Top 7 Long-Distance Hiking Trails to Explore
Several new long-distance, multi-day hikes have launched that promise visitors exclusive access to previously inaccessible areas, where virgin landscapes and unique cultures can be discovered. Some trails offer a trek back in time through local history, while others take you through glacier-carved valleys and remote mountain passes, welcoming their first human visitors. Avid hikers seeking bragging rights would be remiss not to consider these seven long-distance hiking trails before word gets out.
1. Juliana Trail
This mountainous Balkan nation of Slovenia debuted the Juliana Trail in October 2019 as an initiative to encourage visitors to explore beyond its capital, Ljubljana, and main tourist town, Bled. Spanning 270 km (168 miles), the trail starts at Kranjska Gora, near the Italian border, and loops around the Julian Alps, passing turquoise rivers and glacial lakes. The path is divided into 16 stages, allowing adventurers to select shorter hikes or tackle the entire trail, with overnight stays in charming alpine villages along the way.
2. Red Sea Mountain Trail
Mainland Egypt’s first long-distance hiking path, the Red Sea Mountain Trail, connects a series of ancient trade routes into a single 170 km (105 miles) circuit, typically completed in 10 days. Local Bedouins of the Maaza tribe initiated this project, which opened to the public in January 2019. Adventurous trekkers will traverse vast plains, explore deep gorges, and summit craggy peaks, visiting remnants of Roman towns and prehistoric rock art. Additionally, smaller circuit trails are available at six hiking hubs along the path.
3. Liechtenstein Trail
Liechtenstein celebrated its 300th birthday in 2019 by creating a 75 km (47-mile) walking path that allows citizens and visitors to explore over three centuries of local history. The Liechtenstein Trail meanders over peaks and through pastures, touching 147 sites across all 11 municipalities of this small German-speaking principality, which is nestled between Austria and Switzerland. This north-south route takes around three days to complete, featuring ascents of up to 2000 m. Additionally, an accompanying history-focused mobile app provides insights as you hike along.
4. Paparoa Track
In December 2019, for the first time in 25 years, the Department of Conservation in New Zealand added a new trail to its Great Walks. The Paparoa Track is a 55 km (34-mile) one-way trail that travels into the rainforests of the South Island near the famous Pancake Rocks, a seaside limestone formation known for its blowholes. This well-designed trail usually takes three days to hike or two days to traverse by mountain bike, with two mountain huts available for overnight stays. Along the route, you will encounter moss-covered river gorges and hilltop lookouts offering expansive views of the stunning Tasman Sea.
5. Coast to Coast Trail
The bustling city-state of Singapore highlights its green spaces along the 36 km (22-mile) Coast to Coast Trail, which was launched in April 2019. This scenic route stretches from Jurong Lake Gardens in the west to Coney Island Park in the northeast, connecting urban green areas such as Bukit Batok Nature Park and Singapore Botanic Gardens along the way. As you hike, take advantage of the trail’s mobile app to enhance your outdoor experience with augmented reality features.
6. Great Trail
Years in the making, the Great Trail became the largest recreational path in the world upon its completion in 2017, spanning 24,000 km (14,912 miles). This major hiking route reflects the vastness of the Canadian landscape while showcasing the diversity of its population. It traverses 13 provinces and territories, from the picturesque lighthouses of Nova Scotia to the expansive wildlands of the Yukon Territory. Hiking just from east (St. John’s) to west (Victoria) would take approximately two years!
7. Transcaucasian Trail
Spanning 3000 km (1865 miles), the Transcaucasian Trail will, once completed, connect the Greater and Lesser Caucasus Mountains, uniting one of the world’s most biologically and culturally diverse regions. Many sections have just opened in Svaneti, Georgia (approximately 10 days), and in Armenia’s Dilijan National Park, Gegham Mountains, and Vayots Dzor, offering hikers unique experiences over varying durations. Volunteers can also participate in trail construction programs during the summer months, contributing to this ambitious project.
