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2009 TRIP
SCHEDULE IS ON-LINE!
We thought you'd like to know that our 2009 trip calendar is now online at
www.walkingsoftly.com. Prices for 2009 should will be posted by early
October. Please note that some trips sell out quickly, so it isn’t too early
to sign up for a 2009 trip! Remember you can make a preliminary reservation
on our secure website, and we will contact you before processing your
deposit.
You'll see that we are now offering Mountain Hiking Holidays year-round
and on five continents!
Here's the line-up of NEW TRIPS for 2009! |
Alpenglow illuminates the slopes of
Ngauruhoe Volcano in New Zealand's Tongariro National Park (top). Gentle
walks lead you into the heart of the spectacular mountain landscapes of the
Dolomites on our new "Dolomites for Walkers" trip (middle)! A visit to the
incomparable Machu Picchu (above) caps off the new Trekking Peru trip which
features a circumnavigation of the sacred peak of Ausangate (bottom). |
HIKING NEW ZEALAND.
Sample the best trails on both the North and South Islands. From the hot
springs, geysers, and volcanic landscapes of the north to the golden
beaches, fjords and rugged mountains of the south, this is a journey
you’ll long remember. As of today, only 7 spots remain available on this
exciting hiking adventure! (FEBRUARY 2009)
DOLOMITES FOR WALKERS.
If you are a fan of the high mountains but prefer gentler walks rather
than more strenuous hikes this trip is designed for you! Each day select
a walk that's between three and six miles in length, with an average of
500 feet of elevation gain/loss. Evenings are spent in small family-run
hotels. The Ice Man exhibit in Bolzano, wine tasting, and a castle round
out the itinerary. (JULY 2009)
TREKKING PERU.
After two days acclimating in Cusco, begin a 6-day trek around soaring,
ice-encrusted Ausangate, a peak sacred to the Quechua-speaking people.
This is a "trekking-style" trip with multiple nights spent in tents at
backcountry campsites in the heart of the Peruvian Andes! (Your trek is
fully supported so tents, food, and bedding will all be provided and
transported for you.) If you have a sense of adventure, relish the
thought of spending the evenings in mountain camps away from towns and
cities and are prepared to hike at elevations between 10,000 and 15,000
feet, this may just be the trip for you. This trip also includes a visit
to Machu Picchu. (JULY 2009) |
Emblematic of China, the Great Wall
provides hikers with a unique way to experience the mountains of northern
China. |
HIKING THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA. In the
wake of the Beijing Olympics, travel with us on our inaugural hiking
trip to China! Enjoy a sampling of hikes along the best preserved
sections of the Great Wall of China starting at Qinhuangdao where the
wall enters the Bohai Sea. Traveling westward you'll hike sections of
the wall at Shanhaiguan ("First Pass Under Heaven," where the wall makes
its first ascent into the mountains), Dongjiakou, Huangyaguan and
Mutianyu. A highlight of the trip is the two-day trek along the
Simatai-Jinshanling Great Wall, a spectacular stretch of continuous wall
through mountainous terrain. A Beijing city tour and a visit to the
eastern Qing Tombs round out the itinerary! (OCTOBER 2009)
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KYUSHU
TRAILS: HIKING JAPAN'S SOUTHERN ISLAND. This hiking adventure in
southern Japan promises a variety of hiking experiences through a range of
landscapes. Explore the classic volcanic landscapes of Kirishima and Mount
Aso (which boasts one of the world's largest volcanic calderas) and the
verdant landscapes of Yakushima, a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site
known for its mountains cloaked in ancient cedar forests. This trip is timed
to take advantage of Kyushu's fall foliage display commonly referred to in
Japanese as "momiji-gari." (OCTOBER 2009) |
Moraine Lake and the Valley of the Ten
Peaks are one of Banff National Park's highlights (top). Summer snow graces
the Garden Wall above the Grinnell Glacier in Glacier National Park
(bottom). |
If you're looking for trips closer to home,
consider the following options:
HIKING THE CANADIAN ROCKIES.
Hike through the World Heritage landcapes of Banff and Yoho National
Parks, two of the "crown jewels" of the Canadian Rockies. Turquoise
lakes, deep forests, and soaring, snow-flecked, sculpted peaks are the
signature elements of a striking mountain landscape you're not likely to
soon forget! (JULY 2009)
HIKING GLACIER NATIONAL PARK. Hike the
trails of America's Switzerland. Enjoy mountain meadows, lakes, and
glaciated landscapes as powerful and impressive as those of the
Dolomites and Pyrenees--destinations that have been such a favorite for
Walking Softly hikers over the years. The classic mountain lodges of
Glacier National Park will provide comfortable accommodations after
active days on the trail! (AUGUST 2009) |
Mount Olympus is the centerpiece of
Olympic National Park, one of North America's premier wilderness areas
(top). The graceful cone of Nicaragua's Momotombo Volcano is one of the five
volcanoes that we'll climb on the Nicaragua Volcano Challenge (bottom). |
HIKING OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK. One of the best preserved mountain
ranges in the continental US, the trails of Olympic National Park in
Washington State lead hikers through a wonderland of temperate
rainforests, lake-studded alpine meadows, and soaring glacier-clad
peaks. After years of hiking mountain trails around the world, the
Olympics are still a favorite. John Osaki spent several years working as
a backcountry ranger in Olympic National Park and he's excited to
present some of his favorite hikes to you in this new Walking Softly
adventure! (AUGUST 2009)
NICARAGUA VOLCANO CHALLENGE. Climb
five volcanoes in five days! Some of Central America's most beautiful
volcanoes are here in the emerging and welcoming destination of
Nicaragua. The ascents of the volcanoes are non-technical in nature, but
they are physically challenging. This trip is best for experienced
hikers comfortable with steep ascents on uneven surfaces. Overnights
will be spent in comfortable accommodations in a restored convent in the
Spanish colonial town of Leon. This trip will be limited to a maximum of
eight persons. Be among the first to experience Nicaragua, a destination
that Travel + Leisure Magazine called the next Costa Rica. (NOVEMBER
2009) |
Hikers on the 2008 Northern Greece
hiking trip stop for a rest beneath "the original" Mount Olympus in Greece
(top). Popovo Ezero ("Priest Lake") graces the alpine country of Bulgaria's
Pirin National Park (bottom). |
The following hiking trips are also on the schedule for 2009:
PATAGONIA (Argentina and Chile)
(FEBRUARY 2010)
HIKING NORTHERN GREECE (JUNE 2009)
HIKING BULGARIA (JUNE 2009)
HIKING SWITZERLAND (JUNE 2009)
HIKING THE DOLOMITES (JULY 2009)
HOKKAIDO TRAILS: HIKING JAPAN's OUTBACK
(AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2009) |
A short hike brings you to Ed Deir ("the Monastery") at Petra in Jordan (top). Kyoto's Kinkakuji
(the Golden Pavilion) is covered in gold leaf (bottom). |
WORLD HERITAGE JOURNEYS
In addition, two "World Heritage Journeys" are also scheduled for 2009.
These trips have a strong focus on the cultural heritage of each
destination. While not designed specifically as hiking trips, these
trips feature easy walks that keep you active and outdoors.
JORDAN HERITAGE. A highlight of this
trip is a three-day stay at Petra, Jordan's signature archaeological
site. You'll have plenty of time to immerse yourself in Petra set in
dramatic canyon country reminiscent of the southwestern U.S.
Complementing your stay at Petra will be leisurely visits to Roman
ruins, Crusader forts, and the impressive landscapes of the Dead Sea,
the Dana Biosphere Reserve and the remarkable desert at Wadi Rum.
(OCTOBER 2009)
HERITAGE OF JAPAN. A repeat of
the sold-out trip in November 2008. Here's another chance to experience
the alluring, centuries-old culture that lies behind contemporary
Japan's facade of modernity. This itinerary is full of visits to World
Heritage Sites including the temples and monuments of Kyoto and Nara,
the seventeenth century castle at Himeji, the traditional houses of
Shirakawa-go, and the sacred temple complex and pilgrimage routes at
Koyasan. A walk on the Nakasendo Way, the ancient route between Tokyo
and Kyoto, rounds out this program.
Please visit our website and peruse the offerings. You can sign-up
on-line so it’s easy to reserve your place on a 2009 trip! |
Drakolimni ("Dragon's Lake") in northern
Greece's Pindos Mountains is surrounded by lush meadows and towering peaks
(top). The day hike across the Daisetsuzan highlands on Japan's northern
island of Hokkaido ranks as one of the finest day hikes in the world, in our
book (bottom)! |
MEMORIES FROM THE TRAIL 2008
Our inaugural trips to Patagonia in February and March 2008 were
well-received, and both groups were fortunate to experience unusually
fine weather in a region better known for for its meteorological
unpredictability! We've set up a little
gallery of photos taken during
Walking Softly's trip to Patagonia if you'd like to have a look at these
outstanding mountain landscapes at the "end of the earth."
Images posted from the the trail on the Northern Greece, Bulgaria,
Maritime Alps, and Hokkaido hiking trips can be seen at
John Osaki's blog. Once the blog page loads, do the
following:
For images from the Greece and Bulgaria hiking trips, click on "June
2008" under Archives on the right side of the page.
For images from the Maritime Alps hiking trip, click on "July 2008"
under Archives on the right side of the page.
For images from the Hokkaido hiking trip, click on the "August 2008" and
the "September 2008" links under Archives on the right side of the page.
You can also visit John Osaki's
Mtnseeker Channel on YouTube
for videos from the Patagonia, Bulgaria, and Hokkaido hiking trips.
Amy Osaki's blog
contains images
from the July 2008 Peru-Bolivia trip. Once the page loads, click on the
"July 2008" link under Archives.
UPCOMING
Amy Osaki will be working with Japanese guides to lead the Japan
Heritage trip in November 2008. Starting on November 9, 2008 you'll be
able to point your browser to www.walkingsoftly.com/amyblog to see
photos of the Japan Heritage adventure as it occurs!
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Ossikova Kashta, our mountain inn,
awaits you in Kovachevitsa, Bulgaria. |
AN INN IN BULGARIA!
Our small inn, Ossikova Kashta, nestled in the village of Kovachevistsa
in southern Bulgaria is nearing completion. If you haven’t yet traveled
to this beautiful and historic country, consider adding it to your list.
In addition to great mountain hiking, Bulgaria beckons those fascinated
by Roman ruins, Thracian sites, Orthodox monasteries, excellent wine and
extraordinary music. Bulgaria's proximity to Greece and Turkey means
it's possible to create an exciting three country travel adventure with
part of the time spent at Ossikova Kashta. (Ossikova Kashta is only two
hours by car from the Aegean Sea in Greece, so it's even possible to
make day trip to the beach!) Once it's completed, you'll be able to book
a room at the inn. Please let us know if you want to be notified when
the inn is completed so you can be among the first guests at our inn
which is also known in Bulgarian as Kashtata na Rozite ("The House of
Roses").
Our best wishes to you, and enjoy the autumn! We hope to see you on a
Walking Softly adventure in 2009!
Warmest regards,
Amy & John Osaki
and the Walking Softly team |
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