Summary

• The Dolomite High Route offers rugged terrain with stunning natural scenery in Northern Italy.
• Tour Du Mont Blanc in Europe loops around Mont Blanc, offering picturesque alpine meadows.
• Hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru is historical, thrilling, and beautiful.

One of the best ways to enjoy nature is by taking a hike, and the US certainly doesn't lack bucket list hiking trails, from Angels Landing in Zion National Park to the Beehive Loop in Acadia National Park. However, the realms of hiking go way beyond America! Indeed, there are plenty of beautiful hiking trails around the world that show off just what Mother Nature's talents can do over time.

Whether one seeks extreme difficulty, Earth's longest hiking trails, or the planet's most spectacular scenery, the best hikes in the world would fit into every hiker's bucket list. For adventurers who fall into the category of those seeking scenery, here are some of the world’s most beautiful hiking trails in 2024.

UPDATE: 2024/04/02 18:04 EST BY LAURALYN BROWN

The World's Best and Beautiful Hikes in 2024

Experience the best that this beautiful world has to offer by exploring these top 12 hiking trails! This article has been updated to reflect some of the most beautiful hiking trails in 2024, plus a stunning and somewhat dangerous addition.

12 Dolomite High Route (Alta Via Uno), Italy

75 miles

The Dolomite High Route offers one of the most beautiful hikes through the Dolomites, weaving through the picturesque mountain range of Northern Italy. This world-famous trail features rugged terrain that will challenge adventurers. Still, the unparalleled natural scenery, featuring dramatic cliffs, azure alpine lakes, and lush forests, makes the effort all worthwhile.

The route is about 75 miles long and typically takes at least 10 days to complete, but the irresistible sights it harbors make this one of the most charismatic adventurers in Europe.

• Where: Northern Italy
• Duration: 8 days
• Best Time to Trek: June to September

The quaint little town of Cortina D'Ampezzo offers the best base for hiking the Dolomites, something adventurers might want to consider.

11 Tour Du Mont Blanc, Europe

110 miles

This famous long-distance trek in Europe is easily one of the best hiking trails in the world for scenery; it affords ardent adventurers the rare opportunity to traverse three of the continent's most charming countries on a once-in-a-lifetime expedition.

Teeming with picturesque scenery, it passes through gorgeous alpine meadows, rare mountain passes, and scenic glacial valleys that hikers will stop to admire. The trail stretches approximately 110 miles with a 6-2-mile elevation and loops around the Mont Blanc massif.

• Where: France, Italy, Switzerland
• Duration: 7–11 days
• Best Time to Trek: Mid-June to early October

The Tour Du Mont Black is perhaps one of the best trails in the world, but it's a very popular trek with limited accommodation along the route, so adventurers might want to book their refuges well in advance if they plan to stay in them.

10 The Inca Trail, Peru

26 miles

Hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is easily one of the top bucket list activities in the world. It is historical, thrilling, and also incredibly beautiful. The trail leads hikers through Andean mountain paths all the way to Machu Picchu - the world-famous Inca site that has become the most popular creation of the Inca Empire.

The Inca Trail is considered difficult because of the elevation gain and distance hikers must cover. It takes between three and four days to complete this hike, but despite the difficulty, every step taken here is worth it, as there are plenty of interesting things to see along the way.

• Where: Peru
• Duration: 4 days
• Best Time to Trek: May to September

9 Milford Track, New Zealand

32.9 miles

Milford Track is a 32.9-mile trail that offers a great opportunity to see the stunning Milford Sound - one of the several fjords in the bucket list-worthy Fiordland National Park.

The track is considered a moderate hike, although it takes up to four days to complete. Throughout the adventure, hikers will be met with scenic views of lakes, waterfalls, towering peaks, forests that look and feel magical, and incredible fjord views.

• Where: New Zealand
• Duration: 4 days
• Best Time to Trek: November to April

Hikers should prepare for the trek on Milford Track by walking 4–6 hours in a hilly location, ideally with a 500-meter ascent and descent, to get their cardio ready.

8 Rio Celeste Hike, Costa Rica

2 miles

Costa Rica is an amazing place for all things adventures, from whitewater rafting to surfing. It is also a great place for hiking, and although there are plenty of trails in the country, Rio Celeste Hike is absolutely unique and beautiful.

This hike is a mere two miles long but exciting as it leads to the Rio Celeste Waterfall, characterized by a charming blue color. The surrounding dense forest and the cool, fresh air and scenery it brings also combine to make this experience unforgettable.

• Where: Costa Rica
• Duration: 1 day
• Best Time to Trek: end of December through May

Carry a camera to take advantage of the spectacular photo opportunities while hiking Rio Celeste. The scenery is simply stunning!

7 Samaria Gorge, Greece

10 miles

The trail at Samaria Gorge in Greece stretches 10 miles through the canyon and graces hikers with majestic views of a scenic river and towering rocks carpeted with plants and flowers. Being one of the largest in Europe, this gorge is a sight to behold, and hiking it is an opportunity to be amid millions of years of geological history.

One can find this hike on the Island of Crete, and spring is one of the best times to hike through the gorge as the flowers and plants are more beautiful during this period. Besides the incredible views, doing this hike is an opportunity to ponder the interesting myths associated with Crete, including King Minos and the Minotaur and the birth of Apollo and Artemis.

• Where: Greece
• Duration: 1 day
• Best Time to Trek: April and May

It gets really hot at Samaria Gorge, with temperatures rising to a blistering mid-80s degrees Fahrenheit at their peak, so hikers should pack enough water and wear well-ventilated shoes to ease the discomfort.

6 Cliffs Of Moher Coastal Walk, Ireland

8 miles

The Cliffs of Moher are some of Ireland’s popular attractions, and one of the best ways to see this incredible natural spot is by hiking on the cliff tops.

The Cliffs of Moher Coastal Walk is about 8 miles long, and it has two trailheads - Doolin and Hags Head. Whichever trailhead one begins this coastal hike from, one is guaranteed to get uninterrupted views of the cliffs and the Atlantic Ocean.

• Where: Ireland
• Duration: 1 day
• Best Time to Trek: February to April and October to November

5 Great Ocean Walk, Australia

60 miles

The Great Ocean Road is a highly sought-after attraction in Australia, and one of the best ways to enjoy it is by hiking along its 60-mile path. Such a long distance requires spending between six and eight days on the adventure, as there are plenty of things to see and do.

On the Great Ocean Walk, easily one of the best hikes around the world for scenery, hikers go through dense forest areas and are presented with incredible uninterrupted views of the ocean and the cliffs. This hike is an opportunity to see the popular Twelve Apostles and a wide variety of wildlife, including birds and reptiles.

• Where: Australia
• Duration: 6 to 8 days
• Best Time to Trek: March to May and September to November

4 Skyline Trail, Canada

4 miles

Canada has some dangerous yet awe-inspiring trails, but the Skyline Trail is perhaps one of the most beautiful. This coastal hike in Cape Breton Highlands National Park stretches for 4 miles on a cliff, overlooking some of the area’s spectacular scenery.

Throughout the adventure, hikers can expect mesmerizing views of the ocean and mountains. It is especially scenic during sunset and when the flowers on the trail are in full bloom. The area also has wildlife, and some popular creatures to expect are moose and bears.

• Where: Cape Breton Highlands National Park, Nova Scotia
• Duration: 1 day
• Best Time to Trek: June to October

Hike the trail counterclockwise to finish the steep part fast and have an easier time the rest of the way.

3 The Trail To Trolltunga, Norway

16.7 miles

The Trolltunga hike is a unique adventure that easily makes many lists of the best hiking trails around the world for natural beauty. The trek takes people to the top of the world-famous Trolltunga, from where hikers are presented with magnificent views of towering mountains and a scenic lake.

The trail is about 16.7 miles long, and the elevation gain is about 800 meters. It takes between eight and 12 hours to complete this hike, after which those who make it to the top will be offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the incredible scenery and take creative photos.

• Where: Norway
• Duration: 1 day
• Best Time to Trek: June to September

Adventurers should set off early, ideally before 8 a.m., to return before dark. Those who choose to hike the trail during winter should consider getting a guide for safety.

2 Tongariro Crossing, New Zealand

12 miles

Tongariro Crossing in New Zealand is one of the most famous hikes in the world. There are two options; people can choose just to hike the crossing - a one-way day trip - or they can hike the Circuit for a multi-day hike.

The landscapes seen on this hike were used in the filming of Mordor in the Lord of the Rings. It is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful hikes in the world.

• Where: New Zealand
• Duration: 1 day
• Best Time to Trek: October to April

1 Everest Base Camp, Nepal

80 miles

This nearly two-week expedition is by far one of the most ambitious and equally beautiful hikes in the world. Everest Base Camp in Nepal takes hikers through picturesque Sherpa villages, alpine landscapes, and up to the iconic base camp on the world's highest mountain.

This 80-mile trek is not for the fainthearted, as it involves high altitudes, rocky terrain, and unpredictable weather. However, standing at the foot of Mount Everest makes every step of the journey worth it.

• Where: Nepal
• Duration: 12–16 days
• Best Time to Trek: February-May, September-October

While this hike is certainly physically and mentally challenging, beginners are welcome to hike Everest Base Camp!