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Off the beaten treks
GUATEMALA:
Last year almost 1.4 million travellers visited Guatemala, a beautifully scenic country in Central America. But don’t let this put you off finding your trek with a difference. Vast areas of remote rainforest and high mountains allow the intrepid hiker to get away from the main tourist haunts. Your best bet is the Highland region where you can choose to hike along the spectacular Zunil mountain range, or along the edge of arguably one of the most beautiful lakes in the world, Lake Aititlan.
To the north of the region, the rainforest area of the Peten provide various hiking options between numerous Mayan archaeological sites and alongside myriad exotic wildlife.
A string of impressive volcanic peaks - including the active Fuego - provide the fitter walker with a memorable chance to summit some truly unusual peaks.
PERU:
Choquequirao is nicknamed the second Machu Picchu, but is far less visited than its famed sister site. Comparable in size and splendour, the Inca outpost offers a tranquil alternative for trekkers. Meaning Cradle of Gold, the citadel Choquequirao was constructed way back in the 15th century and became the last stronghold of Inca resistance to the Spanish domain. A trek to the Choquequirao site offers a challenging adventure, first descending an awesome canyon of the Apurimac River and ascending again for almost 2000m. Heading north from Choquequirao, through a remote area called Vilcabamba, there are numerous Inca roads and trails that offer some of Peru’s finest views.
BHUTAN:
The mystical land-locked South Asian nation offers a paradise of wilderness with Himalayan peaks, gorgeous green valleys and rare fauna and flora. Walkers are spoilt for choice in this extraordinary Buddhist kingdom, sandwiched between India and Tibet, as it is almost entirely mountainous except for an eight to10-mile wide strip of subtropical plains in the far south. Treks range from a few days through the densely forested foothills to weeks among the snow-capped peaks on the Tibetan border. But if you only make one trek, go for the Druk Path. The famous trail takes you though alpine forest and rhododendron shrubs to a hilltop with views of the tranquil Para valley.
CUBA:
The achingly trendy Caribbean island is already famed for its faded colonial splendour, romantic revolutionaries and white sand beaches. While the tourist hotspots, such as the capital Havana and Santiago de Cuba, are worth visiting, there is a wealth of unspoilt mountain walking to be found on the island. The best tip is the Sierra Maestra mountains, to the south-east of the island, where you’ll find the highest peaks in Cuba (1972m), as well as a wonderful array of flora, fauna and bird life.
PATAGONIA:
A region of South America that spans both Chile and Argentina, Patagonia has long been the dream destination of serious trekkers. But while Chilean Patagonia has been relatively well-walked, Argentinean Patagonia still offers a voyage of discovery. The jagged and towering Patagonian Andean mountains have been sculpted by 12 million years of glacial action offering fit walkers the sublime combination of stunning glacial scenery and abundantly diverse wildlife. Our tip is the fabulously untamed country around the base camps of the two world-famous peaks called Corro Torre and Fitzroy. For the less intrepid, look out for trips to the Los Glaciares National Park.
GEORGIA:
A small country at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Georgia takes in some of the best views of the high, snow-capped Caucasus mountains. Areas of this distinctly non-touristy Eurasian country are beginning to open up thanks to adventurous trekking companies, although the Foreign Office still deems much of the country unsafe for travellers. Check out treks into the wild and wonderful Caucasus Mountains, including an ascent of Mount Elbrus, Europe’s highest peak.
BOLIVIA:
This land-locked South American country is hotly tipped as an exciting new destination for trekkers. If you’ve done, or want to avoid, the highly popular Inca Trail, then the high Andean mountains of Bolivia, just across the Peru border, are for you. South of Bolivia’s capital La Paz is the rugged range of Cordillera Quimsa Cruz, comprising more than 80 peaks above 5000 miles.
Multi-day treks take you to a remote world of striking rock spires, snow-capped peaks, high passes and alpine meadows.
ETHIOPIA:
The little-visited country received a welcome popularity boost after being featured on David Attenborough’s acclaimed documentary Planet Earth last year. There is no chance of an overnight tourist boom, however, and the adventurous walker can still relish in the absolute isolation of the magnificent, jagged Simien Mountains. This mountain range is located to the north of the African country.
and home to the country’s highest peak at 4546m, is the most beautiful on the whole continent. UNESCO certainly believes the area is a one-off, having declared it a World Heritage Site.
and home to the country’s highest peak at 4546m, is the most beautiful on the whole continent. UNESCO certainly believes the area is a one-off, having declared it a World Heritage Site.
KAZAKHSTAN:
Intrepid walkers are slowly finding their way to Kazakhstan’s Tien Shan, a range that is also known as the Celestial Mountains. For many centuries the existence of these dramatic mountains in this huge, kidney-shaped Central Asian country was known only to traders using the Old Silk Road. But better transportation possibilities and a calmer political outlook have seen a few companies make inroads into the range that stretches 1600km through Kazakhstan. Look out for trips to the base camps of two of the country’s biggest peaks, Peak Pobeda (7439m) and Khan Tengri (7010m).
LIBYA:
This North African country was out of bounds for so long that it could easily have been forgotten by travellers. But now, thanks to improved links with the western world, Libya is being accessed by a few of the more adventurous travel companies. Intrepid trekkers will be well rewarded for their efforts as the country offers some truly unspoilt trekking possibilities, from the pristine Sahara desert to the contrasting volcanic mountains. Of note are the Acacus Mountains in the far south-west of Libya, characterised by amazing rock formations and impressive canyons. At Jebel Acacus, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, travellers are also rewarded with rarely seen pre-historic rock art.
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