The world is full of interesting places to visit, but one of the best available options is hiking. This activity will allow you to explore hidden places away from crowds and let your spirit wander.
Climbing mountains or traversing through forests will make you appreciate all that nature has to offer. Although there are plenty of hikes for everyone, we’ve put together some of the best hikes in the world.
Top 10 best hikes in the world
- Milford Track, New Zealand
- The Zion Narrows, Zion National Park
- Tiger Leaping Gorge, China
- Inca Trail, Machu Picchu, Peru
- Annapurna Circuit, Nepal
- Mount Rinjani, Indonesia
- Mount Fansipan, Vietnam
- Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
- Puez-Odle Altopiano, Italy
- West Coast Trail, Canada
Hiking. It’s something I’ve done for as long as I can remember. Whether it was with my parents through the woods of Colorado when I was a kid or on one of the many camping trips that have taken place since hiking is something I have always counted on for revitalizing some part of me.
The fresh air and equal parts mental and physical exertion required to summit peaks always make hiking the best way to relax — it’s no wonder so many people travel halfway around the world just to take a hike. So here’s the big question:
Why do people travel halfway around the world for the best places to hike?
Travellers hike for several reasons, including seeing new views, exploring an area, getting fit and active, and more. Hikers love their experiences on trails all over the globe.
Going on hikes allows you to see your surroundings differently. They allow you to appreciate nature in a whole new way as you travel through terrain that few people ever see. Below are some of the best hikes in the world.
Milford Track, New Zealand
The Milford Track is a must-do for any hiking enthusiast. Its remote location and proximity to a handful of nearby mountains give hikers access to some of the world’s most stunning views.
The Milford Track is a 47 km track that follows the edge of the Fiordland National Park in New Zealand and is an epic adventure hike. The grand vistas of New Zealand’s Southern Alps are breathtaking, and the Maori history and lore are captivating.
This hiking circuit takes at least four days to complete and traverses lake valleys, mountainsides, rivers and waterfalls. The Milford Track is one of the best places to hike in the world.
READ MORE: The Milford Track made it to our list of 10 places to visit before you die
The Zion Narrows, Zion National Park
In the heart of Zion National Park in Utah, USA, lies the Narrows—a canyon so narrow that you and the river are almost on top of each other. Poking through a labyrinth of cliffs, spectacular vistas open at every turn along the banks of the Virgin River.
Violent torrents have carved narrow tunnels in the sandstone, creating tributaries that drop 60 meters and fork in every direction. The canyon is just 90 meters wide and is arguably one of the most beautiful places on earth and one of the country’s most popular hiking and top trails, with seven beautiful waterfalls to explore.
READ MORE: Utah also features in the best babymoon destinations in the world
Tiger Leaping Gorge, China
Experience one of the most spectacular treks in the world along the ancient Tiger Leaping Gorge in China. Located in remote northwest Yunnan Province, this full-day hike, one of the best day hikes in the world, is meant for adventurous hikers only and will lead you past spectacular waterfalls and incredible views.
Ancient cypress trees hang from the towering canyon cliffs as you wind your way down trails past waterfalls and villages.
The narrow gorge was named after a tiger that once leapt across it, escaping from hunters. Also, fans of the ‘Jurassic Park’ movies should plan a side trip to see where Steven Spielberg filmed this riveting cinematic blockbuster.
READ MORE: China also features some of the largest waterfalls in the world
Inca Trail, Machu Picchu, Peru
Rising over 4,000 metres above sea level, the breathtaking Inca Trail offers travellers a chance to experience some of the most exhilarating and magnificent scenery in the world.
This two-week hike through high altitude rainforest, never-ending snow-capped peaks, and winding mountain trails has been listed in National Geographic’s list of “Best Hikes in the World” for years. The journey is an incredible classroom of cultural history where hikers can learn about the ancient Inca civilization.
Since being discovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911, Machu Picchu has become one of the world’s most famous ‘lost’ cities. Today, it is the most visited site in Peru and also the top travel destination in Latin America. Discover natural beauty and rich culture, hike to remote destinations without roads, and get in shape doing it!
READ MORE: Machu Picchu is one of the seven wonders of the world, do you know the other six?
Annapurna Circuit, Nepal
The Himalayas, stretching from India to southern Tibet, include some of the world’s highest peaks. They also hold a wealth of lesser-known trekking opportunities, and Annapurna — the world’s 10th-highest mountain — is the most accessible.
This four-week circuit traverses some of Nepal’s most spectacular scenery. It also takes in local celebrations and abounds in hair-raising vistas.
This trek hits eight 8,000-meter peaks along a high route that goes through the Himalayas. It’s called the Annapurna Circuit because it encircles Annapurna I, one of Nepal’s most sacred mountains and a deadly peak to climb (only 16 of its peaks have been summited).
You’ll finish alongside the Kali Gandaki River roughly 20 days after you set off, having likely lost about 15 pounds from your pack weight due to carrying all your own gear with you.
READ MORE: Annapurna Circuit is also one of the world’s best places to travel alone
Mount Rinjani, Indonesia
The godfather of trails in Bali, Mount Rinjani, is a stunning volcano that towers over Lombok and its surrounding islands. The Rinjani Trek is a popular hike that passes through a myriad of landscapes, from tropical forest to montane grassland.
The summit provides breathtaking views of pink-hued beaches and waterfalls. After the climb, spend a day admiring Bali’s charming north coast with its fine sand beaches and listening to the call of prayer at a village mosque.
READ MORE: Explore our complete Indonesia Travel Guide
Mount Fansipan, Vietnam
The world-famous Mount Fansipan rises majestically above Sapa. Standing at 3,143m high, it is Vietnam’s highest peak. A trek to the top of its colossal precipice allows you to gaze down upon the most stunning views of terraced fields and verdant farmlands. The narrow trail winds through thick tropical forest with giant bamboo and banana trees lining the way.
Mount Fansipan, the highest peak in Indochina, rises above the clouds of the Hoang Lien Son Range. Thousands make the journey every year due to the spiritual uplift they receive from completing such an arduous and dangerous ascent.
READ MORE: Check out our full Vietnam Travel Guide
Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Like the clouds atop Mount Kilimanjaro, the best hikes in the world–those that go beyond your typical nature walks–are often sky-high. The highest of these is on Tanzania’s legendary 5,895-meter mountain, where two routes lead to the summit and offer spectacular views of its neighbouring peaks and of Africa’s Great Rift Valley.
While a trek up Kilimanjaro involves many days of hiking through lush scenery, much more than a simple climb to the top, it remains one of the world’s great hiking experiences.
READ MORE: Can you guess what part of Tanzania made our list of best places to visit before you die?
Puez-Odle Altopiano, Italy
While the expression “best hikes in the world” may be subjective (how do you compare a desert trail to an alpine one?), this hike really is excellent. The Puez-Odle Altopiano begins just outside of the town of Predazzo. There are some great views of both the Alps and the Dolomites (you can even hike over to the Adamello-Presanella range, but this requires an additional permit).
The Puez-Odle is perfect for travellers who are not afraid to go off the beaten path. Lovers of wild scenery will love this hike to two mountain lakes—with glaciers on one side. This is the best hike in the Italian Alps.
READ MORE: Italy is also home to some of the most visited tourist attractions in the world
West Coast Trail, Canada
The West Coast Trail is located on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. This trail is a long-distance wilderness hike along the west coast of Vancouver Island from Bamfield to Port Renfrew.
The trek covers 65 kilometres in length, with about 5,000 meters of elevation change. Hiking through the rainforest and over high coastal cliffs, this trail offers sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean and the rugged west coast scenery.
READ MORE: Find out which place in Canada made our list of 10 seriously weird places to visit
Just like there is plenty of fish in the sea, there is always a bigger mountain to scale. Around the globe, you can find the perfect hiking trail for every traveller. So get your walking boots and gear ready for the best hikes in the world.
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