Their chosen waters are just offshore of South Africa ’s De Hoop Reserve, one of the largest Marine Protected Areas (MPSs) in Africa , and home to the fittingly named 33-mile Whale Trail . From there you’ll pass into Þórsmörk, ‘The Valley of Thor’, a surprisingly green area nestled between three glaciers.

16 Best Hikes and Most Beautiful Trails in the World - Time Out

Expect raw, exposed rock faces sculpted by whistling winds that reveal ribbons of colour, geological marvels that are barely touched by human habitation, and stunning scenery overlooking the vast might of the Himalaya in all directions. Other iconic treks include the Simien Mountains in Ethiopia, Blyde River Canyon in South Africa and summiting the continent’s second-highest peak, Mt Kenya.Admire lakes and Alpine summits on Switzerland’s Faulhornweg hike © imageBROKER / Moritz Wolf / Getty Images 1.

25 Best Hikes in the World to Put on Your Bucket List (2023)

Afterward, hop back on the train to Leukerbad to give your feet a soaking in its thermal hot springs, which have views out to the peaks.

While the hike doesn't take place at high altitudes, we've given it a challenging rating because you'll be hiking for up to 10 hours a day, and the heat can make it difficult for some people. The longest and most challenging of which is the 49-mile (79 km) Heaphy Track through the South Island’s Kahurangi National Park.

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Trekking the Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB) introduces the ambitious trekker to some of the most dramatic and versatile scenery in the world. Begin in the Zagori region, renowned for its 46 traditional stone villages (zagorohoria) surrounded by the Pindos Mountains and connected by ancient walking trails. One look at this ravishing land of skyscraping peaks, glaciers, forests and lakes of piercing blue will have you itching to sling on a backpack, zip up to the heights and hit the trail.Our favourite option is to begin your trek inland, in the Barranco de Guayadeque - a gorge inhabited by pre-Hispanic Canarians in intriguing cave houses. Despite the length of the trail, it's very accessible as it travels through low altitude terrain along clear trails (and of course you don't have to walk the whole route). Colorado is a great place to test out your knees and lungs with 58 peaks over 4267m to climb in the state alone. This could be Italy’s most iconic viewpoint, the three silver-grey shards spearing skywards in a landscape that is shaped by history – this was once the front line in a vicious battle of attrition during the Great War, and that legacy still lingers along these routes. Stewart Island’s kiwis (the southern brown kiwi) may be extra large, but that doesn’t mean that they’re any easier to spot.