TAKE A HIKE

A hearty walk in the wilderness is a wonderful way to escape from the world of work for a few days, especially when there’s someone to carry your pack. LUKE WRIGHT brings us the region’s top multi-day luxury treks


Taking a breather along the three-day Routeburn track in Queenstown, New Zealand

Life is simple on the hiking trail. Walking, eating and sleeping are the only real concerns. It’s a fantastic escape: no noise, no rush and nothing but good air to recharge the batteries. But for some, the words “trek” and “holiday” don’t gel. While the notion of a big hike can be quite appealing, for many the reality – pitching tents, cooking noodles in the dark and attempting to sleep on solid earth – can sound too much like work. So is it possible to embark on a multi-day walk, enjoy some creature comforts along the way and finish up feeling like it’s been more holiday than chore? It is indeed. Rough and rugged, 30kg-backpack-lugging, do-it-yourself trekking is a thing of the past. These days, think gourmet food, private lodgings and hot showers. Think indulgence. Trekking operators can cater to every whim, and a walker will be left with nothing to do but… well, walk. Purists might argue that being pampered defeats the purpose – just give them a wave and raise your glass as they trudge past. Boutique trekking is terrific.

1 Routeburn Track, Queenstown, New Zealand (three days)

Imagine this: you’re hiking on one of the world’s best trails, in one of the world’s most stunning countries. At the end of the day you are fed some of the world’s best salmon and drink world-class Marlborough-region sauvignon blanc. Then, when you’re suitably sated, you tuck yourself into bed in a luxury lodge. Sound like a pleasant tramp? Then the Routeburn Track at the base of New Zealand’s Southern Alps is for you. On this three-day circuit, you’ll traverse World Heritage-listed national parks with spectacular vistas, waterfalls, forests, lakes, rivers and towering peaks. Ultimate Hikes go all out to ensure that your trek is all about you. They want your shower to be hot, your food – from pancakes to porridge to pumpkin soup – to be gourmet and your sleep to be satisfying. This Queenstown-to-Queenstown trail is an absolute pleasure.

Cost: From NZ$1,050
Contact: www.ultimatehikes.co.nz
Sleep:
Mercure Grand St Moritz captures the spirit of its alpine surroundings with stylish
interiors reminiscent of its European namesake. From NZ$163.
10 Brunswick Street, Queenstown, tel: +64 (3) 442 4990, www.stmoritz.co.nz
Sofitel Queenstown Hotel & Spa provides luxury lodging in the heart of Queenstown. From NZ$315.
8 Duke Street, Queenstown, tel: + 64 (3) 450 0045, www.sofitelqueenstown.com
Eat: At The Bunker, it’s difficult to decide between lamb, venison, scampi, duck or quail.
Cow Lane, Queenstown, tel: +64 (3) 441 8030, www.thebunker.co.nz
Getting There: Queenstown International Airport is well served by major airlines.

PHOTOS: CHRIS BUYKX and ANDREW THOMASSON

2 Larapinta Trail, Alice Springs, Australia (three days)

Trekking through the unforgiving Australian outback might not be your idea of luxury, but World Expeditions’ three-day taste test of the legendary Larapinta Trail in Australia’s Northern Territory is a lovely and lavish affair, and a hike you shouldn’t miss. When you walk the Larapinta Experience you tackle the remote and rugged red earth of Australia’s spectacular desert centre, but your guides make sure you have none of the normal desert deficits. Your days are spent meandering though gaps and gorges, rocky outcrops and ridgelines, across a vast expanse of ancient land that continues as far as you can see. Your nights are spent in comfortable four-wheel-drive-supported camps where the bustling bush kitchen is set up to serve gourmet bush tucker and to keep you hydrated with cool water and fine Australian wine. You can’t help but feel incredible, sitting well off the beaten path, beneath a star-filled sky, next to a roaring campfire, enjoying all the comforts of home.

Cost: AU$895
Contact: www.worldexpeditions.com.au
Sleep:
Crowne Plaza Hotel offers resort-style facilities for leisure travellers and conferences. From A$175.
82 Barrett Drive, Alice Springs, tel: +61 (8) 8950 8000, www.crowneplaza.com.au
Lasseters Hotel & Casino is an international-standard hotel and casino, and is the centre of entertainment in Alice Springs. From A$115.93
Barrett Drive, Alice Springs, tel: +61 (8) 8950 7777, www.lhc.com.au
Eat: The oysters are a must-try at Hanuman; expect vivid tastes of lemongrass, sweet basil, ginger, chilli and coriander.
Crowne Plaza, 82 Barrett Drive, tel: +61 (8) 8953 7188, www.hanuman.com.au
Getting there: Fly to Alice Springs with Qantas, Jetstar and Tiger Airways. The airport is just 15 minutes from town.

PHOTOS: CHRIS BUYKX and ANDREW THOMASSON

3 Daisetsu-Zan National Park, Japan (three days)

You’d be forgiven for thinking a hike in the mountains with a man known as the “Hokkaido Bush Pig” sounds like a less than comfortable experience. But you’d be wrong. Leon Roode, a New Zealander with more than 10 years guiding experience in Daisetsu-zan, a magnificent national park on Japan’s northernmost island Hokkaido, is a great guide with a lot of pride for his adopted home. Your trek with Roode is equal parts exploration and relaxation. Winding your way through some of Japan’s finest countryside – snow-crested mountains, alpine valleys, natural hot springs (onsen), wonderful wildlife – your days walking are interspersed with simple pleasures. Have an occasional glass of sake, feast on homemade traditional Japanese food, soak in an onsen and look forward each night to a well-earned sleep in a traditional style room (tatami mat included) at the Lodge Nutapukaushibe. While you hike in the wilderness, surrounded by Hokkaido’s awesome natural splendour, you can be sure that kicking back in comfort is only a short walk away.

Cost: Y65,000
Contact: www.japan-adventures.com
Sleep:
Yukomanso – Hotel and Restaurant is a hot-spring hotel with a long history that offers both Japanese-and Western-style rooms. From Y12,500 (half-board).
Yukomambetsu Asahidake Onsen, Higashikawa-cho, Kamikawa-gun, tel: +81 (1) 6697 2101
Grand Hotel Taisetsu is a bright and relaxing hotel in the lower part of the village. From Y6,300 (half-board).
Yukomambetsu Asahidake Onsen, Higashikawa-cho, Kamikawa-gun, tel: +81 (1) 6697 2101, www.asahidake.com (in Japanese only)
Getting there: The nearest airport is in Asahikawa, which is 1.5 hours away.

4 The Druk Path Trek, Bhutan (six days)

“I am not as much concerned about the Gross National Product, as I am the Gross National Happiness.” This quote from former Bhutan King, Jigme Singye Wangchuck says it all about Bhutan – a remote kingdom that lies amid the peaks of the Himalayas. You’ll find just being in Bhutan is a terrific treat, and walking in the midst of its magical mountains brings you a step closer to bliss. With local guides, walk through thick alpine forests full of rhododendrons and wildflowers, pass weird and wild animals (if you’re lucky, a Tibetan wolf), and gaze in wonder at the white tops of the Himalayas. Fortress monasteries and gold-roofed temples dot the landscape here, as do robed llamas and yak herders. This serene setting is all the more enjoyable with your eager-to-please guides catering to your every urge. You’ll eat traditional dumplings called momos, fresh trout caught from the river and a diversity of delicious local dishes. When you wake from your comfy tent each morning, drink tea brewed straight from the mountain stream. It is divine.

Cost: US$2,895
Contact: www.boundlessjourneys.com
Sleep:
At Amankora, simplicity meets a warm ambience in this heavenly hotel. From US$1,150.
Paro, tel: +975 233 1333, www.amanresorts.com
Hotel Zhiwa Ling is a Bhutanese owned and operated luxury hotel. From US$315.
Satsam Chorten, tel: +975 827 1277, www.zhiwaling.com
Eat: Lingka Restaurant is Hotel Zhiwa Ling’s adjoining eatery. Try the famous ema datshe, a cheese and chilli curry served with red rice.
Getting there: Bhutan’s national airline, Druk Air, ?ies to Paro from Bangkok, Calcutta, Delhi and Kathmandu.

PHOTOS: BERTHOLD TRENKEL

5 Sapa, Vietnam (four days)

If you’re looking to combine comfort with culture and not a great deal of walking, then you’ll find that the “Between Luxury & Authenticity” trek in Vietnam’s northern highlands is hard to beat. The Victoria Sapa Resort (pictured right), set high in the Hoang Lien Mountains, has a nifty package deal that’s just right if you want a nice slice of Vietnam’s mountain culture merged with ample doses of lounging about and eating. On this hike, in the shadow of the highland peaks close to the Chinese border, you tramp across terraced rice paddies, through forests and fields filled with buffalo and smiling kids, and feel like you’re getting a postcard-perfect snapshot of highland life. Your journey will also take you to visit ethnic minority tribes, such as the Red Hmong and the Red Dao, kitted out in their colourful garb. This all-inclusive package ensures you’re well fed with buffet breakfasts and world-renowned Vietnamese cuisine around the clock. Two nights at the award-winning Victoria Sapa Resort are also included, as well as a two-night, “live-like-a-local” (hardly!) homestay with a family and first-class train tickets from Hanoi.

Cost: From US$581
Contact: www.victoriahotels-asia.com
Sleep:
Victoria Sapa Resort. Two nights with meals included – extra nights from US$126.
Sapa District, Lao Cai Province, tel: +84 (20) 871 522
Eat: Be sure to try the banh tet (sweet rice cooked in banana leaf) and the rice wine (known as “happy water”).

What to bring

Seek advice from tour guides and locals. Find out what your tour does and doesn’t include. Research the weather and prepare for its extremes – wet, hot and cold.

• Boots: well-worn, sturdy and comfortable boots are a must
• Backpack: make sure you have a tried and tested one
• Clothing: lightweight and quick-drying
• Hat, UV-proof sunglasses, sunscreen
• First-aid kit
• Flash light
• Camera
• Entertainment: bring a lightweight book or a pack of cards

Fitness: A moderate degree of fitness is required for any multi-day hike. Training for a trek with two or three one-day hikes is a good idea. Once again, get advice, speak to the tour operators and know what to prepare for. If you have a medical condition, contact your doctor prior to leaving.

Altitude: High-altitude trekking can be very dangerous and extreme caution must be taken. If you’re attempting a trek of more than 3,000 metres, you’re at risk. Be sure to take your time to acclimatise and keep hydrated. If you get headaches, loss of appetite, dizziness or difficulty breathing, heading down to a lower altitude is the best cure.

PHOTO: ISTOCK