If you’re planning some exciting adventures for 2024, here are some of our favorite epic hikes from around the world. From a trek through Chilean Patagonia, a mountain climb in the West of Ireland to a quiet rural trail in Japan, we’ve got you covered.
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1. W Trek, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile
Named after the W-shape that the trail makes, this 50-mile hike in Torres Del Paine National Park in Patagonia, Chile, will take you around the foothills of the Paine Massif or Paine mountain range. As you get deeper into the park you will pass stunning scenery, including glaciers, rivers, forests and turquoise lakes, plus the famous Mirador las Torres—the three distinctive granite towers that the park is named for. Look out for wildlife too, from condors to foxes and guanacos (cousins of the llama).
You can do this multi-day trek from east to west, or west to east, and it can be done either independently or with a guide. One of the epic hikes of the world, it usually takes about five to seven days to hike, but can be done in four if you’re prepared to put in some long days. The best time of year to do this is during the long daylight hours of Chile’s summer months—November to February. This can also be a busy time, so book accommodations and guided hikes well in advance.
2. The Narrows, Zion National Park, Utah, USA
If you’re traveling in Utah, you will be in awe of the many spectacular canyons, especially in Zion National Park. The Narrows is one of the epic hikes of the Americas, and allows you to walk through Zion Canyon, a gorge where the walls reach up to a thousand feet high. What’s unique about this trek is that you’re wading through a river the whole time, and the trail gets as narrow as twenty or thirty feet in sections.Â
You will get your feet wet (there is no other trail) so make sure to wear waterproof shoes with good grip in summer, and waterproof pants in cooler weather—you can rent these and other equipment from the outfitters in the park. You can hike as far as you want—set off for an hour or two before you turn back, or do the full ten-mile round-trip to Big Spring, which takes a full day. Make sure to check the weather forecast in advance as this area is susceptible to flash-floods. Bring plenty of food and water, as there are no provisions along the trail.
3. Diamond Hill, Connemara National Park, Galway, Ireland
This is an epic looped hike in Connemara National Park located in the West of Ireland. The 4.5-mile trail is a mix of gravel paths, boardwalk, and stone paving slabs, passing everything from farmland with heritage breeds of sheep and ponies, to acres of brown peat bogs, eventually reaching the summit of Diamond Hill which is one of the Twelve Bens (or Twelve Pins) Mountains in Connemara. The top part is strenuous but the views from the top (which sits at 1450 feet or 442 meters) are spectacular, stretching out over the Atlantic to Inishbofin and Inishturk islands. You can also see the rest of the Twelve Bens Mountains, down to Kylemore Abbey and north to Clare Island and Achill Island. If the weather is calm, take a picnic to the top and soak in the views.
The trail is busiest during July and August. This epic hike can be done in rain (which does happen frequently in these parts) but check the wind forecast before setting out, as the trail is quite exposed at the top, so not as enjoyable during high winds. Maps plus exhibitions on the history and wildlife of the park are located in the visitor’s center. On average this hike takes around three hours to complete, so the visitor’s center café will be a welcome sight.
4. Nakasendo Trail, Nagano, Japan
This is the old road that once led from Edo (now Tokyo) to Kyoto and was used as a trade route by everyone from samurai warriors to monks and feudal lords. Nowadays, this epic hike is a quiet walk which takes you through the Kiso Valley, with rural country roads and walking trails, forests, rivers, and waterfalls.
The whole Nakasendo trail is 330-miles long, but if you’re not doing all of it, one of the easiest sections to walk is the 5.5 miles from the villages of Magome to Tsumago, which can be done in a day. Magome and Tsumago are both old post towns (rest stops for travelers in ancient times) which have been preserved, with beautiful traditional wooden houses. You can stay overnight in old ryokan inns, eat traditional food, and take a post-hiking soak in the onsens (natural hot springs). If you’re doing a multi-day hike, there are plenty of places to stock up on food, snacks, and water along the way—plus luggage services to transport your bags.
5. Via Francigena, Tuscany, Italy
The Camino del Santiago is a well-known long-distance pilgrimage route in Northern Spain, but the lesser-known Via Francigena is another pilgrim trail which dates back to medieval times. The trail starts in Canterbury in England and runs through France, Switzerland, and Rome, ending in Apulia, Italy.
One of the nicest parts of the Via Francigena to hike is the 250-mile section that runs through Tuscany, Italy. In Tuscany, the Via Francigena trail has been mapped and restored and there are plenty of accommodation options. The best times to do the trail are in spring or fall, when the weather is not too hot. You can walk around 15 to 20 miles a day, experiencing the rolling hills of Tuscany, passing olive groves, Italian villas and through ancient towns like San Gimignano, which still has medieval towers standing.
