Trekking
Overview
Trekking is a leisure activity of traveling long distances on foot across mountainous terrain or natural landscapes. It refers to a longer and more demanding journey than hiking, and rather than focusing on summiting a peak like mountaineering, it places value on the movement and experience itself within nature. It is gaining attention both at home and abroad as a healthy, stress-relieving, and nature-friendly leisure pursuit.
Main Content
Definition and Origins
The term trekking comes from the word 'trek,' used by Dutch settlers in South Africa during the Great Trek. Trekking in the modern sense became popularized in the mid-20th century as a way of traveling remote mountain regions such as the Himalayas of Nepal. Whereas hiking is a relatively short day walk, trekking often refers to multi-day walking journeys lasting from several days to several weeks.
Types of Trekking
Trekking is classified in various ways depending on the destination and difficulty.
- Day trekking: A relatively light course completed within a single day.
- Long-distance trekking: Courses lasting several days or weeks; representative examples include Spain's Camino de Santiago and South Korea's Baekdu-daegan trail.
- High-altitude trekking: Courses carried out above 3,000 meters in elevation; famous examples include Nepal's Annapurna Circuit and Peru's Inca Trail.
- Walking tours: Trekking routes that connect cities, villages, and natural landscapes, including Japan's Kumano Kodo and South Korea's Olle-gil and Dulle-gil.
Major Trekking Courses
Famous trekking courses around the world include the following.
- Everest Base Camp, Nepal: A route leading to the base camp at 5,364m, offering the majestic scenery of the Himalayas.
- Camino de Santiago, Spain: Comprising multiple routes including the French Way, this course combines religious pilgrimage with cultural exploration and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.
- Jeju Olle-gil, South Korea: A 437km course connecting Jeju's coast and villages, where walkers can enjoy both the sea and oreum (volcanic cones).
- Jirisan Dulle-gil, South Korea: A forest path of more than 200km encircling Jirisan, ideal for experiencing natural ecology and traditional villages.
- Appalachian Trail, USA: An ultra-long-distance trail of about 3,500km that takes several months to complete.
Equipment and Clothing Preparation
Proper equipment is essential for safe and comfortable trekking.
- Footwear: Mid-cut or high-cut hiking boots that protect the ankles are recommended. Running shoes can suffice for shorter courses.
- Backpack: A 20–30L pack is recommended for day trekking, and a 40–60L pack for long-distance trekking.
- Clothing: Wear functional materials that wick sweat and dry quickly, and use layers to prepare for temperature changes. A waterproof jacket is essential.
- Other equipment: Bring a map, compass, headlamp, first-aid supplies, water, high-calorie food, and a portable phone charger. For long-distance treks, a sleeping bag, tent, and cooking utensils are also necessary.
Health Benefits and Precautions
Trekking helps strengthen cardiorespiratory endurance, improve muscle strength, manage weight, and ease blood pressure. Studies also show that activities in nature are effective for mental stability and relieving depression. However, overly demanding schedules can lead to joint damage or exhaustion, so it is important to choose a course suited to one's fitness and to ensure adequate stretching and hydration. Especially in high-altitude trekking, preparation for altitude sickness is necessary, and trekkers should pay attention to weather changes and plan a safe itinerary.
Latest Trends
From 2024 to 2025, trekking has become even more popular and is undergoing diverse changes. Following the increased interest in outdoor activities after COVID-19, the trend has continued to grow alongside travel styles that emphasize wellness and healing. In South Korea, local government-led dulle-gil and ecological trails are expanding, and route guidance and activity sharing through smartphone apps are becoming more active. Abroad, environmental protection regulations for sustainable trekking have been strengthened, and some popular courses have introduced advance reservation systems and daily visitor limits. In addition, as the elderly population grows, relatively light walking tour products are diversifying, and trekking is also being applied in corporate team-building activities.
Related Topics
- [[Hiking]]
- [[Mountaineering]]
- [[Backpacking]]
- [[Camping]]
- [[Trail running]]
- [[Olle-gil]]