Harmen Hoek

This is a backpacking guide for hiking the island of Madeira, Portugal in 8-10 days. The island, located 1000 kilometers from Portugal in the Atlantic ocean, is often referred to as the Hawaii of Europe with its rough interior mountains and steep cliffs.
The route includes all the highlights of the island including all it's types of flora: from the wet coastal forests in the north, the magical Fanal forest up the plateau, some of the tallest waterfalls, the tallest peaks and the rough coastal cliffs.
The hike passes through dense rain forests, across the arid peaks and through several tunnels of the island famous water canals (levadas).

What this guide includes:
- Itinerary with flexible route for different lengths and difficulty, distances, best overnight (camping) options and other useful waypoints;
- custom Google Maps with all the important locations (official campsites, grocery stores, overnight options, water sources, trails and viewpoints);
- gpx-tracks of all the stages.
- all the practical information: how to get there, when to go, trail conditions, weather, geography and more.

Get an impression of the hike on YouTube/harmenhoek.

Note, this route is not the Madeira Island Ultra Trail (MIUT), but one optimized for hiking.


Backpacking the island of Madeira in 8-10 days

This 8-day 100km loop in Parque Nacional de Los Picos de Europa will take you through the most spectecular parts of the park, including the popular Cares Gorge, the ..., but also the most remote and wild part of the park deep in the Cornión massif. 
This guide contains everything you need to know to do this hike.

This guide is for wild camping on the most beautiful locations in the park. If you prefer to stay to stay only in refuges, see the refuges guide.

What this guide includes:
- day-by-day itinerary with the unique route, distances, elevation gain, overnight options, possible shortcuts and the best campsites (or refuges);
- custom Google Maps with the daily route and all the important locations (camping locations, water, resupplies, vistas, refuges);
- gpx-track of the route;
- all the practical information: how to get there, trail conditions, weather, geography and more.

Get an impression on Youtube/harmenhoek

Backpacking Los Picos de Europa in 7-8 days (camping)

This is a backpacking guide for hiking and camping 2-10 days in the Drakensberg of South Africa. This guide includes 4 different routes of various difficulty and length, including the route as seen in my Youtube film. In addition, all practical information is included: how to get there, permits, weather, overnight options and practical tips.

The Drakensberg mountains form part of the border between South Africa and the high plateau of Lesotho almost 1800 meters higher. These mountains are remote, and the terrain is challenging, but the landscape, views, caves for camping and people makes this my personal favorite hiking location in the world.

What this guide includes:
- 4 different itineraries with routes, distances, best overnight (camping) options and other useful waypoints;
- custom Google Maps with all the important locations (campsites, grocery stores, parking lots, caves, water sources, trails and viewpoints);
- gpx-tracks of all the routes.
- all the practical information: how to get there, trail conditions, weather, geography and more.

Get an impression on youtube/harmenhoek.

Backpacking the Drakensberg - South Africa

This 8-day 100-115km (65-75mi) loop in Parque Nacional de Los Picos de Europa will take you through the most spectecular parts of the park, including the popular Cares Gorge and the scenic Naranjo de Bulnes peak, but also the most remote and wild part of the park deep in the Cornión massif. 
This guide contains everything you need to know to do this hike.

This is the guide for overnights in refuges. If you prefer to wild camp, see the camping guide.

What this guide includes:
- day-by-day itinerary with the unique route, distances, elevation gain, overnight options and the best refuges;
- custom Google Maps with all the important locations (campsites, grocery stores, view points, trails, refuges);
- gpx-track of the route;
- all the practical information: how to get there, trail conditions, weather, geography and more.

Get an impression on Youtube/harmenhoek.

Backpacking Los Picos de Europa in 7-8 days (refuges)

This is a backpacking guide for hiking The Skye Trail in 5-8 days on the Isle of Skye in Scotland for wild camping and indoor overnights. This guide includes the route as seen in my Youtube film (including the bonus stage in the Cuillin Hills), overnight options and all practical information on getting there (public transport or car), when to go, climate and more. This route does not require extreme fitness.

What this guide includes:
- Itinerary with route, distances, best overnight (camping) options and other useful waypoints;
- custom Google Maps with all the important locations (the route, campsites, grocery stores, airports, overnight options, parking lots, trails and viewpoints);
- gpx-tracks of all the routes.
- all the practical information: how to get there, trail conditions, weather, geography and more.

Get an impression on Youtube/harmenhoek.

Backpacking The Skye Trail, Scotland (Isle of Skye)

This is a backpacking guide for hiking a variant of the Peaks of the Balkans (POB) trail in 7-13 days through Albania, Montenegro and Kosovo. This route includes all the highlights of the POB trail and adds some exclusive side tours with some of the most majestic landscapes not part of the official POB loop.

This guide provides a flexible itinerary dividing the loop up into 3 sections, with each section providing options for extra side trips (highest mountain of Kosovo and highest of the Albanian Alps, Grebaje valley). The tour can be done by either camping along the way, or sleeping in guesthouses/ hotels.
This guide includes the route as seen in my Youtube film and is suitable for all levels of experience.

What this guide includes:
- Itinerary with flexible route for different lengths and dificulty, distances, best overnight (camping) options and other useful waypoints (7 stages, 3 bonus stages);
- custom Google Maps with all the important locations (campsites, grocery stores, airports, overnight options, parking lots, water sources, trails and viewpoints);
- gpx-tracks of all the routes.
- all the practical information: how to get there, when to go, trail conditions, weather, geography and more.

Get an impression on Youtube/harmenhoek.

Backpacking the Peaks of the Balkans Trail (variant)

This 6-day 90km (55mi) backpacking trip will bring you along the most beautiful parts of Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park in Spain and Parc national des Pyrénées in France. The best way to experience this loop is by tent, but it is also possible to stay in refuges along the way. Too much for one go? You can also shorten the loop to 4 days (50km (30mi)) and still see all the highlights.

What this guide includes:
- day-by-day itinerary with the unique route, distances, elevation gain, overnight options and the best campsites (or refuges);
- custom Google Maps with all the important locations (campsites, grocery stores, view points, trails, refuges);
- gpx-track of the route;
- all the practical information: how to get there, trail conditions, weather, geography and more.

Get an impression on Youtube/harmenhoek.