trekking

I know it’s cliché to say that it’s more about the journey than the destination but this was the case for hiking the Inca Trail.

You can’t just arrive at Torres del Paine National Park in Chile’s Patagonian region and expect to hike; there are a few factors you’ll need to prepare for.

It will challenge you. It will change you. And it’s a trek you will never forget.

The boots of female hiking pioneers such as Cheryl Strayed are large ones to fill — and increasing numbers of women are taking up the challenge.

Being well prepared, with the right equipment, will give you the best chance of making it to the top of the world’s highest free-standing mountain.

Having a knowledgeable guide is a big help in understanding the site of the ancient ruins and the Inca civilisation. But now there’s another reason to get a guide on a trip to Machu Picchu.

And so, with boundless trepidation and many packs of blister plasters, 12 of us headed out of the city to tackle the highest peak in North Africa.

My first hike on the Inca Trail in Peru taught me a lot of things. But mostly, it was about the friendships I made and how beautiful Machu Picchu truly is.

A go-to guide to New Zealand’s most epic one-day hike.