You like the idea of thru-hiking, but tackling theÌýAppalachian Trail or trekking to Mount Everest’s Base Camp feels likeÌýtoo much of a commitment. Plus, who has months to disappear into the mountains anyway? Here are seven long-distance trailsÌýaround the world that offer the draws of a trek without the risk of using up all your paid time off.
Dientes Circuit
Navarino Island, Chile: 4 Days
Considered the southernmost trek in the world, the Dientes Circuit starts near the Patagonian port city of Puerto Williams on Navarino Island in the Tierra del Fuego archipelago. Before you begin, base yourself out ofÌý (from $250), overlooking the Beagle Channel, at what feels like the end of the earth. You’ll spend about four days hiking 31 miles through the stunning, desolate Dientes de Navarino range, which is home to a dizzying array of landscapes typical ofÌýthe region (snowy peaks, glaciers, vast stretches of tundra).ÌýDo it yourself and camp along the route, or book aÌýguided, six-day trip withÌý (from $2,187)Ìýthat includes transportation to Navarino Island, two nights of lodging in town, and three nights of camping on the trail. You’ll want to hike this between November and March for summertime conditions in the Southern Hemisphere.
Chinese Wall Trail
Bob Marshall Wilderness, Montana: 3 Days
It takes a few days of hiking to reach theÌý, a thousand-foot-tall limestone cliffÌýthat stretches over a dozen miles and is located deep in the state’sÌý1.5-million-acreÌý. It’s worth the haul.ÌýStart about 85 miles west of Great Falls, at the South Fork Sun River Trailhead, and hike 23 miles northwest.ÌýYou’ll climb along the Continental Divide and spot elks, moose, and mountain goats along the way. Once you reach White River Pass, at the southern end of the wall, you’ll find a choice ofÌýmultiple routes, including an eight-mile trail along the wall that ends at a lookout called Larch Hill Pass. Montana’sÌý leads a ten-day guided hike (from $1,950) in July along a 70-mile point-to-point route where mules help carry the load and you’ll top out above the Chinese Wall itself.
Laugavegur Trail
Southern Highlands, Iceland; 3 Days
°Õ³ó±ðÌý remains one ofÌýIceland’s most popular treks for the fact that it traverses all of the country’s variedÌýlandscapes, from hot springs and geysers to rhyolite mountains. The 34-mile route is open from mid-June to mid-September and takes three to four days to complete. Start atÌýthe southern end of the highlands in theÌýLandmannalaugar nature reserve, and make your wayÌýnortheast overÌýblack-sand deserts, glaciers, and volcanic terrain, before ending at Thorsmork valley. The well-appointed huts at the start and end points, Ìý²¹²Ô»å ,Ìýmake great bookends to the hike, and there are plenty of huts and camping options along the way.Ìý offers guided two- and five-dayÌýtreks (from $1,433). Stay atÌý (from $46) in downtown ReykjavÃk, three hours from the start of the trail, which has bunks and private rooms, plus a hip bar and lounge.
Rockwall Trail
Kootenay National Park, British Columbia: 3 to 5 Days
It’s a good year to hike the Rockwall Trail, a classic Canadian Rocky Mountain multi-day trek, with Kootenay National ParkÌýcelebrating its 100th anniversary in 2020. Highlights include some of the tallest waterfalls in the Rockies, secluded high-alpine lakes, and the limestone cliff that earned the trail its name. Most people hike this 34-mile trail, which gains about 8,500 feet in elevation, in three to five days. For self-guided trips,Ìý recently opened for bookings, or you canÌýsign up withÌý, which offers trips with certified Association of Canadian Mountain GuidesÌý(from $1,222 for five-day trips).
JomolhariÌýLoop Trek
Paro Valley, Bhutan: 7 Days
The JomolhariÌýLoop Trek is an excellent high-altitude hike for those who want a taste of the Himalayas but have a limited amountÌýof time. The weeklong routeÌýstarts in the village of Gunitsawa, in the Paro DistrictÌýofÌýnorthwestÌýBhutan,Ìý²¹²Ô»å leads to Jomolhari’s peak, which straddles the border with Tibet, before returning to the village. You’ll gain 16,000 feet in elevationÌýbut at a steady enough incline to allow your body to acclimate. The loop passes monasteries and museums, glaciallyÌýfed streams and lakes, juniper forests, mountains sacred to the Bhutanese, and yak-herding families. It’s possible to hike yourself and camp along the route, but consider the fullÌýtwo-week Jomolhari TrekÌýwithÌýoutfitterÌýÌý(from $6,295), which covers about 55 miles on foot. The trekking seasonsÌýareÌýtypically April through May and October through November. In an effort to keep visitor numbers low, Bhutan charges a significantÌýtourist fee (from $200 per day), but this amount covers a host of costs, from lodging to a licensed guide, so be sure to check the government Ìýto start.
John Muir Trail
Sierra Nevada, California: 8 Days
°Õ³ó±ðÌý is one of the most iconic long-distance hikes in the U.S. It passes through three national parks—Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon—and tops out on 14,495-foot Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the lower 48. But not everybody has three weeks to devote to hiking this 211-mile trail. AndÌýÌýfor itÌýhas become nearly impossible. The good news? If you book a guided trip withÌý, it’ll take care of the permitting for you. The outfitter also now offers abbreviated trips on the JMT, like aÌý or aÌý. Only have about a week? Spend eight days hiking theÌýÌýyourself along a stunning section of the trail in Kings Canyon National Park.
Pinhoti Trail
Appalachian Mountains, Alabama and Georgia: 14 Days
°Õ³ó±ðÌý stretches 171 miles across Alabama’s Appalachian Mountains and another 166 miles through Georgia, making it the longest trail in both of those states. Part of the still under developmentÌý and a designated national recreation trail, the PinhotiÌýis a good training ground if you’re contemplating doing the whole Appalachian TrailÌýor if you want something like it but shorter. InÌýJanuary, an 18-year-old named Willie Thacker completed a self-supported thru-hike of the trail in six days and 16 hours, earning the current fastest known time. Regular-paced hikers will need two or three weeks to tackle it all.