When you are passionate about hiking, there are certain hikes you would like to do as you travel the globe. Here is a list of the 10 best "must-do" hikes around the world. We also add alternatives to these hikes for those who wish to get a similar experience, but also get away from what sometimes can be busy trails.
Tongariro Crossing - New Zealand
Often called New Zealand's finest one-day walk, this hike will take through a veritable moonscape of volcanoes, steaming vents, scree slopes and fanastic views. If you cannot afford to go that far, consider what has been called the world's best hike, the Laugavegur trek in Iceland.
West Coast Trail - Canada
The 75 km long West Coast Trail on Vancouver Island leads you through rain forests and along deserted beaches, all the while offering spectacular scenery. It is not for the faint of heart - you will need to climb steep ladders, ford stream and pull yourself across rivers by cable car. This is one unique experience, unmatched by any trail in the world.
Inca Trail - Peru
The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is arguably one of the most popular hikes in the world. But with a permit system restricting the number of hikers on the trail, many people will be looking for alternatives. And there are some great ones to choose from: the trek to Choquequirao, the Ausangate Lodge Trek and the Moonstone Trek are some of the lesser known ones.
Torres del Paine - Chile
Hiking in Torres del Paine will see you trek through beautiful beech forests, alpine meadows, past glaciers and up to spectacular view points overlooking the steep cliffs of the Horns of Paine. Across the Andes is a lesser-known area which offers similar scenery but with far fewer visitors: the Fitzroy Range near El Chaltén in Argentina.
Dolomites - Italy
Craggy peaks towering up to the sky, where wooden farmhouses dot orchard-clad valleys, and where hiking trails lead you from mountain huts to spa resorts to glorious vista. As an alternative, consider the Picos de Europa in Spain, where spectacular gorges and jagged peaks make the limestone massifs of the Picos de Europa one of Spain's finest walking destinations.
Mont Blanc - France
Alpine meadows and rocky peaks, windswept cols and glaciers, glorious views and some great trekking and hiking. Find all that and more in a trek around the Mont Blanc Massif. As an quieter alternative, consider the Haute Route from Chamonix to Zermatt, steeped in mountaineering legend and offering some of the best Alpine scenery in the region.
Mount Kilimanjaro - Tanzania
Up there on people's bucket list with the Inca Trail and Everest Base Camp, Kilimanjaro is one of the world's seven summits. Be sure to choose a quieter route like the Lemosho or the Rongai Route. Or, be adventurous and trek Mount Kenya in Kenya or the Mountains of the Moon in Uganda
Everest Base Camp - Nepal
Likely the world's most famous trek, the trek to Everest Base Camp sees you trekking on high mountain trails amidst some of the highest peaks in the world. While an alternative will not show you Everest, one of the best treks in the Himalaya must be the Snowman Trek in Bhutan. And for people who want it all, consider the Great Himalaya Trail!
Annapurna Circuit - Nepal
Famed for its varied scenery, the Annapurnas offer villages, rice paddies, oak forests and alpine meadows as well as towering peaks. The Annapurna Circuit trek is probably the most famous trek in the area, but not everyone has 3 weeks available. For a shorter alternative, consider the Annapurna Dhaulagiri trail.
Milford Track - New Zealand
Gurgling stream, dark forests, lots of waterfalls and great mountain vistas are all in a day's hike on the Milford Track. Yet many regard the Routeburn Track as an even greater hike.