20 world class walks

21.07.2023 - 07:57 / roughguides.com / emperor Hadrian

If your favourite way to travel is with two feet and a heartbeat, this selection of the world's best walks will be a dream come true for you.

Cornflower-blue skies and sand-coloured mountains make an incredible backdrop to a walking trip in Sinai. The focal point is obviously Mount Sinai, a sacred place where God is said to have created the Ten Commandments. Ascend the gentler side of the mountain in the darkness (2–3hr), from the monastery of St Catherine, to watch the sun rise, before heading down via the steep Steps of Penitence.

Mount Sinai, Egypt © Anton Kozlovsky/Shutterstock

“Metéora” means “middle of the sky” and how apt the translation for this place is: the complex of six Orthodox monasteries appear suspended in mid-air, but are actually perched on natural sandstone stacks on the edge of a plain in central Greece. Ancient tracks – some overgrown and difficult to navigate – lace through the landscape, while steps up to the monasteries themselves are steep and narrow.

Monastery perched on a rock in Meteora, Greece © Sergey Novikov/Shutterstock

Enterprising Roman emperor Hadrian ordered a wall to be constructed across the width of England in AD122, from Wallsend (east) to Bowness-on-Sea (west) in Cumbria, creating a heavily fortified barrier between England and the north. Today, with the help of zealous conservation, most of the wall still exists, and walkers are welcome to trek the length of it, enjoying the spectacular views across the craggy countryside.

Hadrian's Wall © Dave Head/Shutterstock

Peru’s premier tourist attraction, Machu Picchu is a tumbledown collection of ancient Inca buildings cocooned in a mountain ridge north of Cusco. Visitors usually hike the Inca Trail up to the site, taking a few days and quite often falling foul of altitude sickness. There is a limit on the number of visitors each day – and you’ll have to trek with an agency or tour operator only.

© Shutterstock

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An ancient pilgrimage route, dating from the tenth century, the Santiago de Compostela (or Way of St James) is a still an extremely popular path today, both for religious and secular reasons. Traditionally crossing through some of the most beautiful and bucolic parts of France and Spain, the end goal is the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, northwest Spain.

Santiago de Compostela, Spain © lkonya/Shutterstock

Parts of Corsica’s GR20, the 180km-long grande randonnée that slices the island from north to south, are seriously difficult, though you don’t actually need to be a climbing expert. Stupendous views of blissful blue lakes, green forests and spiky crags are a mainstay on this walk, while overnight accommodation is generally a bunk bed in a simple refuge.

© Kouro/Shutterstock

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