TRAVEL BUCKET LISTS: Global Walks and Trekking Routes
by Michael Nang in partnership with Tesco.
The world is full of spectacular walks that reveal an alternate side of a destination and the chance to discover hidden scenery. Finding a new walking or hiking trail is always top of my vacation itinerary and although the guidebooks are helpful, I usually ask locals for advice.
Routes such as Turkey’s glorious Lycian Way have definitely stoked my passion for this activity, and what follows are a few of the world's best trekking trails still uppermost on my travel bucket list.
The Snowman Trek
Mountain landscape, Bhutan. Photo by Inga Vitola via Flickr CCL.
Trekking through Bhutan’s most remote valleys takes you through six mountains (over 7000 metres) and nine different passes, meaning this is one of the highest altitude trekking routes in the world. Not only will you experience some of the most inspiring mountain and river scenery but you’ll also view ancient Buddhist monasteries and pass through villages that have remained unchanged for centuries. Pack enough walking clothes to last for a few weeks in order to stay warm and comfortable, and get the most out of this once in a lifetime route.
The great outdoors U.S. style
Wooden walkways allow visitors to closely approach the Grand Prismatic Spring. Photo by Jim Peaco, National Park Service
There’s a definite feeling of pioneering with American hiking trails mainly due to the wide open spaces and sense of freedom. Locations such as Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming allow trekking through lush forests, majestic waterfalls and of course witnessing those famous geysers and hot springs. In Idaho there’s a 68 mile route known as the Gospel Hump Loop Trail that offers a wilderness trek through immense mountain meadows, glacial lakes and even beautiful beaches. The Gospel Hump Loop is recommended for the very experienced and the only other inhabitants you’re likely to meet are a few black bears and some elk.
South of the Equator
Machu Picchu, Peru. Photo by Eduardo Zárate via Flickr CCL.
South American walking trails should be on every trekker's bucket list, though choosing which country to visit may be difficult. Peru's Inca Trail is one of the most famous and requires approximately four days of hard trekking, although arriving at Machu Picchu at dawn is definitely worth the effort. The 75-mile Torres del Plain route in Chilean Patagonia will provide you with breathtaking glaciers, forests and lakes, and it’s a four to eight-day trek that provides a lifetime’s worth of incredible scenery within one trip. The 31-mile Santa Cruz White Mountains route in Peru is also well-worth experiencing and this is a trek that’s suitable for beginners and experienced hikers.
Michael Nang is an advertising executive currently working for a full-service Digital Agency. One of his passions is travelling to different places worldwide, writing about his many adventures and mishaps while exploring life's myriad secrets. He plans to compile all his works into a book that he seeks to publish in the near future. This article was produced in partnership with Tesco.
