Do you like hiking? Me too, I love !
It's the best way to experience nature in its raw state.
But also to measure up to harsh climates and the highest peaks.
Adventure, hikers live for it, whether they're traversing a canyon, climbing a mountain or traversing moorland.
You too want to tread these legendary trails that put the body to the test?
You also want to experience strong emotions on the most beautiful exceptional trails?
Whether you are an experienced hiker or a beginner, discover the 30 most legendary hiking trails on the planet:
Carved over millennia by the Virgin River, The Narrows is a gorge located in Zion National Park, Utah. It's certainly not the hardest, but this hike offers breathtaking scenery throughout its 26 km. More than half of the trail goes into the river itself, including some spots where you're sure to swim. But rest assured, this hike is done in a day's walk, after which you can quietly dry off in one of the park's 12 campsites.
How to get there: This hike through the Virgin River begins at the Chamberlain Ranch, located approximately 20 miles from the eastern entrance to Zion National Park. For detailed instructions and maps, visit the Zion Adventures website.
The Dogon Country is undoubtedly one of the most picturesque sites on the African continent. It is its grandiose landscapes that attract hikers to its trails. The course can last up to 10 days. This hike crosses a real country, that of the Dogon people, and includes visits to troglodyte dwellings and authentic Dogon villages.
How to get there: to move around the Dogon Country, it is essential to rent a car or hire a private driver. Then, you have to go to one of the starting point villages:Kani-Kombolé, Djiguibombo, Endé, Dourou or Sanga. To get a good idea of the different hikes to do through the Dogon Country, consult this interactive map. Remember to check before if the area is not dangerous on this site.
To discover the most magnificent landscapes of the Alps, you must take La Haute Route, a path that connects Chamonix, in France, to Zermatt, in Switzerland. The routes vary according to the seasons, but allow around 2 weeks to complete this circuit, reserved for experienced hikers.
How to get there: book accommodation in or around Chamonix. To organize your hike, call on a guide who will accompany you on the trails. Your guide and possibly your hotel will be able to provide you with all the necessary information.
Still on French territory, the GR20 of Corsica is a legendary trail for walking winding over 168 km. Signposted in 1972, the GR20 starts from Calenzana, crosses Balagne and finally ends in Conca, north of Porto-Vecchio. On this spectacular hike, you'll encounter an astonishing array of rickety bridges, mountains, glacial lakes, rivers, forests, and bogs. It is one of the most difficult hikes.
How to get there: the nearest large town to Calenzana is Calvi. You can get there by plane, at Sainte-Catherine airport, or by taking the local ferries. Then take a coach from Calvi to Calenzana to access the trail.
At first glance, this hike of "only" 33 km may seem easier than those previously mentioned. But this trail, largely built under the Inca Empire, meets all the expectations of a modern-day hiker. Along this route, you will cross, among other things, the Sacred Valley of Machu Picchu, one of the most remarkable sites in the world. It's one of the best treks in the world!
How to get there: access to the Inca Trail is strictly controlled. Therefore, it is essential to organize your visit a few months in advance, through a tourist guide. When the time comes, you will have to take a flight to Cuzco. From this town, take a train to Aguas Calientes, the starting point of the trail to Machu Picchu. You can spend the night in Aguas Calientes or choose to go directly to Ollantaytambo, in the heart of the Sacred Valley. Your tour guide will surely accompany you on all these trips, to help you find the trail.
Mount Everest is the first major climb on this list of legendary hikes. Located at Kala Pattar, Everest Base Camp reaches a dizzying altitude of 5,545 m. It takes 3 weeks to complete the circuit. To do this, you will be accompanied by Sherpas. These famous guides of the people of the same name come from the district of Solukhumbu. With them, you will admire the unforgettable landscapes that follow one another throughout the valleys and mountains of Everest.
How to get there: if you have chosen to start your climb on the Nepalese side, book a flight from Kathmandu to the small airport of Lukla, a village near Sagarmatha National Park. If you have chosen to hire a Sherpa, they will most likely be at the airport to meet you.
Much less traveled than the Alps or Everest, this path located in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh is an arduous hike intended for adventurers. On this path isolated from everything, which connects Spiti to Ladakh in 24 days, you will have to border precipices and reach dizzying altitudes.
How to get there: the state of Himachal Pradesh is divided into 12 districts. The area you are interested in is the Lahaul and Spiti district, specifically in the Spiti Valley. Most trekkers choose the town of Manali as their starting point. To get there, you can get there by train or plane from Delhi. Then, take the west-east circuits to the Rohtang Pass which end in the town of Kaza. There are also coaches that connect Delhi to Manali. If you drive yourself, allow about 8 to 10 hours.
Located in Tasmania, the Overland Track extends over 80 km and requires about 6 days of walking. This hike connects Mount Cradle with Lake St. Clair, Australia's deepest lake. You can contemplate mountains, lakes, moors, forests, waterfalls and also the famous Mount Ossa, the highest point in Tasmania.
How to get there: of all the hikes on this list, the Overland Track is by far the easiest to access. Simply drive to the Cradle Mountain Visitor Center and a shuttle will drop you right at the trailhead. From the larger towns of Davenport, Burnie or Launceston, you can easily access Mount Cradle and Lake St. Clair in less than 4 hours.
Located on New Zealand's South Island, the Routeburn Track is not a particularly strenuous trail. Three days of hiking are enough to complete its 32 km, starting from the foot of the Southern Alps massif. In reality, the only difficulty of this hike is to obtain a right of visit! Indeed, the number of hikers who can access it is strictly limited by the government.
How to get there: hikers favor the Routeburn refuge as a starting point, easily accessible from Queenstown. To get to Queenstown, you can fly, coach or rent a car.
You have surely heard of K2, the second highest peak in the world, after Everest. But did you know that you can climb its icy slopes to its summit? This legendary 15-day trek will take you through Paiju (6,610m), Uli Biaho (6,417m), the Great Tower of Trango (6,286m) and, finally, the famous K2 with its 8,611m.
How to get there: like most trips to Pakistan, you must pass through Islamabad. The hotels recommended for hikers are the Envoy, the Shalimar or the Royal Inn. But, of course, it's up to you to choose your accommodation. From Islamabad, fly or drive to Skardu. Finally, 4x4 guides will accompany you to the village of Askolie, the starting point of this unforgettable hike.
This tour is also known as the Great Hike of New Zealand. Located on the North Island, it extends over 49 km and requires 4 days of walking to circumvent Mount Ngauruhoe. You will surely recognize its landscapes, since they were used in the filming of the Lord of the Rings trilogy .
How to get there: most hikers reach the village of Whakapapa. The New Zealand Department of Conservation has banned private vehicles beyond this village and offers shuttles to the starting point of the tour, for $15. From Auckland, you can fly to Whakapapa Airfield.
Many trails exist to reach the summit of Mount Fitz Roy. On average, the hikes are about 64 km long. But each of these scenic trails gives you the most unforgettable views in Patagonia.
How to get there: again there is a great choice of routes to get to the top. Therefore, take care to choose your route carefully before your departure. The village of El Chalten is the gateway to Mount Fitz Roy. It is accessible by bus from El Calafate or San Carlos de Bariloche. Both cities are served by internal flights, but El Calafate is by far the easiest to get to.
With only 12 km, we could qualify this hike as a great walk. It runs along the majestic Mediterranean coast, west of Italy. Not only are its landscapes sublime, but you will also cross the Cinque Terre , five villages listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Therefore, it is THE ideal hike for culture lovers.
How to get there: you can reach the Cinque Terre by plane, train or car. The hike starts in the village of Corniglia, accessible by train or on foot.
The Santa Cruz trek is one of Peru's most popular treks, surpassed only by the previously mentioned Inca Trail. In 4 days of hiking, you will discover some of the most isolated rivers, lakes and mountains in the world.
How to get there: best to hire a guide for this hike to better enjoy your experience. The trek begins in Huaraz, a town located in the Huascarán National Park, in the heart of the Cordillera Blanca. To get there, take a bus from Lima. The main operators are Movil Tours, Ormeño, Cruz del Sur and CIAL.
10 days of walking, 83 km of trails and landscapes that stretch as far as the eye can see:this is what you can expect from the Queen of Chilean hikes. Crossing the Torres del Paine massif, you will discover true wonders of the South American continent.
How to get there: after a flight to El Calafate, you will travel 6 hours by coach to Puerto Natales. From there, you will take another bus for 2 hours to Torres Del Paine National Park. Many guides are available on site to accompany you on your hike in the national park. You also have the option of booking your guide in advance.
Petra, a dream destination for hikers from all over the world. Only one problem:how to visit it? The easy option is to take an air-conditioned coach. But the adventurer in you will surely prefer this superb 80 km hike in the middle of the desert, which can be done in 7 days. The choice is obvious.
How to get there: you must first book a flight to Amman, the capital of Jordan. From there, take a coach to Madaba, where you will meet your guide. He will then accompany you to Dana, the starting point of the hike.
The Kungsleden , or Royal Way in Swedish, crosses the uninhabited landscapes of this northern European country and covers an impressive length of 434 km. In winter, the Kungsleden turns into a ski slope.
How to get there: the starting point of the hike is in the municipality of Abisko, located in the far north of the country about 25 hours from Malmö and 13 hours from Stockholm. To get there, there are also daily trains from Lulea and Gallivare, or you can also reach by plane.
This 75 km trail runs along the southwest coast of Vancouver Island. It was originally marked out in 1907 so that locals could come to the aid of shipwrecked people. Today, it mainly allows hikers to discover the awe-inspiring and wild expanses of the British Columbia coast.
How to get there: there are several entry points to take the West Coast Trail. The easiest is Pacheena Bay, accessible by plane or ferry.
Renowned for its 1,220 km2 of landscapes unaltered for centuries, Sarek National Park is the ideal destination for those who wish to progress at their own pace and define their own itinerary.
How to get there: located in the far north of Sweden, Sarek National Park is adjacent to Kungsleden . Therefore, use the same means of transport as in Kungsleden to access it.
At only 28 km, the Muliwai Trail is nevertheless considered to be the most difficult hike in the Hawaiian Islands. Its trails will take you through the valleys of Waipi'o, Waimanu and also a magnificent black sand beach.
How to get there: the trail starts from the locality of Honoka'a, located not far from Hilo International Airport on Big Island. From the airport, you can take a bus or rent a car to get to Honoka'a in less than 1 hour.
With its humble 4km, the ascent of Croagh Patrick is an easy hike for beginners who want to take in the beauty of Mother Nature, but without suffering too much in the process. It takes about 4.5 hours to get to the top, which offers an incomparable view of this magnificent country, and to descend.
How to get there: Croagh Patrick is located near Westport, County Mayo, easily accessible by train from Dublin.
Mainly known as a ski resort, Grindelwald also offers exceptional hikes for beginners! You are spoiled for choice to determine your route, because the town has 290 km of trails. The hikes vary between 1 day and 1 week, making Grindelwald THE ideal destination for an adventure.
How to get there: most hikers choose to come by train or car from Interlaken, which is accessible from Zurich, Geneva and other major cities in Switzerland. In summer, you can even get there by taking Switzerland's many hiking trails.
It's simple. With 3,540 km that crosses 14 states, there is no better trail in the United States than the Appalachians to put your hiking skills to the test. If you want to take it to the next level, look no further, this hike is for you. The great thing is that you can challenge yourself on this trail for its entire length or, alternatively, on sections of your choice.
How to get there: most visitors arrive by car, as there are several parking lots along the trail. If you want to hike from north to south, start at Baxter State Park in Maine.
As you can imagine, the Austrian Alps abound with hiking trails for all levels, from beginners to the most experienced. One of the most popular alpine hikes in Austria is probably the Berliner Höhenweg , a circuit of about 7 days of walking.
How to get there: to discover the exceptional Berliner Höhenweg , you have to go to Innsbruck. This city is easily accessible by train, plane or car.
The Drakensberg Massif trail is considered one of the best in the world by hiking enthusiasts, adventurers and survivalists. Stretching over 64 km, it is located between the Kingdom of Lesotho and South Africa and offers unparalleled views of the African continent.
How to get there: the most accessible area of the Drakensberg massif is a peak known as The Sentinel . This is why most choose this place as a starting point and follow the trail south. From Durban Airport you can access the Sentinel by car via the N3 motorway, or take one of the coaches of the Baz Bus company.
One of the toughest hikes in the UK! This path winds for 321 km through the legendary Cape Wrath. For an experienced hiker, it takes 20 days of hiking to complete it.
How to get there: its starting point is the town of Fort William, which you can easily reach by coach or train from Glasgow, Edinburgh and other major cities in Scotland.
The Simien National Park stands out for its wide range of hiking trails, from the easiest for beginners to the toughest for experienced hikers.
How to get there: the Simien Mountains are located in Ethiopia's Amhara region. Gondar, the main city in the region, is served by air and several bus lines from Addis Ababa, Bahir Dar and all major cities in Ethiopia.
Also known as the Arctic Circle Trail, this 160 km hike connects Kangerslussuaq to Sisimiut, one of the most isolated places on earth. You will simply cross the second largest glacier in the world.
How to get there: as you can imagine, the polar route is not really easy to access. That said, there are Air Greenland flights that serve Kangerlussuaq, from Paris.
The Kalalau Trail runs along the paradisiacal coast of Na Pali, on the island of Kauai. Despite its relatively short length of 35 km, this trail is said to be as dangerous as it is spectacular. Therefore, take special care if you venture there.
How to get there: Kaua'i Island is easily accessible by air. The trailhead is a beach, Ke'e Beach. You can get there on foot, by public transport or by taxi.
Very few are the brave ones to have successfully climbed the Apolobamba mountain range, located northeast of Lake Titicaca. Extending over a length of 104 km, this extreme hike takes place over about 5 days. Not far from the Peruvian border, this splendid mountain range offers spectacular panoramas and a unique experience in the world.
How to get there: la Paz, capital of Bolivia, has the particularity of having the highest international airport in the world. From La Paz, you can arrange transport to the locality of Pelechuco, located in the heart of the mountainous massif of the Apolobamba cordillera.
As you may have seen, some of these amazing hikes are in countries that may have security issues.
Therefore, it is essential to find out about the state of security before leaving.
To do this, go to the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here and do a search on the country in question.
