10 best long-distance treks for beginners

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From an iconic ancient pilgrimage to classic Himalayan challenges, we share 10 of the best long-distance treks for beginners

Trekking has been an enormous part of my life for decades. It has taken me through some of the most jaw-dropping landscapes on the planet, and I have met people from all over the world and made lasting friendships on the trail.

Above all, trekking brings me a sense of peace and escapism that is so seldom found in other activities. On the trail, my mind clears of all the distractions of the modern world and settles into a wonderfully uncomplicated routine: hike, rest, repeat. On that note, I’d encourage anyone to hit the trails and find the kind of headspace you simply can’t get from a city break or beach holiday.

As such, we’ve picked out the best long-distance treks for beginners from our small-group travel specialists, G Adventures. We are big fans of G Adventures, and I have used them for several treks, including Kilimanjaro and Everest Base Camp. We’ve also travelled with them on active trips to Myanmar and New Zealand, and tours to Vietnam and Cambodia, Costa Rica, India and, most recently, Kia’s solo trip to China.

10 best long-distance treks for beginners

G Adventures uses a physical grading system from one to five to indicate the level of activity on their adventure tours, with one being easy and five being challenging. We’ve mostly opted for treks graded level four or five, or ‘demanding’ or ‘challenging’ respectively. These are often high-altitude treks or tours that contain more strenuous activities.

While that may sound a touch intimidating, the daily distances are manageable, with rest days built into the itineraries, and the routes make use of relatively comfortable accommodation that should suit those with limited trekking experience. As such, all of these long-distance treks are considered accessible to most healthy travellers.

1. Camino de Santiago, Spain

Duration: 10 days
Price: From $1,447
Physical rating: 3 – Average
More info: Camino de Santiago Encompassed

The gentle Camino de Santiago makes for a tranquil introduction to multi-day hiking, as unlike remote mountain routes, the well-signed Camino passes through villages and towns nearly every day, meaning you’re never far from food, accommodation and conveniences.

The cathedral with blue skies at the end of one of the long-distance treks for beginners

The famed network of ancient Christian pilgrimage routes leads to the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela, where the remains of the apostle St James are believed to rest. You don’t need to walk the entire 800km. Instead, many pilgrims start with this section along the final 100km from Sarria, which still qualifies for the official Compostela certificate.

2. Mt Kinabalu, Malaysia

Duration: 5 days
Price: From $899
Physical rating: 4 – Demanding
More info: Trek Mt Kinabalu

Kinabalu rises like a sleeping giant above the clouds of Malaysian Borneo, its jagged granite crown piercing the sky at 4,095m (13,435ft). Trekking this sacred mountain – Malaysia’s highest peak – is less a climb than a pilgrimage.

Sunrise over mt Kinabalu with forest in the foreground

It begins in dense, humid rainforest at Timpohon Gate, where every step upward feels like moving through a time-lapse of evolution. It ends on its distinctive, rocky summit, watching the sun rise above the surrounding verdant vastness of Borneo spread out below like a living map.

3. Salkantay Trek & Machu Picchu, Peru

Duration: 5 days
Price: From $559
Physical rating: 4 – Demanding
More info: Salkantay Trek & Machu Picchu

This was Kia’s first taste of multiday trekking, proving it’s an ideal long-distance trek for beginners. There are several routes to Machu Picchu, but when we visited, we opted for the lesser-trodden and more adventurous Salkantay Trek.

This initially challenging route winds through some high-altitude scenery and spends much of the first two days beneath the imposing peak of its namesake. The landscape on this route changes rapidly on the third day as the route joins the Inca Trail and, with it, the lush vegetation and archaeological sites found there.

The itinerary includes two nights of camping with the final night spent in comfort at a hotel in Aguas Calientes. The next day, trekkers visit the iconic Machu Picchu before relaxing on a scenic train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo.

4. Mont Blanc Explorer, France, Italy

Duration: 8 days
Price: From $1,762
Physical rating: 4 – Demanding
More info: Mont Blanc Explorer

If you’re not ready to take on the infamous 170km Tour du Mont Blanc, then the Mont Blanc Explorer is an excellent alternative. The route still offers a solid challenge and provides intimate views of Western Europe’s highest peak and the surrounding Alps throughout, broken up with stays at comfortable lodgings.

Signposts and a cairn with Mont Blanc in the background

The trip includes several day hikes on both sides of the border, so trekkers get to see La Dame Blanche, as the French call it, and Il Bianco, as the Italians know it. The comfortable itinerary also makes time for visits to alpine villages and relaxing spas, all washed down with hearty meals and some of Europe’s finest mountain scenery.

5. Mt Toubkal, Morocco

Duration: 7 days
Price: From $454
Physical rating: 4 – Demanding
More info: Climb Mt Toubkal

The trail to the summit of Jebel Toubkal, North Africa’s highest peak at 4,167m (13,671ft), is one of the best long-distance treks for beginners, as it offers a rare blend of accessibility, cultural immersion and physical challenge, without requiring advanced trekking or mountaineering skills.

a glacial lake on Toubkal, one of the best long-distance treks for beginners

The trail from the village of Imlil to the summit is non-technical, meaning there’s no need for ropes or climbing experience in the summer months. Most treks are completed in three days, with well-established routes, mule support for gear, and simple but comfortable mountain refuges along the way. The G Adventures itinerary also makes time for a sunrise hot air balloon ride over Marrakech on the last day.

6. The W, Torres del Paine, Chile

Duration: 6 days
Price: From $2,654
Physical rating: 4 – Demanding
More info: Torres del Paine – The W Trek

With staggering jagged mountain peaks, ultramarine glaciers, sapphire green lakes and the granite towers of Las Torres, it’s easy to see why Chile’s Torres del Paine has been described as South America’s finest national park. The W trek ensures you get right into the thick of the glorious mountain ranges.

jagged peaks on the W long-distance trek

The first leg is alongside Lago Grey, from Lodge Paine Grande to Refugio Lago Grey, with great views of Glacier Grey along the way. The middle section is a steep ascent of the glacier and waterfall-clad Valle Francés, offering a closer look at Los Cuernos and Las Torres. The final leg takes you to the lakeside viewpoint right beneath the three towers.

7. Karakoram Mountains, Pakistan

Duration: 9 days
Price: From $1,499
Physical rating:
More info: Hike the Karakoram Mountains

My trek to K2 base camp was one of the most memorable of my life, but it is not for a novice. This itinerary provides a glimpse of what’s on offer in Pakistan’s Karakoram Mountains and makes for an eye-opening introduction to multi-day trekking through some of Central Asia’s least-explored landscapes.

Trekkers relax above a campsite surrounded by mountains and green fields

This nine-day trek takes you through a world seemingly untouched by time. Traverse age-old footpaths connecting remote mountain hamlets, where villagers carry on traditions passed down through generations. Each day takes you past gleaming glaciers and along glassy, ice-fed streams, with nights spent in wild camps beneath a blanket of stars.

8. Annapurna Sanctuary, Nepal

Duration: 15 days
Price: From $899
Physical rating: 5 – Challenging
More info: Annapurna Sanctuary

Unexplored by the western world until 1956, the Annapurna Sanctuary is a stunning, oval-shaped glacial amphitheatre surrounded by a ring of staggeringly tall mountains: the Annapurna range. There is only one way into this beautiful plateau – through the Modi Gorge between the peaks of Hiunchuli and Machapuchare.

Annapurna base camp sign along the Annapurna Sanctuary long-distance trek

This may be a relatively short trek (the 15-day itinerary has only 10 days of trekking), but it packs an almighty scenic punch. Rhododendron forests, bamboo groves, fluted glaciers and some of Nepal’s finest teahouses make for an alluring alternative to the more famous Annapurna Circuit.

9. Kilimanjaro: Machame route, Tanzania

Duration: 8 days
Price: From $2,962
Physical rating: 5 – Challenging
More info: Mt Kilimanjaro Trek – Machame Route

The ‘roof of Africa’ was the first high-altitude mountain I ever climbed. At 5,895m (19,340ft), Kilimanjaro in Tanzania is Africa’s highest peak, and while I had some hillwalking behind me, I had no prior experience of high-altitude trekking.

Peter the summit of Kilimanjaro in bright sunshine

I opted for the cheapest and quickest route to the summit via the Marangu AKA the ‘Coca-Cola’ route. However, my advice for beginners is to opt for the Machame Route as it has a longer acclimatisation period, which is better for those with less high-altitude experience. If you really aren’t comfortable with camping, then the Marangu route is entirely hut-based.

For more information on climbing Kilimanjaro, read our posts Which is the best Kilimanjaro climbing route? and Training for Kilimanjaro: 7 tips for a successful summit.

10. Everest Base Camp, Nepal

Duration: 15 days
Price: From $1,519
Physical rating: 5 – Challenging
More info: Everest Base Camp Trek

Mount Everest, at 8,848m (29,029ft), is the highest mountain in the world, one of just 14 eight-thousanders and a member of the seven summits. It has captivated intrepid men and women since the first legends of mountaineering made global headlines of Everest.

I trekked to Everest Base Camp with G Adventures in 2019, and it completely lived up to the legends. The Himalayas are one of the most beautiful places on Earth, and while I am not the most sentimental of people, the trip holds a very special place in my heart.

While it is a challenging feat, the Everest base camp trek has become an achievable goal for most. Every year, over 30,000 people from all walks of life make the trek to catch a glimpse of the most famous mountain on Earth.

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About the author

Peter Watson is a writer, photographer and adventurer. He has been to 100 countries and climbed the highest mountains in Africa, Europe, South America and North America – four of the Seven Summits. peterjohnwatson.com

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