Hiking Highlights

People often seem more focused on getting somewhere than stopping to enjoy the scenery. But taking the path less traveled and earning the satisfaction that comes from making an honest effort earns you a great journey and spectacular views. Here is a list of hikes that deliver on thrill and adventure:

Great Wall of China Who better to guide you along China’s formidable protective wall than a Brit who has run the length of it? An expert on all things China and a dedicated preservationist, Indagare’s favorite Great Wall specialist offers guided hikes along the snaking wall and through the surrounding areas. Stay: Park Hyatt Beijing, or contact Indagare to arrange overnight accommodations near the wall.

Machu Picchu A feat of incredible engineering, this 15th-century Inca site remains relatively intact. The best way to experience Machu Picchu is as the Incas did: hiking the Inca Trail up to Apu Machu Picchu’s summit, which rewards the hiker with panoramic views of the ancient city. Stay: Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge.

Out West At Utah’s Amangiri, the remote location is both a blessing and curse. The property provides access to an abundance of hikes for beginners and intermediates, including the rigorous Cave Peak Via Ferrata. The surrounding area is teeming with outdoor adventures, and the Grand Canyon National Park and Zion National Park are within driving distance. However, recently members have complained about the lodge’s service, particularly at the restaurant, a detractor, since due to the isolated locale, guests will have most of their meals on-property.

Italian Dolomites These gorgeous mountains, punctuating the Italian countryside, are composed of a carbonate rock called dolomite, a unique material that is responsible for the dramatic peaks and vertical walls. Charm and personality infuse the Rosa Alpina Hotel & Spa, whose guests can trek to and explore the caves and tunnels carved into the mountains during World War I.

Mount Everest The trail that leads to Mount Everest is still the one that was blazed by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953 on their way to becoming the first to summit the world’s highest peak. The fourteen-day trek to Everest Base Camp is not considered particularly difficult by Himalayan standards, but the views are outstanding. Stay: Yeti Mountain Lodges.