A walking tour or hiking adventure is one of the most rewarding ways to see a country. It offers a sense of physical accomplishment and a unique vantage point for stunning views. Hiking brings you close to the earth. You reconnect with nature as you wind through natural habitats, feeling the weather and savoring the scents of the air.
Travelers today have many choices for walking and hiking tours, from multi-day trips to shorter excursions. Even the most cautious traveler can find a route that resonates with their sense of adventure, fitness, and skill level. People of all ages and physical abilities will surely find a trekking tour or a hiking vacation suitable.
Popular Hiking and Walking Trails
Travelstride lists itineraries along some of the world's most popular walking and hiking trails. With over 2,000 walking and trekking trips, the options are endless. If any of the following walking and hiking destinations are on your bucket list, you're in luck! Travelstride has a world-class hiking tour ready for your next adventure:
Hiking trails typically involve rugged terrain and have longer distances, while walking trails are usually leisurely and shorter.
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Inca Trail: The famous Inca trail is located in Peru and leads to the mighty Machu Picchu. There are over 150 trips listed on Travelstride that explore the Inca Trail. Some tours hike the trail in its entirety, which takes about four days, but many hike part of the trail at varying physical levels.
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Appalachian Trail: This scenic trail is over 2,200 miles (3,500 km) long in the eastern United States. Over two million hikers visit annually, and the hikes stretch from Georgia to Maine. Some of the most frequented segments of the Appalachian Trail included in tours are the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee and North Carolina and the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.
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Kilimanjaro hike: Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa. Trekking trips tour many of Kilimanjaro's most popular trail routes. The oldest, most well-established, is the Marangu route. You can find over 40 tour options for the Marangu route, with the average tour lasting one week. Other popular routes are Machame, the beautiful Lemosho, and the less demanding Rongai.
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Trolltunga: A spectacular rock formation in Hordaland County in Norway, Trolltunga is a popular Scandinavian hiking destination. This mountain is shaped like a hanging cliff, hovering over Lake Ringedalsvatnet. Travelstride has six hiking and walking tours that explore this spectacular Norwegian rock formation.
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Mount Everest: Mount Everest is the earth's highest mountain above sea level, located on the Nepal/China border in the Mahalangur Himal sub-range of the Himalayas. Towering at 8,848 m (29,029 ft), this mountain is rarely climbed in its entirety. Hiking Mount Everest is challenging, so joining a group led by expert trip leaders is best to ensure safety. Your hiking guides will hike and trek with you to the Everest Base Camp and guide you through the surrounding areas of Tibet, Nepal, and Bhutan for a wholesome trekking experience.
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Grand Canyon: This remarkable national park in Arizona is visited by over five million travelers annually. With hundreds of trails, the most popular are the extensive rim-to-rim, the Bright Angel Trail, the Rainbow Rim Trail, and the Hermit Trail. With views of a lifetime, Grand Canyon tours are guaranteed to impress. Hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon to a campsite or hike around the outer rim. You have endless options for your hiking vacation in the Grand Canyon.
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Yosemite: Yosemite National Park is located in California's Sierra Nevada Mountains. With breathtaking views of rolling meadows and towering mountains, there is a Yosemite hike or walk for every traveler. The most popular hiking trails in Yosemite Valley are the Upper Yosemite Falls, Clouds Rest, Nevada Falls, and the iconic Half Dome. This 14-16 mile round trip hike is intense and suited for in-shape avid hikers. It requires ascent by cables for a portion of the steep hike, which is only up in the summer months. Planning your trips in advance is recommended, as Half Dome is in high demand and requires a permit for entry.
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Sedona: Nestled in the heart of Arizona's red rock country, Sedona is a hiker's paradise renowned for its stunning desert landscapes and spiritual energy. With over 100 hiking trails to explore, Sedona offers something for every level of hiker, from strolls along easy paths to challenging treks through rugged terrain. Whether you're seeking breathtaking vistas, tranquil desert streams, or ancient Native American ruins, Sedona's hiking trails promise unforgettable adventures amidst awe-inspiring natural beauty.
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Camino de Santiago: The Camino de Santiago, also known as the Way of St. James, is a historic pilgrimage route stretching across Spain and Europe. Thousands of pilgrims and hikers embark on this sacred journey each year, seeking spiritual enlightenment and personal reflection. With multiple routes, from the classic Camino Frances to the coastal Camino del Norte, the Camino de Santiago offers a transformative hiking experience through picturesque landscapes, charming villages, and centuries-old landmarks.
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Denali National Park: Located in the heart of Alaska, Denali National Park is home to North America's tallest peak, Denali, towering at 20,310 feet. With six million acres of pristine wilderness, Denali offers unparalleled hiking experiences amidst rugged mountains, tundra landscapes, and abundant wildlife. Multi-day hiking itineraries traverse iconic trails like the Savage Alpine Trail, Polychrome Pass, and the Triple Lakes Trail, where you can encounter grizzly bears, caribou, and Dall sheep in their natural habitat.
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Mount Rainier National Park: Located in Washington State, it is an outdoor enthusiast's paradise, with its iconic peak dominating the skyline. Offering over 260 miles of maintained trails, Rainier boasts diverse landscapes ranging from old-growth forests to alpine meadows and glaciated peaks. Hikers can embark on epic treks like the Wonderland Trail, Skyline Trail, and Panorama Point, each offering breathtaking views of Mount Rainier and the surrounding Cascade Range. Whether you're seeking a leisurely day hike or a challenging summit ascent, Rainier has something for everyone.
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Olympic National Park: Situated in the Pacific Northwest of the United States, Olympic National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its diverse ecosystems and stunning natural beauty. From snow-capped mountains to lush rainforests and rugged coastlines, Olympic offers many hiking opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts. Explore iconic trails like the Hoh Rainforest, Hurricane Ridge, and the coastal Wilderness beaches, where you can discover tide pools, sea stacks, and breathtaking ocean views.
Top Walking and Hiking Tour Destinations Around the World
Offering over 2,000 trips from 270+ tour companies, hiking and walking tours are among the most popular listed on Travelstride. With a wide range of tour styles, locations, intensity levels, and regions, every traveler seeking a hiking journey will find their best fit on Travelstride. The countries with the top hiking trail locations are as follows:
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United States: With 58 national parks stretching from the east to the west, The U.S. is a prime hiking spot for travelers. Some of the most famous hiking trails include Half Dome in Yosemite, Angel's Landing in Zion National Park, Devil's Garden Trail in Arches National Park, and Root Glacier Trail in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.
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Peru: The world's longest mountain range, the Andes, runs through Peru. The most famous hikes in the Andes are Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail, which lead up to the summit. Machu Picchu may be the most famous hiking trail in Peru. Still, several other top hiking destinations exist, such as the Santa Cruz trek in Peru's Huascarán National Park in the Cordillera Blanca mountain range and the colorful Rainbow Mountain.
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Norway: From the lush fjords to the jagged mountain peaks, Norway has some of the most spectacular hiking trails in the world. Some of the most popular hikes are Pulpit Rock, Kjeragbolten, Trolltunga, and Besseggen Ridge.
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Nepal: Most famously known by hikers for the iconic Mount Everest, Nepal is a popular location for hiking and trekking excursions. Top hiking trails in Nepal include Everest Base Camp, the Great Himalaya Trail, and the Annapurna Circuit Trek.
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Chile: Chile is home to some of the world's most beautiful and unique hiking locations. With the Aconcagua mountain range, the Torres del Paine National Park of the Patagonia region, and the Andes, Chile is rich in nature, outdoor adventure, and hiking trails.
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New Zealand: Known as an outdoor lover's paradise, New Zealand has an extensive collection of hiking trails, arguably the best in the world. You can find breathtaking hikes on both the South and North islands. On the South Island, popular hiking trails include Routeburn Track and Milford Track. On the North Island, top trails include the Whanganui Journey, The Tongariro Crossing, and Mount Maunganui Summit.
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Canada: Canada's vast terrain contains some of the most gorgeous trails in the world. Some of the most popular hiking regions from the west to east coast include Whistler Mountain, Banff National Park, Jasper National Park, and Lake Louise.
Choosing a Hiking Tour Route
It's essential to look at the tour's activity level before picking the trip. If you're already physically fit and are looking for a challenge, feel free to go for a trip with a
"hard" physical level!
While no hike is going to be 100% comfortable (this isn't sailing through the British Virgin Islands on a luxurious
cruise ship!), it's possible to find less intense outings.
And not all hikes require you to go up and down. For example, Mt. Cook in
New Zealand is a mainly flat hike, though long. It's a good option for those worried about elevation or wanting to avoid a strenuous hike.
If that still sounds too much, consider starting with a walking tour or looking at the
easy hiking/walking trips at Travelstride.
Why Join a Guided Walking and Hiking Tour?
There are many benefits to taking a hiking tour with a guide, the most obvious being safety. Tour guides and companies are well trained in the routes, natural habitat, and first-aid to make your trip enjoyable and safe.
Another perk to having a tour guide is the ease of navigation and less frequented hidden gem routes and nature spots. Tour guides are experts in the region and can give you historical and cultural information and directions to the best and safest routes.
Guides can explain alternative routes for various physical levels and recommend different trails depending on your scenic and adventure preferences.