The Most Spectacular Treks in the World

Trekking is always so much better than we imagine it’s going to be. Spending multiple days walking through the wilderness with a heavy pack on your back certainly isn’t the most glamorous way to spend your vacation, but when you’re doing it, there’s nowhere in the world you would rather be. We spend so much of our life sitting down, sometimes we need a multi-day hike to expend all that excess energy we aren’t using.

Whether you are a trekking enthusiast or you’ve never walked further than your local shop, we can all appreciate the difference between a spectacular trek and an average trek. Spectacular treks go through scenery that blows us away and are challenging but not inaccessible. These treks are photo-worthy every step of the way and the five days we spend walking feels like just a few hours.

If you want to do a trek like this on your next holiday look no further. Here is the crème de la crème of the trekking world.

The Salkantay Trail, Peru

The Inca Trail gets all the glory, but the Salkantay Trail, which leads all the way to Machu Picchu, is just as good and it’s free as opposed to $500. For 3-4 days you will walk through the lush Sacred Valley, flanked on either side by snow-capped mountains. Chances are you will spend entire days without seeing another living soul. Be sure to take the quick detour to the glacial lake on your way, you won’t regret it.

Everest Base Camp, Nepal

Honestly, can you think of a more famous trek than this one? Mount Everest is a name that strikes a mixture of fear and wonder into the heart of an individual. It is a monstrous mountain, only summited by the brave and insane. The trek to the Everest Base Camp is certainly no walk in the park, but it is far from impossible. Follow your Sherpa through the icy passages that lead to the camp and enjoy that incomparable sense of accomplishment when you arrive.

Torres del Paine Circuit, Patagonia

When it comes to rugged natural beauty, Patagonia takes the crown. The jagged peaks of its principal mountains distinguish Torres del Paine. The trek takes you around the bases of these mountains and past glaciers and lakes that make for some stunning photo ops. If you want a trek that takes you away from any form of civilisation, this one will do the trick.

The Camino de Santiago, Spain

Technically you could do this trek for a whole month if you had the energy. But, I recommend you pick one section of the route and go for just a few days. Back in the day, the Camino was one of the most important pilgrimage routes in the world. It guided people from all over the world to Santiago de Compostela, a beautiful city with a magnificent cathedral. Hundreds of thousands of people still do this trek every year so you’re likely to make a few friends along the way.

The Lost City, Colombia

Time to swap the snowy mountains for something a little more tropical. The Lost City trek involves five days of hiking through lush jungle and sleeping in open air hammocks along the way. You will pass through indigenous jungle villages and explore the remnants of ancient civilisations. The final part of this journey is an ascent up 1200 steps – not ideal after five days of walking, but the views from the top make it all worthwhile.