If you are physically fit, well-prepared, have a strong pair of lungs, sturdy legs and are willing to forego many of the daily luxuries you are accustomed to, sometimes for days on end, then trekking is for you. If you do decide to go trekking through some of the trails mentioned below, then you can be assured of a lifetime experience unlike any other.

Trekking came to the English language in the 19th century from the Afrikaans verb ‘trekken’, which roughly translates to ‘pull a wagon or load; to migrate’ and came to mean a long and often difficult trip. Trekking differs from hiking in that essentially hikes involve walking along pre-charted trails, while trekking is traversing more challenging terrain and usually along rarely used pathways meandering through mountains and valleys.

Inca Trail, Peru

Thousands of people trek the Inca Trail every year following in the footsteps of the ancient Incas, who laid the trail more than 600 years ago. The 33km trail starts from the Sacred Valley and winds its way up high mountain passes, down to valleys below, skirting formidable peaks and providing unparalleled views of Amazon jungles, white-tipped mountains and the cliff-hugging ruins of Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu stands 2,430 m above sea-level, in the middle of a tropical mountain forest, in an extraordinarily beautiful setting. It was probably the most amazing urban creation of the Inca Empire at its height; its giant walls, terraces and ramps seem as if they have been cut naturally in the continuous rock escarpments. The highest point of the ascending trail is to Dead Woman’s Pass at 4,200m that provides amazing views of the surrounding terrain.

Patagonia, Argentina

Hike among Argentina’s fabled Fitz Roy Massif, the iconic crest where the peaks of Poincenot, St. Exupery, and 3433m Fitz Roy itself rise out of the steppes of Patagonia like a vision. The nearly 60km trail,which could last from four to seven days, gives you various views of Fitz at sunrise, with Cerro Torre and Marconi Pass thrown in for good measure. The winding trail that passes through the 4460sq km Los Glaciares National Park takes you from gnarled, spooky beech forests and open plains to glaciers, roaring waterfalls, and granite monoliths afire with orange dawn light. To witness the full impact of sunrise on the Fitz Roy Massif, hike up in the predawn hours from Camp Poincenot to Laguna de los Tres with only light from your headlamps to illuminate the way. The best time to go would be from February to March, when you can avoid the crowds of midsummer while enjoying the stable fall weather when the infamous Patagonian winds abate

Pays Dogon, Mali

Dogon country in Mali, arguably a jewel in West Africa before the ongoing strife there, is a magnificent trekking destination. This UNESCO World Heritage Site and land of the Dogon people, known for their masked stilted dancers and huts with intricately carved doors, comprises several traditional villages scattered around the soaring cliffs of the Bandiagara escarpment. One of Africa’s most breathtaking regions, the ten day trek along Dogon villages that dot the cliffs, and past old abandoned cliff dwellings, is an extraordinary highlight of the trail. The pueblo-like dwellings carved into the side of the escarpment must have provided the ancient inhabitants with protection from invading tribes and a panoramic view of the surrounding countryside.

Everest Base Camp, Nepal

Everest Base Camp, Nepal

Arguably the greatest of all high-mountain journeys, this trail that leads through Nepal’s Khumbu district provides you with glimpses of three of the highest peaks on Earth (Everest, Lhotse, and Lhotse Sar) in one look, along with dozens of lesser Himalayan peaks on the way. Reaching a height of 5,545m at Kala Pattar, this three-week, 11okm  trek is extremely popular with those who want to be able to say, tongue in cheek, that they too have been to world’s highest mountain, albeit its base. The difficult trek passes undeniably spectacular scenery helped by Sherpa people of the Solu Khumbu. The heights reached during this trek are literally dizzying until you acclimatize to the altitude, and the continuous cutting across valleys certainly has its ups and downs. It is advisable to go slow on the way up so you can acclimatize to the lower atmospheric pressures of the region; it usually takes around ten days on the trek in to Everest base camp, but only three days on the way back. The imposed downtime allows you to savor the experience all the more.

Tasmania, Australia

Tasmania, Australia

This six day trail through 80km of Tasmania’s prehistoric looking wilderness is most accessible along the Overland Track. Snaking its way between Cradle Mountain and Lake St Clair (Australia’s deepest natural freshwater lake), the well-defined path passes craggy mountains, beautiful lakes and tarns, extensive forests and moorlands. Those who want more can take numerous side-walks leading to waterfalls, valleys and still more summits including Mt Ossa at 1,617m Tasmania’s highest spot. Or you could take the beach route with the Bay of Fires Walk from the start in Mount William National Park to the finish at the impressive Bay of Fires Lodge. The route never deviates from seemingly endless beaches of blinding white sand and surreal rock formations lapped by a turquoise Tasman Sea. Only the occasional headland of granite boulders, turned blood red by lichen or forested points of shoreline, pushes you up and out of the coves. The Bay of Fires walk is a four-day guided trip; you can’t do it solo, as there is no water on the route so no place to overnight.

Grand Canyon, USA

Grand Canyon, USA

Any walk in the Grand Canyon is going to rate pretty high on the Richter scale of treks, but this route takes you from rim to rivers offering different trails in and out and giving you sufficient time within one of the greatest features on Earth to enjoy the majesty of this natural architecture. Time travel through the multicolored layer cake of the Colorado Plateau for two billion years’ worth of geology, from the Kaibab limestone at the rim to the Vishnu complex at the river, all on good ‘corridor’ trails with known water sources and pleasant camps. While most people take this 70km six day trip from September to October or from April to May, a better time would be to go in March or November to savor a more contemplative experience. Ascending through the Box, the inner heart of the canyon, up to Cottonwood Camp and the remote North Rim provides breathtaking views.

Abisko Mountain Trail, Sweden

Abisko Mountain Trail, Sweden

Deep inside the Arctic Circle, Sweden’s legendary 445km Kungsleden (the “The King’s Trail”) begins its traverse of the last remaining great wilderness in Western Europe in Abisko in the north. The most traveled northernmost section, between Abisko and Kebnekaise penetrates the vast Arctic landscape of Sweden through birch forests, open tundra, and big glaciers before crossing the shoulder of Sweden’s highest peak, 2111m Mount Kebnekaise. Using the comfortable huts placed about a day apart assures you have refuge in bad weather. Sturdy suspension bridges take the danger out of the big rivers. The vibe here is ‘far north’; with palpable emptiness and low-angled light that stirs the soul. While the 105km  roundtrip five day route can be done in either direction, but do it north to south, as that keeps the sun on your face — no small consideration in the Arctic. The best time would be before the European holiday makers get there in August, around early September you can be assured of authentic solitude

Petra, Jordan

The 80km seven day trail from the ancient city of Dana to Petra leads first to the Feynan Eco-Lodge before crossing the vast arid expanse of Wadi Araba before climbing into the Sharah Mountains past iconic oasis and Bedouin camps toward Petra. Once in Petra, at the top of an ancient stairway carved into the red rock, a narrow defile leads around a sharp bend, and suddenly you are stopped cold. There stands the exquisite carved façade of Al Deir, better known as the Monastery, perhaps Petra’s grandest monument. And you have it to yourself. The off-trail travel through the deserts and mountains can be grueling, exacerbated by the heat, but the hike sets you up to enter Petra in a receptive frame of mind, ready to absorb the mystical qualities of the Rose Red City. Remember that time in the canyon system of Petra is precious, so it is best to know what you want to see before you arrive. Besides the iconic sites of the Siq, the Treasury and the Monastery are mystical venues, as are the Place of High Sacrifice and the Great Temple. The best time would be in October to September when desert temperatures relent, a little.


Read Today's News TODAY... on our Telegram Channel click here to join and receive all the latest updates t.me/thetimeskuwait