The 10 Greatest Offbeat Treks

Wouldn’t it be fantastic to leave all your worries behind and travel to where no one knows you? Detach from the monotonous and reinvigorate yourself with the magnificence of nature on some of the most remote treks. Go from Africa’s third greatest summit to the Australian deserts or visit the most southerly point in Patagonia - each is spectacular. Even though these hiking trails are not easy to get to, don’t let that limit you, there is a trek out there for everyone. 1. Gokyo Lakes & Renjo La in Nepal Duration: Approximately 17 days (13 days trekking) Level of Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging (6) Ideal for active travelers who want to try a different trail to the popular Everest Base Camp trek. When to go: February to mid-May, End of September to December Do you want stay away from the crazy touristy hikes in the Everest region? This path goes through Sherpa villages to the wondrous greenish blue Gokya Lakes and continues through the Renjo La (5,400m). It is ranked as the best trail in the Everest region, and offers a view of the Himalaya’s 8,000 meter peaks. On the way to Gokyo Ri, you get the greatest site of Everest and the encompassing mountains, including Cho Oyu in Tibet. 2. Larapinta Trail End to End in Australia Duration: Approx. 14 days Grading: Moderate to challenging (6) Ideal for: Wilderness lovers and seasoned walkers after a challenge When to go: mid-April to August One of Australia’s most legendary hikes, the entire walk of the Larapinta follows the West MacDonnell range and is over 223 kilometers. Hike through this desert-like area with tucked away ridges and canyons, sleep under the night sky in the Outback; climb Mount Sonder, one of the highest mountains in the Northern Territory and wake up to a most memorable sunrise. 3. Dientes Circuit on Navarino Island in Chile Duration: Approx. 6 days (4 days trekking) Grading: challenging (7) Ideal for: experienced trekkers who want to get off the beaten track in Patagonia When to go: December to March Walk the world's most southerly trek to Dientes de Navarino Massif where you will get the sensation that you have come to the far reaches of the globe. You will most probably not observe any other hikers along this 42-kilometer circuit. This trek has been reported as one of Patagonia’s best treks and one of the most distant places left on the planet. 4. K2 Basecamp, Concordia & Gondogora La in Pakistan Duration: Approx. 24 days (16 days trekking) Grading: entry level mountaineering/ exploratory trekking (8) Ideal for: those who are looking to get into mountaineering, or who are looking to take on a challenging trek When to go: June to August Rated as a top-notch picturesque route, it goes from the renowned Baltoro Glacier, to the “Throne Room of the Mountain Gods” and to the tip the earth’s 2nd greatest peak. This well-known route in Pakistan has seized the minds of adventure seekers and mountains climbers for years, with a vista that spans 360-degrees of a 7000 meter and 8000 meter mountains, together with the great K2. 5. The Southern Alps in New Zealand Duration: Approx. 6 days Grading: moderate (5) Ideal for: anyone looking to head for heights When to go: November to April Trekking in the isolated alpine tarns with open vistas from above, this trek has even been used as a forerunner for a trek in the Himalayas. Scarcely visited and quite remote, the Rwenzori Mountains (or Mountains of the Moon) are Africa’s hidden gem. Climbing Margherita Peak (5,109m), Africa’s third tallest crest, is not for the faint of heart. 7. West Coast Trail in Canada Duration: Approx. 8 days (7-day full pack trek) Grading: moderate to challenging (6) Ideal for: active walkers who love coastal walks and want to combine it with an exhilarating forest trek and wildlife spotting When to go: August Travel the Strait of Georgia by ferry, head to the northern trailhead of Vancouver Island to begin your travels, with the likelihood of seeing Orca whales, sea lions, eagles, and bears near the shoreline. This hike is in the top 10 of all hikes; and if you calculate your time properly, you can take advantage of coast walks on the shelf. 8. Snowman Trek in Bhutan Duration: Approx. 27 days (23 days trekking) Grading: exploratory trekking (8) Ideal for: anyone looking for a very challenging trek that ventures far off the beaten track When to go: September to November journey the ultimate traverse of Bhutan extending through 11 grand passes over 4,500 meters through the isolated Lunana terrain. This cruises fantastic passage also crosses to the lovely Paro Valley where you’ll notice a stretch of land with small Buddhist monasteries and distant villages that are isolated from the rest of the country for a number of months of the year. 9. Pamir Fann Mountains in Tajikstan Duration: Approx.14 days (5 days trekking) Grading: moderate (5) Ideal for: those wanting to take their bushwalking adventures up a notch while incorporating historical and architectural sightseeing When to go: June to September Popular for its unique mountain landscapes and its strikingly beautiful alpine lakes this untouched area of Pamir enters deep valleys with clear lakes and flowering meadows. You might even get a chance to witness the summer camps of the Tijiki shepherds. 10. Tavan Bogd in Mongolia Duration: Approx. 11 days (4 days trekking) Grading: moderate (5) Ideal for: anyone seeking to explore untracked wilderness and authentic nomadic culture When to go: June to August In this most out of the way area of Mongolia, you will be introduced to pure natural landscapes, wild animals and a compelling historical past. You will come across local herders, bactrian camels, Kazakh eagle hunters and throat-singing Tuvan locals, and discover more about this nomadic culture.