Gretchen Stuppy CarlsonFrom famous mountain destinations to hikes off the beaten path, we’ve got 5 incredible destinations to add to your bucket list if you love to hike. Plan you entire vacation around hiking, or add a few epic hikes to your next trip.
We’ve compiled some of our personal favorite hiking destinations with a variety of terrain and scenery to inspire your next trip.
Looking for more resources on hiking from Chasing ADVTR Travel? Check out our hiking page.
Mallorca
Mallorca is a hiker’s paradise, offering a wide range of trails surrounded by the islands stunning landscapes, including rugged coastal paths to scenic mountain routes. You can follow the GR221 and hike right across of Mallorca and traverses the Serra de Tramuntana mountains or select for a number of shorter day hikes.
For the best hiking, stay in the northern part of the island right in the heart of the mountains. You will need several days to explore the best trails on the island. Our favorite trails are Archduke Trail Mallorca as a Loop via Valdemossa and La Trapa Mallorca and Mirador d’en Josep Sastre as well as several shorter hikes to beaches.
See more about our favorite hikes in Mallorca.
Italy
The Italian Dolomites are a well known hiker’s paradise. Explore stunning alpine lakes and incredible alpine routes as you hike from mountain town to mountain town or hut to hut. One of the best parts of hiking in Italy (besides the food of course) is the outdoor culture. Everywhere you look, people are hiking, biking, and climbing and the entire culture is built around being outside.
Choose from a number of mountain towns as a base – like our stay in the small town of Arabba and find the best hikes in the area, or enjoy the mountain roads and hop between towns. Some of our favorite hikes include the popular Tre Cime, Lago di Braies, and Croda da Lago.
You can see an incredible 1 week itinarary here on Chasing ADVNTR.
Montenegro
If you are looking for an off the beaten path hiking destination with spectacular mountains and quieter hiking trails, head to one of the National Parks in Montenegro. This tiny country boasts some truly incredible hiking and the laid back mountain towns are quickly expanding to support the number of people who are just discovering this destination.
Both Durmitor and Prokleije National Parks offer excellent day hiking opportunities and there are also longer overnight routes throughout the Balkans to consider.
Hawaii
While the other hiking destinations that make this list are centered around larger mountain ranges, Hawaii offers a different and intriguing hiking opportunity. Explore volcanoes, lava tubes, waterfalls, craters, and lush forests with a shocking variety of terrain across the Hawaiian Islands. Planning a hiking trip to Hawaii will also leve you with plenty of time for swimming and relaxing on the beach. This is a perfect destination if you are traveling with a group and want to get in some hiking.
Check out our itinerary for Maui and the Big Island.
Banff
If I could return to hike in any place on this list, it would be Banff. With gorgeous lakes and mountains and a town built around the outdoors, Banff is the perfect place to hike. Enjoy more of what the area has to offer by heading up to Jasper or some of the quieter hiking areas in the region.
Among the top hikes are the Plain of Six Glaciers Trail, which offers stunning views of glaciers and Lake Louise, and the Johnston Canyon Trail, where hikers can marvel at waterfalls and limestone cliffs. The Sulphur Mountain Trail is another must-do, providing panoramic vistas of Banff and the surrounding peaks, with the option to take a gondola ride back down. For those seeking a more challenging adventure, the Larch Valley and Sentinel Pass Trail rewards hikers with incredible views of golden larches in the fall and the majestic Valley of the Ten Peaks. We also loved exploring the Ink Pots Trail.
