So far, I’ve done about thirty day hikes in Australia and the U.S. combined, and one long-distance hike in England. It’s fair to say that, besides cycling, hiking is my favorite outdoor activity.
As I’m sitting on this chair amid a snowy Vermont landscape, my mind wanders and I daydream about new adventures, beckoning mountains and distant landscapes. I just finished the excellent book ‘The Last Englishman‘, in which Keith Foskett recounts his 2,650-mile hiking adventure on the Pacific Crest Trail. Seriously, it’s a fantastic adventure book.
Although I probably will never attempt a walk of such a distance, there are several others – fifteen to be precise – that I do consider walking at some point.
The long-distance hikes below range from a couple of days to maximum one month, which is the most practical and realistic time frame for me personally. Just to clarify before you start reading: I consider a hike to be long-distance if it requires more than one full day to complete.
Contents
15 Long-Distance Hikes that Take Less than One Month
Africa
Kilimanjaro Summit
Location: Tanzania
Distance: 30-55 miles (45-85 km)
Time: 6-9 days
Features: Mount Kilimanjaro, the Serengeti, elephants and giraffes, savannah and snow
Asia
Annapurna Circuit
Location: Nepal
Distance: 100-145 miles (160-230 km)
Time: 17-21 days
Features: Teahouses, local people, the Himalayas, hot springs, yaks and mountain passes
Everest Base Camp
Location: Nepal
Distance: 38 miles (62 km)
Time: 10-14 days
Features: Sherpa culture, monasteries, Mount Everest and the Himalayas
Europe
Camino de Santiago
Location: Spain
Distance: 500 miles (800 km)
Time: 30-35 days
Features: Pilgrim hostels, the towns of Pamplona, Burgos and Leon, sunflower fields and, of course, Santiago de Compostela itself
Laugavegur Trek
Location: Iceland
Distance: 34 miles (55 km)
Time: 4 days
Features: Large glaciers, thundering waterfalls, thermal pools, colorful mountains and volcanic ash
Tour du Mont Blanc
Location: France, Italy and Switzerland
Distance: 105 miles (170 km)
Time: 10 days
Features: Mont Blanc, alpine fields, valleys and peaks, and three countries
West Highland Way
Location: Scotland
Distance: 96 miles (155 km)
Time: 7 days
Features: Glasgow, Loch Lomond, the Highlands, glens and moors, and Ben Nevis
Kungsleden
Location: Sweden
Distance: 270 miles (440 km)
Time: 25 days
Features: Swedish Lapland, expansive landscapes, mountains, majestic valleys, the midnight sun and Arctic wilderness
North America
John Muir Trail
Location: California, USA
Distance: 211 miles (340 km)
Time: 20-25 days
Features: Ansel Adams Wilderness, Mount Whitney, wildlife, Sequoia National Park, King’s Canyon National Park and, last but not least, Yosemite National Park
Presidential Traverse
Location: New Hampshire, USA
Distance: 25 miles (40 km)
Time: 2-3 days
Features: Ten summits in the White Mountains, tough weather, barren landscapes and jaw-dropping views
Long Trail
Location: Vermont, USA
Distance: 273 miles (440 km)
Time: 25-30 days
Features: The Green Mountains, America’s oldest long-distance trail, mountain huts and wilderness
Further Reading: Long-Distance Hikes in the USA Shorter Than 1,000 Miles
Oceania
Milford Track
Location: New Zealand
Distance: 33 miles (54 km)
Time: 4 days
Features: Lush rainforest, waterfalls, rugged mountain peaks, glacier valleys and Milford Sound
Overland Track
Location: Tasmania, Australia
Distance: 40 miles (65 km)
Time: 6 days
Features: Cradle Mountain, moorlands, eucalypt forests, Tasmanian wilderness and Lake St Clair
South America
Inca Trail
Location: Peru
Distance: 26 miles (42 km)
Time: 4 days
Features: The breathtaking Andes Mountains, old Inca paths, magnificent vistas and sunrise over Machu Picchu
Torres del Paine Circuit
Location: Chile
Distance: 75 miles (120 km)
Time: 8-10 days
Features: Glaciers, towering granite mountains, still lakes, Patagonia, wildflowers and the occasional puma
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Have you ever done any of these long-distance hikes of less than one month? Are there some that you’d like to add to this list?
Stefano
Sunday 18th of June 2017
NZ is overrated and the people are rude and unfriendly. I would never visit again!
Bram Reusen
Sunday 18th of June 2017
You're honestly the first person ever to tell me that New Zealanders are unfriendly. Why do you think New Zealand is overrated? I'd love to hear your thoughts behind that claim.
Mia Gordon
Wednesday 17th of August 2016
New Zealand is an amazing place to hike, glad you've visited Milford Sound - one of the many picturesque spots in New Zealand. I wrote a free ebook called New Zealand's Best Walking Trails: 9 Great Walks & The Best Time To Walk Them about the other renowned walks in New Zealand :-)
Karen Warren
Thursday 18th of December 2014
I've done a few long distance paths in England and one in Iceland - they're a wonderful way to see any country. Next on my list is the Hadrian's Wall Path but I'm also very tempted by the Camino de Santiago.
Bram Reusen
Thursday 18th of December 2014
Yeah, I think the Camino de Santiago is next on my list, or the Presidential Traverse. I did the Hadrian's Wall Path a couple of year ago and absolutely loved it. :-)
Patti
Tuesday 16th of December 2014
We're going to walk the Camino de Santiago in April/May!
Hannah
Thursday 18th of December 2014
Finished the Camino with my roommate this summer on July 8th! Started in Saint Jean Pied de Port. It was an amazing experience. Buen Camino!
Bram Reusen
Wednesday 17th of December 2014
Awesome! I'm so jealous!
Leigh
Tuesday 16th of December 2014
The Presidential Traverse is new to me. I've done many listed and plan to add the Lycian Way in Turkey next year.
Bram Reusen
Tuesday 16th of December 2014
I've only recently found out about the Lycian Way. It sounds like a wonderful hike. :-)