15 Best trekking routes in the world: how many days each takes

A multi-day hike starts not with a backpack, but with choosing the trail. Pick the wrong route and instead of mountains you get asphalt, crowds, and three days of discomfort. We've put together 15 hiking and trekking routes across different continents, from the coast of Australia to Patagonia. For each one we list the length, difficulty, number of days, and the honest catch. The shortest trek takes three to four days, the longest takes up to six months.

First, let's sort out the terms. Hiking: short walks for pleasure, no special gear required. Trekking: a full-scale mountain hike, longer and noticeably more physically demanding. Below you'll find routes of both types, so you can find your own difficulty level.

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How to choose a trekking route

💡 In short: first honestly assess your fitness and time, then pick a trek from the table.

• For a first hike: Cami de Cavalls on Menorca, Big Elbow Loop in Canada, and Jeju Olle in Korea.
• With permits arranged in advance: the Pacific Crest Trail and multi-day hikes in US national parks.
• Season, huts, and reservations: 09/2026, according to the Kumano tourism bureau and the Corsica park platform.

1. Yuraygir coastal walk, Australia

© Maurice van Creij · CC BYPhoto: Maurice van Creij, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), Wikimedia Commons

Yuraygir National Park lies 480 kilometers north of Sydney. It stretches along the longest stretch of wild coastline in New South Wales, on the lands of the Gumbaynggirr and Yaegl peoples. The route is considered moderately difficult, but confident beginners can complete it. Along the way you'll find not just coastal trails, but also cliffs, creeks, and rainforest. The distance is about 65 kilometers, and you'll cover it in four to five days.

• Who you'll meet: squirrel gliders, eastern grass owls, and rare coastal emus.
• Season: from June to October whales pass along the coast, the best time for watching.
• The catch: cliffs and stream crossings on some sections, it'll be tough without sturdy footwear.

2. Victoria peak trail, Belize

AIIllustrative image: AI-generated

Victoria Peak, the second-highest summit in Belize, rises only 1,124 meters. But the climb is tough. The mountain is hidden in the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, the world's first jaguar preserve. The slopes are steep and covered in dense humid forest, so you can't do it without a local guide. You'll need good fitness and no fear of heights: on some sections you ascend with climbing gear. Only a few hundred people have completed this route.

• The reward: waterfalls, orchids, hummingbirds, and howler monkeys, nights in hammocks in the middle of the jungle.
• Distance: about 58 kilometers round trip over four to five days.
• The catch: you need a guide and gear, the route can't be done independently.

3. Dante's Way, Italy

The trek is named after Dante Alighieri and connects his tomb in Ravenna with his birthplace in Florence. You walk through Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany, across the wild Apennine mountains, past farms and hilltop villages. Along the way lie places from the poet's life: Pontassieve, the Acquacheta waterfall from "Canto XVI," and the castle of Romena. This is a new route.

• Length: 395 kilometers, takes about 20 days to complete.
• Difficulty: moderate, suitable for fit beginners.
• The catch: almost three weeks on the trail, short weekends won't cut it here.
• Tuscany tours on GetYourGuide

4. International Appalachian trail, Ireland

© Tony Webster from Portland, Oregon, United States · CC BYPhoto: Tony Webster from Portland, Oregon, United States, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

The International Appalachian Trail connects what was, roughly 175 million years ago, a single mountain range on the supercontinent Pangaea. The Irish section starts at the Atlantic cliffs of Slieve League. You walk through the Blue Stack Mountains, past Lough Eske and Killeter Forest, then across the Sperrins range. Next come the cliffs and bays of the Causeway Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The trail ends at the Irish Sea in Larne.

• Length: 485 kilometers, the whole thing takes about 25 days.
• Difficulty: high, you need to be in good shape.
• The catch: it's designed for people walking for more than three weeks straight.

5. Big elbow loop, Canada

West of Calgary, in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, lies the Kananaskis Country park system. Here you'll find high peaks, sharp ridges, turquoise lakes, and forests of aspen, pine, and spruce where moose roam. The Big Elbow Loop trek is a good fit for a first hike: the walking is easy, and mountain views open up from the very first kilometers. You follow a well-marked trail, with simple but beautiful campsites along the river. You can make the route harder by climbing Mount Romulus or heading out to Upper Tombstone Lake.

• Length: 42 kilometers, that's three to four days.
• Who it's for: beginners and long weekends.
• The catch: bears and moose live in these parts, follow camping rules.

6. GR131, Canary Islands

GR131 is not one trail but a chain of seven islands. The route runs through the entire subtropical archipelago: Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro. Between the islands you travel by ferry. Each island has its own character. On La Gomera, the "island of walkers," 37 kilometers pass by rock towers and the misty Laurisilva forest, La Palma adds 66 kilometers, and El Hierro another 42 kilometers along a wild ridge.

• Length: 560 kilometers, about five weeks.
• Who it's for: those who already feel confident on trails.
• The catch: the full route requires a vacation of more than a month.
• Canary Islands tours on GetYourGuide

7. GR20 trail, Corsica

© Rémih · CC BY-SAPhoto: Rémih, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

GR20 is considered one of the most difficult routes in Europe. The Grande Randonnee trail cuts across Corsica from northwest to southeast along a mountainous ridge. Along the way there is about 12,000 meters of elevation gain, steep slopes, scree and possible rockfalls (as of 09/2026, official Corsica park platform). But the scenery pays for everything: icy jagged peaks, glacial lakes, shepherd huts and pine forests. On the route you spend nights in basic refuges, where you have to share shelter with strangers.

• Length: 180 kilometers, from Calenzana to Conca.
• Duration: 10 to 15 days.
• The catch: scree and rockfalls, and refuge bookings for the season get snapped up in advance.
• Corsica treks on GetYourGuide

8. M'Goun trail, Morocco

© Frank.Vassen · CC BYPhoto: Frank.Vassen, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/), Flickr

The M'Goun massif rises to 4,071 meters, just 100 meters lower than Jebel Toubkal, the highest point in North Africa. Because of this difference, M'Goun remains in the shadow of fame and in silence, although its landscape is more interesting. The trail goes through windswept passes and snow-covered peaks, wide green valleys, terraces, orchards and walnut groves. Berber villages cling to the slopes. You need experience: this is a route for intermediate and advanced levels.

• Length: about 75 kilometers, which is five to seven days.
• View from the summit: the Draa Valley and the Sahara Desert.
• The catch: snow on the passes, you should not go without proper gear.
• Atlas Mountains trekking on GetYourGuide

9. Camí de Cavalls, Menorca

© MontanNito · CC BY-SAPhoto: MontanNito, CC BY-SA (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/), Wikimedia Commons

Camí de Cavalls, also known as GR223, originally served as a horse patrol route around the island. In the 20th century it was turned into a marked trail for riders, cyclists and hikers. It's a great first trek: you walk along a flat coastline, and the 185 kilometers are split into 20 gentle sections of 5 to 13 kilometers each. In a day you can comfortably walk one section out and back and still have time for a swim. Menorca is entirely part of a UNESCO biosphere reserve and is home to around 220 bird species.

• Start: Mahón, walk counterclockwise from the old harbor.
• Length: 185 kilometers, the full loop takes about 20 days.
• The catch: the route is a long loop, and few people complete the whole thing.
• Menorca tours on GetYourGuide

10. Hebridean Way, Scotland

© Colin Park · CC BY-SAPhoto: Colin Park, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

The Hebridean Way crosses the Outer Hebrides archipelago from south to north. It connects Vatersay, Barra, Eriskay, South Uist, Benbecula, Grimsay, North Uist, Berneray, Harris and Lewis. You walk from south to north, crossing six causeways and taking two ferries. The distance is about 250 kilometers, and depending on your pace it takes 8 to 14 days (as of 09/2026, Visit Outer Hebrides). All around you is wild heather moorland, rocky hills, white beaches and flower-filled meadows.

• Highlights: Bronze Age ruins and the Neolithic stone circle at Callanish.
• Wildlife: corncrakes, white-tailed eagles, otters and red deer.
• The catch: two ferry crossings, and their schedules set your pace.
• Scotland tours on GetYourGuide

11. Amatola trail, South Africa

© runfreefall · CC BY-SAPhoto: runfreefall, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/), Flickr

The Amatola Trail's landscapes feel like Middle-earth: mossy forests resemble the realm of the Ents, while meadows and waterfalls bring to mind locations from a hobbit journey. The route runs from the missionary-founded King William's Town to the mountain town of Hogsback. It's a moderate trek with plenty of comfortable huts along the way, equipped with beds, bathrooms and shared facilities. You sleep in huts, and the stages between them are planned for a normal walking pace.

• Length: about 100 kilometers, roughly a week.
• Accommodation: huts with beds, bathrooms and shared facilities.
• The catch: about 100 kilometers in a week, so you need stamina.

12. Jeju Olle Trail, South Korea

© Jeju Olle Foundation · CC BY-SAPhoto: Jeju Olle Foundation, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

Jeju lies south of the Korean Peninsula. It's an island left behind by an underwater volcanic eruption. It's the country's only autonomous province, with a distinctive culture of its own. The Jeju Olle Trail (the word olle means "alley") consists of 26 connected routes of 10 to 20 kilometers each, running along the island's edge. You take individual sections and along the way see tropical beaches, fishing villages, thatched-roof houses and harubang statues. From the trail you can see the extinct Hallasan volcano, 1,950 meters high.

• Length: 425 kilometers across all 26 sections.
• How it's done: hikers collect stamps in an official route passport.
• The catch: the full route is rarely completed, as it takes weeks.

13. Kumano Kodo (Nakahechi), Japan

© Nekosuki · CC BY-SAPhoto: Nekosuki, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

The Kii Peninsula on Honshu is crisscrossed by the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage trails, a network that is 1,200 years old. The trails lead to the region's Shinto shrines and, together with Spain's Camino de Santiago, are listed by UNESCO as the only pilgrimage routes. The Nakahechi, the Imperial Route, is 68 kilometers long. It once began in Kyoto and now starts at the Takijiri-oji shrine. It can be walked in 4 to 7 days (as of 09/2026, Kumano tourism bureau).

• Key points: Hongu Taisha shrine with its 33-meter torii gate, Hayatama Taisha and Nachi Taisha.
• Who it's for: confident hikers, as some stages climb uphill.
• The catch: it's a pilgrimage trail, so popular sections get crowded in season.
• Kumano Kodo tours on GetYourGuide

14. Parks Route, Chile

The Chile parks route is one of the hardest in this selection. It stretches for 2,800 kilometers and touches more than 60 towns and 17 national parks (as of 09/2026, official route website). It includes classic hikes in Torres del Paine and Punta Arenas, as well as pristine trails in newly protected areas. You will need time: set aside weeks even for just part of the route.

• Example: a 100-kilometer trail around Patagonia National Park in the Aysén region.
• What you'll see: Tehuelche rock paintings, hanging glaciers, and soaring condors.
• The catch: the scale demands preparation and at least 20 days.
• Patagonia tours on GetYourGuide

15. Pacific Crest Trail, USA

The Pacific Crest is considered the longest and hardest trail in this selection. It is 4,270 kilometers long, and completing it takes not weeks but months (as of 09/2026, Pacific Crest Trail Association). You will have to drop out of ordinary life for about half a year. The trail runs through the Cascade and Sierra Nevada mountains from the Mexican to the Canadian border. Every year many hikers attempt it, and just over half make it to the end. Here granite massifs rise like cathedrals.

• Permits: multi-day wilderness hikes require a permit.
• Who it's for: only for experienced and very confident hikers.
• The catch: the season is short, and preparation and logistics take months.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

Which route should I start with if I have almost no experience?

Start with the Camí de Cavalls on Menorca, the Big Elbow Loop in Canada, or the Jeju Olle in Korea. These trails run over flat terrain, the sections are short, and accommodation and infrastructure are well developed. If you want mountains right away, take the Hebridean Way: it suits confident beginners but adds two ferry crossings.

Do I need permits to hike?

Some routes require a permit in advance. For multi-day hikes in US wilderness areas you need a wilderness permit; on the Pacific Crest Trail you book it months ahead. In most European and Asian countries there are no separate forest permits, you just need to follow park rules and leave no trash.

How many days should I plan for a long trek?

Count on 15-20 kilometers per day in the mountains and 20-25 on flat terrain. The GR20 takes 10-15 days, the Nakasendo in Japan 4-7, and the Outer Hebrides 8-14. Routes like the Pacific Crest Trail take four to six months, which is no longer a vacation.

When is the best time to go trekking?

Aim for a season without rain and heat. In Australia whales pass along the coast from June to October, in the Mediterranean and the Canaries spring and autumn are more comfortable, and high routes like the GR20 are open in summer. In the south, in Chile, the season is flipped: people hike there from November to March.

What should I take on a multi-day hike?

The core kit: sturdy boots, a rain jacket, spare water and food, a power bank, a first aid kit, and a light sleeping bag if you will be camping overnight. On hut-to-hut routes bedding is provided, but earplugs won't hurt. Check the forecast before you set out and tell someone your plan.

In short: what to book

If you only have a long weekend, take the Big Elbow Loop in Canada or the Camí de Cavalls on Menorca. For a pilgrimage experience, head to the Kumano Kodo in Japan; for your first big trek, head to the Hebridean Way in Scotland. Leave the GR20 in Corsica and the Pacific Crest Trail in the USA to the experienced and determined. Book huts and transfers in advance: tours and outdoor activities on GetYourGuide will cover your first day and the journey.