The world's greatest adventure challenges – 5 highest adventures to try

Looking for your next big outdoor challenge? This blog series explores the world's toughest and most exciting adventures, and we're starting at the top – literally. From tall mountains to steep staircases, these high-altitude challenges will take your adventurous spirit to new heights.

Whether you're a seasoned adventurer or just dreaming about your next challenge, read on to get inspired by five of the world's tallest adventures that will test your limits.

Our pick of the world's most epic high-altitude adventures

1. Everest Base Camp Trek – Nepal

2. Inca Trail to Machu Picchu – Peru

3. The Stairway to Heaven (Sky Ladder) – Austrian Alps

4. Mount Kilimanjaro – Tanzania

5. CN Tower EdgeWalk – Canada

Everest Base Camp Trek – Nepal

What is it? The trek to the foot of the world's highest mountain, but “trek” undersells it – Everest Base Camp is at 5,364m.

Where? The Khumbu region of Nepal.

What it involves: A 12-14 day round-trip trek through Sherpa villages, tough valleys and glacial moraines. The trek isn’t especially technical, but the altitude makes it a challenge not to be underestimated.

Highlights: Seeing the sun rise over a panorama of Himalayan giants including Everest, Lhotse and Nuptse.

Risks: Altitude sickness is the biggest challenge (and hard to train for). Low temperatures, basic accommodation, and challenging terrain add to the difficulty.

Who should do it? Anyone with a good level of fitness who dreams of seeing Everest up close. You don't need mountaineering skills, but should be comfortable walking 4-7 hours a day for two weeks.

How to train: Build endurance with regular hill walking carrying a weighted rucksack. Focus on leg strength and cardio fitness. If possible, do some hiking at altitude to understand how your body responds.

Inca Trail to Machu Picchu – Peru

What is it? The world’s highest major hiking trail, crossing three mountain passes with a 4,215m point at Dead Woman's Pass.

Where? The Sacred Valley near Cusco, Peru.

What it involves: A 4-day, 43km trek along Incan paths via thousands of stone steps through cloud forests and high mountain passes.

Highlights: Sunrise over Machu Picchu, Incan ruins along the route.

Risks: Altitude sickness, steep drop offs on narrow trails, and potential heavy rainfall that will make the stone steps slippery.

Who should do it? Hikers with moderate experience who want to combine history and high-altitude adventure. The trek isn't technical but requires stamina.

How to train: Stair climbing! Add hill walking with a loaded rucksack with some longer back-to-back hiking days to simulate the multi-day challenge.

The Stairway to Heaven (Sky Ladder) – Austrian Alps

What is it? The world's most vertically exposed steel cable ladder, part of a longer via ferrata route.

Where? The Dachstein Mountains of Austria.

What it involves: Ascending over 43m on a near-vertical steel ladder over an abyss.

Highlights: Climbing a ladder into the sky with breathtaking views of the Austrian Alps below you.

Risks: Significant heights, potential weather changes, and the demands of maintaining focus on vertical terrain.

Who should do it? Those with via ferrata experience and a head for heights. If you get wobbly knees on a stepladder, take this one off the bucket list.

How to train: Build upper body and core strength with climbing-focused workouts. Practice via ferrata routes if possible, and work on your mental prep for heights.

Mount Kilimanjaro – Tanzania

What is it? The highest freestanding mountain in the world and Africa's highest peak at 5,895m.

Where? Northern Tanzania.

What it involves: A 5-8 day trek through five climate zones, from rainforest to freezing conditions at the summit.

Highlights: Standing on the "Roof of Africa" at Uhuru Peak, seeing the curved horizon at sunrise, and pushing through the infamous summit push at night.

Risks: Altitude sickness that can affect even the fittest climbers, -20°C temperatures at the summit, and a tough final ascent.

Who should do it? Anyone with mental grit and reasonable fitness – unlike other mountains of similar height, Kilimanjaro doesn’t need specific technical climbing skills.

How to train: Long hikes with a weighted rucksack, building up to 6-8 hours. Strengthening exercises for legs to help with the descent.

CN Tower EdgeWalk – Canada

What is it? The world's highest full-circle hands-free walk, 356m above Toronto.

Where? CN Tower, Toronto.

What it involves: Walking (attached to an overhead safety rail) on a 1.5m-wide ledge circling the top of one of the world's tallest structures.

Highlights: The adrenaline rush of leaning over the edge of the tower with nothing but air between you and the ground, with spectacular views of Toronto and Lake Ontario.

Risks: It’s extremely safe with many safety systems, but is still a big psychological challenge.

Who should do it? Thrill-seekers looking for an accessible but extreme height experience. No specific fitness needed – just guts!

How to train: This one's all mental, so practice mindset techniques to keep you calm and focused.

Who should try the world’s tallest adventures?

If you're drawn to the challenge of pushing yourself to new heights, these adventures should be on your bucket list. Be sure to do your research, plan and prepare, train properly, and respect the environments you'll be entering. Start building your endurance, cardio fitness, and leg strength now with regular rucking sessions carrying progressively heavier weights over longer distances.

Explore the rest of this blog series to get inspired by our pick of the world’s most extreme adventures!