The most beautiful places to hike around the world

This ancient trail leads hikers through the Andean mountains, cloud forests, and Inca ruins, culminating at the legendary Machu Picchu. It consists of three overlapping trails: Mollepata, Classic, and One Day. Mollepata is the longest of the three routes with the highest mountain pass and intersects with the Classic route before crossing Warmiwañusqa.

Located in the Andes mountain range, the trail passes through several types of Andean environments including cloud forest and alpine tundra. Settlements, tunnels, and many Incan ruins are located along the trail before ending the terminus at the Sun Gate on Machu Picchu mountain.

As the highest peak in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro offers a challenging yet rewarding hiking experience. With three volcanic cones—Kibo, Mawenzi and Shira—it is the highest mountain in Africa and the highest single free-standing mountain above sea level in the world: 5,895 metres above sea level and 4,900 metres above its plateau base. It is also the highest volcano in the Eastern Hemisphere.

Mount Kilimanjaro is a popular peak, high on the list of ultimate treks alongside with Everest and Machu Picchu in Peru.Climbers traverse through diverse ecosystems, from lush rainforests to alpine deserts, before reaching the snow-capped summit. The view from Uhuru Peak, the highest point, is a reward like no other.

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Rising majestically from the tropical forests of Borneo, Mount Kinabalu is one of the highest mountains in Southeast Asia. Being a World Heritage site, the climb takes hikers through a diverse ecosystem from the steamy Sabah rainforest to Montane grasslands and desolate rock-scapes as well as alpine meadows. The summit offers breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape and the South China Sea, especially at sunrise when the first light illuminates the rugged terrain.

For those looking for a more challenging experience, the mountain offers two Via Ferrata routes where you can traverse the mountain to see an entirely different and immensely beautiful side of the Kinabalu. The route’s thread-like tightrope walks and swinging planks might shock most casual hikers but those looking for a rush will enjoy the experience.

The Dolomites, a Unesco World Heritage site, are known for their dramatic limestone peaks, alpine meadows, and picturesque villages. Also known as the “Pale Mountains” feature an infinite number of trails winding their way through these incredible landscapes, with breathtaking vistas.

The popular Alta Via 1 trail takes hikers through the heart of this mountain range, offering great views and the opportunity to explore charming rifugios (mountain huts). The trek comes around Passo Falzarego and the old battle sites from World War 1.

Dubbed “the finest walk in the world,” the Milford Track in Fiordland National Park has been thrilling hikers for more than 150 years through lush rainforests, alpine passes, and alongside crystal-clear rivers. The journey ends at the stunning Milford Sound, where towering cliffs and cascading waterfalls create a truly magical scene.

The New Zealand Department of Conservation classifies this track as a Great Walk and maintains three huts along the track: Clinton Hut, Mintaro Hut and Dumpling Hut. There are also three private lodges and four day shelters available. 

Stretching over 2,190 miles from Georgia to Maine, the Appalachian Trail is one of the longest continuous footpaths in the world, passing through 14 American states. Hikers can choose to tackle sections of the trail or embark on a months-long thru-hike. Highlights include the Great Smoky Mountains, the White Mountains, and the stunning vistas from McAfee Knob with more than three million people hike segments of it each year.

Connecting Chamonix in France to Zermatt in Switzerland, the Haute Route is a high-level trek that takes hikers through some of the most stunning alpine scenery in Europe. The route passes through the centre of both the French and Swiss Alps: two distinct cultural regions with different languages and architecture. With views of iconic peaks like Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn, it is regarded by many as the most magnificent hut-to-hut hiking trail that the Alps has to offer.

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Iceland’s Laugavegur Trail is a journey through otherworldly landscapes, from colourful rhyolite mountains and steaming hot springs to vast lava fields and icy glaciers. Located in Iceland’s Southern Highlands, the trail begins in the stunning geothermally-active Landmannalaugar Nature Reserve.

Hikers will ascend the black obsidian slopes of Hrafntinnusker and cross the sparse black ash field of Mælifellssandur. From there hikers pass into Þórsmörk, ‘The Valley of Thor’, a surprisingly green area nestled between three glaciers. Hikers generally regard the trail as an unparalleled adventure in one of the world’s most unique environments.

Hiking along the Great Wall of China offers a mix of history and breathtaking scenery. The structure is one of the largest building-construction projects ever undertaken consisting of numerous walls—many of them parallel to each other—built over some two millennia across northern China and southern Mongolia. The Jinshanling to Simatai section is particularly popular, offering hikers a chance to explore both restored and unrestored parts of the wall while enjoying panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.

The Annapurna Circuit is a classic Himalayan trek that takes hikers through diverse landscapes, from subtropical forests to alpine meadows and arid high-altitude deserts. One of the most immersive ways to experience the mountains in Nepal, the trail offers stunning views of some of the world’s highest peaks, including Annapurna and Dhaulagiri, and the chance to experience the rich culture of local mountain communities.

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