From volcanic craters to ancient pilgrimage routes and alpine wonderlands, these bucket list hikes will take you to some of the most breathtaking places on Earth. Whether you’re looking for an epic day hike or a multi-day adventure, these trails are guaranteed to leave you in awe!
If you’re into hiking, this article is for you! We’re spilling the BEST HIKES in the world that should be on your radar.
I bet there are at least a couple on this list that you’ve never heard of…
📍 SAVE this article for future planning, because there are all sorts of details I promise you’ll need!
We’re avid hikers, and we’ve bagged a lot of trails over the years. Based on our personal experience, here are the big hikes we think are truly worthy of your bucket list.
We’ve tried to include a variety of lengths – from day hikes to multi-day treks – in locations all around the world.
⚠️ Important note: One thing to know is that all of these trails require advance planning (some of which you’ll need permits or reservations for!). We’ve got all the details you’ll need for planning linked below.
1) Kalalau Trail
- Kauai, Hawaii
- 22 miles
- 3 days / 2 nights
Hugging Kauai’s Na Pali Coast, the Kalalau Trail is an iconic oceanside trek that brings hikers on a wild path along exposed sea cliffs, through humid jungles, past towering waterfalls, and to a white sand beach that is unparalleled in beauty.
2) Havasupai
- Arizona, USA
- 20+ miles
- 4 days / 3 nights
If swimming in turquoise pools and camping in a canyon oasis sounds like your idea of fun, you’re in the right place! Nestled below the rim of the Grand Canyon, This trail is one of the best backpacking trips in North America.
3) Fimmvörðuháls
- Iceland
- 15.5 miles
- day hike
Arguably one of the best day hikes in Iceland, this trail rewards hikers with some of the most dramatic landscapes the country has to offer. Make your way past 26 fairytale waterfalls, cross over snowfields and glaciers, pass moss-covered lava fields, and descend into an enchantingly lush valley.
Tip: Part of the longer Laugavegur trail, this can be extended to a multi-day hike.
4) Inca Trail
- Peru
- 26 miles
- 4 days/3 nights
This iconic trail brings hikers to the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu and is arguably the most famous destination in Peru.
While you can reach these ruins on a bus or train, hiking there is an unforgettable experience. It allows you to arrive before the crowds and gives you a whole new appreciation of this incredible place.
Unlike some overhyped tourist attractions, Machu Picchu is actually worth the hype!
5) Enchantments
- Washington state
- 20.5 miles
- day hike – multi-day
We’ve done this hike multiple times and it’s one of our happy places. Glacial lakes, jagged peaks, and mountain goats living their best life are the highlights of this hike.
If you are there at the beginning of October, you might see the golden larches (and crowds!).
Doing this as a day hike is a challenge physically and logistically, but if you plan to camp overnight, you’ll need to secure a permit in advance.
6) Kumano Kodo
- Japan
- 23-40+ miles
- 3-5 days
Quite literally, off the beaten path, this historic pilgrimage trail brings hikers through the mountainous Kii Peninsula.
Spend the nights in small villages at hostels or homestays, pass by picturesque farmsteads, historic shrines, and through giant cedar forests.
Hiking the Kumano Kodo will show you an authentic side of Japan that few foreigners see.
7) Hesten
- Norway
- 3.2 miles
- day hike
We did a LOT of hiking during our trip to Norway, and we both agree this hike was our favorite. In fact, it’s one of our favorite day hikes we’ve ever done!
Located in Senja, a remote part of Norway, it takes a bit of effort and time to get to this trailhead. That said, there’s no special equipment or permits required & you’ll be rewarded with the most epic views.
8) Big Beehive
- Banff, Canada
- 7 miles
- day hike
This day hike rewards those who make the trek with the best possible views of Lake Louise.
While getting to the trailhead requires some planning (either a shuttle or very early arrival to secure parking), it is 100% worth the effort!
Tip: Start your day early and stop at the Lake Agnes Teahouse on the way up for tea and pastries.
9) Everest Base Camp
- Nepal
- 80 miles
- 12-14 days
Hiking to Everest Base Camp (EBC) is unlike anything you’ll ever do in your life. It requires a great deal of planning and prep, and it involves a great deal of elevation gain. But for those who take the leap, it is an adventure of a lifetime!
P.S. We did our trek in 2016 & since then the rules have changed. It is now required that you hike with a guide.
10) Tongariro Crossing
- New Zealand
- 12 miles
- day hike
Known as the “World’s Greatest Day Hike”, this trail brings hikers on a journey through otherworldly landscapes – barren lava fields, vivid crater lakes, & glacial valleys.
This hike will surely be a highlight of your trip to New Zealand, as long as you’ve properly prepared.
Hint: Be sure you have the parking & shuttle situation sorted before your hike.
11) Acatenango Volcano
- Guatemala
- 8.6 miles
- 2 days/1 night
The hike up Volcan Acatenango is a bucket list experience worthy of the hype. This is most commonly done with a group, where you’ll make the steep climb up one volcano to a base camp.
From here, you can view an adjacent volcano, Fuego, which erupts frequently. The best part is watching it erupt throughout the night so you can see the fiery orange lava flow!
12) Ijen Crater
- Java, Indonesia
- 6 miles
- day hike
This trail takes you up an active (but quiet) volcano to the world’s largest acid lake where you can see an elusive phenomenon known as the “blue flame”. This spot is also home to the largest working sulfur mine in the world.
This combination makes it one of the most unique hikes in the world. It is best to do at sunrise and requires a very early wake-up time.
There are SO many more hikes worthy of a bucket list, but we had to cap it somewhere. The good news is, we’ve got tons more hiking resources for you to check out (mostly over on our sister site, Go Wander Wild!).
And we have lots more hikes on our personal bucket list that we’ll hopefully be able to add to our resource list eventually!
Below we’ve listed out our favorites hikes around the world by category, linking out to the corresponding hiking guide if you want more info…
Easy hikes
- Mesa Arch Trail (Canyonlands National Park, USA)
- Hall of Mosses (Olympic National Park, USA)
- Wadi Mujib (Jordan)
- Valley of the Five Lakes (Alberta, Canada)
- Queens Garden & Navajo Loop Trail (Bryce Canyon National Park, USA)
- Delicate Arch (Arches National Park, USA)
- Rattlesnake Ledge (Washington, USA)
- Lion’s Head (Cape Town, South Africa)
- Robberg Peninsula (Plettenberg Bay, South Africa)
- Hooker Valley Track (South Island, New Zealand)
- Sentiero Azzurro (The Blue Trail) (Cinque Terre, Italy)
- Route K (Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia)
Day hikes
- Table Mountain (Cape Town, South Africa)
- Hanging Lake (Colorado, USA)
- Hesten (Norway)
- Mount Storm King (Olympic National Park, USA)
- Angel’s Landing (Zion National Park, USA)
- Path of the Gods (Amalfi Coast, Italy)
- Big Beehive Hike (Banff National Park, Canada)
- The Narrows (Zion National Park, USA)
- Isthmus Peak (South Island, New Zealand)
- Grinnell Glacier (Glacier National Park, USA)
- Tongariro Crossing (North Island, New Zealand)
- Mirador Las Torres (Torres del Paine National Park, Chile)
- Fimmvörðuháls Trail (Iceland)
- Half Dome (Yosemite National Park, USA)
Multi-day treks
- Kumano Kodo (Japan)
- The Enchantments (Washington, USA)
- Kalalau Trail (Hawaii, USA)
- Acatenango Volcano (13.8 km – 2 days)
- Inca Trail (Peru)
- Havasupai (Arizona, USA)
- Routeburn Track (New Zealand)
- Colca Canyon (Peru)
- Highline Trail (Glacier National Park, USA)
- Laugavegur Trail (Iceland)
- Mount Kilimanjaro Trek (Tanzania)
- Milford Track (South Island, New Zealand)
- The W Trek (Torres del Paine National Park, Chile)
- Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim (Grand Canyon, USA)
- Everest Base Camp (Nepal)
- Appalachian Trail (USA)
- Pacific Crest Trail (USA)
If you’re living or traveling in the western US and into outdoor adventures, be sure to check out our sister site, Go Wander Wild. It’s packed with trail guides, hot springs, camping, winter activities and more!
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We want to hear from you!
What hike is at the top of your bucket list? Which one(s) would you add after reading our article? Leave us a comment below and we’ll do our best to get back to you!