| Trekking holidays offer adventure, a great | | | | Hinku Valley, past glaciers and finishes with |
| atmosphere, exotic cultures and some outstanding | | | | panoramic views of Everest, Nupste, Makalu, |
| views, all of which are making them an | | | | Lhotse and other imposing mountains. |
| increasingly popular holiday option. It's a common | | | | Mont Blanc Summit, Switzerland |
| misconception that you need to be incredibly fit to | | | | If you want somewhere a little closer to home |
| take one of these adventure holidays, and there | | | | but with the same level of challenge, you should |
| are a number of shorter treks with easy | | | | consider a trekking holiday to Mont Blanc's summit. |
| acclimatisation to ensure that most people can | | | | As the highest mountain in Western Europe at |
| enjoy them. | | | | 4810m, it makes for a good challenge for |
| But what if you want the challenging ascent that | | | | experienced trekkers. Although the trek itself |
| only a more gruelling trekking holiday can provide? | | | | should only take a couple of days, it is definitely a |
| Here are a number of more difficult hiking | | | | difficult adventure, best tackled after a period of |
| adventure holidays which involve gruelling | | | | acclimatisation on some of the nearby smaller |
| schedules, elements of climbing and your fitness | | | | mountains. For those that manage to conquer |
| being given a good challenge. Some of them are | | | | Mont Blanc, the stunning alpine views are certainly |
| so steep as to require 'warm up treks' to aid | | | | a just reward for the physical exertion! |
| acclimatisation... | | | | Stok Kangri |
| Island Peak (Imja Tse), Nepal | | | | The climb to the summit of Stok Kangri may only |
| It's not the highest mountain to traverse but in | | | | take a few days, but it's a challenging expedition |
| the variety of trekking expertise you'll need, it's | | | | involving crampons, ice axes and steep glaciers. |
| up there with the most taxing! In the four days it | | | | Aside from the stunning views of the Greater |
| will take to trek, Island Peak is 6,189m high and | | | | Himalaya offered from the 20,082 foot summit, |
| offers rock scrambling, roped glacier travel, a | | | | part of the joy of a trekking holiday here is the |
| steep snow/ice wall on fixed ropes, and an | | | | exploration involved in getting there. Routes can |
| exposed summit ridge for an exciting finale. Not | | | | take in remote Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, tiny |
| one for novices, this trekking holiday does reward | | | | villages and ruined castles making it an experience |
| those that manage it though, with views that are | | | | like no other. |
| simply superb. | | | | If you've never been on a trekking holiday |
| Mera Peak, Nepal | | | | before, you shouldn't jump straight in for one of |
| With around 9 days needed to trek the mountain, | | | | these. These are very much for those who have |
| this is definitely not one for the feint of heart - | | | | graduated off the shorter treks and feel ready |
| figuratively or literally! Technically this is fairly | | | | for a more taxing adventure holiday. If that |
| straightforward, and no special mountaineering | | | | description matches you, then you can't go wrong |
| knowledge is required, but at 6,476m high, it is | | | | with one of these routes - they may be a |
| quite demanding. | | | | challenge, but the pleasure of seeing the amazing |
| It's rewarding though - mainly because the | | | | views at the end is at least doubled by the |
| scenery is so aesthetically pleasing. The trek will | | | | satisfaction of having successfully completed a |
| take you through the unspoiled forest of the | | | | difficult trek! |