8 World's Best Trekking Destinations to Put on Your Bucket List

Trekking is an excellent way to experience the beauty and splendour of the natural world as well as test your stamina and push your personal limits. It also opens up the most secluded corners of Earth for so many curious travellers. So, if you’re done exploring your local environments, it is high time to take your trekking experience to the next level!

Below, you will find a list of the world’s best trekking destinations you cannot miss. They range from the Annapurna Sanctuary trip in Nepal and Routeburn in New Zealand to the Inca Trail in Peru and the Snowman Trek in Bhutan, among others. Check them out and plan your next adventure!

The Annapurna Circuit is a 10-day trek through the breathtaking Annapurna mountain range in Central Nepal, regarded as one of the most popular treks on Earth. The route traverses the rugged Himalayas and passes through some of the most remote areas of Nepal. It goes through dense forests, river crossings, and picturesque villages, and it offers magnificent views of snow-capped peaks, towering cliffs, and gurgling rivers.

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The Inca Trail is a trail in Peru which main purpose is to connect the ancient city of Cusco with the Sanctuary of Machu Picchu. It was constructed by the Inca civilisation and used for religious ceremonies prior to the arrival of Spanish conquistadors in 1532. It is lined with impressive stone ruins and structures built by the Inca, including many that were previously unknown. The trail passes through varied terrain, ranging from dense cloud forest to high mountain passes and picturesque villages.

The Routeburn Track is located in New Zealand’s South Island. It runs through the Routeburn Valley, a glacial valley surrounded by mountains and crossed by a crystal-clear river. The track boasts four kinds of landscape: alpine scrublands, subalpine forest, alpine herb fields, and clear-water lakes. It is one of New Zealand’s Great Walks and was added to the list in 1991. It traverses alpine meadows, scenic ponds, and rolling hills crossed by rushing waterfalls. There are also many see-worthy sights along the way, such as spectacular waterfalls and glacial valleys.

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The Snowman Trek is an 11-day trek in Bhutan that takes you through one of the most remote and least-visited areas in the kingdom – the Bumthang Valley. The trek crosses high passes with dramatic views of green valleys and snow-capped peaks across them. The trek starts on the outskirts of Bumthang town and follows several traditional routes to reach the Snowman Mountain Range where you can go horse riding. Along the way are distinctive traditional farmhouses called Gomdens where you can try local food and learn about local culture.

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The Everest Base Camp Trek is a trek in Nepal that leads to the base camp of Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak. The trek runs across the Khumbu region in Nepal, renowned for its natural beauty and cultural heritage. It becomes more difficult as it approaches higher elevations; there are steep ascents and descents along the way and you have to be prepared for chilly weather conditions at night.

The trek typically takes two weeks and passes through quaint villages with colourful prayer flags hanging from roofs and walls. During the trail, you will encounter many spectacular landscapes, including snowy mountains, lush forests, gurgling rivers, mountainside villages, terraced fields planted with barley, apple trees, juniper trees, chir pine trees, oak trees medicinal plants such as aloe vera – all surrounded by breathtaking mountains at every turn!

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The Icefields Parkway is a road in Alberta that runs between Banff National Park and Jasper National Park in western Canada. The route passes through two mountain ranges – the Canadian Rockies and Columbia Mountains – and offers travellers access to several lakes, glaciers, waterfalls, hot springs, wildlife reserves, hiking trails, camping sites, ski resorts, ice caves - everything you need to enjoy the best of what nature has to offer.

The route connects Lake Louise with Jasper via a series of five mountain passes with incredible views of glaciers as well as glaciers themselves. Winter travellers can enjoy cross-country skiing or snowboarding on one side of the road while summer visitors can enjoy hiking on another side of the road.

The Coastal Walkway is a track in New Zealand that traverses the entire length of the country’s south island between Kaikoura in Marlborough and Christchurch in Canterbury along its coastline. It is divided into sections that each lead to a particular destination. The walkway is made up of boardwalks leading through coastal forests and past native birds and wildlife that are found along this sea route. It also provides spectacular views of caves carved into headlands by waves crashing against them combined with those from mountains on clear days at sunrise or sunset. This walkway will take you past some of the best coastal scenery New Zealand has to offer!

The West Highland Way is a walking trail in Scotland that runs on the West Coast of Scotland for 96 miles (154 km). The path begins in Milngavie near Glasgow on its eastern end and ends in Fort William on its western end. It crosses:

• Eight munros (Scottish mountains over 3,000 ft/914 m high)

• Numerous lochs (Lake of Menteith, Loch Lomond and Loch Leven)

• Seven rivers (Clyde, Kelvin Rivers; Falls of Clyde; Lussa; Leven; Ericht; Bruar; Tummel)

• Several forest parks (Finnich Glen; Strathfillan; Ben Alder Forest)

• Numerous glens (Glen Lussa; Glen Strathfarn; Glen Gyle)

• Several passes (Kilmahog Pass; Ben Lomond Pass).

The trail offers a variety of paths to choose from, so you can pick the one that suits your stamina level best.

Trekking is a unique way to explore the natural world and escape the daily grind. Trekking means you have to have your gear with you all the time, so it’s best to prepare your backpack before you head out. The backpacks are designed to be comfortable and tough for long-lasting use. Save these top destinations for your next holiday, and remember to thoroughly prepare yourself physically for a long trip that you will never forget.