Countries Archives - Com Namibia

The Wolf Trail: A 3,500-Kilometer Hiking Route Across Six European Countries

July 24, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

Whether you’re an experienced hiker seeking a fresh challenge or simply an enthusiast looking for a pause from the frenetic pace of daily life, this new trail is tailor-made for you. The Wolf Trail spans nearly 3,500 kilometers across six European countries. It invites walkers to traverse a mosaic of landscapes, from the Polish Baltic coast to the Adriatic shore in Trieste, Italy, passing through Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Slovenia.

Designed by the outdoor gear brand Jack Wolfskin, it takes four to six months to complete in its entirety. “Our Wolf Trail invites you to explore Europe on foot, from the Baltic Sea to the Adriatic. It blends nature and culture, and traverses Hanseatic fishing villages, the wine regions of the Palatinate and Trieste, a true cultural melting pot”, the company explained. But beware, the adventure won’t be a walk in the park. Indeed, with 78,400 meters of positive elevation to conquer, this trail presents a real challenge, especially for those who are not accustomed to long-distance hiking.

What are the essential stages of the Wolf Trail?

With 3,494 kilometers spread over seven stages across Europe, the Wolf Trail requires meticulous planning. The choice of departure window is particularly crucial, since between October and March alpine snowstorms can significantly complicate hikers’ progress. The journey begins with 428 kilometers of nearly flat terrain along the Polish Baltic coast, from Hel to Świnoujście.

Then, as the trail leaves Poland to enter Germany and then Switzerland, hikers embark on a 1,930-kilometer crossing punctuated by historic towns such as Rostock, before continuing on steeper paths toward the Austrian border. This progresses into a 392-kilometer stretch through the Allgäu Alps to Innsbruck, the fifth city in Austria, then it follows the emblematic Via Alpina, traverses the Italian Dolomites and the Triglav National Park in Slovenia. The journey culminates in Trieste, a port city where you can celebrate your arrival with a well-deserved drink facing the Adriatic Sea.

The Wolf Trail, an exceptional adventure across Europe

If you still have a few reservations, know that this new trail has been studied by Lauren Roerick, a recognized specialist in long-distance hiking. She confirmed that the route is safe and that walkers can progress with confidence without fear of getting lost along the way.

Moreover, the route is dotted with lodging options, from permitted trekking camps to mountain refuges, passing through villages where somewhat more comfortable accommodations are available. This ensures more restful nights and a full recovery before resuming the journey. The Wolf Trail thus promises to be an extraordinary adventure, capable of leaving a lasting mark on those who choose to embark on this trek.

FCM Travel to Deploy Sam in 90+ Countries Starting June 2026

July 16, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

Sam, le nouvel agent IA de FCM Travel. DepositPhotos.com/sdecoret

IFTM TourMaG Party

FCM Travel annonce le déploiement mondial de Sam, son assistant alimenté par l’intelligence artificielle à partir de juin 2026.

FCM Travel précise que Sam a été développé en interne et intégré directement à l’infrastructure technologique du groupe, plutôt que comme une couche ajoutée à des systèmes existants.

La solution est destinée aux voyageurs d’affaires, aux réservataires et aux travel managers. Elle doit permettre d’accompagner l’ensemble du parcours voyageur, depuis la réservation jusqu’au suivi du programme voyages.

Un assistant connecté aux politiques voyages des entreprises

Selon John Morhous,directeur de l’expérience client mondiale, Sam a été conçu pour garantir un haut niveau de précision et de conformité aux politiques internes des entreprises.

L’assistant applique automatiquement les règles liées aux plafonds de dépenses, aux validations internes ou aux fournisseurs référencés. Un voyageur ne pourra par exemple pas recevoir de proposition de billet en classe affaires si cette option n’est pas autorisée dans la politique voyages de son entreprise.

FCM Travel précise également que les données des clients restent stockées dans son environnement privé et ne sont pas utilisées pour entraîner des modèles publics d’intelligence artificielle.

Au lancement, Sam permettra notamment aux travel managers d’accéder aux données de leurs programmes via des échanges en langage naturel et de basculer vers les outils de réservation déjà utilisés par les entreprises.

A lire aussi : FCM Travel France nomme Jean-Baptiste Sirabella à la tête de l’activité Meetings & Events

Safest Countries to Travel to, According to the Global Peace Index

July 8, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

Finding a vacation destination that is both enjoyable and safe for tourists and local residents alike can be challenging. Conflicts continue to multiply across the globe, making travel uncertain. In its annual report, the Global Peace Index (GPI) ranks countries around the world from the most to the least safe, based on ongoing internal and external conflicts, social concerns, and the militarization of the state. The global level of peace has been declining for several years. Western and Central Europe remains the safest region in the world according to this ranking.

Iceland remains the most peaceful country in the world for the 19th consecutive year. The GPI explains this steady top position mainly by the absence of an Icelandic army, a low crime rate, and strong social cohesion. It is followed by New Zealand, which replaces Switzerland in second place. Our neighbor climbs to third, followed by Slovenia, Ireland, Austria, Portugal, Singapore, Finland, and Japan. And no, France is not in the top 10, quite the opposite.

France, the least peaceful among Europe’s most peaceful countries

Our country sits at 99th place out of 163 in the GPI ranking. This makes it the least peaceful state in Western Europe. Under the current criteria, what costs it points is notably the population’s perception of crime. According to the study Vécu et ressenti en matière de sécurité, 21% of the French sometimes refrain from going out for safety reasons. In reality, the figures from the Ministère de l’Intérieur regarding crime and delinquency remain relatively stable. The regular protests in France also hurt its perceived peace when assessing its level of peacefulness.

That 99th place, deplorable as it is, does not prevent tourists from flocking to France on a regular basis. The country remains the most visited in the world. According to the Ministry of Tourism, 102 million foreign visitors stayed in France in 2023. A new record ahead of Spain, 27th in the GPI ranking, and the United States, 134th on the peace criteria.

Social peace is not always a criterion for tourists

Not sure that tourists will be looking at the GPI ranking this year either. Despite the deterioration of safety and peace conditions in the United States—which dropped four places compared with the previous edition—the FIFA World Cup could boost the number of visitors this year. If hotel bookings fall short of industry expectations, according to a report by the American Hotel & Lodging Association, they could still rise by 3.4% this year.

As expected, countries currently at war are at the bottom of the GPI list. We thus find the Central African Republic, Sudan, Israel, Ukraine, and Russia at the bottom of the ranking.

Which European Countries Have the Cleanest Water for Swimming?

June 19, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

Genuine progress has been made over several decades in the management of bathing waters. As summer approaches, the latest report from the European Environment Agency brings reassuring news for holidaymakers. The continent’s beaches, lakes and rivers broadly display excellent bathing water quality. According to the study relayed by the Euronews site on Wednesday, June 17, 96% of monitored sites meet the European Union’s minimum standards, and only 1.5% of them are judged to be of mediocre quality.

Coastal waters remain the clear frontrunners in this ranking, with nearly 88% of seaside sites achieving the maximum score, compared with 78% for inland waters. This difference is largely explained by the “fragility of rivers and small lakes,” which are more vulnerable to pollution episodes linked to heavy rainfall or periods of drought. Experts remind that the analyses rely on the presence of bacteria such as E. coli and intestinal enterococci, which are indicators used to detect potential contamination of fecal origin.

France, not such a good pupil?

At the top of the European ranking, Cyprus stands out with a remarkable performance, with 100% of its waters classified as “excellent.” Behind the Mediterranean island come Greece with a score of 97.1%, Bulgaria with 96.9%, and Austria with 96.5%. For those who swim in lakes or rivers, Austria and Finland stand out in particular, with about 95% of their inland waters also considered as “excellent.”

Other countries, by contrast, face difficulties… In France, the Netherlands and Estonia, more than 3% of the sites inspected are categorized as “mediocre.” Albania, for its part, shows the lowest share of excellent waters in the whole continent, at only 16.8%.

Europe has “one main challenge” to tackle

Regarding inland waters alone, Spain records the most worrying results in the ranking. More than 11% of its rivers and lakes are deemed to be of poor quality, and just over half reach the excellent level. The report also notes that rivers remain the “main environmental challenge in Europe.”

Only 47% of the roughly 1,200 river swimming sites surveyed receive the designation “excellent.” Heavy rains, sewer overflows, agricultural runoff, and discharges from livestock farming continue to weigh heavily on their quality. Despite these drawbacks, the European Environment Agency notes a gradual improvement in many urban waterways, thanks to pollution-control policies pursued in recent years.