A Step Above: A Gentleman’s Guide to the World’s Greatest Summer Trails
From the Tyrolean Alps to the Patagonian peaks, a curated exploration of high summer wanderings.
As the snow recedes and alpine valleys blush green once more, a new rhythm takes over the mountains—a slower, deliberate pace of exploration. Summer in the high country offers something uniquely poetic: golden light on ancient stone, crisp air swirling with the scent of pine and wildflower, and the pure satisfaction of progress made one step at a time.
For those drawn to the quiet majesty of vertical terrain, there are few things finer than a well-planned summer hike or climb—each trail a thread woven through centuries of culture, challenge, and communion with nature.
Here, we present a curated selection of the world’s most iconic and inspiring warm-weather routes: a gentleman’s guide to the great ascents and alpine paths that marry tradition with discovery.
The Haute Route | France to Switzerland
Chamonix to Zermatt | 180km | 12 days
From the shadow of Mont Blanc to the foot of the Matterhorn, the Haute Route is a storied pilgrimage of mountaineers. Originated in the 19th century by British climbers, the route links two of the most iconic alpine towns in the world. Summer reveals crystalline lakes, charming cabanes, and panoramic vistas previously hidden by snow.
It’s a trail that demands respect—and rewards it handsomely. Proper boots, tailored layers, and a well-packed satchel are not suggestions but necessities. Each pass crossed, each summit crested, feels like a quiet triumph whispered between peaks.
The Laugavegur Trail | Iceland
Landmannalaugar to Þórsmörk | 55km | 4–6 days
In a landscape more lunar than terrestrial, the Laugavegur Trail offers a strikingly different alpine experience. Volcanic deserts, obsidian fields, steaming rivers, and technicolor rhyolite mountains are your companions on this path through Iceland’s southern highlands.
Weather is fickle and the terrain surreal—but for the contemplative traveler, the silence here is profound. Pack woolen layers, waterproof shells, and an appreciation for Earth at its rawest. This is not just a trail; it is a walk through geological time.
The Snowman Trek | Bhutan
Laya to Lunana | 347km | 25+ days
Regarded by many as the most difficult high-altitude trek on Earth, Bhutan’s Snowman Trek is equal parts spiritual journey and athletic endeavor. Threading through remote Himalayan passes—some above 5,000 meters—it passes ancient monasteries, yak herders’ camps, and landscapes untouched by modernity.
This trail demands not only stamina, but humility. It’s a trek for those who seek more than scenery—for those in pursuit of solitude, sacredness, and self-reliance. Bhutan’s reverence for nature permeates every step.
The W Circuit | Chilean Patagonia
Torres del Paine National Park | 80km | 5–7 days
Summer arrives late in Patagonia, but when it does, it unveils a dramatic theatre of granite spires, turquoise lakes, and winds that test even the most seasoned outdoorsman. The W Circuit—so named for the shape of its trail—is the definitive way to experience this remote edge of the world.
Pack layers built to battle the elements and boots ready for mud, snow, and scree. There is no refinement here—only raw, unfiltered beauty. The park’s namesake towers, the Torres del Paine, offer a climax worth every rugged kilometer.
The John Muir Trail | California, USA
Yosemite to Mount Whitney | 340km | 18–25 days
A trail beloved by naturalists, writers, and statesmen alike, the JMT is a love letter to America’s Sierra Nevada. Traversing high passes, alpine meadows, and granite basins, it is both a physical challenge and a deeply personal journey.
Named for the Scottish-American preservationist, this trail invites quiet contemplation and steadfast endurance. In Muir’s words: “The mountains are calling and I must go.” He did. And so must we.
The Dolomites Alta Via 1 | Italy
Lago di Braies to Belluno | 120km | 10–12 days
The Alta Via 1 winds through the fairy-tale pinnacles of the Italian Dolomites—where the food is as exquisite as the views. Stone rifugi dot the landscape, offering weary climbers bowls of polenta, glasses of wine, and warm camaraderie.
This is where alpine elegance meets old-world charm. One can move deliberately and dine well, climb confidently and sleep in history. Few trails offer such a seamless blend of adventure and taste.
Summer offers a narrow window—but within it lies the richest of unique experiences to be found in every corner of the globe. Each of these trails tells a story—of geology and geography and of those alpinists who have walked them before us. Guides, explorers, cartographers, philosophers. The mountains remember them all.
