Location: Peru

Distance: 26 miles

Time: 4 days

Best Time to Go: May to September

One of the most popular hikes in the world, the Inca Trail takes you through 26 miles of grueling inclines and declines. You get a chance to explore ruins, jungle, and beautiful mountain scenery, and of course, end the hike at Machu Picchu.

More: How to Hike the Inca Trail in 4 Days + What to Pack for Your Inca Trail Hike

BONUS: Inca Trail Alternates

The Ancascocha Trail

Location: Peru

Distance: 19 miles

Time: 5-6 days

Best Time to Go: April to May, September to October

A hike that gets you away from the overcrowded Inca Trail, this trek is often called the Super or Hidden Inca Trail and is more strenuous and less traveled. The extra work is rewarded with amazing views and at the end, you can still take a short bus and train ride to get to Machu Picchu.

Lares Valley Hike

Location: Peru

Distance: 20 miles

Time: 4 days

Best Time to Go: May to September

The way to experience the Inca Trail while still avoiding the crowds. You can still see the beautiful views, and since it comes to an end at Ollantaytambo, you can add a day trip to Machu Picchu.

Location: Torres del Paine National Park, Patagonia, Chile

Distance: 37-50 miles

Time: 4-6 days

Best Time to Go: Popular from October and April. We preferred July (their winter).

The popular route that follows the letter “W” takes you through the spectacular Torres del Paine National Park. You get a chance to see volcanic peaks, glaciers, and beautiful lakes. Our friend just went on the longer “O” circuit that encompasses the “W” and the photos looked unbelievable. We can’t wait to do this hike or if we can add a few extra days, we might even challenge ourselves to do the “O”! If you really want to beat the crowds, it’s not as cushy, but you should do the hike in their winter! We saw one other person and guide vs 800-1000 people who are normally on the trail every day during their summer months.

Read: How to Hike the W circuit in the Winter, Our Ultimate guide to Torres del Paine, W Circuit Winter Packing List and Summer Packing List.

Frank Kehren / cc

3. Appalachian Trail

Location: Georgia to Maine, United States

Distance: 2,180 miles

Time: 5-7 months

Best Time to Go: Year Round

This hike is one of the longest continuously marked footpath in the world and is not an easy feat. It takes you through 14 states and takes careful planning and execution if you want to do it one go.

Frank Kehren / cc

Location: Tanzania, Africa

Distance: roughly 35 miles

Time: 7+ days

Best Time to Go: January, February, or September

Although it is widely popular now, at 19,340 feet, this is Africa’s highest peak and is still on most people’s bucket list. With a wide range of climbing routes, most travel with a guided tour to reach the spectacular view above the clouds.



Abhimanyu Bose / cc

5. Kungsleden

Location: Sweden

Distance: 65 miles

Time: 3-5 days

Best Time to Go: August to Early September

Kungsleden, or “The King’s Trail,” is a 275-mile traverse, but get a glimpse of this amazing landscape with a shorter hike. See the amazing Arctic landscape, open tundra, big glaciers, and brush up against Sweden’s highest peak, Mount Kebnekaise.



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Location: Nepal

Distance: 70 miles

Time: 16 days

Best Time to Go: March to May, September to November

This trek is becoming popular as you get the opportunity to experience the people and culture that makes their home at these elevations. You also get to be face-to-face with the highest point on Earth.



NepalGatewayTrekking / cc

7. Snowman Trek

Location: Bhutan

Distance: 200+ miles

Time: 25+ days

Best Time to Go: April or October

Some say that this is the hardest trail on the planet and many are unable to finish because unpredictable weather in the high Himalaya. Traversing 11 passes, most of which are more than 16,000 feet, you can only do this hike with a guided tour and is at the top of most hikers’ bucket lists.



steynard / cc

8. Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim Hike

Location: Arizona, United States

Distance: 44 miles

Time: 4-6 days

Best Time to Go: March to May, September to November

This hike gives you an in-depth look at on of Earth’s greatest features. Not only does it help you appreciate it’s vastness physically, the views and scenery that you get by being up close and personal with it will be more rewarding than any view point you’ll get by a quick stop.

More: Taking the Grand Canyon Helicopter Tour



Al_hikesAZ / cc

9. Pacific Crest Trail

Location: California, Oregon, and Washington, United States

Distance: 2,650 miles

Time: 6-7 months

Best Time to Go: April to October

Trek through 7 national parks and numerous national forests, state parks, and wilderness areas on this hike. Along the way, you will experience the Mojave Desert and also reach heights of over 13,000 feet. After reading Wild, I kept thinking if she can do this, maybe we can too!

More: 21 Best Hikes in the Columbia River Gorge



Junaid Dawud / cc

Location: California, United States

Distance: 60 miles

Time: 6-7 days

Best Time to Go: Mid-July to Mid-September

This trek takes you through some of the best of Yosemite National Park (my favorite NP!), part of the John Muir Trail, and the Cathedral Range. You hike through waterfalls, granite basins, sprawling meadows, and you even ascend Half Dome via the Cable Route.

More: 11 Scenic Hikes in Yosemite National Park

11. Chilkoot Trail

Location: Alaska and Yukon Territory, United States and Canada

Distance: 33 miles

Time: 3-5 days

Best Time to Go: Late June to Early October

With routes like the Golden Stairs, the Stone Crib, and the Scales, this hike lives up to its name. Its rich gold miners history brings you through amazing views of Alaska and Yukon Territory and helps you experience the wild and vastness of this area.



Anthony DeLorenzo / cc

12. Tonquin Valley

Location: Alberta, Canada

Distance: 27 miles

Time: 3-5 days

Best Time to Go: July to September

Ansel Adams made his way to this valley to take photos of the amazing scenery and landscape. And a quick google search will convince you that it’s well worth the experience and effort to get into the valley.

More: 15 Unforgettable Things to Do in Jasper National Park



Christopher Martin

13. Bay of Fires

Location: Tasmania, Australia

Distance: 16 miles

Time: 4 days

Best Time to Go: October to May

This hike takes you to endless beaches of white sand, boulders covered in blood red lichen, and alongside turquoise water. You can do this hike on a guided trip or on your own, but the scenery makes it all worth it.



Mark Wassell / cc

14. Queen Charlotte Track

Location: New Zealand

Distance: 44 miles

Time: 3-5 days

Best Time to Go: Year Round

Located on the north end of the South Island, this trek takes you through sunny hills, next to beautiful blue waters, and gives you plenty of options on how to take this journey.

More: 10 Day Guide to New Zealand’s South Island



Keith Miller / cc

15. Mountains of the Moon

Location: Ruwenzori Range, Uganda

Distance: 38 miles

Time: 6-7days

Best Time to Go: December to March

These peaks make up the highest range in Africa at over 16,000 feet. Besides the views, this enchanting place also brings you face-to-face with high altitude glaciers and elephants in the same place.



Jørn Eriksson / cc

16. Kalalau Trail

Location: Kauai, Hawaii, United States

Distance: 22 miles

Time: 3-5 days

Best Time to Go: May to September

This amazing coastal hike takes you on steep trails and tropical heat as you trek through amazing jungle, beautiful waterfalls, and explore the mile-long arc of Kalalau Beach.



Karl Johnson / cc

17. Tour du Mont Blanc

Location: France, Italy, Switzerland

Distance: 105 miles

Time: Around 10 days

Best Time to Go: Anytime from July to mid-September

Experiencing a Mont Blanc holiday not only gives you the chance to hike through 3 countries, but also trek through mountain passes, alpine meadows, and glacial valleys, and the base of the highest mountain in Western Europe.



Jean-Raphaël Guillaumin / cc

18. The Long Range Traverse

Location: Newfoundland, Canada

Distance: 25 miles

Time: 3-6 days

Best Time to Go: July to September

Less of a trail, and more of a frolic through the Gros Morne National Park, this hike takes you to a land that seems untouched. You will trek over tundra and explore hidden lakes, and you may even share campsites with moose, caribou, or black bears.



VisitGrosMorne / cc

19. Laugavegurinn/Fimmvörðuháls Pass

Location: Iceland

Distance: 50 miles

Time: 4 days

Best Time to Go: June to September

Taking you through volcanic landscapes, lichen-covered rocks, and amazing views of rhyolite peaks, this hike packs in more variety in its 50 miles than most hikes do. You also have the option of a 15-mile add-on to start or end at the 200-foot-high Skogafoss waterfall.

More: Your Iceland Winter Road Trip Guide + 5 Epic Day Trips from Reykjavik



Benjamin Preyre / cc

20. Sierra High Route

Location: California, United States

Distance: 195 miles

Time: Around 13 days

Best Time to Go: Summer or Early Fall

Keeping you between 9,000 and 11,500 feet, most of this hike runs parallel to the Join Muir Trail but gives you more scenery and solitude.



Steve Dunleavy / cc

21. Routeburn Track

Location: New Zealand

Distance: 20 miles

Time: 2-4 days

Best Time to Go: November to April

Located on the South Island, Fiordland National Park has amazing hiking options. Although Milford Track is the most popular hike, the Routeburn Track gives you a chance to see equally spectacular views with fewer people on the trail.

More: Photo Diary of Fiordland National Park



Neil Hunt / cc

22. Scottish National Trail

Location: United Kingdom

Distance: 470 miles

Time: 5-6 weeks

Best Time to Go: April and May

Opened in 2012, this trail is Scotland’s first end-to-end walking route. Giving you views of the most amazing landscapes in the country, this hike becomes more difficult as you go. If time is an issue, you can also break this journey into four sections.



Jeppe DG / cc

23. Fitz Roy Trek

Location: Patagonia, Argentina

Distance: 36 miles

Time: 4-7 days

Best Time to Go: February to March

This takes you through Los Glaciares National Park, which by the way is the size of Delaware, and gives you views of beech forests, open plains, glaciers, waterfalls, and the iconic Fitz Roy Massif.



Alex Proimos / cc

24. Trek to Petra

Location: Jordan

Distance: roughly 50 miles

Time: 5-9 Days

Best Time to Go: October to April

Considered one of the best hikes in the Middle East, this trek takes you through gorges, ridges, and rocky terrain. You end this epic hike exploring the temples and tombs of this fascinating city.



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