Not everyone is a summit seeker, but if getting to the top of one of the planet’s perfect peaks is the drive you need to immerse yourself in nature, we can take you there. Well actually, sometimes you have to get yourself up there, if you choose one of our self-guided summit hiking holidays, but with many of them, you have an expert mountain guide to lead the way. Especially with the likes of Morocco’s Mount Toubkal (4,167m), and even higher to Argentina’s Aconcagua (6,960m). So leave your daily slog for a while, and head to some of the world’s most natural summit meetings.
Summit hiking along the Peaks of the Balkans
The Peaks of the Balkans (guided and self-guided) is a long-distance hiking trail traversing the western Balkan countries on a circuit encompassing heritage highlights (and highlands) of Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro. Depending on the heights that you want to hit, there are options to ascend Mt. Trekufiri (2,366m), Hajla (2,403m), Taljanka (2,056m) and Arapi (2,217m), all promising the most peaceful panoramas. Summiting Mount Trekufiri is, for many, one of the highlights of the trail, as it forms the border triangle where Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro meet.
The route criss-crosses the border ridge below the 2,500m high peaks of Mount Marijash and Mount Rops, opening panoramic views into Kosovo and Montenegro. When you take it on with a guide on this small group tour, you take the high route up there, which starts with an overnight in a mountain hut in Dobёrdol (1,750m). With regards to the trail as a whole, if you want moderate-level, self-guided walking, with daily ascents of maximum 1,000m, our Peaks of the Balkans Highlights and Peaks of the Balkans Complete holidays are best.
Summit hiking to Mount Toubkal, Morocco
The local name is Jebel Toubkal, and its towering summit is just 60km from Marrakech. Toubkal is a strenuous hike with a fair amount of scrambling involved and takes two days to ascend and descend. The first day involves a hike up from Imlil through Mizane Valley to Mouflons Toubkal Refuge (3,207m), where the snowline begins, depending on the time of year. You start your ascent before dawn, clambering over rocks and scree to the pinnacle at 4,167m, with views across the Atlas to the Atlantic. All our tours are privately-guided, and they come in many forms: speedy or snowy, chilled but less chilly. If you want to summit at speed, here’s our two day Toubkal Express tour , or you can do it in three days or five days. For more information, see our bespoke blog, Climbing Mount Toubkal.
“Absolutely fantastic holiday. Can’t wait to do another trip! From start to finish the whole experience was excellent. The agent they used in Morocco was top notch. The experience with The Natural Adventure was excellent.”- MattSimon from London, who trekked to the top of Mount Toubkal in Morocco’s Atlas Mountains on this holiday and gave us five stars in the process!
Summit walking tours to Mount Ararat, Turkey
It’s biblical in its beauty, so much so that Turkey’s highest mountain (5,137m), overlooking not only Turkey but also Armenia and Iran, is said to have been where Noah’s Ark settled after the storm. It’s a pretty heavenly spot too, as you will see on our guided small group tour to climb this much sought after summit, which is a strenuous but not technical trek up to what’s also known as the Kurdish Triangle.
Mount Ararat (Ağrı Dağı in Turkish) actually consists of two major volcanic cones, namely Greater Ararat and Little Ararat (3,896m) and there is a glacier near the top too. In order to acclimatise to its icy elevation, a starter menu hike up Mount Artos (3,537m), with views over Lake Van, the country’s largest body of water stretching for 119km at its widest point, is a pure Turkish delight. You can embark on Ararat between the end of June and mid-September, with group sizes of maximum 15 people.
“If you’re not living on the edge, you’re taking up too much room! A brilliant week in Eastern Anatolia climbing Mt.Ararat” – Bare Grills, London on our Mount Ararat trek.
Mount Olympus summit holidays, Greece
Greece’s highest mountain (2,918m) takes pride of place, a gold medal even, on our podium of prolific treks. The mountain actually consists of around 52 peaks, the highest being Mytikas, at 2,918m, but this is a serious scramble. On our self-guided trekking holiday on Mount Olympus, you take on the summits of Skala (2,866m) and Skolio (2,911m) over seven days, with the summits both attainable on day four. You can also include this trek as part of our 12 day Ultimate Northern Greece walking holiday. For more information, we have two blogs about these summit holidays: Mount Olympus is the ultimate Greek odyssey and Taking on the summit, by our in-house adventurer.
High-altitude trekking on the Via Dinarica Trail, Dinaric Alps
The Via Dinarica takes you on a journey of around 1,200km across the main ridge of the Dinaric Alps through Slovenia, Kosovo, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH), Montenegro, Albania and North Macedonia. It’s one big Balkan walking fest really. For the summits, we highly recommend our small group, guided tours along the Via Dinarica.
First of all you have the Via Dinarica in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, which takes you from the Adriatic coast to the likes of Mount Badanj (1,281m) and Mount Sinjal (1,831m) in Croatia. The Via Dinarica between Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro has similar elevated wonders including the summit of Mount Maglić (2,386m), the highest in BiH. There are also some top spots in Montenegro, including Skrka Pass (2,112m) and Bobotov Kuk (2,523m).
On the Via Dinarica that focuses solely on Bosnia-Herzegovina, you have two summits: Bjelašnica Mountain (2,067m) and Visočica (1,974m) as well as the stunning Rakitnica Canyon. For more information, read our more detailed Via Dinarica guide.
Peak hiking in Bulgaria
Bulgaria’s leading peak player is Mount Musala, which is not only the country’s highest mountain at 2,925m, but also the highest on the Balkans Peninsula. Not surprisingly, therefore, from the top you can see all the way to Greece on a good day. And given that you can ascend this beauty in just one day, it’s always a good day on Musala. You have plenty of time to acclimatise, as the ascent takes place on day four of both our Rila and Pirin Mountains and Lakes holiday, and our shorter Rila Mountains Walking Break. You can also do it as part of a guided tour.
On these longer tours, you also get to ascend Mount Vihren, the second highest peak at 2,914m, following a route along its south-west ridge, the last section of the climb finishing with a slightly more technical part (no scrambling) facilitated by a steel rope. Once you reach the top of Mount Vihren, you are rewarded with spectacular views of the Pirin Mountains.
Summit hiking in Cape Verde
This tropical Atlantic archipelago was once described by Charles Darwin as a “glory of tropical vegetation”. There are also some glorious summits to be sought out on this island-hopping hiking haven between São Vicente, Santo Antão and Fogo. Each island boasts its own natural heritage highlights in a seascape of voluptuous volcanoes. But it’s the hike up to Mount Pico, or Pico do Fogo (2,892m) that’s the top dog, as it’s the highest in the country. Although our holiday is self-guided, this ascent is undertaken with a local guide (included in tour price), as it’s a simmering volcano that last erupted in 2014. After the steep 1,000m ascent, you are rewarded with extensive views over the islands and a great moment of summit satisfaction. You will have earned your local Strela beer after that.
Summit hike to Aconcagua, Argentina
Aconcagua is actually the highest trekking peak in the world (6,960m), as you don’t need technical climbing skills, and it is also considered one of the planet’s most spectacular treks. Walk for 18 days with a small group, guided by a team of mountain experts on a seriously strenuous but extraordinary journey. Located in the Principal Cordillera of the Andes, close to the border with Chile, you trek on what’s called the Normal Route, although there is nothing banal about this beauty. The tour is available between November and February, we build in plenty of acclimatisation and contingency days on our itinerary, where the focus is on safety, as well as spectacular views such as from Plaza Francia (4,000m), Nido de Condores (5,560m) and of course the great summit itself.
We hope that you’ve enjoyed this journey around some of our top summit hiking holidays. Of course, there are many more to be found on our trekking holidays throughout the world. You may also enjoy our blogs on Hiking safety in mountain landscapes, Our most remote walking holidays in Europe, and also our Best day hikes series. For more information, please don’t hesitate to contact our team of adventure specialists.
