Into The Wild

Would you embark on a 66km solo trek with a total stranger? Together with a local mountain guide, this Singaporean tramping enthusiast braved rough terrain and steep slopes for the best views in Eastern Europe.

- Chelsia Tan

Spending a night with a stranger in the isolated wilderness could potentially be a deal-breaker for solo female travellers. Not for 33-year-old August Fang, who has been on several solo tramping adventures across the stunning mountain ranges of Switzerland, Montenegro, Slovenia, and Romania.

Last July, she went on a hiking expedition in Slovakia, which spans the Tatras, a series of mountains that border Slovakia and Poland.

"Eastern Europe is very underrated in my opinion. Slovenia, Slovakia and Romania offer amazing mountain views and hiking routes. The longest that I've hiked was the six days I spent in Montenegro and Romania. I wanted to push my limits and endurance with back-to-back climbs at places like Montenegro's Komovi mountains.

"Slovakia was especially memorable for me, as I had an awesome local guide who brought me to all the hidden hideouts in the mountains for the best views. I spent three days and two nights in the mountains with him - he was not only my 'safety guide', but also a great storyteller.

I really enjoyed his stories about the history of Slovakia," says August, who is a regional and category demand planner with sporting goods chain Decathlon.

She adds that spending prolonged periods of time with a stranger is not for everyone, mainly because it's just you, your guide, and the vast expense of nature. "It's a hit or miss when you travel with a stranger. There's no Wi-Fi nor data in the mountains, so you'd have to be open to sharing your 'life story' with someone you just met. Sure, there's a bit of vulnerability in that, but you just have to make the best out of your time together," she says.

THE JOYS OF TRAMPING