These Incredible Hiking Destinations Should Inspire Your Next Vacation

Hiking to Croagh Patrick is a religious pilgrimage for many Irish Catholics, as it's named after the patron saint of Ireland. Considered the holiest mountain in the country, the hike up to the top of the mountain is about two hours long. Croagh Patrick is located nearby to plenty of beautiful Irish towns for you to explore as well.

Perhaps one of the most well-known hikes on this list is the Inca Trail, which ends at Machu Picchu. There are three trail routes in varying difficulties that wind through mountain passes, cloud forests and alpine tundras. The longest trail into Machu Picchu takes four days, while the shortest is two days.

One way to check three countries off your bucket list would be to do the Tour du Mont Blanc. It's one of the most popular hiking trails in the world and can take 11 days to complete the whole route. But the payoff is incredible, winding its way through the mountains of Switzerland, Italy, and France, giving you spectacular views you can't get anywhere else.

At over 2,200 miles long, the Appalachian Trail is the longest trail for hiking only in the world. The whole trail stretches from Georgia to Maine, but there are dozens of opportunities for partial hikes along the route.

The Camino de Santiago is another pilgrimage route, this time honoring Saint James and ending at Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Composed of dozens of routes starting in various cities in France, Italy, England, and more, the most popular modern route is the French Way, which begins in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. Whether you're Catholic or not, the hike is a beautiful way to experience the European countryside.

Hadrian's Wall essentially marks the boundary between England and Scotland and, as a result, is in one of the most beautiful parts of the UK. You can walk the 84-mile path from one coast to the other, stopping at pubs and market towns along the way. The path is relatively easy yet still gives you incredible views of the English and Scottish countrysides.

Ciudad Perdida, or the Lost City, is older than Machu Picchu, and the hike to the ruins is not for the faint of heart. It takes four to six days and is over 27 miles of hilly hikes through hot, humid jungles and mountains. The path even contains several river crossings — but if you're up to it, the Lost City Trek is one of the most spectacular hikes in the world.

The Kungsleden trail is one of the most famous, passing through Sweden's Lapland region between Abisko and Hemavan. At almost 250 miles long, with both lowland and mountain hiking trails, the scenery is absolutely stunning.

The Otter Trail is so difficult that there are age restrictions in place (12 to 65), and you'll need to give yourself five days and four nights to complete the South African hike. The scenery is absolutely stunning, ranging from white sand beaches to dramatic cliffs, and you'll spend your nights in huts overlooking the ocean.

The Chilkoot Trail is a National Historic Site, which winds through Alaska and British Columbia. The route through the mountain pass is rocky, difficult, and sometimes covered in snow, so it's important to be prepared. But the Chilkoot Trail is also wild and beautiful, and totally worth it.

While Mount Everest itself should only be attempted by the most experienced climbers, the Everest Base Camp trek is suitable for almost anyone. The hike is gentle but takes up to two weeks to complete, with plenty of stops on the way. As its name suggests, the trek will take you to the foot of Mount Everest through some of the most beautiful mountain scenery in the world.

If you're looking for a warmer hike, the Kalalau Trail is a great way to see the rugged coast of Hawaii's Kauai island. It's an 11-mile hike through five mountain valleys that ends on Kalalau Beach. It's so popular that many tourists don't know they need to prepare for the hike, and all hikers need a permit to access the trail.

New Zealand is known for having some of the most beautiful scenery in the world, and Te Araroa Trail is the best way to see it. Along the way, you can see beaches, volcanoes, forests, and cities. With over 1,800 miles of trails from the North of the island to the South, you'll want to pick and choose your routes.