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TOP 10 Hiking Towns โž™ Chamonix, France

One of our Top 10 Hiking Towns in the World.


photo – ptpotts

Chamonix-Mont-Blanc or, more commonly, Chamonix … was the site of the 1924 Winter Olympics. The commune’s population … around 9800 …

… Mont Blanc, at a height of 4810 metres, is the third most visited natural site in the world …

… well known and loved by skiers and by mountain enthusiasts of all types. …

Chamonix is located 80 km southeast of Geneva, Switzerland …

Chamonix Place Balmat

More interesting photos tagged Chamonix.

You can hike out of town in any direction. And be blown away by wonderful mountain vistas. Here I am just above town on a trail run.

fit hiker in the Alps

The most famous “best hikes” in the region are:

โ€ข Chamonix to Zermatt – Walkers’ Haute Route <my trip report> (top 10)
โ€ข Tour of Mont Blanc (TMB – top 10)

More best hikes in the Alps.

Best time to hike is late June to early October.

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Hiking the Hahnenkamm, Kitzbรผhel, Austria

Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles

You’ve head of Hahnenkamm above Kitzbรผhel as it hosts one of the top downhill ski races every January.

Theย Hahnenkammrennen is the classicย downhillย course, theย Streifย (streak, or stripe), which many regard as the most demanding on the World Cup circuit.

One section has a slope of 85 degrees!

Like many hikes in the Alp, you can catch a cable car in the summer. Hike near the top of the mountain, and either ride down โ€”ย or WALK down, as I did.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

I generally followed Hahnenkamm – Seidlalm – Ganslernalm on AllTrails. But diverged a number of times if any other trail heading downhill looked more interesting.

The Seidlalm reservoirs were a highlight, slightly off that route.

With good weather I did find it an easy day. Starting at the top of the mountain (2000m) and finishing in Kitzbรผhel (762m), it IS a lot of downhill. ๐Ÿ˜€

IF headed for Austria, do some research into tourist passes.

For example, many hostels and hotels can give you a FREE tourist card.

Out of Kitzbรผhel, that means free train and bus travel.

Free transportation over this area.

With that card, next check for deals on lift tickets. Over 3 days. Over 5 days. Etc.

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AllTrails+ Review 2024

I pay for the premium version of AllTrails.

I want the downloadable, offline maps.

Actually, I mostly use it for deciding what hikes I want to do in new locations.

The PREVIEW video feature is great, as well. It gives a quick overview of the entire trail.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

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Hiking Fisherman’s Trail, Portugal โ€” SOLO

I’d hiked the best part of the Fisherman’s Trail solo in 2021 โ€”ย so was keen to see how Maudi enjoyed her adventure.

She’s mainly a long distance cyclist, so the heavy pack and sore feet were challenges.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

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TOP 10 day hikes โž™ Gรถreme, Cappadocia, Turkey

 Hiking out of the small town of Gรถreme is one of our top 10 day hikes in the world.

Why?

Every traveller dreams of getting to  the the “fairy chimney” rock formations of Cappadocia. Gรถreme makes an ideal base. 

  • weird and wonderful geology
  • walk out of your Gรถreme accommodation directly to a trail … or take a taxi to the Rose Valley Panoramic viewpoint (15 minute drive uphill from town). There is a small entry fee.
  • most of these trails will be crowded with walkers
  • see all of the main attractions in one day: Rose Valley Panoramic viewpoint > Rose Valley > ร‡avuลŸin > Love Valley > Uchisar Castle > Pigeon Valley > Gรถreme

World โ†’ Asia โ†’ Turkey โ†’ Gรถreme

For details click over to our Gรถreme, Cappadocia information page.

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Kravica Waterfall, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles

On our tour to Mostar, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, we stopped for about 90 minutes to enjoy one of the most beautiful waterfalls I’ve ever seen.

Kravica Waterfall is a big tourist attraction. Unlike many of these scenic cascades around the world, you can swim and boat in this one.

I couldn’t resist. ๐Ÿ˜€

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

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John Muir Trail Flyover

The John Muir Trail in California is one of our top 10 hikes in the world.

Walk for 2-3 weeks without crossing a road.

Brilliant!

This is theย best hike in the USAย and includes many of the best sections of the longer Pacific Crest Trail.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

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Marjan Loop, Split, Croatia

Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles

The best hike in Split, Croatia is the 8km Marjan Loop in the most popular park in town.

vista from Marjan Hill

Actually, there are many options in this park โ€” and I deviated from the AllTrails version several times, getting scolded by my app for being off trail. ๐Ÿ˜€

Screenshot

Marjan hill (178 m (584 ft)) is a CLIMB. But there are great vistas in every direction.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.