Leave your footprints all over the world

Luxury tour operator Bailey Robinson, the designer of bespoke journeys, has created a list of ten ‘must-do’ walking trips from around the world, ranging from afternoon walks to two-week expeditions.

AFRICA: ZAMBIA – South Luangwa Valley
Zambia is the ideal destination for walking safaris, ranging from an afternoon walk to a two-week walking holiday. The South Luangwa Valley, birthplace of walking safaris, offers fantastic “Big 5” game viewing where guests might have the opportunity to see elephants and big cats. Additionally, for the ultimate walking safari, Bailey Robinson can also create exciting itineraries to track the endangered mountain gorillas in Uganda or chimpanzees in Tanzania.

BOTSWANA – Makgadikgadi Pans, Kalahari
Walk with the native San Bushman and learn how to set traps, hunt with a bow and arrow and track game on foot. Using the traditional 1940’s safari style Jack’s Camp as a base this is the place to see not only a some of the desert adapted animals, but also walk with a group of habituated meerkats and enjoy quad biking on the remote salt pans.

AUSTRALASIA: NEW ZEALAND – The Tongariro Alpine Crossing
An ideal trekking destination, New Zealand’s one day trek in Tongariro National Park in the North Island is rated by many as one of the world’s top 10 one-day treks. The Park is not only rich in culture, it also offers dramatic scenery and unique land forms.

AUSTRALIA - The Overland Track
For serious long distance walkers, Tasmania offers a fantastic six-day, 65 km. trek through the heart of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, starting from Cradle Mountain and ending at Lake St Clair.

For a gentler alternative that offers a different way to explore Sydney and its surrounds, The Coogee to Bondi Coastal Walk can be completed in a couple of hours and combines beautiful coastline views and cosy beaches on one side and the cosmopolitan city on the other.

SOUTH EAST ASIA: BALI – Mount Batur
Indonesia’s island gem not only offers fantastic beaches, culture, history and art, but for more active travellers there is also the opportunity to walk to the summit of Mount Batur, Bali’s highest peak and also an active volcano. The summit rewards walkers with stunning views of the surrounding countryside.

VIETNAM – Saigon
Walking tours are one of the best ways to explore this fascinating colonial city. All the main sights are within walking distance of each other making a walking tour easy. Outside the city, Vietnam offers plenty of trekking opportunities and the chance to visit ‘off the beaten track’ areas.

INDIAN SUB CONTINENT: BHUTAN – Dragon Kingdom of Bhutan & Jhomalhari Trek
This relatively little known Himalayan kingdom, hidden between India and Tibet, is a fantastic place to experience challenging wilderness treks. The 12-night Dragon Kingdom of Bhutan & Jhomalhari Trek is a combination of six nights based at indulgent Uma Paro and six nights high altitude camping trek, offering both a luxury and grassroots experience of the Bhutanese people, their culture and incredible mountain scenery.

Experienced guides lead four separate days out in the Paro valley and the remote and unspoilt Haa valley. Highlights include the Taktsang ‘Tiger’s Nest’ Monastery, the National Museum, Drukgyel Dzong and the ancient temple of Kyichu Lhakhang. The six nights full-service camping trek offers river valley days, high altitude trekking days, as well as a full day to explore Jangothang (Mt Jhomalhari base camp) deep in the Himalaya in the shadow of the Kingdom’s highest peak – Mt Jhomalhari (7,314m).

This small-group adventure retreat package departs on 5th May and 3rd November 2009, and costs from £3600 per person excluding flights.

AMERICAS: PERU - Machu Picchu
This is a ‘must do’ and probably one of the best known treks in the world. Bailey Robinson’s “Lodge to Lodge Trek” follows an old Inca route over four to five days spending each night at a different lodge between the Humantay and Salkantay Mountains to a height of approximately 4,500 metres, where it is possible to encounter hail and snow storms. The trek ends with guests walking through jungle-like terrain and finishing at the foot of Machu Picchu in the town of Aguas Calientes.

CANADA – Rocky Mountains’ Walk In The Clouds Heli-Hiking’
This trip allows walkers to explore areas not easily reached on foot or by car. The trip starts by transferring from Jasper to Mount Robson Provincial Park for a helicopter flight to the Rockies. From here an experienced guide takes walkers through alpine flower filled meadows and over rocky ridges for dramatic views of Mount Robson and the Rainbow Range before returning by helicopter.

NORTH AFRICA: MOROCCO – Atlas Mountains & Marrakech
The snow-capped Atlas Mountains offer walkers wonderful scenery, tranquillity and a real “off the beaten track” experience. For a special treat travellers can stay at Richard Branson’s Kasbah Tamadot, an ancient fort that has been transformed into a boutique hotel, perched dramatically on a hill top with fabulous views of the Atlas Mountains. There is also the option of half day walking tours of the souks of Marrakech or through the Valley of Roses at Dar Ahlem, an extravagantly renovated ancient Kasbah, just outside Skoura near the Southern Moroccan desert.

For more information, prices and booking, log on to Baileyrobinson.com.