You like the idea of thru-hiking, but tackling the听Appalachian Trail or trekking to Mount Everest鈥檚 Base Camp feels like听too much of a commitment. Plus, who has months to disappear into the mountains anyway? Here are seven long-distance trails听around the world that offer the draws of a trek without the risk of using up all your paid time off.
Dientes Circuit
Navarino Island, Chile: 4 Days
Considered the southernmost trek in the world, the Dientes Circuit starts near the Patagonian port city of Puerto Williams on Navarino Island in the Tierra del Fuego archipelago. Before you begin, base yourself out of听 (from $250), overlooking the Beagle Channel, at what feels like the end of the earth. You鈥檒l spend about four days hiking 31 miles through the stunning, desolate Dientes de Navarino range, which is home to a dizzying array of landscapes typical of听the region (snowy peaks, glaciers, vast stretches of tundra).听Do it yourself and camp along the route, or book a听guided, six-day trip with听 (from $2,187)听that includes transportation to Navarino Island, two nights of lodging in town, and three nights of camping on the trail. You鈥檒l want to hike this between November and March for summertime conditions in the Southern Hemisphere.
Chinese Wall Trail
Bob Marshall Wilderness, Montana: 3 Days
It takes a few days of hiking to reach the听, a thousand-foot-tall limestone cliff听that stretches over a dozen miles and is located deep in the state鈥檚听1.5-million-acre听. It鈥檚 worth the haul.听Start about 85 miles west of Great Falls, at the South Fork Sun River Trailhead, and hike 23 miles northwest.听You鈥檒l climb along the Continental Divide and spot elks, moose, and mountain goats along the way. Once you reach White River Pass, at the southern end of the wall, you鈥檒l find a choice of听multiple routes, including an eight-mile trail along the wall that ends at a lookout called Larch Hill Pass. Montana鈥檚听 leads a ten-day guided hike (from $1,950) in July along a 70-mile point-to-point route where mules help carry the load and you鈥檒l top out above the Chinese Wall itself.
Laugavegur Trail
Southern Highlands, Iceland; 3 Days
罢丑别听 remains one of听Iceland鈥檚 most popular treks for the fact that it traverses all of the country鈥檚 varied听landscapes, from hot springs and geysers to rhyolite mountains. The 34-mile route is open from mid-June to mid-September and takes three to four days to complete. Start at听the southern end of the highlands in the听Landmannalaugar nature reserve, and make your way听northeast over听black-sand deserts, glaciers, and volcanic terrain, before ending at Thorsmork valley. The well-appointed huts at the start and end points, 听补苍诲 ,听make great bookends to the hike, and there are plenty of huts and camping options along the way.听 offers guided two- and five-day听treks (from $1,433). Stay at听 (from $46) in downtown Reykjav铆k, three hours from the start of the trail, which has bunks and private rooms, plus a hip bar and lounge.
Rockwall Trail
Kootenay National Park, British Columbia: 3 to 5 Days
It鈥檚 a good year to hike the Rockwall Trail, a classic Canadian Rocky Mountain multi-day trek, with Kootenay National Park听celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2020. Highlights include some of the tallest waterfalls in the Rockies, secluded high-alpine lakes, and the limestone cliff that earned the trail its name. Most people hike this 34-mile trail, which gains about 8,500 feet in elevation, in three to five days. For self-guided trips,听 recently opened for bookings, or you can听sign up with听, which offers trips with certified Association of Canadian Mountain Guides听(from $1,222 for five-day trips).
Jomolhari听Loop Trek
Paro Valley, Bhutan: 7 Days
The Jomolhari听Loop Trek is an excellent high-altitude hike for those who want a taste of the Himalayas but have a limited amount听of time. The weeklong route听starts in the village of Gunitsawa, in the Paro District听of听northwest听Bhutan,听补苍诲 leads to Jomolhari鈥檚 peak, which straddles the border with Tibet, before returning to the village. You鈥檒l gain 16,000 feet in elevation听but at a steady enough incline to allow your body to acclimate. The loop passes monasteries and museums, glacially听fed streams and lakes, juniper forests, mountains sacred to the Bhutanese, and yak-herding families. It鈥檚 possible to hike yourself and camp along the route, but consider the full听two-week Jomolhari Trek听with听outfitter听听(from $6,295), which covers about 55 miles on foot. The trekking seasons听are听typically April through May and October through November. In an effort to keep visitor numbers low, Bhutan charges a significant听tourist fee (from $200 per day), but this amount covers a host of costs, from lodging to a licensed guide, so be sure to check the government 听to start.
John Muir Trail
Sierra Nevada, California: 8 Days
罢丑别听 is one of the most iconic long-distance hikes in the U.S. It passes through three national parks鈥Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon鈥攁nd tops out on 14,495-foot Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the lower 48. But not everybody has three weeks to devote to hiking this 211-mile trail. And听听for it听has become nearly impossible. The good news? If you book a guided trip with听, it鈥檒l take care of the permitting for you. The outfitter also now offers abbreviated trips on the JMT, like a听 or a听. Only have about a week? Spend eight days hiking the听听yourself along a stunning section of the trail in Kings Canyon National Park.
Pinhoti Trail
Appalachian Mountains, Alabama and Georgia: 14 Days
罢丑别听 stretches 171 miles across Alabama鈥檚 Appalachian Mountains and another 166 miles through Georgia, making it the longest trail in both of those states. Part of the still under development听 and a designated national recreation trail, the Pinhoti听is a good training ground if you鈥檙e contemplating doing the whole Appalachian Trail听or if you want something like it but shorter. In听January, an 18-year-old named Willie Thacker completed a self-supported thru-hike of the trail in six days and 16 hours, earning the current fastest known time. Regular-paced hikers will need two or three weeks to tackle it all.