10 of the best trekking routes in the world

13.07.2024 - 13:43 / lonelyplanet.com / Hiram Bingham

Jul 3, 2024 • 11 min read

Ask ten experienced hikers to nominate the best treks in the world and they'll give you ten different answers.

Some treks are incredible because of the scenery. Some routes are epic because of the almost superhuman levels of effort and endurance required to reach the end point. For some trekkers, it's all about the destination. For others, it's the journey and the camaraderie along the trail.

But the world's top treks all have one thing in common – a sense of mission that transforms the simple act of walking into a life-affirming expedition. With this in mind, we've compiled our own list of the world's top treks, from jungle trails to breathless tracks through the mountains of Nepal. All require a sturdy pair of lungs and a fit pair of legs, but the experience of trekking is its own reward; decades later and you will still be talking about these hikes!

Best trek for people who love challenges

Distance: 168km (104 miles) round trip
Duration: 15 days
Level: Difficult

This character-building slog through Corsica is legendary for the diversity of landscapes it traverses, and for the level of grit it requires from trekkers who brave its rugged trails. There are forests, granite moonscapes, windswept craters, glacial lakes, torrents, peat bogs, maquis, snow-capped peaks, plains and névés (stretches of ice formed from snow) to conquer, and the tough terrain weeds out all but the most dedicated hikers.

Created in 1972, the GR20 links the town of Calenzana, in the Balagne, with Conca, north of Porto Vecchio, but the thrills don’t come easy. The path is rocky, uneven and frequently steep, with crossings over rickety bridges and exposed scrambles over slippery rock faces and loose, skittering scree – all part of the fun! You'll be drawing water from springs and sleeping in rustic mountain refuges, but two weeks later, you'll be able to tell the world you conquered Europe's toughest trail.

Best hike for modern-day explorers

Distance: 33km (20 miles) round trip
Duration: 4–5 days
Level: Moderate

The 33km (20-mile) trail to the 15th-century Inca citadel of Machu Picchu was used for centuries before it was brought to global attention when explorer Hiram Bingham "discovered" the route in 1911. Today, the secret is definitely out – but there are some rules and restrictions in place to control visitor numbers. Book at least six months in advance for one of the 500 permits available each day. That figure includes support staff – porters, guides, etc – so in reality, only about 200 lucky tourist trekkers are issued one.

The trek to Peru's most famous ruin has giddying views of high cloud forests and Machu Picchu waiting ahead like a beacon. The trail climbs to 2430m (7972ft) from the Sacred Valley,