rent than a traditional campsite that is meant for tents so expect to spend a little more than you first thought.

As mentioned earlier, RV camping has become very popular. The reason being the cost for startup RVs has come way down, making them available to a larger group of consumers. RVs can give you something as simple as a popup which is a place to sleep, to something as advanced as a complete living area with fireplace, kitchen, and a bathroom. RVs can also be as inexpensive as a few hundred dollars used, up to the big bus monstrosities that cost over six hundred thousand dollars. Many RVs give you the flexibility of going anywhere in the country and setting up a comfortable living space in the great outdoors. You can hook them up to a campgrounds electric and water supply so you really will have the comforts of home.

These are just three ways you can jump into camping or expand your already growing knowledge of the subject. I personally like tent camping, with a sleeping bag and a nice air mattress. I get the feeling of being in the outdoors without killing my back on the hard ground.

By: Bruce A Tucker

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Thermal blankets were originally developed by NASA for the country’s space program in 1964. Also known as space, emergency, or mylar blankets, they were made from a relatively thin sheet of plastic with a metallic coat used for reflecting back heat. Nowadays, thermal blankets are also used for camping and other outdoor activities.

Common Features of a Thermal Blanket
Weatherproof
Sleeping outdoors may be fun and adventurous, but it also exposes you to certain dangers you normally don’t encounter indoors. Wind and rain, for instance, can easily make you susceptible to hypothermia and other undesirable illnesses. A thermal blanket, however, can protect you from the adverse effects of prolonged exposure to unfavorable weather conditions.

By wrapping around a thermal blanket around yourself, your body heat is reflected back to you by the blanket, and this helps you stay warm even in the strongest of storms. Thermal blankets are also made from exceptionally durable materials and as such, you won’t have to worry about water or wind permeating through the blanket.

Reusable
Yes, thermal blankets can indeed be used repetitively. You won’t have to bring one thermal blanket for each night you plan to spend outdoors. This is definitely great news for campers who wish to travel light.

Compact
All thermal blankets, regardless of size or type of materials used, are designed for compact packing. When you’re outdoors, after all, you’ll be able to move around more swiftly and easily if you don’t have so many things to lug around with you.

How to Choose the Right Thermal Blanket
Thermal blankets come in a range of sizes and with varying features. For optimal use and protection, be sure to choose the one that’s most capable of meeting your needs. 

Single or Double Use?
There are thermal blankets for single-person use and then there are those that two persons can use together. A two-person thermal blanket is ideal if you’re traveling with your child and you’d like to keep him or her safe with you at night.

Size
As mentioned earlier on, thermal blankets come in various sizes. Be sure to choose one that will be able to keep you warm and completely covered from head to toe if necessary. If you will use it to line your sleeping bag, make sure as well that the dimensions are adequate.

Comfortable
Last but not the least, don’t forget to test it out for yourself prior to making any purchase. While all thermal blankets offer the same level of safety and protection, some of them may feel more comfortable for you to use than others.

By: Phil Washington

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com


One of the emergency survival kits item that you might need to add to your emergency supplies includes thermal blankets. Survival Gear offers the best of this survival product.

Backpacking has been considered as one of the greatest hobbies and sport of all times. Backpacking is adventurous, exhilarating and invigorating. Backpacking is a great way to get some exercise and get fit while having some fun at the same time. It can be said that backpacking is a blend of hiking and camping.

Backpacking trips can long or short, depending on your preferences and time. If you are planning to go for a larger duration of time, then it is advisable to carry along a detached backpack (so that you can carry more items for your survival). Attached backpacks work well for smaller day trips or excursions in which an overnight stay isn't necessary. They're a great way to hold water, maps, non-perishable snacks and first aid items.

The basic backpacking gear requires four essential things: something to sleep in, something to sleep under, safety equipment, food and clothes. Backpacking sleeping bags vary in comfort and weight. Polarguard 3D can be an excellent choice of backpacking gear, because it is light weight and comfortable when compared to other sleeping bags.

If you are planning to stay for some time, then do carry along a tent. Tents vary in shape, size, cost and durability. Choose a tent depending on the number of people going for the trip as well as other functional requirements. The safety equipment includes flashlights, maps, knives and first-aid kits. Take a small padlock and affix it to the two zippers of your backpack, that way even when it's on your back, theft is thwarted.

Carry your important identification, money, and credit cards in a pouch that you can buy and put on underneath your clothes. Food and clothes are very essential, and you need to carry the amount that is required. Don't try to overload your backpack, because you will have to carry it ultimately.

So, remember the above points and have a safe and enjoyable backpacking trip!

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Trekking throughout Northern Thailand has become a very fashionable extension to the standard sight-seeing tours that have operated in this area for many years. For thousands of tourists each year, along with the history & charm of Chiang Mai & its people, trekking has become a major drawer for the region.

The aim of this article is to provide hands on "how to" information to ensure that you get the very best from your particular trek.
Trekking in Northern Thailand provides its visitors with memories that will stay with them forever, it really is an unforgettable experience, I actually have a couple of friends who after trekking around Northern Thailand for a couple of weeks promptly went home, sold everything up and now live up in the mountains north of Chiang Rai, and confided to me recently that they had never been happier, it’s that life changing !.

Chiang Mai as the major city in the region, is also the “hub” for all the trekking orientated activities. The mountainous ranges that surround the city, offer lush un-spoilt tropical jungles & wilderness containing numerous wild plants & flowers, including hundreds of varieties of wild flowering Orchids. 

This area is also home to several groups of Hill Tribes People ,who migrated to Northern Thailand from Myanmar & China up to around 200 years ago.These trekking adventures provide the perfect opportunity to view first-hand the traditional lifestyles of the major groups of different ethnic hill tribes including the Lisu, Karen, Long Necks, Akha, Lahu, & Hmong hill tribes. Many of the treks are actually built around the hill tribe villages & people all which adds up to a fantastic adventure for both the visitors & the locals. 

A good trekking guide will help explain the traditions, the unique tribal and spiritual beliefs and their rituals. 

While the increasing popularity of trekking has seen some commercialisation of these ethnic groups, this does not need to detract from experiencing their unique culture and gaining an understanding of the hill tribes’ history, traditions,culture & values. 

Providing that you are reasonably fit, not heavily pregnant, or a child under 6 years of age, and that you don't mind 'roughing it' a bit, then Thailand trekking is just right for you. 

The treks undertaken are completely safe and the trekking is generally well organised, with registered guides leading you along well worn routes. 

Chiang Mai as the trekking centre, is the place I suggest you use to book your trek, DON’T book anything on the internet, DON’T book anything until you arrive !, there are MANY different tour companies / shops offering EVERY type of tour & timescale imaginable. 

Many of the guesthouses also double up as trekking tour specialists. Several of the trekking companies also have smaller satellite offices located around the main tourist areas of the Night Bazaar, Thapae Road & the eastern areas of the old city. Please check out both the Google Map for the centre of Chiang Mai & the rather fabulous Interactive Photographic Map of Chiang mai centre !! 

You need to take time visiting several of the different tour companies to ensure you get EXACTLY the mix of activities that you want, don’t take notice of taxi drivers, tuk-tuk drivers, songthaew drivers or anyone else that is likely to be making money from their recommendations !!. 

The main areas that the trekking tours operate in are Mae Hong Son (12hrs), Pai(6hrs) & Chiang Dao(3hrs) all north-west of Chiang Mai & Chiang Rai(6hrs) (hrs in brackets denotes travelling time from Chiang Mai) north of Chiang Mai. 

Pai is also a good alternative as a base, as it is located between Mae Hong Son & Chiang Dao and offers quite a substantial range of various treks from this small town located on a plateau with mountains all around, this is quite a popular alternative to the bustle of Chiang Mai. 

Pai really is an enchanting place, with a lovely winding river running through it, and lots of Homestay properties that follow the course of the river. 

A few suggestions & tips to ensure you get the best of your trek:

1. What is the right size of trekking group ?: – it should always be less than 10 people, ideally 6-8 is a nicely balanced group size.

2. Who is the leader ?:- trekking alone in the mountains around Northern Thailand is NOT advised, use the services of a registered guide, all registered guides have to undertake a month’s training at the University of Chiang Mai before receiving certification. Make sure your tour operator confirms that they are also registered with T.A.T.(Tourism Authority of Thailand) before handing any money over. The T.A.T. has strict guidelines the agencies must follow to insure the trekker receives the best service with good reliable guides. You could also ask to see recommendation letters from previous satisfied “trekkies”, this is common practice and they are used to it.

3. How long are the treks?:- its really up to you, the shortest ones are just a few hours, the longest ones can be a couple of weeks, the most popular are the one & two day treks, the one day treks are typically for the people that don’t want “too much culture” ie staying out overnight, sleeping on a mat, covered by a mozzy net, eating “local” food !!. The two day treks are definitely for the hardier types who have more of the “explorer” instincts. But again it really depends on what you want from your trek you can include white-water rafting, riding elephants, bamboo rafting, jungle trekking, kayaking etc, etc.

4. Where will we stay?:- accommodation & food on ALL overnight treks is “basic”, thats half the fun, beds typically are mats made of straw with just blankets & a mosquito net to cover you, food is typically rice (with everything), fish & vegetables. It is a good idea to take chocolates, snacks & fizzy drinks with you as you will be burning a lot of energy, and some people will not take to the local food as well as others.

5. What will I need to take with me?:- Things to bring
(you can get all of these things cheaply in Chiang Mai)
- Small backpack / rucksack
- Warm, weatherproof clothing (particularly from Nov. to Feb)
- Sun block
- Lightweight raincoat / plastic poncho
- Sandals (Teva or Teva-style is good for walking through the river - as long as you don't need ankle support these are good for the whole trek for most of the year.)
- Sturdy weatherproof footwear with good grips (not essential if you are happy walking in Tevas).
- Socks (for the evenings)
- Long trousers / pants are good for parts of the trek (the ones where you can unzip the legs are ideal)
- Torch / Flashlight (+ extra batteries)
- Towel
- Hat
- Insect Repellant
- Some people like to bring along a cotton sheet / cotton sleeping bag liner for sleeping in / under.
- Money for soft drinks / beers / handicrafts / tips (small notes can be useful)

6. What is the best time of year to go?:- Chiang Mai area generally has excellent weather throughout the year, however avoid June – October as that is the rainy season, outside of that period is fine, if you choose December or January make sure you take plenty of spare clothes, it can get very chilly during the winter nights !!.

7. How to choose which trek?:- you need to first of all decide what you want included, also do you want "rigorous" trekking, or something "easier" more like a ramble. Ensure you get exactly what you want, don’t be hurried or pushed by the agents, there are plenty to choose from. Don’t just go for the cheapest trek, weigh everything up carefully, if its too cheap corners are cut which will usually result in a disappointing result.

8. What will it cost?:- costs vary tremendously as you would expect, but purely to be used as a guide(based upon 6-8 people):
1x full day tour - typically 2,500/3,000thb/person
2x full day trek - typically 2,000thb/person/day
3x full day trek - typically 1,500/2,000thb/person/day

But remember, its not about getting the cheapest price, its ALL about finding the right ingredients within the trek that you want, along with the "demands" of the trek to meet your own fitness levels.

By just following this simple guide, it will ensure that you too have memories of your time in Northern Thailand for many years to come.

By: Kevin Butters

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Author: Kevin Butters Website: www.visit-chiang-mai-online.com Article URL: www.visit-chiang-mai-online.com/trekking-northern-thailand.html

If you were thinking of doing one of the long distance hiking trails in the Alps this summer, then there is a little known route that can be done in only a week of your holiday while still visiting some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in Europe.

The walking route linking two of Switzerland's best known mountains, the Eiger and the Matterhorn is not yet an official long distance trail, but when I hiked the route myself, I found good, well marked paths for most of the way and fewer people than one would encounter on the established trails such as the Haute Route from Chamonix to Zermatt or the Tour du Mont Blanc.
The route from the Eiger to the Matterhorn does not, I assure you, involve the ascent of either of these peaks - neither of which are reknowned for ease of ascent - but instead begins and ends with the walking trails associated with each mountain - the Eiger Trail above Grindelwald and the Matterhorn Trail linking Zermatt with the tarn of Schwarzsee at the foot of the Matterhorn. Though not a family walk, the route is suitable for walkers of moderate abilities - there being no difficult ground or glacier crossings - and yet it passes through some little visited areas of Switzerland and crosses high passes reaching a maximum altitude of almost 10 000 feet.

In short the route is suitable both as an alternative to some of the longer Alpine treks where time may be limited, or as a good introduction to multi day hiking in the Alps.

My own journey began in Switzerland's beautiful Jungfrau Region on the path right beneath the North Face of the Eiger. The Eigertrail footpath, high above Grindelwald is as good a start to a walk I can think of anywhere and the Alps in Summer are a paradise for the walker. 

The next couple of days saw me passing through the villages of Wengen and Murren - better known by skiing enthusiasts for their winter activites - and leaving the snowy peaks of the Jungfrau Region by a high pass through the much remoter country to the west of Murren. My route was following a section of the Alpine Pass Route which travels along the length of the Bernese Oberland to Gsteig in the west, but on reaching Kandersteg, I left this long distance trail to head South over the crest of the Alps at the ancient crossing of the Gemmi Pass.

Down into the vineyards of the Rhone Valley in the canton of Valais - Switzerland being divided into cantons or regions - and back in time as my way led up through the Turtmanntal which is one of Switzerland's least populated and most unspoiled regions. From the idyllic upper reaches of this remote valley the route joins another of the established long distance hiking trails - the Haute Route - which also goes to Zermatt but from Chamonix at the foot of Mont Blanc in France.

Climbing high above the Turtmanntal and up over the Augstbordpass, which at 2871 metres is the highest point of the Eiger to Matterhorn route, the return to civilisation is made at St Niklaus in the Mattertal. From now on our path remains with the Mattertal following the valley up to the south towards the snow and ice of the Pennine Alps - the highest mountains in Switzerland.

With the 4000 metre Breithorn to guide me forwards I followed the the valley paths through sleepy villages and cool woodlands beside the rushing river of the Mattervispa. After an easy day, the climbing begins again as the route leaves the valley to ascend through the forest to where the first views of the Matterhorn are seen through the trees, journey's end in sight.

The Europaweg is a spectacular 2 day high level route from the lower Mattertal to Zermatt and is arguably the finest route into Zermatt. The final section of our route joins this path just after its mid point and follows it all the way to the Alp hamlet of Findeln before the last stretch back down through the forest into Zermatt.

The main route is really done once you've reached Zermatt but seeing as we began with the Eiger Trail from Grindelwald, the Matterhorn Trail seems a fitting end to the walk at - if you still have any desire to walk any further that is! The path is signposted from Schwarzsee, itself accessible by cable car from Zermatt and is an easy downhill walk back to town with wonderful views all the way.

If you fancy a more challenging end to your trek, why not hike up to the Berghaus Matterhorn at 3260 metres, the start of the mountain's normal ascent route or climb the Breithorn with a guide. Whatever your ability, Zermatt offers some of the best walking in the Alps with ease of access on the lift network.

By: Pete Buckley

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