Lonely Planet Epic Hikes of the World: Explore the Planet's Most Thrilling Treks and Trails

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The apex of the Atlas range, 13,671ft (4167m) Mt Toubkal is also the highest peak in all of North Africa. You can get up and down the mountain in two days if summiting is all that matters – though making a longer circuit not only helps with acclimatization, but also offers a greater insight into local Berber culture.

12 of the world’s most epic hikes - Lonely Planet

This hike takes you to endless beaches of white sand, boulders covered in blood red lichen, and alongside turquoise water. You can do this hike on a guided trip or on your own, but the scenery makes it one of the best hikes in the world. Deep in the heart of mountainous South Island, in the fantastically named Mount Aspiring National Park, your trek begins in style: onboard a helicopter! Soar over the mountains for a birds-eye view before your landing in the excitingly named Siberia Valley. Here the trekking begins, with an adventurous ascent to the Siberia Hut – but that’s only the base camp.This could be Italy’s most iconic viewpoint, the three silver-grey shards spearing skywards in a landscape that is shaped by history – this was once the front line in a vicious battle of attrition during the Great War, and that legacy still lingers along these routes. The path is relatively easy, and mostly stays within the altitudes of 1200m to 1800m. However, there are some 2000m+ peaks you'll be scrambling up, including Sedlo pod Svišt’ovkou (2,023m) and Vel’ka Svit’ovka (2037m). The scree on the paths can be slippery, but there are chains to help support you. Bed down in mountain huts along the trail. 14. The Dolomites' Alta Via, Italy Hikers making their way through the Dolomites. Photo: Getty. We hope to get our bodies in shape so we can hike them all in our lifetime. If an indoorsy person like me can do it, you can too! Pin These mountains are vast and untamed; you’re far more likely to bump into a troop of bleeding-heart Gelada baboons than other trekkers. The sights: The C2C gets extra high marks for undulating through three contrasting national parks: the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dells and the North York Moors. Unlike American parks, British parks are a different breed; there is no vast wilderness. Instead, they adapt to the realities of the English countryside and weave together a landscape that includes small villages, farms, B&Bs, crumbling castles, cow pastures and wandering sheep.

The 50 Most Epic Places to Hike Around the World

We’ve compiled a list of the best hikes in the world, including the distances and best times of the year. So far, we’ve completed two of these hikes plus sections of others. Planning tip: If you want to make a day of it, you can ramp up the adventure in the valley at the water park, adventure playground, zip-line course and bobsled run. 9. Bisse de Clavau This form of adventuring has been embraced from the moment we began walking upright. There's something for all abilities out there but be sure to do the proper research and planning ahead of time. From epic treks up summits to steady strolls around the coast and historical pilgrimages, read on for our curation of the very best of the best. Read more: 5 of the Best Hikes in the Dolomites 15. Mont Blanc, France On the ascent of Mont Blanc, ice axes at the ready. For many, the highlight will always be arriving at the Sun Gate, the fantastic finale and the moment you first see iconic Machu Picchu spread out beneath you. But for others, it’s waking up and peering from your tent pitched above the clouds to see a magnificent cloud inversion sunrise.Vikos Aoos National Park, in northwest Greece, is a natural playground of deep gorges, green valleys, verdant forests and fast-flowing rivers. One of the most popular day hikes in the park takes you through Vikos Gorge, the deepest gorge in the world. But you can continue hiking along the park's trails for a glorious multi-day hike. Choosing to hike and walk for a good part of your global travels allows you to experience the world through a unique lens – you’ll get to know local communities, learn about a culture from the ground level and stay fit while doing it. Read more: The Best Hikes in Madeira 5. Tour de Mont Blanc, France Trekking on the Tour du Mont Blanc with snowy mountains in the distance. Photo: Getty

25 Best Hikes in the World to Put on Your Bucket List (2023)

You’ll spend eleven days immersed in the heart of the Annapurna range, ringed by such giants as Annapurna 1, Glacier Dome, Gangapurna, Fang and Machhapuchhare, or Fishtail Mountain). Sunrise on Poon Hill counts as one of the most treasured memories for hikers on this route, a perfect moment of peace in a hectic modern world. The trek: There are other scenic and historical paths in England, but to see the best of the countryside, the Coast to Coast Path gets the Full Monty award. Devised by Alfred Wainwright, the late guidebook author and raconteur created the ultimate English puzzle by piecing together a maddening mosaic of time-worn bridleways, country roads, mountain trails and obscure public right-of-ways across private lands that link hamlets and villages roughly a day’s walk apart. Traversing England’s narrowest midsection from St. Bees on the Irish Sea to Robin Hood’s Bay along the North Sea, the official distance is 182 miles. Read more: Everything You Need to Know About the Haute Route 13. Tatranská Magistrala, Slovakia The High Tatras are a highly protected area and an incredible hiking location.With stories of 50 incredible hiking routes in 30 countries, from New Zealand to Peru, plus a further 150 suggestions, Lonely Planet’s Epic Hikes of the Worldwill inspire a lifetime of adventure on foot. From one-day jaunts and urban trails to month-long thru-hikes, cultural rambles and mountain expeditions, each journey shares one defining feature: being truly epic. The largest national park in Japan is home to a well-traveled trail that takes you up Asahidake Mountain (the highest mountain in Hokkaido). Be warned: The mountain can get very, very snowy. It might be the perfect excuse to cut your hike short and head over to some of the hot-springs villages near the mountain. Matterhorn is the mountain you can’t stop gawping at – and this circular hike in Zermatt gets you up close and personal to the beauty.