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Best Long-Distance Hiking Trails in the World: Top 8 for 2026

11 May 2026 · 7 min read

Long-distance trails are different from day hikes. You sleep somewhere new every night. You carry everything you need. The path itself becomes the destination. This is not a holiday. It is something else entirely.

Here are the 8 routes that set the global benchmark. With everything you need to know before you go.

Why Are Long-Distance Trails Worth It Compared to Normal Hiking?

A day hike shows you a landscape. A long-distance trail changes you. That sounds dramatic. It is also true. Anyone walking a week or more on a trail experiences rhythm, exhaustion, landscape and community in a way that everyday life never delivers.

And trekking is affordable. Many routes cost 25-50 EUR per day all in (accommodation, food) if you use hostels and simple meals. More than camping, less than most hotel holidays.

The 8 Best Long-Distance Hiking Trails in the World

1. Camino de Santiago (France/Spain)

Distance: 800 km (Camino Francés, from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port) | Duration: 28-35 days | Difficulty: Moderate | Best season: April-June, September-October

The most famous pilgrimage route in the world. Across northern Spain to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. Perfect infrastructure: pilgrim hostels (albergues) every 10-20 km, meals for 10-15 EUR, yellow arrows guide you every step. No tent needed, no heavy pack. The social element: you meet people from everywhere, every single day. Excellent choice for first-timers on long routes.

Cost: 25-45 EUR per day. Our Santiago de Compostela guide covers the final stages of the route.

2. Torres del Paine W-Circuit (Chile/Patagonia)

Distance: 100 km | Duration: 4-5 days | Difficulty: Moderate-Challenging | Best season: November-March

The most compact top trail in the world. The granite towers of Torres del Paine are iconic. The W-Circuit passes glacial lakes, suspension bridges, and winds that inflate your jacket like a sail. Hut and campsite booking: months in advance because spots are strictly limited. National park entrance fee: around 30 USD. Our Patagonia 3-week guide shows how to fit the W-Circuit into a broader Patagonia trip.

Cost: 60-120 USD per day (including huts).

3. Appalachian Trail (USA)

Distance: 3,500 km | Duration: 5-7 months (thru-hike) | Difficulty: Challenging | Best season: March-October (northbound)

The legendary AT from Georgia to Maine or the reverse. Close to 100 million steps, passing through 14 states. Most hikers do section hikes over weeks or months. The shelter network is well-maintained, trail towns offer affordable hostels. Gear matters: good footwear, rain gear, aim for pack weight under 12 kg.

Cost: 4,000-6,000 USD for a full thru-hike (5 months).

4. Inca Trail (Peru)

Distance: 43 km | Duration: 4 days | Difficulty: Moderate-Challenging | Best season: May-September

The short, famous trail ends directly at the Sun Gate of Machu Picchu. Permit required: only 500 permits per day, often sold out months in advance. Booking exclusively through licensed agencies. No independent hiking permitted. Altitude: up to 4,215 m at Dead Woman’s Pass, acclimatization in Cusco beforehand is essential. Our Cusco guide helps you plan your base.

Cost: 600-1,200 USD for the 4-day tour with agency.

5. Tour du Mont Blanc (France/Switzerland/Italy)

Distance: 170 km | Duration: 10-12 days | Difficulty: Moderate-Challenging | Best season: July-September

Circling the highest peak in the Alps through three countries. From Chamonix through the Aosta valleys and back. Alpine huts (refuges) every 10-15 km, half-board included for 50-90 EUR. No tent required. Daily elevation gain of 1,000-1,500 m makes this more demanding than it looks. Book huts early in July.

Cost: 50-100 EUR per day (huts, food).

6. Overland Track (Tasmania, Australia)

Distance: 65 km | Duration: 6-8 days | Difficulty: Moderate | Best season: October-April

Through the Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park in one of the most pristine landscapes on earth. Only 34 permits per day in peak season, book months in advance. Tent and full gear required. Weather changes fast. The reward: zero other hikers in many sections. An absolute wilderness experience.

Cost: 200 AUD permit fee plus gear and flight to Tasmania.

7. Everest Base Camp Trek (Nepal)

Distance: 130 km (round trip) | Duration: 12-14 days | Difficulty: Challenging | Best season: March-May, October-November

Not to the summit. To Base Camp at 5,364 m. The route passes through Sherpa villages, monasteries, rhododendron forests, and glacial valleys. Build in acclimatization rest days: skipping them causes altitude sickness. No technical climbing required. The Khumbu region is well-developed with teahouses. Permit: Sagarmatha National Park fee approximately 30 USD.

Cost: 1,200-2,500 USD for the trek (teahouses, optional guides, Kathmandu-Lukla flight).

8. Kilimanjaro (Tanzania)

Distance: 55-80 km depending on route | Duration: 5-8 days | Difficulty: Challenging (due to altitude) | Best season: January-March, July-October

No technical climbing required. But at 5,895 m, altitude is the real challenge. Mandatory: licensed guide and official porter (required by law). Five main routes: Marangu (easiest, huts), Machame (most popular, tents), Lemosho and Rongai (quieter), Northern Circuit (longest, best acclimatization). Permits and guides through official agencies only.

Cost: 1,500-3,500 USD depending on route and number of porters.

Which App Is Best for Long-Distance Trails?

AllTrails is the global standard for route planning and offline maps. The premium version at 35 USD per year is worth it for offline functionality. Komoot is better for Europe, especially the Alps and Germany. For the EBC trek and Nepal: Maps.me with Nepal maps in offline mode.

What Does Good Hiking Gear Actually Cost?

Basic kit for multi-day trails:

Total for new kit: 530-1,000 EUR. Expensive upfront, but gear lasts 5-10 years with proper care.

If you are planning a long-distance trek, tell Zercy the destination and your timeframe. You will get flight options, transfers and accommodation suggestions before and after the trail. Save the shortlist in your Zercy Logbook so all the details are in one place when you book.

Frequently Asked Questions

How heavy should my pack be for a long-distance trail?

The standard guideline: no more than 10 percent of your body weight, ideally less. At 70 kg that means a maximum of 7 kg. Anything heavier puts serious strain on your knees and hips over multiple days. On most established routes (Camino, EBC, Kilimanjaro) you can ship luggage ahead or hire porters.

Which long-distance trail is best for absolute beginners?

The Camino de Santiago. Daily stages of 20-25 km, hostels every few kilometers, no navigation challenges thanks to perfect waymarking, and a massive social network of fellow hikers. If you have 3-4 weeks and want to try long-distance hiking for the first time, start here.

For the Inca Trail: at least 6 months in advance. For Torres del Paine W-Circuit huts: 4-6 months. For the Overland Track in Tasmania: 3-6 months. The Camino de Santiago and the Everest Base Camp trek require no permits for the standard routes.

How dangerous are long-distance trails really?

Most risks are avoidable. Altitude sickness on the EBC and Kilimanjaro from ascending too fast, weather changes in Patagonia and on the TMB, heat exhaustion on long desert sections. Preparation, proper gear and a realistic pace eliminate most dangers. A solid travel insurance policy with mountain rescue coverage is essential on high-altitude trails.

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