Top mountain destinations and famous peaks
Top mountain destinations and famous peaks
Famous peaks and mountain holiday spots
Mountain travel spans an enormous range of experience, from high-altitude expeditions and multi-day trekking circuits to accessible alpine day walks and scenic drives through elevated landscapes. The most celebrated mountain destinations have developed substantial visitor infrastructure around their peaks and valleys, while remoter ranges remain the preserve of those willing to invest in the logistics and fitness that serious wilderness mountain travel demands.
The draw of mountain destinations extends well beyond walking and climbing, with wildlife, plant life, geology and cultural traditions shaped by altitude and isolation adding layers of interest that reward slow and attentive travel. Mountain communities have often preserved ways of life that lowland equivalents have lost and the cultural dimension of travel through high-altitude inhabited landscapes is as compelling as the physical environment.
Altitude sickness is a genuine risk above 2,500 metres and acclimatisation time is not optional regardless of fitness level. Weather in mountain environments changes quickly and the consequences of being underprepared are serious. Seasonal access windows vary considerably by range and latitude, with some of the world's most celebrated mountain destinations accessible for only a few months each year. Permit systems at the most visited ranges are becoming more common and require advance planning.
Lists by region
National Park in Italy
Dolomites National Park
Towering peaks and pristine wilderness
Tre Cime di Lavaredo, three sheer rock towers, rise at the heart of the park. Soldiers fought along these ridges during World War One, leaving tunnels still open today. Hikers can walk a loop trail around the towers in about three hours. Rifugio Locatelli offers a rest stop with a view of all three peaks.
City in United States
Aspen
Rocky Mountain Glam Meets Outdoor Thrills
The Maroon Bells rise just outside Aspen as twin peaks over 14000 feet. Their red tinged rock and symmetrical shape make them a favourite subject for photographers. Visitors walk the trail along Maroon Lake for the classic reflection shot. Aspen's own ski runs climb four separate mountains around the town.
Town in Argentina
El Chalten
Hiking Capital of Argentina
El Chalten sits beneath the jagged spire of Mount Fitz Roy. Argentina named the town its National Trekking Capital in 1985. Hikers can walk to Laguna de los Tres for a close view of the peak. Fitz Roy's granite walls draw climbers from around the world each season.
Region in Austria
Tyrol
Alpine paradise in all seasons
The Zugspitze straddles the border between Tyrol and Bavaria at its summit. A cable car on the Tyrolean side climbs to just below the peak's 2962 metre top. Visitors can step across into Germany at the summit platform without a passport check. On clear days the view stretches across roughly 400 alpine peaks.
Village in Switzerland
Wengen
Car-Free Alpine Bliss and Epic Views
Wengen hosts the Lauberhorn, the longest downhill course on the World Cup ski circuit. Racers reach speeds over 150 kilometres per hour on the run's steepest sections. Visitors can ride a cogwheel train up since no cars are allowed in the village. The Jungfrau massif fills the view from nearly every balcony in town.
National Park in Canada
Jasper National Park
Untamed Wilderness and Starry Skies
The Columbia Icefield feeds glaciers on both sides of the Continental Divide. Visitors can ride specialised vehicles onto the Athabasca Glacier itself. Nearby, Mount Edith Cavell's Angel Glacier hangs below its jagged north face. A short trail leads to a meltwater pool right at the glacier's base.
City in Switzerland
St. Moritz
Alpine Glamour and Winter Magic
St Moritz has hosted the Winter Olympics twice, in 1928 and 1948. A cable car climbs Piz Nair for views across the Engadin valley's lakes and peaks. Skiers can also try the Cresta Run, a natural ice skeleton track dating to 1884. The town's dry, sunny climate has drawn winter visitors since the 1860s.
Region in Italy
South Tyrol
Alpine culture where worlds collide
South Tyrol's share of the Dolomites became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009. The listing covers several distinct mountain groups, each with different coloured rock. Visitors can ride cable cars up from valley towns to reach hut to hut trails. Ladin, a language found only in these valleys, is still spoken in some villages.
Region in Switzerland
Graubünden
Alpine wonderland with pristine lakes and trails
Piz Bernina rises to 4049 metres as the easternmost 4000 metre peak in the Alps. A cable car to Diavolezza gives a direct view of its glaciated north face. Skiers can descend the Morteratsch Glacier run beneath the summit each winter. St Moritz, the canton's best known resort town, sits at its base.
Village in Switzerland
Lauterbrunnen
Valley of 72 waterfalls
Lauterbrunnen's valley walls drop nearly 300 metres in sheer limestone cliffs. Some 72 waterfalls spill over these cliffs, including Staubbach Falls near the village. Visitors can ride a cable car up to Murren for wide views of the valley. The Jungfrau, Monch and Eiger all rise directly above the valley floor.
City in Canada
Whistler
Alpine Adventure, Epic Views, Year-Round Fun
The Peak 2 Peak Gondola links Whistler and Blackcomb mountains high above the valley. Its longest cable span stretches over 3 kilometres without a supporting tower. Riders can look almost 500 metres straight down through a glass floored car. Whistler hosted the alpine events for the 2010 Winter Olympics.
National Park in United States
Glacier Bay National Park
Majestic glaciers and pristine wilderness
Mount Fairweather rises to 4671 metres just a few miles from the sea. It ranks as the tallest coastal peak on Earth, rising almost straight from tidewater. Visitors view it by boat while cruising past tidewater glaciers below. Few climbers attempt the summit because of its remote, glacier covered approach.
National Park in Japan
Chūbu-Sangaku National Park
Northern Alps peaks, snow walls and onsen
The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route cuts through snow walls up to 20 metres high each spring. Buses and cable cars carry visitors through, since private cars are banned. Walkers can stroll on foot between the towering snow corridor walls. Mount Tate, one of Japan's three sacred mountains, rises above the route's midpoint.
Mountain
Pyrenees
Where France meets Spain majestically
Aneto rises to 3404 metres as the tallest peak in the Pyrenees. Its slopes hold one of the range's last remaining glaciers, though it keeps shrinking. Climbers can reach the summit in a long day from the Renclusa hut. Nearby Ordesa Canyon offers a gentler way to see the range on foot.
Valley in France
Rhône Valley
Lush vineyards and alpine vistas
The Rhone River begins at the Rhone Glacier high in the Swiss Alps. Terraced vineyards line the valley slopes below, among the highest in Europe. Visitors can walk into an ice grotto carved fresh into the glacier each summer. Steep sided peaks rise on both sides of the valley for its entire length.
Region in Nepal
Annapurna
Legendary Trekking in Himalayan Diversity
Annapurna I rises to 8091 metres, the tenth highest peak on Earth. The Annapurna Circuit trek loops around the massif over roughly two weeks. Trekkers cross Thorong La, a pass above 5400 metres, on the route's high point. Base Camp itself sits in a natural amphitheatre ringed by ice walls.
National Park in Canada
Banff National Park
Majestic Peaks and Turquoise Lakes
A gondola climbs Sulphur Mountain above the town of Banff. Riders reach a boardwalk with views over the Bow Valley and Mount Rundle. Hikers can also walk the ridge trail past old weather station buildings. Below, hot springs once used by early visitors still steam year round.
State/Prefecture in United States
Montana
Wild Beauty & Vast Big Skies
Granite Peak rises to 3904 metres as Montana's highest point. The peak sits inside the rugged, trail-less Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. Climbers need scrambling skills since no maintained trail reaches the summit. Glacier National Park, in the state's north, offers another range of glacier carved peaks and trails.
National Park in Japan
Kamikochi
Clear river valley beneath the Hotaka Range
Kamikochi sits in a valley beneath the jagged peaks of the Hotaka range. Only buses and taxis are allowed in, keeping private cars out of the valley. Visitors walk across Kappabashi Bridge for a classic view of Mount Hotaka. Taisho Pond nearby still shows drowned tree trunks from a 1915 eruption.
National Park in New Zealand
Fiordland National Park
New Zealand’s Wildest Water World
Mitre Peak rises straight out of the water at Milford Sound. Its sharp summit reaches 1692 metres just a kilometre from the shoreline. Boat cruises pass beneath the peak's cliffs and nearby waterfalls. The Milford Track, a four day hike, crosses the mountains behind it.
Country
Bhutan
Himalayan monasteries, dzongs and trekking trails
Gangkhar Puensum rises to 7570 metres as the world's highest unclimbed mountain. Bhutan banned mountaineering above 6000 metres in 1994 out of respect for local beliefs. Trekkers can view the peak from a distance on remote routes near the Tibetan border. No confirmed summit has ever been recorded on this peak.
Region in India
Ladakh
Himalayan Cold Desert of Contrasts
Khardung La pass outside Leh sits above 5350 metres in Ladakh. Long claimed as the world's highest motorable road, it has since been surpassed elsewhere. Bikers and drivers stop at the summit sign for photos beside prayer flags. Trekkers can also attempt Stok Kangri, a 6000 metre peak nearby.
Region
Patagonia
Untamed Beauty at the End of the World
Cerro Torre's summit is capped by an overhanging mushroom of wind built ice. That ice cap turned back climbers for decades and fuelled disputed ascent claims. Climbers now face both the ice and near constant Patagonian storms on the approach. The spire rises above El Chalten alongside its neighbour, Fitz Roy.
Town in Switzerland
Saas-Fee
Glaciers, Peaks and Alpine Serenity
Saas Fee sits ringed by thirteen separate peaks over 4000 metres. No other Alpine village sits beneath as many four-thousanders at once. Cable cars climb to the Mittelallalin, home to an ice cave carved into a glacier. The village itself stays car free, with only electric taxis allowed.
Country
Faroe Islands
Dramatic cliffs meet misty landscapes
Slaettaratindur rises to 882 metres as the Faroe Islands' highest peak. A steep ridge trail from the village of Eidi leads most of the way up. Hikers reach a summit with views across the entire island chain. On clear days walkers can spot both the Atlantic and neighbouring islands at once.
National Park in United States
Waterton Glacier International Peace Park
Where two nations preserve wilderness
In 1932, Waterton Lakes and Glacier joined to form the world's original International Peace Park. It links Canada's Waterton Lakes National Park with Montana's Glacier National Park. Visitors can cross the border on the Chief Mountain Highway to see both sides. Goat Haunt, reachable only by boat or trail, marks one official crossing point.
National Park in United States
Grand Teton National Park
Stunning Peaks and Wildlife Wonders
The Grand Teton rises to 4199 metres with almost no foothills in front of it. Its jagged profile dominates the skyline above Jackson Hole. Climbers can attempt the summit in a long single push from Lupine Meadows. Calmer visitors paddle Jenny Lake for a mirror view of the range.
Country
Tajikistan
Dramatic mountains meet ancient cultures
More than ninety percent of Tajikistan's land sits above 1000 metres in elevation. The Fann Mountains in the country's west hold a cluster of turquoise alpine lakes. Trekkers can walk a multi day loop connecting several of these lakes on foot. Homestays in small mountain villages often replace hotels along the route.
State/Prefecture in United States
Colorado
Rocky mountains and red rocks
Colorado holds 58 peaks that rise above 14000 feet, more than any other US state. Hikers call these summits fourteeners and many can be climbed in a single day. Popular routes up peaks like Quandary and Bierstadt draw large weekend crowds. The Rocky Mountains run the length of the state from north to south.
City in China
Lhasa
A Spiritual Journey in Tibet
Lhasa sits at 3656 metres on the Tibetan Plateau beneath the Himalayas. The Potala Palace rises another 130 metres above the city on Red Hill. Travellers often spend days here to acclimatise before continuing towards Everest Base Camp. Snow capped peaks of the Nyenchen Tanglha range are visible on clear days.
National Park in China
Zhangye Danxia National Geopark
Vibrant rock layers paint a surreal landscape
Zhangye Danxia's striped hillsides formed from mineral deposits layered over 24 million years. Red, yellow and green bands run across the rock like a painted canvas. Visitors walk raised boardwalks between viewing platforms to see the colours from above. The colours show most vividly right after rain or near sunset.
National Park in New Zealand
Mount Cook National Park
New Zealand’s alpine wonderland
Aoraki Mount Cook rises to 3724 metres, the tallest peak in New Zealand. The Hooker Valley Track leads hikers across swing bridges towards its base. Walkers reach a glacial lake often dotted with floating icebergs. Stargazers return after dark since the park sits inside a dark sky reserve.
Region in India
Zanskar
Hidden Himalayan Buddhist wilderness frontier
The Chadar Trek follows the frozen Zanskar River through a narrow Himalayan gorge. Walkers cross sheets of river ice that can crack and shift underfoot. The route is only possible for a few weeks each winter when the ice sets. Villagers historically used the same frozen path as their only winter route out.
Nature Reserve in China
Wulingyuan nature reserve
Misty Peaks of Avatar Fame
Thousands of narrow sandstone pillars rise from the forest at Wulingyuan Nature Reserve. Filmmakers used these peaks as visual inspiration for the floating mountains in Avatar. Glass lifts carry visitors up the cliff face in under two minutes. A skywalk with a glass floor lets walkers look straight down the pillars.
National Park in Argentina
Los Glaciares National Park
Where glaciers meet towering peaks
Perito Moreno Glacier spills down from the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. Chunks of ice periodically break from its face into Lake Argentino below. Visitors walk a network of boardwalks facing the glacier's 60 metre high wall. Boat tours can also approach the ice front from the water.
Mountain in Tajikistan
Pamir Mountains
The Remote Roof of the World
The Pamir Highway crosses this range through several passes above 4000 metres. Ismoil Somoni Peak, its tallest point, rises to 7495 metres near the Kyrgyz border. Drivers and cyclists follow the road past glaciers and high altitude lakes. Small Pamiri villages along the route still rely on yak herding for a living.
Lake in Canada
Lake Louise
Turquoise Gem of the Canadian Rockies
Lake Louise sits beneath Victoria Glacier and the peak of Mount Victoria. Meltwater rock flour gives the lake its turquoise colour each summer. Hikers can climb the Plain of Six Glaciers trail for closer mountain views. A historic teahouse partway up still serves hikers homemade snacks and tea.
National Park in United States
Yosemite National Park
Nature's Grand Cathedral
El Capitan's granite face rises nearly 900 metres straight up from the valley floor. In 2017 Alex Honnold climbed it alone without ropes in under four hours. Visitors can watch climbers from meadows below, often spotting tiny dots on the wall. Half Dome and Yosemite Falls also lie within the same valley.
City in France
Chamonix-Mont-Blanc
Alpine thrills beneath Mont Blanc
The Aiguille du Midi cable car climbs to 3842 metres above Chamonix. From the platform, visitors look directly across at Mont Blanc's summit. A glass skywalk lets people step out over a sheer drop. Climbers use the same station as a starting point for summit attempts.
Region in Morocco
Atlas Mountains
Majestic peaks echo ancient desert horizons
Mount Toubkal rises to 4167 metres as North Africa's tallest peak. Most trekkers reach the summit in two days without technical climbing gear. Routes start from Imlil, a Berber village about an hour from Marrakech. Mules often carry gear partway up, guided by local muleteers.
City in Peru
Cusco
Gateway to the Incan Empire's Heart
Vinicunca, the Rainbow Mountain, lies a few hours from Cusco in the Andes. Mineral bands of red, gold and green stripe the mountainside above 5000 metres. Trekkers hike a steep trail at altitude to reach the striped ridge. Cusco itself sits at 3400 metres, already higher than most Alpine ski resorts.
National Park in United States
Rocky Mountain National Park
Majestic Peaks and Untamed Wilderness
Trail Ridge Road through the park climbs above 3700 metres at its highest point. It holds the record as the highest continuous paved highway in the United States. Drivers can stop at overlooks to watch elk graze in alpine tundra. Longs Peak, the park's tallest summit, rises to 4346 metres nearby.
National Park in United States
Denali National Park
Wild Alaska’s peaks and wildlife
Denali rises to 6190 metres, the tallest peak in North America. Its summit stands taller from base to top than Mount Everest's does. Climbers can spend three weeks or more attempting the West Buttress route. Most visitors instead view the mountain from the park road or a flightseeing tour.
National Park in United States
Mount Rainier National Park
A Majestic Volcano and Wild Beauty
Mount Rainier holds 25 named glaciers, more than any other US peak outside Alaska. The volcano rises to 4392 metres and remains active beneath its icy summit. Hikers can walk the Skyline Trail through wildflower meadows at Paradise. Scientists monitor it closely since a major eruption could trigger fast moving mudflows.
National Park in Switzerland
Swiss National Park
Majestic alpine wilderness, untouched and serene
Switzerland's National Park opened in 1914 as the earliest national park anywhere in the Alps. Rules here ban hikers from stepping off the marked trails anywhere in the park. Visitors often spot ibex and chamois grazing on steep slopes above the valleys. Wolves have returned to the surrounding mountains on their own in recent years.
National Park in Tanzania
Kilimanjaro National Park
Africa's Rooftop Adventure
Kilimanjaro is actually three volcanic cones fused together, named Kibo, Mawenzi and Shira. Only Kibo, the tallest and youngest of the three, still holds a snow cap. Trekkers pass through rainforest, moorland and alpine desert zones within a single climb. The park protects this full range of climate zones across just one mountain.
Village in Switzerland
Grindelwald
A Majestic Swiss Mountain Village
Grindelwald sits directly beneath the Eiger's 1800 metre north face. Climbers have died attempting that wall since the 1930s, earning it a grim nickname. Visitors can ride a cable car up to First for a wide view of the face. A glass cliff walk near the summit station hangs out over open air.
National Park in Indonesia
Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park
Where volcanoes meet ancient traditions
Mount Bromo's crater still vents sulphur smoke over the Tengger Sand Sea. Sunrise viewpoints at Mount Penanjakan look across Bromo and neighbouring volcanic peaks. Visitors cross the ash covered plain on foot or by horse to reach the crater rim. Mount Semeru, Java's tallest volcano, erupts small plumes almost constantly in the background.
Mountain in China
Huangshan
Mystical Peaks and Ancient Villages
Huangshan's granite peaks are famous for twisted pine trees growing from bare rock. Ming dynasty paintings often used these exact peaks as their subject. Visitors climb stone stairways cut into the cliffs to reach viewing platforms. A sea of clouds frequently fills the valleys below at sunrise.
Ski Resort in Chile
Valle Nevado
Snow‑kissed peaks and alpine serenity
Valle Nevado's base sits above 3000 metres in the Andes outside Santiago. The resort links with two neighbours to form one of the region's largest ski areas. Skiers can reach it by a winding mountain road in under two hours from the city. Summer months bring hikers and mountain bikers once the snow melts.
Town in Italy
Cortina d'Ampezzo
Dolomite Peaks, Alpine Glamour, Adventure
Cortina d'Ampezzo sits ringed by jagged Dolomite peaks like Tofana and Cristallo. The town hosted the 1956 Winter Olympics and returns as host again in 2026. Skiers can drop into the Cinque Torri, five rock towers used in World War One battles. Cable cars carry hikers up to alpine huts perched below the cliff faces.
State/Prefecture in United States
Wyoming
Wild West landscapes and natural wonders
Gannett Peak rises to 4209 metres as Wyoming's highest point. It sits deep in the Wind River Range, days from the nearest trailhead. Climbers need glacier travel skills to cross the ice below the final ridge. Devils Tower, a volcanic rock tower elsewhere in the state, draws far more visitors.
Town in Switzerland
Interlaken
Adventure, Lakes and Alpine Magic
Interlaken sits on a strip of land between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. A funicular climbs Harder Kulm for a view over both lakes and the peaks beyond. Paragliders launch from nearby slopes with the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau as a backdrop. Trains from town continue up towards Jungfraujoch within about two hours.
Valley in Peru
Sacred Valley
Ancient terraces echoing timeless Andean rhythms
The Sacred Valley follows the Urubamba River between Cusco and Machu Picchu. Inca terraces still climb the valley's slopes, some still farmed today. Visitors can explore ruins at Pisac and Ollantaytambo on the way through. Snow capped Andean peaks frame the valley on both sides.
Mountain
Mont Blanc
Majestic peaks echo timeless alpine serenity
Mont Blanc rises to 4808 metres, the tallest peak in the Alps. The Skyway Monte Bianco cable car climbs to 3466 metres on the Italian side. Riders reach a rotating glass platform with views towards the summit and Matterhorn beyond. A steep descent leads to the historic Torino mountain hut below.
Town in Switzerland
Zermatt
Alpine Magic and the Matterhorn
Zermatt sits directly below the Matterhorn's pyramid shaped summit. The peak's first ascent in 1865 ended with four climbers falling to their deaths on the descent. Visitors can ride the Gornergrat railway for a wide view of the mountain. The village itself stays free of gas powered cars, relying on electric taxis instead.
Valley in Austria
Ötztal
Majestic alpine valley with crystal lakes
A James Bond museum called 007 Elements is built into the rock of Gaislachkogl mountain. The installation sits at 3048 metres above the ski town of Solden. Visitors ride a cable car up, then walk through tunnels cut into the peak. Scenes from the 2015 film Spectre were shot on the surrounding glaciers.
National Park in Venezuela
Canaima National Park
Tepui Peaks and Angel Falls Wonder
Auyan tepui, a sheer sandstone plateau, rises above Canaima National Park. Angel Falls drops off its edge as the world's tallest waterfall. Visitors reach the base by canoe along jungle rivers during the wet season. The flat topped tepuis here are some of the oldest rock formations on Earth.
Town in New Zealand
Franz Josef
Gateway to the Majestic Glaciers
Franz Josef Glacier descends from the Southern Alps towards sea level. It is one of the steepest and fastest moving glaciers outside polar regions. Visitors can take a helicopter to walk on the ice above the valley. Its Maori name translates as the tears of the avalanche girl.
City in Nepal
Pokhara
Lakeside Calm, Himalayan Adventure Gateway
Machapuchare, the Fishtail Mountain, reflects in Pokhara's Phewa Lake on clear mornings. Nepal has kept the peak officially off limits to climbers since a 1957 expedition stopped short. Visitors hike up to Sarangkot before dawn for sunrise views of the Annapurna range. Paragliders launch from the same ridge later in the day.
City in Austria
Innsbruck
Alpine Peaks and Imperial Streets
The Nordkette range rises straight up from Innsbruck's old town. A cable car climbs from the city centre to over 2300 metres in minutes. Riders reach a ridge with views back down over the Inn valley. Innsbruck hosted the Winter Olympics twice, in 1964 and 1976.
Nature Reserve in South Africa
Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park
Barrier of spears touching sky
A five kilometre basalt wall called the Amphitheatre rises above the Drakensberg foothills. Tugela Falls drops from its edge as one of the world's tallest waterfalls. Hikers can reach the top via chain ladders bolted into the rock face. San rock art thousands of years old survives in caves lower on the range.
National Park in Chile
Torres del Paine National Park
Epic Landscapes and Untamed Wilderness
Three granite towers rise together at the heart of Torres del Paine National Park. They formed from a single slow cooling intrusion of granite beneath older rock. Hikers on the W trek reach a lake at the towers' base after a steep climb. Patagonian winds here can knock hikers off balance without warning.
City in Italy
Bolzano
Where Alpine peaks meet Italian soul
Hikers discovered Otzi the Iceman's frozen body in the nearby Otztal Alps in 1991. The 5300 year old mummy is now displayed in Bolzano's South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology. Visitors can view his tools and clothing alongside the preserved body. The jagged Dolomite peaks that surround the city are visible from the museum steps.
National Park in United States
Glacier National Park
Crown of the Continent
Glacier National Park held roughly 150 glaciers back in 1850. Fewer than 25 remain today as the ice keeps retreating each summer. Going to the Sun Road climbs over Logan Pass at nearly 2025 metres. Mountain goats are often spotted right along the pass's parking area.
Town in China
Yangshuo
Serene karst landscapes echo ancient river tales
Karst peaks along the Li River near Yangshuo appear on China's 20 yuan banknote. Limestone towers rise straight out of rice paddies and river bends here. Visitors can drift past them on bamboo rafts or rent bikes along the riverside paths. Climbers have bolted routes into the surrounding limestone cliffs since the 1990s.
Mountain
Mount Everest
World's highest peak, ultimate challenge
Mount Everest rises to 8849 metres, the tallest mountain above sea level on Earth. Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reached its summit in 1953. Trekkers without climbing gear can still hike to Everest Base Camp at 5364 metres. The route passes through Sherpa villages like Namche Bazaar along the way.
Country
Kyrgyzstan
Untouched mountain wilderness awaits explorers
Khan Tengri's marble peak glows pink at sunset in Kyrgyzstan's Tian Shan range. The mountain rises to 7010 metres and forms an almost perfect pyramid shape. Climbers fly in by helicopter to reach a base camp on Inylchek Glacier. Nearby Issyk Kul, one of the world's largest alpine lakes, sits below the range.
City in China
Zhangjiajie
Avatar's Floating Mountains Come Alive
The Bailong Elevator climbs 326 metres up a sheer cliff face at Zhangjiajie. It ranks among the tallest outdoor lifts anywhere in the world. Riders reach a viewing platform among the park's thin sandstone pillars in under two minutes. A glass bridge nearby stretches across a canyon between two of the peaks.
Country
Venezuela
Land of diverse tropical landscapes
Mount Roraima rises as a sheer walled tepui where Venezuela, Brazil and Guyana meet. Its flat summit plateau reportedly inspired Arthur Conan Doyle's novel The Lost World. Hikers can reach the summit via a natural ramp on one side. Unique plants and frogs found only on this plateau still puzzle biologists.
Mountain in Russia
Mount Elbrus
Majestic peak where sky meets earth
Mount Elbrus rises to 5642 metres, the tallest peak in Europe. It counts as one of the Seven Summits, the tallest peak on each continent. Chairlifts carry climbers partway up, cutting out much of the lower approach. The dormant volcano last erupted roughly 1700 years ago.
Mountain in China
Mount Kailash
Majestic peaks echo ancient pilgrimage whispers
Mount Kailash has never been climbed out of respect for its sacred status. Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and Bon followers all consider the peak holy. Pilgrims walk a 52 kilometre kora trail around its base instead of the summit. Some complete the full circuit with prostrations, a walk that can take weeks.
Mountain in Bern
Schilthorn
Epic views in Bond country
Piz Gloria, the Schilthorn's summit restaurant, appeared in a 1969 James Bond film. The revolving dining room completes a full turn roughly every 45 minutes. Visitors ride a cable car up for views across the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau. A trail called the Thrill Walk lets hikers cross a glass floored platform lower down.
City in Bolivia
La Paz
Where Altitude Meets Adventure and Culture
La Paz sits at roughly 3640 metres, among the highest capital cities on Earth. Snow capped Illimani, rising to 6438 metres, is visible from many city streets. Cable cars now link La Paz with neighbouring El Alto across the mountainside. Climbers use La Paz as a base before attempting Illimani's glaciated summit.
Saddle in Bern
Jungfraujoch
Top of Europe Alpine Adventure
A cogwheel railway tunnels through the Eiger and Monch to reach Jungfraujoch. The station sits at 3454 metres, the highest railway stop in Europe. Visitors step out onto the Aletsch Glacier, the longest ice stream in the Alps. An ice palace carved into the glacier's base adds a stop on the way out.
National Park in Ethiopia
Simien National Park
Jagged peaks of ancient wilderness
Gelada baboons, found nowhere else on Earth, live along the cliffs of Simien Mountains National Park. Ras Dashen, Ethiopia's tallest peak, rises to 4550 metres within the same park. Trekkers walk multi day routes along a dramatic escarpment with sheer drops. Large troops often graze right beside the trail in full view of hikers.
Mountain in Tanzania
Mount Kilimanjaro
Africa's Roof, World's Highest Freestanding Volcano
Uhuru Peak, Kilimanjaro's summit, rises to 5895 metres as Africa's tallest point. Climbers can reach it on established routes like Machame without technical climbing gear. Trekkers pass through five distinct climate zones on the way up. Kilimanjaro's glaciers have shrunk sharply over the past century and keep retreating.
City in Argentina
Mendoza
Wine, Andes and Adventure Bliss
Aconcagua rises to 6961 metres, the tallest peak in the Americas, near Mendoza. Climbers can reach its summit without technical ropes, unusual for a peak this high. Most expeditions start from Mendoza before driving into Aconcagua Provincial Park. The city itself sits in a wine growing valley in the mountains' shadow.
Mountain in Peru
Vinicunca
Vibrant rainbow peaks illuminate Andean horizons
Vinicunca's mineral stripes stayed buried under snow and ice until around 2013. Melting ice slowly exposed the red, gold and green bands now visible today. Visitors can rent a horse partway up to ease the climb at high altitude. The trailhead sits above 4300 metres, so altitude sickness is a real risk here.
Mountain
K2
Majestic peak shrouded in misty clouds
K2 rises to 8611 metres, the second tallest mountain on Earth. Climbers nickname it the Savage Mountain for its high fatality rate relative to summits reached. Unlike Everest, K2 had no confirmed winter summit until a team reached the top in 2021. Most expeditions approach via Pakistan's Baltoro Glacier over roughly a week of trekking.
Mountain in Japan
Mount Fuji
Japan's highest peak and sacred volcano
Mount Fuji rises to 3776 metres as Japan's tallest peak. Its symmetrical volcanic cone has appeared in art for centuries, including Hokusai's prints. Climbers can hike through the night to reach the crater rim by sunrise. UNESCO listed the mountain as a World Heritage site in 2013.
Lake in Bern
Oeschinen Lake
Turquoise Jewel of the Bernese Alps
Oeschinensee sits in a bowl beneath the Bluemlisalp massif near Kandersteg. Glacial meltwater gives the lake its turquoise colour through the summer months. Visitors can rent rowboats or walk the shoreline trail beneath the peaks. A cable car from Kandersteg cuts out most of the climb up.
Mountain
Vinson Massif
Peak of the Southern Ice Kingdom
Vinson Massif rises to 4892 metres as Antarctica's tallest peak. Climbers reach base camp only by ski plane, landing on a runway carved into Union Glacier. Expeditions typically take two to three weeks given Antarctica's extreme weather delays. Fewer people have summited Vinson Massif than have ever reached the top of Mount Everest.
Mountain in Kunming
Mount Huashan
Echoing peaks where ancient spirits linger
A narrow plank walk bolted to Huashan's cliff face has no safety net below. Hikers clip onto a single chain and cross wooden boards over a sheer drop. The trail leads to a small temple perched on the mountain's south peak. Huashan ranks as one of China's Five Great Mountains, sacred to Taoism.
Archaeological Site in Peru
Machu Picchu
Lost Inca city among clouds
Machu Picchu sits on a ridge between two peaks, Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu mountain. Inca builders terraced the steep slopes to grow crops at high altitude. Visitors can climb Huayna Picchu's steep steps for a view down onto the ruins. Only a limited number of hikers are allowed up each day by permit.
Peak in United States
Half Dome
Iconic Granite Challenge Peak
Steel cables bolted into Half Dome's granite let hikers pull themselves up the final slope. The climb gains nearly 1443 metres from the valley floor to the summit. Hikers reach a flat granite top with sweeping views of Yosemite Valley below. Permits are required each season because the cable route draws such large crowds.
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