Notes

Trekking and Hiking are oftentimes used interchangeably. However, when asked, people find it difficult to differentiate between the two. There is a subtle difference between Trekking and Hiking. If we have to be quick, hiking is a short walk on hiking trails for a day. Meanwhile, trekking is a long walk in the wilderness for multiple days. Hiking refers to an activity of walking across the country, and trekking refers to an activity of walking but is arduous than hiking. In this sense, the little difference between trekking and hiking can be easily defined in terms of difficulty and time. So to be clear, trekking is challenging than hiking and is usually longer. So, if a person is hiking, he refers to the short walk for a day or overnight, and if the same person talks about the trek, he means the multi-day hike.

If you are still confused, we definitely need to clear the cloud of confusion. Take this example. Annapurna Circuit Trek and Nagarkot Hike. Annapurna Circuit Trek takes at least 2 weeks and is an arduous journey. Meanwhile, Nagarkot Hike shouldn't be more than a day's walk on the outskirt of Kathmandu. Another factor that comes into play for contrasting the two is the trail; hiking trails are often well-maintained and easily accessible, but trekking trails are usually rugged and off-the-beaten-path and are less accessible than hiking trails. The trekking trails weave through mountain villages, dramatic landscapes, and lush forests and are far away from the city. On the other hand, hiking trails are around the city area.


The hiking trails are relatively easier and shorter. But the trekking trails feature longer routes and are comparatively challenging. Every day, a trekker needs to walk for a couple of hours through rugged trails, sleeping in the mountain lodges or teahouses. Hikers as well hike for a couple of hours, but they return to the hotels or their homes on the same day. In trekking definition of packing, hiking and trekking differ greatly, although the gears and equipment tend to be similar.


The gears and equipment are almost the same, from hiking boots to walking poles and pairs of clothes. But as you guessed, the packing items for trekking are definitely more. Before trekking, you need to properly access the packing list, depending upon the grade and days of the trek. A short and easy trek would require as much equipment as multi-day hikes. But a long trek requires a definitive set of items, from clothing to gears. Sometimes, in a rush, you can hike without much preparation. But for trekking, you must properly plan and prepare. Or you end up having a bad trekking experience.

Here's my website: https://www.thirdrockadventures.com/blog/trekking-vs-hiking