The world’s best multi day hikes: an introduction

A couple of years ago I wrote this article with the 10 best multi day hikes in the world. It has been online for almost six years now and up until now, it’s one of my most read articles. By now I have moved around the world quite a bit more and added a few more great hikes to the list.



So here is my top 24 of the best multi day treks in the world that everyone should make. All hiked and experienced, mostly in full and sometimes in parts only by yours truly. Some I hiked even more than once. Enjoy this article with the best multiday hikes in the world.



I’ve decided to mention the treks by region so the order below is definitely not the order in which they are my favorite. However … if you continue reading you will find out which one is my absolute favorite trek in the world!



Note that I wrote this article for the first time in 2014 and fully updated it in February 2020





The best multi day hikes in Europe

I did most of the multiday hikes in the Netherlands (my homecountry) and in Europe. When I started hiking in 2004, I had never thought that there would be so many hiking trails in Europe. Although I have done countless trips in the Netherlands, I have not mentioned them all, but only two of my favorites. The list would otherwise be endless as you can easily walk all your life in Europe and not hit a trail twice. Here are my favorite hikes in Europe:



Pieterpad, The Netherlands

I walked various long distance hikes in The Netherlands here but the Pieterpad (Path of St. Peter) is the best one you can do. There is a lot of variety in the landscape and it’s easy to hike from town to town, so you can either do it in one go or like I did, in a couple of years. The parts near Limburg and Salland were definitely my favorites!



Duration: about 26 days

Length: 492 km

Difficulty: easy

Best time of the the year to hike it: year round

Departs from: you can start walking anywhere

Where to get supplies: in nearly every village you will walk through







Krijtlandpad, The Netherlands

My other favorite hike in the Netherlands is the Krijtlandpad in the province of South Limburg. I walked this 90-kilometer trek on two weekends and I thought it was a wonderful trip to practice for more serious work in alpine terrain. The rolling landscapes, marl plateau and the charming Limburg villages really made it a perfect hike in my own country.



Duration: approx. 6 days

Length: 90 km

Difficulty: easy

Departure: Maastricht or Vaals

Where to get supplies: in Maastricht, Vaals, Eupen and Gulpen





Lee Trail, Luxemburg

The Lee Trail in Luxembourg is one of the best 3 day hikes that makes the calves burn considerably and is certainly not suitable for unexperienced hikers. I recently hiked the Lee Trail with a full pack and I can tell you that it was pretty tough for someone who lives in a flat country. The trail runs from Ettelbrück to Kautenbach and a train connects the beginning with the end. On the way you can camp or sleep in hotels and the altitude gain per day varies between 500 and 800 meters. One of the best views you have from the Gringlee (473 m.) Deep into the valley, at the end of day 1 just before the descent. Although the trail is not very technical, there are some steep parts in it that require the necessary effort and attention.



Duration: 3 days

Length: 53 km

Difficulty: medium

Departure: Ettelbrück or Kautenbach

Where to get supplies: only in Ettelbrück





Mullerthal Trail, Luxembourg

A more famous multi-day hiking tour in Luxembourg is the Mullerthal Trail. This trail is in my opinion one of the most beautiful trails in Europe and offers the necessary challenge for both novice and more advanced hikers. It consists of 6 stages in 3 loops that are all between 15 and 25 kilometers. The Mullerthal is also called the Switzerland of Luxembourg (or Little Switzerland) and is made by bizarre rock formations, splashing streams and deep fairytale like forests.



Duration: 6 days

Length: 112 km

Difficulty: medium

Departure: From Echternach, Mullerthal or Larochette

Where to get supplies: in Echternach or Larochette



Read more:

– Hiking the Mullerthal Trail in Luxembourg





Berliner Höhenweg, Austria

WOW! That was the feeling I got when I hiked the first day of the Berliner Höhenweg in Austria. I steadily hiked up to my first overnight stay and within a couple of hours I was right in the heart of the Zillertaler Alps. From here onwards the hike is just stunning. You take old cattle trails which can be extremely narrow, the drop offs are big and so there is no space for fear of heights. It’s incredibly gorgeous though, you will love the glaciers and the mountain peaks surrounding you! It’s an alpine hike exactly the way an alpine hike should be!



Duration: between 2-7 days

Length: 70 km

Difficulty: strenuous

Best time of the the year to hike it: July, August, early September

Departs from: Finkenberg (near Mayrhofen)

Where to get supplies: you can buy meals in the mountain huts







Alpe Adria Trail – Austria, Slovenia and Italy

According to National Geographic, the Alpe Adria Trail is one of the most beautiful long-distance walks in Europe. This 750 kilometer long trek is a gem among the multiday treks in Europe and still relatively unknown, so you will not come across many hikers. The trail starts at the foot of the Grossglockner (Alpe) and ends at the Adriatic Sea (Adria) and takes you through Carinthia in Austria, Italy and Slovenia. I hiked three sections in Austria and one section in Slovenia. It’s good to know that you can walk from hotel to hotel, there are only a few mountain huts on the way and camping is limited.



Duration: 43 days

Length: 750 km

Gravity: medium

Departure: Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe, Carinthia



Want to read more? Then check this page with all my Alpe Adria Trail blogs.





Rothaarsteig, Germany

Lets move on to Germany, where they might actually have the most multi day hikes in Europe. I hiked countless of them (mostly part of it because they are often hundreds of kilometers) and one of my favorites is the Rothaarsteig. This is just a few hours’ drive from the Netherlands in the Rothaargebirge, of which the more often called Sauerland is a part. I have walked about two-thirds of the trail in the past, I hope to do the rest in the future. The trail combines busy places like Willingen but also quiet villages that are almost empty.



Duration: approx. 12 days

Length: 155 km

Difficulty: medium

Departure: Brilon

Where to buy supplies: possible in the larger towns along the way





Albsteig Schwarzwald

Very recently (May 2019) I walked two-thirds of the Albsteig Schwarzwald in the Black Forest. What a special hike this is! This medium-length hiking trail leads you through the hills of the southern German landscape along waterfalls, over narrow mountain paths and crystal clear lakes. In the spring you can still have a chance of snow at Feldberg, the winter sports resort of southern Germany. There was still snow when I got to the summit mid-May.



Duration: 7 days

Length: 83 km

Gravity: medium

Departure: Albbruck

Where to buy supplies: en route in Görwihl and St. Blasien



Also read:

– Hiking in the Black Forest in Germany





Laugavegur, Iceland

Time to move onto the more northerly destinations, my favorite places in the world. Just a 3-hour flight from mainland Europe you will find an unprecedented wilderness in the area that is also called “land of fire and ice”. I’m of course talking about Iceland, undoubtedly known for the recent volcanic eruptions. The Laugavegur is located in the southern interior of Iceland: a beautiful 3- to 4-day hike. The hike starts at the rhyolite mountains of Landmannalaugar and takes you over high peaks and deep valleys to the green Thórsmörk, overlooking the famous Eyjafjallajökull volcano. Along the way you will come across hot springs, glaciers and wild swirling rivers. I think that, even though I did this trip about 10 years ago, it is still the most beautiful hikethat I have ever done. I’ve returned to Iceland many times ever since and would love to hike this trail again one day.



Duration: 3-4 days

Distance: 55 km

Difficulty: medium, in poor weather strenuous

Best time of the the year to hike it: July and August

Departs from: from Landmannalaugar, which can be reached by bus from Reykjavík

Where to get supplies: only in Landmannalaugar or Thórsmörk



Want to read more?

– Hiking the Laugavegur in Iceland: a day to day description

– Adventure and solo hiking in Landmannalaugar, Iceland







Kungsleden, Sweden

Last summer I hiked various sections of the Kungsleden (the King’s Trail) in Sweden with my partner. This legendary trek in Sweden is 425 kilometers long and takes you through Lapland, from Abisko National Park in the north to Hemavan in the south. The upper part is the best accessible and therefore also the busiest. We therefore walked two different sections from the south: Hemavan – Ammarnäs (tip: get dropped off by helicopter!) and Kvikjokk – Saltoluokta. You also have to cross a number of lakes on this last leg, possibly by rowing boat. The great thing about the Kungsleden is that you can camp anywhere, this ensures that you stay overnight at particularly beautiful locations. I can’t wait to ever walk the rest of this hike hopefully this summer again.



Duration: approx. 30 days

Length: 425 km

Difficulty: medium

Departure: Abisko (north) or Hemavan (south), possibly half way in Kvikkjokk or Saltoluokta



Read more about the Kungsleden section from Ammarnäs to Hemavan here and also check the video below:







Aurlandsdalen, Norway

There are plenty of multi day hikes in Norway and Aurlandsdalen is one of the lesser known ones. This two-day hike takes you through what’s also called ‘the Grand Canyon of Norway’ and is quite different from the fjord hikes that are usually mentioned when you talk about hiking in Norway. Because I was traveling early in the season, I only walked day two of this trail, from Østerbø to Vassbygdi.



Duration: 2 days

Length: 40 km

Difficulty: medium

Departure: Geiteryggen

Where to buy supplies: none





Glen Affric, Scotland

An unknown and not too heavy two-day trek that you can make in Scotland is this to Glen Affric Youth Hostel. This inn is at least a four-hour walk from civilization and is a great base for a trip through one of the most beautiful glens in Scotland. This two-day walk is part of The Affric Kintail Way and the Great Glen Way. Book your overnight stay in advance, the hostel is always fully booked. There are several approach routes, I parked in Morvich and walked up and down from here to the hostel.



Duration: 2 days

Length: 30 km

Gravity: medium

Departure: Morvich

Where to buy supplies: limited at the hostel



Also read: the best hikes in Scotland





Most beautiful multi day hikes in Asia

To be honest, I am not a huge Asia fan. At least, it is not on my number 1 list of must-sees. Except Nepal, because Nepal is really a great place for a multi day hike. I have traveled to Asia six times in recent years and made a trek five times, three of which I share in this article. Here they are:



Mount Rinjani, Indonesia

Mount Rinjani is an active volcano on Lombok that you can climb with a guide. Due to the earthquake in 2018, the trek is currently partially closed, but recently the summit tour opened again and the route to the top was possible again. I walked a three-day version myself: from Sembalun to the crater rim, via the summit to Senaru Rim and from the Rim back to Senaru. This hike is certainly one of the toughest I have ever walked (especially day two) and it is certainly not for the unfit ones.



Duration: 2 or 3 days

Length: depending on the opening possibilities

Difficulty: hard

Departure: Sembalun

Where to buy supplies: guides carry your food (independent trekking is prohibited!)



I often receive questions about which organization I went with: I booked with Rinjani Trekking Club, one of the most reliable organizations.



Read more:

– Climbing Mount Rinjani: from hell to heaven and back





Everest Base Camp Trek via Gokyo, Nepal

Mount Everest Base Camp Trek is definitely high on the list, but just the one that will lead you through Gokyo. This version will take you about 3-4 days longer than the regular Mount Everest Base Camp trek, but it’s well worth it, so make sure you have enough time. Not only will you sleep under the wings of Cho Oyu but also you can see the famous emerald colored Gokyo Lakes and you can climb Gokyo Ri, in case the weather allows it. The climb across Cho La Pass is difficult and not for the faint hearted but trust me, when I can do it, you can!



Duration: 15 days

Length: 220 km

Difficulty: demanding, mostly because of the altitude

Best time of the the year to hike it: October, November, March and April

Departs from: from Lukla, you will fly here from Kathmandu

Where to get supplies: in tea houses along the way you can buy anything you may need



Want to read more?

– Things that nobody tells you about hiking to Everest Base Camp

– Nepal: a head filled with emotions, to Everest Base Camp and back

– Everest Base Camp trek: the movie

– How to survive to flight to Lukla, your starting point of EBC trek





Annapurna Base Camp Trek, Nepal

The other Base Camp trek in Nepal that I did is Annapurna Base Camp trek, or Annapurna Sanctuary. This trek is considerably shorter than EBC and a good multi-day walk in the Himalayas for beginners. You walk through the famous Poon Hill in about a week to Annapurna Base Camp, where I spent the night. Due to hard winters I’m unsure if it’s currently possible to spend the night in Annapurna Base Camp at the moment, or if you’ll have to stay in Machhapuchare Base Camp a few hours away, but once booking you will be advised about the best options.



Duration: 7-10 days

Spring: approx. 110 km (depending on the final route)

Difficulty: medium

Departure: from Pokhara

Provisioning: everything you need is available in teahouses en route



Also read:

– Trek to Annapurna Base Camp: all you need to know

– Which trek to choose: Annapurna Base Camp or Everest Base Camp





The most beautiful multi-day hikes in South America

South America is big. Very big! I did several multi-day hikes there and in this section of the most beautiful multi-day hikes in the world I share three different hikes in three countries with you!



9. The Inca Trail, Peru

It’s crowded yet it’s one of those things you will have to do when in Peru: hike the Inca Trail. It was my first ever big trek and I loved every bit of it. The moment you arrive at the Sun Gate and see the sun rise over Machu Picchu is one I will never forget. If anyone ever tells you not to do it and that alternative tours are better, I can say NO WAY!



Duration: 4 days

Length: 43 km

Difficulty: medium – strenuous beause of the altitude

Best time of the the year to hike it: May until October

Departs from: Ollyantaytambo or Cusco

Where to get supplies: meals are included, you will have to bring your own snacks



Want to read more?

– The road to Machu Picchu

– The Inca Trail – can you do it?





5. W-trek, Torres del Paine, Chile

This was a trek I have some bad memories from. My former partner and me both got sick and once we got out of the park, I got a message that I needed to call home immediately. The trek is stunning though and when I recently wrote a post about it, I recalled the pure beauty of this part of Patagonia. In five days you hike from spectacular rock formations to lakes filled with icebergs and across scary swing bridges. If you ever make it to this part of the world, make sure to do the W-trek, it’s one of the best 5 day hiking trails in the world for sure! Note: you MUST book the huts and campsites well ahead as this trail has become incredibly popular over the past years and accommodation sells out fast each season.



Duration: 4-5 days

Length: 70 km

Difficulty: easy-medium

Best time of the the year to hike it: November until April

Departs from: Torres del Paine NP

Where to get supplies: you can buy meals in the refugios or bring your own in case you are camping



Want to read more?

– All you want to know about hiking the W-trek in Patagonia

– Travel tips for Torres del Paine National Park





Cerro Tronador, Argentina

This isn’t really a multi day trek but because the final destination is just super stunning, I wanted to add it to the list anyway. You will be trekking to Refugio Otto Meiling, located in the area around Cerro Tronador in Argentinean Patagonia. It’s not a very hard trek and the way up is the same as the way down but man, it’s so gorgeous. Especially when you get above the tree line and you are surrounded by glaciers! When the last rays of sun light up the ice at night, you know for sure you have reached a very special place!



Duration: 2 days

Length: 28 km

Difficulty: medium

Best time of the the year to hike it: December until March

Departs from: by bus from Bariloche or from Pampa Linda if you have your own vehicle

Where to get supplies: you can eat in the refugio



Want to read more?

– Hiking to Refugio Otto Meiling

– Patagonia Roadtrip: the way to Pampa Linda and the Black Glacier









The best multi-day hikes in Oceania

I’ll end this article with Australia and my most favorite country in the world: New Zealand. The latter is really the ultimate destination when you enjoy hiking (or tramping as they call it there) and I have therefore selected four different hikes for you. Plus one in Tasmania, also a top hiking destination!



The Overland Track, Tasmania

The Overland Track in Tasmania is one of the most famous multi day hiking trails in Australia. It has become rather famous as it has been raved about by Cheryl Staryed and guess what… I had poor weather nearly every day! There’s obviously nothing you can do about that but it does influence your opinion about the track. Still I had an awesome time and I would not have want to have missed it. If you are ever in Tasmania, make sure to make this trek a priority! It’s by far one of the best week long hikes in the world!



Duration: 6 days

Length: 65 km

Difficulty: medium

Best time of the the year to hike it: November until April

Departs from: Cradle Mountain National Park

Where to get supplies: you will carry everything yourself



Want to read more?

– Hiking the Overland Track in Tasmania, a complete guide

– The best hikes in Tasmania





The Routeburn Track, New Zealand

The most beautiful multi-day trek in New Zealand is without a doubt the Routeburn Track. I did it twice, for the first time in 2011 and most recently in 2018. You take three days to hike it, from the mountainous Mount Aspiring National Park to the wet and green Fiordland National Park. It is a highly sought-after trek that is normally fully booked almost a year in advance, so making reservations in time is a must. You can do this on the Department of Conservation website.



Duration: 3 days

Length: 32 km

Weight: medium

Departure: from Queenstown or The Divide

Provisioning: none, you take everything yourself



Read more:

– The Routeburn Track from day to day





Kepler Track, New Zealand

Out of the ten Great Walks in New Zealand, I have walked six. It’s hard to decide which was the best because all of them I did were stunning, yet the Kepler Track was the most memorable. Why? Day two is a ridge walk that leads you across the peaks of the Kepler Mountains with the most stunning 360 degree panoramas. Even though you are just a one day walk away from the rest of the world, it feels like there is no end to the views and that you are really far away from any means of civilization. Tip: you must book all huts ahead because it’s a very popular trek.



Duration: 4 days

Length: 60 km

Difficulty: day 1-2 medium, day 3-4 easy

Best time of the the year to hike it: November until April

Departs from: Te Anau

Where to get supplies: you bring all your food



Want to read more?

– Hiking the Kepler Track in New Zealand

– The ultimate New Zealand itinerary for outdoor fans

– The best hikes in New Zealand







Angelus Hut hike, New Zealand

For those who want to escape the business of the Great Walks and want to hike a relatively unknown but demanding trek, I can recommend the hike to Angelus Hut. This two or three tramping track through Nelson Lakes National Park is a real adventure that takes you over boulder fields, along deep cliffs and above bright blue lakes. The Angelus Hut must be booked in advance, but not a year in advance like the previously mentioned treks.



Duration: 2 or 3 days

Length: 26 km (2 days) or slightly longer when you walk through Bushline Hut

Difficulty: demanding

Departure: from St. Arnaud

Provisioning: only in St. Arnaud (very limited) or else from Nelson



Read more:

– Angelus Hut hike: the most beautiful mountain hut in New Zealand





Greenstone Caples Track, New Zealand

And last but not least: another unknown hike in New Zealand: the Greenstone & Caples Track. This quiet trail is located one valley south of the Routeburn Track and is therefore a great alternative if it is fully booked. The cabins are not bookable (“first come, first serve”) and when I walked it turned out that it was not necessary because the trail is not hiked a lot. You can also connect it to the Routeburn Track or other hiking trails in the same region.



Duration: 4 days

Length: 59 km

Difficulty: medium

Departure: Greenstone Road End

Provisioning: limited in Glenorchy, otherwise in Queenstown, not along the way



Read more:

– Trekking on the Greenstone Caples Track in New Zealand



Conclusion

So, that’s my list of 24 top multi day hikes in the world. Looking back at it, I have done some seriously good hiking over the past years. Many haven’t even made the list. How do you like our list of best multi day hikes? Which one should we go on next? I hope that you enjoyed our list of best trekkings in the world and feel free to drop your questions and comments below!

