Richard Madden selects the finest trekking possibilities the world has to offer, spanning all corners of the globe – from the familiar to the not-so-well-known.
Most selections of the world’s best treks would include perennial favorites such as the Inca Trail, Kilimanjaro, New Zealand’s Milford and Routeburn Tracks and any number of options in the Himalayas. While some of the treks here might be less familiar, all deserve the same “classic” status.
GR20, Corsica
One of the most scenic and challenging treks in Europe. The trail traverses the high mountains of the island’s interior, crossing mountain ridges, chasms and granite slopes, and is home to shepherds who still follow a centuries-old lifestyle. Departures: June to September.
Paine Circuit, Chile
One of the world’s great trekking challenges, this 60-mile circuit of the Paine Massif in Torres Del Paine National Park passes through one of the world’s most dramatic mountain regions, famous for its pink granite towers, iridescent blue lakes and surreally sculpted glaciers. Departures: November.
High Atlas Mountains, Morocco
Centred on Jebel Toubkal (13,665ft/ 4,165m), North Africa’s highest mountain, the rugged wilderness of the High Atlas are also home to the colourful and hospitable Berber people. Departures: May to October.
Tour du Mont Blanc, Alps
This 100-mile/161km epic circumnavigates Mont Blanc, crossing between France, Switzerland and Italy and takes in 12 cols, including the Fenêtre d’Arpette (8,743ft/ 2,665m). A 13-day guided trek begin_of_the_skype_highlightingend_of_the_skype_highlightingstarts at Chamonix and climaxes with views of the north face of the Grandes Jorasses. Departures: June/July.
Cordillera Huayhuash, Peru
This sparsely populated region of the Andes, amid ice-clad summits that rise above glaciers, rolling grassland, lakes and valleys, is the location of Joe Simpson’s epic true-life tale of survival, Touching the Void. Departures: May to September.
Julian Alps, Slovenia
Triglav National Park, with its glacial lakes and rivers, hidden gorges, snow-capped mountains, alpine plateaux and lush valleys, is centred around Slovenia’s highest peak, Mt Triglav (9,395ft/ 2,864m). It also includes Mount Krn, the scene of fierce fighting during the First World War, described by Ernest Hemingway in A Farewell to Arms. Departures: June/July.
Southern Tuscan Trail, Italy
A walk through one of Europe’s best preserved Renaissance landscapes, taking in world-renowned vineyards, medieval hill towns and the magnificent abbeys of Sant’Antimo and Monte Oliveto Maggiore, finishes at Sienna, Europe’s best-preserved medieval city. Departures: May to September.
Snowman Trek, Bhutan
This trek, through the remote region of Lunana in Bhutan, crosses high Himalayan passes with mountain landscapes that include Gangkhar Puensum, the highest unclimbed peak in the world. The estimated price of $6,000 (£3,000) per person, depending on the final number of trekkers, includes hotels, meals, trekking equipment and the services of porters, cooks and guides, but not flights. Departure: September.
Overland Track-Tasmania
This track is considered one of the finest bushwalks in Australia. The 40-mile route across a World Heritage area follows well-graded paths through a sub-alpine wilderness of peaks, forests, alpine heathland, glacial lakes and waterfalls. Departures: October to May.
