Best Hiking Trips in the World to Put on Your Bucket List Part II

Have you seen our 25 best hikes in the world to put on your bucket list post? It’s one of our most popular posts on our blog, and since then, we’ve received so much feedback on other hikes that should make the list. We figure it’s about time to do a Part II, so here it is!

[ P.S. We’re taking a small group of adventurers on a 7-day expedition in Patagonia this July. If you’re interested, sign up here. ]

BEST HIKING TRIPS IN THE WORLD PART II

26. Overland Track

Location: Tasmania
Distance: 40 miles
Time: 5 days
Best Time to Go: November to April

This beautiful hike takes you through the heart of Tasmania’s Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. You’ll see glacier-carved valleys, vast rainforests, and beautiful alpine meadows. You can also take side trips to waterfalls and mountain summits, including Mt Ossa – Tasmania’s highest peak.

27. El Camino De Santiago

Location: Spain
Distance: 500+ miles (most people do portions of it)
Time: Varies
Best Time to Go: April to September

Although there are different routes, the commonly agreed-upon route begins in Saint Jean Pied de Port, France, takes you through four of Spain’s 15 regions, and ends at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia. You will see the Pyrenees Mountains, lush eucalyptus forests, and the trail itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

28. Mount Toubkal

Location: Morocco
Distance: 17 miles
Time: 2-3 days
Best Time to Go: May to October

Summit the highest peak in North Africa at 4167 meters. Although it is a tough climb, it isn’t technical during the summer months. You can join a small guided group and experience the Atlas Mountains, the culture, and meet the people.

29. The Otter Trail

Location: South Africa
Distance: 25 miles
Time: 5 days
Best Time to Go: May to October

This is the oldest official hiking trail in South Africa and is named after the elusive otter. You will see caves, waterfalls, and beaches along the trail and get a taste of beautiful forest and coastal shore.

30. Trans-Catalina Trail

Location: California, United States
Distance: 34.5 miles
Time: 4 days
Best Time to Go: Year Round

This hike takes you across the entirety of Catalina Island and rewards you with amazing scenery as you’re surrounded by blue ocean views.

31. Druk Path

Location: Bhutan
Distance: 28.5 miles
Time: 5 days
Best Time to Go: October to November, March to April

Start the trip off by visiting the famous Tiger’s Nest Temple. Then embark on this beautiful hike through an ancient trading route that takes you through stunning scenery and gives you a chance to experience Bhutan’s rich culture.

32. Chomolhari Base Camp

Location: Bhutan
Distance: 72.4 miles
Time: 11 days
Best Time to Go: October to November, March to April

This is one of Bhutan’s most famous routes! Along the way, you can visit temples, explore local markets, and experience all that Himalaya has to offer.

33. Annapurna Base Camp

Location: Nepal
Distance: 59.9 miles
Time: 12 days
Best Time to Go: October to November, February to March

Explore the Nepal side of the Himalayas by trekking to Annapurna Base Camp. Daily distances are shorter, but the elevation gain is insane! Take in all the amazing views and experience the Nepali culture. You can also check out this other hike in the Annapurna area.

PinPin

34. Langtang Tamang Heritage Trail

Location: Nepal
Distance: 40 miles
Time: 5 days
Best Time to Go: October to November, March to April

See the northern side of Nepal and the Tibetan border. Look for monkeys, hike through cactus forests, and summit Kyanjin Ri as you gaze up at the strings of prayer flags fluttering in the breeze.

35. La Ciudad Perdida (Lost City Trek)

Location: Colombia
Distance: 30 miles
Time: 5 days
Best Time to Go: December to August

See the Lost City of the Sierra Nevada. This is a relatively unknown hike where you’ll be surrounded by untouched jungles as you trek to a remote corner of Colombia.

36. Carstensz Pyramid or Puncak Jaya

Location: Papua Province, Indonesia
Distance: 81 miles
Time: 11 days
Best Time to Go: Year Round

Of the Seven Summits, this is technically the hardest and is the highest mountain of the continent of Oceania. Be prepared to climb in snow, rain, and come face-to-face with sharp rock features. There’s a constant battle with local miners, so the trek can change route based on what can be accessed.

Note: There are a few versions of the 7 Summits, some of which don’t include Puncak Jaya.

37. Milford Track

Location: New Zealand
Distance: 33.5 miles
Time: 5 days
Best Time to Go: November to April

See the heart of Fiordland National Park and enjoy the amazing views of the majestic Milford Sound. It has been described as “the finest walk in the world” with amazing views around every corner.

PinPin

38. Bibbulmun Track

Location: Australia
Distance: 621 miles
Time: 6-8 weeks
Best Time to Go: April to November

This is one of the world’s great long distance trails stretching from Kalamunda to Albany. With 49 campsites, you can plan to do the whole hike or just portions of it. It is not as crowded as some of the other long distance hikes in the world, so you may not run into people for a week a time.

39. Hump Ridge Track

Location: New Zealand
Distance: 38.5 miles
Time: 3 days
Best Time to Go: November to April

You will hike through sea-level views all the way to the sub-alpine wilderness on this loop hike through New Zealand’s south coast. The diversity of this hike will constantly keep things fresh.

40. Mount Kailash

Location: Tibet
Distance: 32.3 miles
Time: 3 days
Best Time to Go: May to October

Climbing the 6,714-meter summit of Mount Kailash is forbidden because it is a site sacred to five religions, but this trek around the base is worth the effort. You will also see Himalayan waterfalls and the Sapta Rishi cave.

41. West Coast Trail

Location: British Columbia, Canada
Distance: 50 miles
Time: 5 days
Best Time to Go: May to September

This trail runs along the west coast of BC’s Vancouver Island and attracts hikers from all over the world. It’s a reservation-managed hike with vertigo-inducing ladders, opportunities to spot whales, and stops where you can even buy freshly cooked lunch.

PinPin

42. Copper Canyon Rim-to-Rim

Location: Mexico
Distance: 38 miles
Time: 6 days
Best Time to Go: November to March

Copper Canyon is deeper, wider, and longer than the Grand Canyon. This trek hits you with 20,000 feet of elevation change but rewards you with amazing suspension bridges, 200-year-old settlements, and spectacular vistas.

43. Teton Crest Trail

Location: Wyoming, United States
Distance: 37 miles
Time: 4 days
Best Time to Go: August to October

See all the iconic landmarks of one of the world’s most spectacular mountain ranges in Grand Teton National Park on this trek. Although you can hike it either direction, going south to north gives you views of the Tetons the whole way.

44. Cotopaxi Circuit

Location: Ecuador
Distance: 49.7 miles
Time: 4 days
Best Time to Go: June to September, December to January

This hike is impressive to even seasoned hikers. It’s one of the continent’s best introduction to extreme-altitude hiking and lets you see how beautiful Ecuador is.

45. West Highland Way

Location: UK
Distance: 95 miles
Time: 6 days
Best Time to Go: May to October

This is a lovely walk that takes you through small towns, hotels, and pubs where you can grab a pint or two. There are also baggage transfer companies so you can just enjoy the walk. You’ll pass lochs, rivers, mountains, and get a chance to see the beautiful countryside.

46. Berg Lake Trail

Location: Canada
Distance: 14 miles
Time: 3-5 days
Best Time to Go: June to September

This is one of the most popular trails in the Canadian Rockies. The scenery is absolutely gorgeous and there are plenty of ways to do this hike to see breathtaking views.

47. Hoerikwaggo Trail

Location: South Africa
Distance: 55 miles
Time: 5 days
Best Time to Go: October to April

This beautiful hike takes you through some of the best South Africa has to offer. You will see everything between Cape Point to the outskirts of the City of Cape Town and its all within the Table Mountain National Park.

48. Skyline Trail

Location: Canada
Distance: 25.7 miles
Time: 3 days
Best Time to Go: July to September

This is one of the best backpacking trails in the Canadian Rockies. A big portion of the hike is above Jasper’s tree line, which means you get amazing views of the surrounding mountain ranges, valleys, and lakes. This trail also has the highest section of hiking trail in Jasper National Park. Also, check out 15 Unforgettable Things to Do at Jasper National Park.

49. Haute Route

Location: France & Switzerland
Distance: 112 miles
Time: 9-15 days
Best Time to Go: June to September

Some say this is the best hike in Europe. Not only do you see the amazing alpine valleys, lakes, and glaciers, you get to experience great food, history, and culture. You also see Mont Blanc, which is the highest peak in Europe, and the Matterhorn, one the most notable peaks in the alps.

50. Mount Kenya

Location: Kenya
Distance: 33 miles
Time: 4 days
Best Time to Go: June to September, January to February

There are multiple routes to summit this beautiful UNESCO World Heritage site, but the Sermon route is the most direct. Mount Kenya is known for its beautiful and dramatic views. There is diverse vegetation, dramatic U-shaped valleys, and hanging lakes.

Have you been on any of these hikes? What other hikes are on your bucket list?

ESTHER + JACOB

Esther and Jacob are the founders of Local Adventurer, which is one of the top 50 travel blogs in the world. They believe that adventure can be found both near and far and hope to inspire others to explore locally. They move to a new city every year and currently live in Portland, Oregon.