I'm planning a one-week or so vacation that is long overdue, for this Summer. I'm interested in traveling alone somewhere nature-y, inspired by this beautiful video:



But I don't really know how to start. I've traveled a lot but never alone, and never to nature-y places. Any one have any suggestions or past experiences?

A week isn't that long, how about a rainforest in brazil/other south amer or Machu Picchu in peru (mp pretty popular choice -- i did it last year and it was great)?

Also might be interested in Vagabonding by Rolf Potts http://www.amazon.com/Vagabonding-Un.../dp/0812992180 (though he would hate that you're only going for 1 week!)

Agree do something like a trek to Machu Picchu or something, you'll be with other people to. I did 3 months through Central American on my own, pretty cool adventure if you want to climb volcanoes, trek through forestry finding waterfalls etc. Id love to do the Izzau Falls (sp?) in Argentina. I hear thats something like a week long trek the long way round?

cool video.

i've traveled alone but never like....alone alone. (i've just met people in hostels or what have you). i'm going to do a west coast (U.S.) road trip this summer alone and i'll have a chance to do some hikes on my own, which should be fun.

machu picchu is always with a guide, they won't let you go alone. there are various options as well for how long you want to do it for.

iguazu is more of a 2 day thing. 1/2 day for the brazil side and 1 full day for argentina.

Iguazu Falls looks amazing. I've backpacked through Europe with friends and I think it could be fun to do again - I could probably grab two weeks if I had to. But at some point I'd love to get away from you know, the Barcelona - Paris - Amsterdam type thing and hit up Central American-ish places (as have been suggested). I just have zero idea about the culture there and what it would be like. But I guess that's half the fun huh?

Definitely going to look into that for the rest of this busy workday afternoon. Thanks guys.

Anyone been to Greece also? Always wanted to visit there, have no idea what it would be like.

Only ever been to the tourist islands in Greece, Rhodes, Zakinthos, Crete, Kos etc... Never been to the mainland which I really should get my act together and do.

I've got a decent amount of experience in this, both wilderness and doing the backpacking through Europe thing, and my brother is a professional guide. With that knowledge I'd say that a week is probably the right time for your first wilderness trip, but I'd really strongly advise against going solo the first time, esp. in a foreign country. Just a bad idea, best to travel in groups of three. There are forums for this I understand, if you don't want to go with people you already know.

Now if you're just going to stay at a hotel and take little day hikes, that's a different story.

If you're in the US you might start with somewhere like the Appalachian trail (lots of other folks, friendly and easy); more far flung, my brother says Patagonia is the place to be.