7 of the World’s Most Magnificent Hiking Routes

If you have a hearty pair of lungs, strong legs, are well prepared and are serious about hiking, you may want to try out some of these classic hiking trails that can be found in various parts of the world.

The Inca Trail

1. Peru – The Inca Trail

The famous Inca Trail is about 20 miles in length and was created many moons ago by the Incans. Thousands of hikers tackle it each year. The trail takes you from the Sacred Valley over to the magnificent Machu Picchu. Along the way you’ll pass through some marvelous mountains and cloud forest.

2. France – GR20

This trail is pretty demanding as it’s just over 100 miles in length and takes about 15 days to complete. It takes you through some beautiful Corsican landscapes such as granite moonscapes, craters, forests, glacial lakes, peat bogs, torrents, plains, and snow-capped mountains. The route is quite rocky and can be steep in some parts. Some of the rock faces are slippery and there are some rickety old bridges along the way. The trail was created back in 1972 and takes you from Calenzana to Conca.

3. Nepal – The Mount Everest Base Camp

At Kala Pattar, the height of the mountain reaches 18,193feet. The hike will take about three weeks to finish. It takes you to some of the most breathtaking scenery you could imagine and its one that the Sherpa people often complete. You’ll need to get used to the altitude as the heights are dizzying.

4. Mali – Pays Dogon

The Dogon people love in one of the most spectacular areas of Africa. You can take any type of hike here from about two to 10 days in length. The Bandiagara escarpment is filled with magnificent cliffs and you’ll find Dogon villages on them along the way. The Dogon people are well known for their dwellings which are carved into the side of the hills.

5. Australia – The Overland Track

This ancient wilderness area sits in Tasmania. It’s about 50 miles in length and takes five or six days to complete it. The Overland Track winds its way through Lake St Clair and Cradle Mountain. The route takes you past some wonderful sites such as mountains, tarns, lakes, moorlands, and forests. There are also some side paths which lead to valleys, summits, and waterfalls. You can trek over to Mount Ossa, which at 5,305 feet in height is the tallest in Tasmania.

6. India – The Himalayas

The Himalayan Mountain Range is probably the most famous in the world, but many people don’t hike over on the Indian side of the range. If you’d prefer some isolation you can try hiking over in Himachal Pradesh. Those who are hardcore often spend more than three weeks across the tops of the mountains from Spiti over to Ladakh. This challenging and remote hike takes you along some ancient routes that were used by traders and the scenery is fabulous.

7. USA – The Narrows

This hike is about 16 miles long and it takes you over some centuries-old canyons that were carved out by the mighty Virgin River. The Narrows is located in Zion National Park and is quite unique. The river is basically the route and this means you’ll need to be prepared to get wet by swimming and wading in it. Most people complete the journey in a signal day, but you can take your time to enjoy the scenery and camp out at one of the dozen campgrounds that can be found in the park.