5 High Treks for Beginners

Right, you’ve made the decision. You’re going for it. Headed for a high-altitude adventure. But maybe you’re stuck on where exactly to go? Which amazing challenge to undertake? Below is a list of the most popular high treks for beginners, as well as a couple off-the-beaten track options too! I’ve noted the highest altitude reached and the length of the treks (from the day you fly to when you return). Note, these stats are approximate and will vary for some, depending on the route taken and provider used.

Popular

Everest Base Camp – 5,500m – 19 Days

That ultimate trail leading to the famous base camp of Sagarmatha, or Everest: the worlds tallest peak. This trail is one of the busiest high altitude trails in the world. But the views are beyond the beauty that any photo can show, and the Himalaya will take a piece of your heart. Hiking along the Khumbu Valley, you will marvel at some of the worlds highest and most striking peaks. Witness avalanches crashing down the faces surrounding the valley and enjoy the serenity – there are no vehicles in this area, other than the odd helicopter. Everything – food, beers, even fridge-freezers – is carried on foot by the Sherpas. And these wonderful people are the friendliest and happiest you will ever meet. I dream about returning to Nepal all the time. You can read about my Everest Base Camp trek here.

Kilimanjaro – 5,895m – 11 Days

The highest peak in Africa and one of the Seven Summits, this is a mighty first peak. But stats aside, the mountain itself is a special place and many inspirational big mountaineers still regard Kili as their favourite peak. Even as the world’s highest freestanding peak, there are no particular technical requirements, making this a great recommendation in high treks for beginners. Colourful sunsets, immersive African culture and wonderful wildlife are just some of the perks. Most of the favourite memories climbers bring back are all about the camaraderie with porters, in particular a lot of song and dance!

Machu Piccu – 4,200m – 12 Days

A stunning world heritage site, it is no surprise that Machu Piccu is a trail that appeals to hikers and travellers alike. You will marvel at the lush greenery, steeped in history. While the Inca trail is the most widely known route, I highly suggest looking at some of the alternative trails to visit this wonder. It has become well-known in recent years that Inca trail is extremely over-trodden and need to recuperate.

Alternative

Los Tres Picos – 3,482m – 5 Days

Climbing Spain’s highest three peaks in three days is a great alternative to the tourist-scattered beaches of the coast. Trekking through the Sierra Nevada mountains, each peak is completely different from the next, with it’s own challenges and beauty. This is also a great trip to get a taste of altitude in only a long weekend! If you want more information, you can read my guide.

Three Peaks Morocco – 4,167m – 10 Days

This trek climbs Morocco’s three highest peaks, including Toubkal. While this peak may be a busier favourite, you will also be trekking through much quieter parts of the incredible High Atlas Mountains. Expect sunrise hikes, aqua blue lakes and soaking in the local culture.

Ethical Tourism

The more popular high treks for beginners will have plenty of variety options. For example, on the Everest Base Camp trek, you can choose to stay in teahouses or camping, and use porters or yaks. More expedition companies will also offer the trip, giving you a wider pool to choose from. However, obviously the down side of the more popular places are they tend to be more crowded and there is ethical tourism to remind yourself of.

On the other hand, for the less crowded options you may only have one provider to choose from and therefore less flexibility about the details. But you also will not be contributing to the detriment of the popular trails, and will get to see some less trodden, more wild sights of the world.

There is no issue with either option – I have done both, and have options under both categories that I want to do in the future. Just some food for thought.

Top Tips & Further Reading

• When at altitude, you will be walking slowly and taking acclimatisation (rest) days along the way. So you may be surprised when you look at the distance walked. The acclimatisation process is imperative and should not be undervalued or cut from your trip to save time.
• Make sure you check out my high altitude page, full of information to prepare for your trip!
• What’s your next step from booking? Get your training started! And don’t disregard mental training either.
• Make sure you have booked the right insurance. I always use True Traveller, as their conditions are easy to understand and they are a delight to deal with.

I have purposefully not recommended specific providers, as I have only undertaken some of the trips mentioned. I want this to be a purely informational post of high treks for beginners, to help you decide a trail. Do drop me an email or an Instagram message, if you wished to ask any questions. Otherwise the individual posts about my expeditions have more information about the trails I have done.

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