Beautiful Places for Having the Best Hiking Experience

NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand is hiker’s haven due to its outstanding landscapes. Basically, it has it all! You can hike on glaciers, cross some challenging mountain passes, hike through wilderness area, explore the beautiful golden beaches on the coastal tracks or maybe even hike through volcanoes.

 

Photo: Michael Mellinger

New Zealand’s nine “Great Walks” multiday hiking trails provide access to its incredible national parks, whereof the Milford Track, Routeburn Track, Tongariro Northern Circuit and the Abel Tasman Coastal Track are the most popular ones. In addition to these premium tracks, New Zealand has thousands of backcountry hikes all across the country to explore.

• Milford Track: Known as ‘the finest walk in the world’, the 53 kilometre and 4 day journey begins at the head of Lake Te Anau, and leads you across suspension bridges, board walks and a mountain pass. The Milford Track will show you pristine lakes, sky-scraping mountain peaks and enormous views of the valley; and it will take you to the Sutherland Falls, the tallest waterfall in New Zealand.
• Routeburn Track: This 3 day track has some of the biggest scenery as it links the Mount Aspiring National Park with Fiordland National Park, while crossing soaring mountain peaks, huge valleys, waterfalls and jewel-like lakes.
• Tongariro Northern Circuit: is a famous 3-4 day walk across a still active volcano, Mount Ngauruhoe. The hike includes the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, a day’s march that incorporates the Northern Circuit’s most stunning scenery, like the Emerald Lakes. Also, there’s an area where Lord of the Rings was shot, remember Mordor?
• Abel Tasman Coastal Track: This track is the perfect way to explore the beauty of Nelson’s Abel Tasman National Park as it links a myriad of crescent-shaped coves of glittering golden sand, washed by the crystal-clear waters of Tasman Bay that invite you for a swim.

 

GREECE

Greece and its Greek Islands have some of the world’s best walks, hikes and treks, offering a well-organized system of mountain, ancient roads or cliff trails to choose from, making the country a hiker’s paradise.

The popular options include Meteora trail, Mt. Olympus trail and Mt. Athos trail. If you want to trail on the Greek islands then White Mountains trail on Crete, Corfu trail on Corfu and the cliff hike from Imerovigli to Oia in Santorini are highly recommended.

• Meteora trail: in this hike, you will be able to walk along ancient routes through this superb landscape, with its Eastern Orthodox monasteries at the top of the mystical rock formations. These monasteries were built by monks more than 700 years ago, trying to escape persecution, and once there were more than 20 of them. Today there are six active monasteries but several are closed or in ruins.
• White Mountains trail: The White Mountains or Lefka Ori occupy a good part of the centre of West Crete and are the main feature of the region. It consists of dozens of peaks over 2000m of altitude and cut by over 50 deep gorges, often ending at the sea. This trail savours a special blend of the high mountain scenery of Crete, picturesque coastal walking and traditional villages making it possible to hike some parts on a day, as it offers walks of various levels of difficulty.
• Corfu Trail: Rated as one of the finest long distance trails in the world, this walk is a magnificent trip through the finest areas of the Greek Island of Corfu. This route leads into a landscape untouched by the mass tourism, entering through the central countryside which visitors rarely discover and explore. The scene varies drastically, from inland tracks and cobbled paths, willow, cedar and juniper forest, to rivers and lush pastures, and turquoise beaches.

SPAIN- Caminito Del rey

At 105 metres high, with the river Guadalhorce flowing below and steep rock walls on either side, it feels a little daring, but not terrifying anymore.

Dubbed “one of the world’s scariest hikes”, the walkway attached to the steep walls of the El Chorro gorge in the province of Málaga, southern Spain, reopened to the public in March 2015 after being closed for 15 years, only being used by thrill-seekers who dared to cross the dangerously worn-out path.

Today, the secured wooden walkways, skywalks and stony paths make up much of the once dilapidated route, feeling more like a nature trail on a family day out (although children under the age of eight are not allowed and it is not wheelchair accessible).

At the first part of the path, there’s a boardwalk that offers great views of the turquoise water of the Gualdalhorce river swirling below. Among the trees, some benches have been erected, a sign of its new calm ambience, where walkers will be able to sit and take in the views.

The climax of the 7.7km walk comes around two thirds of the way along. After the tranquil stroll through the Hoyo valley, there are steps onto the next part of the boardwalk, having to the left a view of the mountains and the river, to the right the glass-floored section hanging over the cliff giving walkers a clear view of the gorge.

It may not be the world’s scariest hike anymore, but Caminito del Rey’s true attraction is still there. The stunning views and sheer rock walls will stay with you forever.

USA- Angel’s Landing (Utah)

Angels Landing is one of the classic hikes in Zion National Park and one of the most stunning viewpoints you will ever experience.

This hike isn’t that challenging as it is only 3.9km. Virtually anyone in average physical condition can make the trek, but it is mentally challenging because the final leg is very very steep, so it’s not really recommended for those with fear of heights.

The trail starts at The Grotto, where the shuttle bus drops people off, then crosses the Virgin River, the height gradually climbing slowly. Then it hits the mountainside and begins to climb steeply, following the narrow spine to the final viewpoint roughly 457 metres above the canyon floor. Plenty of chains, guard-rails, and carved steps are provided to help ease the mind.

This hike will take between 3-6 hours; your legs will burn, your knees may shake, and the 360 degree view will take your breath away!