longest trek in world

30 Longest Hiking Trails in the World, Ranked

30 of the longest hiking trails in the world.

A walk in the woods gives you fresh air, time away from electronics and a chance to take in scenic vistas while clearing your mind.

Now, take that day hike, amplify it by weeks and months, and imagine the serenity. Whether you are a committed long-haul trekker or just want to explore a country by foot — be it day hikes, week-long forays or a full-month journey — here are 30 of the longest hiking trails in the world for you to consider.

30. Jordan Trail

Length: 400 miles

Location: Jordan

Hike through 52 villages and towns and follow in the footsteps of those who have walked the same paths since the earliest B.C. centuries on the Jordan Trail .

You'll uncover the culture of the country on this long-distance trail following the length of Jordan from the north's Um Qais to the south's Aqaba.

29. Sir Samuel and Lady Florence Baker Historical Trail

Length: 500 miles

Location: Africa

The longest trail found in Africa is named for Victorian explorers. With stops along the Nile River and Lake Albert, the trail begins in South Sudan and travels through Uganda.

The Baker Historical Trail , created in 2013, follows the route the Bakers traveled on expeditions taken during the mid-1800s, giving new explorers a chance to take in the much unchanged beauty of the land.

Length: 538 miles

Location: France

Roam through the French Pyrenees on the GR 10, which provides stunning views of various regions of France from the Mediterranean to the Bay of Biscay on the Atlantic Coast along the border of Spain.

Note: The Pyrenees are no joke; this is a challenging trek with elevations above 3,400 feet.

27. Bruce Trail

Length: 550 miles

Location: Canada 

The oldest walking trail in Canada continues to wow hikers who follow the Ontario path past some of the province's most notable tracts of land, including Niagara's Biosphere Reserve.

The Bruce Trail began in the 1960s and is named for the Bruce Peninsula that juts into Lake Huron and Georgian Bay.

26. Transmantiqueira Trail

Length: 620 miles

Location: Brazil

This Brazilian trail system interconnects to create a long trail through 39 different municipalities.

The Transmantiqueira Trail also brings you through the Serra da Mantiqueira in 30 protected areas of Brazil's vast ecosystems.

25. Michinoku Coastal Trail

Length: 621 miles

Location: Japan

Opened in 2019, this coastal route is actually a portion of the much-larger Tohoku Nature Trail (more on it later). Located in the northern region of Japan, this route follows along the Pacific Ocean.

The Michinoku Coastal Trail begins in Hachinohe City in Aomori Prefecture and ends in Soma City in Fukushima Prefecture in an area that was rebuilt after the devastating earthquake and tsunami hit in 2011.

24. Bibbulmun Track

Length: 623 miles

Location: Australia

For a walkabout in Australia, the longest trail Down Under is Bibbulmun Track . This long-distancer will take you from the Perth hills of northwestern Australia to the southern coast.

The track will take you past the coastal heathlands, towering forests and granite boulders. But there are no day-trek portions — this is an all or nothing linear hike.

23. South West Coast Path

Length: 630

Location: England

The longest trail in England, the South West Coast Path national trail provides views of Cornwall, Dorset, Somerset and Devon, and the gorgeous Jurassic Coast.

Designated in 1978, the salty air and dramatic scenery begins in Minehead and runs along the coastline to Poole Harbour.

22. Israel National Trail

Length: 683 miles

Location: Israel

The Israel National Trail ( Shvil Yisrael in Hebrew) travels across the small country from north to south and was inspired by a hiker who completed the Appalachian Trail.

Begin near the Lebanon border at Kibbutz Dan, then travel along the Mediterranean coastline and through central Israel on the way to the Gulf of Aqaba, where the trail ends in Eilat.

21. TransPanama Trail

Length: 700 miles

Location: Panama

In 2011, one man set off to hike across Panama, creating a new trail that includes 48 miles of canoeing. His route is now the TransPanama Trail for those brave enough to push through the same jungle journey.

The trail runs the entire length of the country from Costa Rica to Colombia and visits both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.

20. National Blue Trail

Length: 701 miles

Location: Hungary

Europe's oldest recreational long trail was designated in 1938 as Kektura . Now dubbed the National Blue Trail, the trek stretches between Irottko Moutain on the border of Austria to the border of Slovakia, where it ends in the village of Hollohaz.

Peaks along this moderate trail don't go above 3,400 feet, making it a less-strenuous walking adventure.

19. Skåneleden

Length: 780 miles

Location: Sweden

In Southern Sweden, there's a hiking trail that takes trekkers deep into the countryside and into the forests of Skåne.

The Skåneleden trail is divided into five different trails and passes castles and palaces along the routes.

18. Wales Coast Path

Length: 870 miles

Location: Wales

Hikers in Wales can enjoy the entire length of the country's coastline on the Wales Coast Path , dedicated in 2012.

Known as Llwybr Arfordir Cymru in Welsh, the trail features seven distinct areas, beginning in Chester in the north to Chepstow in the south.

17. Tokai Nature Trail

Length: 1,054 miles

The first of several 1,000-plus-mile trails found in Japan, the Tokai Nature Trail travels across 11 prefectures from Tokyo to Osaka.

The popular trail was introduced in the 1970s, and hikers will see waterfalls, cherry trees and views of Mount Fuji along the trek.

16. Great Himalaya Trail

Length: 1,056 miles

Location: Nepal

You won't have to climb Mount Everest to hike the Himalayas. The Great Himalaya Trail will take you around the towering mountain range.

The trail is divided into 10 sections and passes through a variety of environments including jungles and forests.

15. Greater Patagonian Trail

Length: 1,300 miles

Location: Chile

This new and difficult trail in the Earth's southern reaches passes through the Andes Mountains and Patagonia. It's inspired by a German explorer who has been working on the trail for decades.

Still under construction, by the time the Greater Patagonian Trail is complete, it will cover 1,900 miles and be the 10th longest trail in the world.

14. Sultans Trail

Length: 1,400 miles

Location: Europe

The Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, Suleiman the Magnificent, marched from Istanbul to Vienna during the 16th century. His route remains today as a path for peace.

The Sultans Trail travels through Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia and Bulgaria between Austria and Turkey and can also be enjoyed by bike.

13. Camino de Santiago de Compostella

Length: 1,570

Location: Spain

The Way of St. James , or simply The Way, is one of the world's oldest pilgrimage routes. The route begins in the mountains of southwestern France and travels across northern Spain to the tomb of St. James in Santiago.

Additional routes from other Spanish regions also arrive in Santiago, and those who hike along the way can collect stamps in various stops to present at the church in Santiago for a completion certificate.

12. Via Alpina

Length: 1,615 miles

Alpine countries banded together in 2000 to intertwine their trails, creating Via Alpina with five international trails that pass through eight countries.

The European Alps provide the setting in heights ranging from 0 to nearly 10,000 feet. There are 342 stages of the trail to discover and break into smaller hikes.

11. Via Francigena

Length: 1,894 miles

Via Francigena was the historic route for pilgrims of Europe to reach the Eternal City of Rome.

In existence since the 900s, the trail connected travelers from Britain, France, Switzerland and Italy to the Pope.

10. Te Araroa

Location: New Zealand

New Zealand's own cross-country trail covers both of the two main islands.

Opened in 2011, the Te Araroa trail runs from Cape Regina in the north to Bluff in the south passing through forests, cities, beaches and volcanoes.

9. Appalachian Trail

Length: 2,200 miles

Location: United States

Many wrongfully assume that the famous Appalachian Trail is the world's longest hiking trail. While incorrect, it does make it into the top 10.

Beginning in the mountains of North Georgia, the Appalachians run all the way up to Bald Mountain Pond in Maine. Dedicated hikers spend months making their way along its often-rocky paths.

8. Chubu Hokuriku Nature Trail

Length: 2,504 miles

Running along the coastline of the Japanese Sea is the Chubu Hokuriku Nature Trail found in central Japan.

Entirely renovated by 2001, it is considered an easy nature trail to hike, with views of the mountains and sea.

7. Pacific Crest Trail

Length: 2,653 miles

The East Coast has its Appalachian Trail, but on the West Coast, the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is longer.

Spanning from Mexico to Canada, the PCT covers California, Oregon and Washington, passing through the Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountain ranges. (And, yes, it's the trail that Reese Witherspoon hikes in the movie, "Wild.")

6. Tohoku Nature Trail

Length: 2,718 miles

Located in the northern part of Japan's main island, Tohoku means "northeast." This trail takes you through the country's most beautiful mountains in its northeast region (and even along the Pacific Coast via the previously mentioned Michinoku Coastal Trail route).

You'll pass through rice fields, artisanal villages and ski resorts, as the weather here is ripe for walking during all four seasons.

5. Hokkaido Nature Trail

Length: 2,849 miles

The longest trail in Japan, the Hokkaido Nature Trail was first started in 2003 and continues to grow to this day.

Found on Japan's northern island of Hokkaido, the mountainous and remote area can be explored in various day hikes or tackled all at once during summer months. 

4. Continental Divide Trail

Length: 3,100 miles

Travel along the Continental Divide of the United States on the CDT , considered "one of the largest conservation efforts" in American history.

The trail follows along the natural divide beginning at the border of Mexico in New Mexico, through Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho and ending in Montana at the border of Canada.

3. Grand Italian Trail

Length: 3,700 miles

Location: Italy

Crossing through Italy's many different regions and islands is the Grand Italian Trail or the Sentiero Italia . This national trail begins in Trieste, explores the Alpine Arc and Apennine mountains en route through the Tuscan countryside to Sicily and Sardinia, where it comes to an end.

It is divided into 368 sections (so you don't have to walk all of Italy in one fell swoop) and visits six UNESCO natural sites.

2. E1 European Long-Distance Path

Length: 4,960 miles

You'll visit seven countries if you hike the E1 , as the trail meanders north and south between the northern tip of Scandinavia through Italy's boot and Sicily.

The first stage covers Norway, Finland and Sweden before crossing into Denmark, Germany, Switzerland and wrapping up in Italy.

1. The Great Trail of Canada

Length: 14,912 miles

Location: Canada

The world's longest recreational trail, known in Canada as simply the Great Trail , opened in 2017 and blew the other trails out of the water in terms of distance.

The trail traverses across the entire country from coast to coast and also travels north along the Rocky Mountains to the Beaufort Sea and back down following Mackenzie River. It crosses land and water with some portions accessed via ferry.

10 of the World’s Longest Hiking Trails

By lucie grace | mar 30, 2022, 4:55 pm edt.

Young explorers and retirees alike are donning sturdy boots and reconnecting with the great outdoors on long trails all over the world. Thru-hiking is a long-distance, continuous trek that usually—unless you’re a marathon runner—takes months at a time. Thru-hikers took on the Appalachian Trail in the United States in the late 1940s, and the pastime only continued to gain popularity in recent decades. Here are 10 of the world's longest trails, some of which are multi-use for hikers, cyclists, and equestrians. Most of these epic trails are a compilation of long-established favorites—and would require prior training and careful preparation .

1. The Great Trail, Canada (14,912 miles/24,000 kilometers)

The Great Trail, Canada (formerly known as the Trans Canada Trail) links hundreds of local pathways across the width of the county. The route, which was first imagined in 1992, weaves its way through 13 provinces and territories , from St. John’s in Newfoundland all the way to Vancouver, British Columbia, with a northward loop including the Yukon. The multi-use trail officially opened in 2017 and has been praised for its goals of connecting communities and incorporating disused railway lines by converting them to paths. It has faced some criticism , though, as currently only 30 percent of the trail is off-road.

2. The American Discovery Trail (6800 miles/10,944 kilometers)

The American Discovery Trail is the country’s first and longest non-motorized coast-to-coast trail. It takes hikers, horseback riders, and skiers from the Atlantic to the Pacific, crossing through Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, Utah, and Nevada before reaching California. The trail opened ceremonially in 2000, though the first folks to finish it were power-walking couple Ken and Marcia Powers (also known as GottaWalk), who completed 5000 miles coast-to-coast in October 2005. The full loop, including both parallel possible routes—the trail splits into two alternate paths before joining again—was first conquered by hiker Mike “Lion King” Daniel, who crushed all 6800 miles in November 2008.

3. E1 European Long Distance Path (4960 miles/7980 kilometers)

The E1 is the longest of the 12 European Long Distance Paths overseen by the European Ramblers Association . It’s a vertical affair: The trek starts in the upper reaches of Norway and finishes in Sicily, Italy. The trail isn’t sign-posted in upper Norway, in consideration of the indigenous Sami people, but is marked with cairns from Nordkapp southward. After Norway, Finland, and Sweden, the path continues into Denmark (thanks to a short ferry ride). It then heads down to Germany before traversing Switzerland and ending with a hike the length of Italy.

4. The Grand Italian Trail (4455 miles/7170 kilometers)

If you like your long distance hikes pasta -fueled, this is the one for you. The Grand Italian Trail, or Sentiero Italia , has an accompanying food blog that suggests the local fare for the regions you’ll pass through, making sure you don’t miss the best flavors and natural delicacies available along the way. You'll need all that grub to fuel up as you go: This trail is predominantly mountainous, winding through the whole length of the Alpine Arc and the entire Apennine Chain before taking in Sicily and ending in Sardinia. The trail was first imagined in 1983. The earliest hikers to complete the full trek finished it in 1995 and again in 1999, but interest in the feat seemed to lose traction in recent years. The organization behind the trail has launched a free online guide, available in English and Italian.

5. The Continental Divide Trail (3100 miles/5000 kilometers)

This challenging five-month-long trail slices through the U.S. vertically, from Montana on the northernmost border to New Mexico in the south. The CDT was designated a National Scenic Trail in 1978, and it’s known for its rugged, unfinished stretches— the coalition that maintains the CDT calls it “a living museum of the American West.” It’s a proper hiking trail, as the rough terrain is unsuitable for mountain bikers and a challenge for horseback riders. As of 1995, only 15 people had officially completed the trail; now, around 150 people per year attempt to finish it. The CDT is one of three American trails that make up the “ Triple Crown of Hiking ,” alongside the Pacific Crest Trail and the Appalachian Trail.

6. The Great Himalayan Trail (2800 miles/4585 kilometers)

If the strenuous treks of Nepal aren’t challenging enough, the yet-to-be completed Great Himalayan Trail could be for you. The proposed route stretches the entire length of the Himalayan mountain range, surmounting Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet. The hardcore terrain and extremely high altitudes are not for the faint-hearted: The highest point of the trek at the Sherpani Col Pass in Nepal clocks in at a terrifying 20,210 feet (6160 meters) above sea level. If this “extreme route” sounds too treacherous, there’s also a proposed lower trail known as the “cultural route” that works its way through mid-range hills and villages.

7. Hokkaido Nature Trail (2848 miles/4585 kilometers)

The longest of Japan’s nature trails takes you on a loop of Hokkaido, the northernmost island of the Japanese archipelago. While the majority of the country’s nature trails were designated by the government in 1970, this mega-hike was first imagined in 2003. It combines the trails of Hokkaido into one huge loop. There’s still work to be done, with some stretches yet to be linked, but it’s suggested this trek would take avid walkers 230 days to complete.

8. England Coast Path (2795 miles/4500 kilometers)

This ambitious project has been in the works since 2014. It will follow all of England’s coastline to become the world’s longest coastal trail. The route, which was inspired by the success of the Wales Coast Path, traverses stretches of cliffs, moors, beaches, harbors, marshes, and farmland. It was due to open in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic delayed those plans. Long stretches of the Coast Path are open, however, and its governing agency, Natural England , is in consultation with local residents along the final stretches.

9. Pacific Crest Trail (2653 miles / 4270 kilometers)

This hiking trail stretches the length of the U.S.’s Pacific coast. It takes approximately six months to complete on one continuous thru-hike. The PCT was first conceived in the 1930s, and has been maintained and managed by the Pacific Crest Trail Association since 1977. It was made famous in recent years by Reece Witherspoon in her 2014 movie Wild , a feature film based on the memoirs of writer Cheryl Strayed. Consequently, it’s a popular hike and not the solitary affair you'll see in the movie. The PCT is celebrated as one of the country’s most scenic hiking trails, adding to its allure.

10. Te Araroa (1894 miles / 3000 kilometers)

Te Araroa (meaning The Long Pathway) is a picturesque but challenging trail. It spans the entire length of New Zealand—both the North and South Island. The Te Araroa Trust maintains the pathway, which was officially opened on December 3, 2011. Thru-hiking Te Araroa takes approximately six months. Trekkers can stay in the network of huts managed by New Zealand’s Department of Conservation, renting huts on a night-by-night basis or applying for a six-month pass. The record holder for completing the trail in the shortest time is British marathon runner Jez Bragg, who finished it in 53 days in 2013.

• Longest Hiking Trails In The World

The United States is one country where hiking has been a popular recreational activity that is associated with camping, day hiking, and cross-country hikes. Hiking trails are mostly well-maintained by volunteers, and some are funded by national parks. According to the Outdoor Industry Association, an estimated 34 million Americans adopted the hobby in 2012. A strange twist to an outdoor activity that many used to frown upon because in the 18th century and earlier, hiking in America was associated with tramps, homelessness, and impoverishment. The development and appointment of many wild hiking trails have gained momentum as more Americans have adopted the leisure activity.

Longest Hikes in the World

There is a lot in store for the hikers of the world. The following trails offer the best and longest hiking trails in the world.

Trans Canada Trail

Let us start with Canada 's Trans Canada or Great Trail. At 14,912 miles (24,000 km), the trails blows its competition out of the water. It is comprised of about 400 interconnected communities that maintain its own connected trails. The trail stretches from the Atlantic Ocean at the trailhead in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador to the Pacific Ocean in Victoria, British Columbia and the Arctic Ocean in Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories. Outdoor activities include biking, horseback riding, skiing, and canoeing.

Great Western Loop

The Great Western Loop is one of the longest hiking trails in the US  at 6,875 miles (11,064 km). The trail through 9 US states including New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, California, and Arizona. The trail crosses the Mojave and Sonoran deserts as well as 12 national parks and 75 wilderness areas. 

American Discovery Trail

The American Discovery Trail crosses 15 US states and Washington, D.C., traversing the country from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast from Delaware to California. The trail passes through 16 national forests, 14 national parks, and over 10,000 historical sites.

Sentiero Italia

Seventh in the world but the longest outside North America is the Sentiero Italia in Italy . It begins in Trieste and ends in St. Teresa Gallura in Sardinia. The hike goes through the Alpine Arc and the Apennine mountain range. It winds thru the Italian coastline, vineyards, and ancient ruins to snow-capped mountains.

Hokkaido Nature Trail

Hokkaido Nature Trail (2,849 miles) is the longest trail in Japan and the ninth longest in the world. It offers a moderate walking and backpacking trek. Mountainous and volcanic scenery with cool summer temperature in the island of Hokkaido.

The Usefulness of Hiking

Trails may be for day hikes, weekend hikes, snow hikes, and cross-country hikes that take months or longer to accomplish. Getting there is half the fun as hikers encounter waterfalls, tarns, glaciers, mountains, wildlife, montane forests, lakes, and even lost civilizations. Some hikers prefer solitude while others love hiking with friends and the camaraderie that it offers. Hiking the world not only offers more opportunities to connect and experience different cultures and foreign scenery but also gives a different perspective to the hiker. Solitude, camaraderie, and a new outlook of life maybe the effects of hiking the world.

The Longest Hiking Trails In The World

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The 12 World's Longest Hiking Trails

The  world's trails offer a wide range of possibilities for the hiking lovers, in quest for kilometres. Between 425 kilometres and 24 000 kilometres, this articles, presenting the world’s longest treks , will likely make you feel tired already! From the United-States to Canada or even Japan , crossing Europe , the world does not lack long treks, all as magnificent and challenging as the other. Between dense forests, steep paths and impressive lakes with intense colours, we give you the chance to discover some long diversified treks as well as a selection of Ferrino’s equipments ideal to follow you during your adventure.

Pacific Crest Trail, Great Himalaya Trail, Te Araroa, The Long Canadien Trail ... Follow us on the world’s longest treks!

Our selection of the world’s 12 longest treks : 

• Pacific Crest Trail - United-States
• Continental Divide Trail - United-States
• Trans Canada trail - Canada
• Appalachian Trail - United-States
• Te Araroa - New-Zelande
• Great Himalayan Trail - Nepal
• Via Dinarica - Slovenia et Albania
• Via Alpina - Alpes
• Kungsleden Royal Path - Sweden
• Hokkaido Nature Trail - Japan
• Oregon Trail - United-States
• Grand Italian Trail - Italy
• Ferrino equips you for your next trek

Pacific Crest Trail – United-States

The Pacific Crest Trail , also called PCT , is one of the longest path of the United-States and forms a “ triple crown “ with two other treks in the US, the Appalachian Trail and the Continental Divide Trail . The “Triple Crown” combines the 3 main long distance trail in the United-States.

The Pacific Crest Trail follows the Pacific Ocean coast for 4240 km , from Mexico to Canada. Starting from the Mexican border ( close to Campo ) , the Pacific Crest Trail goes through the Sierra Nevada and the Cascade Range, a mountain range located between the states of California, Oregon, and Washington in the US and the province of British Colombia in Canada. The PCT reaches therefore summits as its highest point is the Forester summit at a 4009 m altitude in California. Every year, about 200 hikers out of 300 reach their objective and are able to finish the Pacific Crest Trail , from south to north. We call them the “thru-hikers”. The length of this tiring trek varies between 4 and 6 months and is usually done between end of April and end of September. The trekkers which start this sporty adventure will be able to observe at close the lakes from Crater Lake national park, a celesta blue lake located near Mazama volcano crater, as well as the incredible wildlife of Oregon national forest. The varied panoramic views and altitude heights offered by this unique trek are those typically found in the high-mountains environment, which leave trekkers with remarkable memories. If you are tempted to see a video of the Pacific Crest Trail, we invite you to watch the film Wild , put to images by Jean-Marc Vallée with Reese Witherspoon in the character of Cheryl Stayed, who decides to do the PCT alone.

• Distance : 4 240 km
• Length : between 4 and 6 months
• Best seasons : between end of April and end of September 

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Continental divide trail – united-states.

4 989 km : nothing less! The Continental Divide Trail is a long trek composed of a succession of varied paths within the Rocky Mountains , a mountain chain located to the West of North America . The “Rockies” offer surprising landscapes as the mountains are the sources of multiple water streams that land in the world’s three of the five oceans : the Atlantic Ocean , the Pacific Ocean and the Arctic Ocean. The Continental Divide Trail goes through several American states from New-Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho and Montana and continues its itinerary until the Jasper Park in Canada, a large wild area, home to many species such as the wapitis, moose, Canadian mouflon and bears. The highest point of this trek is Grays Pic, located in the Colorado and reaching a 4 349 m altitude. Every year, they are less than thirty to try to finish this itinerary by foot, from south to north. The itinerary to follow, only marked for ¾ of the trail and the duration of the Continental Divide Trail , approximately 6 months, make this trek one for expert hikers. Furthermore, it presents sections known for their difficulty, especially in the national forest of Santa Fé and around Glacier National Park in the Montana. Usually done from April to October , this trek oscillates between lunar landscape and green valleys with rapid waters, for the enjoyment of hikers who like challenges.  

• Distance : 4 989 km
• Length: around 6 months
• Best seasons : from start of April and end of  October

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Trans canada trail - canada.

The Trans Canada Trail , is 24 000 km long. It is one of the world’s longest hiking trail.. It links two oceans, the Atlantic to the Pacific, and two big province capital, Victoria, in the province of British-Columbia, on the island of Vancouver and Saint-Jean, in the heart of the Newfoundland and Labrador province.

Doing a trek on the Trans Canada Trail it's discovering the urban, rural and wild beauty of Canada and travelling on roads, on foot itinerary and waterways crossing thirteen provinces and territories. The main part of this trek follows the south border that Canada shares with the United-States and meets in the way the main major cities of this region such as Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa et Montreal .

The Trans Canada Trail has also two branches on the north-east, more Nordic, linking Edmonton, Tuktoyaktuk and Inuvik . To do the world’s longest trek and discover transcendent Canadian landscapes , you can think about using kayaks or stand-up paddles, as about one third of the itinerary follows waterways. Every locomotion can be planned except the car!

• Distance : 24 000 km
• Length : about 500 days (about 1 year and 4 months)

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Appalachian trail – united-states.

The Appalachian Trail is at the eastern coast of the United-States what the Pacific Crest Trail is at its West coast. Meet one of the best american discovery trail. From  Springer Moun t in Georgia to Month Katahdin in the Maine, the Appalachian Trail crosses fourteen states on more than 3510 km of trails entirely marked. The ideal moment to start this hike is around March. You can at this moment enjoy a clement climate on the entire path by privileging  the road that goes from south to north. On the program of this unique route many landscapes will be encountered. First, The Nation Park of the Great Smoky Mountains in the Tenessee, the wildest and most technical section of the Appalachian Trail where you can observe the black bears, the wapiti and more than 5 400  different vegetal species. Also, The  Blue Ridge Mountains , a mountainous and dense forest chain located at the East of the United-States and the National Park Shenandoah of Virginia, where you will be able to meet, out of others,  lynx, raccoons, and opossums . You will finish this diversified landscape trek by the crossing of the Maine, nicknamed « Hundred-Mile Wilderness » by the accustomed, for its difficulty and the wild landscape surrounding its woody paths. The crossing of the Maine, often unpredictable depending on the weather variations and the power of the water streams crossed, inaugurates the climbing of the Katahdin Mount with a highest point at 1 606 m, the last step of this prestigious trek.

• Distance : 3 510 km
• Best seasons : start of March to end of August 

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Te Araroa – New-Zealand

The small coastal village of Te Araroa has given its name to a 3 000 km trail crossing the two island of New- Zealand , from the Reinga Cap at the northern extremity to Cap Bluff, at the southern extremity. You will need between 100 and 160 days to finish this long trek, which links the Tasman Sea to the west, to the Pacific Ocean to the east. The few 150 hikers that decide to undertake the Te Araroa usually start beginning of October from the sand beach of Reinga Cap. The Te Araroa Trail offers very diversified environments for its hikers, as forest and jungle alternate on the northern island.

As for the southern island, it has the highest summits of the sometime deserted regions, such as the Richmond Mount. The alpine landscape and the jungles make place to impressive ice glacier and rocky passages during the trek.   The Te Araroa Trail , which does not cross any roads or civilization for more than 140 km, has been chosen for its sublime lunar backgrounds by the film industry. The backgrounds of  Lord of the Rings by Peter Jackson have been for example filmed, for the main parts, on this extraordinary trek itinerary.

• Distance : 3 000 km
• Length: between 100 and 160 days (about  3 to 5 months)
• Best period : between October and February

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Great himalayan trail – nepal.

The  Great Himalayan Trail is a network of hiking trail linking the itineraries of major trek on the Nepalese Himalayan chain .  The Great Himalayan Trail , known for its difficulty, requires a good endurance and altitude acclimatation. In fact, the Great Himalayan Trail links the far out stretched massif of Api Himal in the Far West of the country, reaching 7 132 m in height , to the region of the Kanchenjunga, shelter to the world’s third-highest summit with  a 8 586 m elevation , located for its part at the east of the country. The itinerary of this trek follows the northern border that the Nepal shares with the Tibet. With a distance of 1700 km and its high altitude, the Great Himalayan Trail is often perceived as the ultimate trek, where hiking can be sometimes confronted with mountain sickness . It alternates high roads, placed between 3 000 and 6 000 m altitude, and low paths enabling direct contact with the local agricultural villages. The very high mountain climate is very challenging and tiring, and therefore makes the Great Himalayan Trail one of the most technical and risky treks in the world. It however stays the dream of many hikers who wish to travel on the paths of the world’s roof.

• Distance : 1 700 km
• Length : around 3 months
• Best seasons : between mid-August and end of November

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Via Dinarica – Slovenia and Albania

The Via Dinarica : the discovery of the other Alps! In the continuity of the occidental Alps , the dinaric chains follow the borders of the Adriatic Sea until the north of Albania, and crosses 7 countries, such as Slovenia. With a length of 1260 km , this hiking path can be done in 2 or 3 months and offers the possibility to see bears, foxes, and a lot of other animal and vegetal species. In 2016, we could count less than ten trekkers having achieved to cross the entire Via Dinarica. This itinerary is considered difficult as few summits exist to go from one valley to the other, and we can count a great quantity of snakes on the way, such as the Ottoman viper, very venomous. The  Via Dinarica asks therefore for a good physical conditions as well as a great awareness of the surrounding environment, but offers in return to create unique links between hikers and rural villages. The hikers going through the  Via Dinarica are in fact encouraged to respect the cultural diversity and environment, as well as the authenticity of the encountered communities. This itinerary constitutes a grand project, supported by Europe, which aims to create 3 different trails, going through only the Balkans . One of those trails would be done by the mountains, the second following the coast and the last one inside the lands. New itineraries based on the  Via Dinarica are therefore greatly  awaited by the all hikers!

• Distance : 1 260 km
• Length : 2 to 3 months
• Best seasons : between March et May or between end of August and November

Via Alpina – Alps

Initiated by the Grande Traversée of the Alps in 1999, the  Via Alpina has become a network of alpine hikes offering 5 international itineraries. They offer in total 342 stops for 5 000 treks. Linking Trieste to Monaco , it covers eight countries: Slovenia, Italy, Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, France and the principality of Monaco. If the name of each itinerary are those of colours, they are not representative of the difficulty of each. For hikers searching for high sensations, this itinerary is perfect, as some parts at 3 000 m  require having stable steps and to not fear heights. You should prioritize the period between June and October to challenge yourself on the Via Alpina in order to stay away from herds often guarded by “patous”, dogs trained to protect those herds. You will have to be careful of where you walk as on the Via Alpina you could meet with aspic and peliade Vipers, as well as tick, smaller, but dangerous too! The offered itineraries are very appreciated by hikers, which in particular enjoy the conviviality of refuges encountered.

• Distance : 5 000 km
• Length : around 4 to 5 months
• Best seasons : between June and October

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 kungsleden – royal path – sweden.

Combining open spaces and relative physical difficulty, the R oyal path , or " Kungsleden " in Swedish , is a trek entirely marked for more than 425 km, stretching from Abisko National Park, known for its Nordic wildlife as well as its transparent lakes waters, to Hemavan, places from where you can see the magnificent Swedish mountains such as the Norra Storfjället , with its 1 768 m summit. The Royal Path crosses the wild lands of the Swedish Lapland, registered on the mondial patrimony of UNESCO . Kungsleden is divided into 5 segments, corresponding to each one good week of hiking. The trail is equipped with refuges around every 20 km, on the northern part. This  trek itinerary is doable from beginning of June to September ; until mid-july by day and continues on the northern part. The hikers which decide to go on the  Royal path   ( Kungsleden ) will be able to see the midnight sun, a natural phenomenon of one entire month when the sun never sets, offering a ski with hot and vivid colours.

• Distance : 425 km
• Length: about 40 days
• Best seasons : between June and September 

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Hokkaido nature trail – japan.

First dropped out from the natural paths by the Japanese government in the seventies, the Hokkaido Nature Trail plans were finally approved in 2003. As a result : no less than 4585 km for this path representing seven months of adventure, crossing from top to bottom the well-known island at the top of Japan until reaching the Sapporo, the third-largest city of Japan and the regional island of Hokkaido. The peninsula ranked on the world UNESCO patrimony of Shiretoko , kingdom of cliffs , waterfalls and seabirds, crossing the Hidaka Mont in the south, reaching between 1500 and 2000 m, l’ Hokkaido Nature Trail offers a diversified outdoor experience on a land with a similar size to Austria. You will be able to let yourself dream while admiring those incredible diversity of landscapes, between glaciers, woods and volcanos. Considering the length of this trek, you will be able to discover Japan during 3 consecutive seasons. Summer stays the best season to undertake this trail, as temperatures are relatively tempered in this region. Snows from the winter season create, however, an even more memorable scenery!

• Distance : 4 585 km
• Length : around 7 months
• Best season : June and December

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The oregon trail - united-states.

3500 km   are waiting for you on this path taken by pioneers in the XIX th century to go from the city of Missouri to Oregon. The Oregon Trail , is an historic trail which takes you on green grassland , canyons, deserts, and waterfalls of this region of the US, a bunch of unique landscapes that you will remember. The Oregon trail makes you notably cross the Owyhee Canyonlands Park , with its impressive canyons travelled by rivers and where mountain vegetation grow on the rocks and sandy spring soil. Around 6 months of hiking are necessary to reach the end of this long trail. We recommend that you do this trek in April as grass is high and weather conditions are optimal.

• Distance : 3 500 km
• Length : around 6 months
• Best seasons: between April and september

Grand Italian Trail or Sentiero Italia – Italy 

Sentiero Italia or the Grand Italian Trail offers a great trail of 6166 km divided into 368 segments . It starts at the bottom of the dinarique Alps at Trieste and ends at the northern Sardinia peninsula at Santa Teresa Gallura, 13 km away from Bonifacio in Corsica. Spring and Autumn are ideal seasons to challenge yourself on the segment of your choice. If you choose to do them all and complete the Sentiero Italia, count around 8 to 9 months of walking. On your itinerary of this long and enjoyable hiking path : the entire crossing of the Apennines chain via the Sibylline monts at 2476 m and the mont Vettore and a stop in the Regional park of the Simbruini monts. During the last step of the Sentiero Italia , you will regain the warm border of the Mediterranean Sea, on the Sicilian and Sardinia beaches.

• Distance : 6 166 km
• Length : 8 to 9 months
• Best season : Between March and October

Ferrino equips you for your long treks

Before going head first on one of the world's longest trail, you need to pick the  right equipment for long distances . To do so, we have chosen 7 Ferrino products that you shouldn’t miss on your trips with a small budget!

Offering an excellent quality/ price ratio , the Italian brand has imposed itself as the reference for trekking equipment, mountaineering and bivouac. Since 1870, Ferrino , offers a wide range of tents , inflatable mats , or backpacks for the greatest pleasure of beginners and professionals. Outdoor lovers who wish to be equipped with products of great quality without, necessarily, increasing their budget, therefore turn themselves to Italian brand for their treks. Why not do like them? Let us present to you the unmissable Ferrino products to undertake your long hike or treks, and discover the most beautiful places in the world well-equipped.

The Ferrino Lightent 2 Pro is the ideal model for adventurers who trail in duo and give a great importance to the weight of their carrying. As strong as it is light weighted, this tent will be a  great choice if you do not wish to make any compromise between lightness and resistance against the difficult conditions and that you will be facing, during a long trek or hike .

Ferrino knows also that having a good night's rest is necessary for spending perfect treks around the world. If your sleeping bag needs to bring  comfort and warmth , it shouldn’t be difficult to carry during the day. The Italian brand has won this bet with the Lightech 800 Duvet , with a natural down isolation offering an excellent warmth, all with a highly compressible and light product.

What would be a good sleeping bag without a good mat , easily inflatable , easy to carry and ultra light? Search no longer, the Air Lite from Ferrino is the lightweight mat that you need to spend nights as comfortable as at home. Once packed, this mat makes itself forgotten in your backpack , for the greatest pleasure of those who like light travelling.

At last, for the most demanding for their sleep quality and comfort, Ferrino has developed the Traveller Liner Mummy , an ultra light sleeping bag liner which will come and add to the thermal comfort and hygiene of your sleeping bag for big comfort bivouac nights. Made with natural and soft cotton, it enables to keep your sleeping bag clean and fresh, and to spend nights as enjoyable outside than at home.

Greatest friend on the trails, the Transalp 60 , a reference in the world of trekking backpack . With great volumes and numerous functionality, this trekking backpack will enable you to bring all the necessary material for your long treks and to not lack anything when you are far from civilization and refuelling.

You will be able to hide in it your   Trekker Ripstop , a waterproof poncho made to keep you dry as well as your backpack in the event of weather decline during your trip. Once the sun is back, this poncho will easily find its place in your backpack, in its own storage pocket, in order to keep your equipment organized.

And because your legs deserve to stay dry, we recommand you to add to your equipment the   ZIP Motion Pants , a waterproof, and windproof pants with elastic adjustment for an optimal protection against the elements.

Because images tell us more than a 1000 words , discover Ferrino on tape for its 150th anniversary . Real reference for outdoor lovers , the brands never stops innovating to offer light, durable products  of quality and at the best price, to make trekking accessible to the greatest amount. 

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The list of the longest treks has awakened the adventurer which sleeps within you? Equipped with your hiking shoes, breathable and waterproof clothes , a backpack without forgetting your walking poles , survival blanket , a good solar protection and your hygiene products, why not going on a short trek to prepare yourself for those gigantic trails? We offer you to discover treks with varied landscape across the world!

You still have some questions or would like some other information on treks and hikes around the world? Do no hesitate to contact our team of experts on the +33 ( 0)  1 84 67 14 24 (free calls)   or by sending a message to our Customer care centre . We will be delighted to help you and answer your questions! 

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9 longest hiking trails in the world that you must visit

Strap on your hiking boots and prepare for these amazing, miles-long trails.

There’s just something about long trails. Beyond the mileage and the physical component, distance trails require a different type of commitment and mindset — almost a lifestyle. And worldwide, the planet’s long trails also provide an intimate glimpse of some of the most fascinating and far-flung places on Earth.

Trans Canada Trail

American discovery trail, e1 european long distance path, north country trail, grand italian trail, continental divide trail, great himalayan trail, appalachian trail, te araroa trail.

From the Alps to the Appalachians, here are a few of the longest hiking trails on the planet. (And be sure to read up on how to prepare for a long-distance hike if you plan to travel to these remarkable hiking trails .)

First conceived in 1992 as a way to connect hiking, cycling, and paddling routes across Canada, the Trans Canada Trail is the most extensive trail network on the planet. Stretching from Newfoundland’s Atlantic Coast to the edge of the Pacific Ocean in British Columbia, the Trans Canada Trail is actually a massive conglomeration of regional trails, totaling more than 16,700 miles and threading a multiplicity of Canadian landscapes, from the coastal wilderness edging the Bay of Fundy to the plains of Saskatchewan to the otherworldly skies the Yukon, illuminated by aurora borealis.

The multifaceted trail system offers hiking, biking, paddling, and equestrian opportunities, including Quebec’s P’tit Train de Nord cycling route and the Salish Sea Marine Trail in British Columbia.

Connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean, the American Discovery Trail is the country’s first car-free, coast-to-coast trail. Totaling more than 6,800 miles, the trail extends from Cape Henlopen State Park in Delaware to California’s Point Reyes National Seashore, splitting into a northern route and a longer southern route in Ohio. Originally inspired by a cross-country trek organized by the American Hiking Society in 1980, the countrywide route cobbles together five of the country’s national scenic trails, providing access to 14 national parks and weaving through 16 different national forests.

From the Chesapeake Bay to the wind-tousled grasslands of the Great Plains to the snow-frosted peaks of the Sierra Nevada, the trail rambles through 20 states and the District of Columbia, treating hikers to a firsthand taste of America’s diversity of landscapes.

The longest of the dozen footpaths designated by the European Ramblers Association, the E1 European Long Distance Path offers a diverse taste of the continent, from the Arctic Circle to Germany’s Black Forest to the Italian coast. Beginning in North Cape, the northernmost point in mainland Europe, the trail extends southward to Sicily, along a route extending more than 4,900 miles and connecting national parks, wilderness areas, swathes of countryside, and historically rich towns in seven different countries.

For long-haul hikers, the route offers an eclectic range of experiences — for instance, wild stretches of trail in Norway and Sweden require backpackers to be fully self-sufficient, while sections of the footpath in Denmark and Germany are dotted with towns and villages offering cozy accommodations, especially around Hamburg.

The longest of America’s National Scenic Trails, the North Country Trail stretches for 4,700 miles, from North Dakota to Vermont. Weaving through eight states, the monumental trail rambles through more than 100 different state parks and traverses ten national forests, including Vermont’s Green Mountain National Forest, the Allegheny National Forest in Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin’s Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.

For section hikers, the route also cobbles together a handful of regional long trails, including the Buckeye Trail in Ohio, the Iron Belle Trail in Michigan, and the Finger Lakes Trail in upstate New York.

Offering a blend of cultural and natural wonders, the Grand Italian Trail (or Sentiero Italia ) traverses the entire Italian Peninsula and extends offshore to the islands of Sardinia and Sicily. Stretching for more than 3,800 miles, the epic trekking route traverses 20 different regions from the high peaks of the Alps and the Apennine Mountains to the sun-bathed beaches of the Amalfi Coast, stringing together UNESCO World Heritage sites, medieval towns, and national parks .

Italy’s Ministry of Environment has also announced plans to extend the existing Grand Italian Trail by nearly 620 miles to create a new route linking the country’s 25 national parks, to be named the Path of Parks (or Sentiero del Parchi ).

Extending from the Chihuahuan Desert to the high peaks of the Rocky Mountains, the Continental Divide Trail begins at the Mexican border and traverses America’s interior, ending at Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, along the border between the United States and Canada. The approximately 3,030-mile route follows the eponymous Continental Divide, an extensive chain of mountain ridgelines separating the country’s major river systems.

A largely mountainous trek, the Continental Divide Trail climbs to the highest point on any of America’s national scenic trails, 14,270 foot Gray’s Peak in Colorado. The hiking route also threads one of the country’s largest wilderness areas, the 1.5-million-acre Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex in northwestern Montana, and skirts one of the wilderness area’s most spectacular geological wonders  — the Chinese Wall, a massive limestone escarpment that stretches for 22 miles and rises over 1,000 feet.

Traversing the entire Himalayan range through India, Nepal, and Bhutan, the Great Himalayan Trail is a mammoth network of trekking routes extending from Arunachal Pradesh westward to Kashmir. Over more than 2,800 miles, the route exposes trekkers to the majesty, history, and cultural richness of the Himalayas, all while following ancient trading routes, threading unearthly alpine passes, and weaving through historic hamlets.

Nepal’s portion of the route was the first to be completed, and the country offers both a “high” route and a “cultural” route. While the “high” route requires some mountaineering experience, topping out at more than 20,000 feet, the “cultural” route incorporates some of Nepal’s most popular short treks, including Langtang Valley and the Annapurna Circuit, and offers the chance to stay at cozy trail-side teahouses instead of tent camping .

The East Coast’s most iconic footpath, the Appalachian Trail , runs from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine’s Baxter State Park, tracing the ridges and valleys of the ancient Appalachian Mountains. Originally dreamed up by naturalist Benton MacKaye, the trail officially opened to hikers in 1937 and was designated as the country’s first National Scenic Trail in 1968. Today, the approximately 2,190-mile footpath showcases some of the East Coast’s most spectacular natural assets.

The trail rambles through eight national forests, crisscrosses the Blue Ridge Parkway, and winds through Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee, and the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area along the border between New Jersey and Pennsylvania. But, it’s not all tent camping — thru-hikers can also spend the night at a handful of trail towns, historic Harpers Ferry in West Virginia, famous for John Brown’s raid in 1859.

Traversing the entirety of New Zealand, both the North and South islands, the Te Araroa Trail extends from Cape Regina, where the Pacific Ocean meets the Tasman Sea, and winds southward to Bluff, ending at the southern tip of the South Island. The 1,865-mile route includes a jaw-dropping medley of the country’s most spectacular natural wonders, including the Northland Forests, the sea-flooded valleys of the Marlborough Sounds, the Southern Alps, and a smattering of locations made famous by the Lord of the Rings film trilogy , including Togariro National Park.

While stretches of the trail necessitate tent camping, there are a variety of accommodation options scattered along the route offering creature comforts for hikers, including holiday parks, guesthouses, and an assortment of cozy backcountry huts operated by New Zealand’s Department of Conservation.

Tips for long-distance hiking

Get in shape

Nothing will prepare you for hiking like hiking itself. Once you’ve set your itinerary and figured out the logistics, start conditioning for your trek. Go out on practice hikes with a full pack to get your body used to carrying the weight.

Invest in good boots and socks

Your feet are going to be your main mode of transportation, so it’s important to take care of them. Choose a well-fitting, supportive pair of hiking boots that are broken in before you hit the long trail. Wear moisture-wicking socks to help prevent blisters.

Every ounce counts when you’re carrying your pack all day. Choose lightweight gear and only pack the essentials. Here are some tips for packing light:

Stay hydrated

It’s important to drink plenty of water throughout the day, even if you don’t feel thirsty. Dehydration can lead to fatigue, muscle cramps, and altitude sickness.

Be prepared for the weather

The weather can change quickly in the mountains, so it’s important to be prepared for anything. Pack layers of clothing so you can adjust to different temperatures. Bring rain gear and a hat, and don’t forget sunscreen and insect repellent.

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No matter where you hike or what you hike in, one thing is for sure: Hiking boots are supposed to get dirty. Your new boots might look fresh and clean right out of the box, and after that, every scrape and stain may be a badge of honor. But that doesn't mean they should stay that way.

Follow the tips outlined below to keep your hiking boots clean, functional, and ready to hit the next trail. How to clean your hiking boots

Soaring mountains, dune-covered deserts, glacial lakes, primeval forests, and red rock canyons set the stage for memorable adventures in splendid U.S. national parks — "America’s best idea," as filmmaker Ken Burns rightly described it. You could spend years exploring the countless wonders of these cherished reserves, but if time is limited, then focus your attention on the best of the best. Below is our admittedly subjective list of the top 20 parks, presenting a wide variety of landscapes and locales. National Park Pass programs Before we get into the list of U.S. national parks, let's cover how you can save money if you're going to be visiting several of America's best national parks. The National Park Pass is a program offered by the National Park Service that allows entrance to many federal recreation sites across the country. Depending on your needs, there are different types of passes to choose from.

Annual Pass: This pass costs $80 and is valid for one year at over 2,000 federal recreation sites managed by six different agencies, including the National Park Service. This is a good option if you plan on visiting several parks throughout the year. Senior Pass: Citizens 62 and older can purchase a lifetime Senior Pass for $80. It grants the same access as the annual pass. America the Beautiful Pass: This pass costs $80 and covers entrance fees for a single vehicle, including rentals and RVs, at national parks and federal recreational lands for 12 months. Military Pass: Veterans get a free lifetime pass to national parks and other federal recreational lands. Here are some additional things to keep in mind about national park passes:

When Washingtonians told me I needed to take a trip to Cape Flattery, the northwesternmost point of the contiguous U.S., I assumed it was just for bragging rights. I added a short detour to the trail before returning to well-known sites on the Olympic Peninsula, like Lake Quinault's rainforest or Mount Olympus' cloudy peaks. But to my surprise, my journey to Cape Flattery trail, through the idyllic Neah Bay, was as, if not more stunning than the neighboring Olympic National Park and completely worth the additional drive. Along the trail, you're privy to lush rainforest views, craggy cliffs, marine life, and millennia of Indigenous and ecological history, all within a 1.5-mile hike. Ready to visit this Pacific northwestern gem, located just 160 miles north of Seattle? Here's how to get there and what you'll see along the way.

How to Get to the Cape Flattery Trail

Hiking Boots, Shoes, and Sandals: How to Choose

Buying and Breaking in Hiking Boots

Hiking Boots

Lightweight Hiking Shoes

Men's Hiking Boots

Men's Hiking Sandals

Waterproof Hiking Boots

Women's Hiking Boots

Women's Hiking Sandals

List of Essential Gear

Hiking Pants

Hiking Shirts

Hiking Socks

Baby Carriers

Hiking Watches

Trekking Poles

A Complete Packing List

Tips for Hiking With Kids

Tips for Hiking With Dogs

Mapping and Navigating Your Route

10 Essential Safety Tips

Tech for Backcountry Communication

Best Hikes in US National Parks

Amazing Mountain Hikes in the US

Best Hiking Trails in Canada

Best Hikes in Europe

Best Hikes in Africa

Best Hikes in South America

Best Hikes in Southeast Asia

World's Best Long-Distance Hikes

The Best Long-Distance Hiking Trails in the World

TripSavvy / Linda Strauta

Epic in length and challenge, long-distance hiking trails often represent the ultimate in adventure travel experiences for dedicated backpackers. These routes can stretch for hundreds of miles and often take weeks—or even months—to complete. Along the way, they pass through some of the most scenic and remote landscapes on the planet, where solitude and tranquility can be found in abundance.

If this kind of experience sounds appealing to you, there are plenty of trails that can provide it. From the summits of snow-capped peaks, to the sandy shores of the sea, these are the absolute best long-distance hiking trails in the world. So lace up your boots, grab your pack, and let’s get started, because there are a lot of miles to cover before we’re through.

The Appalachian Trail (United States)

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Any discussion of the best long-distance hiking trails in the world has to include the Appalachian Trail in the U.S. Widely regarded as the finest long-distance route in the world, the AT—as it's referred to by backpackers—opened in 1921, making it one of the first big backpacking routes on the planet. Stretching for 2,200 miles between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine, the trail passes through more than a dozen states along its length. Along the way, it wanders through some of the most scenic locations that the Eastern U.S. has to offer.

Most hikers only take on short segments of the AT, walking for just a few days or even a couple of weeks at a time. But this iconic route has also given rise to the "thru-hiker," which is someone who hikes the entire route—start to finish—in one go. This can take weeks or even months to complete, but it is a challenge that many have completed. It is also now a common practice on many other trails too, but thru-hiking traces its origin back to the Appalachian Trail.

Te Araroa (New Zealand)

Photograph by Michael Schwab /Getty Images

The 1864-mile Te Araroa Track in New Zealand is an utterly spectacular hike that gives the Appalachian Trail a run for its money when it comes to love from the backpacking crowd. The name is derived from the language of the indigenous Maori, and it appropriately means "the long pathway." To wander this route end to end, you'll need to start at Cape Regina at the northernmost tip of the North Island and walk all the way to Bluff, at the southernmost end of the South Island. In between, trekkers will find just about every kind of landscape imaginable, from snowcapped peaks, to wide-open meadows, to beaches and deserts, and more. This is a classic hike that should be on every backpacker's bucket list.

The Great Himalaya Trail (Nepal)

TripSavvy / Chris VR

Nepal is one of the best destinations on the planet when it comes to trekking, so naturally it is also home to one of the world's great long-distance routes. The Great Himalaya Trail links up a number of smaller trekking routes, allowing backpackers to wander the entire length of Nepal east to west. The trail is more than 1,000 miles in length and has a surprisingly great infrastructure in place to support trekkers as they go. While camping en route is an option, there are many Nepali villages that fall along the GHT, allowing travelers to stay in rustic and traditional teahouses instead. It goes without saying that the scenery is epic, of course, as hikers pass in the shadow of the world's highest mountains, including Mt. Everest itself.

The Pacific Crest Trail (USA)

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The U.S. isn't home to just one amazing long-distance hiking trail, but three. The second of the so-called Tripe Crown of Hiking is the Pacific Crest Trail , which runs for 2,653 miles through the Cascade and Sierra Nevada Mountains of California, Oregon, and Washington. Backpackers taking on the entire PCT will essentially find themselves walking from the Canadian Border in the north, to the Mexican border in the south, crossing through some of the most breathtakingly beautiful scenery that North America has to offer.

The Camino de Santiago (France, Spain, and Portugal)

One of the most famous hikes in all of Europe, the Camino de Santiago takes backpackers across France , Spain , and Portugal along a 500-mile path that has been walked by religious pilgrims for centuries. This hike is more than just a good way to stretch your legs, however, as it is an immersive trek through culture and history passing through villages and towns that have been on this path for hundreds of years.

The Camino is actually made up of a number of smaller, interconnected trails, so the length can vary a bit based on your chosen route. The most popular of those routes begins in Biarritz, France, and ends in Santiago, Spain, requiring about three weeks to complete. Even today, there is a strong spiritual component to this journey, with many backpackers taking inspiration from wandering through the wilderness in the footsteps of the thousands of pilgrims who have gone before them.

The Great Trail (Canada)

Milo Zanecchia/ Ascent Xmedia /Getty Images

In terms of size and scope, it is hard to top Canada's Great Trail . The route runs for more than 16,000 miles across the country, though it isn't just the sheer length that makes this route so incredible, but the diversity of the landscapes, too. Stretching from the Atlantic in the east all the way to the Pacific in the west, while also dipping to the U.S.-Canada border in the south and heading north all the way to the Arctic, the GT passes through a stunning array of ecosystems. Hikers will cross open plains, climb through towering mountains, wander along rivers, and trek across glaciers. They'll also get the chance to not just walk, but also ride bikes and paddle canoes and kayaks along the way too.

If you want a truly epic challenge the Great Trail will definitely deliver everything you could ask for, and more.

Jordan Trail (Jordan)

Helena Tegenfeldt / EyeEm /Getty Images

The aptly-named Jordan Trail can be found in the country of Jordan , starting at Um Qais in the North and ending along the shores of the Red Sea in Aqaba in the south. At 400 miles in length, it is one of the shorter routes on this list, but that doesn't mean that is isn't a grand adventure—wandering this ancient path will take hikers across the entire length of the country. Along the way, they'll trek through the desert, past ancient Roman ruins, through the rose-red city of Petra , and over surprisingly rugged and remote mountains. It is a truly remarkable journey that deserves its spot among the best long-distance trails in the world.

Continental Divide Trail (United States)

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The third leg of the Triple Crown of Hiking runs through the Rocky Mountains. That's where long-distance hikers will find the Continental Divide Trail , a route that covers 3,100 miles starting at the Mexican border in New Mexico and crossing into Canada before ending in Alberta. As the name implies, the CDT, as it is known, follows the Continental Divide of North America, passing through incredibly remote and scenic landscapes along the way. Longer and more challenging that the Appalachian Trail or Pacific Crest Trail, this route sees much less traffic, making it a more peaceful walk from end to end.

Tokai Nature Trail (Japan)

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Hiking and backpacking culture is alive and well in Japan, as evidenced by the fantastic Tokai Nature Trail . This route runs from Tokyo's Meiji no Mori Takao Quasi-National Park all the way to Meiji no Mori Mino Quasi-National Park in Osaka, passing countless scenic vistas. The connection with nature is a big draw for most trekkers, though the path also connects with numerous cultural and historical sites along the way. The route was specifically chosen for its ability to lure hikers away from busy cities and large crowds, immersing them instead in the tranquil solitude of the Japanese wilderness. The Tokai Nature Trail even passes through the shadow of Mt. Fuji, the most famous and sacred of mountains within the country.

Drakensberg Grand Traverse (South Africa and Lesotho)

Emil Von Maltitz /Getty Images

Despite the fact that the Drakensberg Grand Traverse is "only" 150 miles in length, it still requires two to three weeks to complete. That's because it passes through some of the more remote and rugged wilderness in all of South Africa and Lesotho, and requires strong navigational skills in order to do so. Technically, there is no preset route to be found here, and backpackers can choose the path that most fits their needs. But in order to claim a successful completion of the Traverse, hikers must pass through a series of eight checkpoints along the way. To achieve that they'll have to summit six individual peaks, including reaching the highest point in either country.

Trekking the DGT requires an adventurous spirit and the ability to be self-sufficient. This is a trek through a wilderness region that isn't as well marked or maintained as most of the other trails on this list. If your goal is to get away from other hikers and find solitude in the wild, you'll find a lot to love here.

The Snowman Trek (Bhutan)

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Bhutan's Snowman Trek is a legendary hike through the Himalaya that is lauded for its stunning beauty, as much as its difficulty. The route takes backpackers on a journey deep into the heart of the world's highest mountain range, past beautiful jagged peaks and over icy glaciers. With more than 48,000 feet of elevation gain spread out across its 200-mile length, this trail is not for the faint of heart. But those who do venture out onto this path will discover that it can be a life-changing experience in terms of learning more about themselves and their connection with nature.

Greater Patagonian Trail (Argentina and Chile)

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Occupying the southernmost tip of South America, and stretching across both Argentina and Chile, Patagonia is undoubtedly one of the best wilderness regions on the entire planet. In order to experience it in all of its glory, trekkers should hike at least a small segment of the Greater Patagonian Trail . The entire route stretches for over 1300 miles and usually requires more than a month to complete. But those who do wander the full distance will be treated to landscapes that are unlike anything else found on Earth. The route takes hikers through the Andes Mountains, past glacially fed lakes, around spectacularly beautiful fjords, and across open meadows that have to be see to be believed.

The GPT itself is cobbled together using hiking paths, horse trails, old jeep roads, and even some pack rafting from time to time. Good navigational skills come in handy too, but the payoff is a complete traverse of one of the best adventure travel destinations on the planet.

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More Incredible Long-Distance Hikes Across the Globe!

• The list highlights some of the longest hiking trails around the world, many of which are the most hiking trails worldwide.
• The world's longest hiking trails require significant equipment, stamina, and determination.
• Hiking the longest hikes in the world is a thrilling and rewarding experience, but they are not for the faint-hearted; some take many months or longer and are very strenuous.

Hiking is one of the most beloved activities for many travelers around the world. All over the world, there are plenty of hiking trails that offer opportunities for this activity, and they come at different lengths and difficulties (though most are considered hard).

While the shorter and easier trails are more often explored, one should also experience the longer ones occasionally. For this list, some of the longest hiking trails in the world that are known to be extremely challenging are presented, and while each of them is exciting and worth exploring, it is important to know that they are not for the faint at heart.

UPDATE: 2024/03/11 20:29 EST BY LAURALYN BROWN

Extreme thru-hikers looking for month-long hiking adventures around the world, this article is for you! This list has been updated to include some of the longest hikes in the world, including their mileage, difficulty levels, and recommended time to hike them. These hiking trails are not for the faint-hearted and require a great deal of equipment, stamina, and determination!

10 Hiking Capitals Of America

Hikers don't need to travel far from civilization to find some of the best hikes America has in store, especially in these US hiking capitals!

12 Via Alpina, Europe

3,100 miles.

This extraordinary hiking trail climbs through 8 European countries and combines 5 different hiking trails to create the stunning Via Alpina . This 3,100-mile trail begins in Slovenia close to the Northern Italian border and travels through the Alps region in Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein, Italy, Switzerland, and France, and ends in Monaco.

For travelers who want to witness the stunning European Alps up close, this trail is a magnificent way to do it. This trail can certainly be strenuous at times, but it's nothing compared to the sweeping mountain views, rolling hills, vineyards, and lush meadows that hikers will come across.

• Total Hiking Time: 1 year
• Difficulty: Hard
• Best Time To Hike: May-September

11 Te Araroa Trail, New Zealand

1,864 miles.

Te Araroa , or "The Long Pathway," covers the entire length of the North and South Island of New Zealand and showcases this beautiful country's vast landscapes! This challenging trail begins in Cape Reinga, the northernmost tip of the North Island, travels through major cities like Auckland, Wellington, and Queenstown, and ends in the seaport town of Bluff in the South Island.

The Te Araroa Trail can take hikers an average of 4–6 months to complete and gives them an up-close look at New Zealand's extraordinary wilderness and backcountry.

• Total Hiking Time: 4–6 months
• Best Time To Hike: April-September

10 The Appalachian Trail, USA

2,200 miles.

Hiking the Appalachian Trail is a lifetime bucket-list adventure that some adventurers have already been able to conquer. Although not an easy task due to its 2,200-mile distance, this hiking-only trail in the Eastern United States is endowed with plenty of interesting areas, from beautiful forest areas to towering mountains, scenic lakes, and charming rivers.

This is one of the longest hikes in the US ; however, only the fittest and most enduring get to witness all those highlights and make it to the end of this trail. Plus, there are plenty of underrated parts of the Appalachian Trail that are less known and less explored than other popular segments.

• Total Hiking Time: 5–7 months
• Best Time To Hike: April-May

9 Pacific Crest Trail, USA

2,650 miles.

The Pacific Crest Trail is one of the most beloved trails in the world as it takes trekkers on a 2,650-mile journey through some of the most scenic places in the US.

Sections of the trail go through the states of California, Oregon, and Washington, and also reach the Canadian border. Throughout the trek, hikers will be met with incredible mountain scenery as it goes through the Sierra Nevada and Cascade ranges.

• Total Hiking Time: 5 months
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Best Time To Hike: April-July

8 The Great Himalayan Trail, Asia

2,800 miles.

The Great Himalayan Trail is one of the numerous hiking trails in the Himalayas region . This incredibly beautiful mountain trail is a combination of smaller trails that run through the Himalayan Mountains for up to 2,800 miles.

While hiking the trail, trekkers will be taken through several beautiful mountain villages and towns in up to four countries, including India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet.

• Best Time To Hike: October-November

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7 European Long Distance Path, Europe

2,900 miles.

There are many interesting things to be discovered in Europe and the European Long Distance Path offers a great way to make some of those interesting discoveries. However, only those willing to conquer the trail’s 2,900-mile distance will get to witness everything it has to offer.

This trail runs through up to 7 countries, including Norway, Germany, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland, Italy, and Denmark. Throughout the trail, hikers will be met with unique European cultures and incredible natural scenery.

• Best Time To Hike: June-September

6 Continental Divide Trail, USA

3,028 miles.

The US has plenty of scenic thru-hikes , but the Continental Divide trail is one of the longest. The trail stretches for 3,028 miles through five states. While hiking the Continental Divide Trail , travelers will be taken through the US states of Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico.

The trail is endowed with a wide range of natural attractions, from towering mountain peaks to deserts, hot springs, waterfalls, and forest areas.

• Total Hiking Time: 5.5 months
• Best Time To Hike: April, June-July

5 Grand Italian Trail, Italy

3,832 miles.

It will take the average hiker more than 8 months to complete the Grand Italian Trail . That’s because the trail stretches for a whooping distance of 3,832 miles through the entire country of Italy.

The Grand Italian Trail is even more exciting because it is a mountain trail that rises to an elevation of 3,098 meters.

4 The Eastern Continental Trail, USA

4,400 miles.

The Eastern Continental Trail begins from Key West, Florida, and stretches for 4,400 miles to Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada. The trail has mountains, rivers, lakes, and many other natural things that one will enjoy while hiking.

Besides hiking, one can also bike on this trail, but regardless of how one explores the trail, it takes some rare level of guts to be able to complete this trek.

• Total Hiking Time: 6 months

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3 The American Discovery Trail, USA

6,800 miles.

The American Discovery Trail challenges the best hikers in the world to come to conquer its distance. Everything on the trail is just right to make one want to hike it, but even the best hikers cave in when they realize that this trail goes through 15 states and stretches for a total distance of 6,800 miles.

Several recreational trails and roads connect to form this trail, which means there are various shorter parts where one can enjoy less strenuous hiking adventures. Besides hiking, horseback riding, and biking are also great ways to enjoy this trail and there are many interesting things to see along the way.

• Total Hiking Time: 8–17 months
• Best Time To Hike: January-February

2 The Great Western Loop, USA

6,875 miles.

The Great Western Loop is a trail in the Western United States that leads trekkers on a 6,875-mile journey through incredible natural scenery. The trail links several other incredibly long trails, including the Pacific Coast Trail and the Continental Divide Trail.

Only about five hikers have completed this hike since it was first invented in 2007 by Andrew Skurka, who was the first to hike it. The trail is great for hiking and biking and there are many interesting natural attractions to be seen along the way from mountains to waterfalls, deserts, forests, and lakes.

• Total Hiking Time: 6–7 months
• Best Time To Hike: May-July

1 Trans Canada Trail, Canada

15,000 miles.

The Trans Canada Trail is one of Canada’s best gifts to the travel universe. The trail is beautiful and exciting, and above all, it is the longest trail in the world with a distance of 15,000 miles. This makes it the ultimate destination for hiking.

Also known as the Great Trail, this trail is formed by a combination of several routes, roads, and trails, and it is located entirely in Canada. On the Trans Canada Trail, there are dense forest areas, towering mountain ranges, rivers, and lakes to be seen.

• Total Hiking Time: 26 months

10 Epic Long Distance Hikes Around The World

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A long distance hiking path is typically defined as anything that takes longer than one or two days to complete. We took that idea 5 million steps further.

This list of 10 of the world’s most epic long distance backpacking trips includes trails all longer than 500 miles.

Sure, we leave off quite a few amazing hikes across the globe, but what’s left here are some of the most insanely beautiful, geographically intoxicating, culturally stimulating, and physically demanding treks this planet has to offer.

Note: We’re not responsible for any desire for adventure or debilitating sense of wanderlust.

1. Appalachian Trail

First, one that you’ve all probably heard of: The Appalachian Trail . The AT is a classic American walk in the woods, stretching 2,185 miles from lowly old Springer Mountain in Georgia to the grandiose summit of Mt. Katahdin in Maine. Along the way, hikers pass through 14 states, 8 National Forests, 2 National Parks, and countless rural resupply points. This ancient mountain range, once the size of the Himalayas, has been weathered and whittled down over time. But hiking the entire route is still the vertical equivalent to summiting Everest 16 times; so don’t underestimate this sleeping giant.

2. Greater Patagonian Trail

This trail is so underdeveloped, isolated, rigorous, and remote that only a few hikers have ever attempted it, never mind completed it. Requiring just as much orienteering, map reading, and logistical planning as actual physical endurance and hiking, this roughly 800-mile route uses horse trails, local paths, country roads, and even pack-raft river sections to traverse the Patagonian Andes along the border of Chile and Argentina. While It is an unofficial route in its infancy, the pristine natural beauty of this region will surely attract intrepid backpackers in the years to come.

3. Continental Divide Trail

The Continental Divide Trail stretches 3,100 miles from Mexico to Canada along the craggy spine of the Rocky Mountains. While technically considered only about 70% complete, there are still a handful of hearty adventurers who set out each year to conquer what many consider the toughest leg of the US Hiking Triple Crown (the other two legs being the AT and the PCT ). The CDT is a rugged trek with high elevations, exposure to the elements, and wildlife hazards, but totally worth the risk for some hikers. The reward, jaw-dropping wild western landscapes.

4. Nepal’s Great Himalaya Trail

One of the only officially documented sections of the proposed Great Himalaya Trail, the GHT High Route in Nepal is a roughly 1050 mile trek scaling the world’s highest peaks from the eastern edge of the country to the western border with Tibet. Hiking this trail is a demanding adventure requiring mountaineering experience and roughly five months of time, but the rewards of passing through rarely visited villages, reaching some of the planet’s highest altitudes, and sleeping under unfathomably starry skies makes it an unforgettable experience.

5. Grand Italian Trail

For a whopping 3,832 miles, the Sentiero Italia (or Grand Italian Trail) extends from the Northeastern port town of Trieste, into the Alps, and all the way down the Apennine spine of the Italian peninsula before island hopping to Sicily and then Sardinia. The subalpine scenery along much of this route is simply spectacular, featuring jagged peaks, glacial tarns, and gouged out valleys. Add to that the bonus of quaint hamlets and ancient Roman history, and you’ve got yourself a bella formula. Oh, and of course, carbo-loading will never be a problem.

6. Wales Coast Path

Officially established in 2012 as the world’s only footpath to cover an entire country’s coastline, the Wales Coast Path is an 870-mile trek that combines some of the UK’s most romantic aspects. As it snakes its way up the shore, along coastal cliffs and verdant hillsides, past medieval castles, and through sleepy seaside towns, hikers get to experience the magic of this area intimately. Just imagine wrapping up a rain-soaked 20-mile day with a bowl of warm lamb stew and a porter at a small local pub.

7. Pacific Crest Trail

The Pacific Crest Trail is 2,663 miles of diverse hiking that begins in the desert and follows the Cascade and Sierra Nevada mountain ranges through California, Oregon, and Washington. It passes through some of this country’s most spectacular parks and wilderness areas, including Yosemite, John Muir, Crater Lake, and Goat Rocks. The trail itself is graded for horses, meaning that hikers can typically bag high mileage days. But the lack of water and infrequent resupply points pose their own set of challenges.

8. Great Wall of China

Didn’t expect this one, did you? Sure, the Great Wall of China has sections that are jam-packed with khaki-clad tourists, but this celebrated structure also has some very remote sections with rarely seen beauty, including deserts, mountains, bamboo forests, and more. Government restrictions, time requirements, extreme weather conditions, and the sheer enormity of this 5,500-mile trek across China makes a thru-hike an extremely obstacle-laden adventure, but if the Mongols and other nomadic tribes could overcome their barrier to entry, so can you.

9. Tokai Nature Trail

Japan is increasingly becoming a world-class place to recreate. With its mountainous terrain, powder-packed ski destinations, and unprecedented biodiversity, it’s only natural that there should be a long distance trail. And the Tokai Nature Trail fits the bill. Running 1,054 miles from Tokyo to Osaka, this generally level and easy footpath takes hikers past iconic Mt. Fuji, through Imperial gardens with cherry blossoms and Japanese maples, and along fertile hillsides, lush wetlands, and hollowed out river canyons.

10. Te Araroa

Ah, the Te Araroa Trail (Maori for the Long Pathway). Obviously, any long distance footpath that’s located in New Zealand is always going to make the list — especially one that so fully encompasses the diverse natural beauty of both islands. Beginning at Cape Reinga in the north and winding 1,864 miles to Stirling Point in the south, this trail almost has too much to savor. Beaches lined with seals and penguins, impossibly lush rainforests, frequently active volcanoes, precipitous mountains, and electric blue glacial lakes. To coin a local Kiwi phrase, this trail is truly “Sweet As!”

This article was created by the experts at RootsRated.com . Let them inspire your next adventure near or far.

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This Is the Longest Walkable Distance on Earth

Got three spare years to make the trek?

• Pilgrimages like the Camino de Santiago or the Appalachian Trail are short by comparison.
• The real-life walk would be grueling, filled with scary animals and diversely bad weather.

Interesting Engineering has the latest reminder of what we believe is the longest walkable single distance on Earth, from South Africa to the far northeastern Russian city of Magadan. At no point would you need to use even a small boat to ferry across a river, because the entire route is made up of roads with bridges.

To go further into northeastern Russia, you’d need to cross through terrain that isn’t currently walkable. (Full disclosure: Google Maps’ suggested walking route between the same two cities includes a ferry trip, but the route’s original popularizer manually pulled it to cross a bridge instead.) The total trip is over 14,000 miles.

A real person walking this route at a sustainable pace would need about three years to complete the trip. They’d need to pack a variety of things or, like in the award-winning game 80 Days , sell their stuff and buy new stuff along the way: desert gear, rain gear, and even body armor for the sections through anarchic or war-torn regions like South Sudan. There’s a little bit of everything along the way, from extremely dangerous rainforest animals to near the coldest inhabited place on Earth in Russia. (Remote Bilibino, home to the smallest nuclear plant on Earth, is just a three hour flight even farther northeast after Magadan.)

People around the world do walking pilgrimages for purposes that are often spiritual. The most popular route on the Camino de Santiago , which leads to the shrine to St. James the Apostle in the Santiago de Compostela cathedral, is 500 miles long. That the hypothetical longest walk on Earth makes this daunting trip sound short is, well, blasphemous. The Appalachian Trail that runs vertically along the eastern edge of the U.S. is about 2,000 miles long, and while it’s not an explicitly religious or spiritual journey, the caretaking organization calls it a “sacred space” for its reach to people and for its preserved natural beauty.

The longest known ongoing religious pilgrimage is by a man named Arthur Blessitt, who’s walked over 40,000 miles since 1969. His walk isn’t contiguous, and has therefore included all seven continents, where he has carried a large cross and preached his Christian beliefs. Now 79 years old, Blessitt has walked in every nation on Earth during his 50-year walking career. For someone who’s walked in Antarctica, the inhabited north of Russia may be doable. And he’s already walked in the nations along the 14,000 walk from South Africa to Magadan.

At the same time, the rugged single journey is likely through rougher terrain, and Blessitt’s pace during his documented Guinness World Record-setting walk (as of 2013) averaged out to just over 3 miles a day. (In Stephen King's The Long Walk , contestants in a dystopian race must stay above 4 miles per hour.) At that pace, the longest contiguous walk would take him another 13 years, with a lot of downtime each day and requiring 4,800 places to crash. In much of the U.S., you wouldn’t find a legal place to camp or even park a car overnight every few miles, let alone a legal place to relieve yourself in public.

Caroline Delbert is a writer, avid reader, and contributing editor at Pop Mech. She's also an enthusiast of just about everything. Her favorite topics include nuclear energy, cosmology, math of everyday things, and the philosophy of it all. 

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13 of the best treks in the world

Covering mountains, nations, coastlines and more, the best treks in the world are not for the faint-hearted

Photograph: Shutterstock.com

Don’t let the dictionary fool you. A trek doesn’t necessarily need to be a long, arduous journey. Sometimes, a trek can be a long walk into a brave new world with the most beautiful views for inspiration. Yes, the word ‘long’ is ubiquitous, but these treks are about the journey and the things we learn along the way. The best treks in the world are incredible experiences, covering all continents . All except Antarctica , although you can walk across that too, if you are up to the task. Maybe stick to these magnificent trails first, where every drop of sweat is earned and worth it. Just be sure to pack enough provisions. Oh, and wear the right shoes, please.

RECOMMENDED: The 20 most romantic places in the world

Been there, done that? Think again, my friend.

Best treks in the world

1.  appalachian trail.

Long treks don’t come much more famous than the Appalachian Trail. The trail between Springer Mountain (Georgia) and Mount Katahdin (Maine) passes through a whopping 14 states and covers around 3,500km, making it one of the longest walking-only trails on the planet. Undertaking the whole thing is one heck of a task, although more than two million walkers take in part of it annually. Immortalised in Bill Bryson’s ‘A Walk in the Wood’, the Appalachian Trail is the big daddy of American treks.

2.  Via Dinarica

One day, someone will organise a Pan-Balkan walking route that follows the old Tito Youth Relay of Yugoslavia, but the various Via Dinarica hikes are more than enough for now. This network of long-distance hikes covers much of the Dinaric Alps and is split into numerous routes, with the 1,260km White Trail the most popular. The trek starts in Slovenia and ends in Albania, taking in many of the region’s highest peaks.

3.  Mount Elgon

What a beautiful trek this is. There are longer treks in Africa, and there are definitely more famous ones, but something about the six-day mountain trek to the top of Mount Elgon, on the border of Uganda and Kenya, really sparkles. The route is just about as lush as it gets, and the views from the top are spellbinding. It has the largest volcanic base in the world, although Mt Elgon hasn’t erupted for about ten million years. 

4.  Wales Coast Path

In opening its coast path in 2012, Wales became the first nation on the planet to launch a dedicated route covering an entire country’s coastline. Wales is not a big nation (in terms of geography, obviously), but the walk from Queensferry to Chepstow is a fair old amble: 870 miles of rugged hills and darling seaside towns. The path is divided into eight sections, so you don’t necessarily have to do it all, but there is something extremely tempting about being able to say you have walked around an entire country. If the 870 miles aren’t enough, consider tagging the Offa’s Dyke path at the end, which traverses the border between Wales and England. 

5.  Salkantay

Trekking to Machu Picchu is a rite of passage for visitors to South America, but the Salkantay trek allows hikers to visit the famous citadel via altogether-less-crowded circumstances. Salkantay is the highest peak in the Vilcabamba range and is a total stunner in its own right, and the five-day trek is a moderately difficult one that eschews famous sites in favour of gorgeous vistas. It is a win-win, really.

6.  Pacific Crest Trail

The Appalachian Trail takes care of the east, but what of America’s wild west? The Pacific Crest Trail covers 4,270km of immensely scenic ground, from Campo in California up to Manning Park across the border in Canada’s British Columbia. It takes around six months to walk the whole thing, a mountainous task that hasn’t been completed by many. More people have climbed Everest, for reference.

7.  Annapurna Circuit Trek

A whole host of routes await those looking to trek Nepal’s famous Annapurna Circuit. The Base Camp Trek usually takes between 15 and 20 days, taking you through tumbling terrain past charming villages and darling lodges. The views are endless and all-encompassing, and the circuit doubles up as a cultural trail. Pay your respects, pay attention and get trekking. 

8.  Tour du Mont Blanc

The Tour du Mont Blanc is a round-trip stroll that usually takes around 11 days, depending on health and ability. This isn’t an easy trek by any stretch of the imagination, but the views on offer make it worth putting one step in front of the other. Most walkers start in the Chamonix Valley, dipping into Italy and Switzerland before returning to France for the second half. 

9.  Tiger’s Nest

The facts don’t tell the whole tale of the Tiger’s Nest trek in Bhutan. A moderate-to-difficult trail, the whole thing should take between three and five hours, depending on your pace and skill level. The awe-inspiring sight at the end of this trek transcends technical preparation and time. Primarily known as Paro Taktsang, this seventeenth-century monastery started life as a meditation cave many centuries earlier and is the most important jewel in this glittering crown.

10.  Tiger Leaping Gorge

Another tiger-themed trek in Asia, China’s Tiger Leaping Gorge trek is one of the most beautiful and challenging in the country. It’ll take a couple of days and requires a lot of strength, skill and mental fortitude. A stroll up and down the Wall this is not. There is plenty to love along the way, from a view of Shangri-La to a beautiful vista over the Jinsha River Canyon. The whole thing covers around 22km.

11.  Larapinta Trail

Australia has several stunning treks, from the wilds of the Heysen Trail to the lure of circumnavigating Fraser Island, but the extended Larapinta Trail in the Northern Territory wins out. Covering 223km from east to west, the trail is a study in isolation from Alice Springs to Mount Sonder; a moderate to difficult walk that takes in an incredible range of Aboriginal sacred sites. Don’t do this one in the Aussie summer; unless you happen to be a camel.

12.  W Trek

The most famous hiking route in the Torres del Paine, the W Trek, affords hardy walkers an incredible view of the famous granite towers that provide its moniker. Hiking the trail is a one-way ticket to the best that Chilean Patagonia offers, a veritable conveyor belt of stunning views and vistas that make every kilometre worth it. The relatively low altitude of the route makes it an accessible trek, with only a minimum hiking experience required. 

13.  Atlas Mountains

The Atlas Mountains are just around the corner from magical Marrakech, but they might as well be in another dimension. The chaos of the city is a world away from the serenity of these mountains, and there’s no better way to clear your head than by trekking high into the sky. Some of the remote villages here are incredible time machines that transport you further from the hustle and bustle of the city, making an Atlas Mountains trek a must for any hiker in the area. Arrive in good shape and get ready for a three-day trek to the top of tranquillity. 

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Best long-distance trails & treks around the world

Plan for a longer holiday, put your mind onto 'airplane mode' and seek out these remote places – only accessible by foot – at a more relaxed pace to truly connect with the wilderness.

It's all about travelling less and seeing more . Seeing more of the beautiful wildlife, admiring natural landscapes few others ever will, interacting with local communities who rarely see westerners and setting yourself on a path of self discovery and personal achievement, all while leaving a small environmental footprint on your BIG trekking adventure.

Experience more of the destination within a destination on these world-class long-distance walking holidays which will see you switching off and reinvigorating yourself in some of the world's most remote and sublime wilderness locations.

Bhutan Snowman Trek

Undertaken by only a handful of trekkers each season, it’s our most challenging Bhutan trek.

How long is it? Around 250km Duration of trek: 27 days Difficulty: Graded 8 – Exploratory trekking. Designed for experienced adventurers seeking a challenge. Start and end point: Paro

What makes it special? Crossing 11 passes over 4500 metres in some of the most isolated regions of Bhutan. You’ll absorb magnificent mountain views, explore hidden valleys and bask in the serenity of high-altitude lakes. You may even encounter fresh tracks from the elusive snow leopard like our 2019 trekkers! When to go: October. This is an ideal time to appreciate Bhutan’s autumnal colours and experience sublime mountain views. A number of cultural and religious events occur during October, including the special Jomolhari festival.

Transcaucasian Trail

Be one of the first to experience the recently opened Transcaucasian trail brimming with history and scenic brilliance.

How long is it? Once completed, it will extend more than 3,000km in length through Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia, connecting more than 20 national parks and protected areas. Duration of trek: While the full route is still being developed, you can trek sections of the trail in Armenia and Georgia over 18 days, the only two countries adequately mapped so far. Difficulty: Graded 5 – Moderate. Designed for those with reasonable fitness and health and who have a relatively active lifestyle.

What makes it special? The Caucasus is among the most inaccessible mountains in the world and the newly opened trail is anticipated by hiking enthusiasts as the next big thing in trekking. Delight in the scenic panoramas of mountains, rivers and glaciers that await you in Georgia, or head to historic Armenia along the Caucasian Silk route exploring ancient monasteries and stunning mountain landscapes. When to go: May to September

Ultimate K2 Trek

The Karakoram range of Pakistan offers celestial isolation amid a constant backdrop of towering peaks and breathtaking glacial landscapes.

Duration of trek: 25 days Start and end point: Skardu, Gilgit-Baltistan region Difficulty: Graded 8 – Exploratory trekking & entry level mountaineering. Designed for experienced trekkers comfortable travelling in adverse weather conditions, preferably at altitude. Expect remote and poorly defined trails and challenging moraine walking.

What makes it special? Find yourself surrounded by the highest concentration of 8,000-metre peaks on the planet. From the "Throne Room of the Mountain Gods" to the Baltoro glacier (one of the longest glaciers in the world outside the polar regions), it's not hard to see why Pakistan's Karakoram ranges have captured the imagination of trekkers and mountaineers for decades.

In addition to trekking to the base of the world’s second highest peak (8611m), the legendary Gondogoro Pass promises one of the most dramatic mountain vistas anywhere on Earth. Our K2 trekking expedition is one of the finest high altitude scenic treks on offer with few travellers in sight.

When to go: June

Nepal’s Great Himalaya Trail

From east to west, encounter some of the wildest and most remote mountain environments imaginable.

How long is it? Winding between the largest mountains and remotest communities on the planet, the Great Himalaya Trail (GHT) will ultimately connect five Asian countries (Bhutan, China, India, Nepal and Pakistan) spanning 4500km.

Duration of trek: 5 months to complete the full Nepal traverse, or trek sections ranging from 18 to 34 days. Start point: Kanchengjunga, Nepal's far east | End point: Yari Valley, Nepal's far west Difficulty: Graded 9 – Intermediate Mountaineering Expedition. Designed for experienced multi-day trekkers who have hiked at altitude. Basic mountaineering skills are recommended as is a love for the outdoors and perhaps most importantly, a positive attitude.

What makes it special? A true exploratory experience, it takes in spectacular vistas of all of Nepal’s 8,000-metre peaks, whilst giving trekkers the opportunity to experience remote cultures in hidden corners of the country and spreading the benefits of tourism in isolated communities.

When to go: The full GHT departs in February and concludes in July.

Find out more

Larapinta Trail

One of Australia’s ‘Great Walks’, the Larapinta Trail is one of the world's most remarkable desert walks.

How long is it? 223km Duration of trek: 14 days from end to end. Broken up into 12 sections, you can also choose to trek certain sections ranging from 3 days to 12 days. Start point: Old Telegraph Station, Alice Springs | End point: Mt Sonder Difficulty: Graded 6 – Moderate to Challenging. Designed for seasoned walkers who can manage to walk around 6 to 12 hours a day. On some days, you’ll be walking up to 30kms.

What makes it special?  Follow the spine of the West MacDonnel Ranges to trek over remote ridges and canyons, cool off in beautiful waterholes, walk through beautiful river red gums and marvel at vividly-coloured mineral ochre pits.

One of the biggest surprises about trekking across Australia’s Red Centre is the diversity of its terrain and the wildlife you’ll encounter. From endless desert plains to colourful palettes of yellow, purple, red and blue wildflowers, the area is home to more than 767 species of flora and over 180 unique species of birds.

Considered a highlight is the exhilarating trek up Mt Sonder (1380m) – one of the highest peaks west of the Great Dividing Range – where you are greeted with an unforgettable sunrise.

When to go: The trekking season runs between April and September when walking conditions are most favourable with clearer skies and splendid stargazing opportunities. Hit the trail in April, May or September to witness wildflowers in full bloom, or enjoy cooler and more favourable temperatures between June to August.

View all trail walks

John Muir Trail

Considered one of the finest hikes in North America, this iconic US trail traverses the stunning Sierra mountain range from Mt Whitney to Yosemite.

How long is it? Around 340km Duration of trek: 23 days Difficulty: Graded 7 – Challenging. Designed for experienced adventurers who have completed multi-day hikes with a full pack (up to 20kgs). Days can involve up to 10 hours of exercise (hiking around 10-24 km per day) in very remote and rugged terrain. Start point: Cottonwood Lakes, California | End point: Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite National Park, California

What makes it special? Cross 3000 and 4000-metre mountain passes, walking among alpine peaks, glacier-gouged canyons, forested valleys and crystal-clear lakes. Sections of the trail will see you venturing far off the beaten track and over the course of the trip, you will have gained over 12000 metres in ascents (averaging about 600m per day) – an epic yet rewarding challenge to add to your trekking wishlist.

When to go: July to September

Jordan Trail

Cross Jordan on foot along this recently established trail dubbed the ‘Inca Trail of the Middle East’.

How long is it? 650km and a 40-day trekking route crossing the entire country. You can experience a taster of some of the best parts of the Jordan Trail on our highlights trek . Duration of highlights trek: 10 days Difficulty: Graded 5 – Moderate. Designed for walkers who are comfortable trekking in warm conditions and up and down hills. Expect up to 6-9 hours of walking a day at a steady pace, often on unmarked trails. Start point and end point: Amman

What makes it special? Let dramatic desert landscapes, striking cliffs and rugged ‘wadis’ unfold on this cross-country trek. The full trail stretches from Egypt to Aqaba and on to Damascus, incorporating ancient paths to archaeological monuments, including the Red Rose City of Petra and historical ruins of Jerash and Ajlun, which showcase the Kingdom’s illustrious past.

Those short on time can experience some of the best and lesser known parts of the Jordan Trail on the highlights tour – from the forested Ajlun Reserve in the north to the crystal waters of the Red Sea in the south. The hike up Jabal Um Ad Dami, Jordan’s highest peak, is a climatic way to end the trek with majestic summit views of Wadi Rum’s Mars-like landscapes across to Saudi Arabia.

When to go: March to June, September to November

Canada's East Coast Trail

Explore the outermost reaches of North America on one of the  world's top coastal hikes.

How long is it? Around 336km Duration of highlights trek: 10 days hiking almost 89km Difficulty: Graded 5 – Moderate. Designed for walkers who have a good level of fitness. A bonus if you enjoy exploring rugged coastlines. Start and end point of highlights self-guided trek: St. John's, Newfoundland

What makes it special? Enjoy ocean splendours from the shore while traversing towering cliffs and headlands, sea stacks, coves, and deep fjords. Canada's East Coast Trail is a series of 25 wilderness paths along Newfoundland's dramatic and rugged Avalon Peninsula; ranked the world's top coastal destination in 2016 by National Geographic.

Along the way, enjoy picturesque bay-side communities, abandoned settlements, ecological reserves, and a special lighthouse picnic. There is also a real possibility of spotting whales, puffins, moose, or even icebergs. Discover this exciting part of Canada on foot on one of our many walks that take in sections of the East Coast Trail.

When to go: June to October

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Australia's Great Tasmanian Traverse

An epic adventure walking, rafting, flying and sailing across Tasmania from north to south – this is the ultimate bucket list adventure Down Under.

How long is it? Approximately 300km Duration of adventure: 39 days Difficulty: Graded 7 – Challenging. Designed for healthy and fit adventurers. All adrenaline-seekers apply! Treks may involve carrying a full pack between 18 and 22kg. Be prepared for potential variable weather conditions. Start point: Launceston | End point: Hobart

What makes it special? Okay, it's not purely a walk but it is definitely worthy of this list. The traverse combines four of Tasmania's greatest multi-day treks (which reach the summit of its highest and most iconic peaks) and a thrilling rafting experience on the iconic Franklin River, rated by many as the world's greatest wilderness rafting trip. Explore Australia's island state from the quiet rural communities of the north to the wild and isolated reaches of the south, completing the Coast to Cradle Trail, Overland Track , Frenchman's Cap Trek , Franklin River Rafting and South Coast Track .

Encapsulating the pristine scenery that Tassie is so well known for, the five-week expedition takes in Australia's wilderness frontiers which cross remote parts that have remained untouched for centuries.

When to go: Departs February

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I would like to present a Transmantiqueira Trail (TMTQ) which is the main long-distance trail in Brazil. It is a system of interconnected trails that together sum up to approximately 1.200 km (745 miles) in the Serra da Mantiqueira. It crosses 43 municipalities of the states of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais, 36 protected areas privileging the passage through tracks already consolidated and visiting the greatest number of attractions along its course. It comes with the intention of integrating the ICMBio´s Brazilian Long Course System, adding like national and international experiences of systems like this one. The TMTQ will contribute to the environment conservation, the integration of man and nature in a living relationship with the ecosystem, with the customs and local history through the communities´s socioeconomic development and their surroundings, as well as the orderly and sustainable turism in Mantiqueira. TMTQ is located in Serra da Mantiqueira, one of the most important mountain ranges in Brazil, considered the largest producer of regional biodiversity and of great ecological relevance. Studies carried out by IUCN and published in the journal Science, classify it as the 8th most irreplaceable area on the planet.

Iowan participates in longest horse race in history

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) - It’s the longest horse race in the world and for the first time ever an Iowan is competing in it. The Mongol Derby is a 621 mile horse race that tests people’s mental and physical strength. It’s located in Mongolia, cushioned between China and Russia in Asia.

Shelby Van Weelden has had this race on her bucket list for years. She is taking on the Mongol Derby by riding the 8 to 10 day trek across the Mongolian Steppe. Van Weelden will ride 30 semi wild horses, 12 hours a day. She says she’s been preparing for this for what feels like her whole life.

The race requires knowledge of land navigation, enduring drastic changes in temperature and mental preparation. She said she even participated in an Oregon boot camp where she met several people who helped her prepare. As part of the race, the Mongol Derby offers horse stations which are sponsored by different local herding families.

Shelby Van Weelden will be riding the race to raise money for the Saint Florian Byrne Foundation. A nonprofit that provides support for burn survivors. The race begins August 4th but Van Weelden will be heading to Mongolia a few days prior.

Copyright 2024 KCRG. All rights reserved.

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Best Thru Hikes In The World- 11 Epic Long Distance Treks

If you are a keen hiker, you would have realized that there are amazing trails to be found in every corner of the planet. Some treks only last a few hours. However, the best thru hikes in the world will require months of your time and planning.

From historic pilgrimages to trails that cross entire continents, one lifetime is not nearly enough time to complete them all! In the least, you should add a few of these famous hikes to your bucket list.

 In no particular order, let's take a look at the best long distance hikes in the world.

11 Best Through Hikes In The World

1. the west highland way, scotland.

This is a 96-mile / 155km trail that runs from Milngavie to Fort William. It first opened in 1980. These days The West Highland Way is one of the most popular hikes in Europe . Along the way, you get to see some iconic views in the Scottish highlands including Loch Lomond, Rannoch Moore, and, Glencoe Village.

The trail passes through diverse landscapes and gives hikers the chance to visit historic castles and ruins. Fast trekkers can complete the route in as little as 5 days but most people take 7-8 days.

If you are interested in this hike, read our complete guide to the West Highland Way . The West Highland Way also has its own website .

2. Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), USA 

A 2,650-mile, 4265 km trail that runs from Mexico to Canada. The PCT traverses California, Washington, and Oregon. As well as hiking, this is also a popular equestrian trail.

The trail passes a wide range of landscapes including the Pacific coastline, multiple national parks and forests. The Pacific Crest Trail also encompasses more than 100 passes in the North American Mountains . This includes the Sierra Nevada range and the volcanic peaks of the Cascade Range .

Depending on your fitness, you can hike the Pacific Crest Trail in sections.

3. The Inca Trail, Peru

This 41 km/ 26-mile trail is often rated as one of the best hikes in South America . It winds through the Peruvian section of the Andes taking hikers to ancient Incan ruins.

The 4-day Inca Trail ends with a sunrise view of the most iconic ruins of all, Machu Picchu . It is not a difficult hike but you will need to be fit enough to make it up the stairs of the infamous Dead Woman’s Pass.

The trail is only accessible with a guide and permits are restricted. If you can’t get a spot on the Inca Trail , there are several great alternative treks to Machu Picchu .

4. Appalachian Trail (AT), USA

The Appalachia Trail stretches 3540 km / 2,200 miles from Georgia to Maine. The trail through the Appalachian mountains crosses Great Smoky Mountain and Shenandoah National Parks. You will need about 5-7 months for the entire route which crosses 14 states.

Because it is so long, most people only hike a section of the Appalachian Trail. The Virginia section of the Appalachian trail is the longest. The trails through Georgia , Pennsylvania , Maine , and Maryland are also popular.

A great aspect of the Appalachian trail is the sense of community. 1000s of hikers set off in March or early April every year.

5. The Otter Trail, South Africa

Me and my giant bag in its waterproof cover. Its hard to believe this was just after a downpour!

The Otter trail is one of the most popular trails in South Africa and one of my favourite on home turf. This is a 45km (28 mile, 5 day) route along the Garden Route coastline. 

You need to book this hike a few months in advance. Places are limited to 12 hikers each day as there are only two huts at each camp site with 6 beds a piece. You are unlikely to see anyone else on the trail except those in your hiking group.

Its not a particularly difficult hike but there are some  steep bits. There is also a river crossing. If you time it right with the tide, this is only a wade up to your ankles.

September to November is an ideal time to be hiking this trail as it is whale season in South Africa. Its hard to keep your eyes on the trail when baby whales are breaching playfully  right off the rocks!

6. Great Himalayan Trail, Nepal

Great Himalayan Trail (GHT) is a network of trails that cover over 2, 700km / 1,700 miles.  It is one of the longest hiking routes in the world. The trail includes diverse landscapes and links some of the world’s most famous trekking regions.

The trail passes by major trekking routes including the Annapurna circuit , Everest Base Camp and Langtang Valley . Hikers will see some of the highest peaks in the world. As well as these more famous parts of the Himalayas , many sections of the GHT are off the beaten Track.

 This epic trail network has everything. From subtropical jungles to alpine tundra and a chance to experience life in rural mountain villages.

7. Camino de Santiago, Spain 

There are several route options for hiking the Camino de Santiago . All trails converge at the shrine of St. James in the Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Trails spread across several European countries including France and Portugal.

The Camino de Santiago has been a pilgrimage route for over a thousand years. Each year, more than 200, 000 individuals from all over the world walk this 500-mile / 800km trail. Many people still hike the Camino as a religious pilgrimage. However, there are different motivations for doing the Camino de Santiago .

The trail has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and offers hikers the chance to visit numerous historic churches and monasteries along the way.

8. Bibbulmun Track, Australia 

Trail Markers on Bibbulmun trail (credit : Bryce Walker)

A 1,000 km / 600-mile trail that takes adventurers through Western Australia's forests and coastline. The track starts in Kalamunda hills near Perth and ends at Albany on the south coast. Some sections of this trail can be walked as Australian day hikes .

The Bibbulmun Track gets its name from the indigenous name for the prickly banksia shrub which grows along the trail. The path is well-marked with triangular signposts about every 500m.

The trail passes through 50 of Australia's most beautiful national parks and reserves. Walkers should look out for unique wildlife, such as the western ringtail possum.

9. Te Araroa Trail, New Zealand 

The Araroa Trail is one of New Zealand’s best multi-day hikes . The 3000 km / 1,864-mile trail spans the entire length of the country. Araroa translates to ‘Long Pathway’ in the Maori language.

This is a relatively new multi-day hike. Several existing routes were included to connect Cape Reinga in the north to the Bluff in the south. The connecting trails can be done in sections.

If you follow the entire Te Araroa trail, you will get to see New Zealand's best features. This includes beaches, forests, volcanoes, mountains lakes, and sand dunes.

10. El Camino Real, Panama

Portobelo, Panama

The most famous long-distance hike in Panama is El Camino Real (The Real Road). It is also known as the ‘Camino de Cruces’. El Camino Real was originally used by the Spanish in the 18th century to transport gold and other treasures from South America to Spain.

The trail starts in Panama City and ends in the town of Portobelo on the Caribbean coast. The hike usually takes 3-5 days and covers a distance of 80 km(50 miles).

Today, the Camino Real is a popular hiking trail for adventurers and nature enthusiasts who want to experience the beautiful landscapes and diverse wildlife of Panama. The trail passes through tropical forests, rivers, and hills, and offers stunning views of the surrounding area.

11. Continental Divide Trail (CDT), USA 

• The CDT is a 4, 800 km / 3,100-mile epic of a trail that runs the entire length of the United States. One end is at Chihuahua, Mexico, and the other is at the Alberta border with Canada. The CDT follows the Rocky Mountains , which geographically divide the west pacific from the rest of the USA. If you were to walk this entire trail, you would cross 5 states. Namely; Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico. This trek takes more than 5 months.

You should start this trail, or section thereof, around April. If you set off too early in the season you are likely to encounter impassable sections of snow. You will need permits for some sections of the CDT.

Read on for a Hope Pass , part of the Legendary Leadville Trail in Rocky Mountains and an infamous Manitou Incline hike .

• Hiking The Alta Via 1. Italy

About the author 

Alison Macallister

With a degree in Nature Conservation and experience working with wildlife including the Big 5, Alison used to work as a guide for a 5-star safari reserve in South Africa. Today she is a full time traveller and editor for Mountain IQ. She has travelled and hiked extensively in South America, including many solo hikes in Patagonia, the Cusco region of Peru, Ecuador and Chile.

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Hi there, it,s Matteo here from Italy. I,ll go in Uganda this summer, so i was checking infos about the Baker trail, without finding some detailed once. Do you have some by any chance? Thanks Matteo

Hi Matteo, I just dug up some news articles and it seems Uganda was overly optimistic about opening this trail. Some local tour companies can arrange to trek parts of the route but I’m sure this will be at a major expense. For now, you can’t walk the whole trail. I’m going to trade it out of this article for another hike. Sorry! I hope it does eventually get opened, it would be the most amazing trek. Happy adventuring in Uganda!

A lesser known trek, but one which deserves recognition as up there with the best mountain routes, is the Tateyama to Kamikochi Alpine Route in Japan, I named this trek the Roof of Japan when. I first guided it many years ago. My business, Hike Japan, celebrated 10 years of arranging adventure travel in Japan in 2003 with an epic Roof of Japan trek fir clients from the US, UK, and France. In 2023 we celebrate 20 years with I’m sure will be a wonderful West Japan Explorer tour in September.

We work with local guides to offer great value adventures at unbeatable prices.

The 10 best treks in the world

Ask experienced hikers for the best trek in the world and each will give you a different answer. But among the heated debates, there are a couple of trails that always tend to crop up.

These 10 treks are amongst the best on the planet; all of them require a sturdy pair of lungs, fit legs and a good amount of preparation. But the reward is an experience that lasts a lifetime.

GR20, France

This demanding 15-day (168km, 104mi) slog through Corsica is legendary for the diversity of landscapes it traverses.

There are forests, granite moonscapes, windswept craters, glacial lakes, torrents, peat bogs, maquis, snow-capped peaks, plains and névés (stretches of ice formed from snow).

But it doesn’t come easy: the path is rocky and sometimes steep, and includes rickety bridges and slippery rock faces – all part of the fun. Created in 1972, the GR20 links Calenzana with Conca.

Inca Trail, Peru

The 33km (20 mile) ancient trail was laid by the Incas and brought to mainstream attention by Hiram Bingham when he 'discovered' it in 1911. Daily hikers were restricted to just 200 in 2018.

The result is a more tranquil experience for those fortunate enough to get permits, and increased protection for the archaeological site, which was suffering under the strain of its popularity.

Hikers should still take extra care to make sustainable choices when visiting.

The trail starts from the Sacred Valley. Views of mountains and high cloud forest combine as you walk from one ruin to the next, all building up to the first sighting of the iconic stone settlement.

Pays Dogon, Mali

‘The land of the Dogon people’ is one of Africa’s most breathtaking regions. A trek can last between 2-10 days, taking in the cliffs of the Bandiagara escarpment inlaid with old abandoned dwellings.

The Dogon are known for their masked stilt dancers, intricately carved doors and pueblo-like dwellings built into the side of the escarpment.

Everest Base Camp, Nepal

Reaching a height of 5,545m (18,193ft) at Kala Pattar, this 2-3 week trek is popular, thanks to its scenery and romanticism; successful trekkers stand at the base of the world's highest mountain.

The trail threads between small, characterful mountain villages en route to the famous campground and is trafficked by Sherpa people of the Solu Khumbu.

The heights are literally dizzying until you acclimatise to the altitude, and the continuous cutting across valleys has its ups and downs. Be warned: prime trekking season brings crowds.

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A picturesque stretch of the Pan-American Highway along the Pacific coast in Cañete, Perú.

Image credit: rjankovsky/Shutterstock.com

According to the record books, the Pan-American Highway is the longest road in the world, stretching some 30,000 kilometers (19,000 miles) from Alaska to the southern tip of Argentina. However, depending on who you ask, a few people might take issue with that assertion.

The vision of the Pan-American Highway was first proposed in 1923 by the US. Although it was pitched as a fraternal and idealistic venture to bind distant nations, some argue that it was essentially a ploy to boost sales of US-made cars and other exports to Latin America. 

In 1924, US officials invited 37 delegates from Latin America to Washington DC to hear their sales pitch and, after years of wrangling, an agreement was reached. The Convention on the Pan-American Highway was signed in 1937 by Argentina, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, and the US.

Progress wasn’t quick, though. In the early 1970s, President Nixon boasted that the continent-crossing mega-highway would be completed imminently, but numerous gaps and dead ends remained.

In fact, even today, the Pan-American Highway isn’t fully connected and you can't drive its full length. A glaring break in the road can be found in Darién Gap, the skinny 160-kilometer-long (100-mile-long) strand of land that connects Panama to Colombia. 

Enveloped in dense jungle and seasonal rains, no road passes through the Darién Gap at all, not even a dirt road.

There was a push to build the Pan-American Highway through the gap in the 1970s, which the US pledged to fund the majority of, but it was hotly opposed by environmentalists who argued it would spell disaster for the region's biodiversity and Indigenous communities. 

To top it off, the region is frequented by armed militias, dangerous gangs, and drug traffickers, making it an extremely dangerous place to cross. 

Despite this gap, the Pan-American Highway still holds the Guinness World Record for the “longest motorable road.” 

A worthy competitor of the title is Asian Highway 1 (AH1), the longest route of the Asian Highway Network that runs for 20,557 km (12,774 miles) from the Japanese capital of Tokyo to the Turkish-Bulgarian border, traveling through Korea, China, Southeast Asia, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Iran.

However, once again, you’ll probably notice that this isn’t continuous either. Over 942 kilometers (585 miles) of sea separates Japan and South Korea, plus it’s not possible for most civilians to cross the Demilitarized Zone that separates South Korea and North Korea. 

Australia's Highway 1 is arguably the longest fully drivable road and longest national road, circling the outer edge of the whole island for around 14,500 kilometers (9,000 miles). It holds the Guinness World Record for the "Longest continuous road". A group of guys called the "Highway 1 to Hell" team set the record for completing this route a few years ago, circumnavigating the whole of Australia in 5 days, 13 hours, and 43 minutes.

In other words, the answer to “What's The Longest Road In The World?” probably depends on who you ask – and how forgiving they are of gigantic gaps in supposedly continuous roads.

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16 Largest Caves In The World, Ranked By Size

• The Kazumura Cave in Hawaii is the longest and deepest lava tube in the world, measuring 40.7 miles long and 3,614 feet deep. Tourists cannot enter the cave, but there are tours available in the surrounding area.
• Fingal's Cave in Scotland is known for its impressive acoustics and is accessible by boat. The cave's length varies between 227 and 270 feet, with its arched roof reaching up to 72 feet above the sea. Visit during low tide for the best access.
• The Clearwater Cave System in Malaysia is over 30 miles long and exists within Gunung Mulu National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It features an underground river and unique rock formations. The cave system is still being explored.

Serving as a gateway into the past and an example of the way our planet has evolved, the world's incredible caves have always sparked human interest. While some are inaccessible to tourists, many of the world’s most famous caves contain distinct rock formations, underground bodies of water, and other fascinating highlights, making them major attractions for locals and visitors alike. It’s humbling to think that there are some caves large enough to house New York City's epic skyscrapers and entire city blocks within them. Here are the largest caves in the world and where tourists can find them.

UPDATE: 2023/09/28 14:36 EST BY NOAH STAATS

There Are Two More Massive Caves To Check Out

This article has been refreshed with two new caves to see this year and helpful information on existing locations. Whether someone wants to cave dive, take a tour of an active volcanic site, or simply do some research, the planet is filled with incredible cave systems worth understanding. Be safe, and have fun!

Related: Explore Ancient Caves In Aruba's Arikok National Park (& More)

Kazumura Cave, Hawaii

• This is the longest and deepest lava tube in the world.

For anyone in Hawaii, the Kazumura Cave is one not to miss. Here lies the lava tube, which has been surveyed at 40.7 miles long and 3,614 feet deep, making it the longest and deepest lava tube in the world. The Kazumura Cave in Hawaii is located on the island of Hawaiʻi on the eastern slope of Kīlauea and is one of the more recently active in the area. Tourists are unable to go inside the cave as it is an active volcanic site, but there are tours in the surrounding area. After all, Hawaii is filled with stunning scenery (volcanoes and beyond), so this is a hidden gem.

Fingal's Cave, Scotland

• This cave is known for its impressive acoustics.

Another massive cave worth exploring is Fingal's Cave in Scotland. This cave is not only on the uninhabited island of Staffa, in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland, but is also known for its natural acoustics. Many tourists will venture to the cave to scream, sing, and hear the vast echoes of afar. Fingal's Cave is accessible by boat, making it a nice sight for those willing to get on the water. Moreover, this cave's length varies between 227 feet (69 meters) and 270 feet (82 meters), and its arched roof is said to reach between 66 feet (20 meters) and 72 feet (22 meters) above the sea.

During low tide, guests have the best access to Fingal's Cave.

Clearwater Cave System, Malaysia

• This cave system runs 30+ miles and exists in a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Situated in Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia, the limestone Clearwater Cave System consists of a series of interconnected caves rather than just a single one. Clearwater - on its own - has been mapped to just above 30 miles; however, Clearwater Cave System is more than just its longest member. Discovered in the late 1970s, the cave system exists within Gunung Mulu National Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site .

In the Clearwater Cave System, people will find an underground river, as well as a plethora of unique rock formations. Containing an exceptionally large passage, the Clearwater Cave System is one of the longest of its kind in Southeast Asia and serves as a major tourist attraction. The amazing thing about caves is that nobody knows their true size. Clearwater is still being explored to this very day.

Hölloch Cave, Switzerland

• This is one of the biggest caves in the world that tourists can enter.

Tourists can enter the Hölloch, one of the biggest caves in the world. This enormous underground marvel is 124.5 miles long and impressively deep at 3079.3 feet. The Hölloch is a natural wonder not to be missed, with its striking limestone structures and subterranean waterways.

Lechuguilla Cave, New Mexico

• Located within the Carlsbad Caverns National Park.

Lechuguilla Cave is located within Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico . A limestone and gypsum cave spanning more than 138 miles , Lechguilla is full of interesting mineral formations that have attracted the interest of geologists around the world. While discovered in the 1950s, approximately three decades would pass before Colorado would permit the cave to be explored further. Since the decade of hair metal, explorers have investigated Lechuguilla Cave while marveling at its beauty.

Wind Cave, South Dakota

• This is one of the oldest National Park cave attractions in the United States.

Wind Cave National Park is one of the oldest of its kind in the United States. Another cave that’s classified as a “maze cave” due to its convoluted structure and many underground passages, Wind Cave's density is staggering, even compared to other caves on this list. Those visiting the cave should also take some time to explore the national park in which it resides.

Wind Cave National Park is brimming with picturesque views and serves as a protective habitat for the local wildlife.

Related: Visit Ontario's Largest-Known Cavern: The Tyendinaga Caves

Shuanghedong Cave Network, China

• This is the longest cave network in China and the continent of Asia.

The Shuanghedong Cave Network is the longest cave in China and Asia , situated in Guizhou. Running for more than 150 miles, the network was discovered in 1987 and is a fine example of underground ecosystems. There are at least three rivers in the lower levels of the cave, as well as a number of waterfalls.

Within these bodies of water live creatures such as fish and salamanders. Since its discovery in the late 1980s, various expeditions have been carried out in an attempt to map the passages and discover the cave's secrets.

Optymistychna Cave, Ukraine

• Ukraine boasts the longest gypsum cave in the world.

Earning the crown for the longest gypsum cave, Optymistychna Cave in Ukraine extends for over 161 miles and is divided into 10 different areas. These are based on the various passage structures and gypsum varieties found within. Optymistychna Cave, located in Korolivka, Ukraine, is widely known as a maze cave due to the fact that it is extremely elaborate and a little complicated to navigate.

Visitors should be prepared for a lot of mud, especially in the depths of the cave.

Sistema Ox Bel Ha, Mexico

• This cave runs within a 30-mile radius of Mexico's other largest cave system.

Mexico’s Sistema Ox Bel Ha is located within a 30-mile radius of the country’s other largest cave system, Sistema Dos Ojos. Discovered in 1996 and spanning over 160 miles , Ox Bel Ha is thought to have begun forming approximately 18,000 years ago. The name Ox Bel Ha comes from the Yucatec Maya language and translates to “Three Paths of Water” in English.

Since its formation, Ox Bel Ha has become flooded due to the effects of global warming. Today, the system is valued as one of the prominent sources of freshwater in the region.

Mulu Caves, Borneo

• These caves are home to the Sarawak and Deer Chambers and hundreds of bats.

Home to the Sarawak and Deer Chambers, Mulu Caves houses hundreds of bats and one of the world's most impressive and largest cave formations. Some of the most stunning cave formations may be seen at the Mulu Caves, situated in the Gunung Mulu National Park on the island of Borneo (home to some of the biggest cave systems in the world) .

The Deer Chamber is one of the biggest underground tunnels on Earth, while the Sarawak Chamber, with a surface size of 1.66 million square feet, is the largest cave overall. Tourists may take guided excursions to explore their maze-like pathways.

Related: The World's Largest Geode Is This Ohio Crystal Cave

Jewel Cave, South Dakota

• This Jewel Cave is one of the most beautiful in the United States.

As far as aesthetically pleasing caves go, South Dakota’s Jewel Cave is not to be missed. Nestled in the Black Hills National Forest, this gem boasts beautiful scenery below the ground as well as above. The name Jewel Cave comes from the colorful crystals that can be found adorning the inner corners of the cave.

There are a number of tours visitors can take to truly experience Jewel Cave in all its splendor, whether they want to trek to the cave system underground or enjoy the trails on the land above ground.

Sistema Dos Ojos, Mexico

• This cave network runs for over 200 miles and is connected to other underwater caves.

Located in Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico, Sistema Dos Ojos was discovered in 1987 and has hooked the interest of explorers ever since. Running for over 200 miles , this limestone cave is connected to the underwater cave of Sistema Sac Atun.

According to Largest.org , Sistema Dos Ojos is considered a prime archeological site. Archaeologists have discovered information within this cave system that has led to many discoveries about a number of cultures. After the channel connecting Sistema Dos Ojos with Sistema Sac Atun was discovered, this cave system became known as the largest underwater cave in existence.

Sac Actun, Mexico

• This is the largest cave system in Mexico.

The greatest cave system in Mexico is an underwater one, and new parts of it are constantly being found and investigated. Sac Actun is one of the world's largest underwater cave systems; it presently extends over 228 miles as new caverns are found. Sac Actun won't let down adventurers with all the beauty and majesty that a cave of this size involves.

Related: 20 Unique Caves Around The World Only The Brave Should Explore

Mammoth Cave, Kentucky

• Mammoth Cave is not fully understood or mapped yet.

It’s unknown how far Mammoth Cave actually extends, but to date, it has been recorded that the underground system stretched at least 365 miles . New caves in the network are constantly being discovered, so there’s no telling just how expansive the system really is - some believe it could be the biggest cave in the world, given that nobody knows its true size yet.

Humans have been exploring Mammoth Cave for over 4,000 years, and today, it’s still a major tourist attraction in Kentucky. A particularly stunning cave, it hosts a variety of stalactite formations. These were created through water that leaked through the limestone ceiling of the cave over the millennia.

People can visit Mammoth Cave National Park and see the cave for real .

Miao Room Cave, China

• This cave is only reachable via its underground stream.

The Miao Room is undoubtedly one of the largest caverns in the world. This chamber, 380,700,000 cu ft in volume , is only reachable via its underground stream. These measurements were discovered during a laser-mapping trip that was supported by the National Geographic Society, and they were then presented at the national caving conference in the UK.

Son Doong Cave, Vietnam

• The Son Doong Cave is one of the largest in the world, forcing guests to drop 260 feet to enter.

With caverns large enough to house a 40-story skyscraper, the recently discovered Son Doong Cave in Vietnam is the largest cave in the world and forces visitors to descend 260 feet just to enter its perimeters. Son Doong was discovered in 1991 by a man named Ho Khanh, who was living in the nearby jungle.

The first expedition to the cave was led by the British Cave Research Association in 2009. They found that Son Doong is more than 400 million years old . For those wanting to visit, Oxalis Adventures is the only company to run tours into the Son Doong Caves . Overall, this beast dwarfs many of the other largest caverns in the world, so it's a must-see for any cave enthusiast looking for their next adventure.

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17 longest running game shows in television history.

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Slumdog Millionaire Soundtrack: Every Song In The Movie

10 best game shows on netflix, ranked by imdb, pat sajak's wheel of fortune 2019 absence explained (& who took over as host).

• Some of the longest-running game shows of all time have managed to stay entertaining due to their unique formats or charismatic hosts.
• Shows like Jeopardy! and Family Feud have successfully transitioned to new hosts without losing their popularity.
• The longest-running game show of all time had an impressive run spanning several decades on air.

The longest-running game shows of all time have one important thing in common. Not only do they offer contestants a chance to win great prizes, with the audience living vicariously through them, but they also remain entertaining for a variety of reasons. This comes from either the format of the shows or the hosts who run the show. Jeopardy! is a great example of a show that offers challenging questions that keep viewers glued to their TVs, but the charisma of former host Alex Trebek added to the appeal, which is why it has lasted for over 50 years.

The best game shows are the ones that are so fun to watch that the new hosts can still successfully carry them. No one could have thought Bob Barker could be replaced on The Price is Right or Richard Dawson on The Family Feud , but both were replaced and the shows are as popular now as ever. Wheel of Fortune will have the same challenge, but when it comes to the longest-running game shows of all time, there is a mountain of series that have lasted well over 20 years, with many being on air for half a century.

10 Short-Lived Game Shows That Deserve Another Chance

They didn't last a long time, but these game shows were good enough to deserve another chance.

17 Match Game

(1962–69, 1973–1982, 1990–1991, 2016–2021): 22 years.

Match Game was a classic television game show, and at 22 seasons is one of the longest-running game shows of all time. The first season was in 1962, with Gene Rayburn hosting it, with two celebrity panelists. The show lasted for seven years and when it returned in 1973, it picked up more celebrity panelists and a bigger prize fund. This was one of the shows that introduced five-figure winnings since the quiz show scandals of the 1950s.

The first main panelist was Richard Dawson before he started hosting The Family Feud , and other familiar faces included Jack Klugman, Vicki Lawrence, and Michael Landon. The show saw two contestants try to match fill-in-the-blank questions and answers with the panelist who answered. The show came back for one season in the 1990s and then relaunched in 2016, with Alec Baldwin as the host.

16 Who Wants To Be A Millionaire

(1999-2021): 22 years.

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire is a game show that made quite a ripple in pop culture since its American debut in 1999. There have been many international versions of the show, such as the Indian version that is the subject of the 2009 Best Picture Winner Slumdog Millionaire . The show is originally from the United Kingdom, but no version has found as much success as the American iteration of Millionaire.

Though sometimes there can be an exciting win, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire often sees big failures due to the major stakes involved, making for some intense entertainment. The show has been on the air fairly consistently since its 1999 debut and has gone through a series of hosts including Regis Philbin, Terry Crews, and Jimmy Kimmel. The last episode aired in March 2021, and it is still unclear if ABC will continue the show after the most recent season.

Slumdog Millionaire was a massive hit back in 2008 and produced an award-winning soundtrack. Here’s every song featured in the movie.

15 Hollywood Squares

(1966-1981, 1983-1984, 1986-1989, 1998-2004): 24 years.

One of the longest-running game shows of all time was Hollywood Squares , which featured nine celebrities positioned on a tic-tac-toe board. The two contestants who competed for the prizes watched as the host asked the celebs a question. The contestants then had to figure out if the celeb gave the right answer or not. One thing that made the show fun to watch was the celebrities often included comedians who would give the most off-the-wall answers possible before throwing out their guesses to the actual question.

Examples of celebrities who took part in the game included Rich Little, Roddy McDowall, Buddy Hackett , Florence Henderson, Vincent Price, Weird Al Yankovic, Charo, Sandy Duncan, Jonathan Winters, Joan Rivers, and more. The show came back twice in the 1980s after cancelation and then one last time in 1998 with future Dancing with the Stars host Tom Bergeron as the host.

14 Password

(1961-1975, 2022): 24 years.

Password is one of the longest-running game shows of all time that has seen a plethora of revivals and remakes. A word association game in which contestants are paired with celebrities, Password 's heyday was between 1961 and 1982. The face of the show was host Allen Ludden, who was active on Password for the majority of its most successful run. Ludden's wife, the beloved actress Betty White , was often a featured player on the show as well.

Two separate installments of the original Password ran from 1961 to 1967 and again from 1971 to 1975. After that, Password began getting revamps, the first being Password Plus from 1979 to 1982. Super Password aired from 1984 to 1989, and the most recent edition called Million Dollar Password had a short stint from 2008 to 2009. Altogether, Password ran for a total of 23 years with 2,855 episodes. It returned to add one more season to its total in 2022.

13 What's My Line?

(1950-1975): 24 years.

One of the earliest televised American game shows, What's My Line? is also one of the longest-running game shows of all time despite being off the air for close to 50 years now. It helped to establish the format that many shows use today. The game involved a panel of celebrities who had to guess the job occupations of contestants through a series of questions, clearly a predecessor to other popular game shows such as To Tell The Truth and Figure It Out .

The game show has 196 episodes in total, spanning over 24 years. What's My Line? had a nearly consecutive run , but two separate iterations; one from 1950 to 1967, and another from 1968 to 1975. The original iteration is an Emmy and Golden Globe winner and a pioneer in incorporating celebrities into the game show format.

(1973-1988, 1991, 2002-2004, 2012, 2016-Present): 27 years +

Two contestants are paired with celebrities in Pyramid , a word association game based on various categories that are shown in the shape of a pyramid. There have been many versions of Pyramid since its debut , each one with a different amount of grand prize money that has increased over time.

The show originally ran from 1973 until 1988 and was initially called The $10,000 Pyramid, which was usually hosted by the iconic Dick Clark. Throughout its initial 15-year run, the show ran many versions all at once, with prizes varying from $20,000, to $25,000, to $50,000, all the way up to $100,000. Other installments came in 1991, 2002, and 2012, and the most recent in 2016 is still airing today. Pyramid has aired over 1,000 episodes and is currently hosted by the funny and multi-talented Michael Strahan .

11 Noot Vir Noot

(1991-): 33 years.

This South African game show began its run in 1991, only gaining a new host in 2019. Original host Johan Stemmet retired from hosting duties when musician Emo Adams took over the role. Stemmet remained on board as a producer though. Noot vir Noot , which translates from Afrikaans to a music note for a cash note, is a musical game show.

The show involves four contestants being given musical clues by the host and DJ. The series used to feature a house band that would provide those musical clues, but a DJ was brought on in 2012. Interestingly, the series also acts as more than just a game show as it frequently features musical acts who perform for the contestant and the audience. The show, like many popular trivia-based game shows, also brings winners back to participate in semi-finals and grand finals to find the ultimate winner.

Game shows have been around for many years, and there are plenty to pick from on Netflix.

10 Let's Make A Deal

(1963-1977, 1980-1981, 1984-1986, 1990-1991, 2003, 2009-present): 37 years +.

One of the longest-running game shows of all time is Let's Make a Deal . Audience members arrive dressed in wild costumes in hopes of being called onto the stage where they can make deals to win a variety of prizes. The show has been canceled and revived many times over the years, but in total, Let's Make a Deal has collected over 6,000 episodes throughout its 35-year lifespan, and the format has remained relatively the same.

The original Let's Make a Deal was wildly popular from 1963 to 1977. After that, the show saw several short-lived revivals between 1981 and 2003 until 2009, when it got its footing on air once again. Today, one of the funniest Whose Line Is It Anyway? cast members, Wayne Brady , is the host of the upbeat game show.

9 Family Feud

(1976-1985, 1988-1995, 1999-present): 38 years +.

Family Feud is one of the most well-known longest-running game shows of all time. Since its debut in 1976, the show has managed to stay consistently popular with audiences despite it being off-air for a handful of years. The original run went on until 1985, was revived again in 1988, and lasted until 1995, then was finally revived again in 1999 and has been airing ever since.

The aim of the show is for one family, or team, to guess the most commonly given responses to survey questions. The team that gets the most answers corrects them enters a final round to win prize money.

Richard Dawson was the first beloved host of Family Feud and his presence was surely a major contributor to the show's initial success. Today though, ratings have never been higher with Steve Harvey as the host. The show even has an acclaimed celebrity version that sees various stars go head to head in the trivia game rather than everyday American families.

8 Countdown

(1982-): 42 years.

While many game shows around the world air in a “prime time” block, that is in the evening, presumably when families can gather after eating dinner, Countdown does not. It’s often thought of as an after-school classic for British adults who grew up in the 1980s and 90s. The show has been running consistently since 1982, making it the third longest-running British game show.

Every episode features two contestants competing in three different games. Each game only lasts 30 seconds, hence the name of the show. The first game involves creating a word out of nine letters, the second involves using a set of numbers of get to a particular sum, and the final round sees the contests solving an anagram. Each round is a distinct and difficult puzzle, but the contestant that wins keeps coming back until they are defeated.

7 Wheel Of Fortune

(1975-present): 48 years +.

While Wheel Of Fortune isn't quite the longest-running game show of all time, its co-hosts Pat Sajak and Vanna White hold the record for longest-running television show hosts of all time , game show or not, at 39 years. With Wheel Of Fortune still on the air, these two will likely continue to increase their record in the near future.

Wheel Of Fortune currently sits at over 7,000 episodes and counting which is the most episodes any game show has ever seen. The show debuted in 1975, but it took off in 1982 when Sajak and White joined the team. Wheel Of Fortune is one of the easiest game shows to play along with at home, likely contributing to its continual success. Pat Sajak will retire in 2024 , and Ryan Seacrest will take over after that.

For a few weeks in 2019 Wheel Of Fortune host Pat Sajak was notably absent from the game show. Here’s what happened and who took his place.

6 Question Of Sport

(1968 (pilot episode), 1970-1972, 1974-1977, 1979-2023): 50 years.

Previously called A Question Of Sport , the BBC game show ran nearly continuously for half a century after its initial pilot episode aired in 1968. The series only had five hosts over the course of its run, with one of the most famous being tennis player Sue Barker, who hosted the show for 20 years.

The show, as its name implies, is a sports trivia series. Teams compete to win several different rounds of gameplay. While some of the rounds are straight-up timed trivia questions, others include identifying athletes from their pictures, identifying a mystery guest from a series of clues, and charades involving sports terms . Team Captains for the show feature a rotating cast of professional athletes from rugby players to racing jockeys, making for a huge variety of sports covered.

The series ended its run in 2023 due to funding issues.

5 Sábado Gigante

(1962-2015): 53 years.

Chilean TV star Mario Kreutzberger, stage name Don Francisco, created and hosted this Spanish language game show starting in 1962. Francisco hosted the show during its entire run, though he did have assistants and cohosts during different eras of the show. It ran continuously, not employing reruns, and was only removed for special news broadcasts. The series, however, was more than simply a game show as each episode ran for three hours on Saturday nights. While it had a game show segment, the series also acted as a variety show.

Some of the game show segments include contestants singing with the worst singers eliminated until only one remains, women competing in a satire of a beauty pageant, and children competing in a pageant for the title of Miss Chiquita. Outside of the game show elements, the show also featured roundtable discussions and musical performances by guests, giving families something to keep them entertained all night.

4 Jeopardy!

(1964-1979, 1984-present): 54 years +.

Jeopardy! is still one of the most adored and longest-running game shows of all time. A trivia game for the smartest of people, it also saw one of the longest-running hosts in television history with the beloved Alex Trebek , who was the star of the show until his death in 2020.

Jeopardy! originally ran from 1964 to 1979, but it wasn't until the 1984 revival that the show started making an impact on audiences, likely thanks to Trebek's debut with the revamp. The show has featured new hosts since Trebek's passing including Blossom star Mayim Bialik and former champion Ken Jennings, as the two split the duties that Trebek held for so long.

The series has also run specialized tournaments with celebrities competing for charity, weeks themed for college students, and weeks themed for children, allowing for a huge variety of trivia subjects for different groups.

3 University Challenge

(1962-1987, 1994-): 55 years.

University Challenge might not be known all over the world, but it’s a popular game show in the UK. It started its run on ITV in 1962 with a format similar to the academic competition Quiz Bowl. Teams of university students compete in rounds of trivia throughout the season until one university team is left standing. The modern version of the show is broadcast on BBC, and throughout the run, there have been instances of celebrity versions of the show instead.

For a long-running game show, it’s one of the most consistent to have graced television screens . There have only been three hosts during the run of the show: Bamber Gascoigne (in the original run), Jeremy Paxman (for the revival until retirement), and Amol Rajan. Imperial College London has the most wins in the series with five, their latest in 2024.

2 Des Chiffres Et Des Lettres

(1965-1970, 1972-present): 56 years +.

What is almost the longest-running game show of all time, the French show Des Chiffres et des Lettres has been on the air consistently since 1965. The series has aired over 12,000 episodes of television. Translating to "Numbers and Letters," Des Chiffres et des Lettres puts contestants' knowledge of both subjects to the test. The show consists of multiple timed rounds that involve various challenges in mathematics and spelling.

Most likely unknown to American audiences, Des Chiffres et des Lettres is a smash hit in France . It has seen multiple international versions since its creation, including a failed US iteration from 1990 that never aired. Countdown , one of the longest-running game shows in the UK, is an English-language version of this game show, though some of the segments aren't exactly the same.

1 The Price Is Right

(1956-1965, 1971-present): 60 years +.

At more than six decades on air, The Price Is Right currently holds the record for the longest-running game show of all time. It had an original 9-year run from 1956 to 1965. Add that to the current version of the show that has been airing since 1972, The Price Is Right has been on the air far longer than most television shows, regardless of genre.

The Price Is Right is always full of overly enthusiastic contestants who play a wide variety of mini-games revolving around modern-day commerce. The most notable Price Is Right was Bob Barker , the face of The Price Is Right since the 1972 revival until his retirement in 2007. He was replaced by Drew Carey, who still hosts the show today. Of all the longest-running game shows of all time , The Price Is Right has outlasted them all.

Belgium’s Olympic athletes can drive three hours to the Paris Olympic Games, if they wish. An ambitious Belgian — perhaps cycling silver medalist Wout van Aert — could even bike to the Olympic Village in a breezy 16 hours.

For Olympians from New Zealand, however, the trek is 70 times more intense. Kiwis will travel over 11,500 miles to Paris, compared to just under 165 miles for the Belgians, according to a Sportscasting.com study analyzing flight distance data for participating nations.

A flight from New Zealand’s Auckland Airport to the Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport can take well over a full day. The average flight from New Zealand to Europe takes 33 hours and 37 minutes.

Luxembourg, Andorra, Switzerland and The Netherlands join Belgium on the quick-trip list, all measuring in at under 300 miles.

Meanwhile, Australia, the Cook Islands and Fiji are all in the five-figure category, over 10,000 miles away.

As Australia’s defending pole vault world champion Nina Kennedy noted, athletes from Oceania are pros at the long trips.

“For us Aussies, we’ve always had to go to Europe to compete,” Kennedy said. “I’ve been doing this for quite a few years now. Europe is a long flight, but I feel quite used to it. I've just developed strategies along the way for jet lag.”

U.S. athletes face a trip of just over 3,600 miles, on average, though the number varies depending on the departing airport.

To combat jet lag, many athletes are traveling to Europe well in advance of the Opening Ceremony on July 26. Some members of Team Canada, for example, are stationed in suburban Rome already to shake off jet lag and stay sharp for the Olympics.

“We’re doing a camp here to adjust to the time zone,” six-time Olympic medalist Andre De Grasse of Canada said. “For the Olympics, you’re only allowed to come in three or four days before your competition, so we wanted to just adjust a little bit quicker.”

Regardless of the distances, athletes can hope (and reasonably expect) their trips to be smoother than that of the Fiji Olympic Team. Fifty-one Fijians traveled to the pandemic-impacted Tokyo Games on cargo planes, since flights from Fiji were grounded due to COVID-19. Those athletes were accompanied on their Olympic flight by tons of frozen fish bound for Tokyo.

Note: Some components of NBCOlympics.com may not be optimized for users browsing with Internet Explorer 11, 10 or older browsers or systems.

ZEEKR shares details of its 009 MPV refresh ahead of global launch next week [Video]

It has only been a year since ZEEKR launched its 009 multi-purpose vehicle (MPV), but the EV automaker is already on the cusp of launching a model refresh. The updated version comes in two different seat configurations and a massive battery that promises a leading range in its segment. ZEEKR is also hailing it as one of the safest and most environmentally friendly interiors for MPVs.

The 009 is the second model to debut under the relatively young ZEEKR EV brand. It began production in China in the fall of 2022 before initial deliveries began in early 2023 . We got an opportunity to test drive the 009 MPV alongside the ZEEKR 001 last year and were quite impressed with its combination of luxury and performance in such a large package.

This past April, ZEEKR announced an ultra-luxe variant of the MPV called the 009 Grand, equipped with four seats, a 43-inch LED TV, an 18-liter fridge, and marble accents . Not to be outdone, ZEEKR has announced a quick refresh to the 009, which now includes a new seven-seat option.

ZEEKR to launch new 009 MPV out of Hong Kong July 19

According to an update directly from ZEEKR, the automaker will launch its refreshed 009 MPV globally next week in Hong Kong. This marks the first time the automaker has held a launch event outside of mainland China.

Like the previous ME Edition, the refreshed 009 features a 140kW battery pack powered by Qilin cells from CATL. What’s new is that the ZEEKR 009 now has a single motor option, which, when combined with the larger pack, promises the longest range among all-electric MPVs.

ZEEKR shared that the model’s 108kW pack can recharge from 10-80% in a mere 11.5 minutes, and the glorified minivan can accelerate from 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 3.9 seconds. ZEEKR has yet to share range, but a previous version topped out at 822 km (511 miles) CLTC on a single charge.

ZEEKR has also introduced a new seven-seat layout seen below.

The Chinese automaker also relayed that the 009 will launch as one of the safest BEVs in the market as it is the only MPV certified for both front and rear impact tests. It also has “the only environmentally friendly cabin with dual certification.”

Other features include standard equipped dual-chamber air suspension and CCD dampers, 30 speakers with 3000-watt peak power – the highest in the world according to ZEEKR. The interior cabin also offers “Private Mode,” “Valet Mode,” and a sound shield to maintain passenger privacy, while they enjoy luxury features like an intelligent storage cubby that can be heated or cooled from -6℃ to 50℃ (21℉ to 122℉).

The new ZEEKR 009 MPV will officially launch from Hong Kong on July 19, when we will learn more about its performance and refreshed pricing. Until then, here’s some video footage shared by ZEEKR earlier today.

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Scooter Doll is a writer, designer and tech enthusiast born in Chicago and based on the West Coast. When he’s not offering the latest tech how tos or insights, he’s probably watching Chicago sports. Please send any tips or suggestions, or dog photos to him at [email protected]

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