Hiker's Haute Route, French/Swiss Alps (Recommended by Kimberly Coupounas, CEO, GoLite LLC)

Linking Zermatt, Switzerland, to Chamonix, France, via a precipitous and endlessly scenic path, the Hiker's Haute Route is an alpine adventure. Traveling through wilderness as well as villages in the Mont Blanc region, the 100+ mile trail is a civilized adventure, according to Coupounas. Quaint Swiss villages, inns and alpine huts offer all manner of gourmet meals, chocolate, bread, cheese and wine. "The joke is that all you need to hike in the Alps is a day pack and a credit card," Coupounas said. "We found that to be not far from the truth!"