20 Best Hikes of 2022
It’s the start of a new year and time to present our round-up of the 20 best hikes for 2022! Put together by the travel experts at MT Sobek, this list includes the best hikes from around the world. From classic treks in the Alps, Nepal, and Patagonia to new hikes in Montana’s Glacier National Park and through Italy and Switzerland’s Lake District. Looking for something a little more remote? Check out our new Kanchenjunga Ridge Trekking trip in India or our K2 Base Camp Trek in Pakistan! Whether you’re looking to explore a new wilderness trail or follow ancient paths through hillside villages, all of these hikes are guaranteed to thrill and impress. See you on the trail!
1. Alps Tour du Mont Blanc Hiking
One of our favorite trips and a “must-do” for every hiker, this classic circuit of the Mont Blanc massif includes three nights in Chamonix. Combining strenuous hikes with genuine alpine hospitality and comfortable alpine hotels, AFAR says: “MT Sobek ups the ante with its Tour du Mont Blanc experience, one of the adventure travel company’s most popular trips for over 40 years.”
Total Days: 12 // Activity Level: 4
2. Peru’s Cordillera Blanca Trek
Explore the extraordinary beauty of Peru’s Cordillera Blanca, the highest tropical mountain range in the world. Trek past turquoise lakes, hidden waterfalls, and striking snow-dusted pinnacles linked by isolated valleys. Challenging? No doubt, but a fantastic triumph for those whose hearts can be found at the planet’s most impressive heights.
Total Days : 13 // Activity Level: 5
3. Everest Base Camp Trek
Sometimes it’s both the journey and the destination. Nothing short of a true quest, trekking in the Himalaya is a lifelong dream for many avid hikers, especially the pilgrimage to its greatest mountain: Mount Everest, known locally as Chomolungma, the “Mother Goddess of the Snows.” With over 50 years of experience leading the pack in Nepal, MT Sobek is the best company to get you to Everest Base Camp at 17,600 feet elevation.
Total Days: 19 // Activity Level: 5
4. Yosemite Grand Traverse Hiking
Explore legendary high points and awesome granite scenery of the Sierra Nevada as you trek and camp through Yosemite National Park and Ansel Adams Wilderness. Hike the high country to majestic Cathedral Lakes in Tuolumne Meadows. Along the way walk sections of the John Muir Trail and cap the trip with a summit hike to Cloud’s Rest.
Total Days: 8 // Activity Level: 4
5. India Sikkim: Kanchenjunga Ridge Trek
Discover Kanchenjunga, the world’s third highest mountain! Trek through dense pine forests and blooming rhododendrons, passing prayer flags, yak herders and local Sherpa villages. A remote route, this trail to Kanchenjunga’s ridge does not see many other trekkers. This exploratory adventure takes intrepid travelers to less-visited parts of Sikkim and Nepal, staying true to MT Sobek’s heritage. A “new classic.”
Total Days: 20 // Activity Level: 5
6. England Coast to Coast
Traverse England by foot on this classic hiking adventure, including the most spectacular stages of Alfred Wainwright’s epic “Coast to Coast” trail. Journeying from the Irish Sea to the North Sea, you’ll cross three national parks: the Lake District, featuring England’s highest mountains; the rolling green hills and river valleys of the Yorkshire Dales; and the dramatic landscapes of the North Yorkshire Moors.
Total Days: 10 // Activity Level: 4
7. Ultimate Patagonia Hiking in Chile & Argentina
Enjoy the “best of” Patagonia hikes! Follow Ascencio Valley to majestic slopes below Torres del Paine, hike the famous “W” trek beneath the jagged Cuernos del Paine massif, and discover the French Valley—all incredible feats! Cross into Argentina and take in spectacular vistas of Cerro Torre and Fitz Roy rising above the Southern Patagonian Ice Field while exploring Los Glaciares National Park.
Total Days: 14 // Activity Level: 4
8. Iceland Natural Wonders Hiking
The magnificence of Iceland’s volcanic landscape is unparalleled and this trip provides the opportunity to experience it up close on spectacular daily hikes. From cosmopolitan Reykjavik, fly to Akureyri – Iceland’s “Capital of the North” – and traverse moonlike lava fields to snow-capped volcanoes. Be awestruck by Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in Europe, and hike pretty canyon trails beside spring-fed rivers.
Total Days: 8 // Activity Level: 4
9. Bhutan’s Chomolhari Trek
This memorable, classic trek is one of our few ultimate high-altitude challenges. Set in the kingdom of Bhutan, experience local Buddhist culture with visits to its famous dzongs (citadels) and monasteries, like the “Tiger’s Nest” and “The Temple of the White Dove.” Hike past glacial lakes, prayer flags, and yak-herders for views of snow-capped Mount Chomolhari, the most holy mountain for the Bhutanese.
Total Days: 14 // Activity Level: 5
10. Cusco and Machu Picchu Trek
Our popular “Inn-to-Inn” itinerary follows the legendary Salkantay route. Experience Peru’s most famous sites and enjoy the challenge of a high-altitude trek with the comfort of well-appointed lodges. Selected as one of National Geographic Traveler’s “Tours of a Lifetime.”
Total Days: 10 // Activity Level: 4
11. Montana Glacier National Park Hiking
Explore epic mountain scenery on hikes in Montana’s Glacier National Park. Chiseled valleys are blanketed with wildflowers while bottomless lakes mirror soaring peaks. Rolling grasslands stretch to the horizon and a wealth of wildlife, including bighorn sheep and black bears, call these mountains home. Revel in endless vistas and enjoy the warm hospitality of the American West at characterful lodges.
Total Days: 7 // Activity Level: 3
12. Climb & Summit Kilimanjaro
Take the route less traveled up one of the world’s most epic mountains! Beginning in the forested slopes of Mount Meru at 6,400 feet, ascend through spectacular alpine scenery, through the otherworldly landscape of the Great Barranco Valley, before making your summit bid to Uhuru Peak a.k.a. the “roof of Africa” at 19,340 feet. MT Sobek was the first company to lead commercial treks up Kilimanjaro in 1974 and with our seasoned guides has a 98% summit success rate.
Total Days: 10 // Activity Level: 5
13. Japan’s Kyoto to Tokyo Walking
Journey through time on the historic Nakasendo trail, walk undulating forest paths through misty landscapes of the Kiso Valley, and enjoy the serenity of the route as it winds its way past rice fields through picturesque villages. Wrap up your tour in ultra-modern Tokyo.
Total Days: 11 // Activity Level: 3
14. Italy & Switzerland Lake District Hiking
Experience the extravagant beauty of Italy and Switzerland’s Lake District on this idyllic hiking adventure. Starting at Lake Orta, tucked in the foothills of the alpine chain, visit tiny San Giulio Island before heading to the top of Monte Mottarone (4,895′). Follow scenic paths through forests and meadows above Lake Maggiore and Lake Lugano, and take the pretty Wayfarer’s Trail around Lake Como.
Total Days: 8 // Activity Level: 3
15. Morocco’s High Atlas Mountain Hiking
Hike Morocco’s majestic High Atlas range, camping in comfortable mobile camps in the mountains. Climb formidable Mount M’goun, Morocco’s second highest peak at 13,356′ feet, and discover lush green oases among the orange hills and valleys, age-old kasbahs, and traditional Berber villages. One of our most intriguing itineraries for travelers on a budget.
Total Days: 9 // Activity Level: 4
16. Pakistan K2 Base Camp Trek
Straddling the border between Pakistan and China, K2 stands at 28,251 feet, making it the second tallest mountain in the world. Looming over the western Himalayas in the Karakoram Range, it has been described as a formidable peak of ice, rock and sky – rising up to touch the heavens. Join legendary mountain guide Sergio Fitch Watkins on a trek to K2 Base Camp at 16,732 feet, for views coveted by trekkers around the world.
Total Days: 21 // Activity Level: 5
17. Spain El Camino de Santiago
For over a thousand years, the faithful have hiked the Camino de Santiago trail across northern Spain. Whether you’re on a spiritual journey or just want to enjoy the thrill of walking this famous pilgrimage path, take off along its most popular route, the Camino Frances—the French Way, which begins in France and ends in stunning Santiago de Compostela.
Total Days: 11 // Activity Level: 4
18. Scotland Western Isles Hiking
Check out Scotland’s wildest, most beautiful and far-flung corners. Experience elemental wildness in the Outer Hebrides and the gorgeous, windswept terrain of Cairngorms National Park on this exclusive itinerary full of heart-pumping, jaw-dropping hikes. You may even get to meet Scotland’s only herd of reindeer!
Total Days: 9 // Activity Level: 3
19. Ethiopia’s Simien Mountain Hiking
Join us in UNESCO-listed Simien Mountain National Park for an epic lodge-to-lodge hike along rugged escarpments and through deep valleys — a land home to endemic wildlife such as the Walia ibex, Gelada baboon, and Simien fox. Discover Ethiopia’s ancient past as a “cradle of humanity” and marvel at Gondar’s castles and Lalibela’s hand-carved rock churches. Named a “best vacation for adventure seekers” in 2019 by Forbes!
Total Days: 10 // Activity Level: 3
20. Norway’s Natural Wonders Hiking
There’s nothing quite like seeing the best of Norway on foot and immersed in its landscapes. Cruise through the country’s deep fjords, hike majestic mountains and breathtaking national parks, and explore the Lofoten Islands. This trip shows you Norway’s natural magic at every turn, from waterfalls to the midnight sun.
Total Days: 11 // Activity Level: 3
Interested in any of these hikes—or feeling inspired to start another adventure? Click on any of the titles or pictures above or email our regional specialists.