The 12 Best Hikes from Around the World

Guest post by  Ashley Lipman:

Are you an avid hiker who also loves to see the world? Whether you’re looking to cross some of Earth’s most amazing locales off of your bucket list or dip your toes into the world of traveling and hiking adventure, then these are the top 25 places to go.

The Inca Trail

Located in Peru, this 26-mile trail is one of the most popular hikes in the world. It features intense inclines and declines, but offer visitors the chance to explore ruins, jungle, and beautiful mountain scenery.

It takes roughly four days to make it from start to finish, but the final leg in Machu Picchu is worth it. The best time to head to the Inca Trail is from May to September.

The Torres del Paine

These 50 miles worth of trails are located in Patagonia, Chile, and are the most popular during October and April. The most travelled route is marked with the letter “W”, which takes you through Torres Del Paine National Park.

This hike offers views of volcanic peaks, glaciers, and mountain reflecting lakes. This area is immensely less populated by tourists during the winter months, but make sure to bring your best hiking gear to combat the cold!

The Appalachian Trail

This series of trails stretches a whopping 2,180 miles from Georgia to Maine in the U.S. That’s 14 whole states! It takes roughly 5 to 7 months if you want to travel its entirety, but the scenery is beyond compare. You can travel here anytime during the year, but be prepared for colder weather in the Fall and Winter as you head up north.

Kilimanjaro

In the heart of Tanzania, Africa, lies Kilimanjaro. At its highest point, this mountainous trail reaches 19,340 feet above sea level. It is highly recommended to travel with an experienced tour guide through all 35 miles, and the best times to hike here are in January or February.

Kungsleden

From August to early September, the hiking at Kungsleden couldn’t be any better. Located in Sweden, this 65-mile trail offers breathtaking views of the countryside from open tundra to glaciers. If you’re feeling brave, see if you can climb up Mount Kebnekaise while you’re there.

Snowman Trek

Considered by many to be the hardest trail on the planet due to the unpredictable weather of the Himalayas, many a traveler never finish this beautiful hike. It’s over 200 miles and takes about 25 days to complete, mainly due to the 11 mountain passes. You’ll definitely want a tour guide for this one.

Grand Canyon

One of the seven wonders of the natural world, the Grand Canyon’s hiking trail stretches 44 miles from rim to rim. The views and scenery are outstanding no matter where you stop at on the trail.

Best of all, it’s close proximity to lodging in Arizona makes booking your stay a breeze. Just make sure to look into airline baggage information if you want to save even more money on your flight.

Pacific Crest Trail

West of the Grand Canyon sits the Pacific Crest Trail, which spans California, Oregon, and Washington states. Its 2,650 miles of trails stretch through seven national parks and numerous forests. You can also experience the Mojave Desert along the way with it’s gorgeous rock formations and clay colored earth.

Yosemite Grand Traverse

On you way north you will find Yosemite grand Traverse and its 60 miles of California beauty. This trek takes you right through Yosemite National Park, which is home to waterfalls, granite basins, meadows and famous natural landmarks like the Half Dome.

Chilkoot Trail

Alaska and Canada’s Yukon Territory encompass the Chilkoot Trail. There are plenty of routes to choose from, altogether creating a 33-mile hike. This one of the most wild and vast areas in the North-Eastern hemispheres, so make sure to stop and take in the sights.

Tonquin Valley

Also located in Canada, this 27-mile trail combines the best features of the northern part of Northern America’s landscape. From mountains to streams and grasslands, it’s a sight to behold.

Bay of Fires

Heading to another hemisphere, Bay of Fires is located in Tasmania, Australia. The hike takes you along white sand beaches and boulders covered in red lichen, which give it its unique name. This hike requires a guide, but head out in October and it will be well worth your time.

Ashley Lipman is an award-winning writer at Studyclerk who discovered her passion for providing knowledge to readers worldwide on topics closest to her heart – all things digital. Since her first high school award in Creative Writing, she continues to deliver awesome content through various niches touching the digital sphere.

10 beautiful hikes

The Grand Canyon Rim to Rim Hike Trail
The Kalalau Hike in Hawaii
The Laugavegur Trail, Iceland Hike
Tour du Mont Blanc Hike
Mount Rinjani Volcano Hike Eruption
The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu Hike *
The Wadi Numeira Siq Trail, Petra, Jordan Hike
The Three Capes Track, Tasmania Hike Australia
The Yosemite Half Dome Hike
The Zion Angels Landing Trail Hike

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

* Whenever I see Inca Trail on a list, I suspect the author is not a serious hiker. It’s famous for being famous, but there are many better ways to hike to Machu Picchu.

Top 25 Hiking Blogs

hiking bloggers favourite waterfalls

What makes hiking trails with waterfalls so great is the initial roaring, rumbling sound in the distance, followed by the sight of a powerful yet beautiful, formidable yet awe-inspiring, cascade of white water disappearing into the misty river below.

Ah yes, you are right where you want to be – at one with nature. …

Plitvice Waterfall, Croatia

6 great mountain peaks you can hike

Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

Mount Rainier, Washington

Mount Elbrus, Russia

Cotopaxi, Ecuador

Mount Fuji, Japan

Mount Shasta, California

6 Iconic Hikes You Should Do Before You Die

I believe Kili is the only one of those 6 that you MUST do with a guide.

Check our list of best trekking peaks. Kili and Ranier are on it.

5 great Canadian Rockies hikes

Canadian National Parks are FREE ENTRY in 2017. I’ve done all of these trips — some more than once — and am booked again in August for Assiniboine.

1. Skyline Trail
2. Skoki Circuit
3. Rockwall Trail
4. Berg Lake Trail
5. Mt. Assiniboine

Top 5 Backpacking Trips In The Canadian Rockies

rockwall-trail-aug-06-004-copyhsrs
Rockwall

See our full list of the best hikes in North America.

Michael Lanza’s 25 most scenic hiking days

A terrific list.

  1. Grand Canyon Rim to Rim to Rim
  2. Yosemite’s Clouds Rest and Half Dome
  3. Walking Across Zion
  4. Alta Via 2, Dolomite Mountains, Italy
  5. Many Glacier to Logan Pass, Glacier National Park
  6. Hiking Mount St. Helens
  7. Laugavegur Trail, Iceland
  8. John Muir Trail – Evolution Basin to Mather Pass
  9. Death Canyon Shelf to South Fork Cascade Canyon, Grand Teton National Park
  10. Volcanoes of Tongariro National Park, New Zealand
  11. The Narrows, Zion National Park
  12. Gray Glacier, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile
  13. Mosquito Creek to Toleak Point, Southern Olympic Coast
  14. Paria Canyon Narrows
  15. High Sierra Trail, Sequoia National Park
  16. Crossing the Wind River Range, Wyoming 
  17. Royal Arch Loop, Grand Canyon
  18. Rockwall Trail, Kootenay National Park, Canadian Rockies
  19. Timberline Lodge to Cooper Spur, Timberline Trail, Mount Hood
  20. Europaweg (Europe Trail) Zermatt, Switzerland 
  21. Spider Gap-Buck Creek Pass Loop, Glacier Peak Wilderness, Washington
  22. Galdhøpiggen, Norway
  23. Crown of Idaho’s Sawtooth Mountains
  24. Thorung La, Annapurna, Nepal 
  25. Traversing the Sierra de Aitana in Southern Spain

Click over to his excellent site for details and links to trip reports:

The Big Outside – MY 25 MOST SCENIC DAYS OF HIKING EVER

Geoff Sears on the Highline Trail, Glacier National Park.