If you’ve spent any time living out of a backpack, sleeping on the ground and in a tent, and exploring nature, then you understand the overwhelming feelings of freedom and simplicity that multi-day trekking can offer.
And if you just read that and thought, “no actually I havn’t. I like it inside my house” Then this is your sign to step outside your comfort zone and try trekking.
Below you’ll find our shortlist of the best multi-day hiking trails around the world for 2026. Some treks are shorter and others long. Some even summit huge mountains. But all of them are epic!
Four Criteria for “The Best”
- Safe enough
No country in our world is perfectly safe. And multi-day trekking comes with its own set of risks. However, the best treks on our list are safe enough. This means the country and trek locations themselves have been historically safe four tourists and free from serious life-threatening situations (e.g., warfare, drug trafficking etc). But always do your research about travel advisories ahead of time!
- Reliable info
We all love the mystery of adventure! That’s why we go on long treks in the first place. However, let’s be honest, it is nice to get a pulse on a trek before leaving home. For planning purposes, you can find a lot of helpful information for all the treks on our list. But remember: every experience is different, so take what you read with a grain of salt.
- Epic scenery
Yes, we’re listing this third in our criteria, but epic scenery and wildlife might be one of the most important parts of “the best” multi-day treks. If you’re going to fly across the globe, hike off into the backcountry, and live out of a backpack, you’re probably wanting to experience the beautiful landscapes and wildlife planet earth has to offer.
- Relatively affordable
Every trekker’s criteria are different when it comes to affordability. However, for the most part, the treks on our list are relatively affordable, with some being more expensive than others. Oftentimes, the priciest part of a trek is getting to the country and trek location. From there, one of our favorite parts of trekking is how simple and affordable life can be when you’re sleeping on the ground under the stars. So, start saving!
Best Multi-Day Hiking Trails Around the World
If you spent even a few minutes researching multi-day treks, you would quickly discover that there are way too many to choose from. And too many to do in a lifetime. To help whittle down the list, we organized this article by continent. From there, we selected two multi-day treks for you to explore.
Our list is far from exhaustive. It’s just a starting point to help brainstorm your next big adventure.
Europe
Tour du Mont Blanc, France
The Tour de Mont Blanc (TMB) is self-guide loop trek that cirucmnavigates the Mont Blanc massif. You can hike in either clockwise and counter-clockwise directions and have huts for overnight accomodations. Along the way you will travel through three different countries (France, Italy, and Swtizerland) and reach an altitude of 8,530 feet above sea level (2,600m).
- Location: French, Italian, and Swiss Alps
- Duration: 10 days, 105 miles (170 km)
- Ideal time: during the summer, specifically from late June to September, with July and August being the peak period for warm, stable weather
- Pro tip: Customuize your tour! You can start in a variety of locations and use public transport and lifts to accelerate and shorten your trek depending on how much time you have.
Walker’s Haute Route, France and Switzerland
The Walker’s Haute Route connects two of the most iconic peaks in the Alps – Mont Blanc in France and the Matterhorn in Switzerland. It can be done guided by professionals or self-guided. As you trek, you’ll see glaciers and towering, snow-capped peaks. You’ll also meander through lush green valleys and high-altitude alpine meadows. An added bonus is you get to explore two distinct cultural regions with different languages, customs, food, and enchanting picture-book villages.
- Location: From Chamonix, France to Zermatt, Switzerland
- Duration: the full route is usually 11 days, 112 miles (180 km)
- Ideal time: during the summer, specifically from late June to September,
- Pro tip: The Walker’s Haute Route is one of the most physically demanding treks in the Alps, so, make sure you train your fitness before your trip.
The Americas
Inca Trail, Peru
The Inca trail, located within the Sacred Valley in Souther Peru, is a guided multi-day trek that ends at the iconic Machu Pichu ruines. Along the way, the trail winds its way through lush tropical forests, pristine high-altitude lakes and cloud forests, and mysterious ruins.
- Location: Cusco, southern Peru
- Duration: 2 to 4 days, depending on your route
- Ideal time: during the dry season, from May to September
- Pro tip: Bring your passport! Why? Because after the entrance, on your left-hand side, there is a small office where you can put a stamp of Machu Picchu in your passport.
W-trek in Torres del Paine, Chile
The W-Trek is a self-guided out-and-back trek in Chile. It connects the most spectacular landscapes found within the Torres Del Paine National Park including, the majestic Torres del Paine, the Northern Horn, the Main Horn, as well the Grey Glacier.
- Location: Torres del Paine National Park
- Duration: 5 days and 4 nights, 44 miles (71 km)
- Ideal time: the high season runs from November to March
- Pro tip: to ensure you have enough space to carry all your food, water, clothing, and other gear, the recommend backpack size is atleast 40 liter.
Oceania
The Milford Track, New Zealand
The Milford Track is a one-way, hut-to-hut multi-day trek. It bisects the heart of New Zealand’s Fiordland. Along the way you’ll explore glacial carved valleys, ancient rainforests, and wonderful waterfalls.
- Location: Fiordland National Park
- Duration: 3 night and 4 days, 33.2 miles (53.5 km) one way
- Ideal time: the “Great Walks Season” lasts from 28 of October – 28 of April
- Pro tip: it can be cold and wet in the winter, and even icey and snow, so, bring microspikes for extra traction.
The Overland Track, Tasmania, Australia
The Overland Track is an exhilarating alpine trek in Australia. Half the track is 3,281 feet (1,000 meters) above sea level or higher. Along the way you can explore glacial valley, eucalyptus forests, moorlands, and alpine meadows.
- Location: Cradle Mountain Park- Lake St. Clair National Park
- Duration: 6 days, 40.6 miles (65 km) one way
- Ideal time: the Summer season runs from 1 of October to 31 of May and Winter from 1 June to 30 September
- Pro tip: most trekkers carry a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) to activate in the event of a life-threatening emergency. PLBs can be hired from Service Tasmania shops (Mon-Fri only) in Hobart, Launceston, Burnie and Devonport.
Africa
Mt Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa with an elevation of 19,341 feet above sea level (5,895 meters). It is the largest free-standing mountain in the world, making it one of the Seven Summits. You can choose from seven different routes to reach Uhuru Peak, which translate to “freedom” in Swahili.
- Location: Tanzania, East Africa
- Duration: 7 to 9 days depending on the specific route
- Ideal time: the dry season, spanning from December to mid-March and late June to October. The most favorable months are January, February, July, August, September, and October.
- Pro tip: You do not have to camp in a tent if you do the Marangu route. You sleep in bunkhouses instead.
Kilembe Trail, Uganda
The Kilembe Trail, also known as “the Southern Circuit,” is a hut-to-hut loop trek. It’s operated by Rwenzori Trekking Services. Over your week long adventure, you’ll gain elevation up to 15,895 feet above sea level (4,845m). Along the way you’ll pass through the Rwenzori Mountain’s unique Bamboo-Mimulopsis Zone and into alpine territory with giant lobelias, eventually summitting Margherita Peak.
- Location: Rwenzori Mountains National Park
- Duration: 7-8 days
- Ideal time: the dry seasons, which run from June to August and December to February
- Pro tip: this is a high altitude trek and the nights are cold, so, the recommended sleeping bags must be 0° F (or -15° F), and consider bringing a sleeping bag liner for extra warmth.
Bonus, “Under the Radar” Trek
Looking for something a little more “out there?” A little more “adventurous”, perhaps? Here’s an idea: the Huayhuash Circuit.
The Huayhuash Circuit travels through the Huayhuash mountains in the Peruvian Andes. Throughout the trek you explore altitudes between 15,091 and 16,404 feet above sea level (4,600 – 5,000m). As you hike, you’ll enjoy views of epic snow-covered mountains, like Siulá Grande and Yerupajá , alpine meadows, and beautiful flora and fauna.
- Location: Ancash, Peru
- Duration: 12 days, 74.5 miles (120 km)
- Ideal time: The best time is during the dry season, from May until the end of September
- Pro tip: due to the difficulty and remoteness of this trek, its recommended to do it guided with a camp cook, assistant and arriero to transport your equipment and food.
Okay– there you have it. The brainstorm session is over. We hope you feel inspired and are making steps to make one of these treks a reality.
List of the Best Multi-Day Hiking Trails to Try
- Huayhuash Circuit (Peru)
One of the most challenging treks in the Andes, the Huayhuash delivers raw beauty: jagged peaks, pristine lakes, and passes above 5,000 meters. - Tour du Mont Blanc (France/Italy/Switzerland)
Circling the Mont Blanc massif, this 10-day trek is Europe’s quintessential alpine adventure, crossing three countries and offering nights in cozy mountain huts with endless glacier views. - Walker’s Haute Route (France/Switzerland)
Not for the faint of heart, this demanding trail connects Chamonix to Zermatt, rewarding hikers with glaciers, high passes, and the iconic silhouette of the Matterhorn. - Inca Trail (Peru)
Perhaps the most storied trek of all, the Inca Trail winds through cloud forests and ancient ruins before the grand reveal of Machu Picchu at sunrise. - W-Trek, Torres del Paine (Chile)
Patagonia at its best: a five-day journey through turquoise lakes, creaking glaciers, and the granite spires that define Torres del Paine. - Milford Track (New Zealand)
Called the “finest walk in the world,” this Fiordland classic threads through valleys, rainforests, and past waterfalls that seem to tumble from the sky. - Overland Track (Tasmania, Australia)
A six-day immersion into Australia’s alpine wilderness, where glacial valleys and eucalyptus forests stretch beneath wide-open skies. - Mt. Kilimanjaro (Tanzania)
Africa’s highest peak promises a bucket-list ascent, with routes that take you from lush foothills to the stark, icy summit of Uhuru Peak. - Kilembe Trail, Rwenzori Mountains (Uganda)
Remote and mystical, this high-altitude circuit climbs to Margherita Peak, weaving through bamboo forests and otherworldly alpine landscapes.
Now get out there and start walking!
