The World’s Greatest One-Day Hikes:

You can achieve so much in a day.…and in our view there are few things bet­ter than spend­ing a day tak­ing on one of the world’s great­est One-Day hikes. From get­ting out into the crisp moun­tain, air sum­mit­ing a coun­tries tallest peak or mar­veling at reflec­tions in Fjords and Lava, we’ve round­ed out what we con­sid­er to be the 15 best one-day hikes on the plan­et, that tru­ly make each step worth­while.

So, whether you’re look­ing for a heart-pound­ing ascent to the top of Ben Nevis, a leisure­ly trek through oth­er­world­ly ter­rain Ton­gariro Alpine Cross­ing, or being awe-struck at the beau­ty of “heav­en at earth” at the Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruiv­om trail, below is our guide — includ­ing how to get there, what to bring and when to go — that allow you to con­quer the best one-day hikes on Earth all in just one day.

1.) Tongariro Alpine Crossing, New Zealand: A Volcanic Wonderland

Overview: The Ton­gariro Alpine Cross­ing is often regard­ed as New Zealand’s best one-day hike and one of the most breath­tak­ing treks in the world. This 19.4 km (12-mile) trail takes hik­ers through a dra­mat­ic vol­canic land­scape, fea­tur­ing steam­ing vents, ancient lava flows, emer­ald lakes, and stun­ning panoram­ic views. Locat­ed with­in Ton­gariro Nation­al Park, a UNESCO World Her­itage Site, the hike tra­vers­es active vol­canic ter­rain, offer­ing a sur­re­al mix of nat­ur­al beau­ty and geo­log­i­cal won­der.

The trail is chal­leng­ing yet incred­i­bly reward­ing, with steep ascents and descents, unpre­dictable weath­er, and exposed ridges. Hik­ers pass through some of the most icon­ic land­marks in New Zealand, includ­ing the Red Crater, Blue Lake, and the famous Emer­ald Lakes, whose vibrant col­ors con­trast stark­ly against the bar­ren vol­canic back­drop. The descent offers spec­tac­u­lar views of Lake Rotoaira and Lake Taupo in the dis­tance, mak­ing for a tru­ly unfor­get­table adven­ture.

Com­plet­ing the Ton­gariro Alpine Cross­ing is a buck­et-list expe­ri­ence for many out­door enthu­si­asts, pro­vid­ing a sense of accom­plish­ment and awe-inspir­ing scenery at every turn. With its diverse land­scapes, rich cul­tur­al his­to­ry, and unique geot­her­mal fea­tures, this trek is a must-do for any­one vis­it­ing New Zealand’s North Island.

Dura­tion: The hike takes approx­i­mate­ly 6–8 hours to com­plete, depend­ing on fit­ness lev­el and weath­er con­di­tions.

Loca­tion: Ton­gariro Nation­al Park, North Island, New Zealand.

How to Get There: Fly into Auck­land Inter­na­tion­al Air­port (AKL) or Welling­ton Inter­na­tion­al Air­port (WLG). From there, dri­ve or take a bus to the town of Taupo or Nation­al Park Vil­lage, both of which serve as gate­ways to the trek. Shut­tle ser­vices are avail­able to trans­port hik­ers to and from the trail­heads.

Bud­get Esti­mate: The hike itself is free, but addi­tion­al costs include:

• - Shut­tle trans­port: $30 – $50 NZD per per­son (round trip)

• - Accom­mo­da­tion: $30 – $150 NZD per night

• - Food and sup­plies: $20 – $50 NZD per day

• - Option­al guid­ed tour: $100 – $200 NZD per per­son

Best View Spot: The Red Crater Sum­mit (1,886 meters / 6,188 feet) offers the most breath­tak­ing views of the Emer­ald Lakes and the vast vol­canic ter­rain.

Pho­tog­ra­phy Tips:

• - Cap­ture the Emer­ald Lakes from a high van­tage point to empha­size their vibrant col­ors.

• - Use a wide-angle lens to frame the dra­mat­ic vol­canic land­scapes.

• - Ear­ly morn­ing light cre­ates stun­ning con­trasts and min­i­mizes crowds in your shots.

• - Pro­tect your cam­era from vol­canic dust with a lens fil­ter or case.

Best Time to Go: The best time to hike is dur­ing the sum­mer months (Novem­ber to April) when the weath­er is more sta­ble and the trail is snow-free. Win­ter hik­ing (May to Octo­ber) is pos­si­ble but requires alpine gear and expe­ri­ence due to snow and ice.

Expect­ed Weath­er:

• - Sum­mer (Nov – Apr): Mild tem­per­a­tures (10–25°C / 50–77°F), but con­di­tions can change rapid­ly.

• - Win­ter (May – Oct): Cold tem­per­a­tures (-5 to 10°C / 23–50°F), snow, and strong winds.

Rec­om­mend­ed Gear:

• - Stur­dy hik­ing boots with good grip

• - Warm, mois­ture-wick­ing lay­ers

• - Water­proof jack­et and pants

• - Sun pro­tec­tion (hat, sun­glass­es, sun­screen)

• - Plen­ty of water (at least 2–3 liters)

• - Snacks and ener­gy-rich food

• - Trekking poles for sta­bil­i­ty on steep sec­tions

• - A cam­era or smart­phone for cap­tur­ing epic views

Top Tips for Com­plet­ing the Hike:

• - Start ear­ly to avoid crowds and allow enough day­light to com­plete the trek.

• - Check the weath­er fore­cast before­hand, as con­di­tions can change rapid­ly.

• - Book a shut­tle ser­vice in advance, as park­ing is lim­it­ed at the trail­heads.

• - Car­ry all trash with you and respect the frag­ile vol­canic envi­ron­ment.

• - Be pre­pared for all weath­er con­di­tions, even in sum­mer.

• - If hik­ing in win­ter, ensure you have prop­er alpine gear or join a guid­ed tour for safe­ty.

 

2.)  Half Dome Hike, USA (California): Yosemite’s Most Thrilling Ascent

Overview: The Half Dome Hike in Yosemite Nation­al Park is one of the most exhil­a­rat­ing and icon­ic one-day hikes in the world. This 14- to 16-mile (22–26 km) round-trip trek takes hik­ers through breath­tak­ing land­scapes, includ­ing tow­er­ing gran­ite cliffs, cas­cad­ing water­falls, and lush forests, before cul­mi­nat­ing in a heart-pound­ing cable ascent to the sum­mit of Half Dome. Stand­ing at 8,839 feet (2,694 meters), Half Dome offers panoram­ic views over Yosemite Val­ley, mak­ing it a buck­et-list adven­ture for expe­ri­enced hik­ers.

The hike is not for the faint of heart. With an ele­va­tion gain of over 4,800 feet (1,463 meters) and the infa­mous final stretch up the Half Dome cables, this trek requires endurance, strength, and a head for heights. How­ev­er, the reward is unparalleled—a sweep­ing 360-degree view that few get to expe­ri­ence.

Due to its pop­u­lar­i­ty, a per­mit sys­tem is in place to lim­it the num­ber of dai­ly hik­ers allowed to climb the cables. Plan­ning ahead is cru­cial, but those who secure a spot will embark on one of the most unfor­get­table hik­ing expe­ri­ences in North Amer­i­ca.

Dura­tion: The hike takes between 10 to 14 hours, depend­ing on pace, fit­ness lev­el, and time spent at the sum­mit.

Loca­tion: Yosemite Nation­al Park, Cal­i­for­nia, USA.

How to Get There: Fly into Fres­no Yosemite Inter­na­tion­al Air­port (FAT), San Fran­cis­co Inter­na­tion­al Air­port (SFO), or Los Ange­les Inter­na­tion­al Air­port (LAX). From there, dri­ve to Yosemite Nation­al Park and park at the trail­head in Yosemite Val­ley. Most hik­ers start at the Mist Trail or John Muir Trail, both begin­ning near Hap­py Isles.

Bud­get Esti­mate:

• - Yosemite Nation­al Park entrance fee: $35 per vehi­cle (valid for 7 days)

• - Half Dome per­mit: $10 appli­ca­tion fee + $10 per per­son (if grant­ed)

• - Accom­mo­da­tion in Yosemite: $25 – $400 per night (camp­grounds, lodges, or hotels)

• - Food and sup­plies: $20 – $50 per day

• - Option­al shut­tle ser­vices: $10 – $20 per ride

Best View Spot: The sum­mit of Half Dome pro­vides an unpar­al­leled view over Yosemite Val­ley, with El Cap­i­tan, Clouds Rest, and the High Sier­ra peaks stretch­ing out into the hori­zon.

Pho­tog­ra­phy Tips:

• - Start ear­ly to cap­ture sun­rise light fil­ter­ing through the val­ley.

• - Use a wide-angle lens to cap­ture the scale of the gran­ite for­ma­tions.

• - Take action shots of hik­ers ascend­ing the cables for a dra­mat­ic effect.

• - Bring a GoPro or light­weight cam­era, as heavy gear is dif­fi­cult to man­age on steep sec­tions.

Best Time to Go: The best time to hike Half Dome is late May through ear­ly Octo­ber when the cables are installed and the trail is snow-free. Avoid hik­ing in extreme heat or dur­ing thun­der­storms, as the sum­mit is exposed to light­ning.

Expect­ed Weath­er:

• - Spring (May – June): Cool morn­ings (5–15°C / 41–59°F), mild after­noons (15–25°C / 59–77°F).

• - Sum­mer (July – Sep­tem­ber): Warm to hot (20–30°C / 68–86°F), risk of after­noon thun­der­storms.

• - Fall (Octo­ber): Cool­er tem­per­a­tures (10–20°C / 50–68°F), crisp air, and few­er crowds.

Rec­om­mend­ed Gear:

• - Stur­dy hik­ing boots with good grip

• - Gloves for grip­ping the Half Dome cables

• - Plen­ty of water (at least 4 liters per per­son)

• - Ener­gy-rich snacks and a packed lunch

• - Sun pro­tec­tion (hat, sun­glass­es, sun­screen)

• - Lay­ered cloth­ing for chang­ing tem­per­a­tures

• - Head­lamp or flash­light (if start­ing before sun­rise or fin­ish­ing late)

• - Trekking poles for steep sec­tions (option­al but use­ful)

Top Tips for Com­plet­ing the Hike:

• - Get a per­mit ear­ly: Per­mits are issued via a lot­tery sys­tem, so plan ahead.

• - Start before sun­rise: This helps avoid heat and gives you more time to com­plete the hike.

• - Train for endurance and strength: Car­dio and upper-body strength are cru­cial for the demand­ing ascent.

• - Be mind­ful of alti­tude: Take breaks and hydrate fre­quent­ly to avoid alti­tude sick­ness.

• - Respect the cables: Only attempt the final ascent if con­di­tions are safe. Wet or stormy weath­er makes the cables extreme­ly dan­ger­ous.

• - Leave no trace: Car­ry out all trash and respect the frag­ile Yosemite wilder­ness.

•  

3.) Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock), Norway: A Spectacular Fjord Viewpoint

Overview: Preikestolen, also known as Pul­pit Rock, is one of Norway’s most famous nat­ur­al land­marks and an exhil­a­rat­ing one-day hike offer­ing breath­tak­ing views over Lyse­fjord. This 8‑kilometer (5‑mile) round-trip trek ascends through rugged Nordic ter­rain, with steep rock for­ma­tions, serene lakes, and panoram­ic view­points along the way. The high­light of the hike is reach­ing the dra­mat­ic flat-topped cliff, which soars 604 meters (1,982 feet) above the fjord below, pro­vid­ing one of the most stun­ning and pho­to­genic views in Scan­di­navia.

The trail is well-marked but mod­er­ate­ly chal­leng­ing, with some steep sec­tions and rocky ter­rain. How­ev­er, it is acces­si­ble to most hik­ers with a rea­son­able lev­el of fit­ness. The reward of stand­ing atop Preikestolen, gaz­ing down at the deep blue waters of Lyse­fjord, makes every step worth­while. For those who want a unique expe­ri­ence, hik­ing at sun­rise or sun­set adds an extra lay­er of mag­ic to this already unfor­get­table adven­ture.

Dura­tion: The hike takes approx­i­mate­ly 4–5 hours round-trip, depend­ing on pace and time spent at the sum­mit.

Loca­tion: Ryfylke, south­west­ern Nor­way.

How to Get There: Fly into Sta­vanger Air­port (SVG), then take a fer­ry from Sta­vanger to Tau, fol­lowed by a bus or car ride to the Preikestolen trail­head at Preikestolen Moun­tain Lodge.

Bud­get Esti­mate:

• - Nation­al Park access: Free

• - Fer­ry from Sta­vanger to Tau: ~$15 per per­son (one way)

• - Bus from Tau to trail­head: ~$20 per per­son (round trip)

• - Accom­mo­da­tion in Sta­vanger: $50 – $200 per night

• - Food and sup­plies: $20 – $50 per day

Best View Spot: The edge of Preikestolen offers an unfor­get­table panoram­ic view over Lyse­fjord, per­fect for epic land­scape pho­tog­ra­phy.

Pho­tog­ra­phy Tips:

• - Arrive ear­ly to avoid crowds and cap­ture the still­ness of the morn­ing light.

• - Use a wide-angle lens to empha­size the dra­mat­ic drop and sur­round­ing fjord.

• - Sun­set and sun­rise cre­ate stun­ning gold­en hues over the cliffs and water.

• - Drone pho­tog­ra­phy is allowed but requires cau­tion due to strong winds.

Best Time to Go: The best time to hike Preikestolen is between May and Sep­tem­ber when the trail is clear of snow and weath­er con­di­tions are most favor­able.

Expect­ed Weath­er:

• Spring/Summer (May – Sept): Mild tem­per­a­tures (10–20°C / 50–68°F), occa­sion­al rain show­ers.

• Fall/Winter (Oct – Apr): Cold (0–10°C / 32–50°F), snow and ice may make the trail haz­ardous.

Rec­om­mend­ed Gear:

• - Stur­dy hik­ing boots with ankle sup­port

• - Wind­proof and water­proof jack­et

• - Lay­ered cloth­ing for unpre­dictable weath­er

• - Plen­ty of water and high-ener­gy snacks

• - Head­lamp if hik­ing for sunrise/sunset

• - Cam­era or smart­phone for cap­tur­ing the views

Top Tips for Com­plet­ing the Hike:

• - Start ear­ly to avoid crowds, espe­cial­ly in peak sum­mer months.

• - Check weath­er fore­casts as con­di­tions can change rapid­ly in the fjords.

• - Stay on marked trails to pre­vent unnec­es­sary risks near the cliffs.

• - Con­sid­er stay­ing overnight in Sta­vanger or at the Preikestolen Moun­tain Lodge for an ear­ly start.

• - Avoid hik­ing in win­ter unless expe­ri­enced, as ice and snow can make the trail dan­ger­ous.

4.)  Roy’s Peak (New Zealand): A Breathtaking Summit Above Wanaka

Overview: Roy’s Peak is one of New Zealand’s most icon­ic day hikes, offer­ing breath­tak­ing panoram­ic views over Lake Wana­ka, the sur­round­ing moun­tains, and the dis­tant peaks of Mount Aspir­ing Nation­al Park. This 16-kilo­me­ter (10-mile) round-trip trek is known for its steady uphill climb, reward­ing hik­ers with some of the most stun­ning scenery in the South Island.

Start­ing from the base near Wana­ka, the trail zigza­gs through gold­en tus­sock-cov­ered hills, with occa­sion­al glimpses of the lake below. As hik­ers gain ele­va­tion, the views become increas­ing­ly spec­tac­u­lar, cul­mi­nat­ing at the famous view­point just below the sum­mit. The final push to the top offers an even grander vista, mak­ing the chal­leng­ing ascent well worth the effort.

A favorite among pho­tog­ra­phers and out­door enthu­si­asts, Roy’s Peak is par­tic­u­lar­ly stun­ning at sun­rise or sun­set when the light casts a gold­en glow over the ridge­lines and lakes below. While the climb is demand­ing, the well-main­tained trail makes it acces­si­ble for those with a rea­son­able lev­el of fit­ness.

Dura­tion: 5–7 hours round-trip, depend­ing on pace and fit­ness lev­el.

Loca­tion: Roy’s Peak Track, Wana­ka, South Island, New Zealand.

How to Get There: FOund in the town of Wana­ka, the clos­est air­port is Queen­stown Air­port (ZQN),from Queen­stown you can dri­ve or take a bus to Wana­ka (approx­i­mate­ly 1 hour). The Roy’s Peak trail­head is locat­ed 6 km (3.7 miles) out­side of Wana­ka, acces­si­ble by car, taxi — or a long walk from the city cen­tre.

Bud­get Esti­mate:

• - Trail access: Free

• - Accom­mo­da­tion in Wana­ka: $50 – $200 NZD per night

• - Food and sup­plies: $20 – $50 NZD per day

• - Trans­porta­tion from Queen­stown: $20 – $50 NZD (bus) or $50+ (rental car)

Best View Spot: The most famous view­point is just below the sum­mit, fea­tur­ing the icon­ic ridge lead­ing towards Lake Wana­ka. The sum­mit itself offers 360-degree views of the South­ern Alps and Mount Aspir­ing Nation­al Park.

Pho­tog­ra­phy Tips:

• - Arrive at sun­rise or sun­set for the best light­ing and few­er crowds.

• - Use a wide-angle lens to cap­ture the stun­ning depth of the land­scape.

• - Con­sid­er long-expo­sure shots to cap­ture the morn­ing mist rolling over the val­leys.

• - Be patient—this hike is pop­u­lar, so wait for a clear shot at the view­point.

Best Time to Go: The best months to hike Roy’s Peak are late spring to ear­ly autumn (Novem­ber – April) when the weath­er is sta­ble and the trail is clear of snow.

Expect­ed Weath­er:

• - Sum­mer (Dec – Feb): Warm (10–25°C / 50–77°F), most­ly dry.

• - Spring/Fall (Sept – Nov, Mar – May): Mild tem­per­a­tures (5–20°C / 41–68°F), some rain.

• - Win­ter (June – Aug): Cold (0–10°C / 32–50°F), poten­tial snow and ice on the trail.

Rec­om­mend­ed Gear:

• - Stur­dy hik­ing boots with good grip

• - Sun pro­tec­tion (hat, sun­glass­es, sun­screen)

• - Warm lay­ers (weath­er changes quick­ly at high ele­va­tion)

• - Plen­ty of water (at least 2 liters) and high-ener­gy snacks

• - A head­lamp if start­ing before sun­rise

• - Cam­era or smart­phone for cap­tur­ing the views

Top Tips for Com­plet­ing the Hike:

• - Start ear­ly to beat the crowds and expe­ri­ence the best sun­rise views.

• - Check the weath­er fore­cast, as con­di­tions can change quick­ly in the moun­tains.

• - Pace yourself—the ascent is long and steep but steady.

• - Respect the environment—stay on the trail and pack out all trash.

• - Avoid win­ter hikes unless expe­ri­enced, as the track can be icy and dan­ger­ous.

5.) The Quiraing (Scotland): A Surreal Highland Landscape

Overview: The Quiraing, locat­ed on the Isle of Skye, is one of Scotland’s most breath­tak­ing and oth­er­world­ly land­scapes. This 6.8‑kilometer (4.2‑mile) loop trail takes hik­ers through an ancient land­slip that has cre­at­ed a sur­re­al, rugged ter­rain of jagged cliffs, tow­er­ing pin­na­cles, and rolling green hills. The unique geo­log­i­cal for­ma­tions, com­bined with sweep­ing views over the Sound of Raasay, make this one of the most icon­ic hikes in Scot­land.

The trail is rel­a­tive­ly mod­er­ate but does include some uneven and mud­dy sec­tions, espe­cial­ly after rain. Hik­ers will encounter famous land­marks such as The Nee­dle, a strik­ing rock pin­na­cle, The Table, a hid­den plateau offer­ing panoram­ic views, and The Prison, a rock for­ma­tion resem­bling an ancient fortress. The ever-chang­ing light and misty atmos­phere add an almost mys­ti­cal feel to this hike, mak­ing it a dream loca­tion for pho­tog­ra­phers and nature lovers alike.

A jour­ney through the Quiraing is like step­ping into a fan­ta­sy world, where dra­mat­ic land­scapes, ancient geol­o­gy, and Scot­tish folk­lore come togeth­er to cre­ate an unfor­get­table hik­ing expe­ri­ence.

Dura­tion: 2.5 – 4 hours, depend­ing on pace and weath­er con­di­tions.

Loca­tion: Isle of Skye, Scot­land.

How to Get There: To reach the start of the Quiraing hike in Scot­land, head to the Isle of Skye, which is acces­si­ble by car via the Skye Bridge from the main­land. Once on the island, dri­ve north toward the vil­lage of Staf­fin, locat­ed on the Trot­ternish Penin­su­la. The Quiraing trail­head is well sign­post­ed and can be accessed by a small park­ing area just off the A855 road. The jour­ney from the Skye Bridge to the start of the hike takes around 45 min­utes to an hour, depend­ing on weath­er and road con­di­tions. It’s advis­able to have a map or GPS device, as the rur­al roads can be wind­ing and nar­row.

Bud­get Esti­mate:

• - Accom­mo­da­tion in Portree: £40 – £150 per night.

• - Car rental: £30 – £70 per day.

• - Bus from Inver­ness to Portree: £15 – £30 one way.

• - Food and sup­plies: £10 – £40 per day.

Best View Spot: The sum­mit near The Table, where hik­ers can take in an expan­sive view of Skye’s dra­mat­ic coast­line and the rolling hills below.

Pho­tog­ra­phy Tips:

• - Vis­it at sun­rise or sun­set for dra­mat­ic light­ing over the rugged land­scape.

• - A wide-angle lens is ide­al for cap­tur­ing the vast, sur­re­al scenery.

• - Moody, misty con­di­tions add to the mys­ti­cal charm of the landscape—don’t be afraid to shoot in over­cast weath­er.

• - Be cau­tious with drone pho­tog­ra­phy, as winds can be strong and unpre­dictable.

Best Time to Go: The best time to hike the Quiraing is from May to Sep­tem­ber, when con­di­tions are dri­er and the skies are often clear­er. Spring and sum­mer offer lush green land­scapes, while autumn brings gold­en hues to the hills.

Expect­ed Weath­er:

• - Spring/Summer (May – Sep­tem­ber): Mild tem­per­a­tures (10–18°C / 50–65°F), with occa­sion­al rain and strong winds.

• - Autumn/Winter (Octo­ber – April): Cold­er (0–10°C / 32–50°F), with fre­quent rain, fog, and pos­si­ble snow at high­er ele­va­tions.

Rec­om­mend­ed Gear:

• - Water­proof hik­ing boots with good grip (trails can be mud­dy).

• - Wind­proof and water­proof jack­et.

• - Warm lay­ers, as Scot­tish weath­er changes quick­ly.

• - Plen­ty of water and ener­gy-rich snacks.

• - A good map or GPS—mist can obscure the trail.

Top Tips for Com­plet­ing the Hike:

• - Start ear­ly to avoid crowds and have the best light­ing for pho­tog­ra­phy.

• - Be pre­pared for sud­den weath­er changes, as fog and rain can roll in quick­ly.

• - Stick to marked trails, as the land­scape can be dis­ori­ent­ing in misty con­di­tions.

• - Check road con­di­tions before visiting—narrow, wind­ing roads lead to the trail­head.

• - Take your time to explore side paths that lead to hid­den view­points and rock for­ma­tions.

6) Sentiero Azzurro (Italy, Cinque Terre): A Coastal Italian Dream

Overview: The Sen­tiero Azzur­ro, or “Blue Trail,” is the most famous hik­ing route in Italy’s pic­turesque Cinque Terre, a UNESCO World Her­itage Site. This scenic trail con­nects five col­or­ful sea­side villages—Monterosso al Mare, Ver­naz­za, Corniglia, Man­aro­la, and Riomaggiore—offering breath­tak­ing views of the Lig­uri­an coast­line.

The hike com­bines charm­ing Ital­ian cul­ture with nat­ur­al beau­ty, pass­ing ter­raced vine­yards, cliff­side paths, and his­toric land­marks. Though parts of the trail can be nar­row and steep, the stun­ning ocean panora­mas and vibrant vil­lages make it one of the most reward­ing hikes in Europe.

Whether you’re an avid hik­er or a casu­al trav­el­er, this icon­ic trek is the per­fect way to expe­ri­ence Cinque Terre’s Mediter­ranean charm.

Dura­tion: 5–6 hours for the full 12 km (7.5‑mile) route, but short­er sec­tions can be done sep­a­rate­ly.

Loca­tion: Cinque Terre, Lig­uria, Italy

How to Get There: Trav­el­ers can fly into Pisa Inter­na­tion­al Air­port (PSA) or Genoa Cristo­foro Colom­bo Air­port (GOA), both of which offer train con­nec­tions to La Spezia, the gate­way to Cinque Terre. From La Spezia, the Cinque Terre Express train runs fre­quent­ly and stops at all five vil­lages. The hike can begin in Mon­terosso al Mare or Riomag­giore, depend­ing on which direc­tion you pre­fer to walk.

Bud­get Esti­mate:

• - Cinque Terre Trekking Card (required for trail access): €7.50 – €14.50 per per­son.

• - Train between vil­lages (if hik­ing only sec­tions): €5 per trip or €18 for a day pass.

• - Accom­mo­da­tion in a Cinque Terre vil­lage: €50 – €200 per night.

• - Meals at local trat­to­rias: €15 – €40 per meal.

Best View Spot: The trail sec­tion between Ver­naz­za and Corniglia offers some of the most spec­tac­u­lar coastal views.

Pho­tog­ra­phy Tips:

• - Cap­ture the col­or­ful vil­lages from high van­tage points along the trail.

• - Use a polar­iz­ing fil­ter to enhance the deep blues of the Lig­uri­an Sea.

• - Sun­set over Man­aro­la cre­ates a post­card-per­fect gold­en glow.

• - Take food pho­tog­ra­phy shots of local dish­es like pesto pas­ta and seafood.

Best Time to Go: Spring (April–June) and Fall (September–October) offer the best weath­er and few­er crowds. July–August can be hot and extreme­ly crowd­ed.

Expect­ed Weath­er:

• - Spring/Summer (April–September): Warm (18–30°C / 64–86°F), sun­ny, with occa­sion­al show­ers.

• - Autumn (October–November): Mild (12–20°C / 54–68°F), with a mix of sun­shine and rain.

• - Win­ter (December–March): Cool­er (5–15°C / 41–59°F), some trails may be closed due to land­slides.

Rec­om­mend­ed Gear:

• - Light­weight hik­ing shoes (some sec­tions are steep and uneven).

• - A hat and sunscreen—shade is min­i­mal.

• - A reusable water bot­tle (fill up at vil­lage foun­tains).

• - A light rain jack­et, espe­cial­ly in spring and fall.

• - Cam­era or smart­phone for stun­ning land­scape shots.

Top Tips for Com­plet­ing the Hike:

• - Start ear­ly to avoid crowds, espe­cial­ly in peak sum­mer months.

• - Book accom­mo­da­tions in advance, as Cinque Terre is a pop­u­lar des­ti­na­tion.

• - Check trail con­di­tions, as some sec­tions close due to ero­sion or main­te­nance.

• - Try local food in each village—fresh seafood and pesto are must-haves.

• - If short on time, hike just the most scenic sec­tions: Ver­naz­za to Corniglia or Man­aro­la to Riomag­giore.

7) The Narrows (USA, Utah): A Slot Canyon Adventure Like No Other

Overview: The Nar­rows in Zion Nation­al Park is one of the most unique and exhil­a­rat­ing hikes in the world. Instead of fol­low­ing a tra­di­tion­al trail, hik­ers wade and some­times swim through the Vir­gin Riv­er, which carves its way through tow­er­ing sand­stone walls that reach up to 1,500 feet (457 meters) high. The expe­ri­ence of walk­ing through the cool water, sur­round­ed by dra­mat­ic rock for­ma­tions, makes this an unfor­get­table jour­ney into one of Utah’s most breath­tak­ing land­scapes.

The hike offers two main options: the Bot­tom-Up route, a short­er and more acces­si­ble round-trip adven­ture from the Tem­ple of Sinawa­va, and the Top-Down route, a chal­leng­ing 16-mile trek requir­ing a per­mit. No mat­ter which path you take, the Nar­rows is a one-of-a-kind expe­ri­ence, blend­ing adven­ture, nat­ur­al beau­ty, and the thrill of hik­ing through water-filled canyons.

Dura­tion: Bot­tom-Up: 4–6 hours (round trip, up to 10 miles).
Top-Down: 10–14 hours or an overnight trip (16 miles one-way, per­mit required).

Loca­tion: Zion Nation­al Park, Utah, USA

How to Get There: The clos­est major air­port is Las Vegas McCar­ran Inter­na­tion­al Air­port (LAS), about a 2.5‑hour dri­ve from Zion Nation­al Park. Alter­na­tive­ly, trav­el­ers can fly into Salt Lake City (SLC), about 4.5 hours away. From Spring­dale, Utah, the park’s shut­tle sys­tem pro­vides access to the Tem­ple of Sinawa­va, the start­ing point for the Bot­tom-Up hike. The Top-Down route begins at Chamberlain’s Ranch, requir­ing a pre-arranged shut­tle or pri­vate trans­port.

Bud­get Esti­mate:

• - Park entrance fee: $35 per vehi­cle (valid for 7 days).

• - Per­mit for Top-Down hike: $15 – $25 per per­son.

• - Gear rental (water shoes, dry pants, walk­ing stick): $30 – $50 per day.

• - Accom­mo­da­tion in Spring­dale: $100 – $300 per night.

Best View Spot: Wall Street, a stun­ning nar­row sec­tion where the canyon walls rise dra­mat­i­cal­ly on both sides, cre­at­ing an awe-inspir­ing slot canyon expe­ri­ence.

Pho­tog­ra­phy Tips:

• - Use a wide-angle lens to cap­ture the immense canyon walls.

• - A water­proof cam­era or phone case is essen­tial for this hike.

• - Shoot dur­ing mid-morn­ing or late after­noon to avoid harsh light­ing.

• - Exper­i­ment with long expo­sure to cre­ate a smooth, flow­ing water effect.

Best Time to Go: Late spring to ear­ly fall (May–October) offers warm tem­per­a­tures and low­er water lev­els, mak­ing for safer and more enjoy­able hik­ing con­di­tions. Avoid mon­soon sea­son (July–September) due to flash flood risks.

Expect­ed Weath­er:

• - Spring/Fall (April–May, Sept–Oct): Mild (15–25°C / 59–77°F), cool­er water tem­per­a­tures.

• - Sum­mer (June–August): Hot (25–35°C / 77–95°F), warm water but high­er flash flood risks.

• - Win­ter (Nov–March): Cold (0–15°C / 32–59°F), few­er crowds, requires dry suits.

Rec­om­mend­ed Gear:

• - Canyon-spe­cif­ic footwear (rent in Spring­dale if need­ed).

• - Neo­prene socks to keep feet warm in cold water.

• - Trekking pole or wood­en walk­ing stick for sta­bil­i­ty.

• - Dry bag for valu­ables and elec­tron­ics.

• - Quick-dry cloth­ing (avoid cot­ton).

• - Plen­ty of water (3 liters min­i­mum) and high-ener­gy snacks.

Top Tips for Com­plet­ing the Hike:

• - Check the weath­er and flash flood warn­ings before starting—conditions can change rapid­ly.

• - Start ear­ly to avoid crowds and max­i­mize day­light.

• - Rent prop­er gear in Spring­dale for com­fort and safe­ty.

• - Pace yourself—hiking through water is more tir­ing than dry trails.

• - If doing the Top-Down route, secure a per­mit in advance and con­sid­er camp­ing overnight.

8.) Table Mountain Hike (South Africa): A Majestic Climb Above Cape Town

Overview: Table Moun­tain is one of the most icon­ic nat­ur­al land­marks in the world, tow­er­ing over Cape Town, South Africa with its dis­tinct flat-topped sil­hou­ette. Hik­ing to the sum­mit offers breath­tak­ing panoram­ic views of the city, coast­line, and the Atlantic Ocean, mak­ing it a must-do adven­ture for nature lovers and out­door enthu­si­asts.

There are mul­ti­ple routes to the top, but the most pop­u­lar and direct trail is Plat­tek­lip Gorge, a steep but reward­ing ascent up the mountain’s rocky face. Oth­er scenic routes, such as Skele­ton Gorge and India Ven­ster, pro­vide more diverse ter­rain, lush veg­e­ta­tion, and unique per­spec­tives of the sur­round­ing land­scape. Once at the sum­mit, vis­i­tors can explore the Table Moun­tain Nation­al Park, take in the stun­ning vis­tas, and descend via the Table Moun­tain Aer­i­al Cable­way for a well-earned rest.

Dura­tion:

• - Plat­tek­lip Gorge: 1.5 – 3 hours (one-way).

• - Skele­ton Gorge: 2.5 – 4 hours (one-way).

• - India Ven­ster: 2 – 4 hours (one-way).

Loca­tion: Cape Town, South Africa

How to Get There: Table Moun­tain is locat­ed with­in Table Moun­tain Nation­al Park, just a 15-minute dri­ve from Cape Town’s city cen­ter. Vis­i­tors can fly into Cape Town Inter­na­tion­al Air­port (CPT) and reach the trail­heads via rental car, Uber, or guid­ed hik­ing tours. The Plat­tek­lip Gorge trail­head starts along Tafel­berg Road, acces­si­ble by car or the City Sight­see­ing bus.

Bud­get Esti­mate:

• - Nation­al Park access: Free

• - Cable­way descent (option­al): $15 – $25 per per­son

• - Trans­port (Uber/taxi from city cen­ter): $5 – $10

• - Guid­ed hike (option­al): $50 – $100 per per­son

Best View Spot: The sum­mit plateau offers 360-degree views over Cape Town, Lion’s Head, Robben Island, and the vast Atlantic Ocean.

Pho­tog­ra­phy Tips:

• - Hike ear­ly morn­ing or late after­noon for the best light­ing and few­er crowds.

• - Use a wide-angle lens to cap­ture the dra­mat­ic cliffs and city below.

• - Cap­ture the famous Table­cloth cloud for­ma­tion if present.

• - Take advan­tage of gold­en hour for stun­ning shots of Cape Town.

Best Time to Go: The best time to hike Table Moun­tain is dur­ing the dry sea­son (Novem­ber – April), when con­di­tions are warm and sta­ble. Avoid hik­ing dur­ing win­ter (June – August) as the trails can be wet and slip­pery.

Expect­ed Weath­er:

• - Sum­mer (Nov–Apr): Warm (20–30°C / 68–86°F), dry with occa­sion­al strong winds.

• - Win­ter (Jun–Aug): Cool (10–18°C / 50–64°F), rainy, with cloud cov­er.

Rec­om­mend­ed Gear:

• - Hik­ing boots with good grip.

• - Plen­ty of water (2–3 liters).

• - Hat, sun­screen, and sun­glass­es (UV can be intense).

• - Wind­proof and water­proof jack­et (weath­er can change rapid­ly).

• - Snacks and ener­gy bars for the ascent.

Top Tips for Com­plet­ing the Hike:

• - Start ear­ly to avoid the heat and crowds.

• - Check weath­er forecasts—strong winds can close the cable­way.

• - Be con­scious of safe­ty at all time, ujn­for­tu­natley South Africa is not safe and tourists are refre­quent­ly targ­ert­ed on the trails. For this rea­son, we strong­ly rec­comend going on an organ­ised tour.

• - Bring plen­ty of water, as the ascent can be demand­ing.

• - Stick to marked trails—some routes have steep drop-offs.

• - Con­sid­er descend­ing by cable car if you’re tired after reach­ing the sum­mit.

9.) Mount Batur Sunrise Trek (Bali, Indonesia): A Volcanic Sunrise Adventure

Overview: The Mount Batur Sun­rise Trek is one of Bali’s most breath­tak­ing adven­tures, offer­ing hik­ers the chance to wit­ness a stun­ning sun­rise from the sum­mit of an active vol­cano. At 1,717 meters (5,633 feet) above sea lev­el, Mount Batur pro­vides panoram­ic views over the caldera, Lake Batur, and Mount Agung, mak­ing it one of the most icon­ic treks in Indone­sia.

This mod­er­ate hike begins in the ear­ly hours of the morn­ing, with head­lamps light­ing the way up the vol­canic slopes. The ascent takes you through rugged ter­rain, but the reward at the top is an unfor­get­table sun­rise as the sky turns shades of gold and pink over the misty val­ley below. Many trekkers also expe­ri­ence geot­her­mal steam vents near the crater, and some guides even cook break­fast eggs using vol­canic heat!

Dura­tion:

• - Ascent: 1.5 – 2 hours

• - Descent: 1.5 hours

• - Total Trekking Time: 3 – 4 hours

Loca­tion: Mount Batur, Kin­ta­mani region, Bali, Indone­sia

How to Get There: Mount Batur is locat­ed in Kin­ta­mani, approx­i­mate­ly 1.5 – 2 hours from Ubud and 2.5 hours from Semi­nyak or Cang­gu. The best way to reach the trail­head is by pri­vate car, scoot­er, or guid­ed tour, as pub­lic trans­porta­tion is lim­it­ed. Most hik­ers book a sun­rise trekking tour, which includes round-trip trans­port from major tourist areas.

Bud­get Esti­mate:

• - Guid­ed Sun­rise Trek (includ­ing trans­port): $30 – $50 per per­son

• - Entrance fee to Mount Batur area: $5 per per­son

• - Option­al hot spring vis­it after hike: $10 – $20

• - Break­fast & cof­fee post-hike: $5 – $15

Best View Spot: The sum­mit view­point pro­vides an epic panora­ma of Lake Batur, Mount Agung, and, on clear days, even Mount Rin­jani on Lom­bok Island.

Pho­tog­ra­phy Tips:

• - Arrive at least 30 min­utes before sun­rise to cap­ture the chang­ing col­ors.

• - Use a tri­pod for stun­ning long-expo­sure sun­rise shots.

• - Cap­ture the steam ris­ing from vol­canic vents for dra­mat­ic pho­tos.

• - Wide-angle shots work best for fram­ing the crater and sur­round­ing moun­tains.

Best Time to Go: The best time to hike Mount Batur is April – Octo­ber (dry sea­son) when the weath­er is clear and the trail con­di­tions are best. Avoid Decem­ber – Feb­ru­ary, as the rainy sea­son can make the trails slip­pery.

Expect­ed Weath­er:

• - Dry sea­son (Apr – Oct): Cool morn­ings (10–15°C / 50–59°F), warm day­time tem­per­a­tures.

• - Rainy sea­son (Nov – Mar): Wet, humid, and poten­tial­ly fog­gy con­di­tions.

Rec­om­mend­ed Gear:

• - Com­fort­able hik­ing shoes (trail can be rocky).

• - Warm lay­ers (tem­per­a­tures are cool at the sum­mit).

• - Head­lamp or flash­light (essen­tial for pre-dawn trekking).

• - Water and snacks (guides usu­al­ly pro­vide break­fast).

• - Cam­era or phone for sun­rise pho­tog­ra­phy.

Top Tips for Com­plet­ing the Hike:

• - Book a guid­ed trek—it’s required for safe­ty and nav­i­ga­tion.

• - Start early—most hikes begin around 2:00 – 3:00 AM.

• - Pace yourself—though not too steep, the trail is rocky.

• - Pack light—bring only essen­tials to make the climb eas­i­er.

• - Enjoy a post-hike soak—the near­by Batur hot springs are per­fect for relax­ing sore mus­cles.

10.) Trolltunga (Norway): A Jaw-Dropping Fjord Viewpoint

Overview: Troll­tun­ga, or the “Troll’s Tongue,” is one of Norway’s most icon­ic and breath­tak­ing hikes. This dra­mat­ic rock for­ma­tion juts out 700 meters (2,296 feet) above Lake Ringedals­vat­net, offer­ing one of the most spec­tac­u­lar pho­to spots in the world. The chal­leng­ing 27-kilo­me­ter (17-mile) round-trip hike takes adven­tur­ers through rugged alpine ter­rain, rocky plateaus, and panoram­ic fjord views, mak­ing it a buck­et-list trek for hik­ers seek­ing an unfor­get­table Nordic adven­ture.

The jour­ney is long and demand­ing, but the sense of accom­plish­ment upon reach­ing Trolltunga’s edge—with its dizzy­ing drop and jaw-drop­ping scenery—is beyond com­pare. For an even more mag­i­cal expe­ri­ence, some hik­ers camp overnight to wit­ness the sun­rise over the fjords.

Dura­tion:

• - Ascent: 4–6 hours

• - Descent: 3–5 hours

• - Total Trekking Time: 8–12 hours

Loca­tion: Troll­tun­ga, Vest­land Coun­ty, Nor­way

How to Get There: Troll­tun­ga is locat­ed near the town of Odda in Vest­land Coun­ty, Nor­way. The near­est major air­port is Bergen Air­port (BGO), about 3–4 hours away by car or bus. From Odda, trav­el­ers can dri­ve or take a shut­tle to the Skjeggedal trail­head, where the hike begins. Park­ing is avail­able at three dif­fer­ent lots, with the high­est one (P3) reduc­ing the hike by about 6 kilo­me­ters round trip (requires advance book­ing).

Bud­get Esti­mate:

• - Park­ing Fees: $20 – $60, depend­ing on park­ing lot.

• - Shut­tle from Odda to trail­head: $10 – $20 round trip.

• - Accom­mo­da­tion in Odda: $50 – $200 per night.

• - Food and sup­plies: $20 – $50 per day.

Best View Spot: The edge of Troll­tun­ga itself is the ulti­mate view­point, offer­ing a dra­mat­ic, unob­struct­ed panora­ma of Ringedals­vat­net Lake and the sur­round­ing moun­tains.

Pho­tog­ra­phy Tips:

• - Arrive ear­ly or late to avoid crowds at the view­point.

• - Use a wide-angle lens to cap­ture the dra­mat­ic drop-off.

• - Be mind­ful of weath­er changes—fog can roll in quick­ly, obscur­ing the view.

• - For unique shots, camp overnight and cap­ture the sun­rise or north­ern lights.

Best Time to Go: The best time to hike Troll­tun­ga is June to Sep­tem­ber when the trail is clear of snow and con­di­tions are safest. Win­ter hikes (Octo­ber – May) require a cer­ti­fied guide due to harsh weath­er and avalanche risks.

Expect­ed Weath­er:

• - Sum­mer (June – Sept): 10–20°C (50–68°F), most­ly dry but unpre­dictable.

• - Fall/Winter (Oct – May): ‑5 to 10°C (23–50°F), snow, ice, and strong winds.

Rec­om­mend­ed Gear:

• - Stur­dy hik­ing boots (essen­tial for rocky ter­rain).

• - Weath­er­proof cloth­ing (lay­ers, water­proof jack­et, gloves).

• - Plen­ty of water and high-ener­gy snacks.

• - Head­lamp if start­ing ear­ly or return­ing late.

• - Cam­era or smart­phone for cap­tur­ing the epic views.

Top Tips for Com­plet­ing the Hike:

• - Start early—expect a 10–12 hour hike round trip.

• - Check the weather—bad con­di­tions can make the trail dan­ger­ous.

• - Bring enough food and water—there are no refill points along the way.

• - Con­sid­er camp­ing to expe­ri­ence sun­rise or the north­ern lights.

• - Book park­ing in advance if using the P3 lot to short­en the trek.

11.) Diamond Head Hike (Hawaii, USA): A Volcanic Crater with a Stunning Ocean View

Overview: The Dia­mond Head Sum­mit Trail is one of Hawaii’s most famous and acces­si­ble hikes, offer­ing panoram­ic views of Waiki­ki, Hon­olu­lu, and the Pacif­ic Ocean. This short but steep 2.9‑kilometer (1.8‑mile) round-trip hike takes vis­i­tors up the rugged slopes of Dia­mond Head Crater, an extinct vol­canic tuff cone formed over 300,000 years ago. Once used as a mil­i­tary look­out, the sum­mit still fea­tures rem­nants of bunkers and obser­va­tion decks.

Though the hike is rel­a­tive­ly short, steep stairs, switch­backs, and tun­nels make it a mod­er­ate chal­lenge, but the reward at the top—a breath­tak­ing 360-degree view of Oahu’s coastline—is well worth the effort.

Dura­tion:

• - Ascent: 30–45 min­utes

• - Descent: 20–30 min­utes

• - Total Trekking Time: 1–1.5 hours

Loca­tion: Dia­mond Head State Mon­u­ment, Oahu, Hawaii, USA

How to Get There: Dia­mond Head is locat­ed just 5 kilo­me­ters (3 miles) from Waiki­ki Beach in Hon­olu­lu. Vis­i­tors can dri­ve, take a bus, or ride a bike to the entrance of Dia­mond Head State Mon­u­ment. If dri­ving, there is a small park­ing lot at the base of the trail. Alter­na­tive­ly, Uber/Lyft or The­Bus (Hawaii’s pub­lic tran­sit) are con­ve­nient options for get­ting to the trail­head.

Bud­get Esti­mate:

• - Entrance Fee: $5 per per­son (reser­va­tion required).

• - Park­ing: $10 per vehi­cle.

• - Trans­porta­tion (bus/Uber from Waiki­ki): $2.75 – $15 one way.

Best View Spot: The sum­mit of Dia­mond Head Crater pro­vides unpar­al­leled views of Waiki­ki Beach, the Hon­olu­lu sky­line, and the deep blue waters of the Pacif­ic Ocean.

Pho­tog­ra­phy Tips:

• - Arrive ear­ly in the morn­ing for the best light­ing and few­er crowds.

• - Use a polar­iz­ing fil­ter to reduce glare from the ocean.

• - Cap­ture the con­trast between the rugged crater and the lush coast­line.

• - If pos­si­ble, vis­it dur­ing sun­rise for an unfor­get­table gold­en-hour shot.

Best Time to Go:

• - Ear­ly morn­ing (before 9 AM) to avoid crowds and heat.

• - Late after­noon can offer stun­ning sun­set views but may be busier.

Expect­ed Weath­er:

• - Warm and sun­ny year-round: 24–30°C (75–86°F).

• - Lit­tle shade on the trail—expect strong sun expo­sure.

Rec­om­mend­ed Gear:

• - Light­weight hik­ing shoes or sneak­ers.

• - Sun­screen, hat, and sun­glass­es (no shade on the trail).

• - Plen­ty of water (it gets hot quick­ly).

• - Cam­era or smart­phone for cap­tur­ing the views.

Top Tips for Com­plet­ing the Hike:

• - Make a reser­va­tion online in advance to secure entry.

• - Go ear­ly to beat the heat and crowds.

• - Bring water—the trail is exposed, and tem­per­a­tures rise quick­ly.

• - Be pre­pared for stairs and tunnels—there are a few nar­row sec­tions.

• - Stay on the des­ig­nat­ed trail to pre­serve the del­i­cate crater ecosys­tem.

12.) Angel’s Landing (USA, Utah): A Thrilling Climb with Breathtaking Canyon Views

Overview: Angel’s Land­ing is one of the most thrilling and icon­ic hikes in the USA, locat­ed in Zion Nation­al Park, Utah. This 8.7‑kilometer (5.4‑mile) round-trip trail is famous for its steep switch­backs, nar­row ridges, and breath­tak­ing views over Zion Canyon. The final sec­tion of the hike is not for the faint of heart, as hik­ers must nav­i­gate a nar­row rock ridge with 1,000-foot drops on either side, using anchored chains for sup­port.

Despite its chal­lenges, the reward is immense—the panoram­ic view from the sum­mit show­cas­es Zion’s deep canyons, tow­er­ing rock for­ma­tions, and wind­ing Vir­gin Riv­er. This buck­et-list hike is a must-do for expe­ri­enced hik­ers seek­ing an unfor­get­table adven­ture.

Dura­tion:

• - Ascent: 2–3 hours

• - Descent: 1.5–2 hours

• - Total Trekking Time: 4–5 hours

Loca­tion: Zion Nation­al Park, Utah, USA

How to Get There: Fly into Las Vegas (LAS) or Salt Lake City (SLC) and dri­ve to Spring­dale, Utah, the gate­way to Zion Nation­al Park. From Spring­dale, take the Zion Canyon Shut­tle (manda­to­ry from March to late Novem­ber) to The Grot­to Trail­head, where the hike begins.

Bud­get Esti­mate:

• - Zion Nation­al Park Entry Fee: $35 per vehi­cle (valid for 7 days).

• - Angel’s Land­ing Per­mit: Required via lot­tery sys­tem ($6 appli­ca­tion fee, $3 per per­son if grant­ed).

• - Shut­tle Ser­vice: Free with park entry.

• - Accom­mo­da­tion in Spring­dale: $80 – $300 per night.

Best View Spot: The sum­mit of Angel’s Land­ing (1,760 meters / 5,790 feet) offers a breath­tak­ing 360-degree view of Zion Canyon, mak­ing it one of the most scenic over­looks in the park.

Pho­tog­ra­phy Tips:

• - Use a wide-angle lens to cap­ture the dra­mat­ic canyon views.

• - Shoot dur­ing sun­rise or late after­noon for the best light­ing.

• - Be mind­ful of the nar­row ridge—safety first!

• - Cap­ture the switch­backs of Walter’s Wig­gles for a dynam­ic trail per­spec­tive.

Best Time to Go:

• - Spring (March-May) and Fall (Sep­tem­ber-Novem­ber) offer cool­er tem­per­a­tures and few­er crowds.

• - Sum­mer (June-August) is extreme­ly hot and crowd­ed.

• - Win­ter (Decem­ber-Feb­ru­ary) is less crowd­ed but may have icy con­di­tions.

Expect­ed Weath­er:

• - Spring/Fall: 10–25°C (50–77°F) with mild con­di­tions.

• - Sum­mer: 30–40°C (86–104°F), mak­ing the hike very stren­u­ous.

• - Win­ter: 0–10°C (32–50°F), with pos­si­ble ice on the chains.

Rec­om­mend­ed Gear:

• - Stur­dy hik­ing shoes with good grip.

• - Plen­ty of water (at least 2–3 liters).

• - Sun pro­tec­tion (hat, sun­screen, sun­glass­es).

• - Gloves with grip for hold­ing onto the chains.

• - Light­weight back­pack for snacks and essen­tials.

Top Tips for Com­plet­ing the Hike:

• - Apply for a per­mit in advance, as access is now lim­it­ed.

• - Start ear­ly to avoid crowds and mid­day heat.

• - Use the chains carefully—hold on tight and take your time.

• - Avoid the hike in wet/icy con­di­tions, as the ridge becomes dan­ger­ous­ly slip­pery.

• - If afraid of heights, reconsider—this hike has extreme drop-offs.

13.) Rim-to-Rim Day Hike (USA, Grand Canyon, Arizona): An Epic Journey Across One of the World’s Natural Wonders

Overview: The Rim-to-Rim Day Hike in Grand Canyon Nation­al Park, Ari­zona, is a gru­el­ing yet breath­tak­ing trek that takes hik­ers from one rim of the Grand Canyon to the oth­er in a sin­gle day. This 24-mile (38.6 km) jour­ney is one of the most chal­leng­ing sin­gle-day hikes in the world, descend­ing over 6,000 feet (1,829 meters) to the Col­orado Riv­er before climb­ing back up the oppo­site rim.

Hik­ers are reward­ed with awe-inspir­ing views of the canyon’s lay­ered rock for­ma­tions, the rush­ing Col­orado Riv­er, and the unique desert ecosys­tem. Com­plet­ing this trek in one day requires excel­lent fit­ness, prop­er prepa­ra­tion, and an ear­ly start, as the canyon’s tem­per­a­tures can soar, espe­cial­ly in sum­mer.

Dura­tion: This chal­leng­ing hike typ­i­cal­ly takes between 10 to 15 hours to com­plete, depend­ing on fit­ness lev­el, weath­er con­di­tions, and pac­ing. The jour­ney from the North Rim to Phan­tom Ranch takes around 4 to 6 hours, while the climb from Phan­tom Ranch to the South Rim can take 6 to 9 hours, depend­ing on breaks and phys­i­cal endurance. Giv­en the long dis­tance and intense ele­va­tion changes, an ear­ly morn­ing start is cru­cial to fin­ish­ing before sun­set.

Loca­tion: Grand Canyon Nation­al Park, Ari­zona, USA

How to Get There: Fly into Phoenix Sky Har­bor Inter­na­tion­al Air­port (PHX) or Las Vegas McCar­ran Inter­na­tion­al Air­port (LAS). From there, rent a car or take a shut­tle to Grand Canyon Nation­al Park. Most hik­ers start from the North Rim and end at the South Rim, where shut­tle ser­vices (such as the Trans-Canyon Shut­tle) are avail­able to return to the start­ing point.

Bud­get Esti­mate:

• - Grand Canyon Entry Fee: $35 per vehi­cle (valid for 7 days).

• - Trans-Canyon Shut­tle: ~$120 per per­son (North to South Rim).

• - Accom­mo­da­tion: $80 – $300 per night near the South or North Rim.

• - Food and Sup­plies: $30 – $60 per day.

Best View Spot: The Bright Angel Trail switch­backs and Plateau Point offer stun­ning panoram­ic views of the canyon and the Col­orado Riv­er below.

Pho­tog­ra­phy Tips:

• - Cap­ture the sun­rise at the North Rim before start­ing.

• - Use a polar­iz­ing fil­ter to reduce glare from the canyon walls.

• - Take shots from the bridges over the Col­orado Riv­er for an epic per­spec­tive.

• - Sun­set at the South Rim makes for a breath­tak­ing finale to the hike.

Best Time to Go: The ide­al sea­sons for this hike are spring (April-May) and fall (Sep­tem­ber-Octo­ber) when tem­per­a­tures are milder and the risk of heat exhaus­tion is low­er. Sum­mer (June-August) should be avoid­ed, as tem­per­a­tures inside the canyon can exceed 45°C (113°F), mak­ing con­di­tions extreme­ly dan­ger­ous. Win­ter (Novem­ber-March) can bring snow and ice on the rims, which may make the descent slip­pery and haz­ardous, though tem­per­a­tures in the low­er canyon remain rel­a­tive­ly mild.

Expect­ed Weath­er:

• - Sum­mer: 38–45°C (100–113°F) in the canyon, cool­er at the rims.

• - Spring/Fall: 10–25°C (50–77°F), ide­al for hik­ing.

• - Win­ter: ‑5 to 10°C (23–50°F) at the rims, but warmer inside the canyon.

Rec­om­mend­ed Gear:

• - Trail run­ning shoes or hik­ing boots with strong grip.

• - At least 4–6 liters of water (hydra­tion packs rec­om­mend­ed).

• - Elec­trolyte tablets to replen­ish lost salts.

• - High-ener­gy snacks and a light meal (pro­tein bars, nuts, jerky).

• - Light­weight, mois­ture-wick­ing cloth­ing and sun pro­tec­tion.

• - Trekking poles for steep ascents and descents.

• - Emer­gency whis­tle and first aid kit for safe­ty.

Top Tips for Com­plet­ing the Hike:

• - Start before sun­rise to max­i­mize day­light and avoid heat.

• - Train for endurance—this hike is long and phys­i­cal­ly demand­ing.

• - Car­ry a water fil­tra­tion sys­tem, as water sources are lim­it­ed.

• - Rest at Phan­tom Ranch and refu­el before the final ascent.

• - Book the Trans-Canyon Shut­tle well in advance.

• - Mon­i­tor the weath­er and be pre­pared for extreme tem­per­a­ture changes.

14.) Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo (Madeira, Portugal): A Dramatic Ridge Walk Above the Clouds

Overview: The Pico do Arieiro to Pico Rui­vo hike is one of the most breath­tak­ing and reward­ing treks in Por­tu­gal, tak­ing hik­ers across Madeira’s high­est peaks through an exhil­a­rat­ing ridge trail. Span­ning approx­i­mate­ly 11 km (7 miles) round trip, this trail show­cas­es dra­mat­ic moun­tain ridges, sheer cliffs, and panoram­ic ocean views, often with a mys­ti­cal lay­er of clouds swirling below.

The trail begins at Pico do Arieiro (1,818 meters / 5,965 feet), the third-high­est peak in Madeira, and fol­lows a rugged but well-main­tained path, lead­ing to Pico Rui­vo (1,862 meters / 6,109 feet), the high­est point on the island. Along the way, hik­ers tra­verse nar­row ridges, dark vol­canic tun­nels, and steep stair­cas­es, mak­ing this a chal­leng­ing yet unfor­get­table adven­ture. The views are par­tic­u­lar­ly stun­ning at sun­rise and sun­set, when the gold­en light bathes the peaks in a mag­i­cal glow.

Dura­tion: The hike typ­i­cal­ly takes 4 to 6 hours round-trip, depend­ing on fit­ness lev­el and weath­er con­di­tions. The ascent from Pico do Arieiro to Pico Rui­vo takes around 2 to 3 hours, while the return jour­ney fol­lows the same route and requires anoth­er 2 to 3 hours.

Loca­tion: Madeira, Por­tu­gal

How to Get There: Fly into Madeira Inter­na­tion­al Air­port (FNC) in Fun­chal, then rent a car or take a tour shut­tle to Pico do Arieiro, which is acces­si­ble via a well-paved road. The trail begins at the Pico do Arieiro view­point, locat­ed about 40 min­utes from Fun­chal by car. If you fin­ish at Acha­da do Teix­eira, a sec­ondary access point near Pico Rui­vo, a taxi or shut­tle can take you back to the start­ing point.

Bud­get Esti­mate:

• - Car rental or shut­tle: €20 – €50 per per­son (round trip).

• - Accom­mo­da­tion in Fun­chal: €40 – €150 per night.

• - Food and sup­plies: €10 – €30 per day.

• - Option­al guid­ed tour: €50 – €100 per per­son.

Best View Spot: The Pico Rui­vo sum­mit offers the most spec­tac­u­lar panoram­ic view of Madeira, with clouds rolling over the moun­tain peaks and the Atlantic Ocean in the back­ground. The Miradouro do Nin­ho da Man­ta view­point, along the trail, is also a stun­ning pho­to spot.

Pho­tog­ra­phy Tips:

• - Arrive ear­ly for sun­rise or stay for sun­set to cap­ture the most mag­i­cal light­ing.

• - Use a wide-angle lens to empha­size the dra­mat­ic ridge­lines.

• - Bring a tri­pod for low-light con­di­tions, espe­cial­ly inside tun­nels.

• - Cap­ture the con­trast between clouds, jagged peaks, and lush green­ery.

Best Time to Go: The best time to hike is from April to Octo­ber, when Madeira expe­ri­ences mild tem­per­a­tures and clear skies. Win­ter (Novem­ber to March) can bring cool­er tem­per­a­tures and occa­sion­al rain, but the trail remains open year-round. Ear­ly morn­ing hikes pro­vide the best chance of clear views before clouds roll in.

Expect­ed Weath­er:

• - Spring/Summer (April – Octo­ber): 10–20°C (50–68°F), mild with some wind.

• - Fall/Winter (Novem­ber – March): 5–15°C (41–59°F), occa­sion­al fog and rain.

• - At high­er ele­va­tions, tem­per­a­tures can drop below 5°C (41°F), espe­cial­ly at sun­rise.

Rec­om­mend­ed Gear:

• - Stur­dy hik­ing boots with good grip for rocky paths.

• - Lay­ered cloth­ing (it can be chilly at the peaks but warm in the sun).

• - Water­proof jack­et, as weath­er can change quick­ly.

• - Head­lamp or flash­light for tun­nels along the route.

• - Plen­ty of water and high-ener­gy snacks.

• - Trekking poles for steep ascents and descents.

Top Tips for Com­plet­ing the Hike:

• - Start ear­ly to avoid crowds and catch the sun­rise at Pico do Arieiro.

• - Check the weath­er forecast—cloud cov­er can obstruct views.

• - Be cau­tious on exposed sections—some parts of the trail have steep drop-offs.

• - Car­ry a flash­light for dark tun­nels along the route.

• - Book a taxi or shut­tle in advance if plan­ning to fin­ish at Acha­da do Teix­eira instead of return­ing to Pico do Arieiro.

15.) Ben Nevis (Scotland): Conquering the UK’s Highest Peak

Overview: Stand­ing at 1,345 meters (4,413 feet), Ben Nevis is the tallest moun­tain in the UK and one of the most pop­u­lar hikes in Scot­land. This chal­leng­ing yet reward­ing 17-kilo­me­ter (10.5‑mile) round-trip trek takes hik­ers through rugged high­land land­scapes, rocky trails, and breath­tak­ing panoram­ic views of the sur­round­ing moun­tains, lochs, and glens.

The most com­mon route to the sum­mit is the Moun­tain Track (also called the Pony Track), a well-trod­den but steep ascent that begins near Glen Nevis Vis­i­tor Cen­tre in Fort William. The trail steadi­ly climbs through grassy slopes, rocky switch­backs, and a dra­mat­ic boul­der-strewn plateau before reach­ing the windswept sum­mit, where ruins of an old obser­va­to­ry and stun­ning views (on a clear day) await. For expe­ri­enced moun­taineers, the Carn Mor Dearg Arête route offers a more tech­ni­cal and thrilling ascent.

Whether you’re an avid hik­er seek­ing a chal­lenge or a first-time moun­tain climber, sum­mit­ing Ben Nevis is an icon­ic achieve­ment and a must-do in Scotland’s leg­endary High­lands.

Dura­tion: The hike typ­i­cal­ly takes 7 to 9 hours round-trip, depend­ing on fit­ness lev­el and weath­er con­di­tions. The ascent usu­al­ly takes 4 to 5 hours, while the descent takes 3 to 4 hours, as the steep and uneven ter­rain requires care­ful foot­ing.

Loca­tion: Fort William, Scot­land, UK

How to Get There: Fly into Glas­gow Inter­na­tion­al Air­port (GLA) or Edin­burgh Air­port (EDI), then take a train, bus, or rental car to Fort William, the gate­way town to Ben Nevis. The trail­head for the Moun­tain Track starts near the Glen Nevis Vis­i­tor Cen­tre, locat­ed about 5 min­utes from Fort William by car or a 30-minute walk. Park­ing is avail­able at the vis­i­tor cen­ter, but it fills up quick­ly dur­ing peak sea­son.

Bud­get Esti­mate:

• - Trans­port (train/bus from Glasgow/Edinburgh): £20 – £50 ($25 – $60) round trip.

• - Accom­mo­da­tion in Fort William: £50 – £200 ($60 – $250) per night.

• - Food and sup­plies: £15 – £40 ($20 – $50) per day.

• - Park­ing at Glen Nevis Vis­i­tor Cen­tre: £7 ($9) per day.

Best View Spot: On a clear day, the sum­mit of Ben Nevis offers spec­tac­u­lar views across the Scot­tish High­lands, the Isle of Skye, and even the Atlantic Ocean. The Halfway Lochan (Lochan Meall an t‑Suidhe), a small moun­tain lake around the halfway point, is anoth­er scenic spot for a rest and stun­ning pho­tos.

Pho­tog­ra­phy Tips:

• - Cap­ture sun­rise or sun­set for gold­en light over the High­lands.

• - Use a wide-angle lens to empha­size the vast, rugged land­scape.

• - Be patient—clouds often clear at the sum­mit for brief, stun­ning vis­tas.

• - Take close-up shots of the old sum­mit obser­va­to­ry ruins for a his­toric touch.

Best Time to Go: The best time to hike Ben Nevis is between May and Sep­tem­ber, when the weath­er is milder and the trail is clear of snow. Out­side of these months, the sum­mit is often cov­ered in snow and ice, requir­ing moun­taineer­ing skills and win­ter gear. Start­ing the hike ear­ly in the morn­ing increas­es the chance of bet­ter vis­i­bil­i­ty and few­er crowds.

Expect­ed Weath­er:

• - Sum­mer (May – Sep­tem­ber): 5–15°C (41–59°F), unpre­dictable but most­ly sta­ble.

• - Autumn (Octo­ber – Novem­ber): 0–10°C (32–50°F), fre­quent rain and wind.

• - Win­ter (Decem­ber – April): ‑10 to 5°C (14–41°F), heavy snow, ice, and strong winds.

Rec­om­mend­ed Gear:

• - Stur­dy, water­proof hik­ing boots with ankle sup­port.

• - Warm, lay­ered cloth­ing (tem­per­a­ture drops sig­nif­i­cant­ly at the sum­mit).

• - Water­proof jack­et and trousers for Scotland’s unpre­dictable rain.

• - Gloves, hat, and buff/scarf to pro­tect against wind­chill.

• - Plen­ty of water (at least 2–3 liters) and high-ener­gy snacks.

• - Trekking poles to help with steep descents.

• - Map, com­pass, or GPS (fog can reduce vis­i­bil­i­ty dras­ti­cal­ly).

Top Tips for Com­plet­ing the Hike:

• - Check the weath­er fore­cast before starting—conditions change rapid­ly.

• - Start ear­ly to allow enough time for the ascent and descent in day­light.

• - Stick to the Moun­tain Track unless you have expe­ri­ence with tech­ni­cal routes.

• - Be pre­pared for sud­den fog and cold tem­per­a­tures, even in sum­mer.

• - Leave no trace—respect the nat­ur­al beau­ty of Ben Nevis.

• - If hik­ing in win­ter, con­sid­er a guide or prop­er moun­taineer­ing equip­ment.

Hap­py One-Day Tramp­ing ! — and enjoy these stun­ning hikes for one of the great­est days of your life !