hiking guides
explore hiking guides for some of the world's greatest treks, from the Peruvian Andes to the Italian Dolomites, all designed to take you β¨beyond the ordinaryβ¨
Alta Via 2 | ItalianΒ Dolomites
The longest of the Alta Via (high routes) that cut across the Italian Dolomites, AV2 is the absolute best way to experience the incredible diversity of this part of the Alps, both on the trail and on lofty via ferrata routes. FromΒ jagged limestone (dolomite) peaks and dramatic glacier-carved valleys to idyllic wildflower-crusted meadows and lush forests that appear right out of a story book, this two-week adventure will keep you perpetually spellbound.Β
Distance: 160-200km (10-13 days)
Difficulty: moderate-challenging
Where you’ll stay: mountain huts
Alta Via 4 | Italian Dolomites
A paradise of dramatic limestone spires and sparkling glacier lakes, AV4 parades through some of the most coveted locations in theΒ Dolomites (Tre Cime, Cadini de Misurina & Lago di Sorapis, just to name a few),Β delivering more WOW per kilometre than just about any hike I’ve ever done. But what makes this routeΒ truly unique is the near-dailyΒ via ferrata: protected climbing routes that lead keen scramblers to otherwise inaccessible summits and truly elevate the experience of hut-to-hut hiking in Italy to breathtaking new heights.
Β
Distance: 92km+ (4-6 days)
Difficulty: moderate-challenging
Where you’ll stay: mountain huts
Ausangate & Rainbow Mountain | Cusco, Peru
Walking beneath the 6,384m snow-capped peak of Ausangate, itβs absolutely impossible not to be swept up in the mysticism and magic of the Peruvian Andes. Couple the jaw-dropping and life-altering scenery of the Ausangate Circuit with a visit to Vinicunca, the surreal Rainbow Mountain newly emerged from a thick covering of ice, and this just might be one of the most spectacular treks in Peru (and there are heaps of strong contenders).
Distance: 30-70km (2-5 days)
Difficulty: moderate (+ high-elevation)
Where you’ll stay:Β private huts or tent (wild camping)
Grampians Peaks Trail | Melbourne, Australia
Located 3 hours northwest of Melbourne CBD, the Grampians National Park boasts dramatic rock features, sparkling waterfalls, and sweeping views over a patchwork of green valleys and blue lakes quite unlike anything else in the state. The full Grampians Peaks Trail is set to be a 160km, 13-day route running the entire length of the National Park from Mt Zero in the north to Mt Abrupt in the south, summiting spectacular peaks along the way and really showcasing the grandeur of the Wonderland Range. As of 2020, a 3-dayΒ section of the Grampians Peak Trail has been officially opened between Halls Gap and Mt Rosea.
Distance:Β 37-160km (3-13 days)
Difficulty:Β easy-moderate
Where you’ll stay:Β tent (designated campsites)
Great Ocean Walk | Melbourne, Australia
Meandering along Victoria’s most coveted stretch of coastline, the Great Ocean Walk offers an intimate, slower-paced look at this popular tourist area.Β From Apollo Bay in the east to the Twelve Apostles in the west, the Great Ocean Walk passes through towering eucalypt forests, traverses secluded beaches, and leads up wild, wind-whipped headlands to reach some of the stateβs tallest and most dramatic sandstone cliffs several days later. It is, without a doubt, some of the most spectacular and varied scenery youβll find on any walk in mainland Australia.
Distance:Β 104km (5-8 days)
Difficulty:Β easy-moderate
Where you’ll stay:Β tent (designated campsites)
Huayhuash Circuit | Huaraz, Peru
Widely regarded as one of the best alpine treks in the entire world, the Huayhuash Circuit is a remote and impossibly scenic high-altitude route in Peruβs Cordillera Huayhuash (pronounced why-wash). The trail crosses 12 mountain passes all above 4,500m and circles some of the highest and most impressive mountains in the Andes, offering surreal vistas of jagged snow-capped peaks, turquoise lakes, and even steamy hot springs. Itβs definitely a challenging trek, but the jaw-dropping views and the utter lack of crowds (often the only people in sight for days) easily made this my all-time favourite.
Distance:Β 135km (8-12 days)
Difficulty:Β challenging (+ high-elevation)
Where you’ll stay:Β tent (designated sites or wild camping)
Inca Trail | Cusco, Peru
βRe-discoveredβ by archaeologist Hiram Bingham on his famous 1911 expedition, the Inca Trail is only a small section of some 20,000km of trails that were created and traversed by the ancient Incas in the 15th century. This particular trail is thought to have been a pilgrimage route to Machu Picchu, along which walkers performed religious ceremonies and spiritual rituals to honour the towering ApusΒ (mountain gods). Today, itβs still the most popular trekking route to Machu Picchu and equally one of the best cultural experiences to be had in Peru.
Distance:Β 43km (4 days)
Difficulty:Β moderately challenging (+ high-elevation)
Where you’ll stay:Β huts or tent (required to join a tour)
Overland Track | Tasmania, Australia
Tasmaniaβs legendary Overland Track is Australian bushwalking at its very finest, incorporating dramatic dolerite peaks, wind-whipped alpine tundra, lush valleys dominated by vibrant wildflowers, fragrant rainforests, and sparkling waterfalls all into one incredible hike. More than just incredible scenery, the Overland Track is incredible in its accessibility for people of all experience levels.
Distance:Β 70km (2-5 days)
Difficulty:Β easy-moderate
Where you’ll stay:Β huts or tent (designated campsites)
Royal National Park Coast Track | Sydney, Australia
Within an hour of central Sydney and yet a world away from the city bustle, escape into nature and discover the dramatic beauty of Australiaβs oldest national park on the Royal Coast Track, a stunning bushwalk along secluded golden beaches, lush palm forests, and wind-sculpted cliffs. And if its proximity to the city and incredible natural scenery werenβt enough to convince you, the Coast Track also offers a fantastic opportunity to camp under the stars and in front of the waves at North Era Beach, one of Sydneyβs absolute best campsites.
Distance:Β 30km (1-2 days)
Difficulty:Β easy-moderate
Where you’ll stay:Β tent (designated campsite)
Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu | Cusco, Peru
An increasingly popular but still far less crowded alternative to the Inca Trail, the Salkantay Trek traverses high mountain passes and stunning alpine scenery to reach the incredible ruins of Machu Picchu. The trek takes its name from Salkantay Mountain, which rises an impressive 6,271m and absolutely dominates the landscapeβ this stunning mountain is the highest in the region and held great spiritual significance for the ancient Incas, who believed that mountains and their residentΒ Apu (spirits) were the link betweenΒ Kay PachaΒ (the human realm) andΒ Hanan PachaΒ (the upper realm).Β
Distance:Β 70km (3-5 days)
Difficulty:Β moderately challenging (+ high-elevation)
Where you’ll stay:Β huts or tent (designated campsites)
Six Foot Track | Sydney, Australia
Spanning the Blue Mountains National Park from Jenolan Caves to Katoomba, the Six Foot Track was constructed in 1884 as a horse route between the two cities; exactly 100 years later, the track was opened to hikers and is now one of Sydneyβs most popular overnight hikes. Visit underground palaces of crystalline stalactites, explore lush and vibrant Megalong Valley, look up at towering sandstone cliffs, and camp out at pristine rivers, all within a 90min drive of the city.
Distance:Β 45km (2-3 days)
Difficulty:Β easy-moderate
Where you’ll stay:Β tent (designated campsites)
Three Capes Track | Tasmania, Australia
Tasmaniaβs newest and most innovative walk, the Three Capes Track seeks to take hikers on a journey, seamlessly infusing unrivalled comfort and context into the untamed beauty of the Tasman Peninsula. Now widely regarded as one of the best bushwalks in the entire country, experience the otherworldly dolerite pillars and rugged coastal scenery that are entirely unique to the Capes, fall in love with the romantic desolation of the landscape, and immerse yourself in natureβ all before retiring to huts that look straight out of Architecture Australia.Β
Distance:Β 48km (4 days)
Difficulty:Β easy-moderate
Where you’ll stay:Β huts
Tour du Mont Blanc | France, Italy & Switzerland
Widely regarded as one of the best hikes in the entire world, the Tour du Mont Blanc is a challenging hike thatΒ circumnavigates beautiful Mont Blanc (4,810m),Β ascending 11 mountain passes and racking up around 10,000m in elevation gain/loss through France, Italy, and Switzerland. There are few routes in the Alps that rival the iconic TMB, and itβs a combination of the dramatic natural scenery and the charming mountain villages that have made this trek a fast favourite among mountain-lovers.
Distance: 180km (8-12 days)
Difficulty: challenging
Where you’ll stay: huts or tent (designated sites & wild camping)
hiking guides by destination
