The 10 best trekking routes in the world
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| The 10 best trekking routes in the world |
You will receive ten distinct responses if you ask ten seasoned hikers to name the world's best treks. Some treks get etched into memories because of the scenery. The almost inhuman levels of effort and endurance required to reach the endpoint of some routes make them epic. For some trekkers, it’s all about the destination, what lies at the end of the trail. For others, it's the journey itself, and the chance to build camaraderie along the way.
The world’s top treks do all have one thing in common: a sense of mission that transforms the simple act of walking into a life-affirming expedition. In addition, the ideal time to travel south of the equator, where the sun shines on some of the most breathtaking trails on Earth, is when winter weather begins to obstruct some of the best routes in the northern hemisphere. Our list of the best treks in the world includes everything from jungle trails to Nepal's breath-taking mountain trails. All require a sturdy pair of lungs and a fit pair of legs, but the trekking experience is a reward unto itself. Decades after you’ve completed them, you'll still be talking about these hikes.
1. Markha Valley trek, Ladakh, India
The best hike for impulsive hikers 80 kilometers (50 miles)
Time investment: 6 to 7 days
Difficulty: moderate
The Indian side of the world's tallest mountain range is often skipped by trekkers, but those who make it there are rewarded with views that rival those of Nepal, Tibet, or Pakistan. Spectacular treks can be found all over the Indian Himalaya, from the breathless Goecha La trek in Sikkim to pilgrimage treks to remote mountain temples in Uttarakhand and Kashmir. But for our rupee, the best trekking country of all is in lofty Ladakh, as you cross high-altitude deserts in the rain shadow of the high Himalaya.
On the Markha Valley trek, you’ll walk for a week across a wonderfully desolate moonscape, circling south from Leh through the jagged ridges that flank the south bank of the Indus River before emerging near the famous Buddhist gompa (monastery) at Hemis. Best of all, no complex planning is required: you can reach the trailhead by bus from Leh, crossing the river in a dangling basket and stopping at whitewashed teahouses in timeless Buddhist villages along the trail.
2. The Walkers’ Haute Route, France–Switzerland
Best trek for the summer months
Distance: 200km (125 miles)
Time commitment: 14 days
Difficulty: challenging
Leading from Chamonix in France through the southern Valais to Zermatt in Switzerland, the two-week-long Walkers’ Haute Route trek traverses some of the highest and most eye-popping scenery accessible anywhere in the Alps. Hiking here is a summertime endeavor, tracing a different course to the famous winter Haute Route for ski tourers. Every stage will test your endurance, with “pass hopping” that demands a high level of fitness on many sections of the walk.
Why then should you put your body through all of this work? The mountain views, obviously. Some days you’ll pass through yodel-worthy Alpine meadows; others, you’ll struggle over glacier-carved outcrops guarded by mountain giants. Hotels, gîtes d'étape (rest shelters), auberges (inns), and mountain refuges can be found all along the route because it passes through northern Europe. As you tackle the total elevation gain of over 14,000 meters (46,000 feet), you will appreciate a warm bed and a hot meal.
3. Torres del Paine O Trek, Patagonia, Chile
The ideal hike for photographers
Distance: 136km (85 miles)
Commitment of time: nine days
Difficulty: challenging
When they see the size of the terrain, many people who visit Chile's Torres del Paine National Park decide to take the shorter "W Trek." However, we recommend completing the entire nine-day "O Trek" circuit to fully appreciate the magnificent wilderness reserve's diverse landscapes. As you follow the trail from Las Torres, you’ll pass some of the world’s most photogenic vistas: crystal-clear rivers, sculpted mountains, open grasslands, old-growth forests, deep and silent lakes, and the icy tongue of Grey Glacier.
That’s a lot of variety per trekking mile – but you need to plan ahead as camping sites and refugios are in heavy demand. If you want to reserve a spot during the busy trekking season from November to March, you should make reservations with the companies that run the lodges and camping areas months in advance.
4. Kalalau trail, Hawai‘i
Best coastal trek
18 kilometers (11 miles) each way
Time investment: two days
Difficulty: moderate
The majority of Americans respond by naming hikes along the Grand Canyon's rim or the crowded Yosemite National Park trails that ascend El Capitan and Half Dome. We have no reason to disagree, but we'd rather go in a different direction. The stunning Kalalau trail connects Kee Beach and the Kalalau Valley on the north shore of Kauai. It travels along a towering cliff wall covered in tropical foliage to an idyllic, out-of-the-way Hawaiian beach for the night. The route along the Nā Pali Coast starts out easy, but gets progressively more challenging on steep dirt paths. The reward comes in the form of elemental views over primordial valleys, thundering waterfalls, secluded beaches and the churning waters of the Pacific Ocean. You might even recognize the scene from Jurassic Park, which was shot here, but try not to get too caught up in it. Hike with caution and care, as people have fallen from the track or been washed away by sudden flash floods.
5. Peru's Inca Trail Best hike for modern-day explorers
Distance: 33km (20 miles) round trip
Time commitment: 4–5 days
Difficulty: moderate
Before explorer Hiram Bingham "discovered" the route in 1911, it was used for centuries on the 33-kilometer (20-mile) route to the 15th-century Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, earning it worldwide fame. Today, the secret is unquestionably out, and due to the recent increase in visitors, authorities have imposed a number of restrictions and rules. Be sure to book at least six months in advance for one of the 500 permits available each day. Since that number includes support staff like porters and guides, only 200 lucky tourist trekkers are given one. With the permit in hand, the fun begins. For the trek to Peru’s most famous ruin has giddying views of high cloud forests and Machu Picchu waiting ahead like a beacon. From the Sacred Valley, the trail ascends to 2430 meters (7972 feet), passing through three high passes and winding its way up, down, and around mountains. Authorities have created three brand-new circuits around the "lost city," each with sub-routes, for day visitors.
6. Track of Routeburn in New Zealand Best trek for fans of big landscapes
Distance: 32km (20 miles)
Time commitment: 3–4 days
Difficulty: moderate
New Zealand’s South Island is as alpine as you can get without actually being in the Alps, and the three-day Routeburn Track is one of the best ways to cross this natural wonderland. This is a trail for fans of big vistas and open skies, and follows glacier-carved fjords, truncated valleys and rugged ridges through the plunging landscapes of two stunning national parks: Fiordland and Mt Aspiring.
The preferred route runs from the Routeburn Shelter (north of Queenstown) to Milford Road, with overnight stops in spectacularly sited campgrounds. Highlights include the views from Harris Saddle and Conical Hill, and chilly dips in spring-fed mountain tarns. Making reservations well in advance through the Great Walks booking site operated by the New Zealand Department of Conservation is the most difficult part of this popular hike.
7. Indonesian Mount Rinjani, Gunung Best trek for early risers
24 kilometers or 15 miles
Time investment: two days
Difficulty: moderate
Since this list would be incomplete without a hike up a mighty Southeast Asian volcano, consider Indonesia’s Gunung Rinjani. The island of Lombok rises to a breath-taking height of 3726 meters (12,224 feet) at the summit of this enormous lake-capped volcano, which still occasionally erupts into life, most recently in 2016. One of the most exciting adventures in Asia is trekking to the summit of Gunung Rinjani, which ranks right up there with hiking the Himalaya. To make the best of the views, the final push to the top starts in the dark, in order to gain the crater rim as first light pushes back the gloom. The crater lake with its sinister cinder cones looks like a lost dinosaur valley in the daily spectacle.
8. Tanzania's Kilimanjaro peak Best trek for snow in the tropics
Distance: 37–90km (23–56 miles)
Time commitment: 5–9 days
Difficulty: moderate
Sure, it’s the favorite trek of fundraisers everywhere, and an almost obligatory trip for visitors to East Africa. But the week-long ascent of Africa’s highest mountain is still an epic undertaking. Indeed, Kilimanjaro beckons to be climbed from the moment you first notice its misty prominence rising above the dusty plains. At 5895 meters (19,340 feet), the summit is snow-capped, desolate, and high enough to pose a risk of altitude sickness, despite the presence of lions and elephants at its base. There are seven known routes to the summit, and trekkers can climb it in five to nine days. If they want to lower their risk of AMS, they should take a longer route. The final stage usually starts before dawn, reaching the summit as the first light of morning unfolds across a vast sweep of African savanna. In practice, nearly two-thirds of trekkers opt for the Marangu (six days) or Machame (seven days) routes up the south side of the mountain.
9. Corsica, France, GR20 Best trek for people who love challenges
The round trip distance is 168 km (104 miles).
A commitment of fifteen days
Difficulty: challenging
This grueling character-building trek through Corsica is legendary for the variety of landscapes it passes through and the tenacity it requires of those who brave its rocky trails. Expect to cross forests, granite moonscapes, windswept craters, glacial lakes, torrents, peat bogs, maquis, snow-capped peaks, plains and névés (stretches of ice formed from snow). All this tough terrain weeds out all but the most dedicated hikers.
The GR20, which was built in 1972, connects Calenzana, which is in the Balagne, with Conca, which is north of Porto Vecchio. However, the thrills don't come easy. The path is rocky, uneven and frequently steep, with crossings over rickety bridges and exposed scrambles over slippery rock faces and loose, skittering scree – all part of the fun! You’ll be drawing water from springs and sleeping in rustic mountain refuges – and two weeks later, you’ll be able to tell the world you conquered Europe’s toughest trail.
10. Everest Base Camp, Nepal
Best trek for would-be mountaineers
The round trip distance is 80 miles (130 km).
A commitment of two weeks
Level: moderate
The two-week trek to Everest Base Camp, with 8849m (29,032ft) Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) rising in the distance like a petrified giant, is Nepal's most popular. It climbs to 5545m (18,193ft) at its highest point. Tracing winding river valleys and the creaking mass of the Khumbu Glacier, this mighty mission visits mountain monasteries, soaring lookouts and precariously balanced Sherpa villages, with grueling days of altitude gain that will test your muscles and endurance to the limit.
However, the trekking infrastructure is unparalleled, so it's not all hard work. Permits can be bought easily; porters and guides wait on arrival at Lukla’s tiny mountain airstrip; cozy teahouses provide warm beds and nourishing plates of dal bhat (lentils and rice) along the entire route; and side trails open up a mountain playground of summit ascents and high pass crossings for a taste of real mountaineering. Sure, the trails are mobbed in season, but the sense of camaraderie among the trekkers is hard to beat.
The golden rule is always to respect the altitude. Acute mountain sickness is a risk if you rush, so take it slow and steady and pause for the recommended rest days to let your body adjust to the elevation.
Top tips for trekkers
Before you load up your backpack with trekking socks and Kendal Mint Cake, give some thought to the infrastructure on the route you plan to conquer. Some treks require total self-sufficiency, sleeping under canvas and purifying water as you go; other routes have refuges or rustic teahouses every step of the way. Some important things to think about: Keep it light: on the trails, every extra ounce will weigh you down; leave anything that isn't absolutely necessary behind. Respect your feet: While boots offer more support, all-terrain sneakers are lighter and dry more quickly after a soaking.
Protect your knees by using trekking poles to control the painful descents that come with almost every trek. Climb slowly: Acute mountain sickness (AMS) can kill, so ascend slowly and take rest days to acclimatize on any trek above 2500m (8202ft) in elevation.
Check the weather: When treks go wrong, it’s normally because of the weather, so check the forecasts; if conditions look bad, stop somewhere safe and sit it out, rather than pushing on over the next pass.
Prepare: Do not leap right from the couch to the top. Lead up to the big event with gentler walks, hikes and runs to get your body used to the exertion.
Plan ahead: For some trekking routes, you need to reserve lodges and campsites months in advance and obtain a permit.
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