Challenging trekking holidays

You wouldn’t think of attempting Everest Base Camp without some serious training, and while not all of our challenging trekking holidays will push your limits as far as that, they’re certainly no walk in the park, either. These trips are best suited for regulars in the gym or on the trail, and will require, at the very least, several lengthy practise hikes before you depart.

Often, they will take you into mountainous terrain where you’ll be exposed to the weather, so you’ll be provided with a suitable kit list. And where acclimatisation is necessary, these holidays take their time to ensure you have the best chance of success. Naturally, they are almost always guided, and by professional mountain leaders.

Our top challenging trekking trips visit a huge variety of destination; there are also degrees of challenge. Not all of these holidays need weeks of preparation beforehand, so long as you’re already a regular walker in good fitness.

On the Inca Trail, for instance, or the Mount Kilimanjaro climb, there are longer routes available that allow you to move more slowly and take more time to acclimatise. Albania’s Accursed Mountains, while they have their fair share of ascents and descents, also offer plenty of opportunities to take a break in a sunny pasture. At the other end of the scale we have some amazing feats, from Japan’s Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route to Bhutan’s epic Snowman Trek. And at the very summit of our list, Everest Base Camp, one of the world’s greatest long distance walks.