20 Best Hikes in the World to Try Before You Die

🥾 Introduction

This ultimate hiking bucket list spans six continents, revealing a curated collection of iconic trails. Whether you’re craving snow-capped mountains, ancient ruins, or wild coastlines, these hikes promise world-class adventure and jaw-dropping beauty. Let’s dive into the must-do hikes for any serious trekker.

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1. Tour de Mont Blanc (France/Italy/Switzerland)

🗻 A 170 km loop around the Mont Blanc massif crossing three countries. Offers dramatic alpine views, cozy mountain huts, and cultural diversity with French, Swiss, and Italian influences.

2. West Coast Trail (Canada)

🌊 A 75 km coastal trek along Vancouver Island’s rugged Pacific coastline. Expect suspension bridges, muddy trails, and unforgettable ocean views. A physically demanding hike with logistical planning required.

3. Skyline Trail (Canada)

⛰️ Located in Jasper National Park, Alberta. This 44 km trail features alpine ridgelines and panoramic views of the Canadian Rockies. Wildlife encounters are common—grizzlies included!

4. La Ciudad Perdida (Colombia)

🌴 A challenging 4-6 day jungle trek to the Lost City, older than Machu Picchu. Expect river crossings, muddy paths, and rich Indigenous culture along the way.

5. Trans Bhutan Trail (Bhutan)

🕉️ A recently restored 250-mile cultural pilgrimage through temples, villages, and mountains of Bhutan. Offers insight into the Himalayan kingdom’s traditions and spiritual life.

6. Kalalau Trail (Hawaii, USA)

🌺 This 22-mile return trek hugs the Na Pali Coast on Kauai. It’s known for steep cliffs, tropical waterfalls, and secluded beaches—one of the most beautiful (and dangerous) hikes in the U.S.

7. Salkantay Trek (Peru)

🦙 A popular 5-day alternative to the Inca Trail leading to Machu Picchu. It passes through snow-capped peaks and lush cloud forests, with less crowds and more solitude.

8. Annapurna Circuit (Nepal)

🏔️ A legendary 12–21 day loop around the Annapurna range. Varies in landscape from subtropical to alpine desert, crossing the 5,416m Thorong La Pass.

9. Banff Highline Trail (Canada)

🎒 A scenic traverse above the tree line through Banff National Park, offering epic views of alpine lakes, glaciers, and the Rockies’ grandeur.

10. Arctic Circle Trail (Greenland)

❄️ A remote and wild 160 km trek from Kangerlussuaq to Sisimiut. No roads, no villages—just pristine Arctic wilderness, tundra, and reindeer.

11. Sentinel Peak Trail to Tugela Falls (South Africa)

🌄 A dramatic hike up the Drakensberg Mountains to view the world’s second tallest waterfall. Chains and ladders aid the steep ascent.

12. Buckskin Gulch (Utah, USA)

🧱 One of the world’s longest and deepest slot canyons. This surreal hike through narrow, winding sandstone passages requires careful weather planning due to flash flood risk.

13. Three Capes Track (Tasmania, Australia)

🌊 A 4-day hut-to-hut coastal trek with cliffs, eucalypt forests, and ocean views. Comfortable accommodation and guided interpretation make it accessible and scenic.

14. Milford Track (New Zealand)

🦜 One of New Zealand’s Great Walks through Fiordland. Features lush rainforests, dramatic valleys, and waterfalls—often called the “finest walk in the world.”

15. Grand Canyon Rim to Rim (USA)

🏞️ A bucket-list crossing of the Grand Canyon, descending from the North Rim and ascending to the South (or vice versa). Notoriously hot, steep, and awe-inspiring.

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🎯 Call to Action

What are you waiting for? Whether it’s the icy tundras of Greenland or the jungle trails of Colombia, this list dares you to dream big and trek farther. Lace up your boots, plan your next trip, and let these world-class hikes transform how you experience the planet. Let us know—which of these hikes is going on your bucket list?