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Great-Wall-of-ChinaTop 10 Trekking holidays

Whether you’re the sort to summit Kilimanjaro, hike the Great Wall of China for charity or stroll through national parks looking for moose with the kids, Alison Ledger has a trekking holiday to suit you.

Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

There are lots of treks up Kilimanjaro and Tribes Travel recommends the Machame route through rainforests and valleys, to the 5,895m peak of Africa’s highest mountain. Tribes – one of the UK’s leading responsible travel operators – says this is a good all-rounder and avoids many of the crowds. A good level of fitness is required and you’ll need to prepare for extremes of temperature from tropical heat to high-altitude ice. All Tribes guides have trained on Everest and in the USA, and some have summited Kilimanjaro more than 400 times, so you can be sure you’ll be in safe hands. There’s good news for those those dreading vacuum-packed food all week, as Tribes’ Julie Croucher explains: ‘The groups always come back well-fed, as chefs gather food from the nearby town of Moshi and prepare fresh three-course dinners each night.’

Elterwater, Lake District

The Lake District is full of mystery and surpises and none more than the trekking holiday run by thedateoutdoors.com – a dating agency for those who love the outdoors.The agency offers a two-night break in the Lake District, but only for single people looking to find their perfect hiking companion. The company provides a day’s guided hiking and the rest is up to you.. Last year, Milly Jennings from Nottinghamshire met her partner through thedateoutdoors.com. She says: ‘As well as having a good laugh, it’s fabulous to meet somebody like-minded to enjoy all the things you love doing.’

Fiordland National Park, New Zealand

Milford Sound, on the southerly tip of New Zealand’s South Island, is one of the most amazing places on earth, according to the latest TripAdvisor.com survey, compiled from travellers’ reviews. Rudyard Kipling once described this area as the ‘eighth wonder of the world’, and its famous 53km walking route – Milford Track – is often cited as one of the planet’s finest walks. You’ll soon discover what all the fuss is about as you trek through Fiordland National Park’s u-shaped valleys to striking glaciers, motionless lakes, emerald-green rivers and gushing waterfalls, feeling dwarfed to insignificance by the towering mountains. The route is rated easy, but bear in mind it’s a four-day tramp with up to six hours of walking each day. The track is quite challenging, but it is hugely rewarding, with spectacular views and the chance to get up close and personal with Fiordland’s rich and plentiful wildlife.

Qelqanqa, Peru

Trekking-in-Peru

Volunteering trips can offer once-in-a-lifetime experiences and you can do some good. The Qelqanqa Footbridge And Water Project lets you help a local community and enjoy a world-class hike. This 16-day trekking holiday, including the classic Machu Picchu trail, involves a four-day break in the village of Qelqanga to help complete a drinking water system, help build the last bridge needed for children to travel safely to school and construct a properly drained play area and football pitch. Gabrielle Dean from World Expeditions says: ‘The trek out to the village is a real highlight as it is away from the tourist trails. The local villagers do not have much interaction with Westerners during other times of the year, so it’s a real treat for both trekkers and locals to interact with each other and share cultural experiences.

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São Miguel, The Azores

Lagoa-do-Fogo-S.MiguelThe Azores form an enchanting archipelago of nine volcanic islands set in the Atlantic Ocean, around 1,500km west of Portugal. São Miguel is the largest of these, where you can hike through lush vegetation to electric blue and green lakes in volcanic craters – the most spectacular is the Lagoa do Fogo (Fire Lake). Dave McKinlay, 63, of Windsor, Berkshire, has recently returned from a walking holiday with Sunvil Discovery. He says: ‘It’s difficult to pinpoint my favourite part of the trip. The whale watching was excellent – we saw dolphins and four sperm whales. All the walking is achievable, even for older people. It’s a sleepy place but there is still a lot happening.’

 

Atlas Mountains, Morocco

This is the trip for those who want to enjoy great views on peaceful day-long hikes in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains with a little luxury thrown in. Stay in the wonderful traditional houses with courtyard gardens in Marrakech, a new Berber-designed mountain retreat in Tachedirt, or cosy rustic chalets set high into the mountains where you can watch the sun rise over nearby peaks each morning. Mike Wynne of Walks Worldwide says: ‘Until now, there has been a lack of good accommodation along the walking trails, but we are now able to offer an alternative for those who don’t want to go camping or sleep rough.’

The Great Wall of China

Trek along the Great Wall of China into Mongolia, see the stunning Forbidden City, zip-wire 120 metres across the Samatai Valley, and do it all knowing you’re raising thousands for charity. The nine-day China Trek kicks off in October and although some participants travel with friends and family, most go alone. A good pair of walking boots is essential. Jill Woodford, 58, of Leicestershire, completed the China Trek, raising £5,355 for LOROS (The Leicestershire And Rutland Hospice). She says: ‘I never thought I would undertake a trek in another part of the world, let alone along the Great Wall of China. The trip was fantastic, made even more special by the strangers I shared the experience with and the thousands of pounds we raised for very worthy causes back home. My first sight of the Great Wall is something I will never forget!’

Canadian Rockies

Keeping the children entertained on a walking holiday can be tough, but this non-stop adventure might be the answer to your worries. Snow-capped peaks and ice fields welcome you to the Rockies, followed by walks in Banff National Park to see moose and bear, with the option of horse-riding, complemented by a traditonal cowboy dinner. Other highlights in the itinerary include walks to Lake Louise and the Victoria glacier, as well as trekking to stunning waterfalls in Yoho National Park. There’s a wildlife walking safari and the chance to meet native Canadians and spend the night in a teepee.

Mustang, Nepal

Journey to the back of beyond by trekking to Nepal’s ‘Forbidden Kingdom’ of Mustang, only accessible since 1992. Discover Buddhist temples, ancient white-painted villages, and orchards of apple trees as you trek north up the valley of Kali Gandaki. You reach a maximum altitude of 4,325 metres and the hikes are graded from moderate to strenuous.

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