Trekking vs Hiking: what’s the difference?
Trekking and hiking are often used as synonyms, getting people the wrong idea. They are both adventure activities, but there are significant differences that we do list in this article.
Hiking involves a long energetic walk in a natural environment on hiking trails or footpaths for a day or overnight.
Trekking involves a long vigorous hike in wild natural environment for multiple days. It can be done off hiking trails.
Hiking is that it’s truly an activity everyone can do. Whether you’re young or old, an expert or an amateur, there’s a trail out there that will be perfect for you. You do for fun or pleasure, calm your mind or connect with nature. The equipment is usually basic and light: water bottle, lunch, snacks, hiking shoes, backpack, and various things depending on the needs. Walk times vary from a few hours to a day and distances can vary from a simple km to 20/30 km, depending on the type of path.
Trekking is more complex, you have to be a flexible person to adapt to various environments; physically prepared to carry the huge backpack containing the things you need for several days of walking, resting and eating. You can walk hiking trails or you open the way in total wildness. Walk times vary from a couple of days to weeks and distance can vary to tens to hundreds of kilometers. The reasons can be the same as hiking, or something more deep like pilgrimages; more professional like photographic expeditions; more adventures like scouts etc.
