Long-Distance Walks: The Top 12 Classics

Updated on 11 December 2021

Alpine Traverse Munich to Venice
Dolomites Alta Via 1
Tour du Mont Blanc
Bohusleden
Kungsleden
Pembrokeshire Coast Path
Te Araroa Trail
Annapurna Circuit
Snowman Trek
Pacific Crest Trail
Appalachian Trail
Huella Andina Trail

Thru-hiking routes, long-distance trails, long-distance trekking – it goes by many names, and the variety of long-distance hiking routes available worldwide is even greater. Here, we’ve compiled twelve long-distance hiking classics – a bucket list that will last a lifetime.

Whether it’s traversing the European Alps or undertaking an epic trek along the Kungsleden Trail in Sweden’s Arctic Circle, walking a coastal path in Wales, or on a long-distance trail in Germany, staying overnight in comfortable hotels, or even taking a full six months to complete the famous Pacific Crest Trail in America with just a tent and backpack – taking time out and simply going hiking is an unforgettable outdoor experience.

The length and difficulty can vary greatly between routes. From a two-week hike in the Alps, to a South American project that spans several years, and everything in between. There’s something for everyone, depending on time constraints, fitness levels or experience. Here are a dozen long-distance trails in Europe and the rest of the World you should know about – or maybe you’ve already got plans to complete one of them soon, or even just one or two sections.

Further reading on thru hiking:
–> The appeal of long-distance hiking
–> Long-distance hiking trails: 14 insider tips
–> First thru hike – tips from a pro
–> Interview with a long-distance hiking expert
–> Getting ready for a thru hike
–> 10 stunning thru-hiking facts

1 Alpine Traverse Munich to Venice

It’s a dream for many, and a must for any ambitious mountain hiker – the long-distance hiking trail across the entire Alps to the Mediterranean. Even Ötzi was on his way across the main ridge of the Alps, later he was followed by mule drivers on winding trade routes. And Goethe set out more than 200 years ago to cross the great mountain range on his journey to Venice. This European long-distance trail, which is split into 30 day-stages, with numerous variations, is one of the best and most desirable routes in the Alps.

Some of the highlights on the route from Munich to the Adriatic include the imposing limestone cliffs of the Karwendel range, the Tuxer Alps with breathtaking views of glaciers, and the unusual rock formations of the Dolomites. Crossing the Alps on foot offers more than its fair share of unforgettable mountain panoramas.

Colorful path markings on a rock against the backdrop of the Dolomites

Fantastic views: Munich to Venice is a classic among European hiking trails in the Alps.

Glaciated peaks are reflected in a mountain lake

Glacier views: The trails along the main ridge of the Alps offer some of the best views on any traverse of the Alps.

A woman sits by the water, hiking rucksacks in front of her, gondola moorings in the water

Grand finale: Arriving in Venice after completing 30 days of the Alpine Traverse.

The route leads along well-maintained, marked mountain trails. Should completing the whole long-distance trail be too much or too time-consuming for hikers, it can be split into several one-week sections or hiking stages. As Goethe said: “You have only been to a place, if you went there by foot”.

Tour Profile Alpine Traverse Munich to Venice

Countries: Germany, Austria, Italy
Length: 550 km
Vertical metres: 22,000
Stages: approx. 30 day-stages
Duration: approx. 1 month
Terrain: predominantly high-alpine terrain
Suitable for: Hikers with a good level of fitness and mountaineering experience
Accommodation: Mountain huts, guesthouses, hotels. Wild camping is not permitted, only emergency bivouacking.

Personal requirements: Alpine hiking experience, surefootedness, good fitness levels
Navigation ability: Good map-reading skills. Good skills operating GPS device (optional)
Info: muenchen-venezia.info
Reading: Trekking Munich to Venice, Cicerone Press; Walking over the Alps, Munich Venice / The Cinema Film

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Further reading: 5 alpine crossings for each type of hiker

2 Dolomites Alta Via 1

The classic long-distance trek in the Southern Alps is a great alternative to the Alpine Traverse and is much more than a multi-day thru hike. Lush green alpine meadows, crowned by spectacular castles of rock and cathedrals of stone – the Dolomites’ charm lies in contrast. This is where Cliffhanger was filmed. And it’s also where Luis Trenker invented the ‘Bergfilm’, or mountain film genre. The long-distance hike on the Dolomites Alta Via 1 is just as rich in scenic and cultural highlights. The trail has run through the heart of the eastern Dolomites for over 50 years.

A turquoise-green mountain lake, surrounded by rocky mountains, partly forested with yellow-colored larches

The ‘Pearl of the Alps’ on one of the best long-distance hikes in the Alps: Lago di Braies is part of the Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage Site.

A managed mountain hut with small outbuildings in a green hollow between rocky peaks

Overnight stop: The Lavarella and Fanes mountain huts are perfect stop-overs on the Dolomites Alta Via 1.

A small chapel on a mountain meadow, rocky peaks in the background

The beautiful chapel at Malga Sennes in the Fanes-Senes-Braies National Park.

It starts at Lago di Braies lake, part of the Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage Site, and film location of the popular German series ‘Die Bergpolizei’, featuring Terence Hill. Legendary mountains such as the Fanes Group, Cinque Torri and Tofana all feature along this long-distance trail, with countless options to branch off and take in a summit. Dream views across to the Marmolada Glacier are just as much a part of it, as are memorials and museums in honour of those who died on the mountain front during the First World War, which left its scar on more than just the mountains. Some sections require hikers to be very surefooted and have a good head for heights.

In addition to the Dolomites Alta Via 1, there are now nine further mountain ridgeway routes in the Dolomites, some requiring mountaineering skills. Find out more here.

Tour Profile Dolomites Alta Via 1

Country: Italy
Length: 115 – 150 km
Vertical metres: 10,000 – 13,000
Stages: 13
Duration: 1 ½ – 2 weeks
Terrain: alpine and high-alpine terrain
Suitable for: Mountain hikers with a good basic level of fitness and mountaineering experience
Accommodation: Mountain huts, guesthouses, hotels. Wild camping is not permitted, only emergency bivouacking.

Personal requirements: Alpine hiking experience, surefootedness, good fitness levels: some rock climbing experience an advantage
Navigation ability: signposted; Map and compass reading skills; GPS device (optional)
Info: dolomitemountains.com
Reading: Trekking in the Dolomites Alta Via 1 and Alta Via 2 with Alta Via 3 – 6 in outline, Cicerone Press; Walking in the Dolomites
25 multi-day routes in Italy’s Dolomites, Cicerone Press.

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3 Tour du Mont Blanc

The Mont Blanc Massif – roof of the Alps and home of alpinism. The 170-kilometre-long, high-level, multi-day trek runs around the highest mountain in the Alps, with plenty of vertical metres thrown in. The 4,810-metre-high mountain attracts mountaineering fans from all over the World. But there are few better ways to admire the snowy white mass of rock and ice than on this panoramic circumnavigation around its base.

An alpine pasture with a few huts in front of a glaciated mountain

Mountain viewpoint: Stunning views of the wild glaciers of the Mont Blanc Massif.

A flock of sheep on a mountain meadow, in the background a rocky peak with a glacier

It could almost be New Zealand: The Tour du Mont Blanc – a wild experience.

A woman stands on a mountain, on the other side of the valley high, glaciated mountains with clouds billowing around them

High above Chamonix and Argentière circumnavigating the Mont Blanc Massif – one of Europe’s most spectacular long-distance hiking trails.

However wild and dangerous the seracs, granite walls and rocky outcrops of the Grandes Jorasses or the Gervasutti Pillar may be, the Tour du Mont Blanc is quite the opposite: on well-marked and well-maintained mountain paths through the three-country triangle of France, Italy and Switzerland.

You can choose to spend the night in mountain huts, guesthouses or hotels in the valleys – or even in a converted cowshed on an alpine pasture. The long-distance hike into the heart of the Western Alps ‘only’ takes a week and a half – but the spectacle and experience of it all will last a lifetime.

Tour Profile Tour du Mont Blanc

Countries: France, Switzerland, Italy
Length: 170 km
Vertical metres: 10,000 – 12,000
Stages: 10
Duration: 10 days
Terrain: alpine and high-alpine terrain
Suitable for: Mountain hikers with a good level of fitness and mountaineering experience
Accommodation: Mountain huts, guesthouses, hotels. Wild camping is not permitted, only emergency bivouacking.

Personal requirements: Alpine hiking experience, surefootedness, good fitness levels
Navigation ability: signposted; Map and compass reading skills; GPS device (optional)
Info: autourdumontblanc.com
Reading: Trekking the Tour of Mont Blanc, Cicerone Press; Tour du Mont Blanc: The most iconic long-distance, circular trail in the Alps, Vertebrate Publishing

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4 Bohusleden

Endless forests and lakes as far as the eye can see, summer days when the sun doesn’t want to set and the rock in the Skagerrak archipelago warms up nicely. The Bohusleden long-distance walk is way more Swedish than even the longest trek through the aisles of your local Ikea branch. And yet, this hiking trail is so well conceived that it could well have been created by Scandinavian designers.

Two hikers cross a wooden bridge, a large waterfall in the background

The idyllic Bohusleden Trek is one of the most fascinating long-distance hikes in Europe.

Aerial view of a lake with people sitting on its banks and conifers growing

Getting away from it all: A multi-day hike through southern Sweden’s lake district offers the perfect antidote to modern life.

Eine Frau führt eine Hund an der Leine über Küstenfelsen, im Hintergrund rote Hütten am Wasser

Wild beauty: archipelago scenery along the Bohusleden in southern Sweden.

Overnight accommodation in simple huts for weather protection as well as marked drinking water sites are laid on for comfort-conscious long-distance hikers. The entire trail is well signposted with orange-coloured way markers. Losing your way is virtually impossible. But bringing along a map is still advisable. As is a tent, sleeping bag and stove. That’s because Sweden’s right to roam rule means that considered, respectful, low-impact overnight stays are permitted almost anywhere. So why not discover this Nordic adventure for yourself?

Tour Profile Bohusleden

Country: Sweden
Length: 340 km
Vertical metres: n/a
Stages: 27
Duration: approx. 3-4 weeks
Terrain: relatively flat, hilly Nordic woodland and lakes
Suitable for: Hikers with some experience of thru hiking; no mountaineering experience necessary
Accommodation: Wild camping (Everyman’s right: one night is permitted with respectful behaviour); simple, unserviced huts and overnighting sites

Personal requirements: Moderate level of fitness, suited to novice thru-hikers too
Navigation ability: signposted; Map and compass reading skills;
Info: bohusleden.se
Reading: Vandra Bohusleden (Hiking the Bohusleden), Calazo Förlag (in Swedish)

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5 Kungsleden

The Kungsleden Trail is a highly scenic Swedish delight. The most popular section is the northern portion between Abisko to the north and Hemavan to the south. The Kungsleden – or literally king’s trail – is one of the most famous long-distance hiking trails in Europe and lives up to its regal heritage. It’s even suited to novice long-distance hikers, as long as they’re relatively weatherproof. Even though this is the land of the midnight sun, sunshine is not a given through mid-summer. Strongs winds and horizontal rain are not at all uncommon. But at least there are no steep climbs on this trail.

A boardwalk leads through an autumn-colored landscape with small trees

Balancing act: Wooden footbridges are dotted along the Kungsleden to carry hikers across the marshland of northern Sweden.

Bubbling mountain river in a Nordic landscape

Picturesque: With very little elevation gain, the Kungsleden trail leads through the Fjäll, or fell landscape. But the scenery is still alpine in scale.

A hiker with a large rucksack approaches a hut in the fog

Weather patterns: Fog and rain are also part of the experience on northern Sweden’s long-distance hiking trails.

If you intend to stay overnight in the huts along the trail, then you must book in advance. But for the genuine thru-hiking experience, a night under canvas is the way forward. And according to Sweden’s freedom to roam or everyman’s right, you can pitch your tent anywhere as long as it’s done with respect and consideration. If you make the most of the long days in the far North, the 440-kilometre-long north section is like a bargain of a long-distance hike for seasoned thru-hikers. So why not bolt on the somewhat less-frequented, more forested, 350-kilometre-long southern section as well?

Tour Profile Kungsleden

Country: Sweden
Length: 790 (South section 350 km, North section 440 km)
Vertical metres: North: 8,500; South: 6,500
Stages: North: 20 – 25, South: 17
Duration: North: approx. 3 – 4 weeks; South: approx. 2 ½ – 3 weeks
Terrain: Nordic fells landscape with wide plains and high peaks
Suitable for: Hikers with some experience of thru hiking and wild camping; no mountaineering experience necessary
Accommodation: Wild camping (Everyman’s right: one night is permitted with respectful behaviour); simple, unserviced huts and overnighting sites; marked water sources

Personal requirements: Hikers with some experience of thru hiking and wild camping; no mountaineering experience necessary
Navigation ability: Map reading skills; Trail is signposted however
Info: visitsweden.com
Reading: Trekking the Kungsleden, Cicerone Press; Plan & Go | Kungsleden: All you need to know to complete Sweden’s Royal Trail (Plan & Go Hiking)

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6 Pembrokeshire Coast Path

It doesn’t have to be the highest mountains, the Alps, the Andes or the Himalayas. Long-distance hiking can also be done by the seaside. The 300-kilometre Pembrokeshire Coast Path on the west coast of Wales is one of the most stunning coastal trails in the world. Wild sea cliffs, endless beaches, dunes, rare seabirds, seals, dolphins – it has it all.

A path winds through grass-covered cliffs, with a small sandy beach in a bay below

Dream coves: The Pembrokeshire Coast Path in Wales is one of the most scenically impressive long-distance hiking trails in Europe.

A small stone church in front of a coastal landscape with rugged cliffs and green meadows in the hinterland

Pilgrimage site: The water at St. Non’s Chapel is said to have healing powers.

Wooden signpost with a plaque that reads Wales Coast Path

Walk this way: The seemingly flat landscape can be deceptive. This hike along Wales’s west coast takes in 8,500 vertical metres.

The route runs between Amroth in the south and St Dogmaels on Cardigan Bay in the north and is absolutely breathtaking. And if you thought that hiking along the coast would mean it’s flat, then think again. You’ll clock up a full 8,500 vertical metres on this long-distance trail. And breathing in all that healthy sea air as you go.

The southern part is more sandy, and in the north there are high, rugged cliffs. Stone buildings huddle against the rocks and picturesque villages exude the charm of times gone-by when little boats would set out every day in the bays here to catch fish in the choppy seas. It’s definitely one of the most beautiful long-distance hiking trails in Europe.

Tour Profile Pembrokeshire Coast Path

Country: Wales
Length: 300 km
Vertical metres: approx. 8,500
Stages: 10-15
Duration: 10-15 days
Terrain: Varied coastal landscape with sandy bays and steep sea cliffs
Suitable for: Long-distance hikers, walking enthusiasts, surf nomads and anyone with a soft spot for the sea.
Accommodation: Campsites (very few), wild camping not permitted. Hostels, B&Bs or stylish manor houses

Personal requirements: Good stamina
Navigation ability: Basic map reading skills
Info: visitpembrokeshire.com; visitwales.com
Reading: Pembrokeshire Coast Path (National Trail Guides); Walking the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, Cicerone Press; Pembrokeshire Coast Path by Jim Manthorpe

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7 Te Araroa Trail

Some long-distance hiking routes immerse hikers deep in nature and then spit them out, at what few restocking stations there are along the way, or where food can be stashed. Not so the Te Araroa Trail in New Zealand. On this long-distance walk at the other end of the world, you’ll get to know the locals, see the wildlife, and experience lush tropical forests, alpine-scale mountains, smouldering volcanoes, geysers and white sandy beaches. The idea is to really get to know the country and its people.

Hikers on a trail in a barren volcanic landscape

Too hot to handle: the volcanoes along the Te Araroa Trek are still active.

Two hikers on the banks of a mountain river

Pretty solitary: Many of the trails on New Zealand's South Island are reminiscent of the Alps, but they are far less frequented.

Typical New Zealand: Spartan self-catering huts along its hiking trails.

This 3,000-kilometre-long trail from Cape Reinga in the north to the southern tip of New Zealand is signposted and marked, but requires sound outdoor experience in parts and some improvisational skills. It includes well-known New Zealand hiking trails, and leads through areas that barely feature in standard hiking guides.

Tour Profile Te Araroa Trail

Country: New Zealand
Length: 3,000 km
Vertical metres: approx. 97,000
Stages: Whatever you choose
Duration: 4-6 months
Terrain: Highly varied: Beaches, high-alpine mountains, rainforest.
Suitable for: Adventurous hikers, with a love of paradise-like landscapes and a desire to get to know the country and its people.
Accommodation: Huts, campsites, hostels, hotels

Personal requirements: Some sections require extensive trekking experience and some mountaineering skills. Good level of fitness.
Navigation ability: Comfortable using a map/compass/ GPS.
Info: teararoa.org.nz
Reading: Te Araroa – A Walking Guide to New Zealand’s Long Trail, Penguin Random House; Te Araroa : walking New Zealand’s 3000-kilometre trail
by Mark Watson; A Walking Guide To New Zealand’s Long Trail: Te Araroa by Geoff Chapple

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8 Annapurna Circuit

The Annapurna Circuit is considered one of the most impressive trekking trails in the world with the majestic snow-capped Himalayan peaks forming the backdrop throughout. The world-famous, and (depending on what time of year) highly popular trail that circumnavigates the 8,091-metre-high Annapurna Massif meanders through wide Himalayan valleys with breathtaking views.

Two hikers on a high plateau, with glaciated eight-thousand-meter peaks behind them

Majestic: On a clear day, the giant peaks of the Annapurna Massif are your constant companion on this long-distance hiking route.

A mountain village with a Buddhist monastery in a Himalayan mountain landscape

'Om mani padme hum’: For some people, long-distance hiking trails are places of enlightenment just like Nepalese monasteries.

A sign decorated with flags and stickers reading Annapurna Basecamp in front of snow-covered mountains

Not just for extreme mountaineers: Annapurna Basecamp – one of the highlights of this Himalayan trek.

From the start, this long-distance hiking trail of manageable length passes through nearly every type of climate. The highest point is Thorung La pass at 5,416 metres. Multiple overnight options and eateries along the way make logistics and luggage requirements easier to navigate. A permit is required to undertake the trail. You can do without a tent though. Making time for acclimatisation before you set off is advisable – to make the trail more enjoyable and prevent altitude sickness. Beginners can team up with one of the many commercial providers.

Tour Profile Annapurna Circuit

Country: Nepal
Length: 230 km
Vertical metres: 14,500
Stages: Whatever you choose
Duration: 2-3 weeks
Terrain: Himalayan valleys with varying vegetation and climatic zones, high-mountain terrain
Suitable for: High-altitude hikers short on time, not for solitude-seeking hermits
Accommodation: Teahouses lodges hostels

Personal requirements: Good level of fitness. Acclimatisation.
Navigation ability: Good navigation skills.
Info: welcomenepal.com
Reading: Trekking the Annapurna Circuit, Himalayan Map House; Annapurna, 14 treks including the Annapurna Circuit and Sanctuary, Cicerone Press

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9 Snowman Trek

Bhutan – Shangri-La – a kingdom hidden away in the Himalayas with a state mandate to achieve happiness as a national goal (Gross National Happiness – or GNH). But sometimes, that happiness is hard earned. On the Snowman Trek, hikers have to make their way across 13 mountain passes up to 5,400 metres high. The Snowman Trek is considered one of the toughest treks or long-distance trails in the world – and it is definitely one of the most captivating. Good stamina and acclimatisation are a matter of course. In return, you will be rewarded with unforgettable scenic beauty, interactions with inspirational people and wonderful solitude.

fernwanderweg-snowman-trek-thorsten-hoyer

High up: Thru-hiker Thorsten Hoyer on the Snowman Trek in Bhutan.

A trekking caravan with packhorses passes through a valley in the high mountains

The four-week trek takes you through largely unpopulated areas of the Himalayas, so good logistics are a must.

More yaks than people: High-altitude oxen are your constant companion on this trail.

The trail is based on yak-herder routes and connects Bhutan’s high-alpine valleys. There are monasteries and heritage sites along the way, with glaciated six- and seven-thousand-metre peaks as the backdrop. You won’t find a perfect infrastructure with countless lodges like in Nepal. But you will find memories to last you a lifetime.

Tour Profile Snowman Trek

Country: Bhutan
Length: 240 km
Vertical metres: 12,000
Stages: 28
Duration: 4 weeks
Terrain: High Himalayan valleys and passes
Suitable for: Very fit, culturally interested adventure hikers and strong-minded individuals.
Accommodation: Tent for most stages

Personal requirements: Excellent stamina, good acclimatisation.
Navigation ability: Very good navigation skills, with map, compass, GPS
Info: trekking-in-bhutan.com
Reading: Der Snowman Trek in Bhutan: Trekkingabenteuer im Himalaya, Thorsten Hoyer, Conrad Stein Verlag (in German); Trekking in Bhutan
22 multi-day treks including the Lunana ‘Snowman’ Trek, Cicerone Press;

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Further reading: Thru-hiking legend Thorsten Hoyer on the Snowman Trek in Bhutan

10 Pacific Crest Trail

The quintessential classic. It’s hard to find another long-distance trail that’s more legendary. For many thru hikers, it was and still is the first introduction to a life of tramping trails. Many of them not only found the wonders of nature and wilderness but also found their way back to themselves.

The varied 4,265-kilometre Pacific Crest Trail gained its fame largely through the book ‘Wild’ by Cheryl Strayed and film of the same name. In the movie, the main character is played by Reese Witherspoon. In the book, which has the subtitle ‘From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail’, Strayed describes how she, a wide-eyed thru-hiking novice, went through hell and back and found new inner poise on the trail following a turbulent phase of her life marred by heroin, unhealthy sexual exploits and divorce.

A hiker with backpack on a rock above a mountain lake, in the background a red illuminated mountain scenery

Living the dream: The Pacific Crest Trail is one of the most famous long-distance walks in the world.

A hiker on a ridge path, a glaciated mountain in the background

Staggering: Views of the Cascade Mountains volcanoes in the north section of the Pacific Crest Trail long-distance walk.

Mountain lake in a rocky mountain landscape with a few small trees

Endless expanses: the magic of the Sierra Nevada is inescapable on this trek.

The well-marked route requires some outdoor skills but is also achievable for beginners. It runs through the states of California, Oregon and Washington – from the Mexican border on the Pacific through the mountain ranges of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Mountains to the Canadian border.

It was a woman who came up with the idea for this long-distance hiking trail. Way back in 1926, Catherine Montgomery proposed a “high-altitude hiking trail across the peaks of the western mountains”. Since then, she’s known as the mother of the PCT.

Tour Profile Pacific Crest Trail

Country: USA
Length: 4,265 km
Vertical metres: 128,300
Stages: Whatever you choose
Duration: Approx. 6 months
Terrain: Largely mountainous, with some snow sections at some times of year
Suitable for: Individualists looking for peace and solitude, but who are also happy to find company on the trail occasionally.
Accommodation: Mostly tent. No huts.

Personal requirements: Very good stamina (develops automatically during the hike).
Navigation ability: Very good navigation skills, with map, compass, GPS
Info: pcta.org
Reading: Trekking The Pacific Crest Trail, Cicerone Press; How to hike the Pacific Crest Trail, Lonely Planet;

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Further reading: Sanna Wandtke’s account of the Pacific Crest Trail

11 Appalachian Trail

The Appalachian Trail is to the east of the United States what the Pacific Crest Trail is to the west. It crosses 14 states over a distance of 3,500 kilometres and is considered something like the forefather of long-distance hiking trails. It’s almost exactly 100 years since forest scientist and environmentalist Benton MacKaye started to create a network of trails through the Appalachians. Even though some of the peaks are as high as 2,000 metres – including sections of easy scrambling sections – the Appalachians resemble Europe’s lower mountain ranges, though in places much less populated of course.

Dramatic lighting mood with dark clouds over a low mountain range landscape

Goosebumps: Sunset over the tree-covered mountains of the Appalachians.

A woman with a large rucksack crosses a river with the help of a rope stretched across it

No push-over: Even if there are no really high mountains along the Appalachian Trail, it’s still a demanding undertaking.

A hiker with a beard stands in front of a sign that reads Appalachian Trail

Made it: Baxter Peak, the highest summit on Mount Katahdin, marks the end.

Still, you won’t be completely alone on the trail. It is a very popular thru-hike route and was made famous by the film ‘Picnic with Bears’ starring Robert Redford and Nick Nolte. Lovers of spectacular mountain panoramas tend not to get their money’s worth however, as a large part of the trail runs in the shade of the trees.

Tour Profile Appalachian Trail

Country: USA
Length: 3,500 km
Vertical metres: approx. 142,000
Stages: Whatever you choose
Duration: 4-6 months
Terrain: Lower ranges forest
Suitable for: Thru-hiking beginners and anyone interested in getting to know the thru-hike community
Accommodation: Tent or tarp and basic shelter huts

Personal requirements: Good level of fitness and basic outdoor skills.
Navigation ability: Basic map reading skills, trail is signposted
Info: appalachiantrail.org
Reading: The Green Tunnel – A Hiker’s Appalachian Trail Diary, virtualbookworm.com Publishing; The A.T. Guide – A Handbook for Hiking the Appalachian Trail

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12 Huella Andina Trail

Patagonia – a dream destination for many trekking enthusiasts. The Huella Andina Trail runs through the north of the region – an area characterised by mountains like those in the Alps, volcanoes, sparkling lakes and, in parts, densely forested valleys. The government now no longer pays for the upkeep of the trail.

A tent in front of a mountain lake, a wildly jagged mountain ridge in the background

Magical: bivouac spot by Laguna Toncek in Nahuel Huapi National Park. One of the highpoints on the Huella Andina long-distance walk.

And so the route still exists but has become overgrown in parts and is not waymarked throughout any more. It leads from Pehuenia on Lago Moquehue in the north via Bariloche and El Bolson to Puerto Patriada a Lago Epuyén. Scenic highlights are dotted along this epic trail like a string of pearls. Heading south along this long-distance walk, you’ll hike through five national parks: Lanin, Nahuel Huapi, Los Arrayanes, Lago Puelo and Los Alerces. A dream come true for the more experienced adventurer.

Tour profile Huella Andina Trail

Country: Argentina
Length: 450 km
Stages: 42
Duration: Approx. 6-8 weeks
Terrain: Alpine and subalpine mountain landscapes, desert-like volcanic landscapes
Suitable for: Experienced, adventurous thru-hikers; experienced mountain hikers.
Accommodation: Tent, hostels

Personal requirements: Good level of fitness and solid outdoor skills.
Navigation ability: Very good with map reading, compass and GPS
Info: huellaandinatrail.com
Reading: Lonely Planet Trekking in the Patagonian Andes