Great treks around the world: readers’ travel tips

http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2015/jan/08/great-treks-hikes-worldwide-readers-travel-tips

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Winning tip: Pirin Mountains, Bulgaria

A friend and I completed a 55km, three-day hike across the Pirin mountains. We started in picturesque Dobrinishte, stayed in mountain huts for two nights and finished in the famous wine-growing town of Melnik, via the stunning Rozhen monastery. The variety of landscape was wonderful, from the glacial lakes of the upper mountains to the gentle Alpine forests below and finally the almost sub-tropical sandstone pyramids, dense vines and creepers around Melnik.jamescrouchman

The Routeburn Track, New Zealand

Three days is all it takes to complete one of New Zealand’s great walks. The trek takes you through dense forest to rocky mountainsides with some spectacular waterfalls on the way. Side treks are also available for those who want a little more adventure. These are greatly advised – particularly Conical Hill, which gives a panoramic view of the mountain range. Alpine parrots will accompany your journey, but keep an eye on your picnic! Really friendly guides give you all the information you need in the excellent huts on the way.David Grant

Serra do Orgaos, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil

The Travessia Petrópolis is a three-day trek inland from the city of Rio that takes you up above the clouds to over 2,000m in the Parque Nacional da Serra dos Orgãos. You will see spectacular sunsets and sunrises and can bathe in a refreshing waterfall. You can spend two nights in mountain shelters, hire a tent or take your own. You will need to pay a small fee to access the park, which can be done online, where you can also book the shelter and find a local guide. When you get back to Rio, you can carry on trekking with climbs up the numerous peaks of that amazing city.

bikeandwalk bikeandwalk

Jura, Scotland

This is one of the last great wilderness walks in the British Isles, and not for the faint-hearted. It’s a rough, tough five-day trek with no roads, no accommodation other than basic bothies – and no other people! What it does have is superb coastal scenery, abundant wildlife and remarkable geological phenomena.writeofway

Shan state, Burma

My partner and I trekked through Burma’s Shan State, from Kalaw to Inle Lake, over three days. The state’s agricultural hinterland comprises a patchwork of farmland and an endless vista of hills and forest, dotted with villages, pagodas and monasteries. Stopping overnight, we were warmly welcomed to stay in wooden village houses, experiencing rural Burmese life in a place that felt off the beaten track. Along the way, we chatted to locals, rested in small tea shops over sweet, milky drinks and ducked into monasteries to escape the sun’s midday glare. BenStarkey

Le Puy to Santiago de Compostela, France and Spain

This is a great trek for several reasons. First, its history - the pilgrim way to Santiago was one of the great routes of the Middle Ages. Second, the architecture – Cluniac monasteries, tiny Romanesque churches, great pilgrim hospitals, and the amazing cathedrals of Le Puy and Compostela at either end. And third, the landscape, from the great droving tracks of Aubrac to the Pyrenees, the narrow gorge of the Lot to the fertile vineyards and fruit orchards of Gascony, the route traverses some of the finest landscapes of southern Europe.andreakkk

Urho Kekkonen national park, Finland

The Nuortti hiking trail is a circular 40km trek near the Finnish/Russian border in the Urho Kekkonen national park. The trail runs along the Nuortti river, which is a popular destination for fishing and offers views of dense forests and deep canyons. It is an extremely well-catered-for trek offering reservable huts equipped with wood for fires, an outhouse, gas cooker and kitchen utensils. I’d advise spending two nights in the forest – it’s a magical environment to immerse yourself in, a place to feel detached from the hustle and bustle of life.connect10

Glenlough, Ireland

The valley of Glenlough lies facing the wild Atlantic in south-west Donegal, Ireland. It’s en route from Port to Maghera, which is a comfortable two-day trek, edging the coast, along spectacular cliffs and breathtaking scenery. Accessible only on foot, the valley was once briefly home to poet Dylan Thomas, who spent the summer of 1935 living and writing there. (The old stone cottage where he stayed is now a ruin.) The area and surrounding mountains are also home to rare flora and fauna and have been described by the Enviromental Protection Agency (EPA) as one of the last remaining “wilderness frontiers” in Europe, and the sea stacks offshore are some of the largest in Ireland.glendoan

Mount Alpamayo, Peru

My friend and I did a four-day trek in the Peruvian Andes, through Huascarán national park. Starting from the town of Pomabamba, we headedout to Mount Alpamayo. At 5,947 metres, it’s not the highest in the area but it is said to be the most beautiful mountain in the world. And it was gorgeous. We spent the day wandering around, enjoying the views, fishing and the chance to shed our waterproofs. At one point, a condor flew overhead, effortlessly covering in a few minutes what had taken us landlubbers more than two days to stumble over.englishrools

Cordillera Blanca, Peru

This trek is doable in two days but better savoured over three, and it can be completed without seeing another person. If your navigational skills are lacking, the 5,050-metre pass can be tricky to find. Jo’s Place hostel in Huaraz can provide solid advice and maps. Sheltered spots on flat meadows can be found for camping either side of the pass. Come prepared, as temperatures plummet at night. The view of Ranrapalca’s peak and the brilliant white glacier of Palcaraju up there is a sight to behold. The sense of solitude, incredible views of the Cordillera Blanca, and frequent condor sightings make this trek special.Joe Marshall

Larapinta Trail, Australia

Follow in the footsteps of the 1894 Horn Expedition to explore the West MacDonnell Ranges west of Alice Springs. The Larapinta Trail crosses alluvial creek flats, undulating red hills and deep chasms and gorges. You’ll enjoy spectacular panoramas from the ridge tops, culminating at the end of the trail with stunning views from Mount Sonder. Vegetation ranges from woodland eucalypts to sparse scrub with spinifex, beautiful desert flowers and sweet-smelling wattle. The route crosses rough terrain and though it’s not too challenging navigationally, walkers must be fit and well-prepared. Go in May or June and enjoy a great trek to the heart of Australia.wattajoker

Laos Lanten ways

Squeezed between China, Burma, Vietnam and Thailand, northern Laos offers amazing trekking opportunities in the Nam Ha protected area. Curious to learn about self-sufficient hill tribe communities and experience deep primary forest, we did the two-day Nam Ha Valley Trek with Green Discovery. Our guide shared his knowledge of jungle environment, nature and local culture, while fair trade trekking shares benefits among local communities and conservation projects. After six hours’ trekking, the overnight stay in Ban Nam Goy, a Lanten minority settlement of 105 people, was an intense immersion in village life – a quick wash in the river, delicious fireside dinner and a huge starry sky.www.greendiscoverylaos.comjaswall

Mulu national park, Borneo

I will never forget trekking in the Mulu national park with my partner and spellbound six-year-old boy. The exhausting three-day hike through the vast unforgettable jungle took us on a fantasy journey to a place where colourful hornbills flew all around us as we canoed up stream and butterflies the size of a human hand fluttered by almost inquisitively. Later we were chased by a swarm of angry wasps and dived into a river for cover, and we finished our adventure by climbing vertical cliffs and trekking through gorges to reach the otherworldly pinnacles at Mount Api.ScepticalTonyBlair

Tra Mare e Monti, Corsica

Corsica is a trekker’s dream, with several long-distance footpaths crisscrossing the superlative landscape. My favourite is the Tra Mare e Monti route from Calenzana to Cargese, around 10 days of varied walking amid looming crags, wild valleys and sea. Highlights include Girolata, a fishing village only accessible on foot or by boat, the soaring red cliffs around Porto, the 1,000m deep Spelunca gorge, and the convivial gîtes d’étapes (hikers’ bunkhouses). marthah

Ghorepani Poon Hill, Nepal

Sunrise at Poon Hill is often billed as the highlight of the Ghorepani Poon Hill five-day hike in Annapurna. Set off from the lakeside town of Pokhara, where sleeping bags, down jackets, guides and porters are available for hire. Walk through forests of rhododendron (national flower of Nepal) and past waterfalls. Cross rivers by wooden bridges or stepping stones. Climb 3,000 stone steps at Ulleri Hill. Listen out for the clang of buffalo bells – you may be sharing the path with them. Stay at tea houses in villages festooned with tattered prayer flags. Meraid Griffin