The world is packed with various hiking destinations, each offering its own unique opportunities and landscapes. It can be difficult choosing where to go for your next adventure, so I put together a list of my top five hiking regions for you to experience on your own!
Patagonia: After spending nearly a month between Argentina and Chile Patagonia, I could see why so many people love the region. You will find some popular hikes like the Fitz Roy Laguna de Los Tres hike in El Chalten and the multi-day W Circuit in Torres Del Paine National Park. Patagonia is home to one of the best glaciers out there – Perito Moreno Glacier just outside the town of El Calafate, and you can also visit the southernmost city in the world of Ushuaia during a trip.
Nepal: The Sagarmatha National Park of Nepal is where the famous Everest Base Camp trek is located as well as some longer trekking options such as the Three Passes and the Gokyo Lakes. If you are looking for a multi-day trek in one of the most scenic landscapes, then Nepal is for you! Trekking alongside the highest mountain in the world is an experience tough to beat.
New Zealand: The country of New Zealand is broken up into two islands, with the mountainous South Island known for its never-ending hiking opportunities to take part of. A visit to Mount Cook National Park will have you hiking up mountains and through valleys as you pass by glaciers and lakes. The areas around Queenstown and Wanaka also have plenty to choose from with Roys Peak and Ben Lomond as two stunning mountains to climb.
Switzerland: While not the cheapest country to visit, Switzerland is home to one of the top mountain ranges in the world. The Swiss Alps are lined with small mountain towns, where you can base yourself for some beautiful hikes. You can visit places like Zermatt in the Valais region and Murren, Wengen, and Grindelwald in the Jungfrau region, each of which has plenty to offer its visitors.
The Azores: Last on the list is a bit less-known travel destination. The Azores are a group of nine islands just over 900 miles from the coast of Portugal. This archipelago of volcanic islands is full of a variety of hiking options. From trekking around a volcano caldera to walking through tea plantations to summiting the tallest mountain in Portugal — Mount Pico — there is something for everyone to enjoy.
While there are certainly more options to choose from, it is hard to go wrong with any of the above options if you are looking for a hiking adventure on your next trip.
Charles Breitbart is the founder of TripTins, a travel website full of detailed iTINeraries and guides that take the hassle out of travel. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 2013 and spent a year traveling the world from March 2019 to March 2020.
