NEW Lonely Planet Hiking Guidebook published May 2026.
A month-by-month guide featuring 96 top-tier hiking trails worldwide, ranging from short walks to epic multi-day treks. … Spain’s Camino Francés, John Muir Trail, South Africa’s coastal Strandloper Trail and many more.
Each month highlights 8 hikes … route maps, breathtaking nature photography, and expert insights on what makes each hike unmissable
Covers essential details: start/finish points, distance, duration, challenge level, when to go, permit info, safety, getting there,accommodation, food and more.
Written by Sarah Baxter, author of A History of the World in 500 Walks, The Inspired Traveller’s Guide to Spiritual Places, and Lonely Planet’s Where to Go When; and Paul Bloomfield, a contributing author to numerous books about travel, hiking, cycling and treks in the UK and across the world
The best months to hike in Ecuador are June to September and December to January, which align with the region’s two primary dry seasons, offering clearer skies and more stable, albeit windy, weather.
June–August is ideal for trekking, while November–February is often preferred for climbing volcanoes like Cotopaxi.
My first trip to Ecuador was January / February 2026.
Locals told me it had been rainier than usual — with rain starting almost every afternoon. Normally stopping around sunset.
I was happy with my itinerary and consider myself something of a veteran now. 😀
Acclimatization is critical. Therefore I recommend you start with this sequence of hikes:
If I had more time, next would have been a summit attempt to either the top of Cotopaxi 5,897 m (19,347 ft) or Chimborazo 6,263 m (20,548 ft). Chimborazo summit is the farthest point on Earth’s surface from the Earth’s center due to its location along the planet’s equatorial bulge.
Finally, Ecuador may be the least expensive of the great hiking destinations of the world. Get planning. 😀
A UNESCO World Heritage site, one of the great tourist destinations of the world, most everyone likes the quaint mountain town, Banff, in the Canadian Rockies. Growth is strictly limited by National Park regulations.
… at 1,463 m (4,800 ft), it is the town with the second highest elevation in Canada, the highest being Lake Louise.
It is surrounded by mountains, notably Mount Rundle, Sulphur Mountain, Mount Norquay, and Cascade Mountain; and situated above Bow Falls near the junction of the Bow and Spray Rivers. Banff is located 126 km (78 mi) west of Calgary and 58 km (36 mi) east of Lake Louise …
…. It is a major destination for outdoor sports and features extensive hiking, biking, scrambling and skiing areas within the region. …
Canmore is a smaller town (pop. 12,000) just outside the park, a great alternative to touristy Banff. Alpine Club of Canada headquarters are located in Canmore. Many experienced hikers prefer it as a home base.
Two of our top 10 hikes in the world can be reached from here:
Lake O’Hara, for example, is the prettiest mountain hiking in the Rockies.
Plan for July to mid-September in the northern Rockies. Banff is a great town, but the hiking season is short. Blizzards are not uncommon in September. We often suggest Aug. 1st as a good start date for a walking holiday here. Disclosure: besthike is based out of Calgary. Banff is our backyard playground. You could certainly accuse us of bias. 😀
BestHike editor Rick McCharles spends a week or so each Spring hiking and skiing. The trails are near empty — though you might want to wear spiked shoes.
besthike.com 