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Welcome to this article with the best hikes in Zion National Park. Anyone who is planning on going to the western part of the United States, should consider visiting Zion National Park. This spectacular piece of nature is only a short drive away from Las Vegas and with its red rocks and canyons, it’s one of the most popular national parks in the USA. In this article I’m sharing the best hikes at Zion National Park with you.   This article was first published in 2015 and updated in 2022 Angel’s Landing hike Together with The Narrows, this is definitely the most popular trail in the park. The rock you are about to climb is one of the famous sights in Zion and is called like this because they believed angels used this as their landing spot. The trail isn’t very long, only about 9 km return, however it can get pretty nasty, especially if you have a fear of heights. Apart from the fact you are only walking up for at least 2.5 hours, the last bit of the track will lead you along a very narrow trail that’s not even wide enough for two people at the same time. You can opt to hold on to chains, one wrong step can be fatal and make you drop hundreds of meters into the depth.   Our advise is to start as early as possible to stay out of the sun as much as possible and also to avoid the crowds. I started at about 6.00 am and had to trail to myself most of the time, however on the way back it already got extremely crowded. If you have a fear of heights, you will most likely not enjoy this trail and you’re better off doing another one. You can read my blog about hiking Angels Landing here.   Note that from this year onwards, a permit is required to hike Angels Landing. It’s a pilot to see whether this way the crowds will reduce. All information considering the Angels Landing permit can be found here on the NPS website.     The Narrows Another one of the top hikes in Zion National Park is The Narrows. It’s not really a trail because basically you are just wading through the Virgin River most of the time, only with a few rocks or sandy spots every now and then. Check with the Visitors Center if the water level is safe to make the walk, when it becomes too high or the current becomes too strong, the track will be closed. If you are walking all the way to the end, it will take you all day. Unfortunately I only had a couple of hours but it was long enough to give me a good first impression. Packing your camera and other electronics waterproof may be convenient because you wouldn’t be the first one to fall and drown your stuff… the Visitors Center also rents out wading shoes and trekking poles if you need them.   If you’re unsure whether this is for you, you can also book a tour with a guide:       Weeping Rock A short and one of the most easy hikes in Zion National Park is the Weeping Rock trail. It will only take you about 30 minutes and bring you to the weeping rock and the number of tears it’s pouring, depends on the waterlevel. No matter how little, it will be impressive anyway. The walk over is relatively easy (no need to wear your hiking boots) however there are some small climbs. I made this hike at the end of the day when it was cool and very quiet.     Emerald Pools and Kayenta Trail The Weeping Rock Trail can easily be extended with a hike to the Emerald Pools and also the Kayenta Trail. These are a bit harder with some steep climbs and narrow tracks not for those with a fear of heights. But everyone who hikes occasionally should have no trouble with these tracks. The Emerald Pools were somewhat disappointing, which may have had to do with the fact that I was there quite late and it was too dark to take good pictures. If I’m ever lucky enough to go back to Zion, I’d love to hike this Zion hiking trail during the day…   Canyon Overlook Trail This is the only hike on my list that is not along the busroute, which makes it easily accessible by car. This Zion hiking trail is about 1.5 km long and will lead you to the most stunning vistas all over Zion Canyon. It’s a very popular trail and unless you are here really early (which I was not) you’ll have to share it with the rest of the crowds. You will first walk through a small canyon that was formed by erosion and eventually you’ll reach the viewpoint. If it would have been up to me, I would’ve stayed here all day, but I had to continue my journey to Bryce Canyon that same afternoon…     Where to stay when hiking in Zion National Park The nearest town to stay is Springdale, which is right near the main entrance of the park. There’s a variety of campsites and accommodations such as motels, hotels and lodges. Find the best options and prices here.   Also make sure to buy your copy of Lonely Zion National Park here.   Conculsion and disclaimer I hope you found this article with the best trails in Zion National Park useful. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below.   This article contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through such a link I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you!  

The world’s best multi day hikes: an introduction A couple of years ago I wrote this article with the 10 best multi day hikes in the world. It has been online for almost six years now and up until now, it’s one of my most read articles. By now I have moved around the world quite a bit more and added a few more great hikes to the list.   So here is my top 24 of the best multi day treks in the world that everyone should make. All hiked and experienced, mostly in full and sometimes in parts only by yours truly. Some I hiked even more than once. Enjoy this article with the best multiday hikes in the world.   I’ve decided to mention the treks by region so the order below is definitely not the order in which they are my favorite. However … if you continue reading you will find out which one is my absolute favorite trek in the world!   Note that I wrote this article for the first time in 2014 and fully updated it in February 2020     The best multi day hikes in Europe I did most of the multiday hikes in the Netherlands (my homecountry) and in Europe. When I started hiking in 2004, I had never thought that there would be so many hiking trails in Europe. Although I have done countless trips in the Netherlands, I have not mentioned them all, but only two of my favorites. The list would otherwise be endless as you can easily walk all your life in Europe and not hit a trail twice. Here are my favorite hikes in Europe:   Pieterpad, The Netherlands I walked various long distance hikes in The Netherlands here but the Pieterpad (Path of St. Peter) is the best one you can do. There is a lot of variety in the landscape and it’s easy to hike from town to town, so you can either do it in one go or like I did, in a couple of years. The parts near Limburg and Salland were definitely my favorites!   Duration: about 26 days Length: 492 km Difficulty: easy Best time of the the year to hike it: year round Departs from: you can start walking anywhere Where to get supplies: in nearly every village you will walk through     Krijtlandpad, The Netherlands My other favorite hike in the Netherlands is the Krijtlandpad in the province of South Limburg. I walked this 90-kilometer trek on two weekends and I thought it was a wonderful trip to practice for more serious work in alpine terrain. The rolling landscapes, marl plateau and the charming Limburg villages really made it a perfect hike in my own country.   Duration: approx. 6 days Length: 90 km Difficulty: easy Departure: Maastricht or Vaals Where to get supplies: in Maastricht, Vaals, Eupen and Gulpen     Lee Trail, Luxemburg The Lee Trail in Luxembourg is one of the best 3 day hikes that makes the calves burn considerably and is certainly not suitable for unexperienced hikers. I recently hiked the Lee Trail with a full pack and I can tell you that it was pretty tough for someone who lives in a flat country. The trail runs from Ettelbrück to Kautenbach and a train connects the beginning with the end. On the way you can camp or sleep in hotels and the altitude gain per day varies between 500 and 800 meters. One of the best views you have from the Gringlee (473 m.) Deep into the valley, at the end of day 1 just before the descent. Although the trail is not very technical, there are some steep parts in it that require the necessary effort and attention.     Duration: 3 days Length: 53 km Difficulty: medium Departure: Ettelbrück or Kautenbach Where to get supplies: only in Ettelbrück     Mullerthal Trail, Luxembourg A more famous multi-day hiking tour in Luxembourg is the Mullerthal Trail. This trail is in my opinion one of the most beautiful trails in Europe and offers the necessary challenge for both novice and more advanced hikers. It consists of 6 stages in 3 loops that are all between 15 and 25 kilometers. The Mullerthal is also called the Switzerland of Luxembourg (or Little Switzerland) and is made by bizarre rock formations, splashing streams and deep fairytale like forests.     Duration: 6 days Length: 112 km Difficulty: medium Departure: From Echternach, Mullerthal or Larochette Where to get supplies: in Echternach or Larochette   Read more: – Hiking the Mullerthal Trail in Luxembourg     Berliner Höhenweg, Austria WOW! That was the feeling I got when I hiked the first day of the Berliner Höhenweg in Austria. I steadily hiked up to my first overnight stay and within a couple of hours I was right in the heart of the Zillertaler Alps. From here onwards the hike is just stunning. You take old cattle trails which can be extremely narrow, the drop offs are big and so there is no space for fear of heights. It’s incredibly gorgeous though, you will love the glaciers and the mountain peaks surrounding you! It’s an alpine hike exactly the way an alpine hike should be!   Duration: between 2-7 days Length: 70 km Difficulty: strenuous Best time of the the year to hike it: July, August, early September Departs from: Finkenberg (near Mayrhofen) Where to get supplies: you can buy meals in the mountain huts     Alpe Adria Trail – Austria, Slovenia and Italy According to National Geographic, the Alpe Adria Trail is one of the most beautiful long-distance walks in Europe. This 750 kilometer long trek is a gem among the multiday treks in Europe and still relatively unknown, so you will not come across many hikers. The trail starts at the foot of the Grossglockner (Alpe) and ends at the Adriatic Sea (Adria) and takes you through Carinthia in Austria, Italy and Slovenia. I hiked three sections in Austria and one section in Slovenia. It’s good to know that you can walk from hotel to hotel, there are only a few mountain huts on the way and camping is limited.     Duration: 43 days Length: 750 km Gravity: medium Departure: Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe, Carinthia   Want to read more? Then check this page with all my Alpe Adria Trail blogs.     Rothaarsteig, Germany Lets move on to Germany, where they might actually have the most multi day hikes in Europe. I hiked countless of them (mostly part of it because they are often hundreds of kilometers) and one of my favorites is the Rothaarsteig. This is just a few hours’ drive from the Netherlands in the Rothaargebirge, of which the more often called Sauerland is a part. I have walked about two-thirds of the trail in the past, I hope to do the rest in the future. The trail combines busy places like Willingen but also quiet villages that are almost empty.   Duration: approx. 12 days Length: 155 km Difficulty: medium Departure: Brilon Where to buy supplies: possible in the larger towns along the way     Albsteig Schwarzwald Very recently (May 2019) I walked two-thirds of the Albsteig Schwarzwald in the Black Forest. What a special hike this is! This medium-length hiking trail leads you through the hills of the southern German landscape along waterfalls, over narrow mountain paths and crystal clear lakes. In the spring you can still have a chance of snow at Feldberg, the winter sports resort of southern Germany. There was still snow when I got to the summit mid-May.     Duration: 7 days Length: 83 km Gravity: medium Departure: Albbruck Where to buy supplies: en route in Görwihl and St. Blasien   Also read: – Hiking in the Black Forest in Germany     Laugavegur, Iceland Time to move onto the more northerly destinations, my favorite places in the world. Just a 3-hour flight from mainland Europe you will find an unprecedented wilderness in the area that is also called “land of fire and ice”. I’m of course talking about Iceland, undoubtedly known for the recent volcanic eruptions. The Laugavegur is located in the southern interior of Iceland: a beautiful 3- to 4-day hike. The hike starts at the rhyolite mountains of Landmannalaugar and takes you over high peaks and deep valleys to the green Thórsmörk, overlooking the famous Eyjafjallajökull volcano. Along the way you will come across hot springs, glaciers and wild swirling rivers. I think that, even though I did this trip about 10 years ago, it is still the most beautiful hikethat I have ever done. I’ve returned to Iceland many times ever since and would love to hike this trail again one day.   Duration: 3-4 days Distance: 55 km Difficulty: medium, in poor weather strenuous Best time of the the year to hike it: July and August Departs from: from Landmannalaugar, which can be reached by bus from Reykjavík Where to get supplies: only in Landmannalaugar or Thórsmörk   Want to read more? – Hiking the Laugavegur in Iceland: a day to day description – Adventure and solo hiking in Landmannalaugar, Iceland     Kungsleden, Sweden Last summer I hiked various sections of the Kungsleden (the King’s Trail) in Sweden with my partner. This legendary trek in Sweden is 425 kilometers long and takes you through Lapland, from Abisko National Park in the north to Hemavan in the south. The upper part is the best accessible and therefore also the busiest. We therefore walked two different sections from the south: Hemavan – Ammarnäs (tip: get dropped off by helicopter!) and Kvikjokk – Saltoluokta. You also have to cross a number of lakes on this last leg, possibly by rowing boat. The great thing about the Kungsleden is that you can camp anywhere, this ensures that you stay overnight at particularly beautiful locations. I can’t wait to ever walk the rest of this hike hopefully this summer again.     Duration: approx. 30 days Length: 425 km Difficulty: medium Departure: Abisko (north) or Hemavan (south), possibly half way in Kvikkjokk or Saltoluokta     Read more about the Kungsleden section from Ammarnäs to Hemavan here and also check the video below:     Aurlandsdalen, Norway There are plenty of multi day hikes in Norway and Aurlandsdalen is one of the lesser known ones. This two-day hike takes you through what’s also called ‘the Grand Canyon of Norway’ and is quite different from the fjord hikes that are usually mentioned when you talk about hiking in Norway. Because I was traveling early in the season, I only walked day two of this trail, from Østerbø to Vassbygdi.   Duration: 2 days Length: 40 km Difficulty: medium Departure: Geiteryggen Where to buy supplies: none     Glen Affric, Scotland An unknown and not too heavy two-day trek that you can make in Scotland is this to Glen Affric Youth Hostel. This inn is at least a four-hour walk from civilization and is a great base for a trip through one of the most beautiful glens in Scotland. This two-day walk is part of The Affric Kintail Way and the Great Glen Way. Book your overnight stay in advance, the hostel is always fully booked. There are several approach routes, I parked in Morvich and walked up and down from here to the hostel.     Duration: 2 days Length: 30 km Gravity: medium Departure: Morvich Where to buy supplies: limited at the hostel   Also read: the best hikes in Scotland     Most beautiful multi day hikes in Asia To be honest, I am not a huge Asia fan. At least, it is not on my number 1 list of must-sees. Except Nepal, because Nepal is really a great place for a multi day hike. I have traveled to Asia six times in recent years and made a trek five times, three of which I share in this article. Here they are:  …

El Caminito del Rey near Malaga in Spain is probably one of the most famous hikes in Spain. Or should I say tourist attraction? If you were on social media years ago, you may have seen dizzying photos of the Caminito del Rey with a worn path in a gorge and hikers who were attached to ropes. Whereas the old Caminito del Rey used to one of the deadliest hikes in the world, the new version if it has been ‘upgraded’ and safety has improved. There is little dangerous about it, I read on various websites before I set off to Ardales in Andalucia. Nevertheless, while recently traveling in the Malaga area, I started to become curious about El Caminito and wanted to try it in person. In this article I’ll give you my honest opinion about the current Caminito del Rey including tips on where to buy tickets, how to plan your visit and more. Enjoy reading!     About El Caminito del Rey El Caminito del Rey was built at the beginning of the twentieth century as part of an electricity project north of Malaga in Andalusia. The hiking trail was built at the time for the employees of this project, so that they could move quickly through the narrow canyon. In 1921, this trail was given the name Caminito del Rey, the King’s Way, when King Alfonso XIII opened the Gualdalhorce water reservoir. To reach this reservoir he walked the perilous trail through the gorge. Since then it carries the name Caminito del Rey.   As alternative ways for the project and means of transportation eventually emerged, the trail was abandoned and no more maintenance was done. As a result, the concrete structure fell into disrepair and some hikers even died here, most recently in the year 2000. The government decided to close the Caminito del Rey. Renovation began in 2013 and the trail was reopened to the public in 2015. Ever since no more deaths have occurred on the Caminito.     Is the Caminito del Rey dangerous? No, the current Caminito del Rey is not dangerous. You are required to wear a helmet at all times and the wooden construction is sturdy. The trail is wide enough for two people to pass each other and the suspension bridge and stairs are very sturdy too. As an experienced hiker I found the trail very simple. Having said that, I can imagine that people who are afraid of heights will not enjoy this trail. My boyfriend didn’t come along with me for that particular reason.     Walking the Caminito del Rey trail If you would like to walk the Caminito del Rey trail, it will take you about half a day, excluding transport to and from the start. Although the current Caminito del Rey is built so that hikers can start from both entrance points, at the moment (January 2022) it’s only possible to start on the entrada norte, partly because of the pandemic. This means you’ll do a one way from north to south.   From the nearest parking lot (more about parking and the Caminito del Rey bus you can read further on in the article under the practical tips) it’s a 1.5 kilometer walk to the entrance. This section starts at the main road and you’ll walk through a tunnel of about 150 meters and then enter a gorge. Here you’ll follow the signs to ‘Caminito del Rey.’ At the entrance, your ticket will be scanned and you will be given a hairnet and helmet. From here the trail starts. You will arrive almost immediately on the wooden boardwalks above the gorge.   After a good half hour walk on the wooden boardwalks, the trail flattens out and you end up in a forest. Here are some opportunities to take a break and you can have a drink or something to eat. Further on you will go up the next part of the Caminito del Rey. This is also where the glass floor and the spectacular suspension bridge at the end of the gorge are located. After the suspension bridge and waterfall, you have to climb a few more stairs before you reach the end of the Caminito del Rey and walk for about two kilometers to the end point of the walk in the village of El Chorro. Your adventure on the Caminito del Rey has come to an end here.   I haven’t exactly measured the walking distances, but I think the ‘exciting parts’ are twice a kilometer long, maximum. I wasn’t aware beforehand that there is still a forest path in between these two parts. So you don’t walk through the gorge all the time. In total you walk 7.7 kilometers, including the part from the parking lot to the start and from the end to El Chorro.     Caminito del Rey tickets Because the Caminito del Rey has become a real tourist attraction, it’s a must to book your tickets well in advance. This can be done on the website of the Caminito itself or with a tour company, then you book a tour including a guide and possibly transport from/to Malaga. I traveled over the Christmas holidays and booked my ticket about a week in advance. In summer and during the other holidays it is recommended to book further in advance as the maximum number of walkers per hour is capped. This number has also halved due to the pandemic. So I would advise to book as early as possible in advance:     Parking near Caminito del Rey El Caminito del Rey is located about an hour north of Malaga, between Ardales and El Chorro. Since we were camping in Ardales, I have no experience with parking as we left our vehicle at the camp site. However, I have heard from people that parking is quite disastrous and that extra parking spaces are being worked on. There are paid parking spots or you can park the car along the road if you are very early in the morning. Keep in mind that the parking spaces closest to the entrance fill up the fastest, so allow plenty of extra time if you booked a little later in the day. You don’t want to miss your entrance time.   At the end of the walk, take the Caminito del Rey bus back to Ardales. There is considerably less parking space in El Chorro so I would not advise parking there. The bus costs a few euros (cash only) and runs very regularly. In case you quickly suffer from motion sickness: take a motion sickness pill because the road is narrow and winding.     Food, drinks, restaurants Near the start of Caminito del Rey are two restaurants. I didn’t think they were great, but that’s what you can expect from a tourist attraction. There is nothing to eat or drink along the way, so bring plenty of water (at least 1.5 liters in summer, 1 liter in winter) and a few snacks. There are also restaurants and a tiny supermarket in El Chorro.   Overnights near Caminito del Rey We camped at Camping Parque Ardales. Since we visited in winter, there were only campervans, but they mainly have tent sites and a few bungalows. It was a great campsite with places under the trees, I can imagine that this is very nice, especially in the summer. In winter it quickly got cold when the sun was gone. See all places to stay in Ardales here.     Caminito del Rey from Malaga If you don’t want to spend the night in Ardales, you can visit the Caminito del Rey from Malaga or the Costa del Sol. There are various excursions that you can make. Those will take a full day including transport. These excursions are usually with a guide, although I have seen many people who ended up just walking through the canyon on their own while on a guided tour.     Further Caminito del Rey tips – During the winter it’s cold. Bring a thick jacket and possibly gloves. You will walk in the shade for most of the walk. – A helmet is mandatory and you may not take it off. There are cameras along the way and there are employees in various places who monitor this. – Keep in mind that it gets very hot in the summer, so it is best to book as early as possible in the morning. – Wear sturdy shoes, no slippers or heels. – Selfie sticks, tripods etc. are not allowed. – In case of bad weather, the walk can be temporarily closed, for example in case of strong wind, because the suspension bridge then becomes dangerous. – Children are allowed from 8 years old. – The entrance fee is 10 euros (early 2022)     My honest opinion about the Caminito del Rey So here’s my honest opinion about the Caminito del Rey. Initially I was super excited! I had been looking forward to it all week. Having already hiked the Embalces trail and climbed several peaks in the region, this seemed like the icing on the cake during my stay in Andalucia   Although the Caminito del Rey is special, I did not find the trail very exciting. I must admit that I’m not afraid of heights. So the “dangerous” is pretty much gone. However, it was beautiful. You just have to share that beauty with other people. Many people even. The fact that you have to book your ticket for the Caminito del Rey in advance and the many tourists did detract from the experience a bit for me. This does not alter the fact that the vultures circling high above my head and the beautiful views into the gorge are simply spectacular.   Would I recommend the Caminito del Rey to you? Absolutely! However, if you take into account that you are certainly not the only one and that you sometimes even walk in a parade and that it is no longer very exciting, you will not be disappointed.     Conclusion and disclaimer Hopefully you found this blog about the Caminito del Rey useful and I gave you an honest idea of what to expect of it. I’m curious about your experiences, feel free to leave them in the comments. Want to read more about hiking in Spain? Check out all the articles I wrote here!   This article contains affiliate links. If you make a reservation or make a purchase via such a link, we will receive a modest commission at no extra cost to you.  

Let me start by saying that both treks are tough and should not be underestimated. If you have no experience in trekking, you will have to carry lots of stamina and willpower in order to make it to either basecamp. It’s not easy but not impossible either. Which of the two is the most difficult is hard to say and really depends on various factors. If we look at altitude, Everest Base Camp Trek is definitely the most challenging reaching 5.364 meters above sea level. If you decide to trek via Gokyo, which I strongly recommend so you won’t have to hike the same route twice, you will have to cross Cho-La Pass which is even higher and reaches as high as 5.420 meters. Annapurna Base Camp is located at 4.130 meters above sea level, meaning you need less time to acclimatize.

Iregularly have discussions with friends about whether you have to travel far away (= outside of Europe for me) every year. Not only because of the flying embarrassment that seems to be on the rise, but also because there are plenty of nice walks in Europe. You don’t always have to go far to see beautiful landscapes. Need inspiration? Then read on in this article with the beste places to hike in Europe, from north to south. All trails have been made by myself so I only advise you from my own experience, as you are used to from me. Enjoy reading and hiking!

The good thing about hiking in New Zealand is that it can be done from anywhere as there are numerous of trails all over the country, whether it’s close to the city or far away from civilization. In addition to my old post, I will also add more information about the best multi-day hikes in New Zealand as well as shorter hikes that can be done by anyone. Enjoy this list with the best hikes in New Zealand!

When planning to hike a long(ish) track, it’s wise to figure out as much as you can about the trail. What the distance is, how to get to the start and end and what the current trail situation is. Many of these things can be found online nowadays and by doing some research beforehand you can avoid unpleasant surprises along the way. Such as not carrying enough drinking water or having to make a river crossing. But also there may be ferries that are not running on certain days or the bus service you may need could be limited on certain days. All these things can be found out well in advance.

We found another hiking paradise and it’s called Tasmania. Located on the opposite part of the world for us, we spent a month here, exploring what Australians call ‘the Apple Island’ by foot and by bike. We knew that Tasmania had some pretty spectacular scenery to offer but we kept on being surprised over and over again by the diversity of this place. One day we’d stand with our feet in the sand on some stunning beach and the next day we’d be in a rain forrest discovering the prettiest little waterfalls. When you are going hiking here, there is no way you will get disappointed. Here is our selection of the best hikes in Tasmania!

For me, a visit to Crater Lake National Park had been on my bucketlist for many years. Being from The Netherlands it’s not nearly as well known and popular as other US National Parks such as The Grand Canyon or Yellowstone National Park. However, after hearing about this place from a friend, I knew I wanted to go here one day. I kept on googling Crater Lake National Park year after year, at some point I knew it was my time to head on another trip to the US and go for it. And so I finally got to visit Crater Lake National Park after wanting to go for such a long time.