10 Best Places in the World to Hike

New Zealand

Immortalized on film as the magnificent backdrop to The Lord of the Rings trilogy, New Zealand's many attractions and dramatic scenery have had a revival of late, with Peter Jackson's most recent offering, The Hobbit, reminding travelers what they're missing. It's no surprise that hiking—or "tramping," as it's known to New Zealanders—is one of the best ways to take in the scenery, and well-marked routes traverse the length and breadth of the country and are served by a wide network of government-run campsites. Most popular are the nine Great Walks, including the one-day Tongariro Alpine Crossing, which passes by the famous Mt. Ngauruhoe volcano (otherwise known as "Mt. Doom" from The Lord of the Rings films); the 50-mile Heaphy Track, which passes a varied terrain from dense rainforest to rugged coastal cliffs; and the famous 32-mile Milford Track, which offers spectacular views of New Zealand's tallest waterfall.

Nepal

Nepal's legendary Annapurna Circuit tops many a hiker's bucket list, and the 142-mile loop is renowned as one of the world's most impressive treks. It traces the awe-inspiring Annapurna massif and crosses the Thorung La pass at a breathtaking 17,769 feet. Nepal's other famous challenge is, of course, the mighty Everest, and trekking to the base camp of the notorious peak has become a popular undertaking even for non-climbers. Nepal's appeal isn't just the challenging trekking and ruggedly beautiful Himalayas, though—the Buddhist country is noted for its unique hospitality. Soaking up the culture is as much a part of the experience as the hike itself. Hire a local Sherpa guide, bed down in a traditional mountain village, visit serene mountaintop temples, and sip yak-butter tea with the locals as you uncover a whole other world thriving in the wilderness.

United Kingdom

With short walking trails and rambling long-distance treks running to every corner of the British Isles, the United Kingdom is the perfect location for hikers to test out their navigation skills, since well-marked routes do away with the need for a guide. Head to one of England's world-renowned national parks, such as the Lake District, the Peak District, or the Yorkshire Dales, where vast moorlands and sweeping hills are dotted with cobblestone villages and traditional pubs. Or, attempt the 113-mile Coast to Coast Trail that spans the entire length of England. It's not just British soil that's well trodden—you can also visit the Scottish Highlands, home to the U.K.'s highest peak, Ben Nevis, and a vast network of footpaths that provide dramatic views over the windswept glens and glistening lochs of Scotland.

Turkey

From scrambling through the volcanic valleys of Cappadocia to trekking the vast Taurus Mountains, Turkey has plenty to offer lovers of the outdoors apart from the sun and sand of the Mediterranean coast. The country's two main long-distance hiking routes, 310-mile Lycian Way and the St. Paul's Trail, pass a number of key historic sites and showcase the country's incredibly diverse terrain. Lycian Way runs along the coast from Fethiye to Antalya, and the St. Paul's Trail follows in the footsteps of the legendary evangelist, from Perge and Aspendos to Yalvac.

Iceland

With majestic glaciers, bubbling hot springs, and looming volcanoes, Iceland's otherworldly landscape offers some of the world's most unique photo opportunities. Hiking is possible almost anywhere, but most adventurers head for one of the national parks. Skaftafell National Park is a wonderland of shimmering ice caps and jagged mountains, whereas Landmannalaugar's striking rhyolite mountains provide the focal point of the celebrated four-day Laugavegurinn Trail. Another popular trek is scaling the country's highest peak, Hvannadalshnjukur, at 6,922 feet—you'll be afforded spectacular views over the Vatnajokull glacier, one of the world's largest.

Patagonia

The gateway to Antarctica has fast become a popular destination in its own right—a wintry playground of glaciers, penguin colonies, and snow-dusted mountains. Stretching across the southernmost parts of Argentina and Chile, Patagonia has some of the continent's most magnificent surroundings: swollen glacial valleys, pristine lakes, and towering mountain peaks. The UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Torres del Paine National Park, on the Chilean side, is a hot spot for hikers, with well-marked trails offering expansive views of the famous pink granite Torres del Paine, or Paine Towers. Or make the pilgrimage to see the wondrous Perito Moreno Glacier, the "smoking mountain" of El Chalten, or the windswept archipelago of Tierra del Fuego, the "Land of Fire."

California

Hikers could spend a lifetime exploring the U.S. on foot, but the varied terrain of California makes the perfect place to start. While there are few pockets of wilderness left undiscovered, America's third-largest state still has plenty of jaw-dropping hikes up its sleeve in some of the country's most iconic landscapes. Hikers can explore the epic canyons and dunes of the Death Valley desert; witness the granite cliffs, tumbling waterfalls, and vast rivers of Yosemite National Park; or visit the world's largest tree, the General Sherman Tree, in Sequoia National Park. The world-famous parks aren't the only options: Joshua Tree National Park, Redwood National Park, Big Sur State Park, and the Golden Gate National Park all lie within California's borders, with sights ranging from snowcapped peaks to arid desert.

The Alps

Hikers traveling to Europe will find it hard to miss a walk in the Alps, Europe's principal mountain range, which sprawls across eight countries. Throughout winter, the Alps play host to some of Europe's glitziest ski resorts, but as the snow thaws, hiking the alpine slopes becomes one of the region's most popular pastimes. Color-coded signposts mark out routes throughout, and Europe's open-border policy means that hiking between countries isn't a problem. There's such a high concentration of peaks that you won't have to walk far to get a view. Explore traditional villages and cheese factories in the Swiss foothills, follow one of the acclaimed tracks through the lush valleys and glacial passes of the French Alps, or tackle the hugely popular trail that encircles the iconic peak of Mont Blanc, Europe's highest mountain, and straddles the border between France and Italy.

Canadian Rockies

The famous train journey through the towering Rocky Mountains is one of Canada's most celebrated attractions, but to truly experience the mountains' magnitude, you'll need to don your hikers and take to the hills. The vast Rockies harbor myriad opportunities for hiking, but the best-marked trails and a network of alpine huts lie within the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage site. Notable trails include the famous Berg Lake Trail that runs through the Mount Robson Provincial Park and scales the highest peak in the Rockies. The Mount Fairview Trail in Banff National Park offers panoramic views of dazzling Lake Louise, and the Lake O'Hara Alpine Circuit in Yoho National Park is a scenic route through lush woodlands and shimmering glacial valleys.

Kazakhstan

Ticked the other nine off your list? Now's the time to truly get off the beaten track and discover some of the world's most-inspiring and least-visited landscapes—hikes long overlooked by the tourist hoards. Kazakhstan has been steadily building a reputation among serious hikers for its remote and unspoiled wilderness, and with a number of reputable trekking companies operating in the country, it's easier than ever to explore. The Tian Shan and Altai mountain ranges hold the most popular routes, with ancient pathways tracing the borders of Russia, China, and Mongolia. Just make sure you take a local guide.

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