These are some of the most scenic treks that the world has to offer. They are strenuous, pushing you to your physical and mental limits, but rewarding you with a lifetime of memories and a huge sense of achievement. From the heights of the Alps to the ends of the earth, the following treks will awaken the explorer in all of us.
Stretching for 32km, the Routeburn Track is one of the most popular long distance hikes on New Zealand’s South Island. Best attempted between October and April, the trek travels through Fjordland and Mount Aspiring National Parks, taking in cascading waterfalls and turquoise rivers, winding their way through swathes of lush forest and beneath towering snow capped mountains. It’s majestic scenery at it’s finest. During the winter, facilities along route are greatly reduced and the trek is much more dangerous.
Probably one of the most iconic treks in the world, the Inca Trail leads from the Sacred Valley up to the ancient Inca ruins of Machu Picchu. Covering 26 miles, the route usually takes 4 days, after which you arrive at dawn to witness the morning mists lifting, revealing the ancient city below you. Lush cloud rainforest, snow capped mountains and original Inca paths and ruins are just some of the wonders you see on this trek, and it’s no surprise that Machu Picchu has been named one of the new 7 wonders of the world.
Circumnavigating the Mont Blanc Massif, the TMB is one of the most popular hiking routes in Europe, covering over 100 miles and taking 10 days to complete. Traversing over the French, Swiss and Italian Alps, the trek sweeps past fertile fields covered in wild flowers and climbs up to jagged peaks that plummet to glacial valleys below. The season usually runs from July to September, and comprises of 11 stages.
Tucked away in the southern reaches of Patagonia, Chile, this trek encircles the monoliths in Torres del Paine National Park. The hike takes you through towers of granite which soar into the clouds, past electric blue glaciers and into wild forests. The landscape here is untamed, unlike anything you’ll have experienced before. The trek itself is 52 miles and takes approximately 10 days to complete.
