Trekking – Maldo Travels

Quilotoa – Volcanic Crater Lake

Jean Maldonado — Wed, 08 Jan 2020 22:01:00 +0000

From Quito, it’s about a 3-hour drive south and it’s easiest to get there by car. An organized tour from Quito would be the best option. For a cheaper alternative, you could first take public transport to Latacunga. From here, you can take another bus or hire private transportation to Quilotoa. There’s a small town at the top of the caldera which has some hostels, restaurants, and a parking lot. When entering the small town, there is a 2 USD¹ fee per car. This is the only fee and gives everyone access to the lake. We got there at around noon and after parking the car, we first headed to a viewing deck at the tip of the caldera. There are several great spots to take pictures of the lake.

After taking some pictures, we headed down the trail to the lake. It’s mostly rocky but in some parts, there is gravel/sand. It took us about 35 minutes to get down to the lake. There’s a small shop by the lake where you can buy some snacks and drinks. You can also rent kayaks for 30 minutes (3 USD), 1 hour (6 USD), and 3 hours (10 USD). We rented some Kayaks for 30 minutes and managed to row about halfway into the lake. We got a bit wet from kayaking, so after giving the kayaks back we dried off in the sun by the small pier on the lake. We then went for a short walk by the shoreline before heading back up. The hike up is steep and more challenging but you can rent mules for 10 USD to take you back. I walked back up and it took me about 50 minutes. The altitude makes it harder and I was very out of breath by the time I got back up.

We then had some lunch at a restaurant in the town before heading back to Quito. On the way back, we stopped at the Toachi River Canyon which is a short 20-minute drive into the journey. It’s quite an amazing sight as it looks like the ground has been torn apart. It was a quick 15-minute stop for pictures before continuing on our way back. Whilst on the highway back to Quito, we caught a glimpse of the towering Cotopaxi volcano. The skies where quite clear and we could see other volcanos in the area which made for a great drive back.

Mount Ijen – Blue Fire Crater

Jean Maldonado — Mon, 23 Sep 2019 21:36:52 +0000

When looking online, the cheapest tour to hike to the Mount Ijen Crater was around 120 USD². We decided to book tours once we arrived at Kuta since it’s usually cheaper to buy once your there. We found a 1-day private tour that cost 1,500,000 IDR³ which was around 105 USD at the time of writing. Our driver picked us up from the hotel at around 6 PM and we headed to Gilmanuk Harbor on the western tip of Bali. The drive took around 5 hours making a stop at some stalls on the highway about halfway through. Once we reach the harbor, the driver becomes our guide and buys our tickets for a ferry to Ketapang. We took the 11.30 PM ferry and it takes about 1 hour 30 minutes to cross the Bali strait. At Ketapang harbor, our driver/guide then takes us to the Jeep that’s waiting for us with another driver and Ijen guide. Note that the clocks have gone back 1 hour so it’s still around midnight when we arrive. It’s then about a 1-hour 30-minute drive to the base camp at Bumi Perkemahan Paltuding. In these early hours, it’s pitch black and freezing cold outside. We take refuge in a cafe to get a hot drink and some food before beginning our hike.

At around 1.45 AM we set out with some flashlights to climb Mount Ijen. It’s a dirt trail and starts with a gradual initial ascent which gets steeper. We took a couple of breaks and took these opportunities to look up at the starlit sky which was a wonderful sight. After about 40 minutes, we reach a refuge for a 10-minute break. There are some benches to rest on and you can buy some drinks/snacks at a stall. We then continue for another 25 minutes to the top of the crater. Once at the top, our guide shows us how to put on our gas masks to protect us from the sulfur clouds. It’s then about a 30-minute walk down the crater. The trail here becomes gravel/sandy and is much steeper so it can be quite slippery if you’re wearing trainers. Pay attention and give way to the miners climbing up the crater since they can be carrying around 80 KG on their shoulders. Once at the bottom of the crater, the sulfur smell is quite strong even with the gas masks on. You can see the miners at work here and they also have a stall selling carved sulfur rocks as souvenirs. It is here where you can see the famous blue fire burning down the side of the crater. We got down there at 3.40 AM and there was already quite a big crowd. It’s an amazing sight and it hides behind sulfur clouds which makes it tricky to get a picture that captures its beauty. We stayed for about 15 minutes before heading to the top of the mountain for sunrise.

We started to see some light at around 4.30 AM and we got to our sunrise spot at about 4.50 AM. It’s still quite cold and there are some stone structures to take refuge in while waiting for the sun to come up. One of the guides got a little bonfire going in one of them and people gathered around to warm up. As the sun comes up, it’s a beautiful sight but a bit of an awkward spot as there’s a massive mountain that stands in the way of the sunrise. We stayed until around 5.20 AM and then started our journey back down.

On the way down, we made several stops to take pictures of the lake but it was very cloudy from the gases. However, the view of the surrounding landscape is breathtaking as you can see mountain peaks above a seabed of clouds. We made a stop at a restroom which you can find at the rim of the crater before making the descent. Then, we began our descent at around 6 AM, making a couple stops for pictures of the landscape we had not seen on the way up in the darkness. Along the way, we saw miners offering to take people in their carts. The way down was much quicker and we got back to the car park at around 7 AM.

After getting changed, we get back in the jeep to head out on the 1-hour 30-minute drive back to the Ketapang Harbor. We took the 9 AM ferry back to Gilmanuk harbor. With the 1-hour time difference, we reached the harbor at 11.30 AM and then set out on our 5-hour drive back to Kuta. We made a stop for lunch at a highway buffet-style restaurant which was probably the most authentic Balinese meal I had. We got back to our hotel at around 5 PM and went to get some sleep to rest from the exhausting but unforgettable experience.

Bali – A Full Day Tour Around Ubud

Jean Maldonado — Sun, 22 Sep 2019 23:07:49 +0000

A couple of my friends who had been to Bali said that Ubud was one of their favorite places to stay. Since we didn’t have time to stay there, we took a private transportation tour which went to some of the sites around Ubud which cost 700,000 IDR⁴ each. We were picked up from our hotel in Kuta at around 8.30 AM. Our first stop was at Tari Barong Jambe for a traditional dance show and we got there just in time for the 9.30 AM show. It’s an outdoor stage and tickets cost 100,000 IDR. Upon entrance, they hand out a program with the stories of the scenes for you to follow. The show lasts about an hour and it was interesting but it was a little too long and I don’t think it was worth it. Next, we continue another 10 minutes to Celuk Swing & Luwak Coffee. At this site, they sell the famous Luwak coffee. The entrance is free and one of the attendants takes you around the site on a guided tour. She stopped at several photo spots and talks about the procurement process of Luwak coffee. She then leaves us at a bench with a tea and coffee menu for us to get free samples of. We get a choice of 13 but the Luwak Coffee sample costs 50,000 IDR. There is also a swing next to the benches over the terraces and she tells us it costs 300,000 IDR. After the samples, she takes us to the shop if we’d like to buy any of the samples we tried. Overall, this was site was an interesting experience and well worth the visit. The drinks were very good and we ended up buying some, but the swing was a little too pricy.

We then get back to the car and continue another 5 minutes to the traditional Balinese Batuan Temple. Our driver dropped us off near the entrance and told us we first need to pick up some Sarongs opposite the temple. This was to cover up our bare legs since we were wearing shorts. Entrance to the temple is free but there is a donation box when you pick up the Sarong. There are several shrines at the temple and the detailed carvings throughout are very impressive. We spent about 20 minutes here walking around and taking some pictures before continuing.

Our next stop is a 10-minute drive away to Tegenungan Waterfall and we got there at 12.30 PM. Our driver dropped us off near the entrance and tickets cost 40,000 IDR each. It’s about a 15-20 minute walk down to the waterfall and on the way, there are several photo spots at some viewpoints. Once at the stream, you can get in to go for a swim. The water is quite shallow but it gets deeper closer to the waterfall. There are some buoys and rope to cordon off access to the waterfall so you can’t get too close to it for safety. A short walk down the stream, there is a small spring water pool you can get into. There are also some benches and toilets just outside the pool. There’s also a bridge to cross to the other side of the stream. You can then climb up the other side to a restaurant where there is a swing over the waterfall. We didn’t have time to check it out since we had to be back up at the parking lot by 1.45 PM.

The final stop is at the Tegallalang Rice Terrace which was a 35-minute drive away. This spot is very busy with lots of traffic on its 2-lane road so the driver dropped us off a short walk away. There was a guard helping people cross the road and he asked for a donation. We thought this was for entering the rice fields but after going down some steps, there was another official asking for donations to the rice terrace. We gave the guard 20,000 IDR and the 30,000 to enter the rice terrace. The views of the terraces are amazing. There are several swings but they cost around 300,000 IDR which is quite pricy. There were also locals with their tools offering photo opportunities but we didn’t ask how much. You can walk down to the stream and then climb up to the other side of the terraces. On the way up to the other side, there is another official asking for donations. We gave 20,000 IDR and continued to the top. It’s a nice place to visit but there are lots of tourists and the locals charging ‘donations’ everywhere. We finished our visit at around 3 PM and met our driver in a nearby parking lot. We then headed back to Kuta which took almost 2 hours with horrendous traffic.

Gili Islands – A Remote Paradise

Jean Maldonado — Sat, 21 Sep 2019 22:01:37 +0000

Coming from Kuala Lumpur, we arrived at Bali International Airport at around 10 PM. Getting through customs was fairly straightforward and when exiting, there were several tour sales reps around. We found an ATM at the airport to get cash out and then we got a Grab⁵ to our hotel in Kuta. We didn’t have boat tickets yet for the Gili Islands so we asked our driver who gave us a Whatsapp number for a sales rep. There was no more space on the boats departing from the nearby port at Serangan, but the rep said there was a boat leaving from Padang Bai to Gili Trawangan at 10 AM. This harbor was about an hour’s drive away and the sales rep said he could offer us return tickets plus transportation for 1,600,000 IDR⁶ for both of us. It was quite pricy but it was similar to what we found online for just boat tickets. The car picked us up at around 8.30 AM the following day to take us to Padang Bai. There was a lot of traffic getting out of Kuta but we made it to the harbor in time for the boat. The pier at the harbor was very busy with lots of people waiting to get on their boats. We’re all given stickers to help the staff determine who goes on which boat. As you board the boat, they take your luggage to secure onto the boat. You then head down to sit in the lower deck. The boat travels quite quickly and about 20 minutes in, the captain announces that people can head to the upper deck. Beer is also available to buy on the boat. It’s quite a long journey and we arrived at Gili Trawangan at 12.30 PM.

The Island

We stayed on the largest of the Gili islands, Gili Trawangan, which is also known as Gili T. The main strip on the east side of the island is filled with tour agencies, restaurants, hotels, and bars. There are also lots of certified scuba diving agencies, many of which also offer accommodation. This part of the island is very lively and great to relax in during the day. It has beautiful sandy beaches with crystal clear blue waters. In the evening, you can catch the sunset whilst having a drink or some dinner with a view of the sea. At night, the bars have live music and there are 2 or 3 clubs on the strip. The atmosphere is great with people dancing on the beach outside the club. There is also a night food market that does some great barbecues and fresh seafood. The west side of the island is less busy and has some resort hotels. It’s a great spot to catch the sunset and it’s a short 25-minute walk from the east side. You can also rent bikes if you’d like to explore more of the island.

Snorkeling

We booked this tour for 100,000 IDR each and the boat left the pier at 1.30 PM. The first snorkeling stop is at the shore of Gili Meno. There are some corals here and lots of colorful fishes. The main attraction is some statues on the seabed where lots of fish swim around. The water is clear, calm, and quite shallow which makes it great for snorkeling. We spend about 30 minutes here before heading to Turtle Point. The waters here are much deeper and fewer fishes are swimming around. The highlight here is that you are pretty much guaranteed to spot turtles swimming or resting on the seabed. We made 2 stops at different parts of the Turtle Point and got to see lots of turtles. We stayed in the area for about an hour and 15 minutes before heading to Gili Air for some food. We’re taken to a restaurant inland and then have some time to walk around the island. This is the smallest island and much quieter than Gili T, but it also has similar sandy beaches with crystal clear blue waters. After a short walk, we then headed to the boat and back to Gili T.

Lombok – Waterfall Tour

Jean Maldonado — Fri, 20 Sep 2019 23:21:27 +0000

After several beach days on Gili T, I looked into some adventurous tours. We found a private tour to visit some waterfalls in Lombok on a day trip for 400,000 IDR¹ each. The speedboat left from the beach at 8.30 AM and it was a short 20-minute sail to the Lombok harbor on the northwest side of the island. At the harbor, we waved our tour ticket and someone came over to take us to our transportation. It took about 1 hour 30 minutes to reach the starting point of the trail to the waterfalls. The driver said he’ll be waiting there and we headed out with a guide who was waiting for us there.

First, we head to the Tiu Kelep waterfall which takes about 50 minutes to reach. On the way, we go past Sendang Gile waterfall and the guide says we’ll stop here on the way back. The trail starts by following the canal and is partly paved. When we reach a stream, the trail becomes a little more tricky and at some points, you have to climb over boulders and fallen tree trunks. There weren’t many people on the trail and when we arrived, there were only about a dozen people there. It’s a 2-platform waterfall where the lower waterfall is wide and the upper waterfall is narrow and tall. There are several photo spots around. You can also try and get closer to the waterfall but you get wet by a mist created from the water splashing down.

We spent about 20 minutes at Tiu Kelep waterfall before getting back on the trail to the Sedang Gile waterfall. It took about 20 minutes to reach the waterfall and there’s a rest area with benches. This waterfall is taller but you can also get close to it and have a shower beneath it. We also spent about 20 minutes here before heading back to the car. At the starting point of the trail, there’s a restaurant where we had some lunch. At around 2.15 PM we then begin the journey back to the harbor to catch our boat back to Gili T. We got there at around 3.45 PM and in the main pier, we asked where the next boat to Gili T leaves from. They pointed us to the beach area and we saw some people gathered around there waiting. The boat came at 4 PM and got back to Gili T by 4.20 PM.

Hong Kong – Scenic Island City

Jean Maldonado — Sun, 15 Sep 2019 10:42:00 +0000

From Beijing, it’s a 3-hour 30-minute flight to Hong Kong. Our flight was scheduled to depart at 3.30 AM so we took a taxi to the airport for 130 RMBRenminbi.'>⁶ plus a 10 RMB airport toll. Since there was no traffic, it was a short 40-minute drive to the airport. In these early hours, the airport was very quiet so checking our bags and getting through customs was quick and easy. We landed in Hong Kong at 7 AM and once again went through customs and security quite quickly. There are bus and train options to get from the airport to the city. We connected to the airport WiFi and got an Uber⁷ since we wanted to get into the city quickly. It took about 45 minutes to get to our hostel in Causeway Bay and cost 332 HKDHong Kong Dollar'>⁸. Our room wasn’t ready yet so we left our bags and set out to explore the city.

The City

We stayed in Hong Kong for 4 days and other than checking out some viewpoints, we explored the city. There’s a very well organized metro system which makes getting around the city quick and easy. The fares depend on how far you’re traveling on the metro and you can check on the machines which can be set to English. We stayed in the Causeway Bay area which is bustling with lots of shops and restaurants. It’s also a short ride on the metro to Central where there are more malls among many skyscrapers. There is also a lively nightlife in Central with many bars and clubs in the area. Central also has ferries to cross the bay or for a day trip to Macau. Ferries to the mainland at Tsim Sha Tsui cost 3.70 HKD. At Tsim Sha Tsui, there’s a nice boardwalk called the Avenue of the Stars which goes along the bay. It’s a good spot to catch the sunset but we decided to catch the sunset at the Sky 100 observation deck in the International Commerce Center building. We bought our tickets for 135 HKD each and found that it’s cheaper to buy online rather than at the ticket office. Back on the Central side, there is also an Observation Wheel at the AIA Vitality Park which costs 20 HKD each. Overall, Hong Kong is a beautiful city that can be explored at your own pace via public transport.

Victoria Peak

This viewpoint is easily accessible via a funicular and its cheaper to buy tickets online. You get great views on the journey up to the peak and once at the destination station, there are several viewpoints. There are also some shops and restaurants there as well as the Madame Tussauds wax museum. From the station, there is another viewpoint along a trail that goes down the mountain which is a short 10-minute walk away. After taking some pictures there, we followed Google Maps for the Victoria Peak viewpoint. We got a bit lost and ended up at Victoria Peak Pavillion which was also a nice viewpoint. We then had to make a bit of a U-turn to get to Victoria Peak. The route is mainly along narrow roads with a couple of cars occasionally passing by. The last 5 minutes of the walk is along a dirt path going through trees and bushes. Once at the top, you get a great view of the city and the bay. The way back down to the station took us about 25 minutes so it’s not that far away.

Suicide Cliff

Another hike to a viewpoint is the infamously named Suicide Cliff. Although the path can be a little treacherous, it’s a fairly straightforward hike up to the viewpoint. There are several trails to the viewpoint and we chose to do a long one starting at City One metro station. We followed the directions on this site and they also have a handy Google Maps route. It’s a scenic hike with several views of the city along the way. From City One, we walked along the road towards Lion Rock Country Park. Once inside the park, there is a dirt trail going through trees. There is a small stream along the way to fill up your water bottle if you have a filter. It was very hot when we went with temperatures reaching 34 degrees. The route goes through Kowloon Peak Viewpoint which has great panoramics of the city. It’s possible to get a taxi/Uber here if you’re not into hikes. From this viewpoint, the route continues into the mountain and there is a warning sign saying it’s not safe. This is when the hike gets more difficult as the trail goes through overgrown grass and bushes. I was wearing shorts and got a couple of cuts from the bushes. Eventually, the trail leads past some antennas of the radio station and arrives at Suicide Cliff. The views of the city’s skyline from here are amazing. Overall, the hike was very tiring taking about 4 hours and 30 minutes to get to the top but with rewarding views. It was then another hour to go down to the main road. We were looking to get an Uber but it was about 5.30 PM now and the traffic was horrendous. So we decided to walk another 30 minutes to Choi Hung metro station to get back to our hostel.

Great Wall of China at Jinshanling

Jean Maldonado — Mon, 09 Sep 2019 22:09:00 +0000

There are many tours for different sections of the Great Wall of China. I was looking for one which included hiking along the wall so I decided to book this tour online. The tour agency emails you to ask for your contact details beforehand and informed us via Whatsapp that our pick-up from the hotel would be at 6.30 AM. The tour bus is quite big with capacity for around 80 people. It was around 8 AM when we were done picking up other groups. It was then a 2-hour drive to Gubei Water Town Hotel and the guide gives some info on the schedule. He also calls out some names to hand out water and some bread if a snack was included in your tour ticket. There was also a quick stop at a gas station for some rest in between. At the hotel, some people get off and stayed in the town for another tour. The rest of us are given some time to use the restroom at the hotel and walk to the river for some pictures. It’s a beautiful small town and it looked like a great place to stay for a night if you have the time.

We then get back on the bus and continue for another 30 minutes to Jinshanling arriving at 10.50 AM. The guide then talks about the hike up and asks those who want to take the cable car up to the wall. This was not included in the ticket so he needs to know before buying the tickets. Once that is sorted out, there is a train buggy that takes everyone up to the entrance and cable car station which is a 10-minute ride up. After getting our tickets validated, those who bought cable car tickets head to the station and everyone else hikes up to the wall along the trail. Before setting out on the trail, the guide tells everyone where the meeting point will be after the 3-hour hike. He says we can all walk at our own pace and that he will walk at the end to make sure no one gets left behind. The path to the wall takes about 20 minutes and it is easy to follow. There weren’t many tourists but there was a school trip going up to the wall so it was quite busy. We got to the top of the wall at around 11.40 AM and the views from here were amazing. After taking a couple of pictures we set out on our hike.

The wall goes up and down meandering through the mountain tops. Some of the steps are quite high so it can be quite tiring. There are several towers on the way where you can stop to get some rest in the shade. It was very hot when we went with temperatures reaching around 32 degrees, so make sure you take lots of water. There are many great views along the way as you see the wall stretching for miles into the horizon. Most of the wall in this section has been restored, but there are a few parts that are in ruins and a little tricky to walk through. We arrived at the meeting point at around 2.15 PM and waited for about 15 minutes for the rest of the group to arrive.

We then followed the guide on the trail to the parking lot where the tour bus was waiting for us. This trail was a dirt path going through the trees. There were quite a lot of insects and mosquitos so make sure to take repellant. It took about 30 minutes to get back down and then we got back on the tour bus to head for lunch. They took us to a tourist restaurant nearby for a buffet-style lunch. We were done with lunch at around 4.30 PM and then headed back to Beijing. There was a lot of traffic in the city so we reached the Qianmen area at around 7.30 PM.

Lizard Peninsula – Kynance Cove

Jean Maldonado — Sun, 25 Aug 2019 22:44:00 +0000

Going from Bristol, it takes around 4 hours to drive to Kynance Cove. From London, it’s a long drive taking up to 6 hours if you stop for a break. We went on a Bank Holiday weekend so when we arrived at around 1.15 PM, the car park close to Kynance Cove was full, so the staff directed us to an overflow car park a little further away. From the overflow car park, it is about a 20-minute walk to Kynance Cove if you take the direct path. We took diverted route off the main path via a trail that goes by the cliff and there are great seaside views along the way. Proceed with caution and stay clear from the edges as there are no barriers and you are very high up on the cliffs.

The trail goes down the rocks and leads to the small beach area. It’s a small pebble beach and there are many large rocks. Be careful walking on the rocks as they can be very slippery. There’s a cafe by the beach with a seating area. They sell Cornish Pasties, sandwiches, and other small bites as well as drinks. After chilling by the beach for a bit, we went for a walk on one of the cliffside trails. We set out at around 3 PM and walked for around an hour. We went by a couple of people on the trail, but not many. It’s a very scenic walk of the seaside and cliffs. At some points in the trail, you need to go down some rocks and then climb back up on the other side, so it can be a little tiring. We stuck to the cliffside for the views, but on the way back, we took a more direct route to Kynance Cove which took 45 minutes. We then headed back to the parking lot and onwards to our Airbnb⁹ in Falmouth which was a 40-minute drive away.

Tintagel Castle – Mythical Scenic Site

Jean Maldonado — Sat, 24 Aug 2019 22:34:01 +0000

From Bristol, it was a 2-hour 40-minute drive to the north side of the Cornish coast. From London it would be a 4-hour 30-minute drive. We arrived at 1.30 PM and found a car park next to the ticket office. Tickets can be booked in advance for entry at a specific timeslot. Pre-booked tickets cost 13 GBP or free if you’re an English Heritage Member. Walk-up tickets cost 14.50 GBP¹⁰ but you should pre-book during peak periods as it’s a very popular site. From the ticket office, you can follow the main path or take a trail that goes up to a viewpoint and then joins back to the main path before the bridge. We took the detour route via the viewpoint and it took about 10 minutes to get to the top. From here you get an elevated view of Tintagel and the new footbridge (finished on August 9th, 2019). It then takes about 5 minutes to walk down to the bridge. On the way you pass a control point where you have to present your ticket, so make sure you keep your ticket with you. Before the footbridge, visitors had to go down some steps to the beach and then up some steps on the other side. In the 13th century, a natural land bridge connected the mainland to the headland of Tintagel. However, erosion has caused the natural land bridge to collapse and now this new footbridge restores the original route to Tintagel.

Whilst crossing the bridge, you get great views of the surrounding landscape and the previous steps to cross to the other side. After crossing, we arrived at some ruins. There are information panels throughout giving information on the buildings that would have stood here. They also give a history of how Tintagel was used as a trading port during the age of the Roman Empire. Next, we followed the path to the top of the headland and found some rocks to sit on halfway through. The view from here is amazing of the hilly shores and beach down below. We continued down the path and arrived at the Gallos Sculpture representing King Arthur at the end of the headland island. It can be quite busy since everyone is taking pictures with the statue. We then found some boulders at the end of the headland to rest on, enjoying the seaside views.

At around 3 PM, we started heading back to go down to the beach. At the bridge, there are some steps on the right-hand side that go down to the beach. It’s a small sand and pebble beach with a rock island in the middle which people were jumping off. The water is freezing so we didn’t get in. There are two caves, one on either side of the beach. Going through the caves can be tricky since there are lots of rocks and boulders. They also fill up with water so keep an eye on the tide. We stayed at the beach until around 5 PM before heading back up and on one of the trails to a viewpoint. It takes about 20 minutes to follow the trail up to the cliff opposite Tintagel Castle. There are great views of Tintagel and the seaside from here. We stayed here until about 5.45 PM before heading back to the town to get some food. It was about 6.20 PM by the time we got back to the town and quite a lot of places were closing. We managed to find a cafe selling Cornish Pasties, so we grabbed a few of those and headed back to Bristol.

Snowdonia National Park – Snowdon Peak

Jean Maldonado — Sun, 14 Jul 2019 20:52:00 +0000

From our Airbnb¹ in Machynlleth, it was a 1 hour and 30-minute drive to Pen-y-Pass car park which has some trails to Snowdon. We got there at around 8.20 AM but the car park was already full, so we drove another five minutes and found a parking spot off the highway. From here, it was about a 45-minute walk up to the car park where the trails start from. We saw a bus go past when we were parking the car, but they don’t come often since we didn’t see one go by whilst walking. Once at the car park, we decided to go on the Pyg Track since it was the shortest one. The trail was quite busy this weekend since there was a race happening to get to the top of Snowdon. The trail is easy to follow and starts with a gradual ascent. About 30 minutes into the hike, we came across the lakes. The trail at this point is mostly a stone path that’s easy to walk on. The next 40 minutes walking along the lakes, the trail becomes more of a dirt path that can be muddy if it has rained. There are some large rocks at some places that you have to climb over, but nothing too difficult.

When we reached the last lake, the path became a steeper climb and more tiring. We climbed up for about 20 minutes and took some rest. We sat down on some rocks enjoying the view of the valley and lakes we had gone past. We then continued another 20 minutes climbing over the clouds. We reached the ridge from where you can continue to some of the Snowdon peaks. The steam train also passes through here and we saw it go past. Since it was cloudy, we couldn’t see any of the landscape from here and decided to head back down. The way back took us 2 and a half hours rather than the 3 hours it took us to head up. At the car park, we had some food at the cafe before taking a bus back down to where we parked the car.