A walk in the woods gives you fresh air, time away from electronics and a chance to take in scenic vistas while clearing your mind.
Now, take that day hike, amplify it by weeks and months, and imagine the serenity. Whether you are a committed long-haul trekker or just want to explore a country by foot — be it day hikes, week-long forays or a full-month journey — here are 30 of the longest hiking trails in the world for you to consider.
Length: 400 miles
Location: Jordan
Hike through 52 villages and towns and follow in the footsteps of those who have walked the same paths since the earliest B.C. centuries on the Jordan Trail.
You'll uncover the culture of the country on this long-distance trail following the length of Jordan from the north's Um Qais to the south's Aqaba.
Length: 500 miles
Location: Africa
The longest trail found in Africa is named for Victorian explorers. With stops along the Nile River and Lake Albert, the trail begins in South Sudan and travels through Uganda.
The Baker Historical Trail, created in 2013, follows the route the Bakers traveled on expeditions taken during the mid-1800s, giving new explorers a chance to take in the much unchanged beauty of the land.
Length: 538 miles
Location: France
Roam through the French Pyrenees on the GR 10, which provides stunning views of various regions of France from the Mediterranean to the Bay of Biscay on the Atlantic Coast along the border of Spain.
Note: The Pyrenees are no joke; this is a challenging trek with elevations above 3,400 feet.
Length: 550 miles
Location: Canada
The oldest walking trail in Canada continues to wow hikers who follow the Ontario path past some of the province's most notable tracts of land, including Niagara's Biosphere Reserve.
The Bruce Trail began in the 1960s and is named for the Bruce Peninsula that juts into Lake Huron and Georgian Bay.
Length: 620 miles
Location: Brazil
This Brazilian trail system interconnects to create a long trail through 39 different municipalities.
The Transmantiqueira Trail also brings you through the Serra da Mantiqueira in 30 protected areas of Brazil's vast ecosystems.
Length: 621 miles
Location: Japan
Opened in 2019, this coastal route is actually a portion of the much-larger Tohoku Nature Trail (more on it later). Located in the northern region of Japan, this route follows along the Pacific Ocean.
The Michinoku Coastal Trail begins in Hachinohe City in Aomori Prefecture and ends in Soma City in Fukushima Prefecture in an area that was rebuilt after the devastating earthquake and tsunami hit in 2011.
Length: 623 miles
Location: Australia
For a walkabout in Australia, the longest trail Down Under is Bibbulmun Track. This long-distancer will take you from the Perth hills of northwestern Australia to the southern coast.
The track will take you past the coastal heathlands, towering forests and granite boulders. But there are no day-trek portions — this is an all or nothing linear hike.
Length: 630
Location: England
The longest trail in England, the South West Coast Path national trail provides views of Cornwall, Dorset, Somerset and Devon, and the gorgeous Jurassic Coast.
Designated in 1978, the salty air and dramatic scenery begins in Minehead and runs along the coastline to Poole Harbour.
Length: 683 miles
Location: Israel
The Israel National Trail (Shvil Yisrael in Hebrew) travels across the small country from north to south and was inspired by a hiker who completed the Appalachian Trail.
Begin near the Lebanon border at Kibbutz Dan, then travel along the Mediterranean coastline and through central Israel on the way to the Gulf of Aqaba, where the trail ends in Eilat.
Length: 700 miles
Location: Panama
In 2011, one man set off to hike across Panama, creating a new trail that includes 48 miles of canoeing. His route is now the TransPanama Trail for those brave enough to push through the same jungle journey.
The trail runs the entire length of the country from Costa Rica to Colombia and visits both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.
Length: 701 miles
Location: Hungary
Europe's oldest recreational long trail was designated in 1938 as Kektura. Now dubbed the National Blue Trail, the trek stretches between Irottko Moutain on the border of Austria to the border of Slovakia, where it ends in the village of Hollohaz.
Peaks along this moderate trail don't go above 3,400 feet, making it a less-strenuous walking adventure.
Length: 780 miles
Location: Sweden
In Southern Sweden, there's a hiking trail that takes trekkers deep into the countryside and into the forests of Skåne.
The Skåneleden trail is divided into five different trails and passes castles and palaces along the routes.
Length: 870 miles
Location: Wales
Hikers in Wales can enjoy the entire length of the country's coastline on the Wales Coast Path, dedicated in 2012.
Known as Llwybr Arfordir Cymru in Welsh, the trail features seven distinct areas, beginning in Chester in the north to Chepstow in the south.
Length: 1,054 miles
Location: Japan
The first of several 1,000-plus-mile trails found in Japan, the Tokai Nature Trail travels across 11 prefectures from Tokyo to Osaka.
The popular trail was introduced in the 1970s, and hikers will see waterfalls, cherry trees and views of Mount Fuji along the trek.
Length: 1,056 miles
Location: Nepal
You won't have to climb Mount Everest to hike the Himalayas. The Great Himalaya Trail will take you around the towering mountain range.
The trail is divided into 10 sections and passes through a variety of environments including jungles and forests.
Length: 1,300 miles
Location: Chile
This new and difficult trail in the Earth's southern reaches passes through the Andes Mountains and Patagonia. It's inspired by a German explorer who has been working on the trail for decades.
Still under construction, by the time the Greater Patagonian Trail is complete, it will cover 1,900 miles and be the 10th longest trail in the world.
Length: 1,400 miles
Location: Europe
The Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, Suleiman the Magnificent, marched from Istanbul to Vienna during the 16th century. His route remains today as a path for peace.
The Sultans Trail travels through Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia and Bulgaria between Austria and Turkey and can also be enjoyed by bike.
Length: 1,570
Location: Spain
The Way of St. James, or simply The Way, is one of the world's oldest pilgrimage routes. The route begins in the mountains of southwestern France and travels across northern Spain to the tomb of St. James in Santiago.
Additional routes from other Spanish regions also arrive in Santiago, and those who hike along the way can collect stamps in various stops to present at the church in Santiago for a completion certificate.
Length: 1,615 miles
Location: Europe
Alpine countries banded together in 2000 to intertwine their trails, creating Via Alpina with five international trails that pass through eight countries.
The European Alps provide the setting in heights ranging from 0 to nearly 10,000 feet. There are 342 stages of the trail to discover and break into smaller hikes.
Length: 1,894 miles
Location: Europe
Via Francigena was the historic route for pilgrims of Europe to reach the Eternal City of Rome.
In existence since the 900s, the trail connected travelers from Britain, France, Switzerland and Italy to the Pope.
Length: 1,894 miles
Location: New Zealand
New Zealand's own cross-country trail covers both of the two main islands.
Opened in 2011, the Te Araroa trail runs from Cape Regina in the north to Bluff in the south passing through forests, cities, beaches and volcanoes.
Length: 2,200 miles
Location: United States
Many wrongfully assume that the famous Appalachian Trail is the world's longest hiking trail. While incorrect, it does make it into the top 10.
Beginning in the mountains of North Georgia, the Appalachians run all the way up to Bald Mountain Pond in Maine. Dedicated hikers spend months making their way along its often-rocky paths.
Length: 2,504 miles
Location: Japan
Running along the coastline of the Japanese Sea is the Chubu Hokuriku Nature Trail found in central Japan.
Entirely renovated by 2001, it is considered an easy nature trail to hike, with views of the mountains and sea.
Length: 2,653 miles
Location: United States
The East Coast has its Appalachian Trail, but on the West Coast, the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is longer.
Spanning from Mexico to Canada, the PCT covers California, Oregon and Washington, passing through the Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountain ranges. (And, yes, it's the trail that Reese Witherspoon hikes in the movie, "Wild.")
Length: 2,718 miles
Location: Japan
Located in the northern part of Japan's main island, Tohoku means "northeast." This trail takes you through the country's most beautiful mountains in its northeast region (and even along the Pacific Coast via the previously mentioned Michinoku Coastal Trail route).
You'll pass through rice fields, artisanal villages and ski resorts, as the weather here is ripe for walking during all four seasons.
Length: 2,849 miles
Location: Japan
The longest trail in Japan, the Hokkaido Nature Trail was first started in 2003 and continues to grow to this day.
Found on Japan's northern island of Hokkaido, the mountainous and remote area can be explored in various day hikes or tackled all at once during summer months.
Length: 3,100 miles
Location: United States
Travel along the Continental Divide of the United States on the CDT, considered "one of the largest conservation efforts" in American history.
The trail follows along the natural divide beginning at the border of Mexico in New Mexico, through Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho and ending in Montana at the border of Canada.
Length: 3,700 miles
Location: Italy
Crossing through Italy's many different regions and islands is the Grand Italian Trail or the Sentiero Italia. This national trail begins in Trieste, explores the Alpine Arc and Apennine mountains en route through the Tuscan countryside to Sicily and Sardinia, where it comes to an end.
It is divided into 368 sections (so you don't have to walk all of Italy in one fell swoop) and visits six UNESCO natural sites.
Length: 4,960 miles
Location: Europe
You'll visit seven countries if you hike the E1, as the trail meanders north and south between the northern tip of Scandinavia through Italy's boot and Sicily.
The first stage covers Norway, Finland and Sweden before crossing into Denmark, Germany, Switzerland and wrapping up in Italy.
Length: 14,912 miles
Location: Canada
The world's longest recreational trail, known in Canada as simply the Great Trail, opened in 2017 and blew the other trails out of the water in terms of distance.
The trail traverses across the entire country from coast to coast and also travels north along the Rocky Mountains to the Beaufort Sea and back down following Mackenzie River. It crosses land and water with some portions accessed via ferry.
