Trekking Holidays

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

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.

Continued...