16 Jaw-Dropping Hiking Trails Around the World
Hiking activities allow you to connect with the raw beauty of Mother Nature. Some of these hikes take you to mountainous treks that touch the clouds, or hidden jungle paths where there’s plenty of awe and wonder – and aching muscles. These trails defy imagination, and they go from incredible and gorgeous vistas to challenging accomplishments that you’ll never forget.
Certain trails are perfect for experienced trekkers, while others are the stuff of dreams for your first big adventure. Let’s explore some of the most breathtaking routes that prove the journey itself is rewarding.
Torres del Paine “W” Trek – Chile
Positioned in Chilean Patagonia, the “W” Trek in Torres del Paine National Park, delivers a symphony of landscapes – glacial valleys, turquoise lakes, and those famous granite spires. This multi-day hike stretches around 50 miles and something new is found every time you take a step. Listening to the distant thunder of ice breaking off the Grey Glacier is incredible. The best part is camping under the starry sky of the Southern Hemisphere.
Inca Trail – Peru
Just doing the Inca Trail is a walk through history. On this four-day trek, climb Andean mountains, hike through lush cloud forests, and visit ancient Incan ruins, finishing up at the jaw-dropping Sun Gate with a view of Machu Picchu. It’s no easy climb but the combination of its amazing landscapes and historic interest makes it one of the most rewarding trails on earth.
The Narrows – USA
The Narrows trails in Zion National Park aren’t your typical trail. Hikers here wade through the Virgin River with sheer canyon walls rising thousands of feet overhead. But the payoff is surreal beauty — and you have to navigate slippery rocks and brave waist-deep waters to get there. The walls of the canyon have such texture that sunlight and shadow interplay with them like pure magic.
The Haute Route – France and Switzerland
This classic trek joins Mont Blanc in France to the Matterhorn in Switzerland and stretches for 110 miles through Alpine territory. Think white-covered peaks, green valley floors, and cute alpine villages with fondue and wine at its end. The path is tough, but every step is worth it and the scenery changes frequently and makes you not want to stop.
Milford Track – New Zealand
The Milford Track in New Zealand’s Fiordland National Park is known as the finest walk in the world, and boasts dramatic landscapes straight out of ‘The Lord of the Rings.’ Along this roughly 33-mile route, hikers meet cascading waterfalls, misty rainforests, and views of the astonishing inspiring Milford Sound, and its famously unpredictable weather.
Laugavegur Trail – Iceland
Imagine you’re walking through a landscape that feels like another planet. That’s the Laugavegur Trail in Iceland. Hikers travel over 34 miles of volcanic deserts, steaming hot springs, ice-capped peaks, and brightly colored rhyolite mountains. It’s a visual feast that constantly inspires and tests your resilience against Iceland’s famously moody weather.
Tiger’s Nest Monastery Hike – Bhutan
The incredible Bhutan’s Tiger’s Nest Monastery somehow perches 900 meters on a cliff off the ground. It looks like something out of a dream. This sacred site can be reached via a relatively short yet steep hike through pine forests. It is draped with prayer flags having inviting colors on them. Getting to the monastery itself is a spiritual experience as much as a physical exercise.
Pacific Crest Trail – USA
The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is the ultimate long-distance hike — a 2,650 miles from Mexico to Canada. Though few undertake the whole trail, the Sierra Nevada features some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in North America. You can find these different landscapes from desert to alpine lakes on the PCT.
Mount Kilimanjaro – Tanzania
Climbing Africa’s highest peak mount isn’t just a hike, it’s a life-changing journey. Hiking up Kilimanjaro involves climbing through five very different climate zones to the arctic tundra. An emotional moment you won’t forget is watching the sunrise from Uhuru Peak, 19,341 feet above sea level.
GR20 – Corsica
The GR20 in Corsica is often called Europe’s toughest hike and it’s not for the faint of heart. It’s a rugged 112-mile trek through rugged mountains, granite ridges, and wild landscapes. On the way, you’ll pass remote shepherd’s huts and catch panoramic views of the Mediterranean. It’s hard, but the payoff is huge if you’re willing to go for it.
The Overland Track – Australia
A 40-mile journey through pristine wilderness on Tasmania’s Overland Track, showcasing Mountainous plateaus, ancient rainforests, and everything in between. Cradle Mountain, Dove Lake, and cascading waterfalls are some of its best Mother Nature attributes. It’s a paradise for lovers of nature, and a place where you can find wombats, wallabies, and Tasmanian devils.
El Caminito del Rey – Spain
After topping the list of the world’s most dangerous walkways, Spain’s El Caminito del Rey is now safe, and still thrilling. The top of the cliff is strung with a cliffside path (Amazing views of the Gaitanes Gorge), with some parts so close to the rim that it feels like you’re floating right above the canyon floor. It’s jaw-dropping scenery and gives an adrenaline rush.
The Great Ocean Walk – Australia
The Great Ocean Walk is a 68-mile stretch along Australia’s southern coast and features the dramatic beauty of the Twelve Apostles and rugged cliffs plunging into the ocean – its crashing waves, coastal forests, and endless horizons, all at once. Look out for koalas lazing in eucalyptus trees on the way as well.
Annapurna Circuit – Nepal
This Himalayan classic offers a mix of exciting natural beauty and a great cultural experience. The Annapurna Circuit is more than 128 miles of terraced rice fields, high mountain passes, and Nepali villages. The emotional and physical high of the journey is crossing the Thorong La Pass at 17,769 feet.
Sentiero degli Dei – Italy
Italy’s Amalfi Coast really does live up to its name, the ‘Path of the Gods’. The views from this relatively short hike are heavenly. From sparkling Mediterranean to quaint villages and terraced vineyards, this part of the island offers some of the most gorgeous outlooks. The lemon grove scents and the gelato taste are waiting for you at the end of it.
Drakensberg Amphitheatre – South Africa
A hike in the Drakensberg Amphitheatre is a dramatic climb with a little bit of adventure. For the less courageous, there’s a chain ladder to climb. However, the view from the top of Tugela Falls (the second-highest waterfall in the world) is beautiful and exhilarating.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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10 Best African Photo Safaris You Must Experience
Even if you’ve been on a safari in the past, an African photo safari is something you want to experience or at the very list add to the top of your bucket list.
But first, what is a photo safari? The phrase “photo safari” is not a common sentence structure but its meaning can be deduced easily. An African photo safari in general context means going on an adventure with the sole purpose of taking high-quality pictures.
10 Best African Photo Safaris You Must Experience
