Ama Dablam is a Himalayan mountain in the Solu Khumbu region of Nepal. The name means “Mother’s Necklace” in Nepali, derives its name from its prominent ridges resembling a mother’s arms and the hanging glacier that is reminiscent of a traditional pendant worn by Sherpa women. This mountain, in the heart of the Khumbu Valley, is the Himalaya’s most photographed peak.

Our final destination is the ethereal peak known as “The Spectre,” situated in the icy wilderness of Antarctica. While not dominating in height, this striking rock pinnacle is surrounded by a seemingly endless expanse of snow and ice. It’s a destination only accessible to the most intrepid explorers, making it the world’s most remote mountain as well.

The summit’s just there,” yells my guide, pointing over the spindly grasses clinging to the steep side of Pasochoa Volcano. I look out over the perfect pyramids of ice and stone that encircle us like the rings of a planet and silently plead with my heart to slow its beat, with my lungs to breathe more deeply.

My eyes brim with tears as my partner wraps his arms around me. “You’re a trooper,” he whispers. “And troopers don’t cry.”

“I’m not crying,” I pant into the gales of sharp, howling wind. “We’re 13,000 feet above sea level. It’s just the altitude, I swear.” I’m only half lying.

The four-day lodge-to-lodge trek through Ecuador’s Avenue of the Volcanoes was my idea. We’d hike by day and cozy up to the fireplace at night in a dreamy checkerboard of adventure and relaxation. The trail itself didn’t concern me. We’d done longer trails before; we’d even done them carrying all of our gear. It was the thought of the Andean altitude that turned my blood cold.

The weather in Ecuador varies greatly by region, while the temperature remains pretty consistent throughout the year. December through to May is the best time to visit if you plan on lying on the beach, despite it being the rainy season, whereas visiting the Amazon during this period is not ideal as it is often too wet, forcing trails to close. If you're planning a trip to the Galapagos Islands then please click here for our dedicated Galapagos page.

Whenever I ask someone who has been to Ecuador how long they spent in the country, their answers always go something like this, “I was there for three months, but I had initially planned to only stay a week.

Blending lush tropical rainforests and snow-capped mountains, Ecuador is a fantastically diverse and vibrant country located along the Equator in the northwestern part of South America. The country is home to 1,289 named mountains, the highest and most prominent of which is Chimborazo (6,268m/20,564ft).

Mount Chimborazo is Actually the Highest Point on Earth | Condé ...

The eighth-highest mountain in the world is Manaslu, at 26,781 feet. Manaslu is part of the Nepalese Himalayas, and its name translates to mountain of the spirit. The peak was first summited by a group of Japanese explorers in 1956, led by Toshio Imanishi and Gyalzen Norbu. Some consider climbing Manaslu to be more difficult than Everest, as the climb from Camp I to Camp IV is extremely challenging. Climbers may also encounter yaks along their journey.

Coming in just below Cho Oyu at 26,795 feet, Dhaulagiri is number seven on the list of tallest mountains in the world. Dhaulagiri is entirely located within Nepal, making it the tallest peak with its borders within one country. Its name is derived from Sanskrit, meaning dazzling, white, beautiful mountain. Dhaulagiri certainly lives up to its name, with the nearby town of Pokhara being a destination for tourists, photographers, scientists, and mountain climbers.

The sixth-highest mountain in the world is Cho Oyu, standing at 26,864 feet. Its name means turquoise goddess in Tibetan. Surprisingly, this mountain is one of the easiest major peaks to climb. This is because of the mountain’s proximity to a popular trading route for Tibetans and Sherpas, called Nangpa La. With the mountain’s generally moderate slopes, the relatively straightforward ascent of Cho Oyu makes it a popular goalpost for those looking to climb more challenging mountains like Everest one day.