Lonely Planet Epic Hikes of the World: Explore the Planet's Most Thrilling Treks and Trails

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This form of adventuring has been embraced from the moment we began walking upright. There's something for all abilities out there but be sure to do the proper research and planning ahead of time. From epic treks up summits to steady strolls around the coast and historical pilgrimages, read on for our curation of the very best of the best. It’s been described as embryonic by locals; this is not a well-developed tourist trail. Aside from the history, there’s the natural splendour of the mountains: miles and miles of remote shepherds’ huts, rural rambling and airy mountain ridges to take in. Expect to be in the wilderness – no frills or life’s little luxuries await you here, simply miles and miles of a Europe few of us ever get to see. With stories of 50 incredible hiking routes in 30 countries, from New Zealand to Peru, plus a further 150 suggestions, Lonely Planet’s Epic Hikes of the Worldwill inspire a lifetime of adventure on foot. From one-day jaunts and urban trails to month-long thru-hikes, cultural rambles and mountain expeditions, each journey shares one defining feature: being truly epic. The Gran Paradiso sits in the Valle d’Aosta, in northwestern Italy’s Alps. Originally this park was set to preserve the Ibex, and the focus on flora and fauna is still one of the main draws of this sprawling park. Its superb hiking is another - there are some excellent short hikes and multi-day epics through the park. Pause to sample Valaisian Dôle (red) and Fendant (white) wines, perhaps over lunch at Le Cube Varone, an old winegrower’s hut. The hike is never lovelier than on a golden fall day when the grape harvest is in full swing, when you can enjoy a brisolée, the traditional harvest feast built around chestnuts, cheese, cold meats and vin nouveau (new wine).

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The Himalayas are a haven for trekking opportunities, from Everest Base Camp to the mountain’s peak itself and Bhutan’s famed Snowman Trek, a high-altitude hike across nine passes. The Annapurna Circuit in Nepal is a classic high-alpine trek that follows ancient trade routes and passes through quaint mountain villages, with fluttering Buddhist prayer flags, stupa, prayer wheels and sturdy stone homes dotting the path. The circuit takes around 15 days and can be extended with side treks off the main route. Many guesthouses can be found along the trail, so you don’t need to carry a tent, sleeping bag or food for more than a day.Six high passes with views so spectacular they cross into neighbouring countries, seven idyllic valleys echoing with cowbells, and ten perfect days amongst the fine alpine landscapes that have captured the imagination of mountains and walkers for generations.

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If you are an expert hiker, then you've probably challenged yourself on one or a few of these hikes that can last for days and even months. One of the most popular hikes in the world is the Inca Trail in Peru, lasting for four days, where you’ll hike through jungles, explore ruins and end your hike at the stunning Machu Picchu, one of these most amazing urban creations of the Inca Empire. For the proficient and skilled hiker, the Appalachian Trail, which stretches through 14 states, from Georgia to Maine takes approximately 5 to 7 months to complete. This hike takes careful planning, but this scenic trail will no doubt, take your breath away.

The Araku Valley is a favorite of tourists, thanks to the Borra caves and Katiki waterfalls. Coffee lovers will want to go here for a good reason: The region has plenty of coffee plantations. Read more: 5 of the Best Hikes in the Dolomites 15. Mont Blanc, France On the ascent of Mont Blanc, ice axes at the ready. One of the most popular hikes in the world, the Inca Trail takes you through 26 miles of grueling inclines and declines. You get a chance to explore ruins, jungle, and beautiful mountain scenery, and of course, end the hike at Machu Picchu. These are no ordinary hikes – all have something extra special, whether that’s phenomenal panoramas, a world-class trekking route, or a physical challenge. Iconic Hikes 1. Torres del Paine The best hikes in Europe take you through the high passes of the Swiss Alps and around the dramatic volcanic coastlines of the Canary Islands. They lead you through the boreal forests and glaciers of Sweden, and across the windswept highlands of Scotland.

Epic Hikes Around The World That Give Us Wanderlust 20 Epic Hikes Around The World That Give Us Wanderlust

The sights: Summit views are beyond spectacular. Meru lies on a nearly 200-mile axis of Africa's most famous national parks, extending from the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater in the west to Kilimanjaro National Park in the east. You’ll spend eleven days immersed in the heart of the Annapurna range, ringed by such giants as Annapurna 1, Glacier Dome, Gangapurna, Fang and Machhapuchhare, or Fishtail Mountain). Sunrise on Poon Hill counts as one of the most treasured memories for hikers on this route, a perfect moment of peace in a hectic modern world. Leading from Chamonix in France through the southern Valais to Zermatt in Switzerland, the 2-week-long Walkers' Haute Route trek traverses some of the highest and most eye-popping scenery accessible anywhere in the Alps. Hiking here is a summertime endeavour, tracing a different course to the famous winter Haute Route for ski-tourers. Every stage will test your endurance, with ‘pass hopping’ that demands a high level of fitness on many sections of the walk.

The trek: Spanning 270 miles in Sweden’s far north Lapland province, The King's Trail is superlative for its remote edge-of-the-world vibe, its 24/7 midsummer daylight that reboots your Circadian rhythm, and the August/September aurora borealis that lights up the sky. Hiking the entire trail takes about a month, but because it is broken into sections, you can choose the length of your hike; the most popular section (between Abisko and Nikkaluokta) covers 65 miles and takes between 10 to 12 days. This character-building slog through Corsica is legendary for the diversity of landscapes it traverses, and for the level of grit it requires from trekkers who brave its rugged trails. There are forests, granite moonscapes, windswept craters, glacial lakes, torrents, peat bogs, maquis, snow-capped peaks, plains and névés (stretches of ice formed from snow) to conquer, and the tough terrain weeds out all but the most dedicated hikers. Think Himalaya, and for many, the immediate thought is Nepal. But spare a moment – or preferably seven days – to contemplate the striking, overwhelming stark beauty of the Indian Himalaya. You may have seen some of Patagonia’s most impressive glaciers from boats or scenic viewpoints. But you get an even greater appreciation for these frozen rivers and monolithic walls of ice if you get up close and personal with them.