The Wave, USA
Few landscapes stop you in your tracks quite like The Wave. Tucked into the Utah-Arizona border within the Paria Canyon–Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness, this extraordinary formation of swirling petrified sandstone shifts through bands of orange, pink and red as the sun moves overhead. Getting here is half the adventure – 3km of rugged backcountry navigation with no cell service. Getting a permit is the other half; just 20 visitors are allowed in daily via a fiercely contested lottery.
Camino de Santiago, Spain
One of the world’s great pilgrimages, the Camino de Santiago winds across northern Spain through Roman sites, mountain villages and medieval monasteries, ending at the spectacular Unesco-listed cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. Along the way, Pamplona – immortalised by Hemingway – and the Gothic grandeur of Burgos Cathedral demand exploration. Whether walked for spiritual, cultural or purely adventurous reasons, few long-distance routes deliver such a rich tapestry of history, architecture and human stories.
Routeburn Track, Aotearoa
Linking Fiordland and Mt Aspiring National Parks across 31km over three days, the Routeburn Track is one of our finest alpine walks. Snow-capped peaks, sparkling lakes, immense valleys and lush rainforest mark the route, with the highlight being Harris Saddle – at 1,255m it offers panoramic backcountry views. The track also connects with the Greenstone and Caples Tracks to make a circuit.
Everest Base Camp, Nepal
Few experiences match standing at the foot of the world’s tallest mountain, an experience especially meaningful to Kiwis given the Sir Edmund Hillary connection. At nearly 9km high (around the cruising height of a jetliner), Everest – Sagarmatha in Nepali, Chomolangma in Tibetan – dominates the Nepal-Tibet border in spectacular fashion. Don’t be fooled by the name, Everest Base Camp is still 5,364m up which means that around two weeks need to be set aside to tackle the trek to acclimatise and reduce the risk of altitude sickness.
Laugavegur Trail, Iceland
Winding through Iceland’s spectacular Highland interior from the geothermal landscapes of Landmannalaugar to the birch-filled valley of Þórsmörk, the Laugavegur Trail is one of Europe’s great multi-day hikes. Colourful rhyolite mountains, steaming hot springs, black sand deserts and glacier valleys make every stage extraordinary. Its name means ‘the way of the water’ – and the landscape lives up to every drop.
Inca Trail, Peru
Leading to Machu Picchu through Andean cloud forests and over the infamous ‘Dead Woman’s Pass’ at 4,215m, the 43km Inca Trail is South America’s most celebrated hike – and one of its most coveted. Designed and built over 600 years ago by Inca engineers, the trail is now strictly protected, with the Peruvian government limiting tourists to around 200 daily passes. The result? Permits sell out fast, so booking well ahead is essential.
Milford Track, Aotearoa
Spanning 53.5km over four days through the heart of Fiordland National Park, the historic Milford Track is probably Aotearoa New Zealand’s greatest of Great Walks. Rainforests, glaciers and soaring alpine peaks accompany the route from Lake Te Anau to Piopiotahi/Milford Sound. The highlight is Mackinnon Pass – at 1,154m it offers views that will change your perception of beauty.
