Alyssa Loxart, our guest blogger, is a writer who helps digital nomads and solo female travelers take the road less traveled.
To view her blog, head over to alyssaloxart.com.

People enjoy hiking for various reasons; not only is it incredible for your mental and physical health, but it gives you the opportunity to journey to beautiful destinations on foot that you wouldn’t be able to see by car. There are too many incredible hikes in the world to name all of them here, so we compiled a list of 10 incredible places for awe-inspiring hiking, to help you decide.

Here, you’ll find trails for all types of hikers — day hikes, hikes that last a few days, a few weeks, and even months. There is something for everyone here, so keep reading to find out more!

Inca Trail, Peru

The Inca Trail is located in southern Peru, in the Cusco region, and brings in visitors from around the world. The trail begins from the km 82 trail stop along the railway from Cusco to Aguas Calientes, and ends at the “Lost City of the Incas,” also known as Machu Picchu. You’ll ascend a total of 7,710 ft, and spend 3-6 days journeying through 36 miles of mountain scenery, cloud forests, retaining walls, tunnels, several thousand stone-cut steps and subtropical jungle on your way to Machu Picchu. The Inca Trail crosses through the mountains that make up part of the Cordillera de Vilcabamba of the Andes mountains, one of the longest mountain ranges in the world.

Machu Picchu was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983, but was discovered in 1911 by a Yale University professor named Hiram Bingham who was led to the site by Melchor Arteaga, a Quechua-speaking local. Evidence suggests that it was the palace of the ruler Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui. Rumor has it that the Quechua peoples have always known the location of Machu Picchu, even before it’s “discovery,” but had chosen to keep it a secret. Machu Picchu is an incredible once in a lifetime hike that you need to experience, and requires a guide.

Lost City Trek, Colombia

If you’re in search of another lost city, La Ciudad Perdida is located in the Teyuna Archaeological Park in Colombia, in the depths of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. It’s here that you’ll find more than 200 stone structures (roads, stairs, canals, houses, storage areas, ceremonial buildings, etc) including stone terraces carved into the mountain. There are also small “plazas” and connecting “streets” within the ruins.

On this hike, you’ll reach peaks of 18,700 ft on the world’s highest coastal mountain range. Ciudad Perdida is buried deep in Colombia’s jungle, and you can’t get there by car. It’s a walk of around 28 miles that takes 3-5 days roundtrip. To finish, you’ll climb the 1,200 stone steps that lead into the lost city. Many people stop once they get to this sacred site to meditate and let go of impurities, negative thoughts and emotions in order to “cleanse” themselves.

Fitz Roy Trek, Argentina

*Photo by* *Alexander Schimmeck* on *Unsplash*

If a one-day hike is more your speed, the Fitz Roy trek in Patagonia may be the perfect adventure. Mount Fitz Roy, carved out by glaciers, sits on the border between Argentina and Chile. The trail runs through Los Glaciares National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. You’ll traverse through valleys, mountains, forests and lakes with some of the most spectacular scenery you’ll ever see.

This hike is typically done as a day trip in 8-10 hours, but you can make it a 2-day trek and camp along the trail. The hike begins from the northwest edge of El Chaltén, at the end of San Martin street, and ends by climbing a steep trail that gains 1,312 feet of elevation in 0.6 miles.

Cinque Terre, Italy

Cinque Terre, also known as “Five Lands”, is another UNESCO World Heritage site, and is a group of five towns on the coast of Italy, just north of Pisa. There are around 75 miles of marked, official walking trails within the Cinque Terre National Park. You do have to purchase a ticket for two of the most famous trails (Monterosso to Vernazza and Vernazza to Corniglia), but all other trails are free. You also have the option of getting the Cinque Terre Card for 7.50 euros per day, which gives you access to the two hiking paths that have fees, use of the bus services within the park, and reduced admission fee to the Civic Museums in La Spezia.

There are two levels of trails that you can take between the five villages; The Blue Path is the easiest and most popular of the two paths, spanning across 7.5 miles and can be done in a day. It is divided into four sections and connects the five villages. The first section of the trail, Riomaggiore to Manarola, is also known as “The Way of Love.” However, several sections of The Blue Path are closed until 2024 due to a recent landslide.

The second is The High Path, which is 22 miles long and can be divided into 5 sections. This hike is for those with more endurance, but you also have the option of spreading out your hike by staying in a couple of the villages along the way. It stretches beyond the National Park of Cinque Terre and connects Levanto in the north with Portovenere in the south.

Appalachian Trail, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee

*Photo by* *Scott Longerbeam* on *Unsplash*

I’ll start by saying this — every year, thousands of hikers attempt to make it all the way through, and only 1 in 4 does. It typically takes a thru-hiker around 5-7 months to hike the entire Appalachian trail (which is 2,200 miles long), and it’s a hike that you need to be physically and mentally prepared for. But with this, you’ll be rewarded with a scenic journey through the wooded and wild that you’ll remember for the rest of your life.

In order to hike the trail, you don’t need a permit, but you will need to register as a thru-hiker. Some important things to bring with you are a compass, a map, and a bear canister. They do have a bear canister lending program for your food safety, as well as more than 250 shelters along the trail for you to rest at. You’ll also get a surprising amount of cell reception while on the trail, even when you’re on the Hundred Mile section (make sure you’re supplied with 8 days of food for this stretch). But never depend on your cell phone for navigation.

The trail goes from Georgia to Maine and passes through 14 states; Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. And thankfully, the Appalachian trail is usually only a few miles from civilization, so hikers can resupply in towns along the way.

Fimmvörðuháls Hike, Iceland

*Photo by* *Michelle Rossman* on *Unsplash*

The path starts in Skógar at the waterfall Skógafoss, and ends in Thórsmörk (named after the Norse God, Thor). Among the dramatic scenery that Iceland is known for, you’ll find the 26 waterfalls known as Waterfall Way, a descent through Goðaland (the “Land of the Gods”), a volcanic plateau and grass tundras that make up this 16 mile hike.

It can be done in around 10 hours, but you can also make this a 2-day trek and stay in the Baldvinsskali Hut or the Fimmvörðuháls Hut along the trail — just be sure to make your reservation in advance as this can be a popular trail. But despite it’s popularity, you’re sure to find moments of solitude and quiet to take in everything that Iceland has to offer.

Schynige Platte to Faulhorn to First, Switzerland

One of the best day hikes can be found in the Jungrau region in Switzerland. You’ll find an incredible landscape of alpine lakes, snow-covered trails, mountain huts and views of the Swiss Alps. You will also see… cows! This is not an easy hike (there’s a 2,820 ft elevation gain), but it can be done in a day, and is about 10 miles long. There are also mountain huts located at the beginning, end, and along the trail, in case you’d like to make it a 2-day journey.

To begin the trail, you’ll ride the Schynige Platte railway from Wilderswil to Schynige Platte, and from there you’ll hop on a trail — you can’t miss the signs. It’s a point-to-point hike that can be done from either direction, but we suggest taking Schynige Platte to Faulhorn to First. You’ll find warmth with incredible soup and coffee at Faulhorn, and once you’re in First, there are tons of restaurants and fun activities for the end of your day.

West Coast Trail, British COlumbia

This is a great hike for those who love being on the coast. It’s a 46 mile beach and forest hike on the coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia that takes about 6-7 days to complete, and runs from Gordon River to Bamfield. You’ll cross rivers with a cable car, wander through trails in the forest, take bridges, walk along the coast and climb ladders in and out of deep gorges. In the end, you’re greeted with the breathtaking Tsusiat falls, a great place to swim after a long day of hiking. And don’t miss the sea caves at Owen Point.

Registration for this hike is $275.75 per person, plus transportation costs, and you’ll want to be sure to register in advance. Be sure to prepare for rain, and wear shoes that you don’t mind getting muddy.

Everest Base Camp via Cho La Pass, Nepal

Maybe you’re more of a 17-days-to-the-highest-peaks-in-the-world kind of person, and we understand. With this hike, not only do you get views of the world’s giants (Mt Everest, Lhotse, Makalu and Cho Oyu), but you’ll also get the dramatic scenery of the turquoise lakes and moonscape glaciers, the Himalayan vistas, and even swinging bridges.

The Cho La Pass summit is 84.10 miles long and located 17.782 ft above sea level in the Solukhumbu District in northeastern Nepal. It connects the village of Dzongla to the east and the village of Thagnak to the west. Along the trail, you can stay in tea houses, which have become synonymous with trekking in the Himalayas. These tea houses are small bed-and-breakfast-like hotels, and they’ll provide all the basic amenities needed like a single bed, a hot meal, and the option of a hot shower. You’ll also have the opportunity to meet other hikers as well as the locals.

Whale Trail, De Hoop Nature Reserve, South Africa

*Photo by Captureson Photography on* *Unsplash*

De Hoop is one of the best whale watching spots in the entire world. Between the months of June and November, the coastline is transformed as southern right whales migrate here to breed and look after their young. You can also see dolphins year round, fynbos (small belt of natural shrubland) mountain areas, the orange cliffs with views across the Indian ocean and long stretches of white sand beaches.

This is a moderate hike, the first day being the most strenuous, that stretches from Doringbaai, south of Cape Town, all the way along the coast to Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. There are five overnight stops — two days inland, three days along the coast — and it is approximately 35 miles long. Bookings are open a year in advance, so reserve your spot early.

We hope you enjoyed our blog post on 10 incredible places for awe-inspiring hiking. If you’ve hiked one of these trails before, or have one that you want to hike someday, let us know in the comments!

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