The Trans Rift Trails is a 140km route that connects a network of footpaths across the most scenic part of the African Rift Valley across the basin floor, from ridge to ridge. Also known as ‘The Old African Highways’ the initiative is set to open up villages and draw more tourists to this scenic less-explored natural area. Through United Nations Development’s (UNDP) Small Grants Programme, the project has been granted funds to develop the age-old natural trails as well as promote active adventure tourism while supporting environmental conservation and boosting tourism in rural neighborhoods. The trans-rift trails in the North Rift starts from Chororget at Elgeiyo escarpment down to Sego and Kapkelelwe in Kerio Valley, Sacho, Tugen Hills through to...

Te Araroa is a continuous 3,000 km coast-to-coast walking track from Cape Reinga to Bluff in New Zealand, along beaches, rivers, lakes and crossing volcanoes, mountains and valleys. In 1990 Tongariro National Park was recognized as a World Heritage Site for its outstanding natural values and a wide variety of habitats. The volcanoes are noted for the frequency of eruptions, their highly explosive nature and the high density of volcanic vents. In 1993 the park was the first listed World Heritage Site for the spiritual and cultural values the landscape possesses for the indigenous people in the area. The mountains symbolize the spiritual links between the Maori people and their environment.

The Bataan Death March was the transfer of 75,000 American and Filipino soldiers who were surrendered to Japanese forces during World War II after the three-month Battle of Bataan in the Philippines in extreme-climate conditions. Soon after the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Japanese forces began the invasion of the Philippines. The capture of the  Philippines was crucial to the Japanese. It would bring them one step closer to the control of the Southwest Pacific. The Philippines were just as important to the U.S. Having troops in the Philippines gave the U.S. footing in the Southwest Pacific. After the invasion of the Philippines, U.S.-Filipino troops defended the crucial lands. These brave soldiers were responsible for the defense of...

A 117K route circling around Nijmegen, the oldest town of the Netherlands.This path shows the beautiful variety of landscapes with winding dykes, mills, lakes, river sand dunes, rolling forests, and peaceful nature. You’ll experience the fascinating history of the region, from Roman trade routes, castles and centuries-old pilgrimage places to strategically located fortified towns such as Ravenstein and Grave that played an important role in World War II. The terrain is a mixture of unpaved paths and concrete. The route is marked by yellow/red signs. NB: Because of Corona I’ll adjust the route of the last 2 stages just a bit, so I won’t need to cross the border to Germany and can stay within the Netherlands. It might shorten...

On March 7, 1965, Martin Luther King Jr. led the historic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, USA, for equal rights. It ended in a “Bloody Sunday”, when police attacked and tear-gassed 600 unarmed, peaceful marchers and 17 people were injured. On March 21, 1965, flanked by members of the Alabama National Guard, the protestors tried again. They marched for five days along U.S. Highway 80, the men donning three-piece suits and the women in their best dresses and high heels. They camped at night along the way, and by the time they reached the capitol steps in Montgomery on March 25, 1965, it was estimated that they were more than 25,000 strong. Sheyann Webb was only 8 years old...

The San Antonio Missions are a group of five frontier mission complexes situated along a 12.4-kilometer (7.7-mile) stretch of the San Antonio River basin in southern Texas. The complexes were built in the early eighteenth century and as a group they illustrate the Spanish Crown’s efforts to colonize, evangelize and defend the northern frontier of New Spain. In addition to evangelizing the area’s indigenous population into converts loyal to the Catholic Church, the missions also included all the components required to establish self-sustaining, socio-economic communities loyal to the Spanish Crown. Image by Tom Sramek Jr

The Great Silk Road is one of the oldest routes of international trade in the world. This system of caravan routes connected Asia with the Mediterranean and European world and started from Xian in China to Rome in Italy. The ca. 6,437 kilometers (4,000 miles) network of routes was used by traders for more than 1,500 years, from when the Han dynasty of China opened trade in 130 B.C.E. until 1453 C.E. Connecting eastern and western margins of Eurasian continent, extended routes of the Silk Road crossed China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. On the east the road led to Korea and Japan; on the west to Russia, Eastern and Western Europe; on the south to India and Middle...

The Tuareg caravan is one of the two last salt caravan routes in the Sahara that are still in use. Both caravans have largely been replaced by unpaved truck routes. Each winter Tuareg caravans cross Niger’s Ténéré Desert to fetch salt from the Bilma oasis and barter millet for dates. The salt was then transported and traded in Koumbi Saleh, Niani, and Timbuktu for  ivory, hides, copper, iron, cereals, and even gold dust.  Salt was a scarce but highly valued and essential mineral when the Ténéré region became drier and fresh, salt containing plant food was hard to find. Salt was needed to stay hydrated in the hot desert, to preserve dried meat and to give food more flavor.  In...

With temperatures that can reach 130 °F (54 °C) Death Valley is the hottest and driest of the national parks in the United States. The route from Badwater to the top of Mount Whitney connects the lowest point, 282 feet below sea level with the driest, hottest place in the United States. The two places are only 80 miles apart but the course’s cumulative elevation gain exceeds 19,000 feet (5,800 m).

This National Historic Trail in Alaska is the only winter trail in the US National Trails System. The main trail of 1,000 mile, also known as the Seward-to-Nome Trail, crosses several mountain ranges and valleys. The additional 1,400 miles of side/connecting trails link communities and historic sites, and were established by Alaskan native Indians and Eskimos to connect their villages. The trail served as a supply route during Alaska’s Gold Rush in 1910, and was used to transport mail carried by dogsleds.  Congress designated the Iditarod as a National Historic Trail in 1978. In 2004, the Forest Service signed a decision to establish a commemorative trail system on the southern portion of the Iditarod National Historic Trail. This southern trek of the...

The Jordan Trail is a long distance hiking trail in Jordan connecting the length of Jordan from Um Qais in the north to Aqaba in the south.

Until more efficient ways of transport were developed, running was a common way to transfer a message. Especially in times of war it was important to have couriers with strong endurance, who could cover long distances as fast as possible. One of the most famous battles in world history was the Battle of Marathon, that took place 490 B.C. in Greece. It constituted a landmark and a starting point in the history of civilization. The traditional story as described by historian Herodotus tells that Pheidippides (530 BC–490 BC) was a message runner in Athens who was sent to Sparta to ask for help to defeat the Persians after their invasion in Marathon, Greece. He ran 246 km (152 mi) in...