All that separates you from a country’s most beautiful scenery, or most breathtakingly Instagram-able viewpoint, is a good pair of walking shoes and the desire to explore the great outdoors. From traversing perilously narrow cliffs on the coast of Hawaii to discovering remote Andean villages in Ecuador, each hike is extraordinary in its own way.
To help stoke your wanderlust for that next adventure, the adventurous writer/photographer duo Andrew and Emily have put together some of their favourite hiking trips from around the world, grouped into categories according to your own hiking experience from beginner day-tripper to Bear Grylls wannabe!
Best hiking trips for beginners
Grindelwald – Switzerland
A peaceful hike and train ride through the alpine village of Grindelwald © othree
Embark on your Swiss discovery arriving by the train that cuts through the charming hillside. After a goodnight’s sleep in a traditional chalet, see some of the most stunning Alpine scenery on a day-hike from Grindelwald.
Although there are a number of trails and climbs from the popular village base-camp, for those in search of unbelievable views over fairytale villages and epic mountain ranges, the pick of the bunch is the First-Faulhorn trail. Take the First aerial cableway from Grindelwald so that you have both the time and the energy for the rest of the 12-kilometre hike ahead of you. The peak of the Faulhorn Mountain is 2,681 metres, so beware of altitude sickness, however the endless views on each side from above the clouds are all worth it. A stop-off at the wonderful Lake Bachalpsee on the way up or way down is a must – set in a crisp, green valley with the stunning backdrop of Schreckhorn’s jagged snow-capped mountains – it’s like stepping into a Swiss postcard!
Lizard coastal walk – Cornwall, England
Finding those hidden beaches along the Lizard Peninsula
Starting out from Kynance Cove, this very manageable 11-kilometre circular route brings you along Cornwall’s gorgeous coastline to Lizard Point, the most southerly part of mainland Great Britain. Along the way, expect to discover caves, cliffs, coves and hidden-away beaches with surprisingly white sand and turquoise waters. Alongside the beautiful scenery, keep an eye out for whales or basking seals in summer. Tourism is very low key here, and without crowds you can ensconce yourself in splendid, rugged isolation. In true British style, make sure to stop off at a local pub on the way back to enjoy a traditional Cornish pasty and a well-earned pint!
Sentiero Azzuro (Blue Trail) – Cinque Terre, Italy
Riomaggiore, one of the charming villages to visit along the Blue Trail © Fred_78
The clustered and colourful houses of Cinque Terre’s beautiful coastal towns have become a mainstay of wanderlust bucket-lists. Stretching along 12 kilometres of sun-kissed coastline of the Italian Riviera, the centuries-old Blue Trail, sometimes referred to as trail #2, connects all five villages. Aside from the opportunity to discover the region’s picturesque coastline, the manageable and well-marked trail takes you through vineyards and olive-groves, to homemade gelato parlours, intimate cafés and atmospheric piazzas; the perfect essence of Italia is all right here. Expect to spend at least 5 hours on the trail and, if you want to finish off the hike with some beach time, it’s recommended to start off from Riomaggiore and finish up in Monterosso.
Best hiking trips for third-time-arounders
Quilotoa Loop – Ecuador
Andrew hiking the Quilotoa Loop in Ecuador © Along Dusty Roads
A fantastic adventure for those who like off-the-beaten-track travel, the Quilotoa Loop is usually sacrificed in favour of the Amazon or the Galapagos. It should however be an essential part of everyone’s Ecuadorian itinerary.
Ideally done over three nights/four days, the Loop brings hikers along sparsely sign-posted trails through small indigenous Andean villages, vast open countryside, alongside rushing rivers and verdant valleys. The final crescendo is a vast crater lake. Altitude adjustment is necessary, and it gets very cold in the nights, so preparation prior to the hike is recommended. And, if you love hiking but hate camping, you’ll be happy to know that there are excellent cheap guesthouses along the route.
Half Dome – Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Almost there – the Half Dome in Yosemite National Park © mtch3l
Half Dome is a wildly popular hike in the United States, and for good reason – this iconic slab of granite is just begging to be conquered!
With a hike time of 10-14 hours, depending upon your chosen route, this trail’s popularity masks the fact that it is still a challenge and most certainly not for the faint-hearted. The incredible view over mountain and valleys from the top of Half Dome is only reachable via a 120-metre climb on steel cables screwed into the rock, so, if heights and edges aren’t you favourite thing, you might not want to look down!
Consider including the Half Dome as part of a two or three-day camping hike to view the waterfalls on the Mist Trail and experience more of Yosemite National Park‘s beauty. You’ll just need to secure your Wilderness Permits in advance.
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Tongariro Alpine Crossing – North Island, New Zealand
Get inspired by Tongariro’s volcanic terrain and turquoise crater lakes
Ask any hiker or outdoor lover for their dream destination and they may often answer New Zealand; the country really does have it all.
The 19.4-kilometre Tongariro Alpine Crossing, located in the Tongariro National Park, brings steep climbs and unpredictable weather, but – often labelled as New Zealand’s best one-day trek – the challenge will be worth it. Awe-inspiring natural scenery, across other-worldly stark and spectacular volcanic terrain, is dotted with hot springs, colourful crater lakes and excellent views of mountain ranges. If you have extra energy, Mount Ngauruhoe can be climbed in a three-hour return trip alongside the main route, or you can tackle this as part of the challenging three-day Tongariro northern circuit.
Find a flight to nearby Wellington
Best trails for the experienced trekkers
Monte Fitz Roy trek – Patagonia, Argentina
The view at Laguna de los Tres
Argentina’s mount Fitz Roy is one for hiking and outdoors purists. Located within Argentine Patagonia, the exhilarating route offers some of South America’s most dramatic mountain and glacial landscapes, with the crescendo undeniably being the breathtaking Laguna de los Tres viewpoint – and you’ll make everyone at home very, very jealous. Hikers can cover the park on a variety of day-hikes, or opt to take a multi-day trek of 2-5 days.
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El Camino de Santiago – Spain
By foot or by bike, the pilgrims of the Camino finally reach the Santiago de Compostela cathedral
This legendary 1,000 year old pilgrimage route through Northern Spain is an extremely accessible and developed option for a multi-day hike. There are a variety of trails and start points (some totalling 800km!), but all lead to the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela. For hikers who have 5-7 days – rather than the month required to complete the entire walk – then it’s recommended to focus on the last section of the popular Camino Francés, from Sarria to Santiago de Compostela, which totals 110 kilometres. Expect mountain ranges, sumptuous countryside, many holy sites, passing old villages towards the open road ahead of you.
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Tiger Leaping Gorge – China
The rewarding views during the challenging Tiger Leaping Gorge hike
High above the turquoise-hued Jinsha River, through one of the deepest canyons in the world, Tiger Leaping Gorge and its dramatic and spectacular scenery is considered by many as one of China’s greatest hikes. Its name stems from a legend that a tiger once jumped the narrowest part of the gorge – a distance of 25 metres – to escape a hunter and, today, this hike is a favourite with the intrepid and adventurous type of traveller. With guesthouses along the 22-kilometre route, hikers can opt to spend a night or two here and make the most of their time in this remote part of southwest China.
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Best trails for the Bear Grylls wannabes
Kokoda Trail – Papua New Guinea
Deep in the forests of Papua New Guinea, hikers take on the Kokoda Trail © Luke Brindley
A week or longer along isolated trails linking the beautiful southern and northern coast of Papua New Guinea, with intensely hot, humid days and very cold nights – the Kokoda Trail will challenge you both physically and emotionally. Some even call it life-changing. This dense jungle and bush-hiking track covers 96 kilometres of untamed terrain, bringing hikers to remote yet welcoming indigenous villages, laden with history as the location of bloody World War II battles between Allied and Japanese forces.
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Kalalau Trail – Kauai, Hawaiian archipelago
Dreamy beaches for a post-hike treat on the Nā Pali Coast
Paradise untamed – that’s what the remote Kalalau trail delivers to those brave and able enough to undertake this strenuous 35-kilometre roundtrip trail along the Nā Pali Coast of the island of Kauai.
Unspoilt beaches, a mesmerisingly blue ocean and a lush green tropical canopy form the magnificent backdrop, however this is not a walk in the park for beginners. Kalalau, with several treacherous river crossings and infamous ‘crawler’s ledge’ (a narrow stone path with a sheer drop 91 metres down to the unforgiving sea) has been named one of the most dangerous hikes in the US.
Although it’s possible to complete the trail in a day, take your time and stretch it to a couple nights. Note that permits are required.
Drakensberg grand traverse – South Africa
Just you, your backpack, and the endless Drakensberg Mountains © Rick McCharles
The hike that will put all your mates to shame when comparing travel stories – 220 kilometres, 8-12 days, complete self-sufficiency. The Drakensberg grand traverse is one of the toughest, most physically gruelling hikes in South Africa, where hikers have to summit the highest points in the region (all over 3,000 metres) with all equipment and food for the whole trek on their backs. Thankfully, the dense green ridges and gorges, and the planes of KwaZulu-Natal on show in this epic mountainous offer ample reward. Just get ready to count all those blisters!
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