Top 10 Best Hiking Trails in the World

Have you already checked off beach holidays and sightseeing on your holiday wish list? Are you looking for one of the best treks in the world for your next vacation? Pack your backpack and prepare yourself for your tour of discovery through forests and meadows. There are fantastic long-distance hiking trails for experienced hikers and also for beginners who may even be embarking on the adventure of long-distance hiking for the first time.

Te Araroa Trail (New Zealand)

The largest hiking trail in New Zealand is a relatively young long-distance hiking trail, as it has only existed in its current form since 2011. But it impresses with its diversity: It leads across both islands of New Zealand and also shows curious hikers the areas that are sometimes left out by holidaymakers in their wonderful unspoiltness. There are also very different landscapes to marvel at, such as fjords, primeval forests, dunes, and even volcanic landscapes. If you would like to walk in the footsteps of the Maori naturally, the moderately difficult hiking trail at the other end of the world will certainly be exciting for you.

• Start/Finish: Cape Reinga (North Island)/Stirling Point (Bluff; South Island)
• Length: 3,000 kilometers
• Duration: four to six months
• Difficulty: medium (partial routes possible; knowledge of route planning and self-directed camp set-up required)
• Best travel time: September to December
• Special features: Section on rivers – book canoes or kayaks here early for the crossing; shows all possible landscapes that are typical for New Zealand

Great Ocean Walk (Australia)

The Great Ocean Walk awaits you like Te Araroa at the other end of the world: But this time it’s not going to New Zealand, but Australia. There you will mainly encounter the native flora and fauna if you decide to hike the approximately 100-kilometer trail along the so-called “Great Ocean Road”. Beautiful sandy beaches are just as much a part of the wonderfully lonely path as exotic primeval forests and rugged rocks.

• Start/Finish: Apollo Bay/Glenample
• Length: 100 kilometers
• Running time: seven to eight days
• Difficulty: depending on the section, easy to medium
• Best travel time: all year round; particularly beautiful landscape in spring or autumn
• Special feature: leads through various national parks

GR221 (Spain/Mallorca)

Instead of a wild party at Ballermann, a relaxed hiking trail on Mallorca awaits you at the GR221. This shows you the quiet and natural side of the popular holiday island. It leads in eleven stages over the so-called route of the dry stone walls and often runs between these somewhat different sights, which are eye-catchers with their elaborate renovations. But the pleasant temperatures that you will encounter, especially during hikes in spring and autumn, and the typical flair of Mallorca make the long-distance hiking trail a popular travel destination for active holidaymakers who enjoy hiking.

• Start/Finish: Port d’Andratx/Port de Pollença
• Length: 140 kilometers
• Running time: ten to twelve days
• Difficulty: medium (mainly easy with some difficult sections)
• Best travel time: March to May, September to November
• Special features: dry stone walls as trail highlights; partly signposted and partly unsigned sections; Stages also suitable for day tours

Annapurna Circuit (Nepal)

Would you like a mystical, enchanting backdrop for your hike? How about the beautiful mountains in Nepal? This comparatively easy long-distance hiking trail leads through these, which mainly moves along populated places and is also suitable for beginners due to the 14 possible stages of shorter length. Nevertheless, it is considered one of the most varied hiking trails, which, on a clear day, allows a sweeping view of the magnificent mountain landscape for which Nepal is known worldwide.

• Start/Finish: Besisahar/Birethanti
• Length: 250 kilometers
• Running time: 20 days
• Difficulty: easy (mainly leads through populated areas)
• Best travel time: October to November (particularly clear view, little rain, pleasant temperatures)
• Feature: leads around Annapurna Mountains

Kungsleden (Sweden)

The Kungsleden means “King’s Path”. It is a relatively flat long-distance hiking trail in Sweden, which is also ideal for beginners and can be roughly divided into two parts. The northern part in particular is popular. The beauties of Swedish nature await you along the entire route. Scandinavia is a classic favorite destination for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts. The Kungsleden is no exception and will spoil you with the typical scenario of Swedish forests and meadows – and maybe a few wild animals.

• Start/finish: Abisko/Hemavan (northern part) or Sälen/Storlien (southern part)
• Length: 790 kilometers in two parts (about 440 kilometers north part, about 350 kilometers south part)
• Duration: one month
• Difficulty: easy
• Best time to travel: late June to late August
• Special features: divided into northern and southern routes; runs through Swedish national parks; is popular with many hikers (including families).

Lycian Way (Turkey)

If you prefer a summer destination for the hike, the Lycian Way in Turkey near the popular holiday destination Antalya could be interesting for you. With hopefully sunny weather, you’ll pass ancient cities and sites, idyllic beaches, and historic sights. Many of the 25 possible daily stages of the Lycian Way are often used for excursions, for example, walks or partial hikes in these stages are part of package tours.

• Start/Finish: Oludeniz/Antalya
• Length: 510 kilometers
• Duration: one month
• Difficulty: easy
• Best travel time: February to May or September to November (can be rather exhausting in summer due to the hot weather)
• Features: runs along the coast; mostly old stone paths (“mule paths”)

Great Trail (Canada)

Once known as the “Trans Canada Trail,” the trail, dubbed the “Great Trail” since 2016, remains the longest hiking trail in the world. It runs through all states in Canada. If you decide to hike the Great Trail, you can theoretically get to know all the important cities, such as Montreal in Québec, but also the more tranquil, cozy provinces in Canada. In practice, due to the length of more than 18,000 kilometers, it will certainly only be a section that you explore on the longest route during your hike.

• Start/Destination: Yukon/St. John’s (Newfoundland)
• Length: 18,000 kilometers; with water routes approx. 24,000 kilometers
• Running time: depends on the leg
• Difficulty: Depends on the section
• Best travel time: all year round (e.g. in winter it is possible to travel with dog sleds, in summer some sections can be completed by horse or canoe)
• Features: Passes around 15,000 Canadian communities; is considered the longest hiking trail in the world

Appalachian Trail (USA)

This long-distance hiking trail, which many ambitious hikers want to complete in just one season, begins in Georgia in the south of the USA: The Appalachian Trail leads up to the north through a total of 14 US states and ends in Maine at Mount Katahdin. Together with the Pacific Crest Trail, which we have already introduced to you, and the so-called Continental Divide Trail, which runs between North America and Canada, the Appalachian Trail forms the so-called “Triple Crowner”. Many hikers aim to walk all three of these trails in their lifetime. Would that be a goal for you too?

• Start/Finish: Springer Mountain (Georgia)/Mount Katahdin (Maine)
• Length: 3,500 kilometers
• Duration: four to six months
• Difficulty: medium (a certain level of fitness is required, but no particularly difficult sections)
• Best travel time: March to October
• Features: crosses 14 states of the USA; leads through the eponymous Appalachian Mountains with their special charm

Dream Path (Germany, Austria, Italy)

Many long-distance hiking trails certainly bear the nickname “Traumpfad”. But this one certainly deserves special mention: the approximately 500-kilometer route eventually leads through three countries. Starting in Germany, you hike through Austria to beautiful Italy. The alpine mountain world of Tyrol is just one of the reasons for choosing the demanding long-distance hiking trail. The numerous rustic places to stop for refreshments along the route also make it attractive. However, you should have a certain amount of hiking experience and be in good physical condition, not least because of the altitude difference to be overcome, to get from southern Germany over the Alps to romantic Venice without any problems.

• Start/finish: Munich/Venice
• Length: 520 kilometers
• Duration: one month
• Difficulty: hard
• Best travel time: July to September
• Special features: runs through three countries; around 20,000 meters in altitude have to be mastered

Pacific Crest Trail (USA)

The Pacific Crest Trail is considered one of the most difficult hiking trails in the world. Despite this – or precisely because of this – several thousand people dare to embark on this adventure every year. The long-distance trail runs along the west coast of the USA from the Mexican border to the Canadian border. The scenario is mostly desert landscapes and scrubland, but there are also parts of the route that lead through the partly snow-capped mountains. The temperatures can climb up to 40 degrees in the desert during the day and drop sharply at night – this should be taken into account when choosing your luggage.

• Start/Finish: Mexico border/Canada border
• Length: 4,280 kilometers
• Duration: six months
• Difficulty: hard
• Best travel time: April or May
• Special features: overcomes approx. 120,000 meters in altitude; runs through three US states ( California, Oregon, Washington) and British Columbia in Canada