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Towering rock walls rise on either side of me, and the passage ahead grows narrower and narrower. At the “Iron Gate,” the rocks are just three meters apart. I’m standing in the heart of the Samaria Gorge on Crete, and I can hardly stop marveling at the sight.

17 km through the Samaria Gorge on Crete

Our hike begins in the White Mountains. Around 17 kilometers lie ahead of us, mostly downhill to the sea. First, we descend along numerous switchbacks, passing pine trees and rugged rock walls. Later, we follow the mostly dry riverbed and reach the abandoned village of Samaria. Among the old houses, you can get a sense of how isolated life used to be here.

The farther we hike, the more impressive the gorge becomes. I could stop and take photos all the time. But that turns into a problem toward the end: suddenly, there’s only about an hour left until the last ferry! You can see whether we actually make it to the coast in time in our YouTube video.

My tip: Make sure you allow plenty of time for breaks and photos, keep an eye on the ferry schedule, and don’t forget sturdy hiking shoes, water and sun protection. You can also find the route to follow, including a GPS track, maps and more videos, in the HOME of TRAVEL App (available in the App Store and the Google Play Store).

Now I understand why Salfeinssee in Austria is also known as the “mirror of the Kalkkögel.” The lake reflects the imposing Dolomites of North Tyrol, which rise up in the background. This scenery is a highlight not just for photographers. Those seeking peace and quiet, as well as hiking enthusiasts, have also made the lake near Innsbruck a popular destination.

I’m standing on a vast rocky plateau, turning in a full circle. All around me, countless famous Dolomite peaks rise into the sky. Directly in front of me is the Sellamassiv, with the Langkofel towering beside it, and I have a fantastic view of the famous Seceda and the steeply rising Geislerspitzen next to it. I can see it all from Col dala Pieres, near St. Christina in Gröden. And the best part? This hike in Südtirol can still be called a “hidden gem.”

We’re standing among the treetops, surrounded by forest. Nothing but forest and trees. I’m right in the middle of one of Germany’s last ancient forests, in Hainich National Park in Thuringia. From the spectacular walkways of the treetop trail, I can look out over the entire area. I’m surrounded by green. This view of the ancient forest leaves me speechless. This must be what much of Germany looked like in the past.

The rising sun bathes the surroundings in a deep red light. Morning mist slowly rises from the valley. After a more or less restful night at the Wiener Neustädter Hütte, we welcome the new day with a large cup of coffee. The day before, we had already climbed from Eibsee to the hut. Now, around 750 m of elevation gain still lie ahead of us, along the Stopselzieher via ferrata and the impressive western flank of Zugspitze, to the summit of Germany’s highest mountain.

In my eyes, this mountain lake is one of the most beautiful Austria has to offer. Drachensee lies like a pearl at our feet, glowing in different shades of turquoise as we descend the steep, rocky trail from Grünsteinscharte. We’re right in the heart of the Mieminger Kette in Tyrol, and while the lake is the highlight of the hike, our tour is far from over.

We’re on a multi-day trek through the breathtaking Nockberge landscape in Kärnten. The Nockberge-Trail takes us over gentle, barren hilltops from one cozy mountain hut to the next. And I was instantly enchanted by this fascinating mountain world. Our destination is Millstätter See. But first, we’ll have to earn that plunge into the water by completing several daily stages, some of them quite long.

I sink into the snow up to my knees, following in the mountain guide’s footsteps. He leads us through the snow-covered Rosengarten massif. I never imagined it would feel so wintry already. This was supposed to be an autumn hike with spectacular views. Instead, we’re making our way through a winter wonderland. It instantly adds a little extra sense of adventure.

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There’s nothing quite like waking up in the middle of the mountains. But whether you’re spending just one night in a mountain hut, planning a longer hut-to-hut hike, or even crossing the Alps, an overnight stay in a hut always takes a little preparation. That starts with your gear. So here’s what I never head out on a hut-to-hut hike without.

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The Alps are far from uniform. Austria looks completely different from Slovenia. The Swiss mountains are just as distinct, and the Dolomites are in a league of their own. Over the summer, we visited many different mountain regions, and we’d like to share a road trip to some of the most beautiful places in the mountains.

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