Where to walk in December: 8 routes that are in season

December splits the world in two

December is a split month for walkers. In the northern hemisphere most high routes are under snow, the days are short and the weather is unreliable. South of the equator it is early summer, and a handful of the world’s best treks are at or near their best. A few places in between, deserts and the tropics, finally cool down enough to walk in comfort.

Below are eight routes on Waymark that list December among their best months. They range from a four-day trek to a 90-minute coastal stroll. Each one links to the full day-by-day guide. The complete list for the month is on Where to walk in December.

Patagonia: the big one

The W Trek, Torres del Paine (Chile)

Four days, 75 km, about 2,500 m of ascent, graded hard. The W links the three headline sights of Torres del Paine: the granite towers at dawn, the French Valley with glaciers peeling off Paine Grande, and the wall of Grey Glacier.

Why December: the best season is the Patagonian summer, roughly November to March, with long days.

What to know before you commit: park entry has to be booked online in advance, and every night needs a reserved bed or campsite at a refuge. In summer these sell out months ahead, so the whole chain of nights should be booked before you fly. The route stays below about 900 m, but daily distances of 15 to 22 km over rough ground make it genuinely hard, and the weather can bring wind, sun, rain and cold in the same day.

The W Trek, day by day

Laguna de los Tres, the Fitz Roy viewpoint (Argentina)

One long day, about 20 km out and back from El Chaltén, with roughly 1,100 m of ascent and a steep last climb of about 400 m to a glacial lagoon under Fitz Roy.

Why December: Waymark lists November to March as the season, with December to February the peak. Wind is possible all year.

What to know: allow 8 to 10 hours. The trailhead is at the north end of town, so no transport is needed once you are in El Chaltén. If the mountain is in cloud, the usual move is to walk to Laguna Torre instead and try again the next day. Free camping at Poincenot turns it into two days and gets you the sunrise.

El Chaltén and Torres del Paine are both in southern Patagonia, so if you are making the long trip for one of them, it is worth checking whether the other fits too.

Laguna de los Tres, step by step

New Zealand and South Africa: early summer

The Tongariro Alpine Crossing (New Zealand)

One day, 19.4 km, about 765 m of ascent, graded hard. It crosses an active volcanic landscape past the Red Crater, the highest point at 1,886 m, and the Emerald Lakes.

Why December: it is best walked November to April, when the track is snow-free. Outside summer it becomes a mountaineering trip that needs an ice axe, crampons and experience.

What to know: it is a one-way walk, almost always south to north, so nearly everyone uses a shuttle. There is no reliable water and no shelter on the exposed middle section. Check the volcanic alert level and the mountain forecast before you start.

Tongariro Alpine Crossing guide

Table Mountain via Platteklip Gorge (South Africa)

About 5 km and 780 m of ascent straight up the cleft in the cliffs above Cape Town, graded hard because it is steep and relentless rather than technical.

Why December: the season is Cape Town’s summer and autumn, November to April.

What to know: the gorge faces the sun, so in summer the heat is the main hazard. Start early and carry plenty of water. Many walkers take the cable car down, but it closes in high wind and for maintenance, so check it is running before you rely on it. If the “tablecloth” cloud starts pouring over the top, turn back.

Platteklip Gorge route

An easy one in Australia

Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk (Sydney)

About 6 km and an hour and a half of walking, graded easy. It links Bondi, Tamarama, Bronte, Clovelly and Coogee along the cliffs, past ocean pools.

Why December: it is good all year, and best in the warmer months, September to April.

What to know: it is free and open at all hours. There is very little shade, so bring a hat and water. Every beach has toilets and drinking fountains, which makes it easy to cut short. If you would rather finish at Bondi’s cafes, walk it from Coogee northward.

Bondi to Coogee, section by section

Cooler months in the tropics and the desert

Angkor Small Circuit (Cambodia)

A day of about 17 km around the temples, usually with a tuk-tuk driver for the day or a rented bicycle: sunrise at Angkor Wat, the faces of the Bayon, and Ta Prohm.

Why December: the cool, dry season runs roughly November to April, and November to February are the coolest months.

What to know: everyone needs an Angkor Pass, bought at the official ticket centre, not at the temples. Shoulders and knees need to be covered for the upper level of Angkor Wat. A sunrise start means a pickup around 4:45 am.

Angkor Small Circuit guide

Makhtesh Ramon, rim to crater floor (Israel)

One to two days and about 18 km in a large erosion crater in the Negev: the rim at Mitzpe Ramon, the prism-shaped rocks of the Carpentry, the coloured sands of the Ardon valley and the spring at Ein Saharonim.

Why December: the season is October to April. In summer the heat on the crater floor is dangerous.

What to know: no permit is needed for the marked trails. Carry at least 5 litres of water per person per day, because there is nowhere to refill. Some areas border army firing zones and only open at certain times, so check before you pick a route. Being inside the reserve after dark, outside a marked campground, can bring a fine.

Makhtesh Ramon, day by day

Agamon Hula: the cranes of the Hula Valley (Israel)

A flat 8.5 km circuit around the restored lake in the Upper Galilee, graded easy.

Why December: from November to March tens of thousands of common cranes winter on the lake. They start thinning out from late February.

What to know: entry is ticketed. You can walk the loop, rent a bike or a golf cart, or take the tractor-drawn wagon. Dawn and dusk are when the flocks lift off and come back in. It is cold, wet and open in winter, so dress for standing still in the wind, and bring binoculars.

Agamon Hula circuit

Picking one

• You want a multi-day trek and can book far ahead: the W Trek.
• You want one big mountain day: Fitz Roy, Tongariro or Table Mountain. All three are graded hard, and all three depend on the weather on the day.
• You are travelling with people who do not hike much: Bondi to Coogee or the Hula Valley loop.
• You want culture with your walking: Angkor.
• You want desert in comfortable temperatures: Makhtesh Ramon.

Every route page has a day-by-day breakdown, a packing list and a “Plan with AI” button that builds an itinerary from the stages. Practical advice for each route is collected on Tips, and if you want to build your own trip around these, start from Plan.