Best hikes & treks in the world (for all fitness levels!)

If you're looking to soak in the hills, vales and blossoms, while also testing the limits of your physical strength, then go take a hike! No, we don't mean it in a sarcastic way. We genuinely mean it! Or trek, if you're up for it and have the grit and muscle to climb mountains. As they say, it's "the higher you climb, the better the view". After all, no experience can rival the feeling of euphoria that follows ending a hike/trek at the top of a hill or any other vantage point you’re scaling.

With that in mind, we're here to help. No more scouring outdated hiking guides or dealing with vague online tips. We've pulled together some serious trail cred - we're out there getting muddy and pushing our limits to bring you the real deal. Expect raw trail tales, gear tips from the trenches, and a heavy dose of altitude fuel.

From the icy Himalayas to the rugged Andes and the picturesque Cinque Terre trail in Italy to the Fjord trails in Scandinavia, here are detailed trail descriptions, practical tips, and stunning photography that will ignite your wanderlust. Whether you're a seasoned trekker or a novice hiker, come blaze new paths and conquer summits with our pick of the best hikes in the world.

Top 5 Bucket List Hikes

1. Inca Trail, Peru

Distance: 26 miles / 43kms
Hike Duration: 4 hours
Best Time to Travel: May and October
Difficulty Level: Moderate

One of the best hiking trails in the world and amongst the most popular things to do in South Africa, the Inca Trail in Peru is equal parts exciting, wondrous, and scary. The hike traverses along ancient narrow paths deep into the Peruvian countryside and inclines to the stunning Andean mountains. During the hike, you’ll cross mesmerizing Incan ruins, breathtaking valleys, cloud forests, and perhaps the biggest highlight of the trek - the endpoint of Machu Picchu. This multi-day hike starts difficult with steep inclination in the first couple of days after which you’ll settle into a comfortable rhythm, only bolstered by the promise of getting a glimpse of the legendary Machu Picchu.

2. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

Distance: Approximately 37 miles / 62 kms
Hike Duration: At least 7 days, depending on your experience and fitness level
Best Time to Travel: Between May and October or December and March.
Difficulty Level: Challenging

Arguably amongst the best hikes in the world, Kilimanjaro is a remarkable site in Africa that makes it to the top of many people's bucket lists. The week-long trek is more than worth the effort for the spectacular view of the surrounding landscape that awaits you at the end. Most hikers try to summit Kilimanjaro at sunrise for a truly astounding and memorable experience. If you're an experienced hiker, you can finish the Kilimanjaro hike in 5 days depending on your acclimatization rate and overall fitness level. Owing to its popularity, Kilimanjaro attracts more than 50,000 trekking enthusiasts annually, with almost 65% of all climbers completing the hike successfully. The Kilimanjaro hike can be completed by following many different routes, choose according to your stamina and the time available.

3. Camino de Santiago, Spain

Distance: 500 miles / 800 km
Hike Duration: 30 to 35 days
Best Time to Travel: May, June, and September
Difficulty Level: Moderate

Officially Europe's most revered and longest pilgrimage route, the fabled El Camino de Santiago makes for a riveting hiking experience. Featuring a collection of varied hiking routes that all end at the shrine of St. James in the cathedral at Santiago de Compostela, this unique experience allows you to stay in iconic monasteries and centuries-old Parador during the journey. During your hike, you'll also cross the monasteries of San Millán de la Cogolla and the Burgos Cathedral. The massive hike also prominently features mountain villages, Roman sites, and the iconic architecture of Antoni Gaudí. If you go with the currently popular modern route, you'll cross northern Spain in a straight line and reach the French Pyrenees.

4. Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim Hike, USA

Distance: 24 miles / 38.5 kms
Hike Duration: 12 to 15 hours May 15th to the end of May.
Best Time to Travel: Mid-September - October 15th
Difficulty Level: Challenging

A recurring presence in every hiking enthusiast's bucket list, the rim-to-rim hike in Grand Canyon National Park makes for a riveting and adventurous experience. The epic hike begins from the North Kaibab Trail on the North Rim with a 14.3 miles journey and 6000 feet drop. Test your limits as you reach the bottom of the canyon before climbing back 9.6 miles and 4500 feet towards the South Rim. During the grueling journey, you'll walk past breathtaking scenery depicting over 2 billion years of history. The Grand Canyon hike ends on the sandy banks of the Colorado River, where you can unwind and recharge.

5. GR20, France

Distance: 110 miles / 180 kms long
Hike Duration: Approximately 15 days
Best Time to Travel: Late June to early July or late August to early September
Difficulty Level: Challenging

A recurring presence in every hiking enthusiast's bucket list, the rim-to-rim hike in Grand Canyon National Park makes for a riveting and adventurous experience. The epic hike begins from the North Kaibab Trail on the North Rim with a 14.3 miles journey and 6000 feet drop. Test your limits as you reach the bottom of the canyon before climbing back 9.6 miles and 4500 feet towards the South Rim. During the grueling journey, you'll walk past breathtaking scenery depicting over 2 billion years of history. The Grand Canyon hike ends on the sandy banks of the Colorado River, where you can unwind and recharge.

10 Best Day Hikes in the World

10 Best Multi-Day Hikes in the World

#1 La Ciudad Perdida, Colombia

Image Courtesy : Kim Kim

An expansive, ancient city in the jungles of Sierra Nevada on the Caribbean coast, La Ciudad Perdida is amongst the most popular multi-day hikes in the world. Believed to have been built by the Tairona culture around 800 CE, La Ciudad Perdida is accessible only through a two-day trek on foot into Colombia's coastal jungle. During the hike, you'll walk past beautiful swimming holes, thick jungles, and breathtaking views all around. The epic journey has an even grander finale - the Lost City. After a tiring 3-day hike, you'll reach the entry point, a steep stone stairway. The Lost City comprises 1,350 stones and was built and trodden on by the Tairona themselves, making it a truly special experience.

• Distance - 28 miles / 44 km
• Hike Duration - Around 4 days
• Best time to visit - December to March
• Difficulty Level - Challenging

#2 Everest Base Camp, Nepal

One of the most recurring treks in most hiking enthusiasts' bucket lists, the Everest Base Camp trek is a spectacular experience in every sense of the word. The breathtaking route takes adventure seekers to the foot of Mount Everest, the highest mountain on earth. The trek is renowned for its stunning mountain peaks and the majestic beauty of the hills. During the trek, you'll go through ridges and trails but find plenty of spaces to take a breather and enjoy meals overlooking beautiful views of the snow-laden valley. The best part of the experience is the friendly people you'll meet on the way, who'll go out of their way to help you if you need some assistance.

• Distance - 80 miles / 130 kms
• Hike Duration - 13 days
• Best time to visit - March to mid-May and Septembers to mid-November
• Difficulty Level - Challenging

#3 W Circuit, Torres Del Paine NP, Chile

Amongst the most famous multi-day hiking routes in the world, the W Trek in Torres del Paine offers glorious views of granite towers that lend the park its name. The route takes you to the three iconic highlights of the national park, Base of the Towers, Glacier Grey, and Valle Francés. The full hike takes about four to five days but can be completed without carrying gear or food since there is plenty of accommodation and food options during the route. You can also opt for day hikes and stay at comfortable hotels if that's more your thing. The W-trek has a lot of decent public infrastructures; designated campsites with good facilities, hotels with restaurants, and small shops. The trail is well marked; many signs, maps, and people – you won’t get lost here.

• Distance - 50 miles / 80 kms
• Hike Duration - 5 days
• Best time to visit - Between October and the end of April
• Difficulty Level - Moderate

#4 Tour du Mont Blanc, Europe

Image Courtesy : Jess Wandering

A popular hiking trail that stretches 106 miles through France, Italy, and Switzerland, the Tour du Mont Blanc is one of the most remarkable ways to explore Europe. The Mont Blanc trail is an impressive and beautiful range that promises visitors a memorable experience. Anyone in decent shape can easily access the trail and the hike is also perfect for foodies, as you can explore new foods in different regions throughout the 3 countries. The Tour du Mont Blanc offers a good blend of beautiful landscape, an inclusive trail, and customizable experiences designed for different types of travelers. If you’re looking for a memorable and challenging experience to remember for the rest of your life, this hiking trail is meant for you.

• Distance - 110 miles / 177 km
• Hike Duration - 8 to 11 days
• Best time to visit - June, July, and August
• Difficulty Level - Moderate

#5 Kalalau Trail, Hawaii

An 11 mile-long trail along the beautiful Kauai island in Hawaii, the Kalalau Trail makes for a beautiful hiking experience. The trail offers the only land access to the rugged and beautiful Na Pali coast and begins at Kee Beach. You'll traverse five equally stunning valleys before ending the hike at Kalalau Beach. While the trail starts and ends at sea level, it crosses rugged valleys and rides almost throughout and experiences a change in elevation of about 5,000 ft. Camping is allowed at only two places during the trail, Hanakoa, a small campground approximately 5.5 miles from the trailhead, and Kalalau Beach, the destination of the trail.

• Distance - 26 miles / 42 km
• Hike Duration - 3-5 days
• Best time to visit - May and June
• Difficulty Level - Challenging

#6 Bay of Fires, Tasmania

Named one of the world's most beautiful beaches, the Bay of Fires is Tasmania’s most popular conservation area. The Bay of Fires conservation area features a collection of stunning bays that stretch along Tasmania’s north-east coast. The granite boulders are encrusted in vibrant orange lichen, creating a stunning contrast against the white sand beaches and calming turquoise blue water. During this beautiful hike, you'll get the chance to walk through a relatively untouched corner of Tasmania. The entire journey will take you around 4 days filled with leisurely beach walks and adventure. For comfort and luxury, you can stay at the two exclusive sites located along the trail.

• Distance - 43 miles / 70 km
• Hike Duration - 4-5 days
• Best time to visit - December to April
• Difficulty Level - Easy

#7 Baltoro Glacier & K2, Pakistan

The Karakoram ranges have been popular amongst mountaineers and trekking enthusiasts for decades and are home to the highest concentration of 8000-meter peaks on the planet. The hike involves a rocky trail that goes around the majestic Baltoro Glacier and passes through a gigantic amphitheater of breathtaking summits, including seven of the 19 highest mountains in the world. The K2 base camp trek is 14 days long and begins in the village of Askole. Once you set off from this charming green village, the Karakoram doesn't take too long to present its beauty in all its glory. During your hike, you'll pass through towering cliffs and serrated summits on either side of the valley, making for a truly memorable trekking experience.

• Distance - 45 miles / 72 km one way to Concordia
• Hike Duration - 14 days
• Best time to visit - May through September
• Difficulty Level - Challenging

#8 Kungsleden, Sweden

Situated between Abisko and Hemavan, Kungsleden is amongst the world’s most famous hiking trails and arguably the best one. This 400 km long trail was established by Svenska Turistföreningen at the start of the 20th century and has since been visited by hikers from around the globe. Kungsleden features an exciting range of landscapes and there are striking visual changes in the terrain. From low-lying mountain birch forests to alpine terrain, your hike will cover an interesting array of places. During your trek through Kungsleden, you'll also journey through verdant mountain heaths and pass through numerous mountain villages.

• Distance - 270 miles / 440 km
• Hike Duration - 10-12 days
• Best time to visit - June to September
• Difficulty Level - Moderate

#9 Mount Kailash Trek, Tibet

The majestic Mount Kailash is arguably the holiest mountain in the world and sacred to billions of Buddhists, Hindus, and Jains. The breathtaking high-altitude landscape of Western Tibet makes for a spectacular hiking experience and a relatively accessible one as well, especially considering the altitude. One of Asia's classic trekking destinations, this overland trip takes approximately three days to complete. The altitude starts at 4670 meters and peaks at 5650 meters at the Drölma-La pass, so you'll need to be well acclimatized and physically fit to be comfortable during the journey.

• Distance - 32 miles / 52 kms
• Hike Duration - 3 days
• Best time to visit - May and June or September and October
• Difficulty Level - Challenging

#10 Arctic Circle Trail, Greenland

The Arctic Circle trail makes for a breathtaking journey through the Greenland backcountry. As the terrain grows steeper near the coast, the low Arctic vegetation climbs up the sides of mountains. You can enjoy freshwater from clean rivers and trickles from the rock as you walk through the stunning landscape. During your hike, you'll come across small, simple huts located every once in a while, functioning as a reminder that others too have crossed the path before. If you want a more natural experience, you can sleep in a tent or even under the glittering stars.

• Distance - 100 miles / 160 km
• Hike Duration - 9-11 days
• Best time to visit - late-June to mid-September
• Difficulty Level - Moderate to Challenging

How to choose the right hike?

Hiking Difficulty

Hikes are classified for difficulty based on three components namely elevation, terrain, and distance. Hiking difficulty is assigned a numerical rating with the following formula: Elevation Gain x 2 x distance (in miles). The product's square root is the numerical rating. A combination of these three will give you the difficulty level of the hike. The popularly followed classification in the hiking community is as follows:

• Easy: A well-maintained trail with little to no increase in elevation
• Moderate: A trail featuring a gradual ascent with small obstacles
• Strenuous: A difficult trail with longer, steeper ascents with plenty of debris and rocks on the way

When choosing a hiking trail, consider your experience levels. If you’re just starting, you cannot opt for a strenuous or even moderate hike. Start slow with an easy trail, explore a couple of similar trails, and gradually up the difficulty level of your hike.

Day Hike/Multi-Day Hike

Our beautiful planet is blessed with numerous hiking trails, some last a day while others stretch to months. The longest hiking trail, the Appalachian Trail takes a whopping 46 days to finish. When choosing a hike, evaluate the amount of time you’re willing to spend hiking away from material comforts. If hiking is a casual hobby, you wouldn’t want to spend more than a couple of days while if it’s a passion, the number of days is a non-factor. Remember that hiking is a physically strenuous activity and you don’t want to be stuck in a random hill wishing you had opted for a smaller trail. Do your research, measure your interest and abilities, and choose the right duration.

Hiking Style

Hiking isn’t just scaling hills and mountains tirelessly until you get to the top. There are different kinds of hiking experiences you can choose from including a hike through a forest, a beachside trail hike, and many others. Your choice of accommodation during the hike is also something to consider. From the classic camping experience to a little more glamorous lodging, you'll have plenty of options to choose from depending on the hiking trail. Make your choice depending on your comfort levels and willingness to experiment. For instance, if you can’t do without a proper bed, a camp-style hiking trail isn’t for you.

Scenery

what is the kind of scenery one would like to hike around - mountains, forests? Given the strikingly diverse landscape, you’ll notice just a couple of hundred miles from our current location, it’s not hard to believe that your choice of hiking trails is equally diverse. From snow-capped mountains to lush green rainforests, you have numerous landscape options to choose from when planning a hike. If you’re hiking for the first time, choose a terrain or landscape that you prefer or are comfortable with. This will help you better enjoy your experience and ensure you don’t tire yourself immediately. With experience, you can always venture out and try hiking through a variety of different terrains.

Hiking Gear

Before you begin hiking, you’ll need to assemble durable and long-lasting hiking gear, which honestly isn’t going to be cheap. Choosing high-quality hiking gear is crucial since you’ll be engaging in a physically strenuous and challenging hike and need to be ably supported by the gear you pick. Some common hiking gear includes premium quality, waterproof backpack, proper hiking shoes, an emergency survival kit, navigation tools, a first-aid kit, and more. Do ample research on the climate and terrain you’re expecting during the hike and pack your hiking gear accordingly. While it will be a substantial investment, there’s no alternative to a good set of hiking gear to ensure a smooth and hassle-free experience.

Solo or Group

When choosing between different hiking trails, consider if you’re going solo or with a group. There are many difficult trails that you cannot hike on alone and will need a group for both physical and moral support. Hiking as a group is also ideal since you have someone with you at all times for guidance and emergencies. The easiest way to meet like-minded people to hike with is by joining a hiking group in your area and embarking on planned hikes. Solo hikes are possible if the terrain is easy and suitable for a solo hiker. Again, there’s nothing like doing proper research to identify if a hiking trail is suitable for solo or group travel.

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