1st time trekking, Hiking hopefully someone can advise

I signed up here to post this, I'm looking for advice of where to trek for approx. one month. I'm a male in my late 30's in decent shape and am traveling alone.
I've never done any trekking before but would love the new experience! I have roughly 30 days late Oct to Nov and looking for an easy trail for a first timer that doesn't require a tent...or maybe I would be missing out without it, please offer any opinions.
I'm really open to anywhere in the world, I'm well travelled and enjoy pushing myself to do something new.

Any advice, suggestions etc...that would fit into my time frame would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Quite a big question! The word "trek" is, IMO, often misused. Most of the "treks" discussed on TT are really just extended walks on well established trails that require few outdoor skills other than the ability to carry a rucksack.

The obvious answer is the Everest Base Camp or Annapurna Circuit walks. Either can be done in 30 days from/to Canada, both are easy trails that are easy to follow (assuming that you have no serious acclimatisation problems), and both have lodge accommodation throughout. You can find lots of information on the Nepal thread about both walks and their relative merits. My choice would be the EBC walk as it offers the more spectacular scenery. IMO the AC has more cultural interest. You can do both as an individual or a group walk, depending on your preferences and needs. If you want to walk with the most flexibility, go on your own. You will find many solo walkers on both trails if you want some company.

The Overland Track in Tasmania, Australia is a classic five day walk that can easily be extended to seven days with side trips. It is easy to follow and has huts throughout. You will need to carry your own food and cooking equipment. There are also many day walks that can be done from the Cradle Mountain trail head to make up a ten day experience. November is fine for the OT. Just be prepared for some rain. There will be other people to walk with if you wish to.

The Drakensberg Mountains, South Africa would present you with a bigger challenge and I suggest that you use a tour company. You would get rain in the afternoons in November. See this as an example: http://www.gotrekking.co.za/index_files/contactgotrekking.htm

Other areas would be more problematic in November. It is either off season (with facilities closed or unstaffed) or the weather is not the best. You might consider southern France. South America is much less developed than the above areas and is probably not the best place for a first adventure. IMO there are currently good reasons for not going to North Africa.

I'll second the fine suggestion from mitzimeow and also recommend Nepal as a truly wonderful trekking destination.
I was there earlier in the year and am planning to be back there early in 2015.

EBC is the crowd favourite for obvious reasons, and with the amount of time you have, Trek in from Jiri, head up the Gokyo Valley first, cross over the Cho La and then up to EBC.

Of course, this is all IMHO :)

It helps if you're in a decent shape, but why would you start with a month long trek?

It's a pretty big leap forward from nothing, don't you think?

You don't want to discover after 1 week of walking that you really don't like it that much and want to return, where in case it's a remote area you have no option to "jump out" but face another week of walking to get out again.

What have you done so far? Day hikes? Multi-day hikes? How long, where?

According to the OP, he is in "decent shape"

With regards to Nepal, I am yet to meet anyone who has not thoroughly enjoyed their trekking experience.
It's Trekking, you put one foot in front of the other and repeat - not too tough. If you get tired, stop for a rest. With Teahouse Treks in Nepal, you are only 1.5 - 2 hrs between villages. Carry a 10-12kg Pack and it's very doable. I have seen all shapes and sizes Trekking in Nepal - you certainly do not have to be an Unber Fit Trekking weapon!
With 30 days up your sleeve, you can spend more than 1 night in some places if need be (altitude acclimatisation may determine this for you)

I don't think this guy has to present a "Trekking CV" to you - why don't you have a go at helping him out and answering some of his questions??

I'm trying to help him out. His questions are pretty well unswered by mitzimeow, so I thought of rasing a question he might failed to ask himself.

With regards to Nepal, I am yet to meet anyone who has not thoroughly enjoyed their trekking experience.

Perhaps because most people who go there already know they like trekking. It's kind of weird to me if someone never did any hiking until his thirties than wants to start by going for a month long trek.

I loved cycling but only as a means of getting around, never did more than a 60km long trip. If I wanted to start cycle touring I wouldn't start to go for a month even if I'm in a good shape. I'd start by taking several day trips, than say a 3 day long trip, than a week long trip and I'll only start cyling to Africa or Tibet after that.

OK, this is something OP has to decide himself I just raised his attention.

To answer his original question:

Pretty much the only destination where you don't need a tent for trekking is Europe, but October-November is the bad season for that. Most huts are already closed by that time. The other place is Nepal(but only the 3 most popualr regions have tea houses, the rest is again tent only) and October-November is the ideal season. The mountains of New Zealand also have huts and November is spring and it could be a good time(weather my not be ideal, the the crowds are thinner). The problem is the most popular trails have limited access for conservation reasons and slots for trekking permits can get booked out months in advance.

I agree with chillipepper21. You do not have to have any previous walking experience to do EBC or the AC. A moderate standard of fitness and a little determination and commonsense is all that is required. They are not wilderness walks. The OT is a little more difficult but many first timers do it successfully. The NZ tracks tend to be a bit shorter but the weather a bit worse than the OT. Consequently I would not recommend them to the OP.

Obviously some preparation would help but outdoor experience is not really a requirement.

With a total of 30 days a Jiri/Shivalaya to EBC and Gokyo, then fly out from Lukla would be quite ideal, as it would take about 25 days, the remaining 5 days are needed for flights etc. Any sensible person in decent shape can do it perfectly well. If money is no object (extra cost about $600 including flight and tip) hiring a porter-guide would make things even easier.

My first trek was AC + ABC in -84 (exactly 30 years ago!), and at that time it also took 25 days or so Dhumre to Pokhara (walking all the way). It was a first "trek", but of course I had done a lot of hiking and camping before that, so walking with a pack was nothing new to me.

Doesn't come close to being as interesting as the other suggestions but the Bibulumun Track in Western Australia from Perth to Albany is an easy walk taking about a month of solid walking to do the whole thing. It's well marked with shelters to stay in and a fairly constant if not excessive stream of walkers doing it. October to November would be ideal but much later and it can get quite hot, particularly in the northern stretches.

Do the Camino de Santiago and take an umbrella.