Often named one of the most spectacular hikes in the world, the Tour du Mont Blanc is on many a bucket list, and for good reason. The TMB circles the Mont Blanc massif, crowned by the highest peak in Western Europe at about 4,800 m (15,750 ft), on a 170 km (106-mile) loop through France, Italy and Switzerland, with jaw-dropping views valley after valley.

Its paths are centuries old, first worn by shepherds moving their cattle from one valley to the next. The walk took off after Mont Blanc was first climbed in 1786, when mountaineering and tourism in the area grew quickly, and along the way you may still come face to face with chamois, deer and marmots.

It is certainly not a walk in the park: the trail climbs and descends around 10,000 m (32,800 ft) in total, and most walkers take about 11 days. But the snow-capped peaks, rocky mountain passes and green pastures make every step of it worth it.