a visual guide:

The 10 best treks in the world

FROM CAPPADOCIA TO NAPA VALLEY:

LEAP FORWARD

These 10 classic treks are amongst the best on the planet. All require a decent level of fitness and a good amount of preparation before setting off.

SOURCE: BBC NEWS

Ready? Let's go!

SOURCE: BBC NEWS

No. 10

GR20, France

This demanding hike through Corsica doesn't come easy but the reward is a diversity of landscapes from forests to granite moonscapes and glacial lakes to snow-capped peaks.

SOURCE: BBC NEWS

At 168km (104mi) the path is rocky and sometimes steep, and includes rickety bridges and slippery rock faces – all part of the fun.

SOURCE: BBC NEWS

No. 9

Inca Trail, Peru

The trail to citadel of Machu Picchu was laid by the Incas in the 15th-century. Today, millions of hikers trek cliff-hugging ruins to catch a glimpse of the (not so) 'lost city'.

SOURCE: BBC NEWS

It's an extremely popular trail so to keep the route sustainable, hikers must secure a permit in advance.

SOURCE: BBC NEWS

No. 8

Pays Dogon, Mali

‘The land of the Dogon people’ is one of Africa’s most breathtaking regions. It takes in semi-desert plains, soaring cliffs and the abandoned Dogon villages of Bandiagara.

SOURCE: BBC NEWS

A trek here can last anywhere between two and 10 days.

SOURCE: BBC NEWS

No. 7

Everest Base Camp, Nepal

Reaching a height of 5,545m (18,193ft), this trail runs through mountain villages and glacial valleys, and offers hikers the chance to say they've stood at the base of the world's highest mountain.

SOURCE: BBC NEWS

Be warned: heights reached during this trek are literally dizzying until you acclimatise to the altitude.

SOURCE: BBC NEWS

No. 6

Indian Himalayas, India

If crowds aren't your thing, Himachal Pradesh is the 'quiet' side of the Himalayas. If you're a hardcore hiker, follow ancient trade routes through high-desert terrain on the Spiti to Ladakh trail.

SOURCE: BBC NEWS

Fun fact: Spiti's terrain once inspired Rudyard Kipling to exclaim, ‘Surely the gods live here; this is no place for men’.

SOURCE: BBC NEWS

No. 5

Routeburn Track, New Zealand

At the base of New Zealand’s Southern Alps, this trail passes through two national parks: Fiordland and Mt Aspiring. Highlights include the views from Harris Saddle and atop Conical Hill.

SOURCE: BBC NEWS

The main challenge for this popular hike is securing a place among the limited numbers of hikers allowed at any one time.

SOURCE: BBC NEWS

No. 4

Overland Track, Australia

Tasmania’s prehistoric-looking wilderness is most accessible on the 80km (50mi) Overland Track.

SOURCE: BBC NEWS

If you want more, side walks lead to waterfalls and Mt Ossa – Tassie’s highest summit.

SOURCE: BBC NEWS

No. 3

The Narrows, USA

Journey through dramatic canyons carved over centuries by the Virgin River in Zion National Park. The route is the river (prepare to get wet) with hanging gardens and natural springs along the way.

SOURCE: BBC NEWS

The route is the river so prepare to get wet, with some swimming and wading required.

SOURCE: BBC NEWS

No. 2

The Haute Route, France-Switzerland

Leading from Chamonix in France through the southern Valais to Zermatt in Switzerland, the Haute Route traverses some of the highest and most scenic country accessible in the Alps.

SOURCE: BBC NEWS

The summer Haute Route walk (which takes a different course than the more famous winter skitouring route) takes around two weeks to complete and demands a high level of fitness.

SOURCE: BBC NEWS

No. 1

Baltoro Glacier & K2, Pakistan

This incomparable trek in Pakistan traverses some of the most humbling scenery on the planet.

SOURCE: BBC NEWS

Follow trails of icy rivers into Baltoro Glacier before climbing mountains including Paiju, Uli Biaho, Great Trango Tower and ultimately...

SOURCE: BBC NEWS

... the colossal peak of K2 (8,611m, 28,251ft), the world’s second-highest mountain.

SOURCE: BBC NEWS

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