Gear up to hike the planet’s most breathtaking landscapes and bed down in equally impressive abodes. These are the world’s best luxury walking tours.
Who said hiking can’t be five-star? After a long day of trekking, there’s no better feeling than kicking off muddied boots, warming up with a hot shower and slipping into crisp sheets (even better when your bedroom boasts a plush king-sized bed and panoramic views). The world’s best luxury walking tours strike the perfect balance between adventure and relaxation. Here’s how to tackle them in class and comfort.
Three Capes Track, Tasmania
Follow the wind’s whisper to secret caves, vertical cliffs and towering sea stacks along the four-day Three Capes Signature Walk with Tasmanian Walking Company. Kick the journey off with a cruise across to Denman’s Cove, onward to Cresent Bay Lodge and the panoramic coastline views of Cape Raoul. Summit Arthur’s Peak and spot white bellied sea eagles on day two, then hike to Cape Pillar Lodge and recover with a massage before a gourmet dinner. Day three takes guests on a silver gum tour to Cape Pillar, with an excursion to Cape Huay or Fortescue Bay on your final day.
Duration: four days
Level: beginner friendly
West Highland Way, Scotland
Walking Scotland’s most coveted long-distance trail has never been as sumptuous. Expect mystical lochs, undulating hills and rushing rivers on the nature front, and countryside mansions on sprawling garden estates as far as accommodation goes. The Carter Company’s eight-day luxury walking tours of the West Highland Way effortlessly blend the great outdoors with bespoke Scottish interiors, offering guests the chance to stay inside the palatial Glencoe House and Cameron House, which sits on the shores of Loch Lamond and boasts two golf courses, three pools and a rejuvenating steam room.
Duration: six to eight days
Level: beginner friendly
W Trek, Chilean Patagonia
Venture to the end of the earth, where prehistoric glaciers rumble and mesmerising alpine vistas lie around every bend. The 80 km W Trek Luxury Adventure Retreat by Swoop Patagonia grants guests access to the rugged allure of Chile’s Torres del Paine region without the need for any tents. Instead, adventures are based from the five-star Tierra Patagonia Hotel, an architectural marvel whose splendid wooden-panelled suites and heated hydro-massage pool overlook the majestic Paine Massif.
Duration: five days
Level: intermediate
Laugavegur Trek, Iceland
The Laugavegur Trek is a pathway to a mythological world; geothermal lagoons bubble, tectonic plates collide and lush escarpments rise from volcanic canyons as if carved by the ridged backs of Norse dragons. With Kipling & Clark’s luxury walking tours, guests can explore Iceland’s unique geology with custom itineraries while slumbering in some of the country’s most lavish lodgings. Soothe sore hiker’s legs with a well-deserved float therapy at The Retreat Hotel at Blue Lagoon, which offers Michelin-star dining, a subterranean spa and suites that back onto a private lagoon.
Duration: four to five days
Level: intermediate
Tour du Mont Blanc, Europe
Navigate lofty suspension bridges, cross flower-dotted meadows and snake alongside snow-capped peaks mirrored in glassy lake surfaces. The Tour du Mont Blanc is a 170 km circumnavigation of Western Europe’s highest summit, topping the bucket list of many experienced hikers. While you’ll complete up to 20 kilometres of moderate to challenging terrain per day as you traverse French, Italian and Swiss borders, comfort need not be sacrificed. Decompress at a curation of five-star mountain properties such as the Michelin-starred Hotel Hameau Albert 1er when you opt for Tours du Mont Blanc’s luxury self-guided walking tours.
Duration: 11 days
Level: advanced
Routeburn Track, New Zealand
Over four exhilarating days, discover the dramatic beauty of New Zealand’s Southern Alps with a private Blanket Bay journey hosted by Walk into Luxury. By day, ascend to the Routeburn Flats with a knowledgeable guide, paving your way through ancient beech forests and over jade-hued gorges, and heli-hike to the cascading terraces of Mt Earnslaw glacier. Come nightfall, retreat to the lakeside Blanket Bay Lodge and fuel up for the following day with a daily five-course degustation from award-winning Chef Dan Reynolds.
Duration: four days
Level: beginner friendly
Druk Path Trek, Bhutan
Bhutan’s renowned Druk Path Trek is best explored in style. When you’re not wandering through blue pine forests, over steep ridges or past impressive cliffside monasteries, experience authentic Bhutanese hospitality at COMO Uma Paro’s Bukhari, an elegant treetop restaurant often frequented by Bhutan’s royal family. During Onlyluxe’s luxury walking tours of Bhutan, spend several nights camping at the footsteps of the Himalayas, where placid yaks often graze, and others tucked peacefully into an opulent king bed at Amankora, a wellness lodge in the remote valleys of the Bhutan Kingdom.
Duration: five days
Level: intermediate
Kilimanjaro Machame Route, Tanzania
Summiting the tallest free-standing mountain on the planet is breathtaking in more senses than one. Expansive stretches of Savannah beckon near the top of the dormant volcano while lush forests teeming with wildlife await at lower elevations. Find an ideal harmony between wilderness and refinement as you both camp at high altitudes and find rest at boutique thatched chalets on Abercrombie & Kent’s nine-day Machame tour. The bookend stay at Lake Duluti Lodge, located on the peripheries of Arusha, offers a tranquil retreat overlooking a private coffee estate.
Duration: six days
Level: intermediate to advanced
The Bugaboos, Canada
Discover theatrical glaciers, skirt panoramic cirques and stand below staggering granite spires amid the Bugaboos mountain range – one of British Columbia’s most dramatic natural arenas. CMH Summer Adventure’s Bugaboos luxury walking tours allow you to heli-hike the world famous hiking region while sojourning at the sought-after Bugaboo Lodge, perched at 1,490 m and only accessible by air. After adventure-filled days, relieve tired muscles in the hotel’s rooftop spa while gazing up at milky constellations glimmering above jagged peaks.
Duration: four to seven days
Level: beginner friendly
Camino Frances, Spain
Watch the Roman walls of Lugo give way to rolling plains and countryside villages as you conquer one of the most fabled pilgrim trails in the Camino de Santiago network. The seven-day walking journey by Macs Adventure follows the final 100 km of the Camino Frances. Along the route, guests will stay in traditional pazos (converted manor houses) and boutique hotels, as well as experience the finest Galician fare. The walk concludes in the medieval city of Santiago de Compostela with a stay at the Parador de Santiago, one of the oldest and most luxurious lodgings in Spain whose beautiful courtyards overlook the town’s historic plaza and 9th-century monastery.
Duration: seven days
Level: beginner friendly
Trails of Cappadocia, Turkey
From the Pigeon Valley Trail to the Ihlara Valley canyon walk, the awe-inspiring trails of Cappadocia will whisk you from whitewashed eroded rock formations to hill-hugging towns. During the nine-day premium Cappadocia trails adventure with Exodus Travels, guests can stay in a unique cave dwelling complete with patterned Turkish carpets and Balkan Valley views at Nino Cave Suites. The luxury walking tours also include the option to float over Cappodocia’s fairy tale setting in a hot-air balloon.
Duration: nine days
Level: beginner friendly
Kumano Kodo Trail, Japan
The world’s only UNESCO-recognised pilgrimage route besides the Camino de Santiago, Japan’s revered Kumano Kodo trail will set avid hikers’ hearts aflame. Once reserved for emperors and samurai for more than 1,200 years, the route follows ancient trails along the mountainous Kii Peninsula and passes by rural villages, forested terrain and enchanting waterfalls. Kanamean Nishitomiya, a traditional Japanese ryokan inn with a Michelin-starred restaurant and hinoki cypress wood baths, is just one of the exceptional hotels guests can enjoy during Onlyluxe’s eight-night walking tour.
Duration: six days
Level: intermediate
The Ausangate Trek, Peru
Traverse rainbow valleys and befriend alpacas as you head off the beaten track along Peru’s 70 km Ausangate Trek, which averages 4000 m in altitude. Guests who opt for a private tour of the trek with Jacada Travel also have the chance to experience the incredible ruins of Machu Picchu and the colonial city of Cusco. Accommodation ranges from hand-picked eco-lodges that sit at 4,750 metres to five-star properties such as Cusco’s Belmond Monasterio Hotel. These properties, along with curated cultural experiences, make this one of the best luxury walking tours in South America.
Duration: four to six days
Level: intermediate to advanced
Cape to Cape Walk, Western Australia
From the brilliant blues of Smiths Beach and limestone coastline of Cape Naturaliste to the towering trees of Boranup Karri Forest, the Cape to Cape is one of Australia’s most inspiring coastal hikes. Luxury walking tours make the trail even more spectacular. A four-day guided small group tour with Walk into Luxury will see guests walking three to six hours per day before settling into an oceanfront pool villa at Injidup Spa Retreat, where premium Margaret river wines await in abundance.
Duration: four days
Level: intermediate
Arkaba Walk, South Australia
Take an extraordinary hike through the heart of Australia on The Arkaba Walk. With the region covering more than 25,000 hectares of pristine wilderness within the awe-inspiring Flinders Ranges, walkers learn about the area’s wildlife, conservation efforts and cultural heritage. The three-day adventure with Wild Bush Luxury explores the Elder Range and Wilpena Pound and operates from mid-March to mid-October. Led by expert guides, guests enjoy gourmet, chef-prepared meals paired with South Australian wines and comfortable bush camps. The final night is spent at the Arkaba Homestead, a Luxury Lodge of Australia.
Duration: three days
Level: intermediate
What is the purpose of a walking tour?
Usually led by locals or expert guides, walking tours give travellers the opportunity to experience a destination in depth and at a slower pace.
What are luxury walking tours?
Luxury walking tours are hiking journeys with an elevated level of comfort. They may include high-end accommodation options in addition to or in place of camping or basic huts. Added benefits such as gourmet culinary experiences, helicopter rides or luggage transfers (so guests don’t have to carry extra weight with them during the trek), may also be part of the tours.
How do walking tours work?
Guided walking tours are led by experienced guides who know the terrain and can often provide detailed information about the history and cultural significance of the land. Beginner and intermediate hikers may feel more comfortable tackling a multi-day walk with a guide. Experienced hikers may prefer self-guided walking tours. These tours provide the traveller with the hiking route, information and sometimes accommodation bookings, but the traveller gets themselves from point A to B independently.
What are the benefits of luxury walking tours?
Five-star walking journeys can be more comfortable than conquering the wilderness of the great outdoors head on. With the added security of serviced accommodation, luxury walking tours can also be safer and more stress-free than camping.
This article originally appeared in Volume 48 of Signature Luxury Travel & Style magazine. Subscribe to the latest issue today.
