For those willing to brave extended treks in nature, the world’s best long hikes offer challenges and amazing rewards.

Hiking is considered one of the most popular outdoor activities worldwide, offering numerous mental and physical health benefits, and allowing us to connect with nature. Walking long distances, often through diverse biomes and habitats, was originally a necessary means of survival since nomadic tribes followed seasonal migration routes and foraged for resources in diverse landscapes. When religions were founded, hiking became part of a pilgrimage or an exodus, ranging from the Hajj, the Islamic pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca, to the Camino de Santiago, also known as the “Way of St. James,” in Spain.

Even after hunter-gatherers evolved into farmers and settlers, many humans still felt the urge to go hiking through unexplored territories. The word “hike” originates from the English dialectal word yike, meaning “to walk vigorously.”

One of the earliest examples of a person hiking recreationally rather than out of necessity is that of Petrarch, also known as Francesco Petrarca, a poet who wrote about his climb with his brother and two servants to the top of Mont Ventoux in southern France in April 1336.

It was only in the 18th and 19th centuries that the Romantic movement in Europe encouraged a newfound interest in nature. Once, poets, artists, and philosophers championed the tranquility and splendor of the vivacious outdoors. Many, mainly the middle and upper classes during this period, became smitten by the natural, rural, and untamed landscapes outside big cities and towns. This set off a trend of spending quality time in nature and exploring the wilderness through hikes.

Today, hikers can explore many routes, whether they prefer historic hikes or scenic nature trails.

The Inca Trail winds through 26 miles of mountains and countryside in the Cusco region of southern Peru. Formerly a vital artery of trade and transportation during the Inca Empire, the Inca Trail now serves as a popular route for tourists and travelers as they traverse the majestic slopes of the Andes Mountains. This trail leads to the ruins of Machu Picchu, the “Lost City of the Incas,” which sits high on a plateau overlooking the Andes Mountains and the Urubamba River Valley. You can also stop by other ancient landmarks like the Wiñay Wayna, an elegant ruin with terraces cascading down a steep slope, and 

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