Hiking is my hands-down favorite travel activity. There’s just so much that you can see in this world that’s only accessible by foot, over mountaintops, glaciers, and through canyons and gorges. When it comes to finding the best hiking trails in the world, it’s no easy feat to narrow them down.
Over the past five years, these have been my favorite hikes from all around the world. They range in difficulty and length, though they all have one thing in common: They’re stunning.
From Kyrgyzstan to Patagonia, South Africa, the Swiss Alps, the American Southwest, and so many amazing things in-between, here are a few of the best hiking trails in the world.
1. Ala Kol Lake, Kyrgyzstan: Moderate (57 km, 35.4 mi)
This gem in Central Asia is the country’s most popular trek, though still flying well under the radar of similarly beautiful treks elsewhere in the world. The trail is blanketed with wild flowers in just about every color, and once you get to the top of the pass, the views in every direction are just magical.
Some parts of the trail are incredibly steep, though overall, no technical know-how is needed and the trail is clearly marked, unless you want to add on extra days in either direction in which case there is no trail.
Make friends with the locals along the way, sleep in a yurt for a night, and experience why Kyrgyzstan is the Patagonia of Central Asia. Read more about the trek here.
2. Inca Trail, Peru: Moderate (33.7km, 21 miles)
The Inca Trail is unquestionably a bucket list hike with gorgeous Incan ruins all along the way, culminating at Machu Picchu, one of the ancient Wonders of the World. The amazing thing about the trail is it’s still 85% intact exactly the way that the ancient Incans built it. It’s also the only trail that takes visitors into Machu Picchu the way that the Incans visited themselves.
The trail takes about four days to complete and guides are required. Most tour companies bring a huge team of porters, big tents, and fresh veggies and food for elaborate meals. If you’re used to backpacking on your own, eating instant camp meals, prepare to be spoiled.
I’ll be leading a tour group in Peru next April, as well as visiting the Amazon and Rainbow Mountain, and much more! Read more about it here.
3. Wrangell St. Elias, Alaska, USA: Difficult, Varies
If you want raw, rugged, unadulterated nature, then look no further than Alaska. Apart from Denali and the popular cruise route, most of the state is devoid of people and full of adventures.
Wrangell St. Elias is the biggest national park in the US, yet it seems like nobody has ever heard of it! This 8-day trek over glaciers, multiple passes, through tundra, marshes, and moraine isn’t for solo hikers or first-timers, as it requires route finding with a map and compass, and a bush flight in and back out. Yet this is what makes it so wonderful – you’re unlikely to see anyone else out there, though you might spot some bears and moose! You can read more about the trek here and some general hiking tips here.
4. Annapurna Circuit, Nepal: Moderate, Varies between 160–230 km (100-145 mi)
The Annapurna circuit is the slightly less crowded, more picturesque, but equally challenging cousin of Everest Base Camp. It’s a tea house trek, meaning that you can leave the tents, cooking equipment, food, and basically everything but clothing and snacks behind.
More of the trek is becoming accessible by road, and what was once a minimum 14-day trek can be shrunk down depending on your time constraints. Though at 5416 meters (17,769 feet) in altitude, the Thorung La Pass is not to be taken lightly. The highest season is in November with April following in popularity. For an added bonus, tack on the Sanctuary Trek and Poon Hill at the end. For more on how to prepare, click here and here for a day-by-day breakdown.
5. Huemul Circuit, Argentina: Difficult (60 km, 37 mi)
The Huemul Circuit out of El Chalten, Argentinian Patagonia, is one of only four trails in Patagonia that provides a view of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, the third largest frozen body of fresh water in the world.
This hike isn’t easy. You’ll need to carry along all of your gear and provisions for four days, bring along a map with the GPS points routed ahead of time since the trail can be unclear, pull yourself across two rivers with a harness and pulley, and prepare for one of the craziest downhills around. It’s nearly three hours of a steep descent on loose dirt, however the view is unmatched in Patagonia, and that’s saying a lot!
The difficulty is what keeps most visitors away, so if you’re feeling adventurous, read about how to do it here.
6. The O in Torres del Paine, Chile: Moderate (130 km, 80.1 mi)
Patagonia’s most loved trek, the circuit in Torres del Paine National Park in Chile, earned its fame for a reason. Picture glacier after glacier, another glimpse of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field for those who do the entire O (rather than the W, which is shorter), and mountain formations that have no equal.
The trail is easy to find, and is moderately difficult. Unless you book prearranged tents and refugios ahead of time, you’ll need to carry all of your own gear for this one. You can read more about how to properly prepare for trekking in Patagonia, known for intense wind and wet, rocky trails here, and how to get the most out of the O in Torres del Paine here.
7. Coyote Gulch, Utah, USA: Moderately Easy (12km, 7.4 mi)
Coyote Gulch in Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument can be done over multiple days or, for those willing to rappel down a canyon wall, in just one day.
In comparison to the more popular hikes in Utah like those in Zion, Coyote Gulch has hardly any people at all. You can camp overnight right under the famous Jacob Hamblin Arch, and wander through all day long without seeing more than a few other people along the way. The hike is fairly easy and flat, though it’s mostly through sand and water, so bring along waterproof hiking boots!
This is one of my favorite hikes in the American Southwest. You can read more about how to do it in one day here.
8. Doi Luang Chiang Dao, Thailand: Moderate (12km, 7.4 mi)
Doi Luang Chiang Dao in northern Thailand is the country’s third tallest peak, but it’s easily the most beautiful. The hike is steep in the beginning and the end, and flat in the middle. It takes you through a temperate jungle, full of interesting vines growing through rocks, sakura blossoms depending on time of year, and up to a peak with 360-degree views of undulating mountain after mountain.
I expected this to be a sweaty, buggy affair, but found the hike to be pleasant and even a bit cold. Most people do this hike as an overnight, but it’s possible to do it in one day. You can read more about how to do that here.
9. Kawah Ijen, Java, Indonesia: Easy (8 km, 5 mi)
Hiking in with the stars, seeing the amazing blue flames (and trying not to choke from the fumes) and marveling at the local workers who haul sulfur up and down the mountain all day, made this one of my favorite travel experiences to date. Kawah Ijen in East Java is in a word, magical. It’s a fairly easy morning hike – just make sure to bring a head lamp!
At the time that I did this hike 5 years ago, there was hardly any information about it and there were only a few people who made it to the flames. I understand that the popularity has exploded since (It’s one of my most popular blog posts – sorry!), but I still think it must be an incredible experience. You can’t see blue flames many other places in the world!
10. Cerro Tronador, Argentina: Moderate (36 km, 22 mi)
The Cerro Tronador and Refugio Otto Meiling trek out of Bariloche, Argentinian Patagonia has multiple ‘wow’ factors: The glacier at the top, and this view at the bottom of an area where it cascades over the mountainside.
This hike is best split up into a 2 day, one night hike. The refugio at the top does have some basic sleeping space that one can book ahead of time in town, or it’s possible to bring your own gear and camp at the top. Read more about the hike, and others in the area, here.
11. Edelweissweg, Switzerland: Moderately Easy (varies)
For an incredible panoramic view of the Matterhorn, for those who still want to hike in Zermatt, Switzerland without climbing the actual Matterhorn, the Edelweiss trail is perfect.
From town, take the gondola up to Fury and start from there in the early morning. Some of the trail winds up in switchbacks (and back down of course), but a good portion of it is a panoramic view of the Matterhorn, with plenty of wildflowers to guide your way.
The trail is easy to navigate though it branches off often so bring a map. It’s perfect for a day hike though there are huts along the way if you want to break it up, or make it part of a longer hike. Choose your own adventure. Read more here.
12. The Drakensberg, South Africa: Easy to Difficult (varies)
There are several hikes in the Drakensberg in South Africa and all of them are stunning, but this one to Tugela Falls was my favorite.
It’s a pretty short day hike along a mostly flat trail, though the 20-meter chain link ladders that lead to the top make many people stay away. For those with a fear of heights, it can be a little grizzly. However if you can power through, this is your view. Read more about this hike and others in the area here.
13. Mt. Rinjani, Lombok, Indonesia: Mostly moderate, one Difficult Part (Varies)
Mt. Rinjani is quickly becoming one of Indonesia’s most popular treks, but it’s no surprise given how stunning the entire trek is. Most routes last for 3 days, 2 nights, and pass through varied landscape consisting of the volcano within a caldera pictured above, hot springs, and the sunrise peak at the top with views all the way to Bali.
The best way to organize the trek is to show up on Lombok and book in person. It can be about half the price of booking online! Quality of gear varies, but everyone sticks to the same route, though it’s possible to reverse it depending on your preferred starting point. The trek is moderately difficult, though the final ascent can be a challenge. For this reason, only about half of the people who do the trek wake up to hike to the top at sunrise (I highly recommend it!). You can read more about how to do it yourself here.
14. Fitz Roy, Argentina: Moderate (25 km, 15.5 mi)
The Fitz Roy is one of the most famous mountains in Patagonia, proudly displayed on the Patagonia clothing brand label. It’s popular with rock climbers, but the base is also fantastic for day hikers.
From the town of El Chalten, it’s a mostly-easy hike until the last hour and a half, which is a steep and narrow upward incline over rocks. It’s worth it for the view at the top, though. Read about this hike and others in El Chalten here.
15. White Pocket, Arizona, USA: Easy (≈ 5km, 3 mi)
This is an easy hike, but it’s not about trying to get to a final viewpoint or destination – it’s about wandering along this crazy rock formation and trying to figure out how in the world it was formed.
It doesn’t get nearly as much love as the nearby wave, but my guess is that’s because fewer people have heard of it. You will need a 4×4 vehicle to get there, and some knowledge of driving through deep sand, or you can take a guide like I did. He was fantastic! More here.
16. Mount Kinabalu, Malaysian Borneo: Difficult (9 km, 5.5 mi)
Mt. Kinabalu is known for being a steep, tough upwards hike, mostly up stairs and with very few flat parts. It’s famous for its sunrise views, when the clouds clear and provide a reward for all of the tough hiking the day before.
It used to be possible to do this hike in one day, however recent regulations now require that hikers turn this into at least a 2-day hike. Though it’s a tough climb, it’s not necessary to bring along gear since there’s a hotel with food and beds near the top. A guide is compulsory. You can read more about how to hike Mt. Kinabalu here.
17. Mt Aspiring National Park, New Zealand: Moderately Difficult (Varies)
Mt Aspiring National Park comes recommended by Liz, an expat living in New Zealand who picks this as one of her favorite off the beaten track things to do in New Zealand.
There are hundreds of trails in New Zealand worth hiking, including the famous Milford Track, but this one will give you a chance to hike without the crowds over 3 days and 2 nights. Read more about this spot and a few of her other lesser-known favorites here.
18. Landmannalaugar, Iceland: Varies
Located in Iceland’s highlands, this is one of the more popular multi-day treks in Iceland of varying lengths and difficulty depending on what you choose. To do this, you’ll want to head there in the summer, unlike when I did it in October, where I encountered enough snow and bad weather to make hiking a poor choice.
Still, these multicolored mountains were intriguing even in the snow, done as a day hike.
This is one of many amazing hikes in Iceland, including Asbyrgi Canyon. Find more info on these two as well as my full Iceland Ring Road itinerary here.
19. Tiger Leaping Gorge, China: Moderate (20 km, 12.5 miles)
After a couple of months hiking through the Chinese Himalayas, it’s not easy to narrow it down to one trek that stood out more than the others, though Tiger Leaping Gorge did really impress me overall. The water is crystal clear running through the gorge (as long as it’s not the rainy season) and in February when I went, the rapeseed flowers and sakura were in bloom.
This is best done over 2 or more days, and there are basic guesthouses along the way to feed and shelter you on your journey. For more amazing hikes like this one, be sure to check out Yubeng, Siguinaing Shan, and Emei Shan.
20. Livingstonia, Malawi: Moderate (6km, 4 mi)
While the most famous hike in Africa is Kilimanjaro, for an incredible view and a trail that you don’t have to share, take the hike from Khondowe to Livingstonia. It’s possible to hire a local guide for the trail up, and to book a truck to take you back down if you want to save your knees.
The views along the way just keep getting better, plus, you’ll pass by an impressive waterfall and some friendly locals as well. Though it’s possible to self-guide upwards along the road, the locals know the shortcuts.
21. Havasu Falls, Arizona, USA: Moderate (16km, 10 mi)
Hiking to Havasu Falls has a huge payoff at the end, but the entire 10-mile journey is breathtaking in itself. It’s not quite as scenic as the White Pocket, but this part of Arizona has some awesome rock formations and stellar viewpoints to enjoy.
To get to Havasu Falls, there are quite a few things to know before you set out. First, the trail is on the Havasupai Reservation, which means you’ll need a permit. Second, there’s no avoiding the sun on this one, so you should go prepared for plenty of sun exposure. The hike is at a steady incline, which gets more difficult as you go on, but overall it’s a moderate hike.
Besides the obvious payoff of reaching the bright blue Havasu Falls at the end of the trail, there are quite a few other waterfalls nearby if you want to extend your hike further.
22. Gertrude Saddle, Milford Sound, New Zealand: Difficult (7km, 4.3mi)
When I went road tripping through New Zealand, I heard about the Gertrude Saddle hike in Fiordland National Park. There were fervent warnings about how dangerous the hike was, but I wanted to give it a try anyway and I was so glad I did. This hike ended up being the highlight of my trip through the South Island.
Because of the trail’s reputation for danger and previous accidents, the park has made it a point to mark the trail better. I found it easy to navigate, with little risk for straying from the trial by accident. The views alone were worth it, and are some of the best you’ll find in all of New Zealand.
23. Mount Tallac, California, USA: Difficult (8.3km, 5.2 mi)
There’s an option to take on the Mt. Tallac hike in a day or turn it into a multi-day adventure in Desolation Wilderness. I hiked Mt. Tallac in a day and getting to the summit is certainly a challenge. There are very few flat places on the way up, which is about 3,500 feet. You start at the same elevation as Lake Tahoe, so you can imagine how much of a trek it is to the top.
The trail to the top of Mt. Tallac is pretty exposed, so you’ll need plenty of sun protection. Remember to bring plenty of water, but if you’re doing it as a day hike you won’t need much else. There is camping available in case you want to stretch it into a multi-day adventure or catch an epic sunrise at the top of the mountain.
Those are a few of my favorites, though my search is far from over. In the next 12 months, I’ve got my sights on Bhutan, Peru, possibly more in Patagonia, and who knows where else?
Have you done any of these hikes? What are some of your favorites? Let me know in the comments!
GG says
Hey Kristin,
Great, thorough list and it is fantastic how it is a dynamic list, growing as you explore more. As for favorite hiking trails, I love the Appalachian Trail in the United States (~2200 miles, ~3500 km). Many go through the whole trail (I have done some of it, not all) that starts in Springer Mountain, GA and goes all the way to Mt. Katahdin, Maine, but like your coastal trails in California, you can start and end anywhere you like as a day hike. They have cleaned the air a lot so the views are really good, especially outside of the summer months. There is something for everyone, and difficulty ranges from easy to difficult with great caving opportunities, as well as rock climbing, swimming, waterfalls, and so on! Another nice feature is that while there are a lot of people who go on this trail, you can time it and go off the main trail a bit and not see a person for days! It is claimed to be the longest continuous trail for hiking only in the world but you can fact check that if you’d like!
GG says
Oh, forgot another one which is really great! Hiking Masada in Israel. You can take a cable car up which is breathtaking in itself with the desert scenery and the Dead Sea, but the “Snake Path” hike is not only great exercise and experience, but it can be very spiritual as you try to imagine how a small group of rebels held of the might Roman Empire 2000 years ago for months (there is a ramp path that I did not know about, but heard about). On top of that, Masada was an engineering marvel, with a cistern built into the mountain providing enough water for thousands of people fo 10 years, plus baths. Heck, Kind Herod was into this type of stuff and it was his palace for a while. It also houses one of the oldest synagogues in the world, not the oldest, but probably the first proof that synagogues existed even at the time of the Jewish Temple. For those not into this stuff, the hike itself is amazing if you take the “Snake Path”. It is a rise of ~1300-1400 feet (~400-430 meters) which isn’t so much, but it is pretty steep (although compared to your hikes Kristin, I would guess this would be “light-moderate”, since it is a short trek, unless you go in the summer and hike during the day (I did this early in the morning, my skin and heat avoidance a good thing!) with it over 100F/37.8C, then a little more difficult! Anyhow, the REALLY unique thing here is after climbing the 1400 (430 meter) or so elevation (2 km long, just under a mile), you only end up 190 feet (58 meters) above sea level since you start off at the lowest place on Earth.
Kristin, I have a link to a solo traveler who describes this whole Masada hike better than I ever could and she is funny (from ItsFiveHere.com) if you are interested.
Emzgemz says
Hi Kristin,
Have I mentioned I’m addicted to your blog? Its hands down my favourite travel blog on the web right now.
I was wondering whether you’d think about doing an article about how you got into and developed your hiking skills? I always love the idea of going on multi day hikes, but I’m worried I’m attempting to run before I can walk! How old where you when you started hiking? What length hikes did you start off with? What about getting a guide vs doing it solo? How did you reach the stage you’re at now basically?
I feel like I’m being a little cheeky asking whether you could compile this info into just one blog post, as I know throughout many of your hiking articles you’ve touched on many if not all of these questions. But having YOUR hiking story in one blog post would be of huge interest to me and I’m sure many other readers.
Thanks x
Kristin says
I’ve got you covered! https://www.bemytravelmuse.com/tips-first-time-hikers/
I’d be happy to share my hiking story too. It has been a love that blossomed a lot more recently that’s for sure.
Emma says
I’m totally with you when it comes to the hiking love affair. I’ve been obsessed with the Kyrgyzstan ever since I saw your post and video of it. Same goes for the Patagonian trails.
In the past couple of years I’ve managed to hike in both Peru and Bhutan which I see are on your list of places to go and although I was on more widely travelled paths (The Inca Trail, the Tigers Nest etc) they certainly do not disappoint. I know I’ve blogged about them but I can’t wait to see your take on hikes in those countries.
Andreas Moser says
I like to go hiking where there are no trails, just setting an end point as a destination or a circular route to end up back home, and off I go. That method makes for great adventure.
Sohini Kalyana says
Great share!
Jen says
Love the photos! Thanks for sharing.
Visit Mount Pulag of the Philippines. It will be worth your time.
Cheers!
Gintarė says
Amazing article for hikers! Thank you 🙂
Olivia Wade says
Spent 3 days and 2 nights in the Gulch. Entered via crack in the wall. There are various cairns but can be a bit confusing as there are multiple paths to the same destination based on where you start.
This was a stunning hike and would highly recommend spending a couple of days in the gulch if your schedule permits. Our original plan was to exit at Jacob Hamblin Arch but found the climb out a bit too daunting, particularly with full packs. As such, we changed our plans and hiked out Hurricane Wash.
The black lagoon was a very special treat – talk about an oasis in the desert!
Kristin says
Good to know that about the crack in the wall entry. Having maps.me for the area on my offline map helped me a lot to find the trail and orient myself.
Erik says
This is my hiking bucket list 🙂
Krstine says
Looks awesome! Haven’t done none of them but looking forward to come back to this list once I plan some extended travels! I found some nice hiking scenarios here in Portugal and also in Croatia you cn have some fun!
Dalxar says
Hi, just 2 of the thousands of hikes almost as beautiful as those 20: Los Cahorros de Monachil and La Vereda de La Estrella. In Spain near my home. Or one of those I posted in Wikiloc.
Kate says
This inspires me to go on even more hikes. I’m currently living in Azerbaijan and I’ve decided to go hiking, the first one was on Saturday and I loved it. It makes me wonder why I stopped hiking in the first place. Such a great way to get out and see the country. I’m making this list into my challenge list for over the next few years.
Kristin says
Amazing! I know nothing about Azerbaijan and I’m so curious what hiking is like there.
Jenna says
Hi Kristen –
Great list! Many of these hikes are on my bucket list! But I’m shocked you have no trails from Canada! There are some seriously amazing hikes in BC ?
Kristin says
I need to experience them! What are some of your favorites? I heard the west coast trail is awesome from several people.
Christina says
Hi Kristin
If you like hiking I would recommend going to Norway! In Lofoten and Møre og Romsdal the mountains and scenery is amazing. There are just a few trails that are “open” to the public. If you decide to travel there and do some research. You can almost walk alone to the top of a mountain insted of a kew. Here is our national page of trails and there are tons more http://www.dnt.no. And there are laws that say you can sleep anywhere in a tent for one night, as long as it is not fenced in. So travelling in Norway does not have to be expencive.
Kristin says
sounds awesome!
The Blogging Zoomer says
All of these look amazing. Especially the South Africa one! Definitely have to add some of these to my bucket list.
-The Blogging Zoomer