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The top best hikes in the world

These famous hikes go through some of the most iconic and remote landscapes on earth, from mountains and canyons to coastlines and alpine regions. Let them be an inspiration for your next backpacking trip.

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Italy - hike - Alta Via 1

Alta Via 1 [Italy]

Move from alpine lakes to rocky passes, staying in rifugi and witnessing the region’s shifting light and dramatic geology.

Best time to go: June - September
Duration: 10 to 12 days
Distance: 150 kilometers

Nepal - hike - Annapurna Circuit

Annapurna Circuit [Nepal]

Traverse deep gorges, arid plateaus, and high passes, encountering a mix of cultures and scenery that shifts with every stage of the journey.

Best time to go: February - May, September - November
Duration: 12 to 21 days
Distance: 160 to 230 kilometers

Montenegro - hike - Balkan Trail

Balkan Trail [Albania and Montenegro]

Traverse a multi-day path linking mountain communities, passing through high pastures and experiencing the region’s changing landscapes and cultures.

Best time to go: April - June, September - October
Duration: 5 days
Distance: 75 kilometers

Spain - hike - Camino de Santiago

Camino de Santiago [Spain]

Follow centuries-old paths through varied countryside, passing through small towns and fields on a journey shaped by tradition and camaraderie.

Best time to go: April - July, September - October
Duration: 30 to 35 days
Distance: 780 kilometers

United Kingdom - hike - Cape Wrath Trail

Cape Wrath Trail [the UK]

Navigate untamed Scottish landscapes where navigation skills, solitude, and self-sufficiency are essential for crossing rugged, unmarked ground.

Best time to go: April - October
Duration: 10 to 14 days
Distance: 200 kilometers

Ireland - hike - Dingle Way

Dingle Way [Ireland]

Circle the Dingle Peninsula on foot, experiencing shifting seascapes, traditional culture, and the rhythm of rural life along the Atlantic edge.

Best time to go: April - October
Duration: 7 to 9 days
Distance: 179 kilometers

South Africa - hike - Drakensberg

Drakensberg [South Africa]

Climb two steel ladders onto the Amphitheatre plateau, then cross a shallow stream to the lip where Tugela Falls drops 948 meters.

Best time to go: March - May, October - November
Duration: 7 hours
Distance: 13 kilometers

Nepal - hike - Everest Base Camp Trek

Everest Base Camp Trek [Nepal]

Reach the foot of Everest by following a classic route through high-altitude villages, glacial valleys, and the heart of Sherpa country.

Best time to go: February - May, September - November
Duration: 12 to 14 days
Distance: 130 kilometers

Namibia - hike - Fish River Canyon

Fish River Canyon [Namibia]

Descend from the Hobas rim into a 550-meter-deep gorge, then wade and walk the riverbed for days before soaking in hot springs.

Best time to go: May - September
Duration: 5 days
Distance: 85 kilometers

France - hike - GR10

GR10 [France]

Traverse the full length of the French Pyrenees, moving between isolated valleys, shifting climates, and distinct mountain cultures from Atlantic to Mediterranean.

Best time to go: May - September
Duration: 40 to 50 days
Distance: 1,000 kilometers

France - hike - GR20

GR20 [France]

Tackle rugged ascents and exposed ridgelines across Corsica, where demanding trails reveal wild landscapes and a fiercely independent island identity.

Best time to go: June - September
Duration: 15 to 16 days
Distance: 180 kilometers

United States - hike - Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim

Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim [the USA]

Descend from one rim to the other through layered cliffs, a creek-fed oasis, and a punishing climb back out of the gorge.

Best time to go: March - June, September - November
Duration: 3 days
Distance: 38 kilometers

Nepal - hike - Great Himalaya Trail

Great Himalaya Trail [Nepal]

Undertake a demanding journey linking Nepal’s farthest corners, crossing isolated valleys and high passes through ever-changing terrain.

Best time to go: February - May, September - November
Duration: 150 to 160 days
Distance: 1,700 kilometers

Australia - hike - Great Ocean Walk

Great Ocean Walk [Australia]

Walk the Victorian coast from Apollo Bay to the limestone stacks, passing the 1848 lightstation, surf beaches and an Otways river camp.

Best time to go: September - May
Duration: 6 to 8 days
Distance: 104 kilometers

Vietnam - hike - Ha Giang Loop

Ha Giang Loop [Vietnam]

Ride or hike winding roads that cut through remote highlands, passing cliffside hamlets and valleys carved by centuries of subsistence farming.

Best time to go: March - May, September - November
Duration: 3 to 5 days
Distance: 350 kilometers

United States - hike - Haiku Stairs (Stairway to Heaven)

Haiku Stairs (Stairway to Heaven) [the USA]

Climb a steep, stair-stepped route along a narrow ridge, often shrouded in mist, with sweeping views over Oahu’s windward coast.

Best time to go: March - November
Duration: 2 to 4 hours
Distance: 3.5 kilometers

United States - hike - Half Dome

Half Dome [the USA]

Follow a waterfall staircase to Vernal and Nevada Falls, then haul up two cables on bare granite to a flat summit.

Best time to go: April - October
Duration: 12 hours
Distance: 26 kilometers

Switzerland - hike - Haute Route

Haute Route [Switzerland]

Cross high passes and ancient glaciers on a demanding trek linking Chamonix and Zermatt, relying on mountain refuges for overnight stays.

Best time to go: June - September
Duration: 12 to 14 days
Distance: 180 kilometers

New Zealand - hike - Hooker Valley Track

Hooker Valley Track [New Zealand]

Set off on foot from the village door along flat valley paths to glacier-fed lakes, with Aoraki filling the horizon ahead.

Best time to go: September - April
Duration: 4 hours
Distance: 10 kilometers

Peru - hike - Huayna Picchu

Huayna Picchu [Peru]

Scramble up steep granite steps and through a low tunnel to a summit where Machu Picchu lies far below, ringed by the river.

Best time to go: April - October
Duration: 3 hours
Distance: 3 kilometers

Peru - hike - Inca Trail

Inca Trail [Peru]

Follow original Inca stonework over two high passes through ruins and cloud forest, ending with a first look at Machu Picchu from above.

Best time to go: April - October
Duration: 4 days
Distance: 43 kilometers

United States - hike - John Muir Trail

John Muir Trail [the USA]

Walk about 211 miles of granite basins and glacial lakes from Yosemite Valley south to the highest summit in the lower 48.

Best time to go: June - September
Duration: 3 weeks
Distance: 340 kilometers

Jordan - hike - Jordan Trail

Jordan Trail [Jordan]

Traverse the length of the country on foot, linking remote valleys, mountain ridges, and small communities over weeks of continuous hiking.

Best time to go: March - May, September - November
Duration: 40 days
Distance: 650 kilometers

United States - hike - Kalalau Trail

Kalalau Trail [the USA]

Tackle 11 miles of ledges and slick boulders along Kauai’s north shore, passing waterfalls before the trail ends at a cliff-backed beach.

Best time to go: March - November
Duration: 3 days
Distance: 35 kilometers

New Zealand - hike - Kepler Track

Kepler Track [New Zealand]

Climb above the bushline to a hut-side ridge with lake and mountain views, then descend through beech forest to a calm shoreline.

Best time to go: September - May
Duration: 3 days
Distance: 60 kilometers

Australia - hike - Kings Canyon Rim Walk

Kings Canyon Rim Walk [Australia]

Climb the steps at first light, then follow the unfenced rim of the 100-meter red wall to a waterhole oasis and weathered sandstone domes.

Best time to go: March - November
Duration: 3 to 4 hours
Distance: 6 kilometers

Japan - hike - Kumano Kodo

Kumano Kodo [Japan]

Walk historic routes through dense woods and remote hamlets, encountering shrines and traditional inns along the way.

Best time to go: March - June, September - November
Duration: 5 to 10 days
Distance: 170 kilometers

Sweden - hike - Kungsleden

Kungsleden [Sweden]

Experience remote wilderness as you cross open fells and birch woods, passing through Sweden’s most dramatic mountain scenery north of the Arctic Circle.

Best time to go: June - September
Duration: 25 to 30 days
Distance: 440 kilometers

Laguna de los Tres [Argentina]

Grind up a scree-covered last kilometer to a lake directly under Fitz Roy, with dawn camping as the way to beat wind and crowds.

Best time to go: October - March
Duration: 1 day
Distance: 20 kilometers

Australia - hike - Larapinta Trail

Larapinta Trail [Australia]

Walk west from Alice Springs along red quartzite ridges and gorges with permanent waterholes, finishing with a sunrise climb of Mount Sonder.

Best time to go: April - October
Duration: 12 to 20 days
Distance: 223 kilometers

Peru - hike - Lares Trek

Lares Trek [Peru]

Link herding communities across passes above 4,500 meters, buy textiles from the weavers who make them, and finish near Ollantaytambo.

Best time to go: May - September
Duration: 4 days
Distance: 33 kilometers

Iceland - hike - Laugavegur Trail

Laugavegur Trail [Iceland]

Experience Iceland’s varied interior on a route linking wild landscapes, where each day brings new terrain and the challenge of self-sufficiency.

Best time to go: June - September
Duration: 4 to 6 days
Distance: 55 kilometers

Canada - hike - Long Range Traverse

Long Range Traverse [Canada]

Navigate by cairns and ponds across open tundra, wading streams and camping beside cliffs before looking down into Western Brook Pond’s dark fjord.

Best time to go: June - September
Duration: 3 to 4 days
Distance: 35 kilometers

Colombia - hike - Lost City Trek (Ciudad Perdida)

Lost City Trek (Ciudad Perdida) [Colombia]

Wade the Buritaca, sleep in riverside camps and finish on 1,200 mossy steps to circular stone terraces in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.

Best time to go: December - March
Duration: 5 days
Distance: 44 kilometers

Türkiye - hike - Lycian Way

Lycian Way [Türkiye]

Trace rugged headlands and mountain slopes, discovering remote beaches and archaeological sites scattered along turquoise shores.

Best time to go: March - June, September - November
Duration: 10 to 15 days
Distance: 540 kilometers

Matterhorn Circuit [Italy]

Encircle the Matterhorn on a demanding route, crossing into Switzerland and Italy while navigating high passes and glacial valleys.

Best time to go: June - September
Duration: 5 to 6 days
Distance: 150 kilometers

New Zealand - hike - Milford Track

Milford Track [New Zealand]

Follow glaciated valleys to a high pass and a 580 meter waterfall, finishing at Milford Sound with Mitre Peak ahead.

Best time to go: October - April
Duration: 4 days
Distance: 53.5 kilometers

Japan - hike - Mount Fuji

Mount Fuji [Japan]

Climb through barren slopes and mountain huts, timing your push for sunrise and contending with altitude and unpredictable weather.

Best time to go: June - September
Duration: 5 to 10 hours
Distance: 14 to 20 kilometers

Tanzania - hike - Mount Kilimanjaro

Mount Kilimanjaro [Tanzania]

Trek from rainforest through moorland and alpine desert to a midnight scree push, reaching the crater rim as light hits the glaciers.

Best time to go: June - March
Duration: 7 days
Distance: 70 kilometers

Morocco - hike - Mount Toubkal

Mount Toubkal [Morocco]

Climb from Imlil through terraced fields to a 3,200 meter refuge, then push up loose scree to a metal tripod at 4,167 meters.

Best time to go: March - June, September - November
Duration: 2 days
Distance: 22 kilometers

United States - hike - Muliwai Trail

Muliwai Trail [the USA]

Climb out of Waipi’o Valley through dense rainforest, then cross wild plateaus before descending to a secluded bay on Hawaii Island.

Best time to go: March, May - November
Duration: 2 to 3 days
Distance: 18 kilometers

Australia - hike - Overland Track

Overland Track [Australia]

Cross Tasmania's highlands from Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair, with a side climb up the island's highest peak and fern-gully waterfalls.

Best time to go: September - May
Duration: 6 days
Distance: 65 kilometers

United States - hike - Pacific Crest Trail

Pacific Crest Trail [the USA]

Trace forested ridgelines with long volcano views, then drop to a mossy waterfall and a cold, dark underground lava tunnel.

Best time to go: April - July, September - October
Duration: 10 days
Distance: 150 miles

Peaks of the Balkans Trail [Kosovo]

Complete a challenging circuit through rugged terrain, crossing international boundaries and staying in isolated mountain villages.

Best time to go: April - October
Duration: 10 days
Distance: 192 kilometers

United Kingdom - hike - Pembrokeshire Coast Path

Pembrokeshire Coast Path [the UK]

Trace a rugged coastline with frequent ascents and descents, encountering wildlife and tidal inlets that demand careful planning.

Best time to go: April - October
Duration: 10 to 15 days
Distance: 299 kilometers

United Kingdom - hike - Pennine Way

Pennine Way [the UK]

Traverse exposed high ground and remote moors, where unpredictable weather and long distances between settlements test endurance.

Best time to go: April - October
Duration: 16 to 19 days
Distance: 429 kilometers

Italy - hike - Puez-Odle Altopiano

Puez-Odle Altopiano [Italy]

Traverse a high limestone plateau, discovering rare flora and expansive vistas above the more traveled Dolomites valleys.

Best time to go: June - September
Duration: 4 to 6 days
Distance: 20 kilometers

New Zealand - hike - Routeburn Track

Routeburn Track [New Zealand]

Cross a high saddle between valleys, passing cascades and green alpine lakes, with a side climb to wetland views.

Best time to go: October - April
Duration: 3 days
Distance: 32 kilometers

Peru - hike - Salkantay Trek

Salkantay Trek [Peru]

Cross a glacier-lined pass, then drop through cloud forest and waterfalls toward Machu Picchu, with a turquoise lake detour along the way.

Best time to go: April - October
Duration: 4 days
Distance: 60 kilometers

Italy - hike - Sentiero Azzurro

Sentiero Azzurro [Italy]

Follow a narrow route linking five coastal settlements, with steep ascents and sea views shaped by centuries of human cultivation.

Best time to go: March - June, September - November
Duration: 5 to 6 hours
Distance: 12 kilometers

Bhutan - hike - Snowman Trek

Snowman Trek [Bhutan]

Endure long days over challenging terrain, entering seldom-visited valleys where small communities live amid some of the Himalaya’s most demanding landscapes.

Best time to go: March - May, September - November
Duration: 25 to 30 days
Distance: 356 kilometers

United Kingdom - hike - South West Coast Path

South West Coast Path [the UK]

Cover a vast and varied coastline, with frequent elevation changes and shifting terrain requiring stamina and attention to daily logistics.

Best time to go: March - November
Duration: 30 to 40 days
Distance: 1,014 kilometers

New Zealand - hike - Te Araroa Trail

Te Araroa Trail [New Zealand]

Tackle remote beech-forest climbs and alpine tops in the northern South Island, where huts are spaced about a day apart.

Best time to go: October - May
Duration: 5 months
Distance: 3000 kilometers

Australia - hike - Three Capes Track

Three Capes Track [Australia]

Cross the Tasman Peninsula by boardwalk and hut, reaching dolerite columns at Cape Hauy and a knife-edge ridge above the open ocean.

Best time to go: October - April
Duration: 4 days
Distance: 48 kilometers

China - hike - Tiger Leaping Gorge

Tiger Leaping Gorge [China]

Navigate steep switchbacks above the Jinsha River, where sheer drops and distant peaks create a sense of scale that never fades.

Best time to go: March - June, September - November
Duration: 2 to 3 days
Distance: 28 kilometers

New Zealand - hike - Tongariro Alpine Crossing

Tongariro Alpine Crossing [New Zealand]

Cross active volcanic terrain on a 19 kilometer day, climbing steep steps to steaming vents and mineral-colored crater lakes.

Best time to go: October - May
Duration: 6 to 8 hours
Distance: 19.4 kilometers

Chile - hike - Torres del Paine Circuit

Torres del Paine Circuit [Chile]

Commit about a week to the complete loop, crossing a high pass with the Southern Patagonian Ice Field spread out below.

Best time to go: October - March
Duration: 8 days
Distance: 110 kilometers

Morocco - hike - Toubkal Circuit

Toubkal Circuit [Morocco]

Loop through Berber villages and a high juniper pass over three to five days, with the Toubkal summit and a blue lake as options.

Best time to go: March - June, September - November
Duration: 4 days
Distance: 60 kilometers

France - hike - Tour du Mont Blanc

Tour du Mont Blanc [France]

Circle Western Europe’s highest massif, crossing borders and high cols while encountering varied alpine scenery and mountain refuges along the way.

Best time to go: May - September
Duration: 10 to 12 days
Distance: 170 kilometers

Switzerland - hike - Tour of the Matterhorn

Tour of the Matterhorn [Switzerland]

Complete a full circuit around the Matterhorn, crossing into Italy and Switzerland while navigating rugged terrain and isolated hamlets.

Best time to go: June - September
Duration: 5 to 7 days
Distance: 140 kilometers

Italy - hike - Tre Cime di Lavaredo Loop

Tre Cime di Lavaredo Loop [Italy]

Circle iconic rock formations on well-marked trails, encountering wildflower meadows and stark stone landscapes at every turn.

Best time to go: June - September
Duration: 3 to 4 hours
Distance: 10 kilometers

Norway - hike - Trolltunga

Trolltunga [Norway]

Undertake a long, exposed hike to a narrow rock tongue suspended above a vast valley, surrounded by stark wilderness.

Best time to go: May - September
Duration: 10 to 12 hours
Distance: 28 kilometers

Viñales Valley [Cuba]

Walk red-dirt paths between curing barns and karst towers, with a lookout climb, a painted rock mural and a river cave to cross by boat.

Best time to go: November - April
Duration: 5 hours
Distance: 12 kilometers

Chile - hike - W Trek

W Trek [Chile]

Link three valleys along lake shores in about 80 kilometers, passing granite towers, hanging glaciers and blue icebergs, with refugio beds along the way.

Best time to go: October - April
Duration: 5 days
Distance: 80 kilometers

Canada - hike - West Coast Trail

West Coast Trail [Canada]

Haul a full pack up slick ladders and along sandstone shelves over seven days, with a crab-shack stop beyond the Narrows crossing.

Best time to go: May - September
Duration: 6 days
Distance: 75 kilometers

United Kingdom - hike - West Highland Way

West Highland Way [the UK]

Experience Scotland’s changing landscapes, from wooded valleys to open moor, with reliable waymarking and a mix of wild and serviced stretches.

Best time to go: April - October
Duration: 6 to 8 days
Distance: 154 kilometers

United States - hike - Zion Narrows

Zion Narrows [the USA]

Wade the Virgin River between walls 300 meters high, where the canyon tightens to a corridor hung with ferns.

Best time to go: April - June, September - November
Duration: 8 hours
Distance: 15 kilometers

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