Best Mountains for Beginners

When it comes to travel and seeing the world, arguably nothing beats gazing down on the sheer beauty of the planet. One way to satisfy this wanderlust urge would be, of course, to win the lottery and travel up to space with Virgin Galactic, but an easier way to achieve the same thing is to take on the mountains of the world.

Choosing to hike up the likes of Mount Everest, K2 (feared so much that it is called the Savage Mountain), or even The Eiger are challenges usually reserved for seasoned, wealthy and well-prepared mountaineers who have the desire to take on the most dangerous mountains in the world. However, it is still possible for the Average Joe to travel like a lottery winner thanks to a number of easier mountains across the world being perfect for those with the desire to scratch their mountaineering itch.

Snowdonia might not be at the very top of the list when it comes to dream globetrotting (despite the charms of this beautiful part of the UK), but what it does boast is a mountain that is perfect for relative climbing and hiking beginners.

Granted, the summit is only 1,085 meters up, which isn't going to hugely impress your mountaineering friends, but the views from the summit are stunning. There are several routes up which range in difficulty, with those who suffer from vertigo advised to avoid The Snowdon Horseshoe, one of the trickier routes up. Most importantly, if you want to know if you are capable of taking on other mountains, you need to know that you can conquer Snowdon first and foremost!

Having been slightly looked down upon by Karl Pilkington, who climbed Mount Fuji and declared he wasn't that impressed by it (!), Japan's most famous mountain has probably further endeared itself to those looking for an enjoyable, achievable climb.

Within close proximity to Tokyo (and if you're feeling fit able to be climbed in one day) Fuji is best undertaken in July and August when mountain huts are available to help break up the climb and the weather tends to be favorable for those who want to see the stunning views from the summit, which is 3,776 meters up.

While Kilimanjaro is best known as the tallest mountain in Africa and also famous for its snow-capped peak, the actual history of how the mountain ended up belonging to Tanzania is a little less well-known. The ownership of the mountain may well still be disputed, but if you want to see Kilimanjaro at its best, you need to be in Kenya. However, if you want to reach the summit, you need to visit Tanzania.

Despite the fact this is seen as a relatively easy mountain to climb, it really isn't a walk in the park and shouldn't be taken lightly. Reaching the summit is, however, the kind of experience that is likely to inspire you to take on harder mountains.