KE Adventure Travel’s experts are always out and about travelling the globe, so, with that in mind we gathered their combined knowledge and put together an essential hotlist for the best trekking destination and holidays month by month. It’s time to get inspired for your best year of adventure yet!
January – The Canary Islands
Warm climates, fantastic trails, delicious food and (almost) the guarantee of winter sunshine means the Canary Islands are the number one destination for a walking holiday in January. Avoid the crowds and try a week’s walking on the emerald green isle of La Gomera. Verdant laurel forests, mountain ridges and quiet beaches help give this island its nickname of the ‘Walkers’ Canary Island.
La Gomera – Jewel of the Canaries
February – Morocco
Hop onto a budget flight, and in just four hours you’ll arrive into the exotic and mesmerising Marrakech. This former imperial city is the gateway to the Atlas Mountains, Sahara desert and Atlantic coast. Our top tip: Test your crampon skills and summit the highest peak in North Africa (4,167m) on their eight day Mount Toubkal in Winter holiday.
March – Nepal
It’s all about Nepal. The monsoon is over, and the rhododendrons start to bloom, flooding the landscape with their magnanimous colour and beauty. March signals the beginning of the Spring trekking season (the other season being the busier Autumn months). We recommend soaking in the beauty of the Himalayas and admire the flora and fauna on a two-week trek in the Annapurna Sanctuary.
Annapurna Sanctuary and Poon Hill Trek
April – Peru
We suggest travelling to Cusco and the Andes in Peru. It’s at the beginning of the dry season, and you can take advantage of long, bright sunny days and enjoy trekking through the countryside which will be lush and green at that time of year. Tick off that bucket list destination and trek the famous Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
May – Bhutan
Bhutan is blooming in spring-time. The warm climate is pleasant for walking and you can combine a cultural trekking tour to the ‘Tiger’s Nest’ monastery with the Paro Festival – Bhutan’s largest festival where masked dancers perform ritualised re-enactments of mythical struggles between good and evil.
June – Balkans
The west and the east Balkans comprise of many countries which you may have heard of, but perhaps never contemplated visiting. Their magic is being rediscovered by travellers lured off the beaten track in search of new thrills. Why not peak bag in Balkans in 2017. Summit the highest peaks of Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro and Macedonia in just eight days.
July – France
In the summer months, France comes alive. The beautiful and diverse landscapes teem with wildlife and the meadows filled with wildflowers. The French Alps hold some of the most exquisite alpine scenery you will ever encounter and the dramatic valleys of Mont Blanc are a trekker’s playground. Try a 12-day complete high-level version of Europe’s Tour du Mont Blanc trek.
August – Kenya
Reach a fantastic high in Africa. In just seven days, you can trek to 4,985m – the ‘trekkers summit’ at Point Lenana on Mount Kenya. This trek is so much more than just up and down Mount Kenya, on route you will pass through a forest area home to elephant and buffalo, sleep at idyllic camps at Lake Ellis and Michaelson and after enjoying the stunning Point Lenana sunrise, you’ll descent via the beautiful Sirimon Route. North of Nairobi and almost straddling the equator, the triple summited Mount Kenya provides the setting for one of the best treks in Africa.
September – Macedonia
Macedonia is one of Europe’s last frontiers, and its incredible landscape offers a genuine off the beaten track experience. Dramatic mountains, vibrant forest, spectacular cliffs and thundering waterfalls, Macedonia’s wild scenery is home to lynx and eagles. The country has a rich cultural heritage with beautiful Orthodox monasteries and stunning churches, each showcasing breathtaking mosaics and frescoes.
Walking Macedonia – off the beaten track
October – Jordan
Although generally very warm throughout the year, it’s a fascinating country to visit in the autumn and trekking conditions are very pleasant. You expect to experience a little rainfall in early or mid-October and fewer crowds at Petra, the ‘Rose City’ most famous for the Al Khazneh temple carved into the red rock.
November – Patagonia
Spring in Patagonia falls in November. The trees turn reddish and the skies get bluer, the days get longer and the average daily temperature increases. It is one of the only times you can hike the world famous ‘W’ trek in the UNESCO Torres del Paine National Park, a land of huge glaciers, cascading waterfalls, awe-inspiring granite peaks, breathtaking lakes and exciting wildlife.
December – New Zealand
Head south, way past the equator deep into the Southern Hemisphere and then onto New Zealand to experience the hiking highlights of the ‘Land of the Long White Cloud’. Travel down the entire country on a well-planned itinerary including highlights like trekking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing ‘new Zealand’s best 1-day walk’ walk parts of the famous Abel Tasman and Routeburn Tracks, enjoy a cruise on the Milford Sound and walk on Mount Cook.
Intro photo: Jean-Raphaël Guillaumin