30 Trails To Make Your Bucket List Overflow
1. Routeburn Track, New Zealand: Situated at one corner of our world, New Zealand has some of the most pristine landscapes. SO pristine The Lord of the Rings was filmed around these areas.
2. The Ancascocha Trail, Peru: Skip the Inca trail and head off to Super Inca trail, often called the Ancascocha Trail. Far more strenuous than the Inca Trail, but a lot more rewarding, this hike is possibly one of the best ways to explore the Peruvian Andes.
3. Kalalau Trail, Kauai, Hawaii: Don’t just go to Hawaii and chill on a beach. Trek from Ke’e Beach to Kalalau Beach along a rugged coast on a 11 mile trail with 5 valleys and several cliffs.
4. Mountains of the Moon, Uganda: The giant lobelias and colourful mosses make this landscape almost dreamlike and alien. If you visit during the right time you can witness equatorial snow peaks.
5. The Dhauladhar Range, Himalayas: Make your way through one of the most popular Himalayan trails. Hike through alpine forests and meadows, craggy mountainsides and icy glaciers.
6. Snowman Trek, Bhutan: 25 days, 6 mountains, 9 passes. You’ll hike more than half the breadth of the country.
7. Olympic National Park Trails: Ancient forests, meandering creeks, endless waterfalls, all interspersed with beaches. Olympic National Park has a trail for every difficulty level to explore the entire peninsula.
8. Te Araroa Trail, New Zealand: You could spend a good 150 days trying to complete this trail that covers over 3000km of New Zealand’s unmatched landscapes. Say hello to the equivalent of the mighty Appalachian Trails.
9. Chilkoot Trail, Alaska and Yukon Territory: Trek through a coastal rainforest, a high alpine zone and a boreal forest in this 53km trail from Alaska to British Columbia that was once used during the gold rush.
10. Yosemite Grand Traverse: Hike through one of the most iconic National Parks with the Yosemite Grand Traverse. See the Half Dome, Cathedral Peak, and the Isenberg Pass.
11. Petra Through the Back Door, Jordan: Want a complete Indiana Jones experience? Hike for 80km over the Jordanian desert and right to the architectural wonders of Petra.
12. Grand Canyon Hike, Arizona: Explore the Canyon from rim to rim with a series of trails of different levels and test your physical and mental limits.
13. Laugavegurinn/Fimmvörðuháls Pass, Iceland: The Icelandic landscape is possibly the most breathtaking. From fields of obsidian, red and yellow rhyolite mountains, to black sands and sparkling white glaciers, this 50km trail will leave you spellbound.
14. Hemis National Park, Ladakh: Hike into the home of one of the most endangered and elusive big cats, the Himalayan Snow Leopard.
15. Drakensberg Traverse, South Africa: Ascend the Drakensberg escarpment via chain ladders and hike over several significant peaks. Self-sufficiency is mandatory here.
16. Kokoda Track, Papua New Guinea: Once used during World War II by the Japanese and the Allied forces, this trail will test your limits, not just because of difficult terrain but also because of tropical diseases like Malaria.
17. Via Ferrata, Italy: Gain some serious climbing experience before you attempt this. Also called the Iron Road, the Via Ferrata is a steel cable that runs along parts of the Alps.
18. Long’s Peak, Colorado: Conquer the highest peak of the Rocky Mountains through the Keyhole route, famous for its large boulders that may get tricky and slippery during the winters.
19. Mist Trail, California: Explore Yosemite with its signature hike, The Mist Trail. A must do during spring time, the hike takes you through Merced River, Vernal Falls, and Nevada Falls.
20. El Caminito del Rey, Spain: Tread a walkway that is pinned along the steep walls of a narrow gorge. Named one of the most dangerous walkways in the world, it was recently opened in 2015 after renovations. If this does not give you a thrill, there won’t be much else in the world that will.
21. Cascade Saddle, New Zealand: Well, yes, this trail has a reputation as a challenging and dangerous hike, but don’t let that deter you. The stunning view of Mount Aspiring National Park makes it worthwhile.
22. Mount Hua Shan, China: Life is dangerous, but would you risk your life for a cup of tea? Known as one of the most deadliest hikes in the world, this trail consists of rickety wooden platforms bolted onto the mountainside by rusty iron, and leads to a tea house at an altitude of 2160 meters.
23. Huayna Picchu, Peru: For the best view of Machu Picchu, follow this trail as it winds through a habitat of exotic birds, orchids, fern trees and a set of Incan stone steps. It’s literally the high point of a visit to the Incan Citadel.
24. The Narrows, Zion National Park: Perfect for a hike on a sunny day, you’ll walk, wade and sometimes swim your way through this beautiful canyon, which is dotted with sandstone caves and hanging plants.
25. Strada delle 52 Gallerie, Italy: This narrow mountain trail passes through 52 tunnels built as a supply line by the Italian Army during World War 1. If you love history and hiking, this is the trail for you!
26. Goecha La Trek: Trek through the rhododendron forests of Tshoka, the alpine meadows of Thansing, and the rocky Himalayan mountains of Dzongri on your way to Goecha La and catch a glimpse of the mighty Kanchengunja.
27. MacLehose Trail, Hong Kong: Mix it up here with a trail that runs through beaches and mountain peaks.
28. Aonach Eagach Ridge, Scotland: From the spectacular Glen Coe of the Scottish highlands you can attempt to cover the entire 10km ridge of Aonach Eagach. This is not for the faint of heart.
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