Geez, Take A Hike!
Planes, trains, and automobiles…but what about your own two feet? It’s a big, wide world out there that offers just as much fun when you walk the beaten path— and we actually mean walk, in this case. These multi-day hikes can range from 72 hours to over 30 days, range in difficulty and distance, but will all provide you with an experience you will never forget.
1. The Island Walk
Canada’s smallest province is waiting for you. Prince Edward Island has a stunning 700km (435mi) trail that encompasses the entire island. The walk takes roughly 32 days to complete and will take you to some of the province’s best-kept secrets. You obviously need some decent endurance, but the island’s relatively flat land won’t have you huffing and puffing the whole way around.
2. Annapurna Circuit
This famous Nepal trek takes you around the Annapurna mountain range. You’ll walk a total of 190km (118mi) over 16-ish days, reaching altitudes of 5,416m (17,769 ft) above sea level. Along the way, you’ll get the chance to stay at tea houses, visit temples, and be among some of the highest mountains in the world.
3. Huayhuash Circuit
This 8-14-day hike will take you across 180km (112mi) of Peru’s Cordillera Huayhuash mountain range. This trip will give your calves a nice burn, as a large portion of the trail is over 4000m (13,123ft) in altitude.
4. The King’s Trail
This Swedish hike spans 440km (275mi) across the country’s Lapland. It takes over a month to complete, but it has plenty of stops along the way to provide walkers with food, shelter, and much-needed saunas. If you really prefer to rough it, camping is also acceptable along the route.
5. The Snowman Trek
This incredibly challenging hike is located in Bhutan. It takes around 25 to 30 days, and reaches altitudes of 5,230m (17,160ft) above sea level. It is considered one of the hardest trails in the world due to its duration and altitude, combined with the harsh and unpredictable weather of the Himalayas.
6. The Great Divide Trail
This western Canadian trail follows the continental divide between Alberta and British Columbia. It spans 1095km (680mi), and the path you take will cross the divide over 30 times. Certain areas are quite remote, with no backcountry facilities or cell phone reception.
Igor Kyryliuk & Tetiana Kravchenko on Unsplash
7. The Pacific Crest Trail
Starting at the Mexico border, this trail takes you across 4,270km (2,653mi) through the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Along your journey, you will find yourself among several mountain ranges, including Mount Whitney, Mount Shasta, and Mount Hood.
8. Camino De Santiago
The Camino is not a singular route; instead, it consists of several ancient pilgrimage routes that lead to the tomb of the apostle James. The most popular route is the Camino Francés, which is an 800km (497mi) trail that starts in the southern French town of Jean-Pied-de-Port.
9. West Coast Trail
If Canada’s eastern islands don’t suit you, perhaps the western ones will! The West Coast Trail is a 75km (49mi) trek along the southwestern side of Vancouver Island. It takes around 5-8 days to complete, but it consists of challenging terrain and no backcountry amenities.
10. The Appalachian Trail
Taking you across 3541km (2,200mi), heights of 2,025m (6,643ft), and 14 states, the Appalachian Trail is one of the world's longest hiking-only treks. To complete the trail in full, you’ll need 5 to 7 months, but there are many smaller segments available if half a year is just a little too much for you.
11. Escapardenne Lee Trail
This 3-day trail takes you through all the beauty that Luxembourg has to offer. It's 53km (33mi) long and takes you 2,000m (6,562ft) above sea level, making it a moderately difficult trek. However, you’ll see some gorgeous scenery in the process.
12. Overland Track
This Australian trek will take you through Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. Considered one of the world’s best alpine bushwalks, you’ll spend 6 days walking 65km (40mi) of pure Tasmanian wilderness.
13. Alpe Adria Trail
This 750km (466mi)-long trail starts atop the Grossglockner in Austria and ends at the Adriatic Sea in Muggia. You’ll see just about every biome possible on this hike, passing by mountains, glacial lakes, forests, and coastal regions. The best part is it’s pretty beginner-friendly!
14. Bruce Trail
Ontario’s Bruce Trail is Canada's oldest footpath system, with over 900km (559mi) of main trail. If you want to complete it in one go, it’ll probably take you a little over a month, and you’ll find yourself immersed in the beauty of southern Ontario’s landscape.
15. Pieterpad
This famous 492km (305mi)-long hike is located in the Netherlands. Taking about a month to complete, you’ll stumble across forests, rolling hills, and several small villages where you can rest.
16. Moselsteig
This long-distance hike will take you along 365km (227mi) of German countryside. It’s considered the country’s longest and most environmentally diverse trek, and has existed for well over 2000 years. The hike even has a luggage transfer program, so you enjoy your hike without carrying all of your stuff.
17. The Inca Trail
Who wouldn’t want to climb up Machu Picchu? This Peru-based trail is a 4-day-long, 43km (26mi) hike that passes by cloud forests, mountain ranges, and many Inca ruins. Your trek ends at the “Sun Gate,” the main entrance to the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
18. W-Trek
This multi-day hike takes you through Chile’s Torres del Paine National Park. Stretching 80km (50mi), this 4-5 day hike will take you to some of Chile’s iconic sights, like the Torres de Paine towers, the French Valley, and Grey Glacier.
19. Kepler Track
Live like a hobbit for a few days as you find yourself in New Zealand’s Fiordland National Park. This 3 to 4-day loop is 60km (37mi) long, reaching a total height of 1472m (4830ft) at Mount Luxmore. It’s classified as an intermediate hike, with the trek up the mountain being particularly difficult, while the rest of the hike is generally pretty gentle.
20. Tour Du Mont Blanc
Visit France, Italy, and Switzerland on this gorgeous alpine trail. The hike is around 170km (106mi) long, with an elevation gain of 10,600m (34,777ft). It takes anywhere between 7 and 12 days to complete, but it is well-equipped with mountain huts, hotels, and delicious food for you to enjoy along the way.
