Sep
7
Get Your High by Traveling to These 5 High Altitude Destinations
Posted by Travel Expert at 03:52 | Filed In Adventures
Exploring the mountains, its cultures and natural beauty is best done by trekking. Gone are the days when traveling to high mountains for trekking and other expeditions were considered for only brave and strong people, who could climb they way up. Today’s travelers can arrive at high altitudes without wasting their precious time and going through tedious ordeals. Many ski resorts and mountain cities can be reached directly by jet planes which in no time lands the travelers a kilometer or more above sea level.
Found on these mountains are lush alpine valleys, spectacular mountain passes and villages in high mountain ranges around the world. From trekking among these high altitude mountains you explore unique environments and discover fascinating cultures and exotic foods. But the best way to enjoy these adventurous destinations is to cover them by foot.
In my opinion the world’s top 5 famous high altitude destinations for adventure and sight seeing are:
Mount Everest, Nepal
At a fearful height of 8,848 meters, the Everest region is justifiably one of the world’s most popular and spectacular mountaineering destinations, as it offers charming and enjoyable trekking. While trekking you would pass many farm villages with beautiful views of the world’s highest snow capped peaks. At many points during the course of trekking one could stop to watch and capture an exceptional panoramic view of the peaks and its glaciers, including Mount Everest. This is a real classic trekking adventure destination on earth.
Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
The summit of Kilimanjaro stands at 6413 feet, the highest point in all of Africa and one of the famed Seven Summits in the world. Beginning the expedition from the Umbwe route which is somewhat steeper than the busier routes, the trek is dazzling. As it climbs from the trailhead at 6,000 feet to the summit, it passes through every natural zone found in this area of East Africa. You begin in the rain-forest; pass through pines and cedars, then into grassland, then into the alpine tundra, and eventually into the barren world of the Kilimanjaro crater itself. Kilimanjaro is the perfect place to experience climbing a high-altitude peak without needing years of experience or training.
Patagonia, South America
Patagonia is an area of the world that cannot be described from any angle. Located at the southern tip of South America, it is a land of extremes, where massive storms lash off the Pacific and create huge glaciers, sculpted mountains, deep glacier lakes and flora and fauna that exist nowhere else on earth. The Torres del Paine national park is the gem of Patagonia and one of the most incredible parks in the world. Walking is the best way to experience Patagonia. There are 2 large lakes in the region, lake Grey and Lake Pehoe which are fed by glaciers coming off the mountains.
Alpamayo, Peru
Alpamayo at 5913 meters is the gem of the Cordillera Blanca (the mountain range) in Peru. Ever since it was first conquered way back in 1951, climbers from around the world have been flocking to conquer its fluted Southwest Face. Many fledgling high altitude climbers consider this peak a zenith of their early climbing careers. It has often been named by climbers and some adventure magazines as the most beautiful mountain in the world. Alpamayo deserves what it has been referred to as. Climbers know that there are close to reaching the summit when they begin to see light through the face from the other side of the mountain. To successfully reach the top of Alpamayo requires hard work, practice and solid mountaineering and ice climbing skills. It is ideal for combining previous high altitude climbing experience with steep ice climbing skills to trek Alpamayo.
Huayna Potosi, Bolivia
At 6,054 meters, Huayna Potosi is taller than most peaks in the America except for a few. Bolivia remains the least toured but most adventurous country. It offers all the attractions of its more popular neighbors like Peru, Brazil, Ecuador, but still has not yet been accepted by the masses. For climbers, Bolivia is a dream. Even its capital city La Paz is the most ideal spot for mountaineers. La Paz sits in a valley at 11,900 feet, surrounded by snow covered peaks and rolling hills. The La Paz airport, the highest international airport in the world, is even higher, at 13,200 feet! Lake Titicaca, which is the highest navigable lake in the world, is also a good spot for mountaineering and trekking.
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