Trekking icons like the Mont Blanc Circuit or trail to Everest Base Camp, have justifiably earnt their place on many trekkers’ bucket lists, offering stunning alpine views, cultural richness, and legendary trail status. But for those willing to look beyond the spotlight, a different kind of adventure awaits.
There’s something uniquely rewarding about exploring the world’s more remote and unsung mountain trails—routes where the landscapes are wild, the footpaths uncrowded, and the cultural encounters feel deeply authentic. They may not have the fame of their headline-grabbing counterparts, but they offer quieter moments, richer solitude, and the thrill of true discovery.
From the Arctic beauty of Norway’s coastal ridges to sacred Himalayan passes in India, these seven walking holidays promise not only breathtaking scenery but soul-stirring experiences.
1. Summits of the Transylvanian Alps, Romania
Tucked away in Romania’s remote Carpathian Mountains, the Summits of the Transylvanian Alps trek is a true unsung gem for hikers craving remote adventure. Unlike the well-trodden trails of the Alps or Pyrenees, this six-day trek immerses you in the raw wilderness of the Piatra Craiului and Bucegi Mountains, home to dramatic limestone ridgelines, glacier-carved valleys, deep gorges, and panoramic summit views.
You’ll hike through Zărnești Gorge, tackle exposed ridgelines, such as La Om (7,343ft/2,238m), and ascend Omu Peak (8,219ft/2,505m), the highest point in the Bucegi range. Along the way, you may spot chamois on rocky outcrops and spend the evenings in rustic mountain huts and local guesthouses far from the tourist crowds.
This trip blends challenging ascents with authentic cultural encounters in traditional mountain villages. Ideal for those seeking solitude, wildlife, and stunning high-mountain scenery without the masses, this trail delivers a sense of discovery and wild beauty that Europe’s more famous peaks often lack.
2. Darjeeling, Sikkim & the Singalila Ridge, India
While the Everest Base Camp trek draws thousands each year, the Darjeeling, Sikkim & the Singalila Ridge trek offers an equally breathtaking Himalayan experience, —without the crowds. On this 15 day trip, you’ll spend seven day following a high-altitude ridge on the India-Nepal border, rewarding hikers with panoramic views of four of the five tallest mountains on Earth: Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and the majestic Kanchenjunga.
The trail ascends to Sandakphu (11,929ft/3,636m), the highest point in West Bengal, before continuing through remote campsites like Chandu and Sabargam, with panoramic Himalayan views. You’ll pass through rhododendron forests, small mountain villages, such as Gurdum, and areas rich in Buddhist culture, including visits to Rumtek Monastery and Martam village earlier in the trip. For trekkers seeking a quieter, more soulful Himalayan adventure with immersive local encounters, this unsung route is a powerful alternative to the busier trails in neighbouring Nepal.
3. Hike the Lofoten and Vesterålen Islands, Norway
Far above the Arctic Circle, our Hike the Lofoten and Vesterålen Islands trip reveals a side of Norway few hikers ever see. On this trip, you’ll explore the wild beauty of Vesterålen’s whale-rich coastlines and Lofoten’s jagged mountain peaks. Over the course of six days, your route takes you along the rugged coastlines of Vesterålen on the Dronningruta trail between Stø and Nyksund, and up some of the most dramatic peaks in the Lofoten Islands, including Stornappstinden, Ryten, Himmeltindan, Volandstinden, and Reinebringen.
You’ll also visit the artisan glassworks at Vikten, the historic village of Nusfjord, and the Lofotr Viking Museum in Borg. With a mix of modern and traditional accommodation, a favourite among our travellers remains the four-night stay in the charming fishing village of Stamsund, where you’ll sleep in traditional rorbuer (converted fishermen’s cabins).
This is a world of stark contrasts—sea and summit, silence and storm—where Arctic light paints the landscape in surreal colours. With minimal foot traffic and immersive local stays, this is a rare chance to walk through Norway’s untamed north, and deep into the land of midnight sun magic.
4. Druk Path Trek, Bhutan
Bhutan itself remains one of the world’s most exclusive travel destinations, and the Druk Path Trek is a truly unsung gem that few trekkers ever experience. Over five days of trekking, this point-to-point trail links the towns of Paro and Thimphu, climbing through rhododendron forests, high ridgelines, and yak pastures that offer far-reaching views towards Jomolhari and even Gangkar Puensum, Bhutan’s highest unclimbed mountain.
Highlights include the atmospheric Jele Dzong, panoramic camping above Jimilang Tsho and Simkota Tsho lakes, and a visit to the hilltop Phajoding Monastery overlooking Thimphu Valley.
Despite its proximity to urban areas, the trail feels wonderfully remote with few other trekkers in sight. Bhutan’s high-value, low-impact tourism model ensures a peaceful, high-altitude escape far removed from the world’s busy mountain trails.
5. Undiscovered Atlas, Morocco
Our Undiscovered Atlas Trek takes you deep into Morocco’s Anti-Atlas Mountains, far from the better-known High Atlas trails. Over five days of challenging trekking, you hike through remote villages such as Tagdicht, Amal, and M’dint, and climb Jebel Aklim (83,04ft/2,531m), one of the highest peaks in the region, offering sweeping views across the Anti-Atlas and towards the volcanic summit of Jebel Siroua.
The route follows ancient paths between terraced fields, olive groves, and dry riverbeds, passing through valleys dotted with argan and almond trees. Nights are spent wild camping under starry skies, with scenic spots near Tagragra, Lamdint, and Laainn-Tmaoiat or in local guesthouses, which only add to the sense of seclusion.
This is one of Morocco’s most remote trekking circuits, offering rich encounters with Amazigh culture, tranquil mountain scenery, and a level of isolation rarely found on mainstream routes. This trip is perfect for hikers looking for an off-grid adventure in the lesser-known highlands of North Africa.
6. Walking in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Our Walking in Bosnia and Herzegovina trip uncovers a wild, scenic, and deeply historic corner of Europe where few trekkers venture. Over six days of walking, you explore Sutjeska National Park, hike through the ancient Perućica Forest (one of the last primeval woodlands in Europe), and summit Maglić, the highest peak in Bosnia at 7,828ft (2,386m).
The itinerary includes treks in the Zelengora Mountains, with visits to glacial lakes like Trnovačko, hikes along the spectacular Via Dinarica trail and walks to the traditional village of Lukomir via Obalj Peak. Optional rafting on the Neretva River and canyon walks adds even more variety to this trip.
But this itinerary offers more than just natural beauty—it gives powerful insight into the layered past of the region. You visit Olympic relics and wartime sites like the Battle of Sutjeska, situated in landscapes shaped by centuries of Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian rule. Time in Sarajevo and Mostar reveals how medieval architecture and poignant reminders of the 1990s conflict stand side by side.
7. Mera Peak Climb, Nepal
Our Mera Peak Climb combines the thrill of summiting a major Himalayan peak that’s significantly quieter than other mountain trails in Nepal. Standing at 21,247ft (6,476m), Mera is the highest trekkable peak in Nepal, well-known in mountaineering circles and often used as a training climb for Everest. Yet its approach through the Hinku Valley remains quiet and rugged, far removed from the often-crowded Everest Base Camp trail.
Over 13 days of trekking, you travel through Pangkongma, Nashing Dingma, Chalem Kharka, Khola Kharka, Tangnag, and Khare to help you acclimatise before reaching Base Camp and High Camp. The climb is non-technical but physically demanding; during the summit days (12–14) you’ll be roped up to fellow group members and a guide for your safety and using crampons as you hike up the snow-covered mountain. From the summit, you see Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Kanchenjunga, and Cho Oyu, five of the world’s tallest mountains. Popular among serious trekkers but never overrun, Mera delivers a true expedition feel with all the glory of a Himalayan summit and none of the crowds.
If this has inspired you to tackle unsung, but spectacular, mountain trails this year, take a look at our incredible range of walking holidays.
