As more and more people are living more health-conscious lives and more and more people are learning to appreciate the natural world around them, it comes as no surprise that hiking is also becoming more popular as a leisure activity. Well… a “leisure” activity. Hikes can of course be simple, lazy walks through the woods, but they can also be gruelingly intense physical activities that compete with the most extreme of sports!
Whether you’re new to the hiking scene or a seasoned expert, we’re sure you’ve already got a favorite hike or two. But if you’re looking for some new options, check this out–our list of the fifteen most epic hiking destinations from around the world:
nationalgeographic.com
The Narrows, Utah
The Narrows, an appropriately named canyon and the spiritual heart of Utah’s Zion National Park, often finds itself onto various lists of the world’s greatest hiking destinations–and for good reason. The walls of this canyon reach up to 1,000 feet and at certain points reach just 20 or so feet across. It’s never quite claustrophobic, but it gets close! Hiking here actually means trudging through the Virgin River, a tributary of the Colorado. Generally speaking the river is calm and only reaches up to one’s knees at the highest point, but sometimes conditions get more extreme. On rare occasions, the National Park will close the Narrows to hikers due to safety concerns. Check ahead!
www.perutourism.com
Inca Trail, Peru
Peru’s Inca Trail became a legend on the hiking/trekking circuit before surging in popularity and subsequently being labeled as a “touristy” experience beneath those that a “true” adventurer has. Well… maybe it’s time we think again. The Inca Trail became popular for a reason, and this truly incredible trek heads right to the world-famous Inca site of Machu Picchu. Due to its popularity, the Peruvian government put a strict limit on the number of trekkers allowed daily. This has made the experience much more pleasant, but it also increased the price. If you’re on a tight budget but are looking for a hiking trip near Machu Picchu, maybe try the Lares Trail instead.
www.magicway.com.br
Torres del Paine National Park, Chile
One of the world’s most iconic destinations for hikers, there’s absolutely no way we could have left this one off of our list. Welcoming nearly 150,000 visitors each year–more than half of whom are foreign–Chile’s Torres del Paine National Park is truly a hiker’s dream come true. And you don’t have to be an expert–the park offers plenty of relatively simple day hikes alongside its famous five-day “W” route and its nine-day full loop. The park also offers a variety of lodging options for visitors, from simple wooden lean-to shelters lining the trails to a luxury hotel for day trippers near the park’s entrance.
www.kathyloperevents.com
Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
At a towering 5,895 meters (19,341 feet) above sea level, Mount Kilimanjaro is both the tallest mountain in Africa and the tallest free-standing mountain anywhere in the world. Coincidentally, it’s also one of the highest points to which you can arrive with no technical mountaineering skills, just walking. But don’t misunderstand us–this is still a gruelingly difficult climb. The trip takes up to a week, and altitude sickness and hypothermia are common. Perhaps a bit more than a simple hike, the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro is still within reach for the most dedicated practitioners of the form.
joshmcculloch.photoshelter.com
West Coast Trail, Canada
This 75 kilometer (45 mile) hike through Vancouver’s Pacific Rim National Park is commonly recognized as one of the greatest hikes in Canada, if not the world. Constructed in 1907 to facilitate the survivors of coastal shipwrecks, the trail was originally known as the Dominion Lifesaving Trail. Nowadays it is maintained strictly for the purpose of hiking, and some 6,000 people complete the trail successfully each year. The majority of these hikers complete their trip over a week’s time between May and September, when the trail is officially open and the Parks service offers services like search and rescue when necessary.
fineartamerica.com
Roan Highlands, North Carolina/Tennessee
As far as the southeastern United States goes, it would be tough to argue that there’s a better hiking destination than the Roan Highlands. With Roan Mountain as their high point, the Roan Highlands are home to the world’s largest natural rhododendron garden, among other things. The Appalachian Trail also passes right through here, so if you’re looking to increase the distance of your hike you’ve got two ways to go! Whether you’re here for a day trip (the area is surprisingly accessible for a wilderness site) or just visiting as part of a thru-hike, the Roan Highlands are guaranteed to be a memorable experience.
www.trekearth.com
Kalalau Trail, Hawaii
This remote trail on the northern Hawaiian island of Kauai is simultaneously one of the world’s most beautiful and one of its more dangerous. 18 kilometers (11 miles) each way, it’s tough for anyone but the most experienced (not to mentioned rushed) hikers to make a day trip out of this one. As such, it’s common to camp at Kalalau Beach at the end of the trail–and purchasing a camping permit beforehand is required anyway, so why not? Sections of the trail feature steep drops to the ocean rocks below, and stream crossings can be dangerous when water levels suddenly rise. Be careful!
www.auswalk.com.au
Bibbulmun Track, Australia
Clocking in at a whopping 1,003 kilometers (623 miles), western Australia’s Bibbulmun Track is not something you’re likely to thru-hike–at least not without some serious planning. That said, large portions of the Track are easily accessible for day hikes or even multi-day hikes, and the trail is much flatter and easy to navigate than the vast majority of our list. If your goal is to take in some beautiful scenery and get a bit of exercise without worrying about straining yourself too hard, Australia’s Bibbulmun Track, or at least some portion of it, might very well be the option for you.
www.planitnz.com
Tongariro National Park, New Zealand
And while you’re out in Oceania, why not pop over to New Zealand as well? The country has long been famous for its diverse and striking scenery, a reputation that’s only expanded with the fantastic exposure it’s received thanks to the Lord of the Rings film series. The national park, located on New Zealand’s North Island, is the fourth oldest in the world, and without a doubt one of its most impressive. Among the park’s many hiking options, the Tongariro Northern Circuit comes perhaps most highly recommended–it’ll give you the opportunity to visit the country’s most active volcano among a host of other natural attractions.
www.taringa.net
El Caminito del Rey, Spain
The name of this one translates quite literally to The King’s Little Path–a name that couldn’t be any more and less appropriate at the same time. We’re not sure if this even counts technically as a “hiking” destination, but we couldn’t help but include it anyway. A walkway pinned against the otherwise completely steep walls of massive gorge, this engineering marvel/mystery was constructed in the early 20th century and crossed by the Spanish king of the time, earning the spot its affectionate name. The focus of a massive reconstruction project in the past few years, El Caminito reopened to tourists in September of 2014.
everestbasecamptrekguide.com
Mount Everest Base Camp Trek, Nepal
Come climb Mount Everest! Or something like that… If you’re not a world-class mountain climber, don’t fret–you can still have a unique Everest experience all your own by trekking from the Sherpa city of Namche Bazaar to the Mount Everest base camp where mountain climbers begin their journey. This world-class trek will take you past monasteries and over bridges, through some of the world’s most majestic scenery and past fantastic views of Everest and her sister peaks Lhotse and Lhotse Sar. It’s definitely a challenge, but it’s no climbing Mount Everest.
theplanetd.com
Petra, Jordan
One of the planet’s prime cultural and historic sites, it’s entirely possible to reach Petra without doing much hiking at all. However, for a true taste of Petra and the Jordanian desert, you simply have to take the now-famous hike to get here. Passing over and around mountain peaks and following ancient paths and staircases that have existed seemingly since the dawn of time, there’s no more authentic or rewarding way to arrive to Petra than making this trek. You have to admit… it beats jumping off the bus with a bunch of tourists in Hawaiian shirts.
www.iantaylortrekking.com
Croagh Patrick, Ireland
Another naturally beautiful hike with a meaningful cultural angle, it’s said that the Catholic Saint Patrick spent 40 prayerful days in solitude at the top of this mountain. It’s a tough hike, but nothing too overwhelming–in fact, the majority of its visitors are religious pilgrims rather than hiking enthusiasts and a significant portion aren’t in the best of shape! Whether you’re Catholic or not, Croagh Patrick makes for one of Ireland’s best moderately challenging day hikes–and the picturesque Irish pub at the base makes for a nice rest stop when you’re done.
www.popsugar.com.au
GR 20, Corsica (France)
First of all, if you’re not familiar, Corsica is a French island located in the Mediterranean Sea–not a part of the French mainland! GR 20, clocking in at some 180 kilometers (112 miles), is a hiking trail that crosses nearly the entire length of the island going north-south. Some travelers opt to complete the full path over the course of about two weeks, while others opt to do only half the journey–there’s a conveniently placed train station in the village of Vizzavona at about the halfway point. Either way, this is without a doubt one of the world’s most pleasant and scenic hikes.
www.pahte.com
Pays Dogon, Mali
The region of Mali known as “Dogon Country” is of course the ancestral home of the Dogon people, a unique cultural group that moved to this area over 1,000 years ago to avoid forced conversion to the religion of Islam. If you’re looking for an “exotic” hiking destination, this is it–from short day treks to multi-day adventures, there are hikes here that will take you past villages carved into cliff sides and ancient pieces of art as well as modern day Dogon towns where the region’s spectacular local culture is on full display. This is a place that you must see to believe–and a perfect spot to end our list.
Credit: http://www.traveltips4life.com/15-epic-hiking-destinations/15/
No comments:
Post a Comment