There’s something about the prospect of traveling the world that arouses your inner wanderlust, whether it’s by plane, train, boat, or car, the anticipation is exciting. But something about the thrill of the hike elevates seeing the world to a whole other level.
According to statistics, the United States has 57.8 million active hikers. Hiking is more than just something to cross off your bucket list; it broadens your horizons and brings you closer to nature.
If your passion is discovering the world, the most beautiful locations are a great place to start. Continue reading to learn about the most well-known hiking destinations in the world.
Why Is Hiking So Popular?
Hiking is regarded as one of the world’s most popular outdoor activities often associated with mesmerizing views, healing benefits, and shared experiences.
Whether it’s long, intense hikes on footpaths through rural areas, up hills or mountains, or short, leisurely walks on flatter trails, it’s a pastime anyone can enjoy.
With the sun on your face, the wind in the trees, and the earth beneath your feet, hiking is an excellent way to clear your mind, gain perspective, and connect with nature.
The Benefits of Hiking
Hiking is proven to have many health benefits, from the physical exercise you get on the trail to the emotional and mental relief of being outdoors. Here are just some additional advantages of hiking:
Builds Strength
Hiking strengthens muscles and joints while getting your heart pumping. It also helps to challenge your core and lower body.
Boosts Stamina
A good hike lowers blood pressure and may help avoid high cholesterol, diabetes, and colon cancer. It also lowers the risk for other chronic health conditions.
Weight Loss
Hiking is a form of cardio and can help you maintain healthy body weight. According to research, you can burn between 80 and 100 calories for every mile you walk.
Reduces Stress
Spending time in nature keeps the mind sharp, the body relaxed, creativity alive, and relationships happy. It also alleviates stress, depression, and anxiety.
Supports Brain Health
Outdoor exercise increases mindfulness, self-awareness, and sensory perception while improving mood, creativity, memory recall, and problem-solving.
How to Prepare for a Hike
Knowing how to prepare for a hike can transform an ordinary jaunt into a heightened experience. Here are some helpful tips to consider:
- Think about how far you intend to hike, how remote the location is, and what the weather forecast has in store for you when planning a trip.
- Pack only the necessities, such as a water bottle, lunch, rain gear, and a waterproof duffel bag. Extras could include sunglasses, water shoes, and extra layers, depending on the weather.
- Before a hiking trip, brisk walks, light exercises, and dynamic stretching are beneficial for strengthening the body, warming up the muscles, and building endurance.
The Ultimate Hiking Destinations
With the vast amount of hiking trails and famous mountains out there in the world, it could be challenging to decide where to hike first. Here are a few of the most sought-after hiking destinations to help you get started:
Inca Trail
The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is Peru’s most famous hiking trail that stretched for thousands of kilometers across Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Chile, and Argentina.
Today, tourists travel these roads until they reach the Inca city of Machu Picchu through the Intipunku or the Sun Gate. It is one of Cusco’s most famous excursions.
Devil’s Bridge
Hikers who travel along the Devil’s Bridge Trail come face to face with the largest sandstone arch in all of Sedona. It rises 50 feet into the air, and the view from above is particularly breathtaking.
The trail spans more than four miles and is built into the existing layout of the Coconino National Forest and is accessible all year.
Mount Everest
Mount Everest, at an elevation of 29,035 feet, is the world’s tallest peak. One of the pinnacles of hiking is reaching the top of Everest.
Although climbing to the summit is the stuff of legend, visiting Everest Base Camp makes that dream a reality for people from all walks of life. Adventurous hikers can reach the base of Mount Everest via the there-and-back route.
Kalalau Trail
One of the most exciting places to hike is the Kalalau Trail. The trail was built in the late 1800s and is one of the few ways to get to the Napali Coast by land.
Along the Napali Coast on the island of Kauai, it is an 11-mile trail that goes from Ke’e Beach to Kalalau Beach. It travels across five valleys and ends at Kalalau Beach, where you’re met with towering bluffs and lush valleys.
Milford Track
The Milford Track is one of New Zealand’s most popular walks. Once called the best walk in the world, about 14,000 people finish it every year.
You will see huge valleys that were formed by glaciers over the last two million years. These glaciers carved U-shaped valleys, ice-gouged ledges, and hanging valleys of tributary streams out of the landscape.
Camino de Santiago
The Camino de Santiago in Spain is the most well-known pilgrimage route in all of Europe. The 500-mile route focuses on Galicia’s beautiful coastline, Roman ruins, and mountain villages.
Mount Kilimanjaro
Considered one of the greatest natural wonders in the world, Mount Kilimanjaro is not just the highest peak in Africa, but also the highest freestanding mountain in the world.
It offers incredible views from the summit and it is the easiest to climb among the seven major mountains in the world.
The World at Your Feet
There’s seeing the world, and then there’s discovering it. The sense of accomplishment and endurance you get from hiking sets it apart from all other activities. When you travel on foot, you feel a connection to the rest of the world unlike no other.
Our goal is to encourage you to explore at your own pace and get you excited about hiking destinations.
Allow us to direct you on your hiking adventure and bring the world to your doorstep.
