7 favorite & unique wildflowers
on the trail

“Stop and smell the roses” always applies to any Pathways trip - in both the literal and figurative sense! During a day of hiking in the Alps, Jotunheimen, Patagonia or the Azores, we love coming across some of the most beautiful & unique wildflowers in the world…

1. edelweiss | the alps

From the Dolomites and Swiss Alps to the Alta Via 2 and the E5 trek, the elusive Edelweiss is our all-time favorite wildflower to spot on the trail.

2. hydrangea | the azores

You’ll never see more beautiful hydrangeas in your life than in the Azores. You’ll walk through fields of hydrangea and drive down roads lined with hedges 20 feet tall.

3. lavendEr | croatia

One of the best smells in the entire world - the Istrian peninsula of Croatia is scattered with wild lavender.

4. ALPINE FORGET-ME-NOT | SLOVENIA

These cute blue flowers are quintessential in Slovenia’s Alps in the summertime. One of our favorites to spot during a day of hiking.

5. protea | south africa

Proteas are considered to be among the oldest families of flowering plants on the planet. The king protea, so called because of its resemblance to a crown, is the largest of all proteas and is found in the southern region of South Africa.

6. glaicer buttercup | norway

A pretty, cheery flower to come across while hiking in Norway’s Jotunheimen. The glacier buttercup thrives at high elevation and is also found in the Alps.

7. calafate bushes | patagonia

When hiking in Patagonia, you’ll likely encounter these deep-blue berries dangling from small bushes. The calafate berries are indigenous to the region, deeply rooted in Patagonian folklore, and the perfect trail snack. More than just a native plant, these berries are part of the legend that says that anyone who eats a calafate berry will certainly return to Patagonia.