Hiking in the Wilderness with WildJunket

WildJunket founder, Nellie Huang, has hiked all over the world, from the arctic tundra in Norway, to the Galapagos Islands in the Pacific Ocean. Here, we ask her to reveal some of her most memorable adventures…

We Brits love a vigorous walk up a steep hill, especially if it culminates in a pub lunch. 
Nellie Huang, founder of popular adventure travel blog, WildJunket, enjoys hiking on
 a whole other level. You’ll need more 
than your long-johns, best pub guide and a bar of Kendle mint cake to survive these wild trails…

Nellie, originally from Singapore, packed to go travelling the day after she graduated from University. Having always dreamt of exploring the world, she spent the next few years of her life teaching and translating abroad while working up to a career in 
travel writing.

Today, she runs an adventure travel blog called WildJunket with her Spanish husband Alberto Molero, and the pair travel to far-flung destinations all over the world, photographing and blogging as they go.

WildJunket has since earned an impressive list of accolades, reaching third in Google US Top 100 Travel Sites, and number 16 on the UK version. It also ranked fifth in the Top Online Travel Influencers list and featured on Huffington Post as one of the Top Travel Twitterers.

Harnessing their worldwide audience, the couple have been able to fund some extraordinary travel experiences and live most of their lives as nomads journeying from country to country. We’ve managed to intercept Nellie and ask her a few questions!

What do you love most about hiking?

I love the freedom that hiking gives, and I really enjoy how close you can get to nature when you’re out on a hike. Hiking means being able to immerse deeply in the backcountry.

What are your packing essentials when setting out for a hike?

My iPhone (for GPS or taking photos), a bottle with water and dissolved hydration pills, small first-aid kit, a hat, snacks or a banana.

You’ve hiked in some pretty wild conditions – what’s the most extreme route you’ve taken?

There are a few that come to mind. Climbing the active Volcan Pacaya in Guatemala was quite an exciting experience. There was hot, molten lava right beneath our feet and my husband Alberto almost slipped and fell in! We also did a hike up the Eyjafjakkajull Volcano in Iceland, shortly after it erupted, and we ended up getting stuck in a snowstorm and having to turn around and run down the slope to our safety. In Arctic Norway, all the hikes we did had some form of risks involved, as we were either walking on slippery glaciers or trekking on tundra where polar bears roamed. Thankfully the expedition crew were armed with weapons in case of a polar bear attack.

Have you ever had to put your survival skills to the test?

Most of the time I’m accompanied by a local guide for safety reasons, so thankfully I haven’t had to use any survival skills. Even when I’d ventured out on my own, I’d never gotten lost or stuck in the wilderness. I think the essential thing is to practice common sense, not wander off too far on your own and be prepared with safety equipment.

Can you recommend any adventurous hikes?

Yes – lots!

1. ANNAPURNA MOUNTAINS – I did a trek in the Annapurna foothills, Nepal, and even though we were just in the foothills, the view of the Himalayas along the trek was just spectacular. They were definitely some of the most spectacular sights I’ve seen.

Travel info – The Annapurna region is in western Nepal, where some of the most popular treks are located. The Annapurna mountains themselves are a subrange of the Himalaya, among the most dangerous mountains to climb. The range extends east from a huge gorge in the Himalaya, carved by the Kaligandaki River.

A permit is required to enter the Annapurna Conservation Area Project, which covers most of the region. These can be issued in Kathmandu and Pokhara and will be needed to show at police stations along the trail.

You can reach the region either by bus from Pokhara, or by plane – several daily flights operate between Pokhara and Jomsom but these are always dependent on weather conditions.

2.GORILLAS IN UGANDA – By far the most memorable wildlife experience I’ve had was gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. I’ll never forget how intimate the experience was, watching gorillas just lounging around and having fun. Locking eyes with the silverback and seeing it almost charge at it made the experience all the more exciting.

Travel info – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is located in Southwestern Uganda, in the Kanungu District. It earns the name ‘impenetrable’ from the extensive jungle of bamboo, vines and ferns that grow between hardwood trees making it difficult to 
access by foot. The forest is one of the most biologically diverse areas on Earth, and it is home to half the world’s population of Mountain Gorillas.

To get there you can drive for two to three hours from Queen Elizabeth National park to the north, or take a six to eight hour drive from Mbarara. You could also choose to fly from Entebbe or Kampala to Kisoro.

3. TIGER’S NEST IN BHUTAN – The hike up to Bhutan’s most famous and sacred site, Tiger’s Nest, is quite short and easy, but definitely a must-do when visiting the country. It starts from the pine forests in the foothills and winds its way up a steep mountain. Once you round a bend, you’ll see the magnificent monastery in its full glory.

Travel info – Tiger’s Nest, the name for Takstsang Palphug Monastery, is a Himalayan Buddhist temple located in the cliffs of the upper Paro valley, in Bhutan. The route to Tiger’s Nest is famously beautiful, passing a large waterfall, numerous temples and a sacred pool.

You can fly into Paro from Bangkok, but flights are dependant on the weather.

4. ANTARCTICA – Antarctica is literally paradise for wildlife lovers. On our zodiac excursions, we would whizz by humpback whales and leopard seals; while hiking on land, we would stare at hundreds if not thousands of penguins soaking up the sun.

Travel info – Antarctica is the southernmost continent and the driest, coldest, windiest of them all. There are no human residents and the coldest temperature ever recorded is -89ºC.

Antarctic life includes emperor penguins, blue whales, albatross, orcas, colossal squids and fur seals.

There are a number of cruises 
operating around Antarctica, usually offering land excursions such as hiking, mountaineering and skiing.

Find great advice and inspiration for your own travels on the WildJunket website or even through the WildJunket Magazine online.

And why not stay connected with Nellie on her YouTube channel? Here’s an example of a beautiful snippet from one of her trips: