Hiking the Annapurna Circuit Trek, Himalayas, Nepal

Trekking holidays

A bit of excitement, adventure and effort! These treks are quite tough but they make you feel alive and are in some truly incredible landscapes.

Hiking the Annapurna Circuit Trek, Himalayas, Nepal

Embrace the unknown path

None of these treks are a stroll in the park but should be accessible to most people of reasonable fitness. Also, they can often be tailored to suit your own particular level of fitness or wish for an easier walk (for example, by missing days out or taking a shorter path).
The treks are all in beautiful places in the world, so you’ll be enjoying stunning scenery, perfect for photography if you’re into that, and they will be a real tonic for body and soul.

We very much enjoyed the camaraderie of the party on our Salkantay trek. Also the deeply moving blessing ceremony from the Inca shaman at the Huaymantay glacier lake. Mountain Lodges gave us unexpected treats every day. We enjoyed every moment.

Offering to Pachamama at Ausangate, Peru

Accessing remote areas on foot

Below you will find some wonderful ideas for escaping from the beaten path and exploring more remote areas of the world. Sometimes, meeting the people who live in such places is half of the pleasure, but often the fact that it's just you and the landscape and relatively few (or no) other people makes it particularly special.

CHILE: Torres del Paine ‘W‘ Trek

This is probably the most famous trek of Chilean Patagonia. It’s 4-5 days long if you do the full trek, but you can do shorter legs too. One particular section – to the base of the towers – is especially noted and quite tough. In fact, the whole trek is pretty demanding, and when you factor in the unpredictable weather this can make it even harder. However, the scenery is spectacular if you enjoy rugged mountain landscapes, and you will see guanacos and maybe even a puma. On top of that, you can do these treks from a comfortable or even luxurious lodge as your base.

Suggested Places to Stay

Explora Patagonia Las Torres

ECUADOR: Cotopaxi

In the Andean mountains in and around Cotopaxi National Park, there are many wonderful opportunities for treks between 1 and 5 days. Expect high altitude dramatic scenery with volcanic peaks, lakes with condors soaring above, wild horses, and glaciers close to the equator. It’s only about 2 hours from Quito and you can stay in comfortable mountain lodges.

Suggested Places to Stay

Chilcabamba Ecolodge

KENYA: Mount Kenya

Africa’s second-highest mountain has four routes to the summit (Point Lenana, 4985m). In comparison to Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro, this trek is a generally quieter experience, with good opportunities to see flora and fauna for much of the way up. Depending on your chosen route, it usually takes about 5-6 days. This is still quite a challenge, but not as demanding as Kilimanjaro. There are also other, easier treks near Mount Kenya.

NEPAL: The Annapurnas

The Annapurna Circuit is a well-known 3-week trek, but you can trek here for anything from 1 day upwards in gorgeous scenery. Many people enjoy a trek of 4-5 days, perhaps visiting Poon Hill and the Gurkha village of Ghandruk. You can stay in simple teahouses/mountain lodges. The altitude rarely gets much above 2500m and there are varying routes which suit people with different levels of fitness so this is accessible to most people.

Suggested Places to Stay

Mountain Lodges Fishtail Lodge

On the Lares trek with Mountain Lodges of Peru

PERU: Lares Trek

The Lares region near the Sacred Valley offers beautiful mountain scenery full of remote Andean villages. There are some luxury lodges in the villages and you can reach them via a combination of driving and walking, or, if you prefer, you can camp each night. Most people trek for between 2 to 7 days then end by taking the train to Machu Picchu.

Suggested Places to Stay

Mountain Lodges Lares Cultural Trek

On the Salcantay trip with Mountain Lodges, Peru

PERU: Salcantay trek

This is a wonderful 7-day trek passing over the Salcantay Pass and ending within sight of Machu Picchu. Not only do you get beautiful high altitude scenery of mountains topped with glaciers and vivid blue meltwater lakes, but you get to stay in totally gorgeous luxury lodges where you can even relax at the end of the day in a jacuzzi with a drink. What’s not to like?!

Suggested Places to Stay

Mountain Lodges of Peru

Walking near Ol Donyo Lengai, Ngorongoro highlands

TANZANIA: Ngorongoro Highlands

There are lots of possible treks in the Ngorongoro highlands, for example, up near the Ngorongoro Highlands, an active volcano called Ol Donyo Lengai towers over the hot, dusty plains of northern Tanzania. This is the ‘Mountain of God’ of the Maasai tribe. You can take a stunning trek down into Empakai Crater (close to Ngorongoro Crater) then around the rim and on to Lengai which is near Lake Natron. This 3-day trek is not about climbing the volcano, but about experiencing the incredible scenery in this little-visited corner of Tanzania, passing villages, craters, lakes with abundant birdlife around the base of this iconic mountain.

Suggested Places to Stay

The Highlands Ngare Sero Lake Natron Camp

BHUTAN: Druk Path

The Druk Path is a 5- to 6-day moderately difficult hike (camping) from Paro to Thimphu, across the mountains that separate the two valleys. Be prepared for some steep ascents and descents and an altitude of up to 4235m. You’ll be in stunning Himalayan scenery and can enjoy visiting villages, dzongs and monasteries along the way. All in all, it’s very beautiful and not a busy route.

Suggested Places to Stay

Uma Paro

When to take these treks

The best thing to do is to talk to us about when might be best to go for these treks. There tend to be pros and cons at different times, depending on your fitness and likes/ dislikes. Call us for a chat.

Want to know more?

If this has sparked your interest and you'd like to know more, please get in touch with us. We'll be very happy to talk with you and perhaps send you a suggested itinerary for a suitable adventure or holiday. We look forward to hearing from you.

The Tribes Foundation

Simply by booking with Tribes, you are making a difference. Every booking helps with The Tribes Foundation, the charity we back with admin and funds. Most clients give additional donations which we always put to very good use with one of the wildlife, environmental or social projects we support.