The best seasons to get outside and enjoy nature are swiftly approaching, and this year travelers have many wonderful options for hiking, outdoor adventures, nature retreats, and green-minded trips around the world.
Peru
Famous for its trek to Machu Picchu, Peru is brimming with incredible places for hiking lovers. If you’re not up for the famous 4-day trek on the Inca Trail, there are plenty of easier alternatives that still offer great views of Peru’s natural landscapes. A much shorter and almost equally famous trek is the 4.35 miles roundtrip to Rainbow Mountain, a geological wonder near the southern city of Cusco. This mountain range is famous for multi-colored striated slopes that slightly resemble the stripes of a rainbow.
Though you’ll be able to find all sorts of treks through Peru’s beautiful regions, some of the best views are to be found on multi-day treks. A hike along the Santa Cruz Trek will also take about 4-days of backpacking through the Cordillera Blanc mountain region, butt many travelers believe it’s well worth it. This area is famous for alpine nature scenes, crystal clear lakes and mountain valleys.
The Balkans
While France and Italy continue to bring in the majority of travelers to Europe, the lesser traveled Balkans have become more popular in recent years, particularly for incredible nature scenery. Popular tour company G Adventures, offers trips through Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro. Travelers can sign up for a 9-day trek from Tirana to Shkoder. This takes you along the Albanian Alps, into traditional mountain villages, and even through national parks.
England + Scotland
England and Scotland both offer scenic views along steep oceanside cliffs, in deep quiet forests, and beyond. BBC Travel recommends the King Charles III England Coast Path, a trek officially established in 2023 for King Charles III’s coronation. The route spans the entire English shore and is set to be completed this summer, making history as the world’s longest managed coastal path. Open sections of the route stretch 2,000 miles and are managed by Natural England.
In Scotland, a number of routes offer hikes where dark mossy forests give way to grassy mountain valleys. One such route, The Great Glen Way stretches 75 miles from Fort William to Inverness. The whole trek can be walked in four to seven days and courses alongside Loch Ness through canal towpaths, forest tracks, and country roads.
South Korea
The new South Korean Dongseo Trail is the country’s first ever coast-to-coast trail. It is set to open in full in 2027, butt travelers can visit parts of the route now. This cross-country route has been designed and overseen by the Korea Forest Service. Along the way travelers can enjoy views of the Baekdu-Daegan Mountain Range, traversing rice fields and farms, forests, beaches, ancient Buddhist temples, and UNESCO World Heritage sites. Plus, the trek courses through 225 South Korean villages where you can enjoy a taste of local culture. The BBC suggests that travelers looking to tackle sections of Dongseo this year, start from Anmyeondo Island, and travel in treks of 15km per day from there.
