The 15 Best Hikes in the World (Our Favorites in 2024)

15 of the Best Hikes in the World

Whether it’s ancient human artifacts or spectacular views, each hike on this list should be a bucket list choice for every outdoor enthusiast. 

1. Tour du Mont Blanc, Switzerland, Italy, and France

• Difficulty: Hard
• Distance: 102.5 miles
• Duration: 8-12 days
• Elevation Gain: 34,721 feet

The Tour du Mont Blanc is a roughly 100-mile trek around Western Europe’s highest peak. Hikers can complete the route in its entirety or hike smaller sections of the hike’s highly customizable route. 

The views of all three countries are jaw-dropping, and you can enjoy everything from small, modest lodging to five-star hotels and incredible food along the way. If you’re concerned about more challenging parts of the journey, you can arrange to take trams up and down the steeper portions of the hike. 

If you wish to hike the entire route, careful planning is suggested, or you can hire a tour guide or group to plan your route and accommodations, as well as ferry your luggage for you.

2. ​​The Great Ocean Walk, Victoria, Australia

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Distance: 59.5 miles
• Duration: 6-8 days
• Elevation Gain: 9,166 feet

The Great Ocean Walk along Australia’s incredible coastline is an almost otherworldly experience. Along the 60 miles, you will pass through dense eucalyptus forests, see sprawling ocean views, and walk along gorgeous cliffsides. 

Perhaps the most incredible view on the whole hike is the Twelve Apostles, which are ancient sea stacks made of limestone that look like they were made by hand rather than formed millions of years ago. 

If you’re not from Australia, you will particularly enjoy the native wildlife, ranging from common Australian birds and reptiles to Wallabees and Kangaroos.

Despite the Great Ocean Walk being one of Australia’s most beloved trails, you can still appreciate the feelings of remote solitude while you sleep under the stars along your route.

3. Samaria Gorge, Greece

• Difficulty: Hard
• Distance: 8.9 miles
• Duration: 1 day
• Elevation Gain: 8,772 feet

On the island of Crete, you can appreciate the incredible beauty of the Samaria Gorge hike. This hike is a point-to-point hike, which means that you start at the top of the hike in a dense forest.

You’ll eventually make your way back to sea level (literally) as you come upon a black sand beach at your final destination. This stunning hike is one of the few treks on this list that can be completed in a single day, but you will get the gratifying views of a much longer hike.

The terrain changes drastically as you start at a high elevation, and after a steep drop, eventually, make your way to the dramatic views of the gorge.

While the hike is rated as difficult, the majority of the work is at the early stages of the hike, meaning you can take it relatively easy and stroll along the gorgeous scenery once you pass the steep decline. Then, take a quick dip at the beach to end your experience.

4. Lemosho Traverse, Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

• Difficulty: Hard
• Distance: 40.8 miles
• Duration: 5-8 days
• Elevation Gain: 16,758 feet

Despite being not only Africa’s tallest mountain but also the largest free-standing mountain in the entire world, Mount Kilimanjaro is an achievable mountain for hikers to climb in their lifetime.

While the hike is undeniably difficult, most avid hikers could reach the peak if they were so inclined with enough training and planning. Because most routes require only hiking and scrambling skills, those who wish to hike the mountain don’t require nearly as much specialized gear or training.

The Lemosho Traverse is said to be one of the most rewarding routes to the mountain’s summit, offering expansive views and incredible scenery and flowers.

In addition, while wildlife can sometimes be challenging for hikers to spot, this route runs through an alpine rainforest where hikers can observe blue monkeys, birds, and other wildlife. 

5. Bay of Fires, Tasmania, Australia

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Distance: 37.9 mi miles
• Duration: 3-4 days
• Elevation Gain: 3,864 feet

The beauty of the Bay of Fires in Tasmania is difficult to rival, as the turquoise blue waters contrast the bright orange granite that runs along the coastline. 

While many coastal hikes remain low in elevation, the route that runs from the Top Camp Campground to Binalong Bay offers hikers the ability to view the ocean as they walk alongside it and reach much higher elevations where they can experience a different type of bio-diversity and views. 

While this is the trail that we recommend for optimum appreciation of this stunning area, there are many options for day trips and overnight backpacking trips that span different portions of the bay. 

6. The Narrows, Zion National Park, Utah, United States

• Difficulty: Hard
• Distance: Depends on the route
• Duration: 1 day
• Elevation Gain: Depends on the route

Everyone has seen stunning photos of the Zion Narrows, and hikers all over the world hope to appreciate this incredible walk in person someday. A large portion of the hike is done in the river, as you hike between incredible red canyons. 

While there are two different routes to hike the narrows: top-down or bottom-up, most hikers opt to traverse them from the bottom up, as this route is both more customizable in terms of length and doesn’t require a permit to complete.

Read Next: The Best National Parks in America

7. W Circuit Trek, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

• Difficulty: Hard
• Distance: 43.1 miles
• Duration: 5-6 days
• Elevation Gain: 8,956 feet

The W Circuit Trek in the Torres del Paine National Park is one of the most popular hikes in the entire world, and hikers come from all over to appreciate the striking views of this Chilean hike.

The picture-perfect blue waters surrounded by sharp, snow-covered peaks make this national park a photographer’s dream. Unlike many famous hikes, the best time to hike in the Torres del Paine National Park is between December and February.

8. Gunung Rinjani, Indonesia

• Difficulty: Hard
• Distance: 15 miles
• Duration: 2 days
• Elevation Gain: 8,740 feet

Mount Rinjani is an active volcano in Indonesia, and this hike allows you to reach the summit and appreciate all that the incredible volcano has to offer.

Although it may not be as famous as some of the other hikes on this list, Gunung Rinjani will remain in your mind as one of the most memorable hikes of your lifetime.

Not to mention you can complete the hike in a matter of days, which is much more attainable than a lot of the other treks on this list, especially if you’re traveling from out of the country. 

While you may be attracted to Bali’s tropical lodgings, don’t miss the chance to hike this spectacular volcano when you’re in Indonesia. 

9. MacLehose Trail, Hong Kong

• Difficulty: Hard
• Length: 62 miles
• Duration: 6-7 days
• Elevation Gain: 16,578 feet

If you’re planning a trip to Hong Kong, you should strongly consider hiking MacLehose Trail in its entirety. Not only will you get sweeping views of the ocean and valleys, but you can appreciate some of the more remote areas neighboring Hong Kong.

It can be challenging to set aside that much of a vacation if you didn’t travel for the express purpose of completing a seven-day hike. Still, even if you only do part of the trail, you won’t regret immersing yourself in the tropical mountainous regions of the area.

10. Kalalau Trail (aka Na Pali Coast Trail), Kauai, Hawaii, United States

• Difficulty: Hard
• Distance: 22 miles
• Duration: 1-2 days
• Elevation Gain: 6,177 feet

The Kalalau Trail is one of the most popular hiking trails not only in the U.S. state of Hawaii but in the world, and it draws hikers from all over to the small island of Kauai.

In order to hike the Kalalau Trail in its entirety, hikers have to hike a total of 22 miles, which can be a lot to do in a single day. Some people choose to break the trip up into two days and camp overnight.

But we’ve included it as a day hike because many people just hike the first section of the trail to Hanakapiai Beach. The Kalalau Trail is known for its spectacular views and is one of Hawaii’s most strenuous but gratifying hikes.

If you wish to hike the Kalalau Trail, you must make reservations in advance.

Read Next: The Best Hikes in Kauai, Ranked

11. Milford Track, New Zealand

• Difficulty: Hard
• Distance: 37.2 miles
• Duration: 5-6 days
• Elevation Gain: 9,409 feet

If you’ve watched the Lord of the Rings, you’ve probably joined the ranks of hikers desperate to traverse some of New Zealand’s stunningly unique landscape.

The Milford Track, although long and arduous to complete, is some of New Zealand’s most incredible and rewarding terrain. Not only will you get to view some of the country’s most stunning mountain views, foliage, lush forests, and wildlife.

But the hike gives hikers the opportunity to view the breathtaking Sutherland Falls, the country’s tallest waterfall. If you’re considering a multi-day trek in New Zealand’s backcountry, then the Milford Track should be at the very top of your list.

12. Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Costa Rica

• Difficulty: Easy
• Distance: 2.7 miles
• Duration: 1 day
• Elevation Gain: 725 feet

Costa Rica is known for its lush rainforests, gorgeous blue coastlines, and tropical wildlife. But the most spectacular and alluring region of the country is the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve.

This wilderness area allows even the most beginner-level hikers to appreciate all that the Costarican wildlife has to offer.

The wildlife reserve includes well-maintained rainforest paths and foggy bridges that make you feel like you’re walking through the clouds and could be on another planet.

This hike proves that you don’t have to spend days hiking into the backcountry to appreciate some of our planet’s most incredible hiking.

13. Camino de Santiago, Spain

• Difficulty: Easy
• Distance: 500 miles
• Duration: 30-35 days
• Elevation Gain: N/A

The Camino de Santiago is one of the world’s most popular and most traveled hikes, and for good reason. This series of pilgrimage routes allows hikers to travel across the incredible Spanish countryside without compromising on comfort, as many backcountry treks require. 

There is comfortable lodging and delicious food all along the Camino de Santiago, meaning hikers can end their days with a hot meal and a comfortable bed. 

While it takes roughly a month to complete the entire trail, which ends where the Apostle James is believed to be buried, many hikers only do smaller portions of the trail, especially the last section to the end.

14. Grand Canyon Rim to Rim Hike, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, United States

• Difficulty: Hard
• Distance: 48 miles
• Duration: 1-3 days
• Elevation Gain: 5,150 feet

The Grand Canyon is on practically every avid hiker’s bucket list, and if you’re hoping to hike the Grand Canyon, then the Rim to Rim hike is the route you’re going to want to take.

Not only will you get incredible canyon and river views, but you can spend your nights under the spectacular Arizona stars. If you’re one of the lucky people fortunate enough to hike this route in your lifetime, be prepared for a grueling hike with some of the most rewarding views on the planet.

Note: It’s technically possible to do the whole trek in a single day, but you have to be in outstanding physical fitness, and most people choose to turn it into a backpacking trip.

15. Inca Trail, Macchu Picchu, Peru

• Difficulty: Hard
• Distance: 26 miles
• Duration: 4-6 days
• Elevation Gain: 9,304 feet

On paper, the Inca Trail may not seem like a particularly strenuous hike, but the endless up and down and the high altitude make this trek extremely difficult but wholly worth it. 

Because of the protected area, you have to use a guided tour company for hiking this trail to Macchu Picchu, so you should book your hike in advance.

However, this is one of the most popular trails in the world, and the incredible scenery and phenomenal world wonder make the difficult trek worthwhile.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the frequently asked questions about going on the world’s best hikes:

So, What Are the Best Hikes in the World?

In short, there’s no “best hike in the world.” This unique distinction goes to whatever hike you go on that you find most meaningful!

But, of course, there is a difference between what is best and what is most popular, and you should research each route you’re considering to ensure that it will have what you’re looking for out of a hike.

Whether you want to tackle a portion of Spain’s leisurely Camino de Santiago or summit Mount Kilimanjaro, this list is sure to have at least one hike that you’ll be adding to your bucket list. Happy travels!