Have you always thought of those amazing places you would like to visit? The Himalayan mountains, shrouded in mist, are a sight that stands out as is the beautiful New Zealand coast, all set for international adventurers.
The most beautiful hiking trails. They provide not only fresh air and a walk in the woods but they are also the foremost unforgettable trips where you face new challenges and souls get rewarded with amazing highlights. If you are a ferocious trekker or organizing your first international hiking adventure, use this book that is an expansive guide to the world’s most dread-inspiring trails.
We have been all over the globe, testing out various trails on different continents, and we have chosen a few that we think will give you the experience of a lifetime. It’s time to get ready and set out on path with the help of the tips from the video below, which the man who is an outdoor expert and enthusiast had prepared for a customer who wanted to hike in the mountains.
Is your boot lacing ready and are you prepared for this once-in-a-lifetime thrill? The road is the goal and that saying is literally the mood right now.
Notable Points:
- A visit to a trail that strikes a balance between natural beauty and cultural significance, such as the iconic trek to Everest Base Camp in Nepal, will be a giant stride towards completing your journey to 10,000 miles.
- Across different continents, revel in the beauty and serenity of nature–give the plethora of landscapes a proper assessment as the journey unfolds while at the same time the diversity of the ecosystems will unfold before your eyes.
- Thus, your search for a path within your reachability range from relatively manageable trails like the Milford Track to such treacherous routes as Machame at Mount Kilimanjaro can end in one place, get the best if you are passionate about traveling and knowing beautiful places all over the world.
- Discover the world’s cultural and natural heritage among other things by taking a trip to two UNESCO World Heritage sites, the Great Wall of China and the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, a combination of trekking adventures with historical visits.
Not only are the Great Wall of China trek and the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu amazing but also, the Markha Valley Trek and the rhyolite mountains of Iceland fall in the category of such completely undiscovered and equally spectacular mountain spots where you may find an even more peaceful environment without the crowds.
Essential Preparation for International Hiking
Physical Conditioning and Training
We cannot stress enough the importance of physical preparation and the corresponding training before heading out on an international hiking venture, where the right muscle tone helps the body face more easily and endure better the physical difficulties. You can start your training round in 3-4 months so that you will have plenty of time to reach the required endurance and power in order to face the trail without breaking the balance of your activity.
Then, as the first main step, you need to focus on such cardio work as walking, running, cycling, and maybe even swimming, to provide regular and continuous exercise for the heart, not to mention other benefits. In the second main step, you should do strength training and that includes exercising your legs, core, and back since these are the main muscles that you will make use of. To make the exercises as close to reality as possible, the suggestions for the workout are to make sure that using some weights in the backpack is as regular as doing the activity without once sans loads.
Newbies should at the beginning initiate the process through some short trails, after mastering such events with a gradual increase in their complexity. More experienced hikers should consider simulating high altitudes for their training and include longer workouts to strengthen their fitness.
Essential Gear and Equipment
The lack of proper gear can completely ruin your international hiking experience. To start with, a backpack that is yours should be adopted which will not oppress your shoulders and back too much and at the same time be fruitful in the equilibrium of the weights it bears.
Dress in layers of clothing properly:
- Base layer: Moisture-wicking materials
- Mid layer: The insulation part
- Outer layer: Waterproof and windproof gear
Vital things to put in your backpack:
- Navigation tools (maps, compass, GPS device)
- First aid kit
- Emergency shelter
- Water and water purifying devices
- High-energy snacks
- Headlamp with spare batteries
Note that you have to check all your gear before the trip, in particular, if you are a beginner in hiking. This way, you will get to know the items you have and at the same time check for any unsolved issues while you are still on a not too tough trail.
Iconic Asian Mountain Trails
Everest Base Camp Trek
The journey to Everest Base Camp is the biggest dream of mountain lovers. This iconic trail takes you inside the Nepalese Himalayas from where you can get the nearest view of the highest mountain in the world. A standard trek consists of 12-14 days, among which one takes time to acclimatize properly while ascending through the scenic Sherpa villages, ancient monasteries, and thrilling suspension bridges.
The track begins at Lukla and climbs through the Khumbu area where people live their lives in front of your eyes with the mountains as the backdrop. The awe comes when you reach the entrance to the south side of the mountain at 5364m, where the mountain climbers start their ascent.
Great Wall of China Trek
This path, a monument of history, is the only one that gives an insight into the culture and traditions of ancient China in such a way as to combine them with the modern image of the country. The Great Wall is not the same as other mountain treks. The fact that there is a fortification to walk on is in itself a unique experience, with an added bonus of views of the mountains and valleys being really mesmerizing.
The most famous hiking parts around Beijing such as Mutianyu and Jinshanling have good sections with a range of difficulty levels. Through these walks, the steep part rises and falls gently, which makes the trails open to people with any range of trekking expertise and also at the same time provides excellent photo spots.
Markha Valley Adventure
The Markha Valley trek is a gateway to the unknown and untouched Himalayas by those travelers who are searching for exotic and new routes. This retreat track leads you through a barren mountainous landscape, where the places are inhabited by the tribes who live in traditional, Buddhist monasteries. Normally, it takes from 6 to 8 days on the road to sail the journey and to go beyond the comfort zone of being in the midst of the wilderness as well as to get close to the cultural heart of the region.
What distinguishes the Markha Valley trek from others is that it’s a desolated place and fully original. You will climb up to high mountain passes, set up a camp near a gurgling creek, and have opportunities to be with the local tribes who have kept their conventional existence in that seemingly isolated although captivating place. The track goes up to 5,200 meters where you get a bird’s eye view of the peaks around and the valleys.
European Alpine Classics
Tour du Mont Blanc Circuit
The TMB or the Tour du Mont Blanc is a world-famous hiking route in West Europe. This circuit not only to be hiked but also to be enjoyed by travelers due to the fact that it has changed three times in three different countries, namely France, Italy, and Switzerland and all the way through is a great Alpine unique and breathtaking experience. The trail covers around 170 kilometers, encircling the Mont Blanc group of mountains starting from the French to the Swiss villages and then back to the French villages, a combination of quaint and charming high mountain regions and villages is continues along wide and often difficult trek.
The special thing about this trek is that it is really very accessible for people of all levels of trekkers. That being said, still, some parts would require one to pick the way carefully and be in good physical shape while others might be more overpopulated. But with clearly marked-out paths and a lot of refuge huts, it’s an achievable thing for the real trekker. The period from mid-June to mid-September is the most suitable for the Tour du Mont Blanc because of the best weather conditions and the full operation of mountain huts.
Mount Everest
Mount Everest is a perfect place to get in touch with nature if you are a person who loves high altitudes. The trails around Mount Everest are distinct from those around other mountains, in that even the tallest mountains of other continents can’t compare with the Himalayas. This is country where 8 out of 14 of the world’s highest peaks are located. However, one does not have to be a mountaineer to visit Mount Everest. One could just reach the settlement areas at the foot of the mountain and enjoy the surroundings.
Having said that, if we want to highlight one thing that differentiates the Camino, it’s the constant connection with the cultural side that it gives out and the outgoing people that you meet on the way walking the same route as you. Pilgrims or hikers are always served well by the broncote and eventually reach the end at the Saint James Church after entering it. Discussing a unique reserve along the way, there might be a chance to join a small town population in their activities and witness that Spain’s traditions are still alive.
The trail is a good example of natural settlements interacting with the natural environment of a region. A strong sense of natural beauty, combined with the intoxicating mountain landscape down to the lovely sunlit fields, reveals the blending of nature and culture throughout the way. It is a highly recommended trail almost all the time throughout the year save for the heaviest snowfalls although spring and fall are generally the most comfortable.