My 10 Favourite Hikes in the World

I love hiking. It’s pretty much the only exercise I actually enjoy, so I try to do as much as possible when backpacking. Travel destinations are much more appealing to me if there is a healthy dose of nature involved. And some good exercise never hurt anyone (right?). I’ve never done a multi-day hike, though I really want to someday. Seven of the following ten hikes I did solo, and while that may seem crazy and unsafe to many people, I find it therapeutic to be alone with nature. As long as you’ve done your research and use common sense, there’s no reason any hike can’t be done solo. Whether it was for the feeling of achievement after finally reaching the top, the stunning scenery leaving me breathless, or the undeniable pull of familiarity, these are my ten favourite day hikes in the world, in no particular order.

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1. Mount Bromo – Indonesia

Very few things will get me out of bed at 3am. Sunrise over a smoking volcano in Indonesia is one of them. Having grown up in the Scouts in Ireland, hiking in the dark wasn’t a new experience for me. Hiking in the dark completely alone, not entirely sure if I was going in the right direction, was.

At the start of the hike, I followed a tarmac road, easy enough. Every now and then a jeep would drive past me, headlights on full beam, loaded with passengers who didn’t want to walk. The road then turned into a dirt path and stone steps meandering up the side of the hill. Reaching the viewpoint while it was still dark, I stared out over a pitch black scene wondering ‘where the hell is this volcano?’ Was I in the right place? Bear in mind, I had arrived in the village of Cemoro Lawang at eleven o’clock the previous night, so I had no idea what the area even looked like. Then, as the sun began to appear and the sky began to lighten, there it was: the smoke pluming up into the sky, the three peaks below us, the village sitting on the ridge to the side. Unforgettable.

Read more: Mount Bromo – A Volcanic Sunrise

2. Hooker Valley – New Zealand

New Zealand still remains one of my favourite countries to this day. Coming from Ireland, where the highest mountain we have is a measly 1000m, the snow-capped peaks of the South Island were eye-opening. But none were more awe-inducing than Aoraki-Mount Cook. During a very brief stop in the village, I had a total of four hours of daylight in the area, so I made the most of it by doing the popular Hooker Valley Trail to the glacial lake.

The trail first cut across the flat, gorse-covered land of the valley floor. Passing over several suspension bridges that crossed the ice-cold river below, the path then began to rise towards the roots of the mountains. Then it crested a small rise and the Hooker Glacier and its lake was right in front of me. I was not prepared for the icebergs floating on the water, nor the sight of Aoraki turning from white to orange to pink behind me as I headed back to the village before sundown.

Read more: One Day in Aoraki/Mount Cook – New Zealand’s Highest Mountain

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3. Cameron Highlands – Malaysia

Getting to the start point of Jungle Trek 1 felt like a hike in itself, and the lack of signposts didn’t help either. The track through the jungle to the top of Gunung Brinchang passes through narrow rock gulleys, over muddy pools and up giant tree roots until you reach the observation tower at the top and realise there was a road to the peak all along (although why drive when you can hike through the jungle?).

The nearby boardwalk through the Mossy Forest continues to a second peak – Gunung Irau – if you’re still feeling energetic. But what really made this hike for me was the descent along the road past hills and hills of tea plantations, the reason Malaysia’s Cameron Highlands are so famous.

Read more: Jungle Hiking in the Cameron Highlands – Malaysia

4. Karijini National Park – Australia

The jewel of Western Australia’s national parks, Karijini is quite a bit out of the way, but undeniably worth the effort to get there. With a huge number of hikes to do, it was difficult to decide which one to do. Being alone, I decided to play it safe with the Level 4 Weano Gorge trail instead of the Level 5 Hancock Gorge Trail, with its beautiful walk down into a narrow valley and along a small river.

Then I accidentally followed a young family into an offshoot trail, which turned out to be the best decision I made all week and was actually a Level 5 trail too. The short Handrail Pool trail takes you down into a circular rock formation, complete with a (freezing cold) swimming hole. The small gap in the wall leads to a narrow cavern and grin-inducing sights. It’s one of the coolest hikes in Karijini and one of the most memorable hikes in the world.

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5. Moylussa – Ireland

Not the longest hike, or the most difficult, but Moylussa has earned a spot on this list because it’s right in my backyard. It’s something I have to do at least once when I’m at home in Ireland, and every time it reminds me how lucky I am that this stunning place is where I get to come home to.

Located in County Clare, on the shores of Lough Derg, this popular hike is about 2-3 hours return, and on clear days you can see for miles in multiple directions. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve walked this path, so every turn is so familiar to me. It will never get old, and will forever be one of my favourite hikes in the world.

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6. Monte Grande – Cape Verde

Hardly deserving the title of mountain, this 400m hill is still the highest point on Sal Island in the African archipelago of Cape Verde. Because the island itself is so small, you can see the entire coastline, north to south, from the top on a clear day (which is most days). With its barren rock face, it can be slippery going up and treacherous going down, but it’s very likely you’ll have the whole place to yourself.

To get to the unmarked trail, you will need to hire a car, because it’s located in the remote northern section of the island, which is difficult to get to. I also recommend getting 4WD, as that means you can start your hike from a little higher up. We were the only people in the whole area that day, so we had the entire mountain to ourselves.

For the view at the top alone, I wouldn’t be surprised if Monte Grande became one of anyone’s favourite hikes in the world after doing it!

Read more: My Favourite Places on Sal Island

7. Tongariro Alpine Crossing – New Zealand

As a huge Lord of the Rings nerd, there was no way I was going to live in New Zealand for a year and not see Mordor and Mount Doom in the flesh (in the stone?). The hike itself, all 20km of it, exceeded every possible expectation I had. By far the longest hike on this list, this 6-8 hour-long trail is well-signposted and easy to follow, but you do need to be prepared for the journey with good walking boots, lots of water and snacks.

The barren rock, the massive volcanic craters, the sulphurous green lakes and the sight of Mount Doom (or Ngauruhoe for you normal people) rising in its perfect conical shape, none of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing felt real. It’s often called one of the best day hikes in all of New Zealand, and I totally understand why. I was completely exhausted and sore by the end, but there’s no doubt it’s one of my favourite hikes in the world. I’d do it all again in a heartbeat.

Read more: Mordor and Back Again – The Tongariro Alpine Crossing

8. Kings Canyon – Australia

While nearby Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park may be the big draw (literally) in the Red Centre of Australia, for me Kings Canyon was a lot more fun. This 3-hour hike takes you along a high ridge line in the middle of the outback. The first section, up a steep flight of steps hewn into the rock, is hard-going, but once you reach the top, it gets much easier from there.

The scenery, with it’s orange-coloured gorges and otherworldly conical rock formations was unlike anything I had ever experienced before. Apart from the odd sparse bush, the only greenery here is the lush Garden of Eden, tucked away in a tiny valley through which a small river flows. While the heat was intense, the views were even more so. I could have stood on that cliff all day.

Read more: Wandering Kings Canyon in the Australia Outback

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9. Cova Crater to Paúl – Cape Verde

One of the most memorable hikes I’ve ever done (and not just because of the horrendous blisters I had afterwards). The scenery along this fairly strenuous hike is jaw-droppingly beautiful. The trail starts from inside a fertile – and extinct – volcanic crater filled with crops and grazing animals before meandering down the steep mountain side through the Paúl valley. It looks straight out of Lost or Jurassic Park (minus all those small villages you can see).

Though my feet were killing me as the path wove downwards through tall crops and isolated homesteads to the ocean, at least I had the views to distract me. One of my favourite things to do along the way was pick out the buildings sitting on high ridges and wonder how the hell people managed to get up there. This has to be one of the best hikes in the world.

Read more: The 4 Places You Need to See in Cape Verde

10. Caminito Del Rey – Spain

I debated whether to call this a hike, because even though it’s about 10km long, it’s not exactly a difficult one. You start out with 3km of beautiful Spanish forest before reaching the entrance to the actual Caminito. What was once considered one of the most dangerous walkways in the world is now a popular tourist attraction after the Spanish government completely revamped it. Time slots and tickets control the number of people on it at any one time.

Once the gates are opened, a narrow gorge greets you, your path a sturdy wooden boardwalk attached to the sheer stone walls. Below, a river flows through the twists and turns. The gorge widens and narrows, rises and lowers at various points, so with every corner a new sight in revealed. Ending at a narrow bridge crossing more than 100 metres above where the river widens into a large reservoir, this is one walk you won’t forget.

So whether you might consider this a hike or not, I’ve decided it’s one of my favourite hikes in the world.

Read more: 5 Amazing Day Trips From Seville

Remember: if, like me, you are going to hike solo, please be careful. Plan ahead, know where you’re going, make sure you’re well-stocked up on water and snacks, have a first aid kit to hand, and tell someone what you’re doing and how long it’ll take. Hiking is fun. Emergencies are not.

What are your favourite hikes in the world? Which ones from my list would you like to add to your bucket list? Tell me in the comments below!

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