Lonely Planet Epic Hikes of the World: Explore the Planet's Most Thrilling Treks and Trails

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While there are many routes to “the Camino,” the most popular continues to be the nearly 500-mile Camino Frances , or the French Way, which begins at St. However, it is possible to steer clear or bypass some of these more challenging scrambles, as the Selvaggio Blu has several slightly easier variations - a guide (at the very least an accurate map) is highly recommended to navigate it.

Epic Hikes of the World | Exodus Travels 19 Epic Hikes of the World | Exodus Travels

Whether you fancy a day trip, a week-long wander or a longer-haul hike, there’s an epic adventure to suit all abilities. The trail’s name – the Lagoon of Three – refers to the trio of mountains that lie in wait at the end of the trail: Cerro Fitz Roy, Aguja Poincenot and Torre, all rising like rocky guardians around the lakeshore. The same isolation that attracted British penal colony settlements here has been a blessing for protected lands that for decades were off-limits. It’s a long but rewarding day hike, with the added bonus that you get to sleep in a proper bed and get a good meal at the end of the day: the town of El Chaltén has plenty of accommodation options for hikers. The Matterhorn Trek has been described as one of the most beautiful treks in the world taking in many ancient trails that have linked the Swiss Alps and Italian valleys for centuries.Full of passion and feeling, this route is a tempestuous one with a rollercoaster of highs and lows, crossing volcanic fissures, gaping craters and rushing rivers. are some of the nationalities who regularly complete the Tour du Mont Blanc circuit around the 15,781-foot massif, the highest in Western Europe . These trails wind through both past and present, connecting a bygone era of colonial hill stations to a vibrant, modern nation. In summer (early July to mid-August) the preserve is blanketed in a glittering green carpet as travelers walk from cairn to cairn. This is full-fledged strenuous backpacking and canyoneering rolled into one, and unsuitable for children.

hikes in Switzerland - Lonely Planet Best hikes in Switzerland - Lonely Planet

Their legacy is a bone of contention in Wales (many of them represent the beginning of the occupation), but their aesthetic qualities are undeniable. There are a few ways to summit, the easiest of which is using the Tramway du Mont Blanc to the Nid d’Aigle, then up the Aiguille Gouter and the Bosse ridge. But they are also fantastic year-round hiking destinations, with quiet trails crossing their unspoilt interiors. Beginning and ending on a high, you’ll take in the full glittering sweep of Lakes Thun and Brienz as you trudge from Schynige Platte to First, and colossal peaks like the dagger-shaped Wetterhorn and the big three of Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. South America’s most famous hike is four days of atmospheric Cloud Forest, high passes and history – intriguing ruins of the ancient civilisation of the Incas dot the trail, where you can walk amongst the relics of an ancient world.

The sights: With its vaulting peaks topping at 9,724 feet and sloping green pasturelands populated by goats and cows (with bells, of course), Ratikon could be a stand-in for the famous Sound of Music scenes where the Von Trapp family revelled in wildflower-studded alpine meadows. Meru lies on a nearly 200-mile axis of Africa's most famous national parks, extending from the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater in the west to Kilimanjaro National Park in the east. There aren’t many hikes where you can walk on black ash and obsidian shards all day and then camp out under the stars, but here it feels like anything is possible.