Ryder-Walker’s Most Challenging Treks
Why not start training for one of Ryder-Walker’s more vigorous treks! Your efforts will be rewarded with an adventure of a lifetime. Follow the rugged cairn-marked trails across Iceland’s moonscape or climbing to the heights of the largest mountain passes in the Alps. There is something uniquely special about hiking hard to find yourself in the most remote and beautiful locations on earth. In this post, we will discuss Ryder-Walker’s most challenging treks, why they should be your new hiking goals, and how to prepare for them.
Norway and Iceland – Hiking off the Beaten Path
Norway: The Islands of Lofoten and Iceland: The Remote Westfjords are both challenging in a particularly unique way. In these subarctic climates, the ground is often too pliable to support traditional trails so you will hike across boggy moss and sweeping rock outcroppings. The route follows trails marked by stone pillars or cairns, over ground that looks otherwise untraveled.
The reward for this style of hiking is that it truly feels as though you are traveling in places that humans have never traveled before. In Norway, the trails often lead you through the craggy fjords to secluded arctic beaches, where all sorts of interesting sea life frolic, such as puffins and walruses. In Iceland, you get to hike across the Hornstrandir, a peninsula that is only accessible by boat and will probably never have a road of any kind constructed either to or across it!
To prepare for this unique and challenging style of hiking, we recommend that you step outside of your comfort zone. As long as you don’t get lost, take a walk off the trail in the woods. Let yourself get used to covering uneven and varied terrain. You will find that it takes much more work to cover ground when you don’t have the assistance of a trail. If that’s not possible in your area, focus on your endurance at the gym. Building up the strength of your lungs and legs makes hiking across these Nordic moonscapes an approachable goal!
Eiger Trail and Matterhorn Trek – Huge Ascents and Descents in the Alps
The Eiger Trail and the Matterhorn Trek are the two most challenging hikes we offer in the Swiss and Italian Alps. Both treks borrow their names from the world-famous mountains we hike under. These treks are particularly demanding because of their long ascents. On either trip, you can expect to hike for up to seven hours a day with ascents up to 5,000 feet. These days are demanding (but popular) and the rewards are huge.
On our Eiger Trail, in the Swiss Alps we ascend to the Hohturli, the highest pass on the Via Alpina. On this hike you also pass by the Oeschinensee, one of the most beautiful alpine lakes in the world. Oeschinensee is just beneath the glaciated summit of the Blumlisalp. We even get to look down on the Blumlisalp itself. Blumlisalp is a glaciated field of ice that sits just outside of the hut at the pass, where we stop for a hard-earned lunch. On the Matterhorn Trek we hike over the Turlo Pass in the Italian Alps to the village of Macugnaga. Macugnaga sits directly beneath the staggering 10,000-foot relief of the east face of the Monte Rosa!
To prepare for these adventures, we recommend that you focus on your stamina. Ryder-Walker’s most challenging treks do require training beforehand, so practice hiking uphill, whether outside or in the gym, and prepare yourself for the long ascents and descents. Getting ready to conquer these magnificent mountain passes should be your new fitness goal. You can achieve peak physical condition by running or hiking as regularly in the months before the trip.
A Few More Favorites – Our Honorable Mentions
Hiker’s Haute Route
This legendary trek connects Chamonix and Zermatt, linking two of Europe’s most iconic mountain towns. Expect a mix of rugged alpine passes, glacier views, and charming Swiss villages. The challenge comes from long days and steep ascents, but each effort is rewarded with some of the most dramatic vistas in the Alps. Preparing with consecutive long hikes at home will ensure your legs are ready for the climbs.
Scotland: Highlands and Islands
Wild, windswept, and full of character, Scotland’s Highlands and Islands offer a unique mix of coastal and mountain trekking. Here, the challenge lies in the elements—think variable weather, boggy trails, and the occasional stiff climb—but the payoff is huge: jagged sea cliffs, glistening lochs, and the feeling of true remoteness. Layered clothing, sturdy waterproof hiking boots, and a flexible spirit are your keys to success on this rewarding adventure.
Appenzell Hut Hop
Don’t let the pastoral charm of Switzerland’s Appenzell fool you—this hut-to-hut trek serves up steep climbs, airy ridges, and full alpine days. What makes it special is the blend of traditional Swiss culture, cozy alpine huts, and jaw-dropping scenery in a region often overlooked by international trekkers. Building stamina with back-to-back hiking days will help you fully enjoy the experience.
Haute Pyrénées Mountain Trek
Remote and rugged, the Haute Pyrénées offer a completely different kind of alpine adventure. You’ll navigate dramatic cirques, sparkling lakes, and hidden valleys. Trails can be rocky and isolated, so comfort with longer days and varied terrain is helpful. Training on uneven trails and carrying a daypack will get you ready for this wild corner of France.
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