Best Hikes Around the World: 15 Unusual Hikes You’re Not Considering…But Should


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Last Updated on February 4, 2023 by Audrey Scott

After over a decade of traveling around the world and hiking on six continents, what are some of our best hikes and multi-day treks? This hiking guide includes 15 of our recommended unknown or lesser-known hikes — some multi-day treks, some day hikes — that you might not have heard of or know about, but should. These hikes are worth a look if you are interested in unusual and immersive experiences in terms of both natural landscapes and local culture.

I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in. — John Muir

When we first set out on our journey years ago, hiking and trekking — especially of the long, multi-day trek variety — were not a priority on our activity list. Sure, we enjoyed day hikes and walks, but longer multi-day treks weren't something we actively sought out.

Over the years, however, we’ve found ourselves increasingly drawn to long hikes in the mountains that allow us to disconnect from the busy world while connecting more with nature and ultimately ourselves. These days, we make an effort each year to take at least one long multi-day trek or several day hikes grouped together in one trip as a way to recharge and refresh.

Trek, Mount Gjeravica in Kosovo
Feeling good on the highest peak in Kosovo, Mount Gjeravica.

We don’t always wish to disconnect entirely from humanity when we go trekking. Instead, we are often attracted to hikes that feature a cultural component, one where we encounter and engage with local people, often through family homestays. This type of hiking not only challenge us physically by pushing us to do more than the usual, but they often stir us emotionally by forcing us to widen the cultural lens through which we view the region and our world.

Finally, this approach provides us the opportunity to contribute to the local economy and community by staying with local families.

Treks with Homestays
Breakfast with our host family. Markha Valley, Ladakh.

Having finished quite a few day hikes and multi-day treks over the last decade of our travels around the world, we've been fielding questions about which hikes we’d recommend. We tend to choose hikes that are lesser known, sometimes in unusual destinations. Not only are these unusual hikes less crowded, so we have the trails and nature to ourselves, but they often offer some surprises along the way…in a good way.

Without further delay, here is our Offbeat Hiking Guide with 16 of our favorite lesser known hikes from around the world. For advice on hiking gear and how to pack for a hike, check out our hiking essentials checklist.

Note: This post was originally published in July 2015 and last updated in March 2022 with a few new treks.

READ MORE: How to Pack For A Trek: The Ultimate Hiking Packing List

Peaks of the Balkans: Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro

Days: 12
Distance: 200 km / 124 miles

Trekking in Albania, Karanfil Mountains
Dan takes in the Karanfil Mountains on the border between Albania and Montenegro.
Trekking in Kosovo
Descending from Mount Gjeravica, Kosovo's highest peak.

Why: To experience challenging climbs and stunning views from peaks in a relatively unknown part of Europe, while staying with local families in their farmhouses and shepherd huts along the way.

This trek through the Accursed Mountains (sometimes referred to as the Albanian Alps) reminds us that sometimes the areas with the most beautiful landscapes are also the ones most difficult ones to live in. The Peaks of the Balkans, a relatively new concept trail, allows you to venture into areas and across borders that had previously been no-go zones for decades. The abandoned bunkers and border guard towers you’ll find along your way stand testament to this.

Update: We have published the Peaks of the Balkans Beginner's Guide (PDF) with all you need to know regarding itineraries, recommended routes, packing, accommodation, and other practical details for this trek.

HOW WE DID THIS TREK: We booked our Peaks of the Balkans trek and guide with Zbulo! Discover Albania.

Lost City Trek: Sierra Nevada Mountains, Colombia

Days: 4 (5-6 day treks are also available)
Distance: 46 km / 28 miles

Unusual Treks, Lost City Trek in Colombia
Carving Sierra Nevada mountain trails to reach the Lost City of Teyuna.
Unusual Treks, Colombia's Lost City Trek
The upper terraces of Teyuna, the jungle-tucked Lost City.

Why: To trek through the jungles of Colombia’s Sierra Nevada Mountains to reach Teyuna, the capital of the ancient Tayrona civilization. When travelers consider trekking in South America, their thoughts most often go to Machu Picchu in Peru and Torres del Paine in Chilean Patagonia. While we can recommend both of these treks, we suggest the Lost City trek as part of your travels in Colombia if you seek an experience of the sort that is a little less developed, a little less known.

We also recommend choosing a Lost City tour that has a Wiwa indigenous guide. He shared stories with us that were passed on to him by the shaman (holy men) about the ancient Tayrona civilization and the city of Teyuna. This combined cultural and historical context added to the entire experience.

HOW WE DID THIS TREK: We took a Lost City tour with G Adventures. They work with the local Wiwa indigenous community as local guides and for a community lunch and visit.

Heights of Alay Trek: Alay Mountains, Kyrgyzstan

Days: 3 nights/4 days
Distance: 48 km/30 miles

Sary Mogul Pass on the Heights of Alay Trek, Kyrgyzstan
The Alay Mountains in southern Kyrgyzstan are otherworldly. Truly. Sary Mogul Pass (4,303 meters).
Trekking in the Alay Mountains, Kyrgyzstan - Marking Trekking Trails
Marking the trail at Koshmoinok Pass.

Why: To feel as if you've landed on a different planet. The landscapes on the Heights of Alay trek in southern Kyrgyzstan, especially on day one while crossing Sary Mogul Pass (4,303 meters/14,120 feet), are truly otherworldly. And you have incredible views over Peak Lenin (7,134 meters / 23,406 feet) and the Pamir Mountain range along the way. You also have the local cultural experience of engaging with local shepherds along the way and have the option of eating at shepherd's home for breakfast or dinner.

There is also a longer variation of the Heights of Alay Trek that is 5 nights/6 days (87km) that takes you over Jiptick Pass (4,185 meters) and ends in Sary Mogul village. And, if you have limited time consider the Koshkol Lakes day hike near Sary Mogul. You can check out all the details in our guide to hiking in the Alay Mountains or find out about other hikes in the Pamir Mountains like going up to Lenin Peak Base camp in this travel guide to the Alay Region.

HOW WE DID THIS TREK: We did this trek with Visit Alay and recommend choosing them for quality guides, gear and experience. In addition, this is part of the Community Based Tourism network in Kyrgyzstan where a portion of the profits goes back into community development. Talant Toksonbaev and his team in Osh can help you with anything you might need to organize a trek in the Alay Mountains of Kyrgyzstan.

Other recommended treks in Kyrgyzstan:

We can also recommend the Boz-Uchuk Lakes Trek in Jyrgalan Valley organized by Destination Jyrgalan outside of Karakol. If you're interested in a horse trek take a look at the 2 night/3 day horseback riding out to Song Kul Lake, but we hear that has become more popular and crowded over the last few years.

Markha Valley Trek: Ladakh, India

Days: 7
Distance: 75 km / 47 miles

Unusual Treks, Markha Valley in Ladakh, India
Buddhist chorten and snow-covered peaks, Hankar village.
Unusual Treks, Ladakh
Prayer flags at the top of Gongmaru La Pass (5,130m/16,800 feet) along Markha Valley trek.

Why: To challenge yourself in the high deserts of the Indian Himalayas by crossing 5,000 meter (16,400 foot) mountain passes, all while learning about traditional Ladakhi Buddhist culture through your local guide and host families. Ladakh features some of the most stunning scenery we have ever encountered.

We include the Markha Valley multi-day trek here as most travelers think “Nepal” when they consider hiking in the Himalayas. And rightly so, as the Annapurna Circuit trek we did there remains one of our top experiences of all times. However, Ladakh offers a more remote, less explored hiking alternative. It’s also important to note that several trails and treks outside of the than Markha Valley are available if you are seek something even more far-flung and unusual.

HOW WE DID THIS TREK: We booked our Markha Valley trek and guide with Ecological Footprint Ladakh in Leh, Ladakh.

Cordillera Huayhuash Trek, Peru

Days: 10
Distance: 113 km / 70 miles

Huayhuash Trek, Peru
Sunrise reflections along the Huayhuash Trek.
Huayhuash Trek in Peru
The incredible peaks of the Cordillera Huayhuash in Peru.
Huayhuash Trek in Peru
Another phenomenal vista along the Huayhuash Trek in Peru.

Why: To immerse yourself in one of the most stunning and dramatic mountain ranges in the world, the Cordillera Huayhuash in central Peru. Each day of this trek takes you over 4,800 meter (15,750 feet) to 5,100 meter (16,400 feet) mountain passes with snow-covered peaks up to 6,200 meter (20,340 feet) all around you. You pass by several turquoise alpine lakes each day while condors soar above. It's truly a beautiful part of this world.

Although the altitudes on this trek are high, don't be discouraged as the ascents are not technical — you just need to go slow and steady, one foot in front of the other. You can check out all the details in this Huayhuash Trekking Guide.

HOW WE DID THIS TREK: We did this 10-day Huayhuash Trek with Quechuandes in Huaraz, Peru. The support on this trek was great and included an experienced trekking guide, cook and all food, donkeys to carry our gear, tents, support staff, and more. And, the price is reasonable given the quality of the service.

Svaneti, Mestia to Ushguli: High Caucasus Mountains, Republic of Georgia

Days: 3
Distance: 45 km / 28 miles

Unusual Treks, Caucasus Mountains in Georgia
Green and granite, the High Caucasus Mountains. Svaneti region, Georgia.
Unusual Treks, Svaneti in Georgia
A typical village in Svaneti, complete with signature Svan defensive towers.

Why: To trek through the High Caucasus Mountains from Mestia to Ushguli, purportedly the highest inhabited village in Europe at 2,100m / 6,900ft, and stay with local Svan families along the way. Our trek in Svaneti was our first multi-day, home stay trek that enlightened us as to how trekking could not only be an immersive experience in nature, but also in local culture. We were hooked.

To say that local Svan people, who view themselves as the protectors of these mountains, are intense is perhaps an understatement. You’ll find the people of Svaneti welcoming — just as fierce in their present-day hospitality as they are in their historical resistance to outsiders. Just beware of your liver, as the endless toasts each night with local wine and firewater can add up.

Xela to Lake Atitlan, Guatemala

Days: 3 days
Distance: 37 km / 23 miles

Unusual Treks, Lake Atitlan in Guatemala
Sunrise over Lake Atitlan, the final morning wake of our trek.
Unusual Treks, Xela to Lake Atitlan, Guatemala
The village of Santa Catarina, one of our overnights en route to Lake Atitlan.

Why: To hike through mountains and hill villages between two of Guatemala’s most popular tourist destinations — Xela and Lake Atitlan — and to finish with a beautiful sunrise view of the lake from above. We were told that this trail was developed by a veteran of the Guatemalan civil war (ended in 1996) as a means of stealthily moving about the region.

Along the way up and down the volcanic mountains and into the valleys, you stay in simple guest houses (sometimes schools or community buildings) or with families, including one that allows you to try their traditional Mayan sauna. On the final morning, you’ll enjoy breakfast at sunrise from above Lake Atitlan.

This hike might afford you a new appreciation for both the town and the lake after making the effort to trek the highlands between the two. In addition, you'll have a greater appreciation of the nature and cultures of Guatemala.

HOW WE DID THIS TREK: We booked the Xela to Lago Atitlan Trek with Quetzal Trekkers.

Lake Khecheopalri to Yuksom: Sikkim, India

Distance: 20-25 km / 12 – 15 miles
Days: 3

Unusual Treks, Sikkim
Daybreak in our overnight stop above Lake Khecheopalri, Sikkim.
Unusual Treks, Mt. Khangchendzonga in Sikkim
Clouds clear for a view of Mt. Khangchendzonga, the third highest mountain in the world.

Why: To get a taste of Nepali and Bhutanese culture while still in India, and to appreciate a view of majestic Mount Khangchendzonga, the third highest mountain in the world (8,586 m /28,169 ft). When we first decided to visit Sikkim, a semi-autonomous region in northwestern India that borders Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet (China), our plan did not include trekking.

Only after seeing the mountains and hearing that the trails were easy to follow, did we set off with a daypack to explore the area around Lake Khecheopalri and Yuksom. We stayed in family guesthouses and enjoyed all the interactions and tea stops in villages along the way.

Note: If you are interested in a more strenuous journey in this region, consider the route to Goecha La (4,940 meters) from which the best views of Mount Khangchendzonga are reportedly had.

Trek to Big Almaty Lake: Tian Shan Mountains, Kazakhstan

Distance: 20 km / 12 miles (one way)
Days: 2

Unusual Treks, Kazakhstan
Big Almaty Lake. Tian Shan Mountains, Kazakhstan. No Photoshop needed.
Unusual Treks, Tian Shan Mountains of Kazakhstan
Abandoned bus at the Tian Shan Observatory. Soviet-era industrial detritus, frozen in time.

Why: To get a quick look into the Tian Shan Mountains, reach the turquoise waters of Big Almaty Lake and spend the night at a funky, former Soviet astronomical observatory. While the lake is beautiful and the hike up is pleasant enough, the highlight of this trek was the surreal experience of spending the night at the Tian Shan Astronomical Observatory.

During our visit, we felt as though we’d landed on a movie set, a time-frozen remnant, wild west outpost of the Soviet Union. Scientists still live and work up there, however, and they keep the high-powered telescopes going. If you pay $5-10, one of them will open the telescope and show you the stars.

Please do not do what we did on our second day and use a Lonely Planet guidebook map to guide your return to Almaty over the mountain pass and down through one of the river beds. The route to Kosmostancia, another bizarre scientific outpost up the mountain from the observatory, is easy. After that, however, we lost the trail and almost didn’t make it out of the mountains at all (here’s the full story from our Kazakhstan hike).

So, words to the wise: learn from our mistake. Return down the mountain to Almaty the same way you came. Otherwise, carry a usable trekking map, use a map app with trekking route overlays able, or hire a guide so you can enjoy yourself and return without unnecessary drama.

Sawtooth Mountains: Idaho, United States

Distance: 10 – 24 miles
Days: day hikes

Hiking in the Sawtooth Mountains, Idaho.
Lunch break along the Pettit and Toxaway Lakes Loop in the Sawtooth Mountains.
Sawtooth Mountain Hikes in Idaho
First snows at Sawtooth Lake. Be sure to keep on the trail after the lake to get these overview vistas.
Sawtooth Mountains Hiking - Bench Lakes near Stanley, Idaho
Incredible reflections and vistas at the 4th Bench Lake in the Sawtooth Mountains.

Why: To be surprised by the beauty and diversity of landscapes and alpine lakes of the Sawtooth Mountains. Who knew Idaho was this beautiful?! Each day trek we did, including the Pettit and Toxaway Lakes Loop (20+ miles), Sawtooth Lakes Hike and Bench Lakes (be sure to continue to the 4th lake), just blew us away for the vistas and contours.

We also timed our visit for the shoulder season at the end of September and early October so as to avoid the crowds. As a result, we had the trails to ourselves and were able to enjoy the small town Stanley and its hot springs without a lot of other travelers around.

HOW WE DID THIS TREK: We based ourselves in Stanley, Idaho and took day hikes each day. This allowed us to enjoy the mountains during the day and warm meal and bed at night. We stayed at Mountain Village Lodge and thoroughly enjoyed their complimentary 1-hour hot springs soak that comes with the room. Just be sure to book your hot springs time before you leave in the morning on your day hike so that you are guaranteed a soak time when you return. SO nice after a long hike.

Southern Coast of Gozo and Malta Islands, Malta 

Distance: 6-12 miles / 10 – 20 km
Days: day hikes

Hiking in Gozo, Malta
A lovely walk along the southern coast of Gozo island.
Hiking in Malta, Dingle Cliffs
Hiking next to the Dingle Cliffs of Malta's southern coast.

Why: To enjoy the dramatic cliffs and brisk coastal winds of Gozo and Malta islands. Although Malta isn’t really known for its hiking, it should be given dramatic coastlines on both islands. And, hitting the trails are a great way to avoid the crowds that sometimes hit the islands.  

Our favorite hike was the 9-10 km trail along Gozo’s southern coast, from the ferry terminal in Mgarr to Xlendi. We passed through the village of Sannat and discovered even more stunning cliffs along the way on this coastal route. Gozo is smaller than Malta Island, but it is more rural and with more (non-road) hiking trails. Our only regret was that we weren’t spending several nights on Gozo so that we could have continued with a longer coastal circuit. 

On Malta Island we hiked 12+ miles/20 km along its southern coast from the popular Blue Grotto to Dingli Cliffs and then up to historic Mdina town (we combined several routes here). This was a nice mixture of trails along the coast and through farmlands and small villages. It really made us appreciate the contours of the island so much more having walked a chunk of it. Some of the route goes on narrow country roads, but there wasn't a lot of traffic so it wasn't an issue. Highly recommend walking as much of Malta as you can.

HOW WE DID THIS TREK: We based ourselves in Valletta, Malta and took public transport (buses and ferries) to get to/from the trails for these day hikes. This took more time than if we had rented a car, but it was also less stressful as we didn't have to worry about driving on the left side of the road or finding parking. If we had to do it again we would have spent several nights on Gozo island and done even more day hikes.

Tamang Heritage Trek: Nepal

Distance: 29.5 miles / 47.5 km
Days: 4.5 days

Tamang Heritage Trail, Nepal
Early morning views along the Tamang Heritage Trail.
Tamang Heritage Trail in Nepal
Dan gets adorned with flowers from a grandmother we met in a Tamang village.

Why: To hike through Tamang (ethnic Tibetan Buddhist) villages with views of snow-covered Langtang Lirung and Ganesh Himal peaks (both above 7,200 meters/24,000 feet). The Tamang Heritage Trail was developed in the last decade as an alternative to the more popular and well-known Langtang Trek.

It is a sort of cultural trek so travelers could learn more about Tamang (Tibetan Buddhist) culture as they hiked through, and stayed in, different Tamang villages. Its aim is to be include more inclusive of different communities so that more may benefit from all the trekkers and travelers coming to this region. In addition, several of the villages along this trek were badly impacted by the 2015 earthquake in Nepal so bringing back trekking to these areas helps provide income to rebuild.

What also makes Nepal such a great trekking destination, including the Tamang Heritage Trail, is the infrastructure of tea houses and family guest houses in villages along many trails that make it easy to engage and stay with local families. This means you know your money is staying local and you’re usually getting fresh food directly from the garden. This also means you don’t need to carry tents, food or any camping equipment, making organization much easier (and lighter).

HOW WE DID THIS TREK: We hired a porter/guide from Nepal Wilderness Trekking and specifically requested one who was Tamang and from this region. Himal, the founder of the organization, was very responsive to all of our questions and also organized our trekking permits and transportation to/from Syebrubesi (6-7 hours in a bumpy jeep). Although we could have done this independently and carried our own gear, we were happy to have Manoj with us to guide the way so we didn't get lost, translate into Tamang when speaking with local people, answer questions we had about Tamang culture and traditions, and also carry up to 15kg of our trekking gear. We found it worth the additional expense so that we could just focus on the experience, have a way to communicate with locals, and not worry about anything else. We recommend Manoj as a porter/guide for this and other treks in Nepal.

Kalaw to Inle Lake: Myanmar (Burma)

Distance: 61 km / 38 miles
Days: 3

Unusual Treks, Myanmar
Layers of hills, Shan State en route to Inle Lake.
Unusual Treks, Burmese People You Meet
A mother and daughter moment at a tea stop along our trek.


Why: To hike through the hills of Myanmar’s Shan State between the town of Kalaw and the popular tourist destination of Inle Lake, and get a feel for rural life in Myanmar by staying with families and in a local monastery. What made this trek stand out for us was the interaction and engagement with people along the way, from the grandmother harvesting ginger roots to the ethnic Pao girls who wanted our water bottles so they had something to drink from while working the fields.

Walking to Inle Lake makes you appreciate the work of hill village locals who carry their their goods several times a week to the lakeside weekly markets. It also helps you appreciate the landscapes and rural life between Myanmar's main sites.

HOW WE DID THIS TREK: We booked our trek and guide with Sam's Family Trekking in Kalaw, Myanmar.

Gheralta Mountains: Ethiopia, Tigray Province

Days: 1-2 day hikes
Distance: 10-15 km / 6-9 miles, but the challenge is more in the free climbing

Unusual Treks, Gheralta Mountains of Ethiopia
A little free-climbing in the Gheralta Mountains.
Unusual Treks, Ethiopia
Following the monk to Daniel Korkor, a church built into the cliff.

Why: To see 1,000-year old Ethiopian Orthodox churches carved high into the cliffs in a landscape reminiscent of the red rock deserts of Arizona and Utah. In order to reach those churches you must do some free-form rock climbing. The experience includes a few sheer drops that might send those with vertigo into a temporary, protective fetal position (We speak from experience, by the way).

However, there are rewards. In addition to the stunning views throughout the climb, you’ll have the opportunity to go inside remote cliff-side churches whose interiors are covered with 600-800 year old frescos – all with a monk or priest in as your guide. Although there are several treks in this area, the two we opted for were those up to the Daniel Korkor and Maryam Korkor churches. We suggest climbing them in that order, since tackling the former will help prepare you for the latter.

HOW WE DID THIS HIKE: We did this trek as part of our G Adventures tour in Ethiopia. Unfortunately, the tour itinerary has changed and no longer includes these treks. However, you could work with the local tour company to add trekking in the Gheralta Mountains onto the other tour. It's so worth it.

Read more:

Pic la Selle and Parc National la Visite, Haiti

Distance: 25-35 km / 15-29 miles
Days: 3

Unusual Treks, Haiti
View from Pic Cabayo — Parc National la Visite, Haiti. Just gorgeous.
Unusual Treks, Haiti Roads
Market roads wind their way to the outskirts of Port-au-Prince.

Why: To experience Haiti’s endless layers of mountains (the country’s name means “land of mountains” in the local indigenous Taino language) and its unexpected natural beauty while having the chance to meet and engage with people all along the way. You’ll meet school children on their way home, women carrying goods on their heads to market, and farmers plowing the fields.

Haiti’s cities can be busy and frenetic, so spending a few days in the hills of Parc National La Visite with a walk down local paths towards Port-au-Prince provides a chance to slow it all down and absorb this fascinating yet complicated destination in a different way. Not to mention, spending the cool evenings in the hills drinking Haitian hot chocolate and listening to konpa music is something we'll never forget.

HOW WE DID THIS TREK: We booked our Haiti trek and guide with Tour Haiti after our Haiti tour with G Adventures.

Read more:


What have we missed? Is there a favorite hike or unusual trek you’d add to this list? Please let us know in the comments! We – and our readers always appreciate more trekking inspiration.

About Audrey Scott
Audrey Scott is a writer, storyteller, speaker and tourism development consultant. She aims to help turn people's fears into curiosity and connection. She harbors an obsession for artichokes and can bake a devastating pan of brownies. You can keep up with her adventures on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. And you can learn more about her on the About Page and on LinkedIn.

26 thoughts on “Best Hikes Around the World: 15 Unusual Hikes You’re Not Considering…But Should”

  1. Hi Daniel and Audrey. Everybody wants to climb up Kilimanjaro, but the more interesting and most beautiful trekking is outside the national park, through the villages, coffee and banana farms, and forest that encircle the mountain at around 6,000 feet. It’s way off the beaten track, a great cultural experience, and plenty challenging as it is constant up-and-down over ridges and through river valleys coming off the mountain. Full disclosure, I work for Simon Mtuy, the Tanzania mountain guide that leads these multi-day hikes – but that doesn’t make it any less spectacular! Tim.

    Reply
    • Tim, thanks for sharing this trek in northern Tanzania (and disclosing your connection). We have climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, and really loved that experience and challenge. This trek sounds great for the local connection and engagement you have with the farms and villages in the area. And, for people who are daunted by the thought of Mt. Kilimanjaro, this is a great alternative.

      Reply
      • Hi Audrey,
        Awesome list thanks for showing us a lot of alternatives to Kili, Machu Picchu, and all the big name hikes. Central Asia looks incredible and a lot of these are simply of the beaten track for travelers. These places are special in their own right and have so much to offer. It’s one one of those things though, you want to share but also want to keep the secret in haha.

        We did a hike with Queztaltrekkers and loved the organization. This is gonna be copied around the world I’m sure especially with the rise of social entrepreneurship. Guatemala was incredible and we love love love Lake Atitlan (even if we didn’t do the hike).

        In preparation for Kilimanjaro we hike through the Usamabara mountains just a bit east from Kili and it was beautiful. The hikes that allow you to walk through and with culture are often times over looked. We started this hike at a village and it was market day. Truly unforgettable.

        There could easily be a part two on this post and we hope to hear about more of your hikes sometime soon. In the meantime keep kicking butt on the road. Thanks again for the post 🙂

        <3

        Mark and Camille

        Reply
  2. Wow, I love them all! We love the mountains so much more than the beach and all these hikes are right up our alley. I was going to suggest a hike we did in Guatemala but I see that you had one already. The one we did was a 4 day hike in the highlands of Guatemala and I am sure you would love it too. It is listed as a 6 day hike but the first and last day are actually travel days. http://www.travelwithkevinandruth.com/2013/02/our-six-day-trip-with-quetzaltrekkers.html

    Reply
    • Very cool that you did the Todos Santos trek with Quetzal Trekkers. That was one that we wanted to do, but ran out of time. It looks like a fantastic experience and we do love that organization. They also offer treks in Nicaragua and Bolivia, so if you are headed that way look them up!

      Reply
  3. I understand not wanting to include Nepal but currently their economy is in the shitter and trekking is open for business, especially any treks leaving from Pokhara like the Annapurna Circuit. Nepal needs tourists so badly right now, please encourage folks to travel there. I went after the earthquake to help, and Pokhara was a ghost town. And it was perfectly safe to be trekking.

    In another year or two, I would highly recommend the Manaslu Circuit with the Tsum Valley thrown in. Unfortunately they were hit hard in the region during the earthquake and it will take some time to recover. I did the trek last October during the blizzard that wreaked havoc throughout the Himalayas and it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. The Tsum Valley has only been open to the western world for about 5 years and is culturally very Buddhist and also has a strong Chinese influence being so close to the border. The people are kind and the trekking is hard, but it’s so beautiful. Our guide, Kamala Pun, was amazing and she is one of the few female guides out there.

    Anyways, go to Nepal!!!! They are waiting with big smiles and big mountains!

    Reply
    • Completely agree with you about always go to Nepal!! And it’s great to have that reminder to encourage travel to Nepal NOW as there are so many areas that are safe for trekking and the country needs the tourism dollars now more than ever. I will add a note to this effect in the article above and this also reminds me to share other Nepal articles to get people talking about how it is safe to travel there. As mentioned above, the Annapurna Circuit experience is one of our top even after all these years.

      I also appreciate the addition of the more unusual Manaslu Circuit. We’re hoping to return to Nepal at some point, so any other advice you might have for other regions and treks is much appreciated.

      Reply
  4. These treks look amazing. Some a little too scary for me. I’m very interested in doing some more hiking soon. I’ve never done more than just a few hours.

    Reply
  5. Awesome treks! Thanks for sharing.

    For most of them did you use a guide service or did you trek it alone?
    I’m wondering if you carry tents & sleeping bags with you wherever you go and if local guides help make the local connections with homestays.

    Reply
    • Great question, Kirk. We’re actually thinking of putting these treks together with some other experiences into a sort of “best of” book that shows all the practical details on how to organize it yourself and what to expect with costs.

      For all the treks except Sikkim and Kazakhstan we had a local guide with us. In some situations it’s required (e.g., Lost City Trek) and in others it’s just recommended. Additionally, we find that a local guide also helps to provide cultural and historical context to the area where you are trekking, and can act as translator and make connections with homestays.

      We do not carry tents and sleeping bags with us. However, when we have needed a sleeping bag (e.g., Annapurna Circuit in Nepal or Kilimanjaro in Tanzania) we have usually been able to rent one from a local trekking agency. None of the treks above are camping, but when we did the Salkantay trek in Peru the tents were provided by the trekking agency.

      Hope this information helps!

      Reply
  6. You guys are champion hikers! I fell for hiking hard when we started to travel long term, and have never looked back. Thank you for adding destinations to my list 🙂

    Reply
    • I wouldn’t say that we’re champion hikers, but realized early that if we just put one foot in front of the other we could go pretty far in some unusual destinations 🙂 Glad that this post added to your trekking wanderlust list!

      Reply
  7. Wow, what an incredible and inspiring list! I will be visiting Nepal and Guatemala over the next few months so I will be sure to check out your recommendations.
    I was wondering how much research you do beforehand into the sustainable travel-side of things, the treatment of porters, etc. Do you have any particular tips about how to find companies that use local guides, treat their guides well, etc? I know that it was quite a lot of research when I was organising a Machu Picchu trek and I’ve already been in contact with a few places in Nepal to check out how they run their trips 🙂

    Reply
    • Thanks, Laura! Great questions regarding the sustainable travel and treatment of guides/porters. When we look into a trekking agency or tour company we usually research whether the company provides their guides/porters with a fair wage, strict weight requirements (e.g., they carry no more than XX kilos) and insurance. We also support companies that work with local communities or families for accommodation and food so that the tourism money gets spread around. We often find that companies that do these things also usually have a program where some of the profits goes back into community or NGO projects. It’s difficult to get through the marketing sometimes to see what is true and what is marketing. Sometimes this information will be on the website, and other times you need to ask about it or go to review sites for recommendations. Lonely Planet’s Thorntree forum can sometimes be a good resource to ask other travelers for advice.

      As for Nepal, we went with Swissa Travels in Pokhara as it was recommended by another traveler and they provided insurance and coverage for their porters. We’ve also heard good things about the sustainability work of Social Tours in Nepal (we’ve met the founder, Raj, several times at responsible tourism conferences). Then there is G Adventures, a company that we’ve partnered with for four years, including several of the treks above (Ethiopia and Colombia). They work with local guides and providers to try and keep money local, but also choose local partners that offer fair wages and protection for porters.

      And in Guatemala definitely check out Quetzal Trekkers!

      Reply
  8. Amazing post! I am sucker for a good long trek and this list is just super! I am already gunning for the Gheralta Mountains! 🙂

    Reply
    • Don’t think you’d be disappointed by the Gheralta Mountains. A great combination of a physical challenge mixed with gorgeous landscape and fascinating Ethiopian culture and history. Enjoy!

      Reply
  9. This is a great list and has just added several more treks to my own list to do.

    I did the lost city trek in Colombia 10 years ago and loved it, more so than Macchu Pichu which I did a couple of months prior to that.

    The Kawlaw to Inle Lake and Xela to Lake Atitlan were on my list when I visited recently but my hubby isn’t a trekker and we were on limited time so had to settle for smaller treks! They look great though so I’ll try to return to do these by myself at some point

    Reply
    • We enjoyed our Salkantay Trek to Macchu Pichu, but the Lost City Trek in Colombia does hold a special place in our hearts. You must have had the Lost City to yourself when you were there 10 years ago.

      Hope you have a chance to try the other treks soon and maybe you can convince your husband to come with you on a few of them 🙂

      Reply
  10. What a great list! So far my favorite hike has been the trek around Mount Kailash in Nepal. I’ll be posting a full recap in February. The abandoned bus on the side of the road in your photo reminds me of the drive to Badrinath in the Indian Himalayas. Lots of cars and buses end up like that there. Stay safe and thanks for the guide!

    Reply
    • Thanks, Kimberly! Nepal has been coming up quite a lot on our radar recently, so hope we have an opportunity to return sometime soon. The Himalayas – both the Nepalese and Indian side – are stunning, and full of culture and history as well.

      Reply
      • Hi Audrey,

        I realized there was a typo in my comment. The Himalayas are stunning if both India and Nepal, but the Mount Kailash Trek was in Tibet! I started posting the recap. Thanks for the reply!

        Reply
  11. Dear Audrey & Dan Namaste!
    What great Articles about you both traveling in the world, I am so much enjoyed reading your Articles, I know you both were here in Nepal on 18 May 2019 and did the trek with us, I still remember you both, I have a group photo on our site 3 of you with smiley faces https://nepalindependentguide.com/activities/tamang-heritage-trek/ hope to see you again in the futures in Nepal for other treks.
    Miss you both from Nepali friends
    Manoj & Himal

    Reply

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