The greatest TEFL destinations for walkers

There’s nothing like a good breath of fresh air to blow away the stress of the classroom. No matter if it’s just a short blast along the wild coastlines of South Africa or a multi-day trek into the snow-topped Himalaya, this list of the greatest TEFL destinations for walkers should have plenty in the way of relaxation and adventure for teachers who’re eager to escape the school each weekend. Check them out…

 

 

Nepal

 

Ah, Nepal: Perhaps the single most celebrated hiking mecca on the globe. Carved through by the superlatively high Himalayan chain, it’s packed with more snow-topped passes and craggy peaks, alpine valleys and high-altitude lakes than you can shake a plate of chili-scented curry at. Of course, it’s likely you’ll be doing your teaching in one of the cities, like Kathmandu or Pokhara. Not to worry though, even those come surrounded by soaring ridges and endless opportunities for walking on the weekend away from the classroom. Oh, and they are also the perfect launch pads for starting that expedition to Everest Base Camp – just saying!

 

 

South Africa

 

It’s not hard to see how South Africa could be one darn bucket-list-busting addition to any list of TEFL destinations for walkers. For starters, the inland savannah plains of places like Kruger National Park and the Sabi Sands are famed for their guided bush walks – perfect if you’re looking to spot a lion or two as you go. Then there are the salt-sprayed cliffs of the gorgeous Western Cape, where hulking mountains drop to crashing seas and whale pods bask in the ocean. And that’s not even mentioning the vineyard-dressed valleys out beyond the fynbos. Pinot Grigio anyone?

 

 

Italy

 

While many a rambler will prioritize the rugged peaks of the French Alps and the Austrian ranges for their summertime walking holiday, others will look to the more otherworldly peaks of the great Italian Dolomites. This breathtaking clutch of carved tabletop mountains and spiky, dagger-like splinters of rock is crisscrossed by some truly legendary walking trails (check out the Via Alta 1 for one of the most famous) and home to some of the most celebrated highland cabins in the whole Alpine chain! It’s also just a short bus ride from cities like Milan, Venice, Padua and Verona.

 

 

Spain

 

It doesn’t matter if you settle in the bustling city streets of Madrid or close to the beating Las Ramblas of Barcelona, because you can rest assured that the likes of the great Sierra Nevada or the wild and rock-ribbed Guadarrama ranges are always within easy reach on the weekends. And then there are the other, more rural TEFL destinations for walkers in this corner of Iberia, going from the whitewashed villages of the Sierra de Grazalema in the south to the salt-washed coastlines and windblown hills of the Basque Country in the north.

 

 

Poland

 

Poland occupies one darn huge cut-out of central eastern Europe. It ranges from the Baltic Sea (where there are sandy spits like the Hel Peninsula offering winding walking trails just meters from the waves) to the undulating peaks of the Beskids mountains in the south, which come with routes that weave through forests and U-shaped valleys. However, perhaps the single best hiking spot is close to the city of Krakow (lots of teaching jobs there!), behind the serrated tops of the Tatra Mountains, where fir forests and shimmering alpine lakes await.  

 

 

Argentina

 

Nowhere says hiking like the great massifs of Patagonia. That primeval land right at the southern tip of South America comes packed with the Fitz Roy and the end of the Andean chain. It’s home to the little town of El Chaltén, which has risen to be proclaimed as the Trekking Capital of the World in recent years, all for the awesome trails and sweeping vistas of peaks and lakes and glaciers that unfold on all sides. Yep, Argentina is one fantastic choice amongst TEFL destinations for walkers.

 

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Are you an English teacher with a penchant for the trails? Can you think of any more awesome TEFL destinations for walkers to add to this list (we know there are loads more!)? Be sure to add them in the comments below. Or, if you think it’s time you headed out to teach and hit the walking routes yourself, be sure to check out myTEFL’s offering of courses…