Nestled in the heart of the Sierra Nevada, Lake Tahoe shimmers like a cobalt moon.
The gorgeous 190-square-mile lake, protected by peaks soaring up to 10,000 feet, is perhaps best on display when viewed from its southern shore, where tapestries of wildflowers fling across meadows, sandy beaches glimmer with gold, and mountains send their reflection tumbling into sapphire waters.
The lake’s color isn’t an accident. Lake Tahoe owes its beguiling blue hue to clean, fresh air and water – gifts not taken for granted. Sustainability and conservation initiatives like South Lake Tahoe’s 2020 Climate Action Plan and Visit Lake Tahoe’s ‘Rules to Lake By’ ensure the lake remains as clean, pure, and blue as ever, preserving Lake Tahoe’s magic for future generations.
In 2023 a research team determined that Lake Tahoe was the clearest it has been in more than 40 years. Getty Images
Proof that these kinds of initiatives are working is already here. In 2023 a research team determined that Lake Tahoe was the clearest it has been in more than 40 years – that’s clear enough to peer up to 75 feet below the surface. And these efforts don’t just lock down the region; they also empower visitors to take part while participating in the activities that drew them to Lake Tahoe in the first place. Here’s how you can enjoy all the lake has to offer, while supporting the sustainability initiatives keeping it beautiful.
Late spring and fall bring ideal conditions for mountain biking around Lake Tahoe – including on the Flume Trail. Getty Images
A kingdom of sustainable outdoor adventure
The South Shore of Lake Tahoe is more than a body of water – it’s a region of lakes, creeks, meadows, mountains, and forests. In other words, there’s a lot to explore. Meander through jaw-dropping scenescapes on Lake Tahoe trails; there’s something here for every ability. Paved, wheelchair-accessible trails include the Pope-Baldwin Bike Path which winds through the timber past historic buildings near the lakeshore, and the South Lake Tahoe Bike Path, which offers access to El Dorado Beach. At Taylor Creek Visitor Center the Rainbow Trail, the Stream Profile Chamber, and the amphitheater are wheelchair-accessible, and the audio tours are available to assist visually impaired visitors.
If backpacking, hiking, and horseback riding are more your speed, head to the nearly 64,000 pristine acres in Desolation Wilderness. The ten-mile climb to Mount Tallac, the park’s highest point, rises 9,740 feet into the clouds to seize panoramic views of Lake Tahoe and the world unspooling below. Stay on dedicated trails and pack out what you pack in. Bring plenty of water in a reusable water bottle to remain safely hydrated while ensuring this spellbinding natural playground remains as captivating and litter-free each time you return.
In winter, the snow provides a postcard-perfect contrast with the blue of Lake Tahoe. Ski resorts are a great way to appreciate the outdoors here. Getty Images
Although Lake Tahoe trails are seductive all year round, recreational activities are the most peaceful in spring, fall, and midweek when the lake receives fewer visitors. Late spring and fall also bring ideal conditions for mountain biking in Van Sickle Bi-State Park or the adrenaline-pounding drops and curves carved into the granite of the Flume Trail.
In winter, the snow provides a postcard-perfect contrast with the blue of the lake, when the trail system transforms into a playground for snowshoers and cross-country skiers. Nearby Heavenly Mountain Resort, Sierra at Tahoe, Kirkwood, and other ski areas provide thousands of skiable acres saturated with views of the lake. Hansen’s Resort and Tubing Hill is a favorite for families who come to the lake for tubing and sledding.
Gaze into a watery universe as you glide across Lake Tahoe on a SUP or in a kayak. Getty Images
It’s one thing to look out at Lake Tahoe’s legendary clarity while you’re standing on shore. It’s quite another to gaze into a watery universe as you glide across the lake in a SUP or kayak. Whether you pull into a quiet cove or paddle to Fannette Island in Emerald Bay, watersports are rewarding day and night. Clearly Tahoe plays host to guided tours and rentals, including nocturnal LED-lit experiences under the stars. If you brought your kayak, protect the ecosystem by checking the bottom for plants or invasive species that could harm the lake’s delicate balance.
The South Shore of Lake Tahoe is brimming with restaurants that support local farmers. Shutterstock
Savor locally grown food
Days of outdoor recreation lead to healthy appetites. Fortunately, dining in Lake Tahoe is a tantalizing adventure of its own. The South Shore of Lake Tahoe is brimming with restaurants that support local farmers and serve the freshest food while minimizing their environmental imprint.
Sprouts Natural Cafe focuses on healthy, organic ingredients. Smoothies, salads, burritos, and tall sandwiches piled with veggies or tuna are perfect grab-and-go lunches for a day of hiking or mountain biking. If you prefer to travel lighter, stop by when you get off the trail – it’s open until 8 pm.
Freshies Ohana Restaurant and Bar offers a wide choice, with gluten-free, vegan, and seafood options on the menu. Ahi poke, chilled gazpacho, and homemade soups make this eatery a local favorite. Ohana means family, and it’s a fitting way to describe the restaurant’s friendly, casual atmosphere.
Riva Grill is a favorite restaurant for sustainable dining options on the South Shore of Lake Tahoe. Shutterstock
Waterfront dining options include Riva Grill, where the food is as appealing as the views. The Lobster deviled eggs, zucchini sticks, and Miso Terriyaki Salmon Salad are excellent. Still, the restaurant is especially known for the Wet Woody, a colorful, boozy frozen drink practically made for days on the lake.
If a cold beer is calling after a day of skiing or kayaking, head to Cold Water Brewery and Grill. Order a flight to sample this craft brewery’s take on sours, IPAs, ales, and seltzers. They have a full cocktail menu, too. The beverages are best enjoyed with menu items like grilled steak, Miso ramen, and artichoke chips.
There are plenty of sustainable transportation options on the South Shore of Lake Tahoe, from bikes to shuttles. Getty Images
Green transportation options in Lake Tahoe
It’s easy to get around without a car in South Lake Tahoe. South Shore Bikes rents electric and person-powered bikes for exploring Lake Tahoe’s trails, bike paths, and sidewalks. Lime scooters are also available.
Lake Link Microtransit Shuttle offers personalized, on demand, point to point transit service. It’s like a free, community Uber or Lyft service. The service is available from 9am to 7pm during the week and extends to 11pm on Friday and Saturday nights during peak tourist season. ADA-accessible vans, and ski and bike racks make it easy to get around Lake Tahoe without a car 365 days a year. The service is easy to use – just download the free app so you can explore one of the most beautiful destinations in the world.
From our partners: Head the official tourism website of Visit Lake Tahoe to start planning your trip today, and learn about sustainable places to stay.
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Whether you’re celebrating 12 months of marital bliss or your 50th anniversary, marking the milestones as you continue your journey through life together is an annual excuse to make even more memories.
So forget presents. For travel lovers, true romance means hitting the road. Swap cufflinks for cultural connections and flowers for far-flung adventures with these wedding anniversary trip ideas inspired by traditional gifts.
You’re a year or two (depending which side of the Atlantic you live on) into the new chapter of your lives and so far, so good. The perk: you’ve made it to the grand customary gift status that is ‘paper’. But instead of an embossed journal or letter-writing set, why not treat yourselves to an experience that’s really worth writing home about?
Head to Dublin: This Unesco City of Literature is home to effortlessly romantic bookshops like the Winding Stair and Ulysses Rare Books, not to mention the beautiful Trinity College Library.
Alternative option: Go to Japan for shōji, rice-paper rolls and origami.
How to find ‘real’ traditional Irish music in Dublin
Cowboy carousing might not be the most romantic anniversary activity but hey – this ain’t your first rodeo. Mix things up for your third anniversary and lasso your loved one on a trip to Texas. Grab your hat, leather boots and bullwhip (oo-er) and get down and dusty on a bonafide dude ranch.
Although a real working ranch, Dixie Dude Ranch in cowboy capital Bandera offers chilled-out horse rides and massage therapy – and if that still sounds like thirsty work, Hill Country’s wineries will oblige.
Alternative option: Shop for leather slippers and bags in Marrakesh or sniff out Instagrammable tanneries in Fez, Morocco.
Four years and things haven’t gone sour – time to reward yourselves! Put your zest foot forward on a trip to Sicily, where lemons and blood oranges grow like weeds thanks to the island’s volcanic soil and abundant sunshine. On long summer days, linger over limoncello, citrusy salads and lip-puckering granita.
Hide away in an agriturismo (farm stay) to walk among citrus and olive groves, enjoy home-cooked meals and practice charming your hosts – and each other, of course – in la dolce lingua.
Alternative option: Wine counts as one of your five-a-day… right? Keep telling yourself that as you sip a tipple while touring the vineyards of South Australia.
Sicily’s most beautiful national parks and reserves
By this point in your lives, you’ve most likely laid roots. You may even be adding to your family tree. Admire whakairo – the Maori artform of carving wood, jade and bone – in New Zealand, where getting back to nature couldn’t be easier, even if there are toddlers in tow.
Geothermal Rotorua makes an ideal – if a little whiffy – base; after a day wandering around Redwoods Whakarewarewa Forest or visiting Whakarewarewa Village (complete with carved wooden buildings), chill out with a soak in the area’s natural hot springs.
Alternative option: Pursue your own fairy-tale romance in Germany’s Black Forest.
Feeling the seven-year itch? Not if you switch your sheep’s wool for the llama or alpaca variety. Stock up on some silky-smooth textiles in Peru – colourful socks, bobble hats and ponchos are the standard – and snuggle up with your other half as you admire the Andean landscape.
Opt for an Inca Trail tour that stops at a weaving co-op, where you can learn about traditional weaving and dyeing techniques and pick up some souvenirs to keep you warm on the trail.
Alternative option: Track the world’s finest cashmere to its source in Mongolia.
Experience the best of Peru with these 8 iconic hikes
You may have subsisted on canned soups and tinfoil-wrapped sandwiches while saving for your wedding day, but now that you’re a whole decade in, you deserve a little indulgence.
Make like Tintin (see what we did there?) and take to the seas on a Caribbean cruise or sailing trip, exploring the likes of St Lucia, Jamaica and Cuba.
Alternative option: Tintin also travelled to Tibet – although hopefully you won’t encounter any yetis on your Himalayan trek.
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A pair of matching crystal flutes makes for a nice anniversary gift – but why not swing by the home of Champagne itself? The French region is crammed with opportunities to get sozzled on the sparkly stuff.
Reims is the ideal base for a boozy tour of all the big-name producers: Moët & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot and Dom Pérignon to name but a few. But if we’re sticking with the theme, perhaps the budget can stretch to a bottle of Cristal?
Alternative option: Swarovski fans will be all starry-eyed at Crystal Worlds in Wattens, Austria.
Twenty years of matrimony is a quite a feat – and if it’s taken a few plate-smashing, vase-crunching screaming matches to get you here, who’s to judge? All is forgotten once you’re making up over steaming mugs of tea…
Journey to the home of porcelain (and your favourite loose leaf), China, for a cracking anniversary trip. Sip the hot stuff in Chengdu, before nipping to Jingdezhen for ceramic workshops and pottery purchases.
Alternative option: Clink china teacups during afternoon tea at the Ritz, London, the only UK hotel to have a certified tea sommelier.
Chances are by this point, both you and your beau are sporting at least a few grey hairs – but it’s best not to tease Uganda’s silverbacks the way you do your partner… That’s right – why settle for a silver charm or tie clip when you can witness our wild and distant relatives in the cloud-shrouded forests of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?
The thrill of glimpsing the alpha male or a mother and her babies is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that’s even better when shared with a loved one. If reaching middle age together means adventures like this, who needs youth?
Alternative option: Pack your glad rags and hit the strip in Nevada’s so-called Silver City, Las Vegas.
Uganda’s incredible mountain gorillas are having a baby boom
30 years in and the world’s still your oyster – so splash out on a South Pacific getaway, where turquoise waters and swaying palms make the perfect setting to reflect on your many happy years together.
Learn about pearls on a Fiji farm tour; hunt for a bargain at French Polynesia’s pearl markets – or simply soak up the iridescent sunsets from a hammock at Tikehau Pearl Beach Resort. Wedded bliss doesn’t get better than this.
Alternative option: Channel pearl-strewn Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s with some window shopping on NYC’s Fifth Avenue.
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The adventure continues…
Still going strong after all these years? Make even more precious memories with these trip ideas:
40 years, ruby: Jordan or Arizona Jordan for Mars-like deserts or the Grand Canyon for copper-red vistas.
50 years, gold: Australia or Canada Australia’s Gold Coast or the Yukon for Canadian Gold Rush history.
60 years, diamond: Hawaii or South Africa Honolulu for views of Diamond Head, or Cape Town’s Diamond Museum.
You might also like: Where to play, stay and dine on romantic city getaways 31 unusual love and marriage customs from around the world Classic romantic trips with an adventurous twist
Dipping into the Caribbean Sea, the coastline of Jamaica is as diverse as it is stunning, drawing in everyone from sunseekers looking for a spot to bronze to adventurers looking for a vibrant escape.
Though Jamaica’s culture often takes the spotlight, its beaches hold their own, with crystal-clear surf and some of the finest stretches of sand in the Caribbean.
Most of the island’s renowned beaches can be found along the north and west coasts, especially around Negril, Montego Bay, and Ocho Rios, but the south coast offers secluded spots that are perfect for unwinding.
While some beaches belong to hotels, many are open to the public, sometimes with a small entry fee, so it’s easy to experience the island’s natural beauty without hassle.
Here’s a guide to the best beaches in Jamaica.
Seven Mile Beach is one of Jamaica’s most famous strips of sand. Vilius Veitas/Shutterstock
1. Seven Mile Beach
Best beach for sunset views and snorkeling
Seven Mile Beach, also known as Negril Beach, is one of Jamaica’s most popular stretches of sand.
Famous for its clear turquoise waters and abundant marine life, this beach offers prime snorkeling, with coral reefs scattered along its length — particularly around the southern end and near the cliffs to the west.
Despite the name, the beach actually spans just over four miles, running from Bloody Bay in the north to Long Bay in the south. Along the shoreline, you’ll find dozens of beachfront resorts, bars and restaurants.
For unbeatable sunset views, head to the beach’s western edge, where the clifftop provides an elevated perch for watching Negril’s breathtaking sunsets.
Local Tip: With so many resorts along the beach, it can be difficult to find free access points to the sand. There’s one between Drifter’s Bar and Merrils Beach Resorts and another across from the Sunrise Club. Look for the small yellow signs that read “Negril Beach Access Point” along Norman Manley Blvd.
2. Frenchman’s Cove
Best for photography enthusiasts
A true gem nestled in Port Antonio, Frenchman’s Cove is a small but picturesque beach where a freshwater river meets the sea.
With its white sand surrounded by lush greenery, this secluded beach has quite a movie pedigree, featuring in films such as Lord of the Flies (1990) and Knight and Day (2010).
The beach is framed by verdant greenery on both sides, creating a picturesque natural crescent that’s perfect for photos. Another popular Instagram spot is on the swing above the river section.
Planning Tip: As of December 2024, there’s an entry fee of JMD$2,500 (USD$25) for visitors who aren’t staying at the Frenchman’s Cove Resort. The beach is open from 9am to 5pm, and users are barred from bringing their own food or drinks.
Ocho Rios Bay Beach is a great stop for folks who like to mix beach time with shopping and dining. Getty Images
3. Ocho Rios Bay Beach (Turtle Beach)
Best beach for activities and amenities
Ocho Rios Bay Beach, commonly known as Turtle Beach, is the main beach in Ocho Rios, stretching for some 500m along Jamaica’s north coast.
It’s a popular spot for resort guests, day trippers and cruise passengers, thanks to its proximity to the Ocho Rios cruise port (just a five-minute walk away).
You can enjoy water sports in the bay, and the beach is well-equipped with amenities, including beach chairs and umbrella rentals.
Popular restaurants Ocho Rios restaurants such as Miss T’s Kitchen, Margaritaville and Ocho Rios Jerk Center are within walking distance, along with shopping malls and fast food joints.
Detour: For souvenirs and Jamaican craft items, visit the Ocho Rios Craft Market – about a 10-minute walk from the beach.
4. Mahogany Beach
Best beach to chill and grab a beer
An entry fee of around JMD$500 (US$10 for tourists) gives visitors access to changing areas, a beach chair, and a fine curve of sand at Mahogany Beach in Ocho Rios.
The beach is small compared to others in town, and fills up quickly with locals — many coming from out of town just to relax on the beach with friends.
If you crave refreshment, the Mahagony Beach Bar & Grill restaurant is close at hand. In addition to the beach, there’s also a freshwater river where you can relax in a bamboo chair or go rafting to unwind.
Tha sand gleams brilliantly at Doctor’s Cave Beach. Peter Phipp/Getty Images
5. Doctor’s Cave Beach
Best beach for swimming
Doctor’s Cave Beach in Montego Bay is famous for its calm, clear waters, making it a top choice for swimmers. Known for its gentle waves and smooth, soft sand, the beach is perfect for a leisurely dip.
The beach’s location in a sheltered cove helps maintain the calm conditions, while the pristine water is often described as “healing” – a reputation dating back to the 1920s when British osteopath Sir Herbert Barker praised its therapeutic properties.
Planning Tip: For an entry fee of around JMD$1,100 (US$8), you can access the beach, rent lounge chairs, and enjoy the beachside restaurants.
6. Maiden Cay
Best beach for weekend parties
Maiden Cay, located off the coast of Kingston, is the ultimate beach destination for those looking to party on the weekend. Every Sunday, Loose Cannon Tours hosts a widely popular all-inclusive Beach Day, where you can enjoy food, drinks, and music while soaking up the sun.
This uninhabited island is just a short 20-minute boat ride from the mainland near Port Royal, making it an ideal getaway for weekend revelers.
Planning Tip: Book tickets ahead – early birds pay JMD$13,000 (US$85), compared to JMD$14,000 (US$95) at short notice.
There’s no official entry fee for lovely Winnifred Beach. Shutterstock
7. Winnifred Beach
Best free beach
Winnifred Beach, located in Portland, is one of Jamaica’s last remaining free beaches, offering a charming and distinctly local atmosphere.
However, while there’s no official fee to visit, locals who maintain the beach may request a small donation to help preserve it.
The beach features calm, shallow waters, and it’s a popular chill-out spot for residents of Portland. Visitors can enjoy delicious offerings from local vendors, including seafood, jerk chicken and cold drinks. The beach also has showers and changing rooms.
8. Boston Bay Beach
Best beach for surfing
While there isn’t a big surfing culture in Jamaica, Boston Bay Beach, located near Port Antonio, is the island’s premier surfing destination, attracting pro surfers who can be seen riding the consistent waves here throughout the day.
There’s an entry fee of around JMD$500 (US$3), and visitors can rent surfboards and even take lessons from the pros on the beach.
The waves typically range from three to six feet, and the breaks are suitable for both beginner and advanced surfers.
Planning Tip: The best time to surf at Boston Bay Beach is during the winter months (November to April) when the waves are at their most consistent and powerful. Early mornings or late afternoons are ideal for catching the swell.
9. Puerto Seco Beach
Best beach for families
Puerto Seco Beach in Saint Ann is the ultimate destination for a fun-filled family beach day. With an aquapark, swimming pool, and various water sports like beach volleyball and jet skis, there’s something for everyone.
The beach also offers amenities such as beach chairs, VIP cabanas and free Wi-Fi, and families can stop for a meal at the restaurant and bar or shop for souvenirs at the gift shop.
Planning Tip: There’s a fee of around JMD$2,500 (US$20) for the amenities, so consider a full-day trip to make the most of it. Weekdays tend to be quieter than weekends, perfect for families.
10. Parottee Beach
Best secluded beach
Located several miles south of Black River, Parottee Beach features dark sand sprinkled with shells facing a pristine stretch of ocean.
The calm, clear waters make it ideal for swimming, and the beach isn’t close to any major tourist towns or attractions – with the exception of Floyd’s Pelican Bar which sits out in the bay.
The beach is mainly used by fishermen from local communities; residents occasionally visit to swim but there’s rarely a crowd.
Fisherman’s Beach lives up to its name, with lots of popular seafood restaurants. Amy Nakazawa/Getty Images
11. Fisherman’s Beach
Best beach for fresh seafood
Fisherman’s Beach in Ocho Rios may not be the top spot for swimming, but it’s undoubtedly the best place in town for fresh seafood.
Located just beyond the Ocho Rios Fishing Village, the beach is surrounded by some of the town’s best seafood eateries, including Lobster Dave and Whalers.
Both restaurants serve up the freshest catches, sourced directly from the fishermen working right on the beach.
While you eat, you can enjoy views of colorful fishing boats on the shore and fishermen heading out to sea. If you’re staying somewhere with cooking facilities, you can also purchase fresh seafood directly from the boats to take home.
Detour: After a beach day, take a short drive to nearby Dunn’s River Falls – a must-see natural attraction where you can climb and splash on the terraces of a scenic cascade.
12. Bamboo Beach Club
Best beach for a lively atmosphere
Located on the north coast in Falmouth, Bamboo Beach Club has a lively atmosphere that’s ideal for those seeking a vibrant beach day.
For an entry fee of around JMD$2,000 (US$15), visitors can enjoy soft golden sand, a lively music scene and spontaneous dance parties hosted by energetic staff.
The beach also hosts regular parties and events, and there’s a restaurant and bar, a souvenir shop, free Wi-Fi, cabanas for rent, an official photographer and beachside masseurs. If you want to explore the underwater world, rent some snorkeling gear.
Planning Tip: It’s easy to arrange transportation if you’re staying in Falmouth, and there’s a beach bus that transfers visitors from Montego Bay, Kingston and Ocho Rios.
Kingston is close by, but Lime Cay is the vision of a deserted tropical getaway. Getty Images
13. Lime Cay
Best beach near Kingston
Many visitors are surprised to discover that Kingston, Jamaica’s capital city, doesn’t have its own beach.
However, just a short boat ride away lies Lime Cay, a tiny, uninhabited island off the coast of Port Royal, circled by white sand and beautifully clear waters.
During the week, Lime Cay doesn’t get many visitors – you’ll likely have the island all to yourself if you come to swim or sunbathe.
Y-Knot Bar & Grill in Port Royal offers boat trips to Lime Cay for JMD$2,500 (US$20), and local fishermen from Port Royal also offer transfers.
Planning Tip: While weekdays are peaceful at Lime Cay, weekends (especially Sundays) bring a livelier vibe, with popular boat parties attended by both locals and tourists.
14. Hellshire Beach
Best beach to mingle with locals
Hellshire Beach, located in Portmore, is the most-popular beach for Jamaicans in the Kingston area, thanks to its convenient location and lively vibe. It’s also known for its delicious seafood, including fish, lobster, shrimp, and oysters.
You won’t find tourists here too often. Hellshire is a snapshot of what authentic Jamaican beach life is really like — people eating, drinking, smoking, enjoying music, playing football on the sand or playing dominos at beachside restaurants.
On weekends, the beach is livelier, with families, music and lots of vendors.
Local Tip: Sharks are sometimes spotted offshore at night, so avoid night swimming. Stick to daytime visits and keep in mind that the beach is packed on local holidays.
15. Treasure Beach
Best off-the-beaten-path beach
An off-the-beaten-path destination along Jamaica’s south coast, Treasure Beach is made up of five secluded coves, lined with dark sand. Calabash Bay, home to Jakes Hotel, sees the most visitors, and this is also where the biennial Calabash Literary Festival is held.
Frenchman’s Bay, Great Bay, Fort Charles Bay, and Billy’s Bay tend to stay quieter; local fishermen are often the only regulars.
Frenchman’s Bay has a few small beachside restaurants, and Great Bay comes to life each year for the Jakes Triathlon.
All these coves are great for sunbathing and swimming, though the waters can occasionally get rough. Occasionally, you might spot locals biking along the shore.
Lonely Planet’s team of writers and editors answer a lot of travel questions, providing tips and hacks to help you plan a hassle-free trip. We thought this question would be perfect for LP author Kerry Walker, who’s long been obsessed with cold, remote places, snow and the northern lights.
Question: We are planning a winter break to the Arctic, but are undecided whether to go for Finland, Norway or Sweden. Where would you recommend? Also, we know that there is no guarantee of seeing the northern lights. What else is there to do?
Kerry Walker: Observing the northern lights flash away in night skies is a moment you’ll treasure forever. But you can’t buy tickets, and the aurora borealis doesn’t perform at the click of a finger (or the click of a booking button). While the unpredictability of the lights is an intrinsic part of their beauty, it can be incredibly frustrating if you’ve pinned your hopes on seeing them and have invested time and money in journeying all the way to the Arctic, and they are a no-show.
But before you brace yourself for disappointment, know that there are several ways you can increase the odds, and plenty of other things to do if the lights don’t materialize during your visit.
The Polar Night season is one of the best times of year to see the Northern Lights. Sara Winter/Shutterstock
The long dark winter nights are the best times to see the northern lights
The northern lights shine at polar latitudes from September to April – but your best chance is to visit during the dark days and long nights of the Polar Night (late November to mid-January), when the sun doesn’t rise above the horizon. Where you go matters: pick a base positioned right under the aurora oval, which forms a ring around the earth’s geomagnetic North Pole. The remoter and darker, the better. After that, it’s down to luck: how clear the skies are, and how strong solar activity is.
Narrow down your choices of places to go in the Arctic
The choice of where to go is boundless. Finland tends to be a bit more competitive price-wise (especially if you can land a deal outside of peak Santa season in December) and easier to access (with direct flights to Rovaniemi). Norway wins when it comes to big, in-your-face mountains, while Sweden charms with its remote, little-visited wilds.
North of the Arctic Circle, outdoor activities abound. Just bundle up warm before you set out. Getty Images
Plan your Arctic experiences
It’s important that you don’t make seeing the northern lights the be-all and end-all of a trip to the Arctic. They are a bonus, not a given. Plan a trip that you would happily take regardless of whether or not the lights shine. Trust me – it’s magical up there either way. Envisage the Arctic, and you might picture a bleak white wilderness. But it’s actually insanely beautiful: the pastel light of would-be sunrises and sunsets; the pristine snow and ice formations; the frozen forests, fells and mountains.
And there are many ways to harness this beauty. Winter in the Arctic doesn’t mean hibernating and huddling under reindeer hides. It means bundling up in thermals, snowsuits and boots and diving into the snow – whether you go for Lapland in Finland, Arctic Sweden or Norway.
Even villages that are little more than specks on the map often have a blizzard of activities on offer, from snowmobiling and dogsledding to reindeer-driven sleigh rides, ice fishing, snowshoeing, skiing (downhill and cross-country), sea kayaking and ice floating (yep, it’s a thing). These activities aren’t just aimed at tourists; locals embrace them too.
Planning tip: The temptation is to do it all. But before you overcram your itinerary, keep in mind the harsh elements and extreme cold. Go for a less-is-more approach, with one big activity a day, and you’ll have time to appreciate the place, watch wildlife, and absorb the silence and majesty of the Arctic.
If you’re planning a lot of activities, it might be cheaper to book with a tour group. Tain Nattapong/Shutterstock
Traveling with a tour group can help manage the budget
If you don’t mind traveling in a small group, guided holidays abound and some can save you a fortune, especially if you’re planning lots of activities. Arctic-savvy companies include Intrepid, Exodus, Much Better Adventures and Responsible Travel, the Aurora Zone and Discover the World. The advantage of booking a package is that you know what you’re paying up front, as most cover flights, transfers, accommodation, meals and activities.
Going it alone gives greater flexibility
If you’re planning an individual trip, the Arctic is your oyster. You might not have considered Finnish Lapland for skiing, with fells topping out at a modest 1000m (3281ft) – but you really should. Crowds are few and properly cold polar winters deliver dreamy powder for cross-country, downhill and off-piste skiing in resorts like Levi and Ylläs. For more peace, stray further north to the likes of Saariselkä, the gateway to the Narnia-like wilds of Urho Kekkonen National Park, or Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park rubbing up against the Swedish border, for a gulp of the world’s cleanest air and every adventurous pursuit you can shake a snowball at.
In the northern reaches of Sweden and Finland, you can learn about traditional Sámi culture. Kuznetsova Julia/Shutterstock
The harder-to-reach Arctic is wild and wonderful
Swedish Lapland is less well known and a bit trickier to reach (a flight to Stockholm, then a connection to Kiruna). But my, is it lovely – particularly if you base yourself somewhere like Abisko, which borders a phenomenally wild national park and has carved out a reputation for some of the world’s best northern lights with its Aurora Sky Station. In Jukkasjärvi, the original Icehotel, carved afresh each year, is a destination in itself, and a wonderland of Arctic activities, from dogsledding to Sámi reindeer encounters, cross-country skiing, ice fishing, snowmobiling, moose safaris and northern lights photography workshops.
Norway is just as bewitching, and throws whopping great mountains into the equation. The islands have the scenic edge – try Lofoten or Senja, or head to Rebbenesøya, just north of easily reached Tromsø, for Arctic camping and winter kayaking, skiing and snowshoeing at Elements Arctic Camp. Midway between Norway and the North Pole and home to more polar bears than people, Svalbard still feels the way it must have to those early intrepid explorers, especially when you head out into the snowy wilds on a multiday dogsledding or snowmobiling expedition.
There’s another way to increase your chances…
Are you determined to see the lights no matter what? Hop on a Hurtigruten Cruise. During the auroral season, the company offers a Northern Lights Promise on voyages of over 11 nights – which means that if the northern lights fail to appear, you get a free week-long northbound voyage or 6-day southbound trip to give it another shot.
Ski resorts are a lot like snowflakes – no two are the same. Skiers in Canada and the USA have seemingly endless choices for schussing, carving, gliding or French-frying down the slopes. And that’s just the skiing –there’s also the apres ski scene, the lodgings, the restaurants, the shopping and the overall vibe to consider. Choices, choices…
As you start making plans for winter, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the dizzying array of options out there. To help you decide where to spend your winter vacation, we’ve put together this guide to some of the best ski destinations in North America. Here’s where to go.
Weave your way through Schweitzer’s snow-covered forest. Debbie Galbraith/Getty Images
1. Schweitzer, Idaho, USA
Best for tree skiing and epic views
Idaho may be best known for its potatoes, but the Gem State also has great skiing, with more than a dozen uncrowded, laid-back resorts to choose from. One of our favorites is Schweitzer, a 2900-acre winter playground located in the Idaho Panhandle, roughly 60 miles south of the Canadian border.
Schweitzer is the largest ski area in all of Idaho. Its spaciousness, coupled with the fact that the closest major airport is just 90 minutes away in Spokane, Washington, means you never have to worry about waiting in a long lift line. The drive from Spokane is also easy and beautiful.
Schweitzer has more than 1200 trees dotting its slopes, so if you love carving in and out of snow-dusted forests, this is your place. Perhaps the best part? On a bluebird day, you’ll have a clear view of the sparkling waters of Lake Pend Oreille from the top. Framed by snow-dusted evergreens and rolling hills, the scene could have been plucked straight off a picture postcard. And, according to legend, the lake is home to the notorious “Pend Oreille Paddler,” similar to Scotland’s Loch Ness monster.
Planning tip: Book a room at Humbird, a new boutique hotel that opened in Schweitzer’s base area in 2022. All 31 of Humbird’s contemporary, Scandinavian-inspired rooms face southeast and they have massive picture windows, so you can continue admiring Lake Pend Oreille long after you’ve hung up your skis for the day. Staying at Humbird, you can easily head into Sandpoint, Idaho, for après-ski drinks or dinner, and you won’t have to worry about schlepping your gear back up the hill the next morning.
Serious snow is guaranteed on the slopes of Banff. Stuart Westmorland/Getty Images
2. Banff Sunshine Village, Alberta, Canada
Best for northern lights and tasty Canadian treats
More people visit Banff in the summer, but powder-hounds choose winter for their trips to this Alberta mountain town. Aside from ice skating on Lake Louise and soaking in the geothermal waters of Banff Upper Hot Springs, you can also hop between three different ski areas located inside Banff National Park.
Banff Sunshine Village, Lake Louise Ski Resort and Mt Norquay each have their own vibe. If you have to pick just one, make it Banff Sunshine Village – this 3300-acre swath of ski country is perched atop the Continental Divide of the Canadian Rockies, on the border between Alberta and British Columbia. If you ride the Great Divide chairlift, you’ll be able to say you visited both provinces!
Because it has so little light pollution, Banff Sunshine Village is also an ideal place to stay up late and watch for the northern lights. The aurora borealis dances across the night sky here so frequently that the resort even has a dedicated “aurora cam” broadcasting the show. For the best chances of spotting the aurora, book a room at Sunshine Mountain Lodge, the resort’s only ski-in, ski-out hotel.
Planning tip: If you get hungry on the slopes, glide down the Banff Avenue run until you spot the small, bright red BeaverTails shack. Here, you can treat yourself to a quintessentially Canadian pastry dusted with cinnamon and sugar (The Classic) or smothered in decadent toppings, like chocolate hazelnut spread or apple pie filling.
Glide along Beaver Creek’s gentle slopes before a mouthwatering meal. Getty Images
3. Beaver Creek Resort, Colorado, USA
Best for mellow skiing and top-notch culinary adventures
Beaver Creek Resort often gets overshadowed by its larger, more famous sister, Vail, but while both are fun, if you’re looking for a slightly more mellow vibe and you appreciate good food and drink, make Beaver Creek your home base. You can easily buzz between the two, and both are included on the Epic Pass.
After shredding Beaver Creek’s 2082 acres of snowy terrain by day, head down to the base area around 3pm, otherwise known as “Cookie Time.” Every afternoon, chefs come around holding platters of warm, ooey-gooey chocolate chip cookies that are totally free. It’s the perfect pre-après-ski snack.
Afterward, ditch your ski boots but leave your coat on for dinner at Beano’s, a rustic, fine-dining cabin located right on Beaver Creek’s slopes. To get here, you’ll need to climb aboard a sleigh attached to a snowcat, but don’t worry about being too chilly – the ride is just 20 minutes long, and there are blankets in the sleigh. Plus, on clear nights, you’ll be too busy stargazing to notice the chill. On arrival at Beano’s, warm up by the massive stone fireplace, then tuck into decadent, seasonal dishes inspired by the surrounding peaks.
Planning tip: If you’re skiing with little ones, be sure to drop by the Candy Cabin, which has bins, barrels and dispensers full of sweet treats. Visiting this magical, on-mountain spot will probably be the highlight of their entire week.
Head to Utah for Olympic energy and clear skies. Scott Markewitz/Getty Images
4. Snowbasin Resort, Utah, USA
Best for unleashing your inner Olympian and stargazing
Still buzzing from the Paris Olympics and thinking about the winter version in 2026? Get a taste of Olympic snow at Snowbasin Resort, located in Huntsville, Utah, roughly an hour north of Salt Lake City.
When Salt Lake hosted the 2002 Winter Olympics, the men’s and women’s downhill, super-G and combined races were held at Snowbasin. So when you visit, you can ski the same slopes as Olympians did, even if you don’t go quite as fast! Salt Lake City has been selected to host the 2034 Winter Olympics, so Snowbasin will be back in the spotlight as an official Olympic skiing venue before too long.
When your legs need a break, relax in one of Snowbasin’s luxuriously over-the-top lodges, which feature tall ceilings, stone fireplaces, massive windows, chandeliers and rustic-chic decor. Check out the bathrooms – posh granite floors, Italian light fixtures, wood paneling, plush furniture and ultra-private stalls make these the poshest restrooms you’ll find in any ski area, anywhere.
Planning tip: Snowbasin doesn’t have any on-mountain lodging, but the slopes are just a 10-minute drive from downtown Huntsville. Check into the Compass Rose Lodge, an intimate boutique hotel with its own observatory and powerful telescopes. As soon as you decide the dates of your trip, book a “star walk” tour at the hotel so you can admire galaxies, nebulae, constellations and planets before falling into bed.
Explore Jackson Hole’s wilderness and spot wildlife along the way. Rob Hammer/Getty Images
5. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Wyoming, USA
Best for wildlife sightings
If your Netflix history is nonstop wildlife documentaries, start planning a trip to Jackson Hole Mountain Resort ASAP. Located in far western Wyoming, this 2500-acre ski area is known for its gnarly, ruggedly steep slopes and huge powder dumps. Its bright red aerial tram is also iconic, whisking skiers up 4139 vertical feet in less than 10 minutes.
But there’s so much more to do and see here besides skiing. Just outside of downtown Jackson, you’ll find the National Elk Refuge, a federal site that protects more than 24,000 acres of wildlife-filled wilderness. As the name suggests, elk are abundant on the refuge, and so are wolves, coyotes, bighorn sheep, ermine, trumpeter swans, birds of prey and waterfowl. During the winter, you can admire these animals from the comfort of a horse-drawn sleigh as it glides across the snow.
For even more wildlife viewing opportunities, head to Grand Teton National Park, which is even more magical and serene in the winter. For a dash of arts and culture, check out the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson, which has more than 5000 pieces of animal art in its collection.
Planning tip: If skiing is your top priority, book slope-side accommodations in Teton Village (we rate Hotel Terra and Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa). If you plan on exploring beyond the slopes, check into a more centrally located hotel in downtown Jackson, like the Alpine House, Anvil Hotel or Cache House. For a splurge, treat yourself to a few nights at Amangani, an ultra-luxury property where you might rub elbows with a celebrity or two.
Find classic American snow at Steamboat Springs in Colorado. Getty Images
6. Steamboat Ski Resort, Colorado, USA
Best for Wild West vibes and adrenaline-pumping events
The snow at Steamboat Ski Resort in Colorado is so light, so fluffy, so perfect in fact that the ski area dubbed it “Champagne Powder” and got the name trademarked (no joke). White stuff aside, Steamboat Springs should also be high on your winter bucket list because of its something-for-everyone skiing and Wild West vibes.
The resort has more than 3741 acres of terrain that ranges from accessible and beginner-friendly slopes to hardcore, expert-only stuff. And if you really want to challenge yourself, Steamboat added 650 additional acres of advanced and expert slopes that were previously out of bounds in 2023.
Pack a cowboy hat and boots, if you’ve got them, because Steamboat is also brimming with Western charm. Watch professional rodeo cowboys zoom down the slopes during the annual Cowboy Downhill, then retreat to Vista Verde Guest Ranch for an authentic (and luxurious) dude ranch experience. If you need to freshen up your wardrobe while you’re here, head to FM Light & Sons, a historic, fifth-generation Western apparel shop that’s been open since 1905.
Planning tip: Don’t miss the Steamboat Winter Carnival, which has been going strong since 1914. The schedule is jam-packed with fun activities, but one of the highlights is the skijoring race down Lincoln Avenue, Steamboat’s main downtown street. Watch skiers get pulled by horses at top speed while trying to navigate jumps, gates, turns, cones and other obstacles.
Aspen Snowmass is a legendary stop for North American skiers. Karl Weatherly/Getty Images
Honorable mentions
There’s plenty more snow in them thar hills. Here are more of our favorites.
Mammoth Mountain: Lots of powder and towering lodgepole pines in California’s Eastern Sierra.
Stowe Resort: A glitzy, New England ski area with tons of history.
Aspen Snowmass: Four Colorado ski resorts that cater to a high-end clientele.
Park City Mountain Resort: A humongous Utah ski area with more than 7300 acres of diverse terrain.
Club Med Charlevoix: A rare all-inclusive ski resort in Québec, Canada, where you don’t have to worry about unexpected costs once you arrive.
Palisades Tahoe: An iconic Lake Tahoe spot that hosted the 1960 Winter Olympics and recently changed its name from Squaw Valley.
Whistler Blackcomb: A sprawling British Columbia resort with more than 8000 acres of snow.
Home to some of Europe’s most beautiful beaches, Portugal provides seaside escapes of every variety.
You can look forward to sandy islands lapped by cerulean seas, peaceful coves tucked near edge-of-the-earth sea cliffs, and dune-backed expanses facing some of the world’s most dramatic surfing spots. The challenge is deciding where to begin.
Although a list of the country’s best beaches could easily run into triple digits, we’ve narrowed it down to 11 of our absolute favorites. The time to start planning your Portugal beach break is now.
1. Praia dos Galapinhos, Parque Natural da Arrábida
Best beach for a quiet break from the city
Less than an hour’s drive from Lisbon, you can find yourself amid the coastal wilderness of the Parque Natural da Arrábida. Here, forest-covered hillsides descend steeply to the shoreline, which is dotted with hidden coves and sparkling beaches. The most lovely is the Praia dos Galapinhos, which offers white sand and crystal-clear waters. The calm seas make it a great swimming spot.
2. Praia de Odeceixe, Odeceixe
Best beach for families with little kids
Amid the wilder shores of the western Algarve, Praia de Odeceixe hits all the right notes, and the scenic headland-backed beach draws both families and surfers. Its unique location gives it surprising versatility. Lying at the mouth of the Rio Odeceixe, the beach has a sandy riverside section that’s perfect for splashing about without worrying about the pounding surf – ideal for small kids.
Planning tip: If it’s waves you seek, you’ll find them by strolling over to the ocean, where rideable breaks arrive year-round (though conditions are best in winter). Various surf academies – including Odeceixe Surf School – can help you hone your skills or teach you some new ones.
Praia Baleal connects the scenic namesake island village to Portugal’s west coast. Alexander Spatari/Getty Images
3. Praia Baleal, near Peniche
Best beach for a surfing getaway
About 5km (3 miles) northeast of Peniche on Portugal’s west coast, Praia Baleal is a real showstopper of a beach. This stretch of sand is actually a causeway, linking the mainland to the scenic, island-like village of Baleal, which stands atop a craggy headland jutting from the Atlantic Ocean.
The fantastic sweep of sandy beach here offers swimming both to the north and south and some fine surfing. Surf schools and several restaurants are located along the beach.
4. Praia da Ilha de Tavira, Tavira
Best beach for low-season solitude
This huge beach at the eastern end of Ilha de Tavira – a long barrier island just off the country’s southern coast – boasts golden sands and inviting, clear waters, plus a sprinkling of beach bars, a windsurf school and a campground in summer (the only accommodation on the island). Outside the peak months of July and August, it feels wonderfully remote and empty.
Planning tip: Ferries make the 10-minute hop to the island from Quatro Águas, 2km (1.25 miles) southeast of Tavira, one of the Algarve’s most charming towns.
The red cliffs of Praia da Falésia stretch for miles. Daniel Harwardt/Shutterstock
5. Praia da Falésia, near Albufeira
Best beach for space and facilities
The Algarve has more than its fair share of breathtaking beaches, and this 6km-long (3.7 miles) strip of sand backed by stunning ochre-hued cliffs has to be one of its most impressive. Starting 8km (5 miles) east of Albufeira, this strand gets very crowded in summer, especially when the tide is in.
Planning tip: Head here in low season – November to March – with average highs of around 16°C (61°F), and the beach will be all yours.
6. Praia de São Jacinto, near Aveiro
Best beach for nature lovers
Sandwiched between crashing Atlantic breakers and endless sand dunes, this magnificent beach forms the western flank of the São Jacinto nature reserve. It’s a bit of a trek to get here, but the toil will be worth every second for those who like their beaches sandy, remote and rugged.
Planning tip: To get to Praia de São Jacinto, take a 20-minute bus journey from Aveiro to Forte da Barra, a ferry to São Jacinto, and then it’s a brisk walk to the beach. Aveiro is only 50 minutes from Porto by train, so a visit to the beach can easily be done as a day trip from the city.
Praia do Cabedelo is one of the most beautiful beaches in Viana do Castelo. Bruno Ismael Silva Alves/Shutterstock
7. Praia do Cabedelo, Viana do Castelo
Best urban beach
Near the country’s northern border with Spain, Viana do Castelo is blessed with an appealing medieval center, an attractive riverfront and lovely beaches just outside the city. The pick of the lot is Praia do Cabedelo, a 1km-long (0.6 mile) arc of powdery pale-golden sand that folds into grassy dunes backed by a grove of wind-blown pines.
Planning tip: It’s across the river from town, best reached on a five-minute ferry trip from the pier south of the Praça da Liberdade.
8. Praia das Furnas, Vila Nova de Milfontes
Best beach for shallow waters
On the left bank of the Rio Mira on the coast of Portugal’s southern Alentejo region, Praia das Furnas is a long stretch of fine sand backed by small rocky cliffs. The sandbars in the area make for some relaxing frolicking in the waves – perfect for tiny travelers taking their first dip in the sea.
Planning tip: You can arrive here by car or take the small ferry from Vila Nova de Milfontes, a low-key resort town with lots of charm.
The popular Praia do Camilo near Lagos is a tiny stretch of sand surrounded by dramatic cliffs. Mirjam Claus/Shutterstock
9. Praia do Camilo, Lagos
Best beach near a tourist town
Praia do Camilo is a prime example of the small sandy coves that dot the coastline of the Algarve region. The small, dramatically set beach is located on the outskirts of Lagos, a pretty resort town with cobbled lanes and picturesque squares enclosed by 16th-century walls.
Planning tip: Some 200 wooden steps help beachgoers descend to the golden strip of sand that’s lapped by shallow turquoise waters and encased by wind-gnarled cliffs. Arrive early (or visit out of peak season) to secure towel space.
10. Costa da Caparica, near Lisbon
Best beach near the capital
One of the easiest beach escapes near Lisbon, the Costa da Caparica on the Setúbal Peninsula has a seemingly never-ending beach that attracts sun-worshiping lisboêtas craving all-over tans, surfers keen to ride Atlantic waves and day-tripping families seeking clean water and soft sand.
It hasn’t escaped development, yet a short distance to the south, high-rises soon give way to pine forests and mellow beach-shack cafes.
11. Praia do Norte, Nazaré
Best beach for monumental waves
An underwater canyon off the coast of northern Portugal creates ideal conditions for some of the biggest swells on Earth. You can watch these monsters roll in at Praia do Norte, a wild beach backed by dunes located a few kilometers north of the seaside town of Nazaré.
The Forte de São Miguel Arcanjo has a roof terrace for taking in the oceanic drama, and it also contains a small museum about the big waves and some of the surfers who’ve ridden them – like Sebastian Steudtner, who rode a record-breaking 26.2m (86ft) behemoth back in 2020.
Ask ten experienced hikers to nominate the best treks in the world and they’ll give you ten different answers.
Some treks are incredible because of the scenery. Some routes are epic because of the almost superhuman levels of effort and endurance required to reach the endpoint. For some trekkers, it’s all about the destination. For others, it’s the journey and the chance to build camaraderie along the trail.
But the world’s top treks all have one thing in common – a sense of mission that transforms the simple act of walking into a life-affirming expedition. And when winter weather looms in the northern hemisphere, it’s an ideal time for a trip to warmer temps south of the equator, where the sun is shining on some of the most awe-inspiring trails on Earth.
We’ve compiled our list of the world’s top treks, from jungle trails to breathless tracks through the mountains of Nepal. All require a sturdy pair of lungs and a fit pair of legs, but the trekking experience is a reward unto itself; decades later, you’ll still be talking about these hikes.
This character-building slog through Corsica is legendary for the diversity of landscapes it traverses, and for the level of grit it requires from trekkers who brave its rugged trails. There are forests, granite moonscapes, windswept craters, glacial lakes, torrents, peat bogs, maquis, snow-capped peaks, plains and névés (stretches of ice formed from snow) to conquer, and the tough terrain weeds out all but the most dedicated hikers.
Created in 1972, the GR20 links the town of Calenzana, in the Balagne, with Conca, north of Porto Vecchio, but the thrills don’t come easy. The path is rocky, uneven and frequently steep, with crossings over rickety bridges and exposed scrambles over slippery rock faces and loose, skittering scree – all part of the fun! You’ll be drawing water from springs and sleeping in rustic mountain refuges, and two weeks later, you’ll be able to tell the world you conquered Europe’s toughest trail.
The Inca Trail to the ruined city of Machu Picchu is Peru’s most famous trekking route. Bérenger Zyla / 500px
The 33km (20-mile) trail to the 15th-century Inca citadel of Machu Picchu was used for centuries before it was brought to global attention when explorer Hiram Bingham “discovered” the route in 1911. Today, the secret is definitely out – but there are some rules and restrictions in place to control visitor numbers. Book at least six months in advance for one of the 500 permits available each day. That figure includes support staff (porters, guides, etc.), so just 200 lucky tourist trekkers are issued one.
The trek to Peru’s most famous ruin has giddying views of high cloud forests and Machu Picchu waiting ahead like a beacon. The trail climbs to 2430m (7972ft) from the Sacred Valley, winding its way up, down and around mountains, and crossing three high passes en route.
For those just visiting the “lost city” for the day, authorities have introduced three new circuits each with sub-routes around the site.
There are seven different routes up Kilimanjaro to choose from. Ian Lenehan / 500px
3. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Best trek for snow in the tropics
Distance: 37–90km (23–56 miles)
Duration: 5–9 days
Level: Moderate
Okay, it’s the favorite trek of fundraisers everywhere, and an almost obligatory trip for visitors to East Africa, but the week-long ascent of Africa’s highest mountain is still an epic undertaking. From the moment you first spy its misty prominence rising above the dusty plains, you’ll know that Kilimanjaro simply has to be climbed. Lions and elephants may mill around at its base, but the summit is snow-capped and desolate, and lofty enough to bring a risk of altitude sickness at 5895m (19,340ft).
There are seven recognized routes to the top, and trekkers can complete the ascent in anything from 5 to 9 days, with longer treks being recommended to reduce the risk of AMS. The final stage usually starts before dawn, reaching the summit as the first light of morning erupts across a vast sweep of African savanna. In practice, nearly two-thirds of trekkers opt for the Marangu (6 days) or Machame (7 days) routes on the south side of the mountain.
The incredibly scenic Kalalau Trail follows the cliff wall on the north shore of Hawaii’s Kauaʻi. Martin M303 / Shutterstock
4. Kalalau trail, Hawaii
Best coastal trek
Distance: 18km (11 miles) each way
Duration: 2 days
Level: Moderate
When asked to pick the best treks in the US, most reach for hikes along the rim of the Grand Canyon, or the mobbed trails that climb to the summits of El Capitan and Half Dome in Yosemite National Park. However, we prefer to choose something a bit more off-piste. Linking Keʻe Beach and the Kalalau Valley on the north shore of Kauaʻi, the beautiful Kalalau trail follows a towering cliff wall dripping with tropical foliage to reach an overnight stop at a splendidly remote Hawaiian beach.
The route along the Nā Pali Coast starts out easy, but gets progressively more challenging on steep dirt paths; the reward comes in the form of elemental views over primordial valleys, thundering waterfalls, secluded beaches and the churning waters of the Pacific Ocean. There’s a definite Lost World feel, and a bit of caution is required, as people have fallen from the track or been washed away by sudden flash floods.
Cross high-altitude deserts in India’s high Himalaya on the Markha Valley trek. Beerpixs / Getty Images
5. Markha Valley trek, Ladakh, India
Best trek for: spontaneous trekkers
Distance: 80km (50 miles)
Duration: 6–7 days
Level: Moderate
Fewer people trek on the Indian side of the world’s mightiest mountain range, but those that do are rewarded with views to rival anything in Nepal, Tibet or Pakistan. There are spectacular treks all over the Indian Himalaya, from the breathless Goecha La trek in Sikkim to pilgrimage treks to remote mountain temples in Uttarakhand and Kashmir, but for our rupee, the best trekking country of all is in lofty Ladakh, crossing high-altitude deserts in the rain-shadow of the high Himalaya.
The Markha Valley trek strains for a week across a wonderfully desolate moonscape, circling south from Leh through the jagged ridges that flank the south bank of the Indus River before emerging near the famous Buddhist gompa (monastery) at Hemis. Best of all, no complex planning is required; you can reach the trailhead by bus from Leh, crossing the river in a dangling basket and stopping at whitewashed teahouses in timeless Buddhist villages along the trail.
The Routeburn Track is one of New Zealand’s Great Walks and must be booked in advance. Giantrabbit / Shutterstock
6. Routeburn Track, New Zealand
Best trek for fans of big landscapes
Distance: 32km (20 miles)
Duration: 3–4 days
Level: Moderate
New Zealand’s South Island is as alpine as you can get without actually being in the Alps, and the 3-day Routeburn Track is one of the best ways to cross this pristine natural wonderland. This is a trail for fans of big vistas and open skies, following glacier-carved fjords, truncated valleys and rugged ridges through the plunging landscapes of two stunning national parks: Fiordland and Mt Aspiring.
The preferred route runs from the Routeburn Shelter (north of Queenstown) to Milford Road, with overnight stops in spectacularly located campgrounds. Highlights include the views from Harris Saddle and Conical Hill, and chilly dips in spring-fed mountain tarns. The main challenge for this popular hike is securing a place among the limited numbers who are allowed at any one time – make bookings well ahead through the NZ Department of Conservation’s Great Walks booking site.
Hit the high point of Lombok on this two-day trek up Gunung Rinjani. Kitti Boonnitrod / Getty Images
7. Gunung Rinjani, Indonesia
Best trek for early risers
Distance: 24km (15 miles)
Duration: 2 days
Level: Moderate
There simply has to be a Southeast Asian volcano hike on the list, and for our money, it’s Indonesia’s Gunung Rinjani. While Lombok’s blissful beaches simmer at sea level, the island climbs to a breathless height of 3726m (12,224ft) at the summit of this enormous lake-capped volcano, which still periodically rumbles into life, most recently in 2016.
Trekking to the summit of Gunung Rinjani is up there with hiking the Himalaya as one of Asia’s favorite adventures. To make the best of the views, the final push to the top starts in the dark, in order to gain the crater rim as first light pushes back the gloom, revealing the crater lake and its sinister cinder cones like a lost valley of the dinosaurs.
8. The Walkers’ Haute Route, France–Switzerland
Best trek for the summer months
Distance: 200km (125 miles)
Duration: 14 days
Level: Difficult
Leading from Chamonix in France through the southern Valais to Zermatt in Switzerland, the 2-week-long Walkers’ Haute Route trek traverses some of the highest and most eye-popping scenery accessible anywhere in the Alps. Hiking here is a summertime endeavour, tracing a different course to the famous winter Haute Route for ski-tourers. Every stage will test your endurance, with “pass hopping” that demands a high level of fitness on many sections of the walk.
So why put your body through all this exertion? The mountain views, obviously! Some days pass through yodel-worthy alpine meadows, while others struggle over glacier-carved outcrops guarded by mountain giants. And with this being northern Europe, the infrastructure along the way is excellent, with hotels, gites d’etape (rest shelters), auberges (inns) and mountain refuges dotted all along the route. You’ll appreciate a warm bed and a hot meal as you tackle over 14,000m (46,000ft) of elevation gain.
Climbing to 5545m (18,193ft) at its highest point, the 2-week trek to Everest Base Camp is Nepal’s best-loved trek, with 8849m (29,032ft) Sagarmatha (Mt Everest) rising ahead like a petrified giant. Tracing winding river valleys and the creaking mass of the Khumbu glacier, this mighty mission visits mountain monasteries, soaring lookouts and precariously balanced Sherpa villages, with grueling days of altitude gain that will test your muscles and endurance to breaking point.
It’s not all hard work though. The trekking infrastructure is unparalleled: permits can be bought easily, porters and guides wait on arrival at Lukla’s tiny mountain airstrip, cozy teahouses provide warm beds and nourishing plates of dal bhat (lentils and rice) along the entire route, and side trails open up a mountain playground of summit ascents and high pass crossings for a taste of real mountaineering. Sure, the trails are mobbed in season, but the sense of camaraderie amongst trekkers is hard to beat.
The golden rule, however, is respect the altitude. Acute Mountain Sickness is a risk if you rush, so take it slow and steady and pause for the recommended rest days to let your body catch up with the elevation.
There’s heavy demand on campsites and mountain huts in Torres del Paine National Park, so plan your trek well in advance. Michele Falzone / Getty Images
10. The Torres del Paine Circuit, Patagonia, Chile
Best trek for photographers
Distance: 136km (85 miles)
Duration: 9 days
Level: Difficult
Many visitors to Chile’s Torres del Paine National Park draw up short when they see the scale of the terrain and opt for the shorter “W Trek”, but we recommend following the full 9-day “O Trek” circuit, to soak up the sheer variety of landscapes in this magnificent wilderness reserve. As you follow the trail from Las Torres, you’ll pass some of the world’s most photogenic vistas: crystal-clear rivers, sculpted mountains, open grasslands, old-growth forests, deep and silent lakes and the icy tongue of Grey Glacier.
That’s a lot of variety per trekking mile, but you need to plan ahead as camping sites and refugios are in heavy demand. Make bookings with the companies operating the lodges and camping areas months in advance if you hope to secure a slot during the busy November to March trekking season.
Top tips for trekkers
Before you load up your backpack with trekking socks and Kendal mint cake, give some thought to the infrastructure on the route you plan to conquer. Some treks require total self-sufficiency, sleeping under canvas and purifying water as you go; other routes have refuges or rustic teahouses every step of the way. Here are some of the key considerations:
Travel light: Every extra gram will weigh you down on the trails; if it isn’t essential, leave it behind.
Respect your feet: Boots offer more support, but all-terrain trainers are lighter and dry more quickly after a soaking.
Protect your knees: Trekking poles can help control the knee-crushing descents that are a feature of pretty much every trek.
Climb slowly: Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) can kill, so ascend slowly and take rest days to acclimatize on any trek above 2500m (8202ft) in elevation.
Check the weather: When treks go wrong, it’s normally because of the weather, so check the forecasts; if conditions look bad, stop somewhere safe and sit it out, rather than pushing on over the next pass.
Be prepared: Don’t launch straight from the sofa to the summit – warm up with gentler walks, hikes and runs to get your body used to the exertion.
Plan ahead: Many trekking routes require a permit and advance booking for lodges and campsites; for some routes, you need to book months ahead.
It is a truth universally acknowledged that, despite countless hours of research, sometimes even the most eagerly anticipated trips can go spectacularly wrong.
Whether it was a poor choice of hotel, hiring an inept tour guide or trying those month-old ‘freshly caught oysters’, one poor decision can scar your experience of a great destination and leave you wishing you’d done things differently.
In celebration of these only-funny-in-retrospect moments, we’ve coerced a selection of Lonely Planet staff into reliving their travel traumas, and explaining how they’d avoid a repeat if they ever retraced their steps.
I signed up for a riding tour of the countryside near Copán Ruinas against my better judgement. I distrust horses. I asked for a nag, a plodder, a laggard – the slower, the better; alas, my meek-looking pinto bolted within minutes of me clambering on its back.
So much for appreciating my surroundings. I didn’t see any members of my tour party for the next hour; didn’t see much at all, in fact, as my eyes were squeezed shut for 75% of the ensuing uncontrolled gallop. Which is a shame because, as I later discovered, the countryside is beautiful.
By the time the foaming beast finally tired of my terror and returned from whence it came, with me clinging half on, half off the saddle as it trotted into the stable yard, I had lost my precious Tilley hat, not to mention my dignity. And very nearly my wits. Carlos, my guide, chuckled, shook his head and said: ‘This little one has a fiery temper, no?’ Could have punched him, but he had a gun.
Next time: I’d take a two-footed tour. Of the many modes of transport available to travellers, my considered opinion is that nothing beats a walk.
James Kay is the Editor of lonelyplanet.com. Follow James’ tweets @jameskay123
Towards the end of a whirlwind summer spent trundling around Europe on trains, a group of friends and I arrived in Vienna, eager to ogle the Austrian capital’s imperial palaces and grand concert halls.
The problem was, we were skint, and the whole trip had been very capricious, so we didn’t think anything of buying dog passes for the U-Bahn to save a grand total of 50c.
I barely had a chance to poke my head out from the underground station and look around before realising a particularly wide-eyed member of our group had been stopped by a ticket inspector.
After failing to talk our way out of trouble in a myriad of broken languages, we all chipped in for the €60 fine. This badly ate into our limited funds and – accepting the event as a negative omen – we decided to scoot on out of Vienna on the same day, meaning we totally missed this gorgeous city. We sprung for adult-fare tickets on our trudge back to the train station.
Next time: I would prioritise the booze budget less and not be too tight to buy a human-fare ticket.
Niamh O’Brien is Lonely Planet’s Multi-Regional Destination Editor. Follow Niamh on Instagram @niamhtroody
My now-husband and I visited Tokyo, where a friend kindly let us crash on his futon, and decided it would be fun to spend a night ticking off some classic Japanese experiences.
After sushi and sake, vending machine beers and karaoke bar cocktails, we spontaneously decided to check in at a ‘love hotel’, having heard about their playful, kitsch designs. Roaming the Shibuya district, we discovered most had no room, but eventually found a vacancy.
After posting a credit card through a mysterious hatch, we were buzzed in by an unseen proprietor but were dismayed to discover there was no love in this hotel. The room was cramped, grey and stank of cigarettes. A thick plastic sheet lurked under nylon bed linens, and faulty air conditioning meant the room was boiling hot. A single plastic rose in a vase on the bedside table was the only nod to romance, and to top it all off our stay cost a fortune.
Next time: I’d research the best options beforehand – and save money by opting for a ‘rest’ stay of a few hours, rather than an overnight.
Orla Thomas is Features Editor of Lonely Planet magazine. Follow Orla’s tweets @OrlaThomas
When I was a master’s degree student, I used up my entire semester’s financial aid to book an ill-advised trip for myself and my best friend to the non-budget destination of Copenhagen.
When we got there, the first thing that happened was my friend’s camera got stolen while we were using the internet cafe in the railway station. This incident set the tone of the trip.
We were so skint we ate at the same Chinese buffet once per day. We avoided Nyhavn and the lure of its (pricey, at least to us) harbourside cafes with their Scandi-cool coffees. We skipped Rosenborg Slot and didn’t even consider springing for tickets to Tivoli Gardens. Worse still, we didn’t sample a single glass of Copenhagen’s renowned craft beer.
Instead of designer Danish digs, we stayed in a couchsurfing flat where our host engaged in loud all-night copulation in the room next to our sofa-bed, the only thing separating us being a grotty old sheet strung up across the threshold as a ‘door’. The final night, we slept on the floor of Copenhagen Airport to avoid a repeat.
Next time: I’d go back with enough cash to enjoy Copenhagen’s beautiful sights and have a proper Scandinavian coffee. And a hotel room.
Megan Eaves is Lonely Planet’s Destination Editor of North Asia. Follow Megan’s tweets @megoizzy
With a copy of Michael Palin’s Halfway to Hollywood tucked under one arm and a folding chair in the other, I strolled happily onto the beach outside my hut on the island of Langkawi, Malaysia. It was morning. The beach was almost empty, the sea was shimmering and the sky cloudless.
There I was, chortling away, when I realised just how hot it was – and how long I’d been sitting in the sun. With no shade. And no water. ‘Was this bad?’ I thought to myself. ‘Probably,’ I decided.
It wasn’t until the evening that I started to feel a chill creep up on me, a prelude to the worst heatstroke I’ve ever had; the fever left me bedbound, forcing me to drink approximately 37 litres of water a day and pour roughly the same on my head.
Plans to see Langkawi Sky Bridge, the majestic 12-metre statue of an eagle taking flight at Dataran Lang, and the bound-to-be-thrilling-because-I-love-aquariums aquarium were put on hold. But as soon as I recovered and stopped vomiting, it was time to leave.
Next time: I would probably not sit on the beach all morning without any water or shade. In fact, I’d just stay inside.
Simon Hoskins is Lonely Planet’s Brand Copywriter. Follow Simon on Instagram @simon.hoskins
For travellers with a romantic streak, finding ‘the one’ should, in theory, open the door to a lifetime of loved-up globetrotting.
But what if Cupid’s not so kind? Forget squabbling about which side to stand on for a smug sunset selfie – we coupled-up fools are lucky if we can even agree on where to go, what to do and when to do it.
Don’t be disheartened. With these solutions to five common problems, there need be no trouble in paradise.
They say opposites attract, but if you and your beloved have chalk-and-cheese travel dreams, trying to plan and book a trip together can be a polarizing experience. Sun-seekers will not be impressed by your Nordic fjord proposal; the thought of staying in a party hostel dorm will leave introverts in a state of panic; and sporty types will be twiddling their thumbs before you can even say ‘spa break’.
Relationship rescue: Compromise is key here. You could form a rota system, heading to the Alps for a ski holiday one year and lounging on a Caribbean beach the next; or search for a place that combines both of your priorities. Spending time apart to pursue your own interests is a wise move and if that’s just not possible in the same location, who’s to say you can’t each go solo once in awhile?
Money issues can be a source of friction in relationships – and changing currency doesn’t help. While being abroad is a great excuse to splash out, thrifty partners won’t feel comfortable when the budget goes out of the window – and no one wants to spend their time bickering over a restaurant bill. Spending priorities can also be a sticking point; if you’re saving to move in together, for example, a three-week jaunt to Australia could be difficult to justify…
Relationship rescue: Create a level financial playing field by starting a joint travel fund. Whether it’s adding pennies to a piggy bank each month or opening a shared account, this way the total saved dictates the travel budget, rather than your salaries – and having a separate pot for travel savings means other nest eggs are left untouched. Consider heading to more affordable locations like Southeast Asia, where luxury is available for less.
Everyone is entitled to their personal quirks and qualms. But when your amour’s aversion to unfamiliar cuisine means they turn their nose up at anywhere vaguely exotic, or their fear of flying leads to whole continents being scratched off the travel wish list, once endearing idiosyncrasies suddenly become irritations.
Relationship rescue: Wannabe intrepid travellers must tread softly with a less adventurous other half. Dismissing their worries won’t work – neither does telling them to ‘chill out’, apparently – so try listening to them instead. Start small, venturing outside of your comfort zones by trying new experiences and places closer to home. If you’re lucky, each step into the unknown will boost their confidence. And while you might not be venturing into the Amazon any time soon, you’ll be surprised what you can both achieve with a little patience and understanding.
Minute-by-minute itineraries, strict morning alarms and territorial behaviour surrounding guidebooks, paperwork and passports. Sound familiar? If one of you has an insatiable need to oversee every detail, prepare for any eventuality and dominate all aspects of your time away, you may come home more stressed out than when you left.
Relationship rescue: If your sweetheart is the travel tyrant, you have two options. Go for the route of least resistance, letting your loved one reign supreme, and you won’t have to bother organising transport, visas or all that other time-sucking nonsense – but you’ll be slave to their every whim and want when you’re on the road.
Alternatively, show them you are capable and willing to help bear the travel planning load, and you’ll ease your guy or girl’s anxieties. Persuade over-planners to add some free time into the schedule as a compromise. Working as a team will bring you closer together and create a healthy dynamic for your relationship in general. Or you could always just head to India for the ultimate lesson in winging it.
If the control freak is you… loosen your grip. Travel know-it-alls are no fun.
And now, perhaps the most puzzling of predicaments: what’s the protocol when you fall in love with someone who is simply not fussed about travel? ‘Never gonna happen’, you may scoff – but believe it or not, there are people out there who to all intents and purposes seem like rational, sane, fairly attractive human beings, yet meet your talk of romantic getaways with indifference. Alarm bells ring, but it’s too late – you’re done for.
Relationship rescue: Their lack of enthusiasm can’t cover all aspects of life, so find out what their true passions are and combine them with your own. Keen runner? Tempt them with an international marathon. Art lover? Get ye to the Guggenheim. Whether it’s food, wine, music or wildlife, you will find a way to overcome their apathy. And while you may never share that unmistakable lust for the unknown, at least you can both enjoy the journey.
You might also like:
Why couples who travel together stay together Pop the question at the world’s best engagement destinations How to find – and survive – a holiday romance
Bushwalking (Australian for “hiking”) is supremely popular in Australia, with thousands of kilometers of trails lacing its national parks and wilderness areas from the coast to the outback. These routes are great for hikers wanting to spot native wildlife. Many trails also traverse culturally and historically significant landscapes, with relics and interpretative trail markers offering fascinating insights into Australia’s unique ecology and 65,000 years of human history.
The best time to lace your boots in Australia varies between regions, with outback hikes suited to the cooler winter months (April to October), while hiking in Tasmania and the Australian Alps is a more popular summertime activity (November to March). The further north you go, the steamier the climate becomes, with hiking in northern Australia recommended during the May to October dry season.
From scenic day walks to epic treks that take several weeks, these are some of the best hiking routes in Australia.
Tasmania’s Overland Track is a well-marked trail between mountains and through varied landscapes. Getty Images
1. Overland Track, Tasmania
Best multiday wilderness hike
65km (40 miles), 5–7 days, moderate
A five- to seven-day odyssey through the incredible World Heritage–listed mountainscapes of Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, Tasmania’s alpine Overland Track is Australia’s most famous multiday wilderness tramp.
The well-marked track threads between mountains rather than grinding over them, making the Overland an achievable independent adventure for experienced multiday hikers with a decent level of fitness. A limited number of dormitory beds at seven hiking huts en route are available on a first-come, first-served basis, with independent hikers required to carry a tent, cooking equipment and food for the entire journey. For more comfort, Tasmanian Walking Company offers guided walks, including all meals and lodging at the only private accommodations on the trail, discretely tucked off the main path.
Most hikers tackle the Overland Track during the warmer months from October to May, when daylight hours are longer, and you can work up enough heat for a dip in one of the frigid alpine tarns. A permit is required to hike during this period, and you can only walk the track in one direction: north to south. But with the permit system allowing just 35 independent hikers to depart on any given day (hint: book early), the trail never feels crowded. You can savor the solitude and icy beauty during a hike from either direction in winter, though freezing temperatures and snow make this an endeavor for expert hikers only.
The trail is extremely varied, negotiating high alpine moors, rocky scree, gorges and tall rainforest, with worthy side-trips including the summit of Mt Ossa (Tasmania’s highest peak at 1617m/5305ft) and some spectacular waterfalls. Wombats and pademelons tend to be the most commonly sighted wildlife; slow down to spot an incredible array of colorful fungi growing along the paths.
Raised walkways make it a fairly straightforward climb up Mt Kosciuszko. Shutterstock
2. Kosciuszko Walk, New South Wales
Best day hike for active families
13km (8 miles), 4–5 hours, easy to moderate
With reasonable fitness, good weather and at least four hours to spare, just about anyone can summit Australia’s highest peak. Named after a Polish national hero by explorer Paweł Strzelecki, Mt Kosciuszko (2228m/7310ft) is the smallest of the world’s seven summits, and it’s relatively straightforward to climb, with raised walkways meandering up to a superb panorama of the New South Wales Snowy Mountains.
There are two routes to the top. The more family-friendly Kosciuszko Walk begins in the alpine village of Thredbo with a scenic Kosciuszko Express Chairlift ride, followed by an uncomplicated 13km (8-mile) hike to the summit and back. Aim to finish the walk in time to catch the last chairlift at 4:30pm or it’s a steep, 4km/2.5-mile walk down to the village. More challenging is the Mount Kosciuszko Summit Walk, a 16.6km (10.3-mile) return hike from the tiny ski town of Charlotte Pass (allow 7 to 9 hours), which joins the Kosciuszko Walk at Rawson Pass for the final leg to the summit.
If you’re looking for a long-distance challenge, these walks are part of the new multiday Snowies Alpine Walk, a 56km (35-mile) route made up of four separate day walks. From the summit, experienced walkers with a high level of fitness can continue through the Perisher Valley and onwards to Bullocks Flat, turning a day walk into a four-day/three-night adventure.
No matter which route you take, the alpine scenery is stunning. Aboriginal groups, including the local Ngarigo people, have had a spiritual connection to this wild landscape for more than 21,000 years. As you survey the wildflowers and glacial lakes en route to the roof of Australia, you’ll easily see why this land has long-inspired ceremony and awe.
Best hiked between late November and February to enjoy the wildflowers, both routes to the summit are snowbound from June to October.
The Larapinta Trail is a moderate to difficult bushwalk through Tjoritja/West MacDonnell National Park. Getty Images
3. Larapinta Trail, Northern Territory
Best multiday outback hike
230km (143 miles), 14 days, moderate/difficult
The Northern Territory’s most famous long-distance walk, the Larapinta Trail extends along the backbone of the West MacDonnell Ranges in Tjoritja/West MacDonnell National Park. The track is split into 12 stages of varying difficulty, stretching from Telegraph Station in Alice Springs to the craggy 1380m (4528ft) summit of Mt Sonder on the western fringe of the ranges.
Each section takes one to two days to navigate, and the trail passes many of the natural attractions in this awe-inspiring desert landscape, where you’re likely to encounter day trippers from Alice Springs. Among the most scenic (and popular) legs are section four (Standley Chasm to Birthday Waterhole; 17.7km/11 miles) and section five (Birthday Waterhole to Hugh Gorge; 16km/10 miles). With some steep climbs and rocky surfaces, these hikes are also among the most challenging, but worth it for the views from Brinkley Bluff (section four) and between Linear Valley and Hugh Gorge (section five), as well as the opportunities to cool off in remote waterholes.
Most sections have vehicle access, so you can join or leave the trail at many of the trailheads. Water tanks at each trailhead allow you to fill up with all the water you’ll need for each leg (including for cooking). Independent hikers will need to carry everything else. There’s no public transport out to this area, but transfers can be arranged.
The full one-way Three Capes Track bushwalk must be booked as a package. Shutterstock
4. Three Capes Track, Tasmania
Best tent-free multiday hike
48km (29 miles), 4 days, moderate
Rivaling the Overland Track for popularity, the Three Capes Track traverses Tasman National Park’s lofty clifftops, culminating high on Cape Pillar on the aptly named Blade rock formation in the island state’s southeastern corner. While it’s possible to hike some sections of the trail as day hikes, the full one-way, three-night experience can only be booked as a package, including a boat from the Port Arthur Historic Site to the trailhead and a bus from the end of the trail back to Port Arthur, where you can catch a bus to Hobart if you didn’t drive.
The hiking fee also includes dormitory accommodation at three surprisingly comfortable, eco-sensitive hiking huts with cooking facilities. To ensure everyone gets one of their 48 beds each night, only 48 hiking permits are available per day, eliminating the need to carry a tent. A private operator, Tasmanian Walking Company, also offers a fully catered guided walk, overnighting only at its own separate lodges near the trail.
Opened in 2015, the undulating, meticulously maintained trail traverses ecosystems ranging from fragrant eucalypt woodland to coastal heathland blooming with rare flowers, an ancient moss-covered rainforest and windswept cliffs plunging hundreds of meters into the Southern Ocean below. Wildlife is plentiful (look out for echidnas), and the coastal views are as wild and raw as they come.
The Great Ocean Walk in Victoria is an easy-to-navigate trail. Getty Images
5. Great Ocean Walk, Victoria
Best coastal hike
104km (64 miles), 7–8 days, easy to moderate
You’ve probably heard of the Great Ocean Road, the 664km (413-mile) scenic drive that traces a spectacular stretch of Victoria’s coastline southwest of Melbourne. But did you know that a walking trail also hugs the most beautiful section of the coast between Apollo Bay and the Twelve Apostles? Slow down and soak up the scenery on the relatively easy-to-navigate trail, which takes you through ever-changing landscapes – along spectacular clifftops, past deserted beaches and into the dense eucalypt forests of the Great Otway National Park.
Carry a tent and cooking equipment and sleep at dedicated campsites catering for registered walkers, or veer off the trail to stay at a range of accommodations (or eat at restaurants) located in coastal villages along the way. Designed to be walked from east to west, the trail can easily be broken up into short walks if you don’t have a week to spare. However you decide to tackle it, it’s best to pre-arrange pick-up if the local V/Line public bus service doesn’t align with your walking schedule, as other local transport options down here are scarce.
Walk through subtropical rainforest on Queensland’s Border Track. Jakub Maculewicz/Shutterstock
6. Border Track, Queensland
Best rainforest day hike
21.4km (13.3 miles), 7 hours, moderate
The Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area protects the most extensive areas of subtropical rainforest in the world, and you can enjoy one of its best bits on the Border Track in the lush hinterland region on the western fringe of Queensland’s Gold Coast.
Linking the Green Mountains and Binna Burra sections of Lamington National Park, the well-marked trail takes you through the ancient volcanic landscape of the Tweed Volcano, with dramatic cliffs, thundering waterfalls and relics of Gondwana flora and fauna among its many highlights. On clear days, the short, steep side-track that leads to two lookouts – Beereenbano and Merino – is a detour you won’t regret. Listen for the mimicking call of the Albert’s lyrebird, and don’t forget to look up to spot snoozing koalas.
The trail – which also forms the first leg of the three-day Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk linking Lamington National Park with Springbrook National Park – can be hiked in either direction, with lodges at each trailhead (O’Reilly’s in the Green Mountains section and Binna Burra Lodge in the Binna Burra section) both offering transport and a range of accommodation options, including camping.
The cooler months (ideally April to October) generally proffer the most comfortable weather for this hike, but be mindful that the trail can get muddy after rain.
It takes at least 50 days to complete South Australia’s long-distance Heysen Trail. Getty Images
7. Heysen Trail, South Australia
Best long-distance hike
1200km (746 miles), 50–60 days, moderate
Stretching between Cape Jervis on the Fleurieu Peninsula and Parachilna Gorge in the Flinders Ranges, South Australia’s Heysen Trail is Australia’s longest walking trail after eastern Australia’s epic, multi-use 5330km/3312-mile Bicentennial National Trail.
Heading north from the coast, the Heysen Trail passes through some of the state’s most scenic landscapes, including national parks and key tourist destinations, such as Wilpena Pound, an enormous natural amphitheater in Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park and the verdant vineyards of the Barossa Valley wine region northeast of Adelaide.
Spread along the trail are numerous campsites and huts, with some requiring advance bookings. The trail also passes through and near towns where you can stock up on supplies, splurge on a warm bed for the night at a range of accommodations, or access shorter walks.
The trail’s less challenging southern section, from Cape Jervis to Spalding, just north of the Clare Valley wine region, is ideal for families. Hikers looking for more challenging terrain and solitude may prefer the more rugged and isolated northern section from Spalding to Parachilna Gorge. Due to fire restrictions, some sections are closed during the height of summer from December to April.
8. Thorsborne Trail, Queensland
Best multiday island hike
32km (19 miles), 3–5 days, difficult
Australia’s largest island national park, the 399-sq-km (154-sq-mile) Hinchinbrook Island is one of Australia’s most pristine wilderness areas, its granite mountains rising dramatically from the sea just off the northern Queensland coast between Townsville and Cairns. The mainland side of Hinchinbrook Island – known as Munamudanamy to the Bandjin and Girramay people, the island’s Traditional Custodians – is dense with lush tropical vegetation, while long sandy beaches and tangles of mangrove curve around the eastern shore. Tracing the latter is the Thorsborne Trail. An unhardened track that’s rough and difficult to traverse in parts, this is not a hike for the faint-hearted. But walkers who persevere will be rewarded with an incredible tropical wilderness experience taking in creek crossings, thick rainforest and lush waterfalls galore. The trail lies in Croc Country, so remember to be crocwise.
Commercial ferries transport hikers to both ends of the trail, with most hikers opting to walk from north to south to keep the sun on their backs. To help maintain the wilderness setting, camping permits are issued for a maximum of 40 people (in groups of no larger than six people) on the trail at any one time, and they can be difficult to secure during the peak walking season from April to September.
West Australia’s nine-section Bibbulmun Track is often likened to the US’ Appalachian Trail. Dylan Alcock/Shutterstock
9. Bibbulmun Track, Western Australia
Best route for thru-hikers
963km (598 miles), 6–8 weeks, moderate
Stretching from Kalamunda, west of Perth, to Albany on the south coast of Western Australia, the Bibbulmun Track is one of Australia’s greatest long-distance hikes, often described as Australia’s answer to the eastern United States’ Appalachian Trail. Winding through the heart of the state’s South West region, the “Bibb” isn’t especially difficult, just long and at times remote, with nine sections connected by nine pleasant towns offering access points for shorter walks and an opportunity to restock food supplies.
Thru-hikers may find the bush landscape repetitive at times, particularly in bushfire-affected areas, but there are plenty of highlights to keep things interesting, from towering jarrah and marri forests to wild coastlines that come into close range between Northcliffe and Walpole (section seven). Another part of the Bibb’s charm lies in the regular interactions with fellow hikers on the trail and at campsites. With a whopping 49 simple sleeping shelters dotted along the trail (available on a first-come, first-served basis), you’ll rarely need to pitch your tent.
The best time to hit the trail is from September to November, when the wildflowers are blooming, and the weather is generally fine. Long hikes in December are not recommended due to the high bushfire risk.
The popular Coast Track traces the dramatic coastline of the Royal National Park between Bundeena and Otford, just south of Sydney, both of which are accessible by public transport. Usually tackled in two days with an overnight at the basic North Era Campground (pre-book via the NSW National Parks website, and bring your own cooking equipment), the moderately challenging trail (expect lots of steps) is typically hiked from north to south, which offers the best perspectives from the soaring sandstone cliffs along the coast and keeps the sun out of your eyes.
In the cooler months from May to November, you’re likely to spot migrating whales from clifftop lookout points, while summer hikers can reward themselves with a dip at one of the numerous beaches and rockpools the trail skirts – about 2.5 hours’ walk from Bundeena, Wattamolla Beach has a glorious lagoon. There’s a kiosk at Garie Beach (before North Era Campground) typically open on weekends, but there are no official water sources along the route, so carry plenty and pack some purification tablets if you need to top up with creek water. With minimal shade on this coastal bushwalk, adequate sun protection is also vital.
The Great North Walk from Sydney to Newcastle crosses urban landscapes and national parks. Richard Milnes/Shutterstock
11. Great North Walk, New South Wales
Best urban hike
250km (160 miles), 12–18 days, moderate
Created as part of Australia’s bicentennial celebrations in 1988, the Great North Walk connects Sydney and Newcastle, linking many of the wonderful national parks, conservation areas and other green spaces surrounding both of these coastal New South Wales cities.
The inland trail (which includes a boat trip across the Hawkesbury River) can be walked in either direction at any time of the year (though it can be very hot in summer), with overnight stays at campsites or more luxurious accommodations along the way. The entire length of the trail can alternatively be hiked as a 30-day walk.
Despite the trail skirting suburbia for most of its length and including some walking along busy roads, it’s easy to feel like you’re far from civilization on many sections, with stretches including the Benowie Walking Track in Berowra Valley National Park taking you through a spectacular natural and cultural landscape. Spot Aboriginal rock engravings on the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park section, and keep your eyes peeled for wildlife along the entire route, including powerful owls, swamp wallabies, laughing kookaburras and other critters.
12. Australian Alps Walking Track, Victoria, NSW and the ACT
Best alpine traverse
655km (407 miles), 5–8 weeks, difficult
Winding through the high country of Victoria, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, the Australian Alps Walking Track traverses some of Australia’s finest alpine national parks showcasing sweeping high-altitude scenery and sites rich in history, with more than 30 mountain summits (including Mt Kosciuszko) and dozens of historic huts along the way.
An extension of the Victorian Alpine Walking Track, developed in the 1970s, the rugged and remote thru-hike – combining 4WD tracks, fire trails, logging roads, old grazing paths and brumby trails (made by wild horses, which you’ll see plenty of) – is designed for experienced, self-reliant bushwalkers with good navigation skills, as the trail can be difficult to follow. The route passes some ski resorts but no towns, so you’ll need to arrange food drops in advance. Expect to hike for days, even weeks, without seeing another human being.
Set out after the spring snow thaws to enjoy the wildflower season on your journey. Many people choose to walk shorter sections of the trail found in the likes of Baw Baw National Park and Alpine National Park in Victoria, Kosciuszko National Park in New South Wales and Namadgi National Park, near Canberra.
Check the weather conditions before setting out, and be prepared with the right gear. Gareth Griffiths/500px
Tips for hiking in Australia
Before you hit Australia’s trails, make sure you’re walking in a region – and on tracks – within your realm of experience and preparation. Check with local authorities (including national park websites) for weather and track updates, and be aware that weather and seasonal changes can considerably alter the walking experience. Always tell someone where you are going and when you plan to return.
To help preserve the ecology and beauty of Australia that has been carefully managed for millennia by its Traditional Custodians, follow this advice:
Carry out all your garbage. Never bury it: digging encourages erosion, and buried rubbish will likely be dug up by animals, who may be injured or poisoned by it.
Where a toilet isn’t available, bury your waste (including biodegradable toilet paper, but not sanitary products). Dig a small hole 15cm (6in) deep and at least 100m (320ft) from any watercourse, and cover the waste with soil and a rock. In snow, dig right down to the soil.
Don’t use detergents or toothpaste in or near watercourses. Spit toothpaste 50m (164ft) away from a river.
For personal washing, use biodegradable soap and a water container away from watercourses. Disperse the wastewater widely to allow the soil to filter it naturally.
Wash cooking utensils 50m (164ft) from watercourses using a scourer, sand or snow instead of detergent.
Read up on local fire regulations. With campfires banned on most Australian walking trails for at least part of the year, carry a lightweight, portable stove on multiday hikes.
Do not feed wildlife, as this can lead to unbalanced populations, animals becoming dependent on humans or the spread of diseases.
Do not remove anything from the trail as a souvenir, including rocks and seed pods.
Pay track fees and obtain permits, especially as these are often on an honesty system, to help maintain essential services and maintenance works.
Pack enough food and water recommended for the hike, as well as the right gear (including first aid), and know how to use it. Wearing long, lightweight clothing is ideal for protecting yourself from Australia’s harsh sun and myriad creepy crawlies.
Stick to existing tracks and avoid shortcuts. Walking around a muddy bog only makes it bigger – plow straight through.
Make noise when you walk to deter snakes. If you see a snake, which is common on Australian bushwalks, try and stay still to assess what it is doing before moving away slowly.
