This article on the best challenge treks is sponsored by our friends at Cicerone.
Discover the best challenge treks worldwide with Cicerone, your go-to publisher for adventures. With nearly 400 guidebooks featuring crystal-clear maps and expert advice, planning your next adventure has never been easier.
For the experienced trekker seeking a test of endurance, challenge treks offer the perfect blend of breathtaking landscapes and demanding terrain. From Scotland’s coastal paths to the soaring Karakoram peaks, from the vast Pyrenees to the ancient Balkans valleys, these routes offer the ultimate adventures, with stunning scenery, rich wildlife, and thrilling physical challenges.
Main image: The descent of Bobotov Kuk, the highest mountain in Montenegro | Credit: Shutterstock
1. The John o’Groats Trail
Experience spectacular cliffs and wildlife spotting
Sunset at Castle Sinclair, Girnigoe, on the John o’Groats Trail. Credit: Shutterstock
You’ve probably heard of the Cape Wrath Trail, but did you know John o’Groats has its own trail? The 233km route links Inverness to John o’ Groats, showcasing Scotland’s lesser-known beauty. The route features diverse landscapes, from woodlands and open moors to cliffs and beaches, and is home to seals, ospreys, dolphins, and seabirds. With coastal and inland paths, the trail offers wild cliff walks, ruined castles, and sea stacks. Rough terrain and exposed cliff tops make it ideal for experienced walkers.
2. The Snowdonia Way
Embark on a scenic trek through the peaks and valleys of Wales
Yr Wyddfa, the highest peak in Eryri. Credit: Shutterstock
Stretching 156 km through North Wales, the Snowdonia Way is a week-long, unmarked trail in Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park. It showcases Wales’ highest peaks, mountain streams, and deep valleys from the River Dovey to Conwy. While the main route is low-level, high-level options allow for ascents of the region’s tallest mountains. Eryri is renowned for its stunning scenery, where mountains meet sandy bays and estuaries alongside clear mountain lakes and ancient castles. In winter, the mountain route demands full winter mountaineering gear and experience.
3. The GR11 Trail
Discover breathtaking scenery from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean
On route to the Respomuso reservoir and mountain hut in the Spanish Pyrenees. Credit: Shutterstock
While Corsica’s GR20 is known as one of Europe’s most challenging treks, the more accessible GR11 trail offers a fantastic alternative for intermediate hikers. It’s a glorious 850km traverse of the Pyrenees, from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean on the Spanish side of the border with France, taking about 47 days to walk. Although it’s a serious challenge, the route is less demanding than the higher-level HRP, sunnier and wilder than the GR10, which runs along the French side, and well-waymarked throughout with regular opportunities to find accommodation and stock up your supplies.
4. The Karakoram
Trek amid Pakistan’s soaring peaks and glaciers
At the top of the Gondogoro La Pass in the Central Karakoram National Park. Credit: Shutterstock
The Karakoram range in northeastern Pakistan, home to some of the world’s highest mountains and largest glaciers, offers breathtaking scenery and spectacular high-altitude trekking. The Biafo-Hispar trek features the stunning ‘Snow Lake’ and crosses Hispar La (5151m). Shorter treks on Nanga Parbat’s flanks visit Fairy Meadows and the Diamir Face. The highlights are the K2 and Gondogoro La treks, providing access to K2 Base Camp and the 5585m Gondogoro La.
5. Peaks of the Balkans
Explore a cross-border trail through remote villages
Bobotov Kuk Bobotov Kuk is officially the highest mountain in Montenegro. Credit: Shutterstock
The 182km Peaks of the Balkans Trail is a waymarked, cross-border, long-distance route through the spectacularly wild and rugged borderlands of Montenegro, Albania and Kosovo. The circular route takes in remote valleys, lakes and mountain passes, travelling through small mountain villages that often feel like somewhere time forgot. It’s a corner of Europe few people are familiar with, let alone visit, and it’s perfect for an off-the-beaten-track adventure.
With Cicerone guidebooks, adventurers can access detailed route descriptions, mapping, preparation advice, and information on facilities for all routes, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable trek. Visit the Cicerone website to find more inspiring articles and the full range of guidebooks.
