With over 90 of the classic treks of the world completed, selecting a Top 10 List isn't easy because every hike is a favorite for it's scenery, people, or culture. Nevertheless, here are 10 classics to consider. Note these treks have waymarked trails but some trips, due to weather, altitude, trail conditions, or signage challenges, may require strong backcountry skill sets if you are self-navigating. All require excellent physical condition. Trips can be shortened by adjusting starting and ending points, or by accessing transportation options en route.
#1 - Tour du Mont Blanc
The Tour
du Mont Blanc or TMB is
one of the most popular long distance walks in Europe. It circles
the Mont Blanc Massif covering a distance of roughly 106 miles with 33,000 feet of
ascent/descent, and passes through parts of Switzerland, Italy and France. It is
considered one of the classic long distance walking trails. The circular route
is normally walked in an anti-clockwise direction in 11 days.
#2 – Trans-Switzerland Route
The Trans-Switzerland Route is a hiking trail stretching from the country’s eastern to western border through the Alps. It starts in Sargans in eastern
Switzerland, and crosses the heart of the country westward to finish in Montreux on the shore
of Lake Geneva. The total route covers over 220 miles and crosses 16 mountain passes, taking
around 25 walking days to complete.
#3 – Walker’s Haute Route
The “Walker’s” Haute Route takes 12 days
walking for the 112 miles from the Chamonix valley, home of Mont Blanc, to Zermatt,
home of the Matterhorn. The trail follows a network of well-marked and signposted paths. The Walkers
route stays below 10,000 ft., and takes advantage of the popular mountain huts,
small inns and hotels in the villages along the way. In the spring, summer and
fall, this route is safe, and entirely non-technical (requires no ropes,
crampons, or protection devices, unlike the actual Haute Route).
#4 – England Coast-to-Coast
The Coast-to-Coast
Walk is a 192-mile mostly un-signposted long-distance footpath in Northern England. Devised by Alfred Wainwright, the route passes through three beautiful but contrasting national parks: Lake District National Park,
Yorkshire Dales National Park, and North York Moors National Park. Wainwright recommends that walkers commence at St Bees next to the
Irish Sea, and end the journey at Robin Hood’s Bay beside the North Sea.
#5 – Annapurna Circuit and Sanctuary
The Annapurna
Circuit is a popular “teahouse” trek within the Annapurna mountain range
of central Nepal. The route varies between 100-145 miles, depending on starting and
ending points. The trek crosses two different river valleys and encircles the impressive
Annapurna massif, crossing Thorung La (17,700 ft.), the highest pass on this trek. If
time permits, this trek can be combined with the 5-7 day trek into the protected
Annapurna Sanctuary, which sits at an altitude of over 13,000 ft., surrounded
by the Annapurna range (over 23,000 ft.) We hired a car from Kathmandhu to get to the
starting point, and another car from the ending point to Pokhara for rest and
relaxation. A road has been built on the part of the Circuit from below
Muktinath. So we took a public bus for part of that section on the road from
Jomson to Tatopani Springs, then trekked over to the Sanctuary trail.
#6 – Tour of Jungfrau
A two-week trek in the Bernese Oberland, this
popular trek covers 69 miles from Schynige Platte to Wilderswil in 9-12 days,
and crosses a multitude of terrain from pastures to glaciers and lakes to
ridges. Beautifully situated Swiss huts overlook magnificent views of the
Eiger, Jungfrau, Monch, Weishorn, and Schilthorn. No technical skills are
required for the Tour and there are plenty of bad-weather alternatives
available including lift-assistance to whisk you above the deep valleys.
#7 – Mount Kilimanjaro Trek
Each year approximately 15,000 people attempt
to reach the 19,341 ft. summit of Mt Kilimanjaro, and it’s estimated that 40%
make it to the summit. The trek to Uhuru Peak is considered to be a relatively
straightforward except for the altitude. Leave ample time for proper acclimatization to prevent altitude sickness. The three shortest routes, Marangu, Rongai, and Machame, are less
challenging and are often trekked by individuals with limited mountaineering
experience. Some trekkers employ altitude-sickness medication, including acetazolamide, but taking at
least seven days for the journey is the best way to avoid altitude sickness.
Guided trips are required for the trek.
#8 – Wales Coast Path
The Wales Coast Path, an 870-mile long-distance walking route along the entire coast was
officially opened in 2012. The scenic 182-mile Pembrokeshire Coast Path is a popular section from Amroth to St
Dogmaels, and typically takes around 2 weeks to walk. With 32,000 ft. of
ascent/descent, the Pembrokeshire offers some of the finest walking in Britain,
with soaring rugged cliffs, tranquil inlets, and broad sandy beaches. Along the
way, you’ll find quaint fishing villages, Celtic forts, and castles built by
Norman invaders.
#9 – GR5 Geneva to Nice
The GR5 is a classic traverse of the French
Alps from Lac Leman (Lake Geneva) to Nice on the shores of the Mediterranean.
This route is 420 miles and comprises magnificent scenery through multiple
sections including the Mont Blanc Massif, Vanoise National Park, and Mercantour
National Park. The route can be covered in a 4-6 weeks, or split over a series
of summer trips. French huts serve delicious meals, and after finally reaching
the Med, the view overlooking the French Riviera is stunning.
#10 – Dolomites Alta Via 1
The Alta Via Uno in eastern Italy is a 93-mile high-level footpath, which runs through
the some of the finest scenery in the Dolomites. The path runs south from beautiful
Lake Braies to Belluno. This is the classic high route in the Dolomites, and also the easiest.
About 13 days are required to complete the full route. A typical day might
involve about seven hours walking, with ascents and descents of about 2,600 ft.
It can be attempted during the period July to September, when the route should
be largely free of snow. You are likely to see remnants of the many WWI battles
between the Austrians and the Italians in these rugged but beautiful mountains.
#11 – Torres del Paine Circuit
Ok, we couldn't stop at 10, but check out
this trek too in Chilean Patagonia! The circuit requires some backpacking gear
due to campsites for a few nights.
Happy Trails!
