So, you want to hike mountains, but aren’t a professional mountaineer, eh?

What if we were to tell you that’s totally ok?

If you have the right shoes, the appropriate clothes, the correct amount of sustenance for energy, water, stamina, and respect for the mountain, you don’t need to be an expert to conquer some serious elevation gains.

Yeah, it’s true. You don’t have to be all technical to access some of the most amazing views on this planet, and we’ve compiled a list of the five most amazing summits in the world for non-experts:

1. Pikes Peak in Colorado, United States of America

Pikes Peak is visited by over half a million people a year and is arguably “America’s most famous mountain.” Located just fifteen miles from Colorado Springs and coming in at 14,115 feet at the summit, Pikes Peak has two main trails: Barr Trail and Crags Trail. Both trails are out-and-back hikes and can take the average hiker six to eight hours to complete.

2. Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa

Mount Kilimanjaro is the “Roof of Africa” at 19,341 feet and is one of the Seven Summits non-experts can definitely tackle with a little training. There are seven different trails to the summit, and climbers are required to hire a guide or join a larger expedition group.

Acclimation at elevation is the beast hikers will deal with on Mount Kilimanjaro, and the routes vary from five to eight days.

3. Ben Nevis in Scotland, United Kingdom

Fancy a little hiking between Scotch drinks?

Ben Nevis brings in over 125,000 hikers a year and is located just outside the Highland city of Fort William. With a summit at 4,413 feet, the main day hike trail for non-experts is The Mountain Track (AKA The Pony Track).

Hikers can make it up and down in seven to nine hours and be back at the pub before dinner.

4. Mount Fuji in Japan, Asia.

Mount Fuji is the tallest mountain in Japan, one of Japan’s “sacred peaks,” and is hiked by more than 300,000 people each year.

Due to snow, the best time to hike is July through September, and hikers have their choice of four different summit trails. Even though there are huts for overnight stays, hikers can make it up and back in between five and ten hours.

5. Tofana di Rozes in Italy, Europe

Tofana di Rozes is located in the Dolomites mountain range in northern Italy. Even though it’s only a 3,600-foot elevation gain and takes around six hours to complete, Tofana di Rozes is a great hike for those wanting a little more rock climbing experience.

While no technical gear is needed, hikers making their way to the summit will use iron ladders, rungs, and cables along the way.

A Lot More Than Just 5

This list is totally just the surface level of the amazing summit hikes that are out there.

Remember this is a big, wide world we live in, so regardless of where you’re located, a solid summit hike is probably pretty close. In Colorado alone, for example, there are 58 summits at 14,000 ft or more for you to choose from, and we bet that views once you reach the top, are all going to be amazing.

Note: We feel it’s necessary to put a little caveat here about the strenuous exercise that is tackling a summit. 

Completing a summit hike is no easy feat, whether you are a beginner or more advanced. It’s always recommended to do your research, to NOT push yourself out of your comfort zone, and to listen to your body. Safety is key to any outdoor activity because the goal is to keep enjoying all the beautiful views.