The Best Places In The World To Hike!

I don't hike, I've never hiked. I'm more of a stay-at-home-and-do-nothing kind of girl, but if the opportunity ever arose, I don't think I'd decline it, especially if these places were on the cards!

Inca Trail, Peru

Tour Du Mont Blanc

This is one of the world's greatest hikes as tourists say that there is plenty of travelling opportunities combined to create an amazing experience. The walk takes considerably less time than other sites (averaging between four to five days), and at the end of it you are greeted with the lost city of Machu Piccu. If you continue your journey, you will find the Andes Mountains which are often covered in snow as a result of the cold weather, particularly in Winter. The final, and most beautiful destination of all is exploring the Amazon jungle, where all of nature's diversity really comes together. Most of the journey is alongside the famous Urubamba river, which really sparks excitement in all travellers.

The Machu Piccu site (Sun Gate) is one of the seven wonders of the world and is even mentioned in Telegraph's Travels 'Trip of a Lifetime' series. Away from hiking, it is announced to be one of the top fifty places to spend your honeymoon, as the accommodation is modernised without taking away the natural beauty which surrounds it.

On the trail, there are stones in which travellers and native people alike walk on to their destinations, and these have been there since the Inca's, hence the name of the trail. A list of the sites you could visit (in order of the trail) are as follows:

★ The City of Cusco.

★ Stone terraces at Machu Piccu.

★ Last sunlight/sunset at Machu Piccu.

★ Inca Bridge.

★ Machu Piccu from Sun Gate.

★ Aguas Calientes.

★ Train journey back to Cusco.

As one of the most visited Latin American world heritage sites, it's not hard to see why this destination is so popular. It is around twenty six miles of the embracing of nature, in all of it's different climates. This contrast is no less than a wonder to those who are lucky enough to witness it. Travellers report that the first day of travelling isn't as harrowing as one may think, and that for the most part, the surroundings are so encapsulating that you want to continue walking.

25 Best Hikes In The World

The Torres del Paine "W" Circuit, Chile

This hike is recommended specifically for those who are "lovers of the outdoors and the natural world." Reports claim that locals are very friendly and that some have even built friendships with some of them whilst on their travels. Much of the national park is scenic and definitely the type of thing you'd want to photograph, as the circuit itself isn't as pretty and you'd certainly be missing out. Overall though, the trek is inspiring to all, and has left many visitors in love with the beautiful country and wanting to come back for more.

Due to the popularity of the trek, it is asked that people book the camping sites well in advance to prevent being disappointed while out there with no place to stay. Tourists voted this site as the eighth wonder of the world back in 2013, and we are still just as in awe at it as we were then.

Reaching the trail can be complex, it is recommended that tourists pay the 15,000 Chilean Peso fee to pay for a one-way ferry trip, though upon reaching the destination, I think it can be said that the hassle was worth it. There are guides set up on the Internet which refer to how to go about preparing for a trip to The Torres del Paine, one article I found was on what clothes to bring, ensuring each visitor had one shirt for trekking, one for the evening and a thermal base layer to prevent against the cold.

Appalachian Trail, United States

As one of the more well-known trails out there, there are all sorts of questions surveying the web, from how hard it is to complete, to how long it actually is. It is said that many authors have used the destination to fuel their imagination for stories. Located on the Eastern side, the Appalachian Trail is the longest hiking-only trail in the world, at 2,185 miles in total - covering fourteen states from Georgia to Maine. Among the site is not only the Appalachian Trail Museum, but iconic ghost town, Yellow Springs.

Condé Nast Traveler

There are many ways to tackle the trail, some preferring to go from Maine back to Georgia. There is a suggested route for each possible method though, for example, those heading to the North are recommended to visit small town, Monson to stock up on supplies. It is warned though that usually lack of funds cause hikers to run into trouble rather than lack of supplies as there is so much to buy on this once-in-a-lifetime trip. Despite the popularity of the trail, the sheer length and knowledge needed to complete it means it is mainly recommended for more experienced hikers.

A notable detail of the hike is that the paths are typically rocky, muddy or covered in tree roots - footwear is clearly important for this one.

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy dedicates it's time and resources to preserving the trails natural habitat, as the volume of visitors has had a damaging effect on the environment, though with the creation of the Conservancy, tourists are becoming more aware of the consequences to their actions, and the results are improving.

Kilimanjaro, Africa

Out of all of the African hikes, this has long been selected as the very best, being the highest peak of the continent. The famous site is the destination of thousands of visitors every year, all coming together to see the world's highest freestanding mountain in front of their own eyes.

Mt. Kilimanjaro is made up of three volcanic structures (called cones) - Kibo, Mawenzi and Shira. It is a dormant volcano in Tanzania. As the highest mountain in Africa, it scales about 4,900 metres in height (or 16,100 feet). Kibo and Mawenzi were estimated to have begun erupting about a million years ago.

The hike itself consists of climbing the mountain in all of it's glory. Though there are no specific times or dates in which it is suggested you climb, many reviews say that reaching the summit just before sunrise is the best time to see the view. As one of the more challenging hikes, as stated by many knowledgeable hikers, it is also recommended for those with more experience, though anyone is welcome to try it for themselves, even if they don't reach the peak of the mountain. Hiking with a group of people is always a lot more fun, and generally better for the experience as you are sometimes teamed with tourists from all over the world in which you can share stories with.

Norway

Kungsleden, Sweden

As a beautiful scenic trek, it is one definitely to experience during the summer. Despite the snowy scenery, in summer, it isn't uncommon to see wildlife such as reindeer out and grazing upon the grass. As well as the glacial springs which surround tourists with breath-taking winter landscapes with clusters of snow-topped trees. The average cost of a hike there doesn't come cheap though, averaging around £1,595 per person, which covers staying fees, and travel fees to Sweden from the UK.

Kungsleden is hands down one of the best walks in Sweden, and one of the best hikes in the world! Those who hike during the night are wowed by the settings of nature at it's most tranquil. The whole hike measures around four hundred kilometres in total. In late summer, you are able to see the Northern Lights from the trail, but it is something you will have to look into with great detail in able to see it at exactly the right date.