Mountain hikes in 4K: the Alps, Dolomites, Patagonia & more

From the Alps to the Dolomites

Europe's mountains are made for walking. In Switzerland a dense network of marked trails, mountain railways and huts means you can cross whole ranges on foot and still sleep in a bed every night. The classic route between Chamonix and Zermatt links the two great mountaineering towns below Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn, while shorter ridge walks such as the one above Stoos look straight down onto Lake Lucerne.

Across the border in northern Italy, the Dolomites look completely different: pale limestone towers rising out of green pastures. The Tre Cime di Lavaredo, three giant rock pinnacles, are the best-known sight, and the high meadows of Seceda above Val Gardena end in a sharp ridge that drops away like a frozen wave. The range has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2009.

Patagonia, New Zealand and Japan

Further afield, Torres del Paine in Chilean Patagonia is known for its granite towers, glacial lakes and famously unpredictable wind. New Zealand's Milford Track crosses Fiordland through rainforest and over Mackinnon Pass, and is often called one of the finest walks in the world. In Japan, Kamikochi is a high valley in the Northern Alps where a riverside nature trail runs below snow-streaked peaks; it is closed to private cars, which keeps it unusually quiet.

In the United States, Mount Rainier in Washington rises above meadows that fill with wildflowers in summer, and Norway's coastal mountains combine summit views with fjords far below.

Watching tips

Most of these hikes are long, so they work well on a big screen or for a treadmill session; the climbs feel surprisingly real when you walk along with them. Pick a video below to start, and use the country links to explore the cities nearby.